George James

Hunter Hospitality House Plans New “Family House”

Port Huron non-profit, Hunter Hospitality House, is adding a third property to its roster of homes away from home for people who need to stay close to local hospitals.

HHH has announced the acquisition of a ranch style home next door to Lake Huron Medical Center. The house will be named the Hunter Hospitality Family House.

The organization saw the need for a house that was specifically designed for families, unlike their other properties that are more bed-and-breakfast style, more suitable for adults. The new home will be more comfortable for entire families to stay in while being close to loved ones in the hospital. While the house is near Lake Huron Medical Center, transportation to McLaren Port Huron is provided by HHH.

The house needs renovation. Roofing, flooring, construction, and landscaping all need professional attention. Donations of both time and talent will be needed to make the Family House a reality, just as those donations have sustained the other HHH properties.

The new house is scheduled to be opened on December 7, 2021, which is the 30th birthday of the late Hunter Willard, after whom the organization is named.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Time Running Out to Complete 2020 Census

The final push by the U.S. Census Bureau to count the last of uncounted Americans is underway. The Bureau estimates that 91.8% of the population has been counted for the 2020 Census. 

According to statistics from the Census Bureau, Michigan has a 97% response rate at this point. Over 70% of those responses were considered “self responses”, with the remainder being contacted by the Census Bureau. Nationally, 65.8% of Americans are considered to be “self-responders”. 

In St. Clair County, the self-response rate is estimated to be around 76% so far, with 52.4% of respondents using the online option to complete the census.

According to the Census Bureau, “The results of the 2020 Census will help determine how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding flow into communities every year for the next decade.”

The census collection period is set to end on September 20 with reports being generated as soon as December 2020 and legislative redistricting counts done by March 31, 2021. Full reports can be found at https://2020census.gov/en/response-rates. 

Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland

Virtual “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” This Weekend

This year’s “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” is going on as planned this Saturday, September 19, but with a socially distant twist. Participants are asked to walk in their own neighborhoods or favorite park and take a picture of themselves while walking.

MaryBeth Fleury, President of the Dementia & Alzheimer’s Resource Committee, said that walkers can post their walk pictures on the Committee’s Facebook page and share who they are walking for or why they are walking.

Fleury said that the committee is not seeking donations from the walk this year due to the community’s financial strain under COVID-19 restrictions, but general donations are always accepted. The annual goal of raising awareness of Alzheimer’s continues this year even without the large fundraising gathering. 

The Dementia & Alzheimer’s Resource Committee was organized in 2014 by a local caregiver and advocate, Marcia Haynes, who realized that St. Clair County had some wonderful dementia care resources, but that collaboration was needed to get them together in one place to better serve the dementia caregiver.

 More information about the Dementia & Alzheimer’s Resource Committee can be found at www.darcscc.org. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

“A Beautiful Me” Turns to Pen and Paper to Reach Out to Local Youth

A Beautiful Me has launched a new Pen Pal Program to reach out to local girls who may be feeling isolated and alone in the era of social distancing.

When everything seems to be online and virtual, A Beautiful Me, a local non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of girls in the community, has turned to old-fashioned snail mail. Twenty-five volunteers have written letters, filled envelopes, and provided an opportunity to keep the “Pen Pal” relationship going.  

Jenna Hayre, a young adult volunteer and alumna of the program, said, “I wish I could see the expression on the faces of the girls who receive these cards — as they open up the envelopes and are spontaneously encouraged.”

The volunteers are background checked and the messages in the letters adhere to the driving philosophy of A Beautiful Me, to develop confidence and empowerment for girls in grades 3-12.

The recipients of the letters are the 375 girls who participated in the “be-YOU-tiful” workshop series from 2018-2020 in Macomb, St. Clair, Oakland, Genesee, Livingston, Wayne, and Lapeer counties.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Aerial Mosquito Spraying Planned as Eastern Equine Encephalitis Risk Grows

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development have enacted an emergency rule that allows for application of pesticide without notification and will start aerial pesticide treatment for mosquitos, starting the night of September 16. The spraying will take place in high risk areas of Michigan.

The spraying will not take place in St. Clair County at this point. It is planned for Barry, Clare, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo and Oakland counties. Those counties are being targeted because Eastern Equine Encephalitis has been found in 22 horses in the areas.

The disease is easily transmitted to humans from infected mosquitos and is twice as prevalent in horses this year compared to last year. Eastern Equine Encephalitis has a 33% mortality rate in humans and is particularly serious for children and older adults.

Planes will be dropping an “ultra-low volume” pesticide, Merus 3.0, a 5% pyrethrin that is botanically extracted, that kills mosquitoes on contact. It will be sprayed from dusk to dawn.

More information can be found at michigan.gov.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Port Huron Museums Fall Schedule Announced

Port Huron, MI — A fall line-up has been announced by Port Huron Museums. The fall schedule has several new events for the community, keeping social distancing in mind.

While the Huron Lightship is currently closed for repairs, the Thomas Edison Depot, Carnegie Center, and Fort Gratiot Light Station are open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 4:00 p.m.

The Museum is offering guided trolley tours with a variety of topics. Private tours can be arranged with history experts Dave Dazer or Andrew Kercher to get an inside look at Port Huron’s rich history while enjoying a ride in the trolley.

Pioneer Day is not cancelled this year, but will be held in keeping with social distancing mandates. The ticketed event will feature candle making and a lesson in the history of the 1850s era Kammer log cabin. The family friendly event runs from 1:00-3:00 p.m. on September 26th on the grounds of the Museum in Downtown Port Huron.

Information and reservations for events can be found at phmuseum.org.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland