Port Huron, MI — Downtown Port Huron has decided to close Huron Avenue during Blue Water Fest, and they are looking for arts & crafts vendors to fill up the streets.
Vendors can apply through an online application available on the Downtown port Huron Facebook page or <HERE> . The opportunity to have a booth on Huron Avenue is open to non-food vendors only.
Some downtown businesses will join the mix and set up tents in the street as well. The booths must be open on Thursday and Friday from 4 – 9 PM, but they may be open longer if the vendor desires.
Business vendors will pay a $250 vendor fee while arts & crafts vendors will pay $150 and nonprofits $100. This will be a great way to share your business with the foot traffic that spends time downtown during Boat Week and Blue Water Fest activities.
Although this year’s Boat Week activities were scaled down due to uncertainty about rules for public gatherings, a lot of favorites will still be present this year.
The Rotary International Day Parade is planned for Wednesday, July 21st, OT’s Family Night is planned for Thursday, July 22nd, and popular events like Mannequins Making a Difference and the Blue Water Fest carnival will take place that week.
With a few billion in federal COVID relief money left to spend, the legislature has prioritized spending on food and shelter. Governor Whitmer signed a bipartisan bill allocating a large portion of the money toward basic needs.
Whitmer has often referred to the federal money as an “unprecedented opportunity” and praised the bi-partisan effort to help Michigan families.
The spending bills give $1.5 billion to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and $378.3 million to the Emergency Rental Assistance program. Other allocations include $65.2 million to State Police for emergency and disaster response expenses, and $21 million for the purchase of tax vouchers issued by the state to Venture Michigan Fund, intended to generate investment capital.
There is also over $332 million that is being sent to local governments to use for a variety of purposes, from direct assistance to families to infrastructure projects, and to make up for lost revenue during the pandemic.
The opioid epidemic is still raging in Michigan. Efforts are underway to help both those struggling with an opioid use disorder and the people who are trying to help them.
Legislation was introduced on Wednesday to expand the availability of treatment in emergency departments and to increase access to naloxone, which can reverse overdoses, to community-based organizations.
Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist said, “This legislation will help bring us closer to ending this epidemic by expanding access to treatment and to life-saving medications which can increase their chances of a successful recovery and prevent additional tragedies among our families.”
The legislation will make it easier for hospitals to access resources if they are treating more than 50 overdoses per year. Brian Peters, Michigan Health & Hospital Association CEO, praised the reforms, saying, “These available resources for hospitals to provide medications for opioid use disorders within their communities will help ensure patients receive the most appropriate care and treatment for their individual healthcare needs.”
The Lambton County Library is ready to give away some amazing prizes for its summer readers. The Every Hero Has a Story, summer reading program is open for registration and available to Lambton County Library cardholders for free.
“The Library encourages heroes of all ages from around Lambton County to read stories, participate in activities, and discover online programs,” said Greer Macdonell, Community Library Supervisor. “The more registrants read and participate, the more chances they will have to win amazing prizes.”
The summer reading program runs through July and August, and registered participants will receive an age-specific registration package in French or English with program details, stickers, and supplies.
For every five books read, kids will earn a prize, and up to three prizes can be earned per child. There is also a summer reading program for teens and adults, along with online activities featuring local heroes.
The National Guard Youth Challenge program just celebrated the graduation of their 44th class, and two St. Clair County youth were part of their ranks. Justin Marsee and Caleb Gelaude completed the 22-week self development program and both received their high school diplomas.
Justin Marsee was a homeschooled 16 year old when he decided to enroll in the program. Now that he has graduated from the Michigan Youth Challenge Academy and earned his high school diploma early, he is ready to pursue a degree in Computer Security at Macomb Community College.
Caleb Gelaude is 17 years old and attended Marine City High School before entering the program. Now, he has secured a job at the New Baltimore Department of Public Works and looks forward to a career in skilled trades where he can have benefits and good pay.
Candace Gelaude, Caleb’s mother, and Susan Marsee, Justin’s mother, both said it was difficult to say goodbye to their sons for the 5 1/2 month long program. Because of COVID-19, they were unable to visit or see their boys until they graduated, but both said the sacrifice was worth it.
“It was so hard to let him go,” said Susan Marsee, “but when I saw him come off that bus, it was all worth it.”
“”If it wasn’t for the Michigan Youth Challenge Academy, I don’t know where my son would be,” said Candace Gelaude. “Doing virtual [school] set him back a bit, and I was concerned about some of the people he was hanging out with. When we sent him, I was a nervous wreck; I was emotional, but when I heard the transformation that was happening with him, I knew it was a positive reflection [of the program]. He went there and he excelled. I can’t even explain it.”
The program emphasizes self-discipline and service, and both mothers shared that their sons have demonstrated those characteristics since coming home.
“It made him use his head and think as a young kid. He understands that there are consequences to his actions whether they be good or bad, and now he talks to my husband and me with the utmost respect,” said Candace Gelaude, “The transformation is phenomenal.”
The 44th graduating class included youth from 36 Michigan counties, and the voluntary program involves the opportunity to earn high school credit while participating in military activities like drill formations, physical fitness tests, and community outreach.
MYCA Drill Exercise
“As part of their Youth Challenge experience, these cadets have provided a total of 2,884 hours of service to their community, averaging 27.2 hours per cadet,” said Anica Simmons, deputy director of the Michigan Youth Challenge Academy. “Their volunteer efforts provide additional opportunities for career exploration as well as enhancing community-needs awareness and understanding the importance of giving back.”
Youth in the program have to earn privileges by demonstrating discipline and respect for rules and routines. They begin the program as cadets and rank up as they advance in the program and mature in their leadership abilities.
The next session of the Michigan Youth Academy Challenge starts in July and is open now for interested 16 – 18 year old students. Prospective students must participate in an orientation.
To schedule an orientation, contact Frank Vasquez at (269) 968-1397
St. Clair County is updating its Master Plan and they need help from residents. They have created a website that asks residents what they would like to see in several different aspects of county planning.
One part of the website is a Community Ideas Board with interactive conversations. Right now the conversations include economy, environment, quality of life, recreation, transportation and mobility, and community development.
There is also an interactive map where users can share what they love and don’t love about St. Clair County. The options are for “Something I Like”, “Needs Improvement”, and “Think Big”, where users can share what they do with an area if money was no object.
There is also a survey with a rotating topic. The current topic is “Quality of Life”.
According to the Planning Commission, “A master plan creates a shared vision to enhance the quality of life for everyone in the county. It provides a road map into the future for the county’s built, economic, and natural environments.”
The survey ends on July 31st of this year. The results will be shared on the webpage.
