George James

Driving home from work is about to get more festive for Blue Water Area commuters. Those who drive I-94 to and from work or otherwise travel in the area of Busha Highway and Huron Boulevard will be seeing nearly 18,000 lights on the ITC transmission tower. 

ITC will be lighting up one of its 150 foot tall transmission towers tonight with a third of a mile of rope lights. Drivers will also be greeted by a 10 by 15 foot Happy Holidays sign from the huge transmission tower as well. 

ITC Michigan is the nation’s largest independent electricity transmission company with a system of 8,700 circuit miles of transmission lines. It also owns and operates the high-voltage electricity grid in most of the lower peninsula. ITC lights up ten of their high transmission towers throughout Michigan, so it is safe to say they know how to light things up. The tower will be lit up tonight and drivers can enjoy this holiday greeting every evening until January 3rd.

Reporting for WGRT, Kelsie Kaczperski.

Today is Cyber Monday and while there are certainly deals to be had, there are also scams to look out for. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has issued a consumer alert regarding a practice known as drop shipping. She describes it as “a ploy used by self-proclaimed entrepreneurs to skim off the top of holiday must-haves and other goods throughout the year. Sellers set up websites to peddle products they do not keep in stock and send orders placed through their sites to various third parties to fulfill and ship the product directly to the consumer – all while charging markup-ups of up to $50 or more.” 

While the practice is not necessarily illegal, it is not usually necessary because you can typically buy the product yourself. Drop shippers have no control over the inventory because they have none, so the product you ordered may arrive long after your expected delivery date. 

A common drop ship method is to advertise on social media and have pictures of fake products and fake storefronts while they are ordering the products online – just like you would do. 

Attorney General Nessel recommends that consumers “research the product and the seller of the product you want to purchase before you buy it; complete an online image search of the product and other images the seller has posted to their site to see where the product is coming from, how much it really costs, and who else is selling it; and compare prices for the same or similar products from other sellers.” If the price seems too good to be true, it is probably a counterfeit product.

Reporting for WGRT, Kelsie Kaczperski.

Lake FX Grill, on Military Street in Port Huron, has one of the best views on the St. Clair River. The seafood restaurant announced last week that it is switching up its business model to a seasonal restaurant. Owner Mike Taylor told us that there are two main reasons for the change. While the location is simply stunning in the summer, the location on one side of a divided road with no neighboring businesses has presented a challenge in the winter months. They also want to take advantage of the winter to plan for the spring, summer, and fall and really establish Lake FX as a destination for their unique seafood menu and entertainment, like live Jazz. 

Mr. Taylor told us that he wants to provide the “best product for guests” when they reopen in mid-April. Lake FX is able to host private parties and events while the restaurant is on winter break. The change to seasonal operation is common for waterfront restaurants in Michigan and it allows the owners to update the facility, work on the menu, and plan for this new chapter. 

Private events are available for booking at the restaurant and gift cards can be used when the restaurant reopens or at Lake FX’s sister restaurants, Fuel Woodfire Grill or Tio Gordos. Staff from Lake FX will be moving over to those restaurants as well.

Reporting for WGRT, Kelsie Kaczperski.

A local school is looking forward to some technology upgrades thanks to a big event that really paid off this year. St. Mary/McCormick Catholic Academy in Port Huron raised over $45,000 at its recent Fall Harvest Auction. The annual auction raises money for both the operating expenses of the school and special projects like technology upgrades. 

This year’s goal is to replace aging Smart Boards that are used in the preschool through eighth grade classrooms every single day and to update the computer lab which is used for mandatory state testing and building tech skills in students. Principal Mike Gibson told us that “We are living in a digital age where technology continues to become more and more advanced. We are still using textbooks in our classrooms, but we also know that we need our students to be prepared.”

The community has been rallying around this little local school for nearly two decades at their annual auction, where items are donated and then auctioned off and companies or families can buy sponsorships at the auction. Mr. Gibson told us that he is always amazed by the generosity and support that the school receives. The Fall Harvest Auction is one of many fundraisers that the parochial school holds, but it is by far the most successful, and this year was no exception.

Reporting for WGRT, Kelsie Kaczperski

Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday, which is a day that nonprofits look forward to as a national day of philanthropic activity. This year, you have countless opportunities to give, but there is a unique partnership on Giving Tuesday that lasts through the whole month and is a win for everyone. 

The event is called “Donor Doughnuts for Destiny” and is a partnership between SONS Outreach and Chef Shell’s Restaurant, catering in Downtown Port Huron. You will have a chance to support a local charity while enjoying some of the best doughnuts in town. 

SONS Outreach has been offering leadership development and recreational opportunities in Port Huron since 1992. When you make a donation to SONS Outreach you can receive a free coffee or hot chocolate and donut from Chef Shell’s. SONS founder, Tyron Burrell told us that his staff will be there to chat from noon to 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Businesses and organizations may receive a fresh dozen or two of Chef Shell’s delicious donuts by signing up for corporate sponsorship programs. 

Chef Shell herself, owner Michelle Wrubel, told us that she has known Tyrone and Laura Burrell since before SONS began and is thrilled to be partnering with the organization.

Reporting for WGRT, Kelsie Kaczperski.

There are two types of people during the holiday season. There are people that decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving, and those who refuse to decorate until after Turkey day. 

This debate has been going on for years as some people claim that people who decorate early are “skipping” Thanksgiving. It has led to the ultimate holiday question, “Is it really too early to decorate for Christmas?” 

As it turns out, psychologists confirmed that decorating can actually lift your mood. Psychologist Deborah Serani states that, “It does create that neurological shift that can produce happiness…” The feel-good hormone, dopamine, may actually spike while Christmas decorating. She also suggests that it might be due to color therapy which increases energy and boosts happiness. With bright lights and colors, how can you not smile at such a gleaming sight! 

Research has even shown that people who decorate their houses with lights outside actually cue that the people inside are sociable. 

So, there may be some things to consider before judging those that decorate early… You may want to decorate early now too! 

Adapted from the Today Show’s “Go ahead and put up the Christmas lights now! Science says it will make you happier” by Rheana Murray