George James

The Athletic Factory Recreational Survey Needs Community Response

The Athletic Factory, a Port Huron non-profit that assists student-athletes in preparing for college, is asking for the community to take a few minutes to complete an online survey.

The Athletic Factory’s Executive Director, Cliff Thomason, said that the organization provides summer youth recreational programs where they provide open gym runs for middle school and high school kids at the James R. Leonard Center. Thomason said that during a planning meeting, they were discussing what other activities they might want to provide this summer and the survey was created.

The Athletic Factory is working to find out what the community feels is needed for the youth in our community and to eventually fill the voids.

The survey asks what activities participants would be interested in, from sports to crafts to dance. It also asks about the need for a community center, and where it should be located, along with questions about social media use and availability for programming. The short survey takes just a few minutes to complete. A link to the survey can be found below.

The Athletic Factory Recreational Survey

Reporting for WGRT  – Jennie McClelland

Thumb Land Conservancy Announces New Projects

The Thumb Land Conservancy has several projects underway, all made possible with volunteers and community collaboration across several counties in Michigan’s Thumb.

The Thumb Land Conservancy is constructing an informational kiosk at the Bidwell Sanctuary in northern St. Clair County. The kiosk is funded by a grant from the Bioregion Reparation Fund.

The Conservancy is also working on the Duthler Ridge Sanctuary in Lapeer County, which was acquired last year. The Sanctuary is located in Dryden Township. It is named after Surveyor Rick Duthler, who was instrumental in the property acquisition. The Duthler Ridge Sanctuary is described as located on a narrow ridge on the east edge of a huge forested valley, nearly one mile across and two miles long, with a series of lakes and wetlands at the bottom.

The Conservancy is also working to protect 40 acres in Huron County. The land is a mix of swamp and forest and its conservation will protect pollinators that are vital to the ecosystem.

Go to WGRT.com for a link to more information about the Thumb Land Conservancy and how you can help preserve the natural wonders in Michigan’s Thumb.

http://www.thumbland.org/

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Meijer, Council of the Great Lakes Region Team up to Clean Beaches and Waterways

The Meijer company has donated $1 million toward cleaning up the Great Lakes. The money will be used by the Council of the Great Lakes Region to clean up beaches and waterways throughout the Midwest and to educate the public about plastics pollution.

Eighty percent of litter that washes up on beaches is plastic. The Council of the Great Lakes Region uses a solar-powered robot, called a Bebot, to clean beaches. The robots clean 32,000 square feet of beach per hour.

The Council also uses pixie drones, which navigate marinas and other waterways and can collect up to 200 pounds of litter per use while collecting important measurements of water health.

Meijer has committed to using gutter bins to prevent trash, including microplastics, from entering waterways at their retail locations.

Vik Srinivasan, Senior Vice President of Properties and Real Estate at Meijer, said, “We are lucky to live near the beautiful Great Lakes, which not only provide immense economic value to the region, but they also act as a hub for recreation, travel and biodiversity. It’s our responsibility to protect them.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Putting Away Bird Feeders Could Slow the Spread of Bird Flu

Filling up the birdfeeders is a spring ritual for many people, but this year is different. Michigan residents are asked to consider putting away bird feeders out of an abundance of caution to stop the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, or “Bird Flu”.

The deadly disease is making its way through both domestic and wild birds throughout the state. Waterfowl, raptors, and scavenger birds are highly susceptible and have been particularly affected by the disease, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

There is not a widespread recommendation yet, but those who generally get a lot of blue jays, crows, or ravens at their feeders, or who have poultry, raptors, or waterfowl in the area, should exercise caution when feeding birds. The birdfeeders could contribute to disease spread.

For those who choose to keep bird feeders up, the DNR recommends cleaning them with a diluted bleach solution once per week, cleaning up any fallen birdseed, and not feeding wild birds near domestic flocks, like backyard chickens.

The DNR also wants to know about any unusual bird deaths so they can closely monitor the spread of Avian Influenza.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Michigan Working with National Park Service to Pilot Accessibility Innovations

The State of Michigan and the National Park Service are working together to increase the accessibility of electric vehicles in Michigan’s five national parks as well as find innovative ways to make parks available to everyone, from families with babies to elderly visitors. Michigan will pilot emerging mobility technology as well as innovative accessibility measures.

The collaboration includes a commitment to research and implement environmental sustainability and visitor access projects, identify potential electric vehicle charging infrastructure projects, advance innovative mobility and electrification initiatives, engage the community in pilot projects, and share knowledge leading toward the Lake Michigan Circuit to enable electric vehicle tourism at state and national parks around the Great Lakes.

Michigan’s five National Parks are Rocks National Lakeshore, Isle Royale National Park, Keweenaw National Historical Park, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and River Raisin National Battlefield Park.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland