local news

SC4  Scholarship Deadline March 14th; Virtual Open House March 15th

Port Huron, MI — St. Clair County Community College is hosting a Virtual Open House to get future students acclimated to all that the college has to offer. The online event will be held on Monday, March 15th from 7-8 p.m.

The Virtual Open House will be featuring information about available programs, transfer programs and will walk students through the enrollment process at SC4.

SC4 participates in the “Michigan Transfer Agreement” making it easy for many students to transfer to a university to get a Bachelor Degree. There are also options for one-year certificates and two-year Associate degrees.

Besides the Virtual Open House, there is a link on the SC4 website with a virtual tour of the campus. The seven-minute video highlights the academic, athletic, and student support services that the college offers, along with information about housing, cultural events, and more.

It is also time for prospective students to get their scholarship applications turned in. The deadline is Sunday, March 14th. The application is online with many available options.

Email recruitment@sc4.edu to RSVP and receive a Zoom link to the virtual open house.

https://sc4.edu/admissions/virtual-tour-of-sc4s-campus/

Explore available scholarship opportunities and apply today at https://sc4.academicworks.com/.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Grants Available for Ontario Small Businesses

Sarnia, Ontario — Applications for the Ontario Small Business Support Grant are being accepted until March 31st, and more than $1 billion has been provided to businesses in Ontario so far.

Recipients of the grant receive between $10,000 – $20,000 to use however they would like to offset losses caused by COVID restrictions and decline in business.

Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade said, “Our government is providing small businesses with the flexible financial support they need to address their needs and manage through this pandemic. The Ontario Small Business Support Grant and other supports are helping thousands of small businesses get through these trying times, to make sure that they are still around to contribute to our strong economic recovery.”

Main Street businesses with 2 – 19 employees can also apply for the Main Street Relief Grant which provides up to $1,000 towards the purchase of Personal protective equipment. The government of Ontario is also providing tax rebates to help with property tax and energy costs.

Visit ontario.ca/smallbusiness to learn more.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

OT Operation Transformation

Operation Transformation Gears Up for Continued Outreach with March 18th Open House

Port Huron, MI — Operation Transformation has worked hard during the pandemic to continue its support of local community outreach endeavors. They are planning a one-day fundraising Open House on March 18th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at their headquarters at 1904 Poplar Street in Port Huron, to give OT a needed boost in donations.

Brenda Seppo, Executive Assistant at OT said, “Finances are always lower in winter and with lack of in-person opportunities for people to give, we are hoping to catch up on the budget needs.”

The non-profit has a huge list of projects that they worked on in 2020 from jail outreach to collecting over 900 cell phones to buy prepaid phone cards for military personnel. Traditions like the Community Good Friday Service and Family Night during Boat Week are the work of OT.

Seppo said that OT has relied heavily on online meetings and community services to maintain their outreach, and has actually been able to reach more people than pre-Covid. They have focused on encouragement and hope to help people navigate the changes due to the pandemic.

New projects for 2021 include a Mentoring Program for those released from prison and jail and a new initiative to recruit more foster care parents and respite workers.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Waterfront Residents Should Prepare Now for Spring Rain

Port Huron, MI — The Blue Water Area is anticipating warmer temps next week, and Spring Fever will likely set in as the remaining snow melts. With already high water levels in the area, residents of waterfront communities should begin preparing now for spring rain and potential flooding.

The City of Port Huron has begun distributing mailers to property owners in flood prone areas, and they are working on plans for sandbag distribution and sandbag filling stations. They hope to have these established the week of March 8th.

Mark White, Deputy Director for St. Clair County Office of  Homeland Security and Emergency Management, said, “We’ve been following the St. Clair River ice jam since it started back in the beginning of February and the impact on homes along the river especially in East China Township, a few homes in Cottrellville, Marine City, and Algonac.”

White noted that property owners along the St. Clair River most heavily impacted are those who are at a lower elevation than other surrounding properties. Individual homes may have mitigation efforts in place, but it really takes a collaborative effort from neighbors and adjoining properties to minimize the negative effects.

White expressed concern for many families, especially those in the Pointe Drive area of East China Township who have been repeatedly affected by flooding. The Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management established a self-reporting damage assessment tool for residents which enables them to submit damage reports and photos. “If you have damage, log into this tool. It provides a lot of data for us and gives us an idea of what kind of damage has been done,” said White.

Report St. Clair County flood damage <HERE>.

Keep up with the St. Clair County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management <HERE>.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Black History Banners Installed in Downtown Port Huron

Those who travel down Huron Avenue and Military Street in Port Huron might notice something new. Banners in honor of Black History Month have been installed in Downtown Port Huron. The banners honor the rich history of those who have made outstanding contributions to the Port Huron area and the Black community as a whole. 

Twenty banners have been put up throughout Downtown displaying names, faces, and quotes from those in the Black community who have had an impact on the Blue Water Area. They also highlight the diversity and growth within the whole community. 

The banners feature people like Helen Floyd, a lifelong educator and community activist, quotes from Frederick Douglass, a 19th-century abolitionist and social reformer, and reference to Dr. Carter G. Woodson, an historian and scholar who is considered the “Father of Black History”. People who see the banners might be inspired to do a little research to learn more about those featured in the project. 

Black History Month may be designated to February, but the banners will remain up longer. The banner installation is a collaborative effort between the Port Huron Branch of the NAACP, Port Huron Black Lives Matter, and the St. Clair County Organizing for Regional Equity (S.C.O.R.E.) Organization with sponsorship from various community members.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Eat at Buffalo Wild Wings March 3rd – Support the Red Cross

Buffalo Wild Wings is teaming up with the Red Cross of Michigan to support the organization’s mission to save lives and help communities. On March 3rd , 10% of the sales at Buffalo Wild Wings locations throughout Michigan will be donated to the Red Cross.

Chief Executive Officer, Mary Lynn Foster said, in a press release, “Through the trials of the last year, our local Red Cross volunteers and blood donors stepped up to care for their neighbors. From emergencies like family home fires to critical blood shortages, our local heroes were there to help. For nearly 80 years, U.S. presidents have proclaimed March as Red Cross Month to recognize people giving back through its lifesaving mission — which is powered by more than 90% volunteers.”

From July 2019 through June 2020, the Red Cross helped more than 1,200 families experiencing local disasters and distributed almost 200,000 pints of blood from generous donors.

The local Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant in Ft. Gratiot will be participating in this promotion along with the other 51 locations throughout Michigan. In Ft. Gratiot, the restaurant is offering carry out along with dine in services at 25% capacity and limiting parties to 6 or less per table.

Sheri Gress one of the Managers of the Ft. Gratiot location said, “We are looking forward to welcoming in guests to enjoy our amazing food and meet our wonderful staff, all while supporting the Red Cross.”

Reporting for WGRT  – Jessie Wiegand