Choze Powell

The Closet, a downtown Port Huron dress shop, is hosting a Pop-Up Shop this weekend featuring four young female entrepreneurs.

The Pop-Up Shop is an opportunity for these young ladies to share their products with a bigger audience, and develop their business skills.

The young entrepreneurs will be setting up shop at The Closet at 235 Huron Avenue from 10 AM until 3 PM.

Participating young entrepreneurs are Marisa Nahas, creator of Two Peace jewelry; Ruby Walker, the baker behind Boo Bakes With Love; Ashlyn Smith, owner of Joyful Designs; and Abby Mitchell, of Made by May Bird. The girls will be selling a variety of jewelry, baked goods & hot cocoa bombs, home decor, and crocheted gifts.

Customers who visit the store will receive free popcorn to enjoy while they shop, and they can also learn more about A Beautiful Me, the nonprofit organization that manages The Closet.

The Closet is home to A Beautiful Me’s emerge360 program that is designed to train teen girls in business and retail skills through mentorship and hands-on experience.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Port Huron, MI – Lake Huron Medical Center (LHMC) is pleased to announce its December 2021 Employee of the Month, Mary Beth Elles, RN. LHMC is honored to have a strong team of  staff and volunteers working hard to deliver high-quality care to the Blue Water Area. 

Mary Beth works as a Registered Nurse in the Intensive Care Unit and has been an employee at  LHMC since June 2013. She was nominated by a patient who commented, “Mary Beth and her  team were amazing and “rock stars” – they made a very scary situation positive and memorable 

for me. She kept me calm and smiling through a severe situation which lead to a life-saving  procedure early in the morning. Because she knew I was nervous, she let me call my husband  and talk to him before the procedure. I will always remember all the amazing nurses and doctors.  Lake Huron employees are angels.”  

Lake Huron Medical Center is proud of each of its employees and volunteers; and extends a  special thank you and congratulations to all our team members, especially Mary Beth, as we  celebrate their accomplishments. 

To learn more about the programs and services offered at Lake Huron Medical Center, visit  www.mylakehuron.com.  

Anyone who makes a threat against a school, even if “just joking”, is going to get into big trouble. That’s the message from every school district, including Port Huron Schools, in the wake of the tragic school shooting at Oxford High School and the rash of copycat threats throughout the region.

Port Huron Schools Superintendent Theo Kerhoulas sent a letter to families last week explaining what will happen to those who make threats. Kerhoulas said that students who make threats “have and will be arrested” and urged parents to talk with their kids about how serious a threat is. School expulsion and charges from law enforcement are the consequences of threatening the safety of a school.

Port Huron Schools is working with local agencies to keep schools safe and to provide mental health help for kids who are experiencing anxiety.

Social media use has been proven to drive up anxiety for students. In MSU Today, Zakia Alavi, a child development expert said that parents should limit exposure to tv and social media coverage of tragic events so as not to “re-traumatize”.

Any suspicious behavior or perceived threats should be immediately reported to authorities, instead of reposting on social media. Tips can always be given at michigan.gov/ok2say.

Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland

The Smiths Creek Equestrian Center is hosting free pictures with Santa on Saturday, December 19, 2021 along with other fun, family farm centered activities.

The event will have the feel of an old fashioned country Christmas, and families can visit from noon until 4 PM.

For $3 kids can create a craft, and for $5 each they can take a pony ride or a hay ride out to visit the farm’s petting zoo.

The Smiths Creek Equestrian Center is located at 709 Sturdevant Road in Smiths Creek. They are known for providing horseback riding lessons and hosting a 4-H club along with boarding and training horses.

You can learn more about the Smiths Creek Equestrian Center, find them on Facebook <HERE>.  To learn more about Santa on the Farm, visit our events page <HERE>.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Cold weather is here to stay for many months and home heating is a necessity. There is help available for people having trouble paying their home heating bills.

The Michigan Energy Assistance Grant helps families in need. A call to 211 or visiting mi211.org can connect those in need to resources.

Dan Scripps, Chair of the Michigan Public Service Commission said, “No Michiganders should go without heat this year, and we urge anyone having trouble paying their home heating bills not to wait and to reach out for help now.”

Nine agencies were granted a total of $54.5 million to help keep the heat on, with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of the Archdiocese of Detroit receiving $4.663 million and the United Way for Southeastern Michigan receiving $6.4 million.

Those receiving assistance can get full or partial bill payment for electric, natural gas, propane, and other fuels. Many utility companies offer flexible payment plans. Consumers are asked to reach out for help as soon as possible and not to wait for a shut off notice or for fuel tanks to be empty to take action.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland