Choze Powell

District43 is a family-owned shoe store in Downtown Port Huron, and they’ve recently expanded their retail space and the products available for customers.

Owner Jorja Baldwin said she recognized a need to provide items that were sought after by both locals and tourists, and when Ruboo Boutique closed their brick-and-mortar location next door, she saw the perfect opportunity to expand.

Part of the wall separating the two stores was removed, and District43 products now flow over into twice the space.

“We felt like we needed to offer some gifts, and expand on the shoes, but also expand more into clothing as well,” said Baldwin.

District43 has acquired a new line of clothing featuring logos created by Katie Stepp. The Michigan Boat Company line promotes Port Huron and its water community.

“From our partners at Boater City [Marketplace] in New Baltimore and now the Michigan Boat Company, we just feel like we really want to promote our entire area and all the things. Whether you enjoy the water by land or by sea, whether you’re kayaking or you just love to walk and find beach glass, I think we have something for everybody,” said Baldwin.

Along with the new clothing, District43 has an extensive collection of summer Birkenstocks for adults and children, beach bags, travel mugs, and sunglasses. As they continue to expand, Baldwin plans on bringing in more clothing including professional pieces, golf wear, and athletic attire.

The store is still being renovated, but they are open for business now and hope to be fully settled in by fall. Baldwin encourages people to visit and shop the new lines and also to give her feedback about what they’d like to see her add to the shop.

“What’s missing downtown? How can we compliment our entire downtown by carrying something else? We’re really excited to get that feedback from people,” she said.

To learn more, visit District43’s Facebook page here:

https://www.facebook.com/district43ph

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

The International Symphony Orchestra has announced a full-season concert hall return with “ISO65”. The orchestra, which has musicians from both sides of the border, has expanded its list of venues.

The ISO will perform seven concerts during the 2022-23 season at the Great Lakes High School Auditorium, which is the orchestra’s new Canadian home, and both the McMorran Theatre and the Port Huron Northern High School Performing Arts Center in the U.S.

The first performance is on Friday, September 30th in Sarnia. This will be the first live concert on the Canadian side of the border since February of 2020. The first stateside performance will be on October 1st at Port Huron Northern.

The concert series includes seven different shows starting with Franck’s Symphony in D minor and the premiere of Swiss-Canadian composer Anne Lauber’s Cello Concerto.

Tickets can be purchased for the entire series or for individual shows. https://theiso.ticketspice.com/iso65-usa

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Have you ever wondered how freighters from foreign countries navigate the narrow waterways in our area? It turns out, they don’t.

Located near Desmond Marine, the Lakes Pilots Association has been keeping track of ship traffic and meeting freighters in the water for years.

Bill Wager, a dispatcher for the Lakes Pilots Association, feels his unique job is like a giant puzzle of boats, captains, crew members, and schedules that he’s excited to piece together every day.

Freighters that travel from the Atlantic Ocean into the Great Lakes are often piloted by people who have never navigated these waterways. The passage on the St. Clair River from the Lake to Detroit and even further to the waters of Lake Erie can present unique challenges due to twists and turns, water depth, and currents.

To ensure the safety of the freighter crew and other boaters, along with stewardship of the land and waterways, highly trained U.S. and Canadian Registered Pilots are brought to the freighters by the Lakes Pilots Association crew so they can take over for the freighter’s captains.

What does this look like? Watch our adventure out with the pilot boat here:

https://fb.watch/ehe_0jjafF/

When a freighter prepares to approach the mouth of the St. Clair River, communication among several entities makes its way to the Lakes Pilots Association. Their crew organizes the exchange of pilots and prepares the pilot boats and crews to meet the freighters.

The pilot boat meets the freighters in Lake Huron near the permanent buoy. The pilot boat and the freighter make a moving connection, and the U.S. or Canadian Registered Pilot climbs a ladder to board the freighter. Depending on the destination, the pilot may be aboard for half a day to 14 hours navigating the ship through the Great Lakes region and working with the freighter’s crew.

Just after the new pilot boards the freighter, the pilot coming off duty disembarks the freighter by climbing down into the pilot boat and heading back to the Lakes Pilots Association headquarters. Pilots have a mandated rest period between trips and may stay overnight in the area at a local hotel or hang out in the headquarters building until taking their next trip.

Would you like the chance to see the Lakes Pilots Association in action and touch a freighter yourself? Woman’s Life Chapter 800 is currently selling raffle tickets for $10 each to support the nonprofit A Beautiful Me. Winners will get a “Touch a Freighter” package for 4 people to enjoy this exhilarating experience.

Learn more here:  https://www.facebook.com/events/599249984952756

Thanks to the pilot boat crew: Danny Gallagher & Erick Gallagher, and pilots: Captain Ben Kinsley, Captain George Haynes, Captain Fred Hoffe, and Captain Brad Szczotka for this amazing experience!

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Ron Steward, President of Main Street Memories Car Show, Joined us in the studio to share details about this year’s car show at the Acheson Ventures Waterfront in Port Huron.

This year’s car show is Saturday, July 30th from 10 – 4 PM. Pre-registration has closed, but there are still openings for those who want to register on the day of the show. Cost is $20 at the show, and all years, makes, and models are welcome.

Main Street Memories is doing a special tribute to 1972, and they will have a special “50th Anniversary” display for cars of that model year.

The event will be spread out along the waterfront property and features a food court with local restaurants and food trucks, and displays from Showtime Monster Trucks and Nightmare Racing Mega Trucks.

This is a non-judged car show that focuses on celebrating the car community, and raising money for the Council on Aging serving St. Clair County.

To learn more about Main Street Memories Car Show, visit their website here:

https://www.mainstreetmemoriesph.com/

The WGRT Local News Podcast is part of the WGRT 102.3 FM Podcast Network. For the latest episodes of all of our featured podcasts, visit our website here:

https://wgrt-1023-fm-podcast-network.captivate.fm

WGRT Local News Podcast is produced by the following team members:

Executive Producer: Jessie Wiegand

Audio Engineer: George James

Administrator: Jessie Wiegand

Marketing: Jessie Wiegand

Follow Jessie on Instagram here:

https://www.instagram.com/wgrt_jessie/

Photo: Boat Night by Abby Schneider

Boat Night is here, and there are plenty of Blue Water Fest activities happening throughout downtown Port Huron.

Several roads are blocked to accommodate the festival’s new footprint, and visitors can expect most activities this year to be around McMorran Plaza, in the Blue Water Transit parking lots, and along Huron Avenue between Superior Street and Quay Street.

A Little Something’s Chalk the Street competition continues today on Huron Avenue between Grand River and Quay with judging scheduled for 5:30 p.m. The winners will be announced at 7:00 p.m. in front of A Little Something.

The Family Fun Tyme carnival starts at 3 PM in the east Blue Water Transit lot, and there are also food trucks and vendors around McMorran Place. Wristbands for one day of unlimited rides cost $30.

Around 80 vendors will be set up on Huron Avenue for a Street Fair featuring local artists and it will be open from 4-9 PM.

There will also be live music in several locations throughout the downtown in the evening including McMorran Plaza, the west Blue Water Transit lot, and The Lot at 4th & Water Street, the home of an outdoor seating area featuring food and treats by Flying Taco food truck, McCallums Orchard, and Here’s the Scoop.

Enjoy your Friday at Blue Water Fest, and have a safe Boat Night!

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

On Tuesday, July 12, 2022, the Port Huron Police Department conducted a compliance check  operation focusing on underage sales of alcohol to minors. 

During the operation police sent underage decoys into 32 Port Huron stores licensed by the  Michigan Liquor Control Commission to sell alcohol. Of the 32 businesses checked, 29 were  found to be in compliance by refusing to sell alcohol to the underage decoys. 

Three businesses were not in compliance and were cited for selling alcohol to a minor: 

1. Pit Stop Party Store, 1635 Pine Grove Ave, Port Huron 
2. Kroger, 2907 Krafft Road, Port Huron 
3. White Cloud Smoke Shop, 1122 10th Street, Port Huron  

The Port Huron Police Department would like to thank all of the stores that were found to be  in compliance and encourage all licensed establishments to check ID’s to prevent the use of  alcohol by underage minors. 

Submitted by the Port Huron Police Department