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Local News

Catalyst Communities Program Aims to Help Local Officials Deal with Climate Change

The Catalyst Communities program has been established by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). The program will provide local public health officials with education, training, and planning, as well as technical resources as they deal with climate impacts on emergency response and public health.

EGLE Director Liesl Clark said, “The impact of climate change is real. We’re seeing it in our pink skies from West Coast wildfires and in mosquito-borne diseases as well as severe weather that is made worse by high lake levels.” 

The program is a series of online classes for local officials. Sign up begins now for the program that starts in November. The topics covered include Emergency Preparedness, Adaptation Planning Resources, Economic Resilience, and Integrating Equity. After successfully completing the sessions, attendees will be better equipped to prepare their communities for potential climate impacts, according to EGLE. 

More information about Catalyst Communities can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EGLECatalystCommunities. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Hunter Hospitality House Plans New “Family House”

Port Huron non-profit, Hunter Hospitality House, is adding a third property to its roster of homes away from home for people who need to stay close to local hospitals.

HHH has announced the acquisition of a ranch style home next door to Lake Huron Medical Center. The house will be named the Hunter Hospitality Family House.

The organization saw the need for a house that was specifically designed for families, unlike their other properties that are more bed-and-breakfast style, more suitable for adults. The new home will be more comfortable for entire families to stay in while being close to loved ones in the hospital. While the house is near Lake Huron Medical Center, transportation to McLaren Port Huron is provided by HHH.

The house needs renovation. Roofing, flooring, construction, and landscaping all need professional attention. Donations of both time and talent will be needed to make the Family House a reality, just as those donations have sustained the other HHH properties.

The new house is scheduled to be opened on December 7, 2021, which is the 30th birthday of the late Hunter Willard, after whom the organization is named.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Michigan Downtown Day September 26, 2020

Governor Gretchen Whitmer proclaimed September 26th as Downtown Day in the State of Michigan as recognition that downtowns contribute significantly to resident’s quality of life.

The Michigan Downtown Association (MDA), a statewide nonprofit organization, believes that now, more than ever, “Michigan residents need to support downtowns and the businesses they contain by shopping, dining, attending an event, or volunteering.”

The MDA is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and they will begin a promotion on Downtown Day called “40 Ways in 40 Days to Love Downtown”.

Dana Walker, director of the MDA, said, ““The MDA believes Downtown Day will bring positive attention and recognition to small businesses and downtown cores. There are many opportunities for Michigan residents to safely support downtowns like strolling sidewalks, having a picnic in a park, ordering carryout, or leaving a positive review for a retail store on social media.”

The Downtown Development Authority of Port Huron along with local business owners are planning now so visitors and residents can have enjoyable day in Downtown Port Huron.

For more information visit www.michigandowntowns.com

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

 

Time Running Out to Complete 2020 Census

The final push by the U.S. Census Bureau to count the last of uncounted Americans is underway. The Bureau estimates that 91.8% of the population has been counted for the 2020 Census. 

According to statistics from the Census Bureau, Michigan has a 97% response rate at this point. Over 70% of those responses were considered “self responses”, with the remainder being contacted by the Census Bureau. Nationally, 65.8% of Americans are considered to be “self-responders”. 

In St. Clair County, the self-response rate is estimated to be around 76% so far, with 52.4% of respondents using the online option to complete the census.

According to the Census Bureau, “The results of the 2020 Census will help determine how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding flow into communities every year for the next decade.”

The census collection period is set to end on September 20 with reports being generated as soon as December 2020 and legislative redistricting counts done by March 31, 2021. Full reports can be found at https://2020census.gov/en/response-rates. 

Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland

Virtual “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” This Weekend

This year’s “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” is going on as planned this Saturday, September 19, but with a socially distant twist. Participants are asked to walk in their own neighborhoods or favorite park and take a picture of themselves while walking.

MaryBeth Fleury, President of the Dementia & Alzheimer’s Resource Committee, said that walkers can post their walk pictures on the Committee’s Facebook page and share who they are walking for or why they are walking.

Fleury said that the committee is not seeking donations from the walk this year due to the community’s financial strain under COVID-19 restrictions, but general donations are always accepted. The annual goal of raising awareness of Alzheimer’s continues this year even without the large fundraising gathering. 

The Dementia & Alzheimer’s Resource Committee was organized in 2014 by a local caregiver and advocate, Marcia Haynes, who realized that St. Clair County had some wonderful dementia care resources, but that collaboration was needed to get them together in one place to better serve the dementia caregiver.

 More information about the Dementia & Alzheimer’s Resource Committee can be found at www.darcscc.org. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

U.S. – Canada Border Closed Until October 21st

The Canada-U.S. border will remain closed to non-essential travel for another 30 days until October 21st. With the restrictions in place, all travel related to tourism, recreation, and entertainments is prohibited by land, water, air, and rail. This includes opening or checking on a cottage or seasonal home.

The restriction on discretionary travel was put in place on March 21st in an effort to mitigate COVID-19 transmission. According to the Canada Border Services Agency, during the week of August 31st to September 6, 2020, travel volumes were down 85% for those crossing via land, and 91% at airports compared to the same time a year ago. There are no restrictions on commercial traffic, but it was around 18% lower.

An online survey of 1,000 Canadians done by Research Co. found that 90% agreed with the closure, though the tourism industry has been negatively affected in both countries.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand