George James

For young people, it can be inspiring to meet those in public office. Karen Palka, Executive Director of A Beautiful Me, recently took several young teenage girls on a field trip to the state capitol and met some of our leaders. The group had a chance to visit with Senator Pete Lucido, Representative Shane Hernandez, and Governor Gretchen Whitmer. They visited as part of the Fly 360 field trip. “Fly 360” is the educational arm for The Closet by A Beautiful Me. It was created for high school teens to continue building their self-worth and value through experiences. This training includes life-skills elements in business training, philanthropy education, and social enterprise. The girls that went to the capitol ranged in age from 12 to 20. After touring the capitol building, they also learned the legislative process from elected officials. The tour culminated in a meeting with Governor Whitmer. Palka said the girls selected questions to ask the Governor. The questions helped to show the girls that elected officials are real people with many of the same hopes and dreams that we all have. Palka went on to say that A Beautiful Me equips young girls to be successful, confident, young women.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services in partnership with local agencies including the St. Clair County Health Department and others around the Thumb Area, are inviting the community to participate in a town hall forum in September. The purpose of this meeting will be creating strong partnerships to better support Michigan families with a focus on helping mothers and babies have the best possible outcomes. The forum is being held at 7 locations around the thumb of Michigan, including the St. Clair County Health Department, where participants will be asked to give input and support for the Mother Infant Health & Equity Improvement Plan. The presenters will use data and storytelling, they say, to create strong partnerships that support Michigan families and lead to the best possible outcomes for moms and babies. Registration is requested and can be found on the St. Clair County Health Department page.

Wales Center Road over the south branch of the Pine River, between Morriss Road and Lapeer Road in Wales Township, will be closed to traffic starting on August 26th.  Work will include removing the existing bridge, installing a new 3-sided concrete culvert, new asphalt pavement, aggregate shoulders, pavement markings and restoration.  Wales Center Road will be closed for 65 days and Through traffic will not be allowed on Wales Center during construction. Local residents and emergency vehicles will have access up to the bridge from either Lapeer Road or Morriss Road.  The detour will be Morriss Road, Goodells Road and Lapeer Road.  Officials say that access will be maintained to local traffic within the construction zone, including homes and businesses, during the closure. Local residents are encouraged to plan for delays due to construction.

Plans for the Hotel Harrington were shared with the Historic District Commission in Port Huron at their regular monthly meeting yesterday.  The commission is responsible for reviewing all plans for structures in the Historic District.  At their meeting yesterday, they reviewed a request from Vince Cataldo a principal and architect at Virtuoso Design and Build and founding Owner of Infuz Ltd.  Mr. Cataldo’s company was hired by the owners of the historic hotel as it’s architect in the Hotel Harrington process. Cataldo described plans to perform a complete exterior rehabilitation of the Hotel Harrington.  Cataldo said that because the project received a federal tax credit hotel plans had been previously reviewed by the federal park service.  Those same plans were presented and approved by the commission. Local developer and commercial realtor Gerry Kramer said projects like the Hotel Harrington have to follow a strict set of rehabilitation guidelines or else some funding may be in jeopardy.

Local leaders and residents took to the waters on Monday for a legislative kayak on the Belle River and the St. Clair River.  Hosted by Michigan Trails and Greenways, the route took the kayakers south on the Belle River to the St. Clair River, then back north to the Marine City Beach.  It was the fourth time that the group has put on the event, but the first time for our area.  The Community Foundation of St. Clair County sponsored the cost of renting the Kayaks.  Lori Eschenburg of the St. Clair County Planning Commission and Blueways of St. Clair said the event was attended by local officials and departments such as the DNR.  She went on to say that State Senator Dan Lauwers presented Blueways of St. Clair with a proclamation making August 19th Michigan Water Trail Day.  Ms. Eschenburg noted that there is also a Legislative Bike Day, and Hike Day as well.  The aim of each day is to promote through lawmakers and officials the beauty of Michigan’s natural resources in different parts of the state.

Tuesday, November 6, area residents will head to the polls to fill seats in a number of areas. Eight candidates are on the ballot for three open Port Huron City Council seats. These include, incumbent Councilwomen Anita Ashford, and Teri Lamb, who was a mid-term appointee, up against newcomers Lisa Beedon, Jon Hardman, Bob Mosurak, Art Payne, Jeff Pemberton and Marissa Williams. Councilman Rico Ruiz is not seeking re-election. Jon Hardman says he feels the years he spent away from the city gave him an opportunity to see how other cities handled business, and having worked in marketing and the concert business for a number of years,  he feels would be a great asset in helping the city develop ways to attract people to the city.