George James

Art Studio 1219 in Port Huron is set to feature veterans and their work in the First Annual Veteran’s Exhibit. The new display starts today and runs through the end of the month.

Some of the artwork has been donated with the proceeds going to Art Studio 1219’s Veteran’s Art Programs. Pottery and mixed media art classes are offered to veterans free of charge periodically throughout the year. 

Jeanie Burris-Johnson, Director of Programs and Operations at the Art Studio, told us that the intent of the classes is not to be therapy, but to give veterans a safe place to be creative with their peers. With many family ties to the military, Burris-Johnson said that vets are “our people” and this was her way of reaching out and honoring them. 

There will be art from at least eight local artists and the items on display include paintings, jewelry, pottery, mixed media, carvings, and metal work.  Burris-Johnson said that the art is “no doubt” inspired by the veterans’ military experiences. Organizers hope to make the show an annual tradition at the gallery.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

In anticipation of potential springtime flooding on the Black River, the City of Port Huron will be assisting residents in flood prone locations. According to the city, due to ongoing elevated water levels in the Great Lakes basin, there is a higher likelihood of typical spring rain and ice-out events causing flood damage in low-lying areas.

Preventative measures include literature being distributed via mail to residents in the Black River Canal District and sandbags distribution at various points within this district. The sandbag distribution points will be converted to sandbag filling stations as conditions warrant.

Residents with vulnerable properties outside the Canal District can source sandbags at the Department of Public Works on Bancroft street, where a sandbag filling station has already been established.

The city says, for residents and property owners on Lake Huron, sandbagging is an ineffective mitigation strategy for wave action-induced erosion. The City of Port Huron encourages residents on Lake Huron to explore more substantial shoreline hardening structures.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

Just before winter break, a special video from a local school garnered some widespread attention for lots of positive reasons. The video, called Woodland Wonderland,  that is based on the well-known song, has gone viral locally on Facebook this holiday season.  According to St. Clair County RESA, it started with a simple conversation. 

Tom Moore works as a substitute at Woodland, a standards-based program in Marysville designed specifically for students with significant disabilities. According to RESA’s weekly newsletter, Moore recalls joking around with some Woodland staff members a few months ago, saying it should be called “Wonderland” instead of “Woodland.” After that conversation, Moore found himself looking up the lyrics to the song, Winter Wonderland and decided to write his own version. 

When he’s not substituting, Moore freelances as a sound person who does video work for TV networks and other clients. With Principal Diana Maison’s approval, he recorded the scenes for the now-viral video over the course of two days with Woodland teacher Michele Ebmeyer who sang the lyrics, recorded in one half-hour session. In total, Moore said he spent about eight hours editing the video over two weeks.

The video, which features many Woodland faces, first premiered to Woodland staff members just before the holiday break, and when it was later posted on Facebook it has since been viewed more than 23,000 times, reaching some 44,000 people.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

A Croswell couple has been honored for a lifetime of service to the Croswell Agricultural Society and cattle showing community in both their hometown of Croswell and the entire state. 

Stan and Shirley Jackman, ages 91 and 85, respectively, received the state-wide Heritage Award from the Michigan Association of Fairs and Exhibitions. They have received regional awards in the past, including the Volunteers of the Year in 2016, but this is the top award for the entire state. 

Jeff Dawson, President of the Croswell Agricultural Society Fair, told us about the Jackman’s long history supporting the fair. Mr. Jackman began showing cattle when he was eight years old, 83 years ago, riding trains with his dad to show his prized Ayrshires. When he grew up and got married, he and his wife, Shirley, continued to show livestock until 1985 and showed sheep for many years after. Mr. Jackman showed Dawson’s Ayrshires just this summer in the “Over the Hill” class at the Sanilac County Fair. 

Dawson said that Mr. Jackman still maintains the Croswell Fairgrounds, mowing the grounds three days a week from April to October. He praised the couple for their strong work ethic and their dedication to the Croswell Fair, never missing a meeting and setting an impressive example for the younger generations.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

Every year, the nation celebrates the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Both St. Clair County Community College and Operation Transformation along with many schools around the area are holding events to promote and celebrate unity and collaboration in the Blue Water area. 

Operation Transformation is hosting the 14th annual “One in Christ” Community Service which will be held at the Port Huron High School Performing Arts Center this Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Anthony Jones, a faculty member at Howard University, and former Blue Water Area resident, is the scheduled guest speaker. 

St. Clair County Community College is also hosting an event. The 18th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration will take place on Monday, January 20th at the college’s Fine Arts Theatre. This year’s theme is “Extremists for the cause of justice”. The event is held in collaboration with the Global Diversity Advisory Council and will include Keynote Speaker Yolanda Jack of the Charles Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit. There will also be presentations from other community members as well as musical selections. Both events are free and open to the public. 

MLK Day is a National Holiday that was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1983. It is always held on the third Monday of January. Dr. King was born on January 15, 1929.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

The St. Clair Ice Fest will take place for the first time this weekend in the downtown area of the City of St. Clair. The event is set to feature ice sculptures at the plaza and many businesses including  Ace Hardware, Anchor Point Bistro, Chocolate Harbor/Craft Loft, Plaza Pet Club, Silk’s Flower Shop and more. 

There will also be live ice carvings by Katlin Pfropper of Pfrosted on Friday at 6:30 pm and throughout the day Saturday at several locations from 11:00 am – 9:00 pm. Pfropper, a St. Clair native, has quickly grown her business and skills after recently winning the Netflix hit show Sugar Rush. 

The event is hosted by the St. Clair Chamber of Commerce and will take place Friday and Saturday. Visit their Facebook page for more information.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.