Friends Of The St. Clair River Welcomes Sheri Faust As First Executive Director

Friends of the St. Clair River, an organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the local environment, proudly announced the appointment of Sheri Faust as their first-ever Executive Director. This milestone marks the organization’s 16th year of operation since its inception. Faust assumed her new role on October 2nd.

In her capacity as Executive Director, Faust will play a vital role in advancing Friends’ mission of promoting the well-being of rivers, clean water, green spaces, and accessible trails, all while maintaining an environmentally, economically, and socially responsible approach.

Faust, who brings over 25 years of experience in natural resource management, fundraising, education programming, and recreation planning, previously held various government and non-profit positions across Southeast Michigan.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

SC4 And Hispanic Alliance To Host Hispanic American Heritage Celebration

St. Clair County Community College (SC4) and the Hispanic Alliance of Southeast Michigan (HASM) are gearing up to host a vibrant celebration of Hispanic and Latino cultures. Titled “Introducing the Hispanic Alliance of Southeast Michigan: Our past, presence, and future!” 

The event will take place on Friday, October 27th, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at SC4’s Fine Arts Theatre.

The festivities begin with a panel discussion moderated by Thelma Castillo, CEO and President of the Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce, featuring panelists from the Hispanic Alliance. Among them is Jessica Totty, HASM president and SC4 alumna.

Following the discussion, attendees will be treated to live music by Detroit’s renowned Latin Jazz ensemble, PanaMO. The event will also feature delicious samples of food from Doña Marina’s LLC.

The event is open to the public and free of charge. For more information, visit: sc4.edu/events.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

St. Andrew’s Fall Bazaar Offers A Day Of Shopping And Delights

Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 28th, as St. Andrew’s Bazaar returns from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Located at 261 Christina St. N. in downtown Sarnia, this highly anticipated event promises a wide array of favorites, including frozen entrees, meat pies, books, puzzles, and games, but that’s not all – make sure to stay for a delightful tea and scones experience in the renowned tea room.

To add even more excitement, the event features community vendors, offering a diverse shopping experience. You can explore Sunset Gourmet, Norwex, Pampered Chef, Thirty-One, Scentsy, Bill’s Boards, Tammy’s Tumbler Creations, jewelry, paper creations, the Bakery Box, lip & body scrub, and more!

For more information, email: sapc.sarnia@bellnet.ca or call (519) 332-2662. 

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

Netflix Raises Its Monthly Fees

In a move bound to impact subscribers, Netflix has increased the monthly fees for its popular streaming services. The basic plan now costs $12 per month, up from $10, while the premium plan is priced at $23, a $3 hike from the previous $20. However, the $7 ad-supported plan remains unchanged at $7 per month.

Effective immediately, these price adjustments follow the last U.S. price increase in January 2022. Netflix defended the decision by highlighting the enhanced value they provide to members. 

While announcing third-quarter earnings results, the company stated, “As we deliver more value to our members, we occasionally ask them to pay a bit more. Our starting price is extremely competitive with other streamers, and at $6.99 per month in the US, for example, it’s much less than the average price of a single movie ticket.” 

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

U.S. Department Of Energy Allocates $3.5 Billion For Power Grid Investment Nationwide; Over $122 Million Flowing Into Michigan

The U.S. Department of Energy has unveiled a significant investment of $3.5 billion in power grid enhancements nationwide, with Michigan set to benefit substantially. Michigan will receive more than $122 million, with Consumers Energy securing $100 million and DTE Energy set to receive nearly $23 million.

These federal funds are allocated under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, aimed at bolstering the nation’s power infrastructure. Consumers Energy is planning to channel the resources into their reliability roadmap, involving the installation of additional poles, equipment, and advanced technology for quicker power outage detection in underserved communities.

DTE Energy will use the funds to build adaptive microgrids in Detroit and surrounding areas, to enhance grid flexibility and reliability. These microgrids will incorporate grid-sensing devices to improve the overall reliability of the power supply and reduce both the frequency and duration of power outages in the region.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell