Friends of the St. Clair River has launched “Cookies, Conservation and Conversations”, a 3-part winter workshop series, that kicks-off Wednesday, January 30, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. at the St. Clair County Administration Building Auditorium, 200 Grand River Avenue in Port Huron. These free, family-friendly presentations are held once a month from January to March, begin at 6:00 p.m. and last 45 minutes.

“Respect the Insect: Basic Insect Biology” – Wednesday, January 30, 6:00 p.m.

“Ducks Unlimited” – Wednesday, February 27, 6:00 p.m.

“March Madness” – Wednesday, March, 27, 6:00 p.m.

The first winter workshop, “Basic Insect Biology”, will be led by Tom Dennis, a local naturalist and Times Herald columnist. Tom will discuss basic insect characteristics, compare beneficial and harmful insects, and the role insects serve in our environment. Pollinators are increasingly disappearing due, in part, to habitat loss and pesticide use. Understanding the importance of insects is the first step in their protection and preventing further decline.  Friends of the St. Clair River is the Blue Water Area’s largest environmental non-profit organization that inspires citizen action through stewardship, monitoring and education to restore, protect and enhance the St. Clair River and its watersheds. For more information visit www.scriver.org, “Friends of the St. Clair River” on Facebook and @bwriverwalk.

Homeland Security and St. Clair County Emergency Management Director Jeff Friedland reported to WGRT that there is minor flooding due to an ice jam, downriver in the Algonac area.  Friedland says one cutter is working, as of this writing (1:20 p.m. January 21), and two more are on their way to the area.  Emergency Management along with the U.S. Coast Guard are monitoring the situation as the cutter works.   Friedland further stated that if anyone is experiencing an emergency situation, to please call 9-1-1, as, the Emergency Management offices are closed today  in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and the offices are closed.

The Michigan Department of Health and Humans Services (MDHHS) plans to issue Food Assistance Program benefits early for February.  For food assistance clients, Michigan began issuing February benefits on Saturday, Jan. 19. Clients who didn’t receive their benefits on that date should receive the funds the following week. That means the 1.2 million Michigan residents who receive food assistance will have benefits to feed their families in February even if the partial federal government shutdown continues.  The early food assistance benefits are not additional benefits and there will be no food assistance payments in February. MDHHS strongly encourages families to budget the funds they receive in January so they can meet their food needs through the entire month of February.  “MDHHS is pleased that the department is able to work with its federal partners to make sure Michigan families have food on the table in February,” said Terrence Beurer, MDHHS deputy director of Field Operations Administration.  The USDA Food and Nutrition Service has directed states to issue February food assistance benefits early. In Michigan, food assistance benefits are usually issued to clients according to a numeric schedule over a 21-day period throughout the month. USDA officials identified this one-time early benefit distribution of food assistance as a chance to provide the benefits during the shutdown.  At this point, MDHHS believes that Women, Infants and Children (WIC) benefits will be available for states to issue in February without interruption. In Michigan more than 200,000 mothers, pregnant women and children from birth to age 5 receive nutritional food through WIC. MDHHS will provide more information as details are known.  January food assistance and WIC benefits are being distributed according to the normal schedule. Learn more on the USDA Food and Nutrition Service website.

Now that the dust has settled on another hectic holiday season, many of us have turned our attention to setting New Year’s resolutions and making positive changes in our lives.  It’s a familiar cycle: each January we promise ourselves that this is the year we will really follow through on those resolutions to improve areas of our life, from our health to our career to our personal relationships. But without clear goals and steps in place to attain them, it can be difficult to successfully achieve meaningful, lasting changes in our busy and demanding lives.  Dr. Vince Guglielmetti, a physician with MedExpress Urgent Care, offers tips on how to set resolutions that stick so you can have a happier, healthier 2019.  Guglielmetti says oftentimes,  resolutions do not work because they’re focused on negativity – focusing on the benefits or enjoyment of an end result can be a more effective way to achieve positive and lasting change.  He says set reasonable goals and make a plan to stay accountable and find ways to stay inspired.   Set reachable goals and don’t be too hard on yourself if you slip up.   If you slip up, reset, and keep your goals at the top of your mind.  Dr. Gulielmetti also says it is important to consult with a healthcare professional before beginning a new regiment.  Happy New Year!