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Local News

Census Shows that Families are Changing

The composition of the families that are gathering this Thanksgiving, whether in-person or virtual, is shown to have changed over time. The U.S. Census Bureau recently shared data on how the modern American family has changed over the past decade.

Like the Pilgrims, many Americans are recent immigrants. One in seven Americans were born outside of the United States. Most Americans have some branch of their family that has fairly recent immigration. Thirty-six million Americans are “first generation”, with their parents being immigrants, with 235 million (about 75%) able to trace their immigrant roots to their grandparents’ or earlier generations, according to the Census Bureau.

Family size is changing for the smaller. According to the 2019 American Community Survey, average family size declined from 3.27 persons in 2016 to 3.23 in 2019.

The 2020 Census is being prepared for submissionl right now and statistics will be analyzed and shared over the next several years. More information about families can be found at census.gov.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Downtown Port Huron Ready for Shoppers & Diners This Weekend

Downtown Port Huron business owners have their lights twinkling and their holiday spirit ready to welcome visitors this weekend for the Sperry’s Drive-Thru Santa Spectacle, Black Friday, and Small Business Saturday.

The Sperry’s Drive-Thru Santa Spectacle is a reverse parade staged in Pine Grove Park. Participants can register for a free timeslot to enter the parade route from McMorran Blvd. and travel north through the park in their own vehicle. For even more fun, participants are encouraged to decorate their cars as well. Register for your slot <HERE>.

Black Friday is always a big day for shopping, and shopping local businesses helps the local economy. Small Business Saturday is always the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and many stores will have extended hours to welcome guests. Special teddy bear themed holiday displays are in many of the Downtown shop windows, and bears can be adopted to support the nonprofit A Beautiful Me.

For those who enjoy holiday lights, the trees along Huron Avenue are sparkling, and the Christmas Tree is ready to view  in front of the Community Foundation of St. Clair County’s building in the corner of Huron and Lapeer Avenue.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

MDHHS Warns Against Thanksgiving Gatherings with Elderly

Thanksgiving is a time for gathering with loved ones and often a reunion of the generations within a family. But this year is different, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is asking families to look ahead to next Thanksgiving and take a break this year.

MDHHS Director Robert Gordon warned, “While we are advising everyone to avoid Thanksgiving gatherings beyond their own households, it’s especially critical that residents of nursing homes and other group homes remain in their homes during the holiday. If these individuals contract COVID while traveling, they run the risk of bringing it back to others who are especially vulnerable to illness and death. This year, please celebrate Thanksgiving by Zoom or by phone, and next year’s Thanksgiving will be better.”

Residents of long-term care facilities are not prohibited from leaving for Thanksgiving, but they are strongly encouraged to stay in place. Providers are encouraged to both educate about the risks of contracting COVID-19 and of the toll it takes on elderly populations and to facilitate phone and video calls to bring the generations together in a different way this year.  

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Effort to Stop Nestle’ Water Bottling Loses Appeal to EGLE

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, EGLE, has dismissed a case that challenged the permit that allowed Nestle’ Waters North America to increase water withdrawals. The company was granted a permit to ramp up water withdrawals from a source near Evart, Michigan, in 2018.

Currently, the company pays $200 to draw 130 million gallons of water per year. EGLE dismissed the appeal on the grounds that it should have been filed in circuit court.

EGLE Director Liesl Clark said, “EGLE remains committed to protecting our state’s valuable water resources, but as a regulatory agency we must act within our statutory authority. The Safe Drinking Water Act only allows EGLE to hold contested case hearings under very limited circumstances which are not present in this case.”

Clark went on to blame the previous administration for allowing the permit in the first place and called on the legislative branch to “update regulations to give the agency more authority over water withdrawals for bottled water and royalties to compensate Michiganders for the commercial use of the state’s freshwater resources.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Sperry’s Santa Spectacle Kicks Off Holiday Season

Port Huron, MI — There’s no Santa Parade this year, but that doesn’t mean kids won’t get a chance to see Santa and feel the magic of the holiday season. Port Huron Recreation Department will be organizing Sperry’s Drive-Thru Santa Spectacle on Friday, November 27th from 6 -8 p.m.

The Rec Department is not letting COVID take away the annual holiday kick-off. The drive-thru event is hoped to bring all of the lights and beauty of the season without the worries of maintaining social distance at a crowded public event.

Spectacle participants will be driving through Pine Grove Park, which will be donning the lights of the season. Typical parade attractions will be positioned along the route with Jolly old Saint Nick himself stationed at the end of the route.

The route starts at the south entrance of Pine Grove Park and ends at the north end of the park. Side streets will be closed. 

 To keep things running smoothly on the night of the drive-thru event, the Rec Department asks that you sign up for a time slot. The event is free to attend.

Light displays are sponsored by local businesses. The displays will be up from November 25th until January 2nd. 

https://rec.porthuron.org/ViewCourseActivityDetails.aspx… 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

VNA & Blue Water Hospice Kick Off Light Up a Life Campaign

Visiting Nurse Association & Blue Water Hospice just kicked-off their annual fundraising campaign, Light up a Life. From now until the end of December, you can support the organization by donating to their campaign and honoring a loved on on their Tree of Remembrance.

The Tree of Remembrance will be lit with a shining light for each donation, symbolizing the life, hope, and dreams of loved ones who have passed as well as those who cared for them. The tree is open for viewing in the Tom Lock Memorial Observatory on the grounds of the Blue Water Hospice Home in Marysville. It is lit daily between 5 – 7 PM from now until December 31st.

Donations to the campaign ensure that the VNA & Blue Water Hospice can continue to care for the community’s needs by providing charity nursing care and room & board at the hospice home.

To donate to the Light Up a Life campaign and honor a loved one, visit vnabwh.org/donate or call (810) 984-4131.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand