Lake Huron Foundation’s Volunteer Organization is offering a scholarship to those students enrolled in a community college or university who are studying for a career in the health care field. The deadline is April 30, 2019, and the maximum scholarship award is $1,200 per academic year.  “We are pleased to offer these scholarships to future health care providers in our community,” commented Rosemary Hunger, Lake Huron Foundation’s Volunteer Coordinator. “The Volunteer Organization’s scholarship program has created a lasting legacy while benefiting generations of students.”  According to Hunger, The eligibility requirements and considerations include: students enrolled in a community college or university who are studying for a career in the field of health care, are currently enrolled, carrying a minimum of six (6) credits per semester and demonstrating satisfactory progress. Priority will be given to applicants who demonstrate a financial need and Lake Huron Medical Center employees and their dependents.

To be eligible for consideration of scholarship funds, applicants must:

• Complete the formal scholarship application found on Lake Huron Foundation’s Volunteer Organization website (https://www.mylakehuron.com/Lake-Huron-Foundation/Volunteer-Organization/Health-Care-Scholarship.aspx)
• Submit a transcript of the most recent classes completed or enrolled
• Submit a letter of recommendation from a teacher or employer
• Enclose a copy of an acceptance letter into the specified program (for example: a letter of acceptance into a nursing or health care administration program). If a program specific letter is not applicable, a letter of acceptance from the college or university the applicant will be attending will suffice.
• Applications must be received by April 30, 2019

Completed applications should be submitted to the Lake Huron Foundation Volunteer Coordinator via U.S. mail at Lake Huron Foundation Volunteer Organization, Attn: Volunteer Coordinator, 2601 Electric Avenue, Port Huron, MI 48060.

McLaren Port Huron’s diabetes education team will present a free diabetes care program. Wake Up Your Diabetes Care takes place Tuesday, April 30, 1:30 – 3 p.m., in the McLaren Port Huron Drew Classroom.  What is the connection between diabetes and sleep? Mark Buckley, lead technologist at McLaren Port Huron’s Center for Sleep Medicine, will discuss sleep disorders and their effects on health and diabetes. Enjoy “dreamy” samplings of fresh spring recipes and participate in a fun diabetes challenge game that will keep you wide awake! Members of our diabetes education team will be available to answer questions.  This program is free, and registration is required.  To register or for more information call HealthAccess at 1-800-228-1484 or visit www.mclaren.org/phevents.

The Blue Water Convention Center in Port Huron is the location for the BlueWater International Comic-Con this Saturday, March 30 and Sunday, March 31.  According to St. Clair County Administrator Controller Kary Hepting, show times are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday with advance ticket purchase of $7.50 – or $12 the day of the show – Sunday, hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with admission $5 in advance and $8 the day of the show.  A two-day pass may be purchased in advance only for $10 – kids 5 and under are free.  The Show is produced by Fantasticon – creating a mid-size show created for true comic book and pop culture collectors and fans.  Organizers say if you collect it, you will find it at a Fantasticon Show.  A number of well-known comic-con guests and artists will be in attendance, along with the Great Lakes Ghostbuster Coalition, the Dadpool Street Cruiser and Kitt, the Knight Rider Car.

The First Congregational Church has withdrawn its request to rezone a residential block in the city’s Old Town Neighborhood to a central business district, according to City Manager James Freed.  The Center currently rents space inside the church building and offers healthcare and addiction recovery services to low income and at risk residents. Authorities say that some of the healthcare services offered by The Center are not allowed in a residential zoned neighborhood, therefore the church was seeking to rezone that property.  When area residents voiced opposing concerns, the church withdrew their request and are expected to ask for a conditional zoning request which would be more restrictive on what kinds of programs can be offered at the 723 Court Street location.  Rezoning is determined by a recommendation from the Planning Commission, followed by a vote from City Council.  The next Planning Commission meeting will be Tuesday, April 2nd at 6 p.m. at the Port Huron Municipal Office Center, however, no discussion concerning the rezoning is expected at that meeting.

St. Clair County Community College is offering a new Associate in Applied Arts and Sciences degree program in respiratory therapy, with courses beginning in the fall 2019 semester. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers in respiratory therapy are projected to grow 23 percent through 2026, much faster than the average for other occupations.  SC4’s 24-month program combines classroom and practicum experiences in hospitals, outpatient testing facilities and physician offices to give graduates the knowledge and skills they need to enter the field as licensed respiratory therapists.  “Respiratory therapists are in demand across the country, so we’re very excited to begin offering this program to our community,” said Christine Robinson, director of respiratory therapy at SC4. “Earning an associate degree is an essential step to become a respiratory therapist. Our hands-on curriculum in a personalized learning environment will give SC4 graduates and those students transferring on to attain a four-year degree a real advantage.”  St. Clair County Community College is currently in the process of seeking the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) provisional accreditation for the respiratory therapy program. However, St. Clair County Community College can provide no assurance that accreditation will be granted by CoARC.  SC4’s respiratory therapy program is now accepting applications for the fall 2019 semester, which begins Monday, Aug. 19. Students interested in the program must submit required application materials by Sunday, June 30. Detailed information, including how to apply, is available online.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has updated the confirmed count of measles cases in the state to 22, with infected individuals residing in Oakland and Wayne counties. Oakland County has 21 cases and Wayne County has one. Infected individuals range in age from 11 to 63.  MDHHS is working closely with the Oakland and Wayne County health departments to identify possible exposure locations. Known exposure sites in Oakland County are listed at Oakgov.com/health. Additional sites of potential exposures, including those in Wayne County, may be identified as more information becomes available.  Authorities say the measles vaccine is highly effective and very safe. A single dose of measles vaccine protects about 95 percent of children, but after two doses, almost 100 percent are immune. You cannot get measles from the vaccine. It is effective within 72 hours of exposure to prevent illness. In addition, immune globulin (Ig) treatment is effective within six days of exposure for high-risk individuals. Authorities say to talk to your healthcare provider to determine if immune globulin is right for you and if it is available.  High-risk individuals include those who are unvaccinated or unsure about vaccination status, pregnant women and those who are immune-compromised (have a weakened immune system due to illness and diseases like HIV, malnutrition and/or medications).  The Oakland County Health Division is offering vaccination at their offices in Southfield and Pontiac on Monday, 8:30 a.m.- 6 p.m. and Tuesday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. For more information, call 800-848-5533. Please note these offices are not testing centers:

• North Oakland Health Center, 1200 North Telegraph Road, Building 34 East, Pontiac
• South Oakland Health Center, 27725 Greenfield Road, Southfield

The Oakland County Health Division is also offering vaccination clinics now through March 29 at Young Israel of Oak Park, 15140 West 10 Mile Road, Oak Park, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.  The Wayne County Health Department offers walk-in vaccination at 33030 Van Born Road, Wayne on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8 – 11 a.m. and 12:30 – 4 p.m. and on Wednesday, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 3:30 – 7 p.m. Call 734-727-7101 for more information.  Officials say measles is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease that is spread by direct person-to-person contact, and through the air.  The virus can live for up to two hours in the air where the infected person was present. Symptoms of measles usually begin 7-14 days after exposure, but can appear up to 21 days after exposure and may include:

• High fever (may spike to over 104˚F).
• Cough.
• Runny nose.
• Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis).
• Tiny white spots on the inner cheeks, gums, and roof of the mouth (Koplik Spots) 2-3 days after symptoms begin.
• A rash that is red, raised, blotchy; usually starts on face, spreads to trunk, arms, and legs 3-5 days after symptoms begin.

If symptoms develop, residents are urged to not visit their doctor or emergency room unless they have called ahead so they can take precautions to prevent exposure to other individuals.  From 2001 – 2012, the average number of measles cases reported nationally per year was about 60. But in recent years there have been far more, which is of great concern to public health authorities. So far this year, there have been 314 cases of measles confirmed in 15 states. In 2018, Michigan had 19 cases of measles, the most reported in the state since 1994; the majority of people who got measles were not vaccinated.  The first of two routine childhood measles vaccine doses is given at 12 months of age. A second vaccine dose is given before the start of kindergarten. For international travel, infants as young as 6 months should be vaccinated against measles. Measles vaccine, or other acceptable documentation of immunity to measles, is recommended for all persons travelling internationally. For more information about measles, visit CDC.gov/measles. For more information about Michigan’s current measles outbreak, visit Michigan.gov/MeaslesOutbreak.  In an effort to help parents protect their children from serious vaccine-preventable diseases, MDHHS is participating in the I Vaccinate campaign. I Vaccinate provides the facts parents need to make informed decisions about vaccinations. For more information about immunizations and the I Vaccinate campaign, visit IVaccinate.org.