George James

Beatrice Thornton Art Show Goes Virtual this Year

Port Huron, MI — The Beatrice Thornton Student Art Exhibition is in progress and can be viewed from the comfort of your own home. The annual art show is in its 53rd year, featuring the work of 275 elementary school students from the area.

In a normal year, the artwork would be featured in the Fine Arts Gallery at St. Clair County Community College and proud parents and grandparents would stroll through and admire the work of the young artists. But opening the gallery to the public in the midst of the pandemic is not an option with year and the gallery has been forced to go “virtual”.

The artwork from Landmark Academy, Memphis Elementary, and some of the elementary schools in Port Huron Schools can be found on the St. Clair County Community College website.

The artwork is shown in video form with gallery cards that name the student, grade, art teacher, and school. The exhibit is named after Beatrice Thornton, a Port Huron art teacher who wanted to give art students a gallery experience outside of the classroom setting.

The elementary school art show runs through the end of May.

https://sc4.edu/campus-life/arts/beatrice-thornton-2021/?fbclid=IwAR0seyMAKK05ocLSIHTM6MKW7fYyRTkfrgfi-1hMcaeaWwJwLvrZF9wGvOI

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Michigan’s Infant Mortality Rate Drops to Lowest Recorded Level

There is encouraging news coming from the Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Section of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. After analyzing the data, 2019, the most recent year analyzed, had the lowest infant mortality rates- 6.4 per thousand- in recorded history for the state of Michigan.

The legacy of racial disparity in infant mortality rates is also showing signs of decreasing. Dr. Joneigh Khaldun of MDHHS said, “It is encouraging that Michigan achieved an all-time low infant mortality rate in 2019, as well as the fact that we are starting to see a decreasing trend in the infant mortality disparity ratio between Black and white infants.”

Khaldun noted that the department used “vigilance and intentionality” to fight infant mortality. She said the effort must continue to assure healthy outcomes for Michigan mothers and babies.

The 2020-2023 Mother-Infant Health & Equity Improvement Plan uses strategies to work toward the goal of Zero Preventable Deaths and Zero Health Disparities. The 2019 report shows a good start toward the goal.

Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland

SBA Rolls Out Grants for Restaurants, Bars, Foodservice

Help could be on the way for struggling restaurants and bars. The U.S. Small Business Administration is reaching out to restaurants and other foodservice businesses that have been adversely affected by the pandemic. $28.6 billion in Restaurant Revitalization Funds are allocated toward relief nationwide.

The first three weeks of the enrollment period, with the application period having started Monday, is reserved for eligible owners who are women, veterans, and socially and economically disadvantaged. After that, it is a first-come, first-serve application. The application will remain open until the funds are spent.

The minimum amount awarded is $1,000, but goes way up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location, to make up for pandemic losses. Eligible businesses include restaurants, food trucks, bars, saloons, wineries and distilleries, bakeries, and others.

Brian Calley, President of the Small Business Association of Michigan said, “This is critical relief to some of our hardest hit small businesses. Funds are limited, so I encourage eligible businesses apply as soon as the application window opens to ensure they get the support they need.”

For more information on the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, visit sba.gov/restaurants or in Spanish at sba.gov/restaurantes.  

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Detours in Store for Drivers as Road Work Ramps Up

Lapeer Road between Wadhams and Allen Roads is going to be closed to westbound traffic starting today, according to the St. Clair County Road Commission. The closure is in effect for 50 days.

The work includes milling the existing asphalt and rubblizing the underlying concrete. The work also includes widening the road for a left turn lane and paving a portion of the shoulder of the road. There will also be drainage improvements, new pavement markings, and site restoration. The work is being done by Boddy Construction.

The Lapeer Road work will completely close the westbound lanes, but the eastbound traffic will be maintained. The posted detour is Allen Road to Griswold Road to Wadhams Road. Local access to homes and businesses will be maintained also with access for emergency vehicles. 

The road work has been budgeted to cost $750,000 and is being paid for with St. Clair County Road Commission Funds.

Smaller projects in the county include painting of the Masters Road bridge over the Belle River between Riley Center Road and Eagling Road, which is taking place between May 6th and June 5th.

At the north end of the county, the Fisher Road Bridge over Burtch Creek, between State Road and M-25, will be getting a new coat of paint from today until June 2nd.

Detour routes are posted for traffic in both directions for both of the bridge painting projects.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Private Wells Are Focus of this Year’s Drinking Water Awareness Week

It’s Drinking Water Awareness Week. With over 20% of the world’s fresh water in the Great Lakes, keeping water clean is a priority for the state and is vital to the Blue Water Area.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s Clean Water Public Advocate, Ninah Sasy, said, “Regardless of whether your water comes from a municipal supply or private well, there are still things you can do to make sure you’re serving our families healthy drinking water.”

Those steps to ensure clean water will be highlighted through virtual events and public service messages to connect people to water resources.

For Michigan, PFAS contamination, along with the not-so-distant memory of Flint’s lead contamination, has put the state in the spotlight for water resource management. Residential wells are also a focus this year, with Tuesday being “Private Residential Well Awareness Day”. One-quarter of Michigan residents have residential wells.

Sasy said, “Proper well maintenance and testing are critical to ensuring that your family has healthy drinking water.”

Links to Drinking Water Awareness Resources:

https://www.michigan.gov/cleanwater/0,9779,7-411-106430_106431_106434—,00.html

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland