Local News

Blue Water Area Transit will unveil a sculpture on Friday, December 14, at 12:30 p.m. The sculpture celebrates the many milestones of local transit innovation and recognizes William Pitt Edison as the father of local public transit. The unveiling ceremony will take place at the Blue Water Transit Bus Center, 720 McMorran Blvd., in downtown Port Huron.     The powder-coated fabricated aluminum sculpture measures 16 by 7.5 feet. It was created by local artist Mino Duffy Kramer.  Her credentials include the prestigious Accademia de Belle Arte in Florence, Italy, and an apprenticeship with sculptor Ferenc Varga at his studios in Florida.    “We started out wanting a statue of William Pitt Edison, but Mino suggested focusing on our many innovative milestones,” said Jim Wilson, BWAT general manager. “The finished sculpture includes five panels seen through five streetcar windows. It not only honors William Pitt, but also highlights our local transit history.”   William Pitt Edison was born on November 5, 1831 in Vienna, Ontario. He moved with his family from Canada to Milan, Ohio.  After that, he lived in Port Huron until his death in 1891 at the age of 59.  William Pitt is the oldest brother of world-renowned inventor Thomas Alva Edison. Both brothers started out serving passengers on the Grand Trunk Railroad train to Detroit that opened in 1859.    Years before his name became synonymous with mass produced lightbulbs, Young Tom Edison worked as a candy butcher selling fruit and newspapers aboard the train. Meanwhile, his older brother saw an opportunity with the new train line to serve Port Huron residents with a horse-pulled trolley. William soon replaced the trolley with horse-pulled streetcars guided by rails along several local routes. He left the public transit industry in 1883, but his legacy of innovation continued.  BWAT stayed at the forefront of developing transit service. The agency was among the first to use electric streetcars in 1886 and motor coaches in 1927. BWAT supports the national effort to reduce our country’s dependence on oil. The agency started using and producing Compressed Natural Gas in 1996. It will soon add two zero-emission electric battery buses with $1.5 million from the Federal Transit Administration. BWAT ranks as Michigan’s top CNG producer and operates four public CNG stations. It operates the state’s largest fleet of buses powered by natural gas.  After an eight-year hiatus ended in 1976, the Blue Water Area Transportation Commission became Port Huron’s first publicly funded bus service. Since then, the agency has carried more than 31 million riders.   For additional information, see BWAT’s website at www.bwbus.com and blog at www.bwwave.com

Mackinaw Watercraft is a custom boat works dedicated to creating unique treasures that enhance the outdoor experience and inspire a closer relationship to nature.  Mackinaw Watercraft specializes in designing and producing custom wooden kayaks, canoes and paddles for use in both large and small waters.  The special design for the Friends of the Fort Gratiot Light Raffle features two beautiful wood inlays—one of the state of Michigan and the other for the Fort Gratiot Light Station. Raffle tickets will be $20 each and the raffle is limited to 500 tickets.  The raffle drawing will be on July 14, 2019.  Raffle proceeds will be used for restoration of the Fort Gratiot Light Station.  To be notified when raffle tickets for this one-of-a-kind kayak is available watch the Light Station’s website at fortgratiotlight.org.

A career spanning more than 28 years has come to a close, as Undersheriff Tom Buckley has retired from the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office.  During his career, Buckley worked his way from the ground up.   He was hired as a dispatcher by former Sheriff Dan Lane in July of 1990.  He was promoted to road patrol deputy in April of 1993.  In 2003, Buckley was promoted to sergeant and in 2008 he achieved the rank of lieutenant.  His final promotion was his appointment as Undersheriff by Sheriff Tim Donnellon in January of 2009.   During his career, Buckley worked several stints in the Drug Task Force, both as a deputy and a sergeant.  He was also a member of the Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team as a deputy, sergeant and finally as commander of the unit as lieutenant. Tom also is a 2014 graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy.  “I worked with Tom almost my entire career, so when I decided to appoint him Undersheriff, I knew the skill set he had,” said Sheriff Donnellon.  “With that said, he exceeded all expectations I had for him in handling one of, if not the most difficult jobs in our entire organization.  Tom is leaving our department in better shape than he found it.  He will be missed, not only by the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office, but by the entire first responder community throughout our area and the state.” Buckley has accepted a position with the Michigan State Gaming Commission.   Sheriff Donnellon has appointed Matthew Paulus as the new Undersheriff.  Paulus retired as a captain from the Sheriff’s Office in January of 2017.

