Visit Santa on the Farm

The Smiths Creek Equestrian Center is hosting free pictures with Santa on Saturday, December 19, 2021 along with other fun, family farm centered activities.

The event will have the feel of an old fashioned country Christmas, and families can visit from noon until 4 PM.

For $3 kids can create a craft, and for $5 each they can take a pony ride or a hay ride out to visit the farm’s petting zoo.

The Smiths Creek Equestrian Center is located at 709 Sturdevant Road in Smiths Creek. They are known for providing horseback riding lessons and hosting a 4-H club along with boarding and training horses.

You can learn more about the Smiths Creek Equestrian Center, find them on Facebook <HERE>.  To learn more about Santa on the Farm, visit our events page <HERE>.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Annual Christmas Bird Count Needs Volunteers

The Christmas Bird Count is getting underway nationwide and it is not too late for interested volunteers to get involved. The annual event has been going on since Christmas Day of the year 1900 when conservationists thought counting living birds might be more sustainable than counting killed birds, as was the tradition of the time.

The 122nd Annual Christmas Bird Count is held from December 14th to January 5th.

To get involved in the bird count, go to the Audubon Society’s website to find a “counting circle” near you. The count is coordinated with all members of the circle. If no circle exists in your neighborhood, you can start one. There are specific rules to follow.

All of the results of the Christmas Bird Counts since 1900 are available online. Last year’s Port Huron count found 71 different species.

The Christmas Bird Count is more than just a fun activity for people who care about the environment. The findings are used in real scientific research.

https://www.audubon.org/conservation/science/christmas-bird-count

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Can’t Afford Heat? Call 211 to Get Help

Cold weather is here to stay for many months and home heating is a necessity. There is help available for people having trouble paying their home heating bills.

The Michigan Energy Assistance Grant helps families in need. A call to 211 or visiting mi211.org can connect those in need to resources.

Dan Scripps, Chair of the Michigan Public Service Commission said, “No Michiganders should go without heat this year, and we urge anyone having trouble paying their home heating bills not to wait and to reach out for help now.”

Nine agencies were granted a total of $54.5 million to help keep the heat on, with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of the Archdiocese of Detroit receiving $4.663 million and the United Way for Southeastern Michigan receiving $6.4 million.

Those receiving assistance can get full or partial bill payment for electric, natural gas, propane, and other fuels. Many utility companies offer flexible payment plans. Consumers are asked to reach out for help as soon as possible and not to wait for a shut off notice or for fuel tanks to be empty to take action.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Michigan Education Trust Reduces Rates to Help Families Save for College

The Michigan Education Trust is lowering rates on its college savings plan. The Trust has a record surplus that will be used to reduce pricing.

State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks, who also serves on the MET Board of Directors said, “We are constantly striving to deliver to parents, grandparents and others a safe, secure and flexible way to make sure their loved ones meet their higher education goals. While the new price structure will make it easier for those with young children to save, MET will continue to provide families with older children advantages as they work and plan to help them pursue their dreams.” 

The Michigan Education Trust lets families pay today’s prices for future tuition costs. MET funds can be used at universities, colleges and technical schools. The money can also be transferred to private universities and is refundable if the child does not end up attending college.

Anyone can contribute to a MET plan for a beneficiary. Contributions are tax-deductible on Michigan tax returns and are tax-exempt if used for college or other post-secondary education.

MET will offer a $150 match on the first 200 contracts purchased for new beneficiaries in December. Eligibility and rules are posted at SETwithMET.com along with pricing details. Families who make a MET purchase by December 31 will qualify for a deduction on their 2021 Michigan tax returns.  

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

MDOT Reminds to Keep Snow Out of Roads When Clearing Driveways

Winter weather is here and with it comes a few reminders from the Michigan Department of Transportation. Snow that is cleared from driveways can not obstruct the vision of drivers. It also should not be pushed into the road.

The Michigan Vehicle Code prohibits “the obstruction of safety vision by removal or deposit of snow, ice, or slush.” MDOT says that this includes the end of driveways where drivers could have a hard time seeing past the mountains of snow.

State Transportation Director Paul C. Ajegba said, “Piling snow at the end of a driveway may be convenient, but makes it difficult for drivers to make sure it’s safe to pull out onto the highway, and tough for drivers to see other vehicles waiting to pull out.”

Ajegba said, “Our crews work to keep the shoulders clear and knock down snowbanks at intersections for motorist safety, and residents and business owners need to do the same at their driveways.”

Pushing snow across a roadway also causes problems as it leaves a trail that can end up being slippery for drivers.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

PH Country Style Market - Photo by Jessie Wiegand

PH Country Style Market Planning for January Opening

Port Huron, MI — Michele Jones and Steve Fernandez have been working on PH Country Style Market as a labor of love. The downtown Port Huron grocery store project has faced several setbacks, but they are hopeful that the doors will be open by the end of January 2022.

The biggest recent issue has been installation of the market’s elevator which is currently still crated and sitting in pieces in the main area of the store. They have been waiting on the elevator permit from the State of Michigan, and they just received notice on December 9th that the permit has been issued.

The building at 310 Huron Avenue was originally a Woolworth’s store, one of the first discount stores in the United States, and the last business to occupy it was Emory’s Furniture.

From windows to doorknobs, Jones and Fernandez have discovered many historical features and items during renovation of the building, and they have worked hard to preserve or repurpose them.

Jones removed years of paint from the original doorknobs to create sign-hangers for the upstairs offices, preserving the ornate details from the past.

After sharing the process, Jones said with a smile, “My Martha Stuart gene kicked in.”

When the building is complete, it will feature a main floor grocery area including a full-service deli and meat counter, a basement wine & beer cellar and an area for household & personal items, and a second-story office complex that includes Jones & Fernandez’s personal loft.

To watch a video showcasing the progress on PH Country Style Market, visit WGRT’s Facebook page <HERE>.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand