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Local News

Nutcracker and Festival of Trees Cancelled

Port Huron, MI — It’s only July, but community Christmas events are already feeling the effects of COVID-19. Both the Festival of Trees and the Nutcracker Ballet have been cancelled for this year. The events are staples in the Port Huron area during the Christmas season and the planning for both begins much earlier in the year.

The Festival of Trees is a major fundraiser for the McLaren Port Huron Hospital Foundation and has featured a black-tie preview party and a weekend of community activities.

Sara J. Tait, Director of the McLaren Port Huron Foundation said, “We have had to make some very difficult decisions about proceeding with large-scale events for the remainder of the year.” Tait also said, “We are discussing various ways we might be able to extend family-oriented activities that are still designed to kick-off the holiday season.  More information will be shared when details are finalized.”

The Nutcracker Ballet, often held the same weekend as the Festival of Trees, has also been shelved for the year for the same reasons: to protect the cast, crew, and audience from the COVID-19 virus.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Nursing Home Safety Remains a Concern

The question of the safety and ethics of moving COVID patients to nursing homes is inching closer to a solution. Several actions have taken place this week by the Governor, Lawmakers, and Nursing Home Advocacy groups.

Executive Order 2020-148 maintains the current guidelines for nursing home safety, including protections for employees, dedicated units for COVID patients, and adequate PPE. The order extends to August 10.

Meanwhile, The Michigan House of Representatives Health Policy Committee heard testimony regarding legislation that would tighten restrictions, address the quality of the nursing homes that served as regional hubs, and put pressure on the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to be held accountable for instituting safeguards and monitoring facilities.

Also this week, a letter was sent from the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living to the National Governors Association sounding the alarm for “imminent outbreaks at nursing homes and assisted living facilities”. The trade group would like faster and better testing, more N-95 masks, and coordinated efforts to let visitors back in.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

No “Rockin’ the Rivers” This Year

Another staple of summer in Port Huron has been erased from the 2020 calendar. Rockin’ the Rivers Summer Concert Series has been shut down.

The free concerts typically bring in around 2,000 people downtown and have been going strong since 2009. The event far exceeds the 250-person cap on outdoor events under the latest Executive Order form Governor Whitmer.

In a statement announcing the cancellation, City Manager James Freed said, “The Recreation Department loves providing events such as Rockin’ the Rivers for members of our community. Our focus is largely on fun, active and safe recreational opportunities for everyone. This year, we need to work a little differently to continue to maintain and protect the health of our community members. We want everyone to be safe and healthy so that we can all continue to enjoy events like these for years to come. We look forward to putting on an incredible series of shows in 2021 and safely rockin’ again next summer.”

The Port Huron Recreation Department has been forced to drastically scale back its offerings this summer. The calendar is usually filled with activities for all ages, but due to COVID-19 related orders and the financial repercussions, much has been cancelled.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Local Non-Profit to Begin Selling Ice Cream at Pine Grove Park

Port Huron, MI — Ice Cream is coming to Pine Grove Park. Touchstone Services has been awarded the contract to operate the snack bar and ice cream concession stand in the park. Touchstone Services is a non-profit that operates A Little Something ice cream and gift shop in downtown Port Huron.

The City of Port Huron has made a deal with Touchstone Services to use the space to sell ice cream and snacks in return for their cleaning the bathrooms and emptying the trash. Touchstone has experience operating facilities such as the Pine Grove concession stand, according to a memo from City Manager James Freed.

Touchstone Services operates an affiliate with Clubhouse International which provides opportunities for people living with mental illness to gain friendships, employment, housing, education, and access to services.

The non-profit will be selling Ashby’s Ice Cream, hot dogs, nachos, candy, and beverages at the stand. They are hoping to open next week. Pine Grove Park is located on Pine Grove Avenue on the St. Clair River across from McLaren Hospital.  A new concessions and bathroom building was recently constructed in the park.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Senate Bills to Address Use of Emergency Alert System and Clarify Mask Exemptions

The use of the emergency alert system and mask exemption have both been called into question. 

New legislation is being introduced in the Michigan State Senate to prohibit the use of the state’s emergency alert system for anything other than imminent emergencies and to clarify mask exemptions. If you have a smartphone, you probably got an emergency alert on Monday afternoon telling you to fight COVID by wearing a mask in public, emphasizing the word “required” and mentioning “limited exemptions”.

Shelby Township Senator Peter J. Lucido, sponsor of the legislation, said, “Throughout this pandemic, Governor Whitmer has overwhelmed the public with emergency broadcast alerts to instill fear and intimidate people into complying with her declarations and executive orders. This is an overt abuse of a service designed to alert people of legitimate emergencies — the governor has gone beyond the scope and intent of the law and is now somewhere over the rainbow and approaching Oz.”

A second piece of legislation is meant to clarify the exemptions to the face mask requirement, especially when a business is confronted with a customer who claims exemption. Lucido said his bill will fix vagueness in the bill and prevent misunderstandings. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

NJCAA Adjusts Sports Seasons

Sports are going to look a little different at St. Clair County Community College and all other colleges that are members of the National Junior College Athletic Association. The NJCAA has announced an adjusted plan of action for the 2020-21 academic year.

According to NJCAA President and CEO, Dr. Christopher Parker, “Through a unified effort from our Presidential Advisory Council, the Board of Regents, and leadership staff, our most recent plan of action provides a path that keeps our student-athletes competing at the highest level with proper safety measures in place. As we move forward as an association, we will continue to provide opportunities for our student-athletes, coaches, and all those involved with the NJCAA to be safe and successful.”

Close-contact fall sports, like soccer and volleyball will move to spring semester. Cross Country will still compete in the fall. Winter sports are expected to begin in January with the Championship seasons moved to March or April. This includes men’s and women’s basketball and bowling. Baseball and softball seasons are expected to remain intact.

SC4 also has affiliation with the Michigan Community College Athletic Association, which supports the move by the NJCAA.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland