event

Earth Fair Presents 30 Day Challenge

The Blue Water Area usually looks forward to the annual Earth Fair held at Goodells County Park, but due to COVID, it is taking a second year off. In place of the large in-person gathering, families can take conservation action into their own hands with the “30 for 30 Earth Fair Challenge” event. 

Organizer Sarah Davidson-Nelson said, “One of the Earth Fair committee’s purposes is to inspire the community to become better environmental stewards. The 30 for 30 Earth Fair Challenge event is virtual, but it will offer local community members a way to become better environmental stewards in a safe and yet still engaging and interactive manner.”

Participants can check the Earth Fair Facebook page for a new activity each day or check the website for the full list of activities.

Participants can then upload a picture and be entered to win a $50 Visa Gift Card. There is a new chance to win with every challenge.

Everyone who submits a challenge picture will get an Earth Fair Vendor Coupon book good for deals on vendors’ websites.

Examples of challenges include a competitive scavenger hunt at Goodells Park, a trash-free picnic, and exploring a beach, park or trail.

www.facebook.com/EarthDayFair

www.earthdayfair.com/

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

PHPD’s Special Needs and Autism Day Planned for April 10th

Port Huron, MI — The Port Huron Police Department will be having Special Needs and Autism Day on Saturday, April 10th in the St. Clair County Community College parking lot. The event will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The project is meant to bring awareness to special needs community members.

The Police Department has established a process where information is gathered that helps them assist in interacting with or locating someone with special needs. Caregivers can fill out a form to share that information at the April 10th event, or at the Police Station, or online. The forms will be kept on file and available in case of an emergency.

Special Needs and Autism Day is being held in conjunction with the Port Huron Fire Department, TRI Hospital EMS, St. Clair County Community Mental Health, and Anthony’s Autism Awareness.

At the event, participants will be able to meet police officers, check out the police cars, and get some safety information. There will also be games and informational handouts.

Contact Officer Duane Hunger at hungerd@porthuron.org or 810-984-9715, extension 1030.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Celebrate Edison’s Birthday with Flashlight Tour

Thomas Edison’s 174th Birthday is coming up, and the Port Huron Museums are providing a unique way to celebrate. The Thomas Edison Depot Museum is offering a guided flashlight tour of the museum led by Depot Dave.

Guests can register for a time slot on February 11th to participate in the tour. Tours will be limited to 10 people and the cost is $10 per person or $8 per member. The interactive tour will feature quirky Edison facts and guest can learn even more about the areas that interest them by shining their flashlight on them during the tour.

Andrew Kercher, Manager of Community Engagement at the Port Huron Museums, said, “This is a new, fun event that has been structured to keep people safe and give them something fun to do. It’s a new way to engage with our history!”

Tickets are available on EventBrite <HERE>.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Local March for Life Drew a Crowd on Sunday

Port Huron, MI — The local March for Life was held this past Sunday, with 125 pro-life activists carrying signs and marching along Pine Grove Avenue in Port Huron.

The activists hoped to make their viewpoints known to passers-by and to draw attention to the pro-life cause on the weekend of the 48th anniversary of the passing of Roe vs. Wade, which legalized abortion in the United States. The March was organized by the St. Clair County Right to Life, which is an affiliate of Right to Life of Michigan.

After the March down Pine Grove, the local pro-lifers held a community prayer service at St. Mary Catholic Church in Port Huron, led by Deacon John Fitzmaurice and Reverend Tom Seppo.

Members of the St. Clair County Right to Life group, along with pro-life youth from the region, have a tradition of attending the national March for Life in Washington, D.C., but like most other large gatherings, this year’s National March has been drastically scaled back due to COVID-19 fears. The usual buses full of hundreds of thousands of Marchers from all over the country will sit idle this year, as the March will be held virtually on Friday, January 29th.

A Michigan March for Life is scheduled to be held in Lansing on Wednesday, January 27th.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

“With Unity Comes Infinite Hope” Theme of PHS-NAACP Partnership

Port Huron, MI — Port Huron Schools are partnering with the Port Huron NAACP to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with service and positivity. For the past six years, both the district and the NAACP have engaged students in learning about the life and legacy of Dr. King and the civil rights movement, according to a statement from the school district.

This year’s theme is “With Unity, Comes Infinite Hope”. The theme comes from Dr. King’s quote, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” Students across the district will listen to age-appropriate readings and recordings with the message of unity and hope.

This year’s district wide project will be the making of cards for shut in seniors. The Council on Aging is partnering with the school district on the project.

Port Huron Schools Superintendent Jamie Cain remarked, “This year, more than ever, encouraging and helping others find or rediscover hope is a valuable necessity. It’s inspiring to see our students challenge themselves in the memory of Dr. King to provide hope to some of the most vulnerable citizens in our community, shut in seniors.”

A link to full archive of Port Huron Schools’ MLK Day projects:

http://phschoolsmlkday.weebly.com/

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Red Cross Offers Super Bowl Ticket Drawing as Incentive for Donors

The American Red Cross is in dire need of donor plasma. The need for convalescent plasma from COVID-19 survivors has created a shortage of the potentially lifesaving blood product.

Dr. Erin Goodhue, Red Cross medical director of clinical services, said, “Blood and plasma donors who have recovered from COVID-19 may have the power to help critically ill patients currently battling the virus. With hospital distributions for convalescent plasma increasing about 250% since October, these generous donations are vital in helping to save lives throughout the winter – a time that is often challenging to collect enough blood products for those in need.”

All blood donors in the month of January will be automatically entered to win a trip to the 2022 Super Bowl in Los Angeles. They will also be entered to win a “Big Game at Home” package which includes a 65” television and a $500 gift card.

Appointments need to be made by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, calling 1-800-RED-CROSS or activating the Blood Scheduling Skill for Amazon Alexa.

Upcoming Blood Drives:

Emmett 1/7/2021: 1 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Our Lady of Mt Carmel Hall, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Hall, 10828 Brandon Road

Yale 1/11/2021: 11 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., Sacred Heart Church, 310 N. Main St.

Port Huron 1/15/2021: 9 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., St. Clair County Administration Bldg., 200 Grand River

1/18/2021: 12 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Port Huron Elks Lodge 343, 3292 Beach Road

1/29/2021: 10 a.m. – 3:45 p.m., St. Clair County Community Mental Health Authority, 3111 Electric Avenue

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland