The month of May is Gold Star Awareness Month, a time to honor and recognize the sacrifice that Gold Star families make when a father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter or spouse dies during active military service.

The Gold Star symbol originated during World War I when families hung banners with blue stars in their windows to represent an immediate family member serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. If a family member died in combat, the blue star was replaced with a gold star.

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul D. Rogers, adjutant general and director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, said, “No one has given more to our nation than our service members lost in combat and the Gold Star families left behind. These heroes paid the ultimate sacrifice in order to protect our freedoms and we remain in service to their families as they carry on with courage and dignity despite their devastating loss.”

The Michigan National Guard Family Programs Office provides support and care for service members and families of the Michigan National Guard while enhancing the readiness and well-being of their military families through information, education, programs and resources. Gold Star families can learn more about the Gold Star Family Support Program by contacting 1-888-MICH-FAM.

Governor Whitmer said, “This month, we honor those who lost a family member in the United States Armed Forces and extend our gratitude for the sacrifices made by our Gold Star families. Michiganders remember our fallen heroes and stand together in support of our Gold Star families so they know their sacrifice is not forgotten.”

United Way of Sarnia-Lambton is excited to announce the return of the Day of Caring after a  two-year pandemic break. The event which mobilizes hundreds of volunteers into the  community will take place on Tuesday, September 20, 2022. 

This is a unique opportunity for workplaces to support United Way to build both a sense of  community and teamwork through community service projects. “Day of Caring gives us all  the chance to roll-up our sleeves and work collectively to make a difference in the lives of  those in need,” said Pamela Bodkin, Community Investment and Finance Director for  United Way. Bodkin has organized Day of Caring in Sarnia-Lambton for 26 years. “We are  excited to have this annual impact event return to its traditional in person format bringing  people together who are looking to give back to the community in a very hands-on way.” 

Since 1993, United Way of Sarnia-Lambton Day of Caring has completed projects ranging  from painting, cleaning, gardening, and yard work to building wheelchair ramps, decks,  storage sheds or minor plumbing installations. Each year, applications are reviewed, jobs  are assessed and individuals having work done have completed a means test.  

To learn more about sponsoring a team or to submit applications for work, contact: Pamela  Bodkin pam@theunitedway.on.ca or 519-336-5452 ext. 5.

Submitted by United Way of Sarnia-Lambton

The St. Clair County Spongy Moth Suppression Program has scheduled the application of a biological control agent by airplane mid-May. Exact treatment dates will be determined based on the weather and the development of Spongy Moth caterpillars this spring.

The biological control agent Btk, or Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki, will be sprayed from an airplane flying low above the treetops on over 5,100 acres in the county. You can see a map of the locations that will be treated here: www.stclaircounty.org/caterpillars

The county will spray when average wind speeds are less than 10 miles per hour and relative humidity is more than 50%, and they will release exact dates for spraying when they are determined.

The biological control agent being used to suppress spongy moths is a water-based insecticide used in certified organic food productions. It has low impact on humans, pets, birds, fish, and other insects, and it will only affect caterpillars that are feeding on tree canopies when it’s applied.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand.

Port Huron, MI – Debra Stockwell, BSN, RN, is the recipient of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. Stockwell has been a nurse at McLaren Port Huron for 38 years and currently is a Nurse Educator. The award presentation took place Friday, May 6, to begin the hospital’s celebration of National Nurses Week.

The DAISY Award is an international recognition program that honors and celebrates the extraordinary care nurses provide patients and families every day. Stockwell was nominated by a coworker who saw her outstanding clinical skills, extraordinary compassion and personalized care given to patients. She was presented with a framed certificate, DAISY Award pin and a meaningful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe.

The nomination reads:
“We had a patient who was a “frequent flyer” with COPD and other medical concerns. On one admission the patient required a colostomy bag. The follow-up wound care prescribed proved challenging – it was difficult to change or seal the stoma bag properly – resulting in leakage, infections, extremely sore skin and pain. The patient became emotionally and physically drained. Debbie, with her plethora of knowledge and tireless efforts, worked hard to figure out a way to seal the bag and decrease the pain and irritation for the patient. She was available any time (day or night) to educate other staff RNs caring for this patient. On her own time, she worked with the staff at the extended care facility to educate their staff on how to care for this patient.

Debbie has been a nurse here at McLaren Port Huron for over 40 years. Her optimism, passion and dedication to learning is not just a one-time event. Her exemplary reliability and loyalty to patients, coworkers and physicians has been appreciated by many over the years. Debbie continually sacrifices her own time to ensure a project comes together perfectly which will impact and benefit staff and patients. It would be tough to find an RN or aide that has not profited from Debbie’s compassion or knowledge. Unmatched and unrivaled as a role model, Debbie is the epitome of the attributes all RNs should look to emulate.”

The DAISY Foundation was established by the family of J. Patrick Barnes after he died at age 33 from complications of the auto-immune disease ITP. The Barnes family was awestruck by the skills, caring and compassion of the nurses who cared for Patrick, so they created the DAISY Award as a way to say thank you to nurses everywhere.

Nurses can be nominated for the DAISY Award by patients, families or colleagues. To nominate a nurse, visit www.mclaren.org/mphDaisy and complete the online form.

Submitted by McLaren Port Huron Hospital