George James

(BPT) – In spring 2019, VisitPITTSBURGH launched a new national marketing campaign – Pull Up a Chair. You are Welcomed Here. The now award-winning campaign is built on a welcoming Pittsburgh message and the act of offering someone a chair – a universal sign of hospitality and respect. The campaign is raising awareness of Pittsburgh as a major travel destination, as well as driving hotel room nights. Now VisitPITTSBURGH, along with the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council (GPAC), is taking the Pull Up a Chair campaign to an all new level by using an offshoot of the campaign – the 90 Painted Chairs Program – to drive awareness of the city’s thriving arts and culture community while also benefiting a local arts-related charity.

Named for the city’s 90 unique and diverse neighborhoods, the program has pushed local artists into the spotlight and empowered them to paint parking chairs for a CHAIR-ity – the Teaching Artists Initiative. The infamous Pittsburgh parking chair, which is sometimes used to save neighborhood parking spots, is one of many chairs featured in the Pull Up a Chair campaign. Pittsburghers have latched onto the regional tie-in, embraced the campaign’s message and emerged as the city’s best advocates.

From a chair emblazoned with the face of famous Pittsburgh pop artist Andy Warhol, to a three-dimensional seat covered with lush, green sprigs, and a toy T. rex; to the Monongahela and Duquesne Inclines climbing up and down the legs of one chair and a re-imagining of “The Scream” with the Pittsburgh skyline peeking through in the distance … there truly is a chair for everyone.

All 90+ chairs will be auctioned off through an online service beginning Feb. 25; the auction will close on April 3. The chairs, along with artist bios, are available to view on VisitPITTSBURGH.com.

Launched early this year, the Teaching Artists Initiative is GPAC’s newest program where teaching artists connect for networking, professional development and peer-to-peer learning. The initiative was developed in response to a need from local teaching artists; these creatives have historically had fewer opportunities to connect as a group of working professionals than others in the education or arts sectors. With teaching listed as the top source of income for Pittsburgh artists, GPAC hopes the initiative will fill this gap with education and professional development.

“Pittsburgh-area artists work in many ways to make a living,” Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council CEO Mitch Swain said. “However, in 2018, 40% of our artists reported teaching as their main source of income, followed by other full-time work or selling their artwork. This is a shift from our 2016 report, where the No. 1 source of income was selling artwork. This underlines the importance of creating a space for our teaching artists to commune, learn and grow. We hope that the Teaching Artists Initiative will do just that.”

“Pittsburgh’s art community members serve as fantastic ambassadors for our great city,” VisitPITTSBURGH Chief Marketing Officer Tom Loftus said. “The artists – like all Pittsburghers – have embraced our marketing campaign with open arms and take pride in spreading the city’s welcoming message. I’ve been floored by the beautiful chairs that have been submitted for auction; creativity has no limits in Pittsburgh.

“With the launch of this auction, anyone can own an authentic piece of Pittsburgh artwork.”

As of February 2020, the Pull Up a Chair. You are Welcomed Here. campaign has won seven national and regional awards, including the 2019 PRNEWS Digital Game-Changer Award.

(BPT) Did you know that one in four Americans keep their cars for an average of seven years or more? Nearly another third (29%) say they typically own their car for three to four years. With Americans keeping their vehicles on the road for the better part of a decade, it’s important to implement consistent maintenance habits to ensure a smooth ride.

Hankook Tire’s latest Gauge Index survey examined how long drivers keep their cars. The following are tips for drivers looking to keep their cars cruising well into the 2020s:

1. Keep it on the calendar

Whether consistency comes based on a mileage amount or a specific date on the calendar, setting and keeping regular tune-up appointments is a simple way to keep your car healthy. For example, most drivers (78%) also use their maintenance routine as a chance to check their tires. And, be sure to examine your windshield wipers and headlights to see if they need to be replaced.

2. Adjust for the seasons

Hankook also found that over two-thirds of Americans (69%) say all-season tires are interchangeable with winter tires. In some cases, that might be true, but if you live in a climate with drastic weather swings as the seasons change, that can be like saying your favorite T-shirt is suitable for a frigid winter storm. Winterizing your vehicle when the temperatures drop can help it last not only through the colder months, but also avoid potentially bigger problems down the road. Consider swapping the all-seasons for a set of winter wheels.

3. Repair and replace (when needed)

Sometimes, a routine oil change will shed light on a maintenance issue that requires more attention. In that event, consider your repair vs. replace decisions carefully – is the option you’re choosing a temporary bandage, or will it help lengthen the life of your vehicle in the long run? For many, this depends on what needs replacing, and whether that part is considered “essential.” For example, only 30% of drivers will replace their tire pressure monitoring system sensors if they were to break. However, these sensors can offer vital information about the pressure in your tires, which has a lasting impact on your driving experience.

4. Clean it up

Keeping your car clean is about more than appearances – it can also help keep it running smoothly for much longer because dirt and grime can cause corrosion to the paint and even more, especially if it gets into the mechanics of the car. For those driving over salted winter roads, regular car washes become an even more significant step to extending your vehicle’s lifespan, as winter road salt can be particularly corrosive.

No matter if your vehicle is brand new, or you’re looking to hold on to an old-timer a little longer, these tips from Hankook tire can keep you steering straight into the next year, decade and perhaps even beyond.

The 30th Annual Walk for Warmth will take place tomorrow. This event provides much-needed funds for community residents who are facing utility shut-offs. 

Walk for Warmth is sponsored by Blue Water Community Action, which advocates and provides services for low-income individuals in the Blue Water Area. The Walk for Warmth will be held at the Blue Water Community Action site at 3403 Lapeer Road in Port Huron. Registration is at 9:00 a.m.and the walk kicks off at 9:30 a.m. 

The walk is intentionally held in the coldest part of the year to remind the community about the importance of keeping utilities on. According to Community Action, the funds raised allow the agency to help those who would otherwise fall through the cracks in getting the necessary help with their utility bills. All donations are tax-deductible.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

The St. Clair County Community Mental Health (CMH) Board of Directors has made the decision to close the Sail In Café and Convenience Store in downtown Port Huron. Located at 722 McMorran Boulevard, adjacent to the Blue Water Bus Depot Station, the Sail In opened in July 2016 as an extension of CMH’s existing Galley program. The convenience store served as a training site for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and/or mental illness who wanted to gain employment skills in the foodservice and retail service industries.

According to a recent press release, the decision to close this location was made by the Board after much sincere thought and consideration. Citing limited resources to provide vitally needed training to individuals the agency serves, the decision was made that training at the original Galley location at CMH’s Port Huron headquarters will prove to be more cost-effective, expanding the number of individuals to whom the agency can provide training.

Deb Johnson, Executive Director of St. Clair County Community Mental Health, said individuals who currently participate in the work program at the Sail In will have access to other similar programs.

At this time, there are no current plans to fill the space the Sail In will be vacating. It is owned by Blue Water Area Transit. The last day of operation for the cafe will be March 27.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

Customers can help out families in need when grabbing lunch through a grassroots partnership between Moe’s Corner Deli and Blue Water Safe Horizons. The restaurant is taking collections of toiletries, diaper wipes, and personal care items. 

Brandon Lordy, a partner at Moe’s Corner Deli in Downtown Port Huron, said that a customer came in with an idea to collect items for women and children who are clients of Blue Water Safe Horizons and he said yes. The customer, Heather Marie Fagan, set up the station and Lordy has worked to generate awareness. Lordy said that opportunities like this give everyone a chance to get educated about the non-profits in the area and the needs of the community.

Lordy himself was not aware of Blue Water Safe Horizons until this project happened. The agency provides emergency shelter along with counseling services. Lordy said the donation bag has been filled and refilled. The effort will continue for at least a few weeks. Moe’s is located at 902 Military Street in Downtown Port Huron.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

Following nearly four months of renovation, the Kroger store in Algonac is set to unveil its $1.2 million renovations. The newly remodeled store features updated produce, floral, deli, bakery, dairy and pharmacy departments, as well as the addition of self-scan equipment and more in the more than 48,000 square foot space.

The Algonac Kroger store will hold a ribbon-cutting on Wednesday, March 4 at 9 a.m. to celebrate the reopening. Kroger executives and store employees will be in attendance. 

Kroger began in 1883 when Barney Kroger invested his life savings of $372 to open a grocery store in downtown Cincinnati. The chain has grown to nearly 2,800 stores in 35 states under two dozen banners and annual sales of more than $121 billion. Today, Kroger ranks as one of the world’s largest retailers.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.