A free community Christmas Day Dinner will be held at the Center of Port Huron at 723 Court Street.  The meal will be presented by the First Congregational Church.  Authorities say reservations are not needed for dine-in meals.  Use the Wall Street Entrance between 7th and 8th Street on Wall.  They will be serving from noon to 2 p.m. on Christmas Day.  The meal will consist of Roast Turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, dressing, a vegetable, salad, cranberries, rolls and butter, dessert and beverages.

Is your child interested in the theater? The YMCA of the Blue Water Area is offering their NEWEST Spark Camp this December: Broadway Beginnings. Let your little actor dream, discover & do! This hands-on Sparks Camp is interactive and will introduce your child to acting, set design, lighting and more! The camp will be held on Saturday mornings and is for children ages 6 – 12 years old.
Ways to Register:
• Online: www.bluewaterymca.com
• In Person: Welcome Center, 1525 3rd Street, Port Huron
• By Phone: (810) 987-6400

The St. Clair County Metropolitan Planning Commission and the Community Foundation have kicked off an ambitious regional trail planning project which will impact state and regional trail efforts.  The planning will address gaps and potential economic impact for the Bridge to Bay Trail, Great Lakes to Lake Trail along with the Wadhams to Avoca Trail.   Under the leadership and guidance of St. Clair County Parks & Recreation, the Bridge to Bay Trail concept began back in the early 1990’s.  Its ultimate goal is a 54 mile trail system from New Baltimore up to Lakeport State Park.  The Great Lakes to Lake Trail is an ambitious state-wide trail project which began in 2009 and when complete will stretch from South Haven along the shores of Lake Michigan to Port Huron on the shores of Lake Huron.    “This is an important step for our region, including stretching into downtown Richmond,” said County Board Chair, Jeff Bohm.  “Over these last several years we have seen significant new developments throughout our region, and now is the time to see if we connect these new developments and assets with a completed regional pedestrian trail system.”   According to Dave Struck, Planning Director of the Metropolitan Planning Commission, the consulting firm of SmithGroup has been hired to conduct a detailed strategy and action plan outlining specific steps and recommended sequences for completing the Bridge to Bay Trail and the Great Lakes to Lake Trail.  Funding to support this work was provided from SEMCOG and the Community Foundation of St. Clair County.  SmithGroup designed and planned the Blue Water River Walk among other regional projects. Simultaneously, the Community Foundation has hired the firm of Public Sector Consultants to conduct an economic impact study which will help educate regional stakeholders on the potential economic benefits and impact of a completed regional trail system.    “We’re seeing a lot of new investment throughout our region,” said Randy Maiers, president of the Community Foundation.  “With continued financial support from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation we need to gain a better understanding of both the successes and shortcomings of other regions who have developed comprehensive trail systems.”  Maiers added that the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation provided a $100,000 grant to support this regional planning effort.    The first round of public input for the work being conducted by SmithGroup will take place December 11 with both a lunchtime focus group session at the St. Clair County Administration Building, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and an early evening focus group session at Sperry’s 2^nd Floor Dinnerhouse, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  The public is invited to both sessions to provide input on the future of the countywide trail network.    “Our timeframe is to have both reports done by the end of March 2019,” said Dave Struck.  “Then our regional stakeholders, led by Blue Meets Green, can decide what the next appropriate steps may be.”