Cooking Matters for Adults is a six-week class with hands-on food experiences to learn about safe and healthful food choices while being wallet friendly.  The class includes a grocery store tour to practice shopping techniques.  Free for adults on Fridays, from March 8th to April 12th 2019 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.  Classes are FREE and are held at the YMCA of the Blue Water Area on 1525 Third Street, Port Huron.  Registration is open through March 15th, please reserve your spot at www.bluewaterymca.com or call Carol Bublitz at (810) 989-6935.   The program will be presented by MSU an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer.  Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status.

St. Clair County manufacturer, P.J. Wallbank Springs, Inc., is once again expanding its operations in the Port Huron Industrial Park.  The company is investing $2.4 in new equipment and will be creating 40 additional new jobs to meet business demands of new contracts awarded. P.J. Wallbank Springs, Inc., founded in 1982, is the global leader in clutch return technology, specializing in spring pack design and manufacturing for automatic transmissions. An engineering-focused company, the organization started by designing and building its own proprietary manufacturing equipment to produce its spring packs, a strategy it still utilizes today.  The company is a tier one and tier two supplier to companies in South America, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and China.  The company currently exports more than 50 percent of its sales outside of the United States.  The company is being awarded a Michigan Business Development grant of $205,880 to assist with its expansion growth.  This funding is an increase to the company’s original 2016 expansion grant of $350,000.  The previous expansion has grown beyond the original project scope due to new business contracts awarded. Michigan was chosen for the expansion over competing sites in Germany and China.   “It is great to see to see the continued growth of P.J. Wallbank Springs, Inc., in the Port Huron Industrial Park.  The company has nearly 40 years of history in Port Huron and it seems like every year the company is expanding or improving their business operations and proudly showcasing Michigan-made products manufactured in the greater Port Huron region,” said Mayor, Pauline Repp.    “The Port Huron region continues to be a focal point for manufacturing growth.  We’re excited to see P.J. Wallbank Springs solidify its position in the community with its planned new investment and jobs, and we congratulate them on their success.” Said Dan Casey, CEO of the Economic Development Alliance of St. Clair County.   P.J. Wallbank Springs, Inc., will be seeking new employees for its 40 new hires and will be hosting a Career Fair on March 23rd, 2019 from 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM.  It will be held at 2121 Beard Street in Port Huron. For online information on careers with P.J. Wallbank Springs, Inc., visit: https://www.pjws.com/careers/.”

Do you need a good chuckle? How about a good belly laugh?  Blue Water Safe Horizons is will host its second annual “LOL Comedy Show” from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, March 21 at Solitude Links Golf Course and Banquet Center, 5810 Flinchbaugh Rd. in Kimball Township.  Headlining this year’s fundraising event will be DJ Samar, a Michigan native and 30-year resident of Phoenix, Arizona, who performs at venues throughout both states. He is a regular performer at the Comedy Spot in Scottsdale, Arizona, and has also performed at Stand Up Live and Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy in Phoenix, among other venues. He also performs for numerous charity events.   Samar, who is also a professional golfer and member of the PGA, recently performed at PGA HOPE Foundation Comedy Fundraisers in Phoenix and Tucson.  “I am the stand-up comedian never seen on Comedy Central, HBO or even PBS, but I am seen wherever I am!” said Samar.  This comedy show will also feature some familiar faces, including local politicians and businessmen and women, including:

–Radio First/WPHM Personality Paul Miller

–SEMCO Director of Marketing Tim Lubbers
–Marysville Mayor Dan Damman

–Werth Production’s Ernest Werth-Toward

–And a number of other familiar faces!

The event will include a cocktail hour with hors d’oeuvres and a DJ.  Sponsorship opportunities are available for businesses and individuals who wish to be a part of this event.  “Blue Water Safe Horizons deals with very, very serious issues every day of the year…there is no holiday break or summer vacation from domestic violence, sexual assault and elder abuse,” said Diane Baur, executive director of Blue Water Safe Horizons.   “We appreciate the support given to us over the years by the community and we hope to strengthen our relationships with our friends at this light-hearted and entertaining fundraising event because we all need to laugh once in a while.” Tickets are $50 each and are available for purchase online via EventBrite, or by contacting Blue Water Safe Horizons at (810) 989-5246.

March is National Nutrition Month and to celebrate, the St. Clair County Health Department, and the Michigan Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program joins the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to remind residents about the importance of making informed food choices and developing healthy eating and physical activity habits.  Good nutrition is an important part of leading a healthy lifestyle.  Follow these healthy eating tips throughout National Nutrition Month and the rest of the year:

• Get into a wellness state of mind. Balance your diet with food from all food groups. Get active every day with enjoyable movement.
• Eat right with MyPlate. Make small changes to make healthier choices you can enjoy.
• Become a smart shopper by reading food labels to find out more about the foods you eat.
• Change to low-fat or fat-free milk or yogurt to cut back on saturated fat.
• Drink and eat less sodium, saturated fat and added sugars. Drink water instead of sugary drinks.
• Visit Eatright.org for more information about healthy lifestyles.

WIC is a federally-funded program that serves women, infants and children up to age 5 and families, by providing nutritious food, nutrition education, breastfeeding promotion and support and referrals to health and other services. WIC foods are selected to meet nutrient needs such as calcium, iron, folic acid, vitamins A & C.  To learn more about the St. Clair County Health Department WIC program, call (810) 987-8222 or visit www.scchealth.co and click on the WIC program. This Institution is an Equal Opportunity Provider.

Rep. Shane Hernandez, R-Port Huron, the Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, talking about the Governor’s 2020 budget presentation and her plans for roads and education funding.   “Tax increases aren’t solutions. Unfortunately, what we heard from the governor are plans to tax and spend — not real solutions for fixing our roads, improving our schools or continuing Michigan’s economic comeback.”

Rep. Hernandez on roads:  “Michigan drivers deserve every possible effort to make sure the taxes they’re already paying are used effectively and efficiently.  But I didn’t see that in her plan. Coming out of the gate by proposing a 45-cent per gallon tax increase starts the conversation on the wrong foot. Taxpayers deserve better.”

Rep. Hernandez on schools:  “I strongly support investing in Michigan schools. All children deserve a quality education. I have concerns the proposal to put more money into separate categories for separate purposes does not treat all children equally. The most effective way to improve education for all is to focus more on investing in the per-student allotment, and close the funding gap between school districts so all children are treated equally.”

Rep. Hernandez on next steps:  “I will work with the governor to eliminate taxes whenever possible and ensure we no longer balance the budget on the backs of our seniors. But I am concerned about other proposals that would raise costs for seniors and all taxpayers, and for many types of small businesses. We need to dig into each and every part of our state budget and find efficiencies to deliver more value to taxpayers – that’s where this conversation must begin.

“In the past several years, our financially sound budgeting practices have helped improve Michigan’s economy and put state government on solid financial footing. These efforts must continue, and that will be my focus as I work on our next budget plan with the governor and the Senate.”

An investigation into the sales of crack cocaine in the Port Huron area ended with the execution of a search warrant in the city of Port Huron.  According to Sheriff Tim Donnellon, the St. Clair County Drug Task Force raided a home in the 3100 block of Electric Avenue Thursday night at about 10:00 p.m.  Once inside, members of the DTF located and seized $300 worth of crack, along with drug paraphernalia.   A 35 year old Port Huron man was arrested without incident and transported to the St. Clair County Intervention and Detention Center.  He faces charges including possession with intent to deliver crack cocaine and maintaining a drug house.