Choze Powell

John Ratzenberger is this month’s special speaker at Port Huron Town Hall, beginning at 10:30 a.m.,  this morning, Monday, November 12, at McMorran Theatre.  Ratzenberger has been successful in films and theatre for over three decades. He portrayed Cliff on the long running series Cheers and is the only actor to voice a character in every PIXAR film.  John, an outspoken advocate for American manufacturing and trades, works with legislators to bring back trades training and apprenticeship programs for students and returning veterans. One of his latest endeavors includes developing and founding companies such as ECOPACK, the shredded accordion paper used for packing and TheGiftBox.com, a subscription box online store which benefits 3 charities.    Town Hall continues in December with Caroline Goulding, virtuoso violinist, followed in February by author and journalist Denise Kiernan and rounding up the season in March with Mike Emrick.

Maggie’s Wigs 4 Kids of Michigan provides wigs and support services to children ages 3 to 18 at no charge throughout the state of Michigan.  Local police departments are participating in “No-shave November, through the Pigs 4 Wigs campaign.  Now through December 1, officers will make a donation and can raise additional funds to avoid shaving for th month.  Money raised will help provide wigs to children in need.  According to Maggie Varney, Founder and CEO of Maggie’s Wigs 4 Kids of Michigan says Police departments in Brighton, Huron-Clinton Metro-parks, Lathrup Village, Milford, Orchard Lake, Saline, South Lyon, St. Clair Shores, Sterling Heights, Village of Oxford and Wolverine Lake will be participating.  To join them in making a difference, donate securely online at www.wigs4kids.or org on the “Pigs 4 Wigs” page.

On this special day, we give thanks to all the men and women who have served to protect our nation.

Marine Corps Birthday is not a public holiday. It falls on Saturday, November 10, 2018 and most businesses follow regular Saturday opening hours in the United States.  The day is mainly celebrated by personnel, veterans, or other people related to the Marine Corps. Usually, it is marked with a Marine Corps Birthday Ball with a formal dinner, birthday cake, and entertainment. The first ball was held in 1925.  The US Marine Corps started as the Continental Marines on November 10, 1775. On that date, the Second Continental Congress decided that they needed 2 battalions of Marines to serve as landing forces with the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783).  After the war, the Continental Navy was dismantled, and as a consequence the Marines as well. However, after increasing conflict with revolutionary France, the Marine Corps was formally re-established.  The United States Marine Corps is the US Armed Forces’ combined-arms task force on land, at sea, and in the air. It has more than 180,000 active duty personnel as well as almost 40,000 personnel in the Marine Corps Reserve.  www.timeanddate.com

P.S. You’re My Hero is the 4^th Annual 5k Run and 2 mile Walk on Sunday, November 11^th..that honors Paul Skinner, who lost his life, saving his wife during the commission of a vicious crime against them.  All proceeds will go toward resources to help victims of crime in St. Clair County.    Registration is at 7:30 – race starts at 9 a.m.  in front of the YMCA at 1525 3rd St,  Sign up at Road Runner Timing dot com or PS You’re My Hero dot org.  With funds raised, they have been able to offset the cost of putting on the run/walk and raising over $30,000 which has gone to caring for victims of crime in St. Clair County.  PS You’re My Hero is the only 501 3c in St. Clair County that completely focuses on victims of crime that have found themselves in difficult times.  According to Mara McCalmon, founder of the group, they have added a comfort room to the Victim’s Rights Office in the St. Clair County Court House; a comfort station with coffee, water and snacks; a comfort dog, they have provided counseling services, and assisted with financial need

#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. Following Thanksgiving and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, this year’s #GivingTuesday will take place on November 27th and will kick off the giving season by inspiring people to collaborate and give back. The YMCA of the Blue Water Area has joined in the global effort of #GivingTuesday for several years. Donations from past #GivingTuesday initiatives have been used to fund a number of YMCA activities including the Safety Around Water program. Donations are also used to fund scholarships, purchase new equipment, add additional programs, and build the endowment which will help us in the longterm. You can designate your gift or pledge in any of these areas.