local news

Sarnia Community Improvement Plan Making Progress

Sarnia, ON — The City of Sarnia is making progress with its Community Improvement Plan modernization project. The plan lays the groundwork for public investment that stimulates private investment to reach specific community goals.

The background report is now completed. The report addresses crime, affordable housing, pedestrian and bike-friendly paths, streets and traffic, redevelopment opportunities, preservation of heritage, and the importance of talking to residents. The residents who helped craft the report also mentioned the “need to be bold” and focused on Mitton Village, Northgate, and the Downtown and waterfront district.

The next part of the Community Improvement Plan process is the Virtual Online Workshop which is scheduled for Wednesday, October 7, 2020.  After the workshops, the preliminary recommendations will be presented to Sarnia’s City Council as part of this Council Strategic Planning Session. Then, a meeting will be held to receive public comments on the proposal program before the final plan is presented for consideration in December.

The full details of the Community Improvement Plan can be found at speakupsarnia.ca.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Area Mourns Passing of Jim Whymer, Beloved Local Sportswriter and Advocate

Port Huron, MI — The Blue Water Area is mourning the loss of Jim Whymer, who passed away on September 24th, at the age of 64. Whymer had been a fixture in the local sports reporting scene since the 1970s.

Whymer has been lauded as an advocate for area youth sports and a genuine friend to athletes, who went out of his way to connect with individual athletes and tell their stories. He was often seen officiating youth sports and recently worked as part of the athletics department at St. Clair County Community College.

Local parent, Stacy Thompson, recalled the special quality that Whymer had, saying, “He never forgot a kid he wrote about. He was an amazing man- such a loss for the community.” Thompson said that Whymer referred to her son with his team nickname, long after he had graduated. Such a story is common throughout the entire region as those who were involved in youth sports recall Mr. Whymer’s ability to make connections and reach out.

Mr. Whymer fought cancer for six years. He leaves his wife of 43 years, Patty, along with three children and one grandchild. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

The Spirit of Port Huron Award Winners for 2020

Five individuals and one civic organization were announced as the Spirit of Port Huron Award Winners for 2020. There was no official ceremony this year, but the winners were announced at the September 28th meeting of the Port Huron City Council.

The Brotherhood Award went to Pastor Kimberly Brown, a minister at Zion Cathedral of Praise, the founder of St. Clair Organizing for Regional Equity (SCORE), and a contributing member of the Diversity Initiative of St. Clair County. She also has over 20 years of experience as a clinical therapist and is a partner in the newly established Zoe Counseling & Consulting, PLLC.

The Rotary Club of Port Huron won the Civic Award this year for their significant contribution to making the city a better place to live, work, and play.  The Rotary Club supports many nonprofits through grant-funding and is instrumental in providing a platform for local civic leaders and groups to share information about positive things happening throughout the city. They also provide volunteers for many area events and are the fundraiser, organizer, and host of the International Rotary Parade.

Luke Marion, owner of MI Gardener and Bella Bolla Pizza, received the Economic Progress Award. Luke started his entrepreneurial journey in high school and his family has now opened three successful businesses in Downtown Port Huron. His energy and vision for creating community are evident on his YouTube channel, where he educates and empowers people to become successful gardeners, and in the brick-and-mortar locations he has established in the Downtown Area.

The Good Neighbor Award recipient is Lisa Sheline. Lisa was nominated for her thoughtfulness and compassion which she demonstrates in her role as coordinator of the Faith Lutheran Church food pantry. When the Coronavirus Pandemic hit, Lisa responded to the increased needs in the community by organizing pop-up food distributions that have served over 1,000 individuals.

Gabrielle Hayes was nominated by Port Huron Fire Department Lieutenant Kevin Robinson for her courage and quick response to her father’s health emergency. Gabrielle called 911, gave firefighters valuable information at the scene, and bravely took care of her younger siblings while rescue workers assisted her father. Her actions resulted in a better outcome for her father and she was a great role model for everyone involved.

The Youth Service Award went to Candalaria Tibble who has displayed outstanding citizenship through multiple community service activities. As an active member of the Civil Air Patrol Auxillary, she has participated in Wreaths Across American, provided passenger security at the Goodells 4-H fair, and supported such organizations at the St. Clair County Child Abuse & Neglect Council and the Salvation Army. She has also been a part of Special Olympics for over seven years, and her passion to give back to her community is an inspiration.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

 

Volunteers Needed for Tree Planting Event

Friends of the St. Clair River, in partnership with ReLeaf Michigan and the Community Foundation of St. Clair County, is looking for volunteers to help plant trees along the Blue Water River Walk. The event will take place on October 17th from 8:45 – 12:00 PM.

The Blue Water River Walk is a riverside haven for wildlife and native plants, and this is a hands-on opportunity to add healthy plant life to the landscaping. New trees will improve air and water quality, reduce storm water runoff, and provide many other benefits to the park and the community.

Volunteers are asked to pre-register as a “family unit” or “unit of folks” who have been socially distant together, and equipment sanitization and social distancing will be maintained. Masks are required, and the event will take place rain or shine. Visit scriver.org to learn more.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Youth for Christ East Michigan Looking for Executive Director

Youth for Christ East Michigan is looking for a new Executive Director. Past Executive Director, Laurie Wilson, moved on to work with youth in the school district, and the Board of Directors is grateful for her years of service and the work she did to advance the mission of YFC in the area.

The East Michigan Chapter of Youth for Christ dates back to 1961, and the organization believes there is a strong foundation for the next Executive Director to grow the ministry and lead their outreach to youth in the area.

The position requires a Bachelor’s degree, and experience in youth ministry is preferred. Applicants must also have spiritual and organizational leadership skills and good communication skills. As a leader in Youth for Christ, they must either be commissioned or licensed as a minister through the Youth for Christ process  and/or ordained by an outside body recognized by Youth for Christ/USA.

Youth for Christ East Michigan is actively engaged with 11-19-year-old’s in all of St. Clair County and a portion of Sanilac and Macomb counties. They reach out to youth through school-based programs and online groups, Facebook Live events, and See You at the Pole prayer events.

To learn more about this position, click <HERE>

$500 Scholarships Given at Blue Water College Access Network Webinars

The Blue Water College Access Network is offering a series of webinars for students interested in career and college planning. In-person meetings are on hold due to social distancing, but the webinars keep local high school students on track with their college planning process.

The next webinar pertains to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, and it is scheduled for September 30 from 7-8 p.m. The FAFSA is a vital part of the financial aid process and students need to know how to fill it out correctly and on time so they can get the aid that they need for college.

The October 21st webinar is about Scholarships and Paying for College and the November 11th webinar is about Career Exploration. Industry experts will be sharing their expertise with students.

Students can register for the webinars at www.bwcan.org. Registration is open to all St. Clair County families and is free. At the end of each webinar, a $500 scholarship is awarded to a high school junior or senior participant.

Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland