Ontario Locks Down Most Everything But Schools
With a COVID test positivity rate of around 6% province-wide, the provincial government of Ontario has issued an emergency stay-at-home order. It went into effect last Thursday. The order closes most “in-person” events except for school. Some schools in “hot spots” have closed.
Michigan has a positivity rate of around 15% with St. Clair County closer to 30%. Many schools have paused in-person learning.
In Ontario, the stay-at-home order is intended to “save lives, prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed, protect in-person learning and keep children in schools, allow more time to vaccinate Ontarians, and stop the spread of COVID-19 in communities”, according to the official Ontario.ca website.
Going to the grocery or pharmacy is allowed, as is going to the doctor, exercising outdoors, and walking pets, as well as work that cannot be done remotely.
Travel is prohibited unless absolutely necessary. Contact between households is limited. Even outdoor gatherings are limited to 5 people.
Personal care services, cinemas, and all indoor sports and fitness centers are completely closed.
The order is in effect for 28 days after which time it will be reevaluated.
Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland
Blue Water Arts Committee Want to Get Kids Hooked on Music
The Blue Water Arts Committee, affiliated with the Community Foundation of St. Clair County, is looking for ways to break down barriers that are keeping kids from getting involved in music.
They are offering grants to local nonprofits, schools, community organizations, service clubs, and churches that nurture musical pursuits in children in the community. Music can open doors to lifelong careers, hobbies, and connections for children and families.
The Blue Water Arts Committee wants to know how non-profits and groups can help to reach broader audiences for music, reach out to kids who want to explore music and get kids excited about music.
They also want to address the lack of access to instruments and increase the diversity of young musicians across the county, even in rural areas.
Organizations are asked to share how they reach out to children who have financial barriers to musical instruments or lessons, and how they strive to maintain a diverse group of young musicians.
Learning music at a young age is linked to greater self-confidence and concentration as well as improved communication and teamwork skills. Musical competency often carries over into schoolwork competency and it’s fun!
To learn more about the grant opportunities visit:
https://www.stclairfoundation.org/arts-committee-wants-more-kids-involved-in-music/
Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland
Sheriff’s Office Cracking Down on Texting while Driving
That text message can wait. Texting while driving is against the law because it is dangerous and deadly. The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office is targeting those who text and drive from now until April 12th.
The campaign is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Safety Administration’s “U Drive, U Text, U Pay” effort. The high-visibility law enforcement is part of a national campaign.
St. Clair County Sheriff Mat King said, “People know texting and driving is dangerous and illegal, but they do it anyway.”
King went on to say, “Deputies will be stopping and ticketing anyone who is caught texting and driving. We are not trying to rack up citations, we are trying to save lives.”
Texting and driving took at least 70 lives in 2019 and resulted in 18,096 crashes.
It is against Michigan law to read, type, or even send a text message while driving unless it is for reporting a crash, crime, or in the case of an emergency.
The fine is $100 for the first offense and $200 for subsequent offenses.
Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland
Free Meal Kits Available on Mondays During Virtual School
Port Huron, MI — With school going online for the next few weeks due to COVID cases in the area, the Port Huron Area School District is still offering nutrition to students.
The district is handing out five days’ worth of meal kits at a time. Any child in the district who is eighteen years of age or younger is eligible to receive the meals.
Food is available every Monday, starting April 12th, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at both the Port Huron Northern High School Performing Arts Center on Krafft Road and the Port Huron High School Performing Arts Center on 24th Street.
Parents can simply walk to the doors to pick up the food. They will need to tell the staff how many children they are getting food for. Children do not need to be present. If there are transportation or schedule issues, friends or family can pick up the meals for other families.
All children in the district are eligible to receive the meal kits. No proof of income is required.
Meals generally include milk, juice, a breakfast entrée, a lunch entrée, and fruit like applesauce or raisins. A link to the menu:
https://phasd.nutrislice.com/menu/port-huron-northern/pick-up-virtual-7-day-menu/2021-04-07
Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland
Secretary of State Takes Steps to Reduce Need for In-Person Appointments
Taking care of business with the Secretary of State is rarely something that is anticipated with great joy, but during the pandemic, it has been downright dreaded by most people. But Michigan residents can now take care of even more of their required Secretary of State business at self-service stations throughout the state.
Local self-service stations are found at the Secretary of State office on Krafft Road and inside the Marysville Meijer store.
New transactions offered include getting a standard or enhanced driver’s license or state ID if no new photo is required, printing out a temporary license or ID, signing up to be an organ donor, and others.
Other transactions have been streamlined recently. There is a new electronic lien and title program, making lien and title information available online for lienholders in lieu of a paper title if their financial institution participates in the program.
The licensing process for new drivers has been simplified to cut down on branch office visits. Student drivers are now issued a Level 1 photo license hard card, instead of a paper license and will receive their Level 2, 3, and operator’s licenses in the mail.
Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland