George James

Constantly throwing out plastic bags? Instead of throwing them out, why not donate them to those in need. 

For the past year and a half, Mats That Matter has helped to support those who may be less fortunate with mats made from your typical grocery bag. These mats are water resistant, bug proof, and provide insulating properties. 

ebw.tv had the chance to get the inside scoop with Nancy Klemmer, Co-Organizer of Mats That Matter. Nancy explained in the interview that they have been able to give out roughly 230 mats and that each mat uses about 700 plastic bags. 

Working with Colonial Woods, Mats that Matter could use all the help they can get. Although it is an easy process, it is quite time consuming. All skill levels are welcome to come and volunteer to help cut bags while meeting new people and helping support the community. 

If you’re looking to donate plastic bags, you can drop them off at the Council on Aging. Learn more in this feature.

The Port Huron Old Newsboys have been providing essentials like shoes, socks, and underwear to local children since 1927 and have no intention of stopping anytime soon. They survive solely on donations and volunteer service. You may recall seeing the Old Newsboys, their name coming from their status as newspaper carriers in their youth, standing on street corners to collect donations around this time of year. 

As the times have changed, so have the Old Newsboys. While they will no longer be standing at stoplights and street corners, they are definitely still running their campaign. As technology changes and print newspapers are fading away, the Old Newsboys have adapted as well. Donations can now be made online and at collection locations throughout the Blue Water Area, such as Eastern Michigan Bank and Power’s Diner.

The full list is on their facebook page. Families receive vouchers from the Old Newsboys which they take to the Fort Gratiot Meijer store to pick out their new items. The Old Newsboys are hoping to raise $70,000, 98.5% of which they report goes toward those essential shoes, boots, socks, and undergarments for local children.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

There has been speculation about what would move into the former Toys “R” Us building in Fort Gratiot Township since the former business closed. The wait is over as the Economic Development Alliance of St. Clair County has confirmed that Godwin’s Furniture has acquired the building. 

The Michigan-based business was founded in 1948 when two brothers left the coal fields of Wales to pursue a better life in the United States. They first purchased a modest grocery store in Saginaw, Michigan and over the years, the family watched the township grow out and around the store. 

Godwin’s has grown to 10 stores in mid-Michigan including locations in Lapeer, Midland and Flint. The Fort Gratiot Township location will be store number 11. Fort Gratiot Township Community Development Director Sharon Wilton said the company contacted the township about six weeks ago. At this time, there is no official move-in date. The property is located at 4235 24th Avenue across from Birchwood Mall.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

A local pair of bakers will soon be featured on Netflix’s hit show, Sugar Rush. Jim Ford was originally contacted in October 2018 by Sugar Rush casting after they saw his Facebook page, Jimmy’s Sweets, LLC. When he found out it was a team competition, he called Katlin Pfropper to ask her to be his partner.

Katlin, a St. Clair High School graduate, decided to join Jim, who’s originally from Flint, in submitting a long application to the show. The process also required photos of their work, a couple of phone interviews, and some Skype sessions before they were selected. The two recorded in Hollywood back in February, and now it’s almost ready for showtime. 

According to Pfropper, when people watch the show, they can expect a very fast-paced, Christmas themed competition with a lot of fun, sugary creations. Jim and Katlin are frantically running about, racing against the clock to complete their tasks, so it should be pretty fun to watch. The show consists of three rounds and four teams. After each round is completed, a team gets eliminated. The final winner of the show will take home $10,000. 

Because of the kickoff with the show and past experience, Katlin recently started a business called “Pfrosted” that combines her cake and ice carving skills. You can catch Katlin and Jim on Sugar Rush when it airs on Netflix November 29th. You can see the trailer for the show on YouTube <HERE>!

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

Hunter Hospitality House recently received a grant that will help it care for the most vulnerable of its clients. The Port Huron Rotary Club recently awarded a $1,000 grant to the local facility to keep their vehicle up and running. 

Hunter Hospitality Houses are located as close as they can be to both McLaren Port Huron and Lake Huron Medical Center and provide free lodging to those getting treatment at the hospitals and their loved ones. The people who use the house may still need a ride to the hospitals. According to Co-Founder and Executive Director, Tracy Willard, even though the houses are close, the clients are often elderly, new mothers who just had a C-section, or people who are otherwise physically unable to make the walk over to the hospital. Sometimes the weather is just too bad for a safe walk for people who are experiencing a health crisis. 

Hunter Hospitality bought a vehicle in January of this year and has used it extensively for transporting guests and carrying out the business of running the houses. The cost of the vehicle is around $4000 per year. The Port Huron Rotary Club has been assisting local non-profits in the area since 1920.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

Redistricting was a hot topic at this time last year, when Michigan voters took to the polls to amend the constitution to empower an independent commission to redraw the state Senate, House, and U.S. Congressional districts in time for the 2022 election. 

That commission is in the early stages of formation and interested citizens can apply online or by paper application from now until June. The entire commission will consist of 13 voters, four of whom identify as Republican, four as Democrats, and five as independent voters, with no party affiliation. Members can not be directly tied to the parties as lobbyists, candidates, or politicians. 

There will be a series of random drawings to choose the members. Information from the 2020 Federal Census will be used in the redistricting effort, and there will be efforts made to have fair demographic representation. The attempt to reduce gerrymandering, or the practice of drawing boundaries for political gains, is hoped to be complete by November of 2021. 

The process will be overseen by a third-party accounting firm, the Rehmann Group. To ensure that Michiganders are aware of the opportunity to be a part of the redistricting commission, 250,000 randomly chosen registered voters will be getting a mailing with the application instructions, so check your mail to see if you are part of this group. More information is on the Secretary of State website.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.