George James

A north end Port Huron neighborhood takes their Christmas lights very seriously. The Sherman Woods neighborhood, located between Gratiot Avenue and Lake Huron, is known for its over the top light display with giant lit orbs hanging from the trees and impressive light displays on individual homeowners’ properties throughout the neighborhood. The light display has been growing and changing for many years, but this is the fourth year where the neighborhood has added “giving back” to their tradition. 

Last year, the Salvation Army received about $3,000 from the Sherman Woods placement. Donations are used to support the many programs of the Salvation Army, from Christmas deliveries of clothes, food, and toys, to summer camps, youth programs, and adult rehabilitation programs. Fred Kemp, Sherman Woods Homeowners Association president, said, “Our residents are proud of their displays and have been generous with their time and money to give back to the community.  Holiday season visitors to our neighborhood have also been generous with their contributions.” 

The Salvation Army will have a Red Kettle placed in the subdivision and the kettle will be manned by neighborhood residents. The kettle will be there for donations both this coming weekend, December 6 and 7, and the next weekend, December 13 and 14, from 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Reporting for WGRT, Kelsie Kaczperski.

The Blue Water Recovery Outreach Center Positive Impact Team is building a skating rink at Lincoln Park, on Port Huron’s south side. The team is made up of community members and people who are in recovery from substance abuse. These addiction survivors are trying to rebuild their lives by building relationships and one way to do that is through volunteering. 

The team is getting some help with the rink through partnerships with SMR Automotive, Blue Water Transit, D&M Dumpsters, and the City of Port Huron. The 100 by 100-foot ice rink will be constructed on December 22. The project was staked out earlier this week and many neighbors came out to see what was going on and were thrilled by the idea of an ice rink. There is already lighting in the park, and there is a fire hydrant nearby to make filling the rink easy. 

The Positive Impact Team was formed about a month ago and is dedicated to improving both the community and those in recovery. The team spent a few weeks getting approval from the city and collaborating with business partners to get the project started. Once the temperatures stay below freezing, as they usually do, skaters can look forward to a new place to skate outdoors.

Reporting for WGRT, Kelsie Kaczperski.

A historic event took place this week with a memorandum of understanding signed between the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe. The tribe will now manage the Sanilac Petroglyphs Historic State Park near Cass City in Sanilac County. This is the first state/tribal co-management of a state park in Michigan. DNR Director Daniel Eichinger, cosigner of the Memorandum of Understanding said that, “This partnership is a major step forward in strengthening the authentic interpretation of the Sanilac Petroglyphs site, which speaks to the connections of humankind to nature and the earth.”

The petroglyphs have been managed by the DNR since 1971. Petroglyphs are stone carvings dating back around 1400 years and are believed to be a part of a sacred site to the Anishinabe and part of the history of the Saginaw Chippewa tribe. Tribal elder, Bonnie Ekdahl, is quoted in a press release from the DNR as saying, “We know our Ancestors were thinking of us when they left the lessons in stone”. The tribe and the state are pursuing using advanced technology to record the carvings, as they are fading and weathering over time. You can check out the petroglyphs for yourself when the park is open over the summer months.

Reporting for WGRT, Kelsie Kaczperski.

If you are looking for a place to donate your used ice skates, sleds, or other winter equipment, Port Huron Recreation Department’s Sport Port will gladly take it. The items will be able to be checked out by families and returned when they are done. 

Sport Port Coordinator, Delaney Houle, told us that children simply need to have a parent or guardian register them before they check out the equipment and then they are all set to have fun on the snow or ice. 

Sport Port is based in the Pro Shop in the McMorran Arena in Downtown Port Huron. The program’s goal is to share sports equipment with local youth at no cost. They hope to expand opportunities for children to play inside and out, but to do that, they need your help. 

Sport Port is looking for winter gear like snowshoes, hockey equipment, and anything else for outdoor fun. Items can be used or new, so when you are cleaning out closets to get ready for your holiday guests, send those old sleds and ice skates over to Sport Port at McMorran and make local kids happy. There is no deadline for donating. Items are always being accepted during McMorran’s normal business hours.

Reporting for WGRT, Kelsie Kaczperski.

A local woman has been recognized for her contributions to the business community of the Blue Water area and for her personal integrity. Jessica McLarty was named the 2019 Woman of the Year by the Port Huron Chapter of the National Association of Career Women. 

The NACW is a nonprofit organization devoted to the enhancement of women’s personal and professional development. Their mission is to create an enriching environment for career women to share, grow and build professional and personal relationships to enable them to reach their full potential. 

Ms. McLarty was recognized as a “woman whose conduct exemplifies the highest standards, personally and professionally, while remaining active in her career” according to a statement from the organization. They also said she “continually goes out of her way to help and mentor others and demonstrates selfless contributions of kindness, time and energy so that others may succeed.” Ms. McLarty is the Vice President of Commercial Loans at Eastern Michigan Bank and is involved in many community groups. She is also the Vice-President of the National Board of the NACW.

Reporting for WGRT, Kelsie Kaczperski.

Two new efforts are underway to give hope to families coping with a loved one with opioid addiction. Opioid addiction is an epidemic throughout the nation and unfortunately, the Blue Water Area has not escaped its grip. 

As of yesterday, one effort is the removal of a prior authorization requirement. In the past, those who were ready to try to kick the habit had to wait to get preauthorization for the withdrawal medication if they were Medicaid recipients, and this waiting period could delay recovery. In a statement from the agency, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Chief Medical Executive and Chief Deputy for Health for MDHHS, said that “By eliminating this requirement, medical providers will be empowered to help people begin treatment when they are ready and increase their chances of a successful recovery.” 

The other effort is in the naming of the disease. Opioid addicts are from all walks of life, often starting their addiction with legal treatment for injuries or medical procedures. Some people are more prone to developing an addiction than others, and the MDHHS now refers to the addiction as the opioid use disorder. This simple name change is hoped to help reduce the stigma and encourage people to get the help they need to live in recovery. You will be seeing a statewide multimedia campaign intended to raise awareness and reduce stigma for those seeking help throughout early 2020.

Reporting for WGRT, Kelsie Kaczperski.