Local News

In Michigan, more than 1 million people are struggling with hunger – and of them, more than 345,000 are children according to Feeding America. Locally, the St. Clair County MSU Extension and the Thumb Food Policy Council are addressing the issue on Tuesday, July 9, by hosting a food summit designed to scan the community for assets and needs in the food system from a food security and food insecurity perspective. The morning session starts with breakfast that will be part of participant learning for the day. Then the afternoon session will highlight the MSU AgBioResearch unit of the College and Agriculture and Natural Resources “Our Table” live stream panel discussion including local experts, focused on The Future of Our Food System. This event is free but you must pre register. For more information about this event contact the MSU Extension Office.

Friends of the St. Clair River is hosting a series of “Wetland Wanderings” summer programs for hands-on, family-friendly fun at the Wetlands County Park on Wednesday, June 26, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. The program will be repeated July 24, August 28 and September 25. Amy Meeker-Taylor, Friends’ Environmental Educator, will lead an introduction to wetland ecology and a macroinvertebrate collection and identification lesson. Participants will collect and identify macroinvertebrates – insects, mollusks and crustaceans – living in the wetlands. Since the wetlands are a new urban park created from an industrial brownfield, these scores are important for helping track the wetland’s health over time. For more information visit Friends of the St. Clair River’s website.

Lake Huron Medical Center (LHMC) is pleased to announce its June 2019 Employee of the Month, Steve Riehl, and its June 2019 Volunteer of the Month, Jo Crimmins. LHMC is honored to have a strong team of staff and volunteers working hard to deliver high-quality care to the Blue Water Area.

Steve is a Public Safety Officer and has been with LHMC since 1997. He was nominated by a colleague who commented, “Steve does extra things for our patients no one knows about.  Recently, he bought himself dinner in the cafeteria and purchased an extra sandwich to have on hand should he encounter someone in the ER who might need it. He represents the spirit of our hospital”

Jo volunteers at the People’s Clinic for Better Health and has been volunteering at LHMC since 1991.  She was nominated by another volunteer who wrote, “She is very caring and gentle with all her patients.  She takes time with every individual. Anyone who has spent this much time and so many years to help others needs to be recognized.”

Lake Huron Medical Center is proud of each of its employees and volunteers; and extends a special thank you and congratulations to all our team members, especially Steve and Jo as we celebrate their accomplishments.

To learn more about the programs and services offered at Lake Huron Medical Center, visit www.mylakehuron.com.

“There’s an old saying: ‘The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,’” says Dr. David H. Sturtz, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and St. Clair County Community College alumnus. “My mother was an avid reader and believer in higher education, though neither of my parents attended college. St. Clair County Community College was there for me. It’s where I got my start.”

Dr. Sturtz’s love and admiration for his parents, appreciation of his community college, and passion for improving the health and wellness of his patients inspired him to establish the David and Anne Sturtz Endowed Scholarship in memory of his parents to support SC4 students pursuing health care and STEM programs. The scholarship will help new generations of SC4 students positively impact quality of life in the Blue Water Area and far beyond for years to come.

With vast professional experiences and credentials earned from serving in the United States Navy and attending a wide variety of prestigious institutions, Dr. Sturtz’s belief in SC4 holds strong.

“My mom always said the best investment you can make is in yourself,” says Dr. Sturtz, who resides in Northville with his wife and two daughters. “The quality of education and the support and services I found at SC4 were on par with anywhere else I went. I feel very fortunate to have started at SC4. It provided me with a solid foundation, great experience and a seamless transition.”

United Way of St. Clair County, as board chairperson for the Federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP), has received notification of the release of $82,214 by the federal government to provide grants for eligible agencies for St. Clair County.  These funds are to be used to provide for homeless shelters, soup kitchens, food pantries and organizations helping individuals with emergency utility and mortgage assistance.

This category of funding (EFSP) is provided annually through a provision in the federal budget, which is targeted to address the needs of families impacted by unemployment and emergency medical events.  The funds are determined for each County through a formula based on the number of funds allocated by congress and the rate of unemployment within that particular County.

Agencies previously receiving funding through EFSP dollars are: Blue Water Safe Horizons, The Harbor, Salvation Army, Downriver Helping Hands, Downriver Bread of Life Nutrition Center, Blue Water Community Food Depot (Port Huron), Harbor Impact Ministries, Trinity United Methodist Food Pantry (Algonac), SOS Marysville Food Pantry, Blue Water Area Rescue Mission, Detroit Rescue Mission, Mid City Nutrition Program, and the C3 Connection.  All organizations are required to apply using the application process available online, uwstclair.org/EFSP; instructions are provided.  All applications must be submitted to United Way of St. Clair County by 4:30 p.m. on June 25, 2019 for consideration

Literacy and Beyond’s’ 2GEN Learning Center in Port Huron celebrated twelve GED graduates Thursday night. The program prepares women for the GED test by offering one-on-one tutoring and small group classes along with support programs like individual counseling services, free lunch, and incentives for good attendance. Women with preschool-aged children also receive free childcare and a class for moms and kids together.

This year’s graduates shared many heartfelt thanks to the staff at Literacy and Beyond for their constant encouragement and support as they worked toward their educational goals. The students were also awarded scholarships totaling over $4,000 from St. Clair County Community College, The Community Foundation of St. Clair County, and the Nancy L. Hinkley Memorial Scholarship Fund. The program is funded by generous donors and grants from local community foundations.