Local News

The back to school season ushers in new challenges for college-bound students. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers some advice to parents with college-bound young adults about discussing alcohol use and avoiding underage drinking. Research suggests that teens who talked with their parents about alcohol avoidance strategies before they began their first year of college were more likely to avoid alcohol and limit its use. The negative consequences of alcohol use are in four different areas: academic, health, safety, and legal.  Academically, classes are missed, students fall behind, and lower grades can result. In terms of health, over 1500 students die from alcohol-related injuries each year. 19 percent of college students meet the criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence. In the area of safety, almost 700,000 students are assaulted by another student who has been drinking. Legally, some 110,000 students are arrested for an alcohol-related violation.

SAMHSA’s Talk: They Hear You campaign encourages parents to follow five conversation goals when talking to their kids about alcohol use. The campaign flier can be printed and used as a guide for an open conversation about alcohol use, its consequences, and parental expectations about its use. The flier can be accessed by clicking here.

With Labor Day approaching, many people like to take one last trip to mark the unofficial end of summer. According to the Michigan DNR, camping and boating are a couple of the most popular Michigan activities. With camping, there are a few guidelines that will help maximize everyone’s enjoyment. The DNR states that 9 out of 10 wildfires are caused by people. Never leave a fire unattended, avoid windy days, and keep a shovel and a bucket of water nearby. When you leave the campsite, remember what your Mom said and leave it better than you found it.

Michiganders are never far from water, so take precautions if your holiday plans involve boating. Drowning is the cause of death in 76% of all boating-related fatalities. The DNR reminds residents to wear a life jacket, boat sober, and stay alert. Also, with the high water levels, rip currents and other abnormal currents can be magnified. Be sure to never swim alone, and brush up on the beach flag warning system which can be found on the DNR website.

The Tires and Treads project began four years ago at Woodrow Wilson School as a way of donating shoes and other items of clothing that faculty and staff could give to students in need. The event takes place at Keewahdin Elementary this Wednesday, August 28 from 6 to 8 p.m.  Fran Morris, President and Founder of Tires and Treads, said the group organizers pick a school each year and then collect clothing items for the school from October to January. Items are delivered to the school in August and made available for faculty and staff to give to students throughout the school years.  Morris said, other than at home, much of a student’s time is spent at school, so teachers and staff will have great insight into a student’s needs. She said the idea to combine cars with giving away shoes to students in need came to her a few years back. They plan to have several classic and other unique cars at the event on Wednesday. Several different organizations will be in attendance such as local law enforcement, first responders, and partner charity groups. 

The old Seros restaurant in Marysville will have new life in October when it opens as Ocean Breeze. New owner, Chris Cubi, says has been fishing in Port Huron for the past 39 years and always drove through Marysville. Having previously owned Starlight in Detroit, he saw the space was for sale and decided, along with his wife Spresa, to open the new business. Ocean Breeze will be open 7-3 and offer a variety of foods with a focus on fresh. Chris and Spresa said they plan to offer lots of fresh fruits, salads, crepes, and spinach pies along with a wide variety of other foods like pasta, breakfast foods, and more. The couple is currently remodeling the space and is planning for an early October opening. Signs have been placed outside the building which is located at 925 Gratiot Boulevard in Marysville. The Cubi’s, of Shelby Township, said they are very excited to open the restaurant, but there’s work to be done. Chris says, “The place was previously in a bit of disrepair,” but the couple “hopes to make it a cozy place for the community to enjoy and look forward to welcoming everyone.” According to Cubi, the restaurant is not connected to the Ocean Breeze that had previously been open in Shelby Township.

St. Clair High School’s 2018 Female Athlete of the Year, Molly Likins, is in Brazil competing with the USA Deaf Swimming team in the  2019 World Deaf Swimming Championships. The international event kicked off Sunday with opening ceremonies beginning Monday in São Paulo, Brazil. The team is lead by Brad Robbins, Head Coach, and Chris Daly, Assistant Coach with Likins and other deaf athletes from across the United States.

For the second year in a row, Inc. magazine has named P.J. Wallbank Springs to its annual Inc. 5000 list which ranks the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent small businesses. Companies like Microsoft, Dell, and  Domino’s Pizza gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000. Chris Wallbank, President of P.J. Wallbank Springs Inc. said he is “excited for the changes that this growth will create for our company and the opportunities it will provide for members of our organization.”

The 2019 Inc. 5000 achieved a high three-year average growth of 454 percent and a median rate of 157 percent. The Inc. 5000’s aggregate revenue was almost $240 billion in 2018, accounting for more than 1.2 million jobs over the past three years. Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com. P.J. Wallbank Springs, Inc. was founded 35 years ago in Port Huron and is the global leader in the design and manufacture of spring packs for automatic transmissions.