Steve and Emily Goudy started the Taking a Shot at Breast Cancer Calendar and Human Ribbon in 2010 after one of Emily’s closest friends shared that her sister was diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer.  At that moment, Emily decided she wanted to do more, and she shared her thoughts with Steve. With that, the idea for the calendar and Human Ribbon were born.

Over the past several years, the couple has worked very closely with the Community Foundation of St. Clair County donating to different community breast cancer funds. In 2014, they started the “Taking a Shot at Breast Cancer” Fund with the community’s support. One of their events, The Human Ribbon, took place last weekend. Community members wearing pink gathered at Keifer Park to form a human ribbon. The effect was stunning and symbolized hope and community for cancer patients and survivors.  The group hosts several fundraisers throughout the year. 

The first Tuesday in August is a day for whole communities to get together for fellowship.  The National Night Out is a community-building campaign that looks to strengthen police and community partnerships as well as promote neighborhood camaraderie.  The National Night Out has grown over the years, and 2019 marks its  36th year.

During National Night Out, area residents and law enforcement will be out visiting and getting to know one another. Many residents and neighborhoods have planned block parties and other events to participate in the campaign. This grassroots effort to build relationships between neighbors and law enforcement seeks to reduce crime through friendship and familiarity. For some people, their only interaction with police is during negative circumstances, so National Night out is a chance for residents to meet and mingle with officers in a casual and fun atmosphere. You can bring National Night Out to your neighborhood by learning more about the event on their website. 

Volunteers in St. Clair have been working diligently to plan a redesign and build of the popular Imagination Station playground on Carney Drive. After several months of planning and fundraising, the group says construction is set to begin September 10-15th 2019. However, this weekend marked the last days of the existing playset’s current existence, and residents said goodbye to the wooden playscape on Sunday.

The planning process for the new playscape involved community input, design days for kids, and several volunteer committee meetings. The original playground was built in 1994, and according to Committee Director Matt Alley, has been well-loved. He said the group of volunteers is,  “trying to take this entire Imagination Station process and put it into the scope of what needs to be done for the next generation of children in the area to take advantage of the Imagination Station for decades to come.”

The efforts to re-imagine the playground are completely donation and volunteer-based, and they’re still trying to fulfill the goal for the project. If local residents or businesses are willing to volunteer for the project, over 1200 will be be needed over the course of the five day build with needs ranging from skilled trades to childcare positions. You can send the group a message through their Facebook page at Imagination Station Rebuild.

The Doubletree Hilton Hotel in Port Huron and its staff will receive an award from Governor Gretchen Whitmer on September 5th at the Detroit Opera House.  The Doubletree was recognized in the Corporate Community Leader category of The 2019 Governor’s Service Awards. The service awards went to 43 businesses, individuals, and nonprofit organizations who have demonstrated a commitment to give back to their communities.   

The Doubletree, formerly the Thomas Edison Inn, was refurbished in 2015 as the Blue Water Convention Center was being constructed and attached at the north side of the hotel.  Gov. Whitmer said, “I’m proud to present the Governor’s Service Awards to this year’s recipients as recognition of their sacrifice and dedication throughout our state.” Other honorees in the corporate category were BASF, DTE, Bosch, Spectrum Health, and Trinseo. 

The St. Clair County Health Department is urging parents to beat the rush and get their children vaccinated before school starts. National Immunization Awareness Month is a national campaign by health care organizations that encourages people to get themselves and their children up to date on their vaccines. Vaccines are proven to protect children, preteens, teens, and adults from 16 serious and potentially life-threatening diseases.

The St. Clair County Health Department has two convenient locations to vaccinate children:

The Main Office, 3415 28^th Street, Port Huron:

• Walk-in hours Monday: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
• Appointments Tuesday through Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Teen Health Center, 2215 Court Street, Port Huron (on the campus of Port Huron High School). By appointment or walk-ins accommodated as schedule allows for ages 10-21 years:

• Monday: 10:00am – 6:00pm
• Tuesday through Friday: 8:00am – 4:00pm

For more information about the St. Clair County Health Department or to schedule an appointment, call (810) 987-5300 or (810) 987-1311. Don’t delay – appointments are filling up fast! To learn more about services visit www.scchealth.co or follow them on social media @scchdmi.

The City of Port Huron is hosting the Michigan Association of Mayors today at the Doubletree Hilton Hotel.  Mayor Pauline Repp is the Vice-President of the association. The two-day conference began yesterday with Port Huron and the region in the spotlight as Mayor Repp, Port Huron City Manager James Freed, City Planning Director David Haynes, and Economic Development Alliance CEO Dan Casey gave speeches outlining the area’s recent success. 

According to the Michigan Association of Mayors, Port Huron has experienced tremendous growth with over $300 million of investment in hotels, restaurants, hospitals, condos, lofts, and industry. Randy Maiers, CEO of the Community Foundation of St. Clair County, also spoke about public and private partnerships and how different incentives have benefitted the area.  Mayor Pauline Repp said, “It is a privilege to be the host city for the MAM conference and welcome mayors and village presidents from across Michigan.  It is a great sharing and learning opportunity for everyone.  It was a proud moment to be able to brag about Port Huron successes.” The conference wraps up today with a legislative update.