The Blue Water Cruise Weekend Is Coming To Port Huron

Summertime in the Blue Water Area isn’t complete without the carnival, fireworks, and Cruise Night on the agenda, so get ready to have a blast with family and friends when the Blue Water Cruise Weekend comes to town.

Cruise Weekend will be putting on three extravagant events for the community to enjoy from June 22nd – 25th. It begins Thursday with the carnival at Birchwood Mall on the corner of 24th Ave. and Keewahdin Rd. featuring the usual family fun and food that we all love. 

Friday kicks off Cruise Night from 6pm – 10pm. Cruise night will feature cars and trucks of various years, makes, and models as they cruise down Pine Grove Ave. and 24th Ave. There will also be prizes and free trolley rides along the route. 

Saturday’s events will feature the 16th Annual Keith Peterson Memorial Car Show from 10am – 3pm and ending with a fireworks display later that evening.

Be sure to tune in to WGRT 102.3 FM on June 23rd from 5-11pm to hear Drew Jacobs & Alex Shier roll out their oldies favorites as well as some of their own content during The Blue Water Cruise Weekend 2023!

For more details and information, visit: Blue Water Cruise Weekend on Facebook.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

Michigan Beachgoers: If The Flags Are Red Don’t Go Swimming

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has introduced a change to its Great Lakes flag warning system, just in time for the start of the summer season. 

To enhance awareness of changing conditions and ensure public safety, the DNR has implemented “double red warning flags” at state-designated swim beaches along the Great Lakes in Michigan state parks. These flags indicate that water access is closed due to dangerous conditions, representing the most severe level of the flag system that was integrated in 2022.

The move comes in response to a rise in accidents and drownings on the Great Lakes in recent years. The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project reports a total of 1,170 drownings since 2010, with 108 occurring in 2022 alone. 

Ron Olson, DNR Parks and Recreation chief, stressed the importance of understanding the power of the Great Lakes and the potential for even experienced swimmers to find themselves in life-threatening situations.

For more information on the meaning of the colored flags, visit: michigan.gov.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

Join The RESA Ribbon Cutting Ceremony For New Storywalk Installation

The ribbon-cutting ceremony for RESA’s latest StoryWalk installation at the Pine River Nature Center will take place Saturday, June 3, at 10 a.m. located at the Pine River Nature Center, at 2585 Castor Rd.

The StoryWalk consists of a series of standalone panels showcasing a page from a children’s picture book. The project aims to promote early literacy, physical activity, and family time in nature as participants follow the path, reading and engaging with the story. 

The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be part of the 2023 Celebrate Your Child Day, a free event designed for families with children aged 0-5. From 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., rain or shine, there will be children’s games and crafts, a scavenger hunt, a hike to the treehouse, storytelling at the treehouse, and access to the Nature Center’s expansive animal exhibition room. 

For more information, visit: sccresa.org.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

Come And Celebrate The New Gratiot Park Playscape Ribbon Cutting

The Port Huron Parks & Recreation Department has announced a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the new and universally accessible playground at Gratiot Park. 

The event will take place on Friday, June 9th, at 11:00 am at 2538 Gratiot Avenue in Port Huron.

Gratiot Park had a major redesign over the past year to ensure inclusivity and accessibility for children of all abilities. The new features include a universally accessible playscape, swings, a splash pad, an interactive dance and play arch, and a new pavilion. The pavilion and the Sona interactive dance feature were generously provided by the Hannah R. Winkler Memorial Fund.

The PlayABLE park was made possible through the support of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, Hannah R. Winkler Memorial Fund, Michigan Rehabilitation Services, Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, and the Community Foundation of St. Clair County.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

St. Clair’s Rockin’ In The Plaza Free Music Event

The St. Clair Chamber is bringing free live music to downtown St. Clair Plaza all summer long. Taking place at the St. Clair Riverview Plaza located at 201 N. Riverside Ave. Residents and visitors can enjoy views of the St. Clair River and passing freighters while listening to fantastic music from talented bands.

The upcoming lineup includes Los Gringos on May 26th, Alter Ego on May 27th, and Planet of Fun on May 28th. The performances will run from 7 pm – 11 pm.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs or take a seat at one of the restaurant patios or park chairs available. 

There will also be plenty of food available from locations such as War Water Brewery, Mannina’s Wine House, T.A.P. Café, and Anchor Point Bistro along with others.

Attendees can also explore various boutiques such as LeMarche Artisan Market, Blackbird Home Goods, Amunni Boutique, and more.

For more information, visit: bluewater.org.

Letter Grades For Students May Be A Thing Of The Past

Governor Whitmer has signed legislation that will bring about significant changes in how public schools in Michigan are ranked by the state. The current Revised School Code mandates the Michigan Department of Education to assign letter grades, ranging from A to F. 

Proponents argue that this system aids in determining funding allocations, but critics assert that the process of ranking schools is far more intricate than a simple letter grade, and that the school index accountability system would be a better model to follow.

The school index accountability system evaluates schools on a scale of 0 to 100, considering factors such as student growth, proficiency, graduation rates, English learner progress, attendance rates, advanced coursework completion, postsecondary enrollment, and staffing ratios.

State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice says, “Coupled with the parent dashboard, the school index accountability system, which predates the A-F system in the state, is more informative and complete, and has been approved by the U.S. Department of Education.”

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell