Local News

Executive Director of Council on Aging Serving St. Clair County Scott Crawford expressed gratitude to members of the Mainstreet Memories Car Show committee on Tuesday night after being presented with a check for $30,200. The gift was contributed after another successful year for Mainstreet Memories, the group behind the biggest car show in Port Huron.

This year’s car show happened on July 30, 2022, and drew 866 vehicles to the grassy area near Vantage Point. One hundred years of car history were represented at the show from a 1922 Ford to a 2022 Corvette.

Ron Steward, President of Mainstreet Memories, said car enthusiasts showed up from Florida, Georgia, Ohio, and Canada along with 147 cities and communities in Michigan.

The event had 138 sponsors which helped them raise a total of $63,750. After settling their costs and setting aside funds for the 2023 car show, the group was excited to pass the rest to the Council on Aging.

The Council on Aging provides a variety of services for St. Clair County seniors including Meals on Wheels, transportation to doctor appointments and stores, chore services, and home repairs. They also run the Foster Grandparent program that places classroom aides in Head Start and other programs that work with at-risk children.

Scott Crawford said that although the agencies funding and millage support goes a long way to provide their services, donations like the one from Main Street Memories helps cover the gaps. It allows them to provide more meals to more seniors, fix and replace items at their downtown Port Huron Senior Center, and other unforeseen costs that arise.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

State Rep. Andrew Beeler, R-Port Huron, who serves on the House Tax Policy Committee, issued the following statement criticizing Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s new call for a sales tax suspension on school supplies after she previously vetoed three bipartisan tax relief plans passed by the Legislature:

“Gov. Whitmer consistently wields her veto pen like a sword to dispose of tax relief. As we’ve now seen, she’ll also occasionally have her team write up statements about taxes to try to shift the narrative. For someone who claims to want tax cuts, she sure has vetoed a lot of tax cuts.

“Taxpayers face an economy in the throes of inflation, and I’ve voted for several plans to slash people’s taxes. The governor has only been interested in slashing apart any relief plan sent her way. She should be more committed to actually cutting taxes than simply talking about them.”

Beeler and his legislative colleagues earlier this year approved two different plans for income tax relief, with increased savings for seniors and families, as well as a plan to pause the state’s gas tax of 27 cents per gallon for six months. Whitmer vetoed all three, despite the bipartisan support they received in the Legislature.

Submitted by Rep. Beeler’s office

Have you had the desire to serve your community but not sure where or how to get started? The Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce is holding its fourth annual Volunteer Recruitment Fair at St. Clair County Community College. The event will be held September 30th from 10 – 2 PM and is free to people of all ages. 

After a two year hiatus, the event returns featuring up to 25 local charities, ensuring that those in attendance will find an opportunity fitting their abilities and interests.

Executive Director of Hunter Hospitality House, Tracy Willard, says, “It’s the perfect place to start if you’ve been thinking about volunteering, but want more information.”

For more information, call the Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce at (810) 985-7101.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

Port Huron Town Hall is gearing up for their 2022 season bringing a variety of speakers to inform and inspire guests. This year’s September 12th kickoff features model, actress, and author, Brooke Shields.

Shields is the founder of Beginning is Now, a growing online community of women exploring a variety of topics while learning to live life to the fullest. Award-winning television broadcaster Chuck Gaidica will be moderating the Town Hall with Shields for a unique discussion-style event.

Susan Tisdel, head of promotions for Port Huron Town Hall, said, “Pairing Chuck Gaidica with Brooke Shields adds a really fun dimension to the program. He has been beloved for decades in our area, and his focus of continued innovation in his “second half” of life is inspiring and complements well with Brooke Shields’ mission. They should present a lively duo to the Town Hall community.”

Tickets are now available at McMorran.com or at the McMorran box office. Season tickets for all four performances in the series are $120 – 135 for the show only or $245 – 260 for the show plus the luncheon that follows. Season ticket information is available at PortHuronTownHall.com.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

A unique event will be making a splash in Port Lambton, Ontario this weekend, and visitors will be able to get into the nautical spirit by dressing up and meeting a group of (kind of) real live mermaids.

Kern Water’s Mermaids and Mariners on the St. Clair will happen along the shores of Brander Park in Port Lambton, and the event boasts artisan & maker areas, a Grub Grotto food truck area, boat displays, and so many mermaids!

Over 20 mermaids will be “swimming in from Toronto to Pennsylvania, and our local waters in between!”

Founder Sherri deWolf said, “We are blown out of the water by the interest and support shown by our local community volunteers and businesses in helping to launch this ship! We are over the waves to come together as a community to #SHELLebratetheshoreline that we call HOME here in beautiful St. Clair Township! Come out and enjoy the park, splash pad, vendors, food, entertainment and, of course, the view! There truly is something for everyone!”

The event received a grant from Lambton County’s Creative County program and has had help with promotions from Tourism Sarnia-Lambton.

Learn more at mermaidsandmariners.ca.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand