Local News

A local school is looking forward to some technology upgrades thanks to a big event that really paid off this year. St. Mary/McCormick Catholic Academy in Port Huron raised over $45,000 at its recent Fall Harvest Auction. The annual auction raises money for both the operating expenses of the school and special projects like technology upgrades. 

This year’s goal is to replace aging Smart Boards that are used in the preschool through eighth grade classrooms every single day and to update the computer lab which is used for mandatory state testing and building tech skills in students. Principal Mike Gibson told us that “We are living in a digital age where technology continues to become more and more advanced. We are still using textbooks in our classrooms, but we also know that we need our students to be prepared.”

The community has been rallying around this little local school for nearly two decades at their annual auction, where items are donated and then auctioned off and companies or families can buy sponsorships at the auction. Mr. Gibson told us that he is always amazed by the generosity and support that the school receives. The Fall Harvest Auction is one of many fundraisers that the parochial school holds, but it is by far the most successful, and this year was no exception.

Reporting for WGRT, Kelsie Kaczperski

Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday, which is a day that nonprofits look forward to as a national day of philanthropic activity. This year, you have countless opportunities to give, but there is a unique partnership on Giving Tuesday that lasts through the whole month and is a win for everyone. 

The event is called “Donor Doughnuts for Destiny” and is a partnership between SONS Outreach and Chef Shell’s Restaurant, catering in Downtown Port Huron. You will have a chance to support a local charity while enjoying some of the best doughnuts in town. 

SONS Outreach has been offering leadership development and recreational opportunities in Port Huron since 1992. When you make a donation to SONS Outreach you can receive a free coffee or hot chocolate and donut from Chef Shell’s. SONS founder, Tyron Burrell told us that his staff will be there to chat from noon to 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Businesses and organizations may receive a fresh dozen or two of Chef Shell’s delicious donuts by signing up for corporate sponsorship programs. 

Chef Shell herself, owner Michelle Wrubel, told us that she has known Tyrone and Laura Burrell since before SONS began and is thrilled to be partnering with the organization.

Reporting for WGRT, Kelsie Kaczperski.

There are two types of people during the holiday season. There are people that decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving, and those who refuse to decorate until after Turkey day. 

This debate has been going on for years as some people claim that people who decorate early are “skipping” Thanksgiving. It has led to the ultimate holiday question, “Is it really too early to decorate for Christmas?” 

As it turns out, psychologists confirmed that decorating can actually lift your mood. Psychologist Deborah Serani states that, “It does create that neurological shift that can produce happiness…” The feel-good hormone, dopamine, may actually spike while Christmas decorating. She also suggests that it might be due to color therapy which increases energy and boosts happiness. With bright lights and colors, how can you not smile at such a gleaming sight! 

Research has even shown that people who decorate their houses with lights outside actually cue that the people inside are sociable. 

So, there may be some things to consider before judging those that decorate early… You may want to decorate early now too! 

Adapted from the Today Show’s “Go ahead and put up the Christmas lights now! Science says it will make you happier” by Rheana Murray

St. Clair’s Riverview Plaza is illuminating with holiday spirit this year with 150,000 lights on several local businesses. Ann Oldford, Owner of Tru Blu Boutique, and Heather Bernhardt, Owner of Blackbird, came up with the idea to decorate the Plaza like the famous Rochester lights that many people go to see. 

They told ebw.tv during an interview that the goal is to bring different events and people down to the Plaza. With the help of Eric Galliker, Owner of It’s My Party Rentals, their vision came to life as Eric and eight other workers came to help set up the lights. Eric told ebw.tv that they spent about five to six hours after their day jobs to make it all possible. 

All of their hard work and efforts into making this happen show through as it is a beautiful sight to go and see. With at least 15 businesses participating, the lights will be up during the entire holiday season. Learn more in this feature.

Lighthouses are some of the things that make the Blue Water Area so special. This year, both the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse in Port Huron and the Peche Island Lighthouse in Marine City are getting some special treatment. 

The Fort Gratiot Light Station turns 190 years old this year and has some unique projects coming to its grounds. It is the oldest lighthouse in Michigan, being commissioned by Congress in 1829. With a long history, comes some unique maintenance issues. The Keeper’s Duplex, on the grounds of the lighthouse, will be getting a new roof with metal Victorian shingles and will also have a “Yankee” gutter system that actually sends water to a cistern in the basement. This is a renovation that will take the building back to what it looked like in the 1930s. It is funded by the Friends of the Fort Gratiot Light and the St. Clair County Parks and Recreation Millage. 

Marine City is also getting an interesting new addition to its lighthouse, with lights at the base of the lighthouse that can change colors for different seasons and awareness causes. The lights have been donated by Brenner Electric as a way to give back to the community and are certain to be enjoyed by all.

Reporting for WGRT, Kelsie Kaczperski.

Jowett Funeral Home is collecting donations for a few more days to honor veterans buried at St. Clair Allied Veterans Cemetery. On Saturday, December 14 at 12:00 p.m., Wreaths Across America will be at the cemetary to remember and honor veterans. The memorial is made through the laying of Remembrance wreaths on the graves of the country’s fallen heroes with the act of saying the name of each and every veteran aloud.

Wreaths Across America began in 1992 with the donation of laying 5,000 Christmas wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery. In 2005, a photo of the wreaths circulated around the internet and created a movement. In 2018, nearly 1.8 million veteran wreaths were placed on headstones at over 1,600 participating cemeteries around the country. 

So far, more than 530 wreaths have been sponsored for the St. Clair Allied Veterans Cemetery with a goal to reach 1,000. The final day to purchase a wreath is December 1st. Those interested in being a part of the ceremonies are welcomed to volunteer. You can find more information on wreathsacrossamerica.org.

Reporting for WGRT, Kelsie Kaczperski.