Lexington Bach Festival Returns this Weekend

Everybody needs a little Johan Sebastian Bach every now and then. The Lexington Bach Festival is bringing three days of world-class classical music to the Blue Water Area.

The festival opens this year with free performances at noon and 7 p.m. today at the Fine Arts Building at St. Clair County Community College.

Today’s concert features the Lexington Bach Festival String Quartet playing J.S. Bach, Prokofiev, and Haydn. If you miss the Thursday concert, there are three more days of classical music.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday’s shows will be held at St. Denis Catholic Church in Lexington. The shows will feature a pre-concert talk with Music Director John Thomas Dodson 45 minutes before the performance time.

Friday’s show is at 7 p.m. showcases the talents of pianist Mark Markham. Saturday’s show is at 7 p.m. also and will be hosting Chicago’s renowned brass quintet, Axiom Brass.

Sunday’s show is at 4 p.m. and brings pianist Mark Markham back joined by acclaimed soprano Leah Crocetto.

Further information and tickets are available at Weekends in Port Huron and Lexington, or on

www.lexington-arts.org or www.lexingtonbachfestival.org or by phone 810-689-4250.

 Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Sandy Hunwick Harrison Center PHASD

Harrison Holding Walk-in Registration for Adult Learners

Harrison Center in Port Huron provides adult learning opportunities for those who want to complete their high school diploma or study for their G.E.D. tests. The school is open for walk-in registration from now until September 30th  from 8 AM – 1 PM Monday – Thursday and Tuesday & Thursday evenings from  4:30 – 7 PM.

Those who want to enroll should bring their birth certificate, driver’s license or state ID, and their social security card to register. Students who previously attended Harrison Center can log in to Skyward to update their information in the “Returning Student Verification” section.

Sandy Hunwick has been teaching at Harrison for 5 years. Prior to her position at Harrison she had retired after 17 years with Port Huron Schools.  “We are just trying to help adults in our community succeed,” said Hunwick.

Last year, Harrison Center had 40 graduates , and their goal this year is 50 grads. They have already had their first GED graduate.

Hunwick wants to encourage anyone in the community who was approved for the Futures for Frontliners program to enroll in the program as soon as possible. “They must register by December 31st or they will lose that scholarship,” she said.

September 19 – 25 is National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week which helps raise awareness of the need for adult education and family literacy programs in communities.

Harrison Center enrolls students all year long. After October 1st, registration is by appointment only.

To learn more, visit their website here:

http://www.phasd.us/our_schools/harrison_adult_learning_center

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Christine McNabb is NACW’s Woman of the Year

The Port Huron Chapter of National Association of Career Women provides a place for professional and personal development of women, and each year they select a Woman of the Year at their annual meeting. This year’s honoree is Christine McNabb.

Christina McNabb is the Branch Manager at Northstar Bank in St. Clair, and she is active in the St. Clair Rotary, St. Clair Police Foundation, and Marine City Chamber of Commerce.

The Port Huron Chapter of NACW selected Christine as their Woman of the Year because of her work on the board of the organization and her commitment to teaching banking and financial responsibility to St. Clair and Marine City high school students.

The NACW’s Woman of the Year is a woman whose “conduct exemplifies the highest standards, personally and professionally, while remaining active in her career. Women who are interested in learning more about NACW can visit their website at nacwonline.org.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

 

Yard of the Year Winners Announced

Port Huron, MI — The Beautification Commission’s Yard of the Year contest winners were recognized during the Port Huron City Council’s regular meeting on September 13, 2021.  The wooden yellow tulip was awarded to the residential winners and a wall plaque went to the commercial winner.  

2021 Residential Winners: 

 Central:
  • Michael & Melanie Belleman – 1912 Union Street
  • Tracy Cole – 1331 20th Street
  • Mark Reynolds – 1533 Court Street
North:
  • Paul & LuAnn Carpo – 2929 Omar Street
  • Robert & Sandra Funk – 848 Lakeview Avenue
  • Dondra Slingerland – 2937 Elmwood Street
South:
  • Scott & Karen Harris – 2830 Military Street
  • Stephen & Catherine Grattan – 2223 Griswold Street
  • Kim Rogan – 1726 7th Street

Commercial Winner:

Jowett Funeral Home – 1634 Lapeer Avenue

 

Michigan Trails Week Brings Challenge to Log 100,000 Miles of Trail Use

Michigan Trails Week is September 19th-26th. It’s also the kickoff to the Michigan Trails Week Challenge where trail users work toward a combined 100,000 miles traveled on local, county, state, or federally managed trails.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is trying to get Michigan on the radar of trail enthusiasts nationwide with Trails Week. There are over 13,000 miles of state-designated trails.

Ron Olson, chief of the DNR Parks and Recreation Division said, “State parks and trails are welcoming places with ample opportunity to improve your physical and mental health. Getting outside on a trail is an easy way to promote good health and take in the outdoors, and that’s the concept behind these resources that are part of ‘Michigan’s big green gym.'”

To participate in the Trails Week Challenge, you will need to register online and log your miles spent on trails. Virtual badges can be earned for various outdoor activities.

Trails Week Challenge

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

MiABLE Helps Those with Disabilities Save Money

The Michigan Department of Treasury has announced Michigan’s participation in the National ABLE Alliance. ABLE stands for Achieving a Better Life Experience and works to create the most cost-effective and user-friendly ABLE programs for people with disabilities.

The MiABLE programs are financial accounts that allow users to save money, up to $100,000, that is not considered when applying for other federal or state benefits, like Social Security Disability Income, Medicaid, and the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program.

As one of the first states to launch an ABLE plan, MiABLE has more than $31.2 million in assets in over 6,300 accounts.

Eligible participants have to have been disabled before the age of 26. The money can be used for qualified disability expenses like education, housing, transportation, medical costs, assistive technology, and others.

Participation in the national ABLE program transfers the management of the funds to a new servicer and current participants will be notified.

MiABLE.org or 844-656-7225

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland