local news

Port Huron Discount Cards Offer Deals Through 2021

There are two new discount cards available for those who shop at Downtown Port Huron businesses and in the Greater Port Huron Area. Thirty-three businesses are represented on each card, and the discounts start from the time the card is purchased through December 31, 2021.

The cards are $10 each, and the Downtown Port Huron discount card includes 10-20% discounts on stores such as MI Passion, batchmade BEAUTY, and Suzanne’s Women’s Fashions, along with $40 off for an escape room group at The Hallway Entertainment.

The Greater Port Huron discount card features some downtown locations as well, and also includes discounts to The Dorsey House, Jersey Mike’s in Ft. Gratiot, and all Dunham’s Sports locations.

Discount cards can be purchased at participating stores or through the City of Port Huron’s Downtown Development Authority (DDA).  Cards purchased through the DDA will help fund future events and promotions in Downtown Port Huron.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Fall Program Schedule Set for Port Huron Recreation

After necessary adaptations amid COVID-19, the Port Huron Recreation Department will continue to  provide recreational opportunities to residents virtually. Popular fall programs such as dance, art & crafts,  cooking, and belly dance classes have been adapted to take place via ZOOM Meeting, YouTube, and Facebook.  Other successful programs will be hybrid where interaction will take place online but the program can be done safely outdoors. These include Walk Michigan, Drive-in Movies, and Halloween Stroll. 

“The goal is to keep everyone active and to have some fun during these unprecedented times,” said  Kati Gardner, Recreation Department supervisor. 

For the very first time, the department is offering its popular summer event, Walk Michigan, during  fall. The program nominates eight different routes around town where participants can take an one-to-two mile walk and receive a prize once a minimum of five routes are completed.  

Back by popular demand, free Drive-in Movies will continue at McMorran south parking with Jumanji on September 24th and Hocus Pocus on October 22. Concessions will be provided by Sperry’s Moviehouse. 

Finally, the department’s annual trick or treating event, Halloween Stroll, is being adapted to follow social distancing guidelines and to comply to outdoor gathering limits. More details on this event will soon be  released.  

“As local and state regulations evolve amid COVID-19, we will continue to look for ways to provide  our children and families with more great recreation opportunities this season,” said Nancy Winzer, Port Huron  Parks & Recreation Director. “The key is being creative,” she said. 

Registration for Walk Michigan, belly dance class, and other fall programs is available through the  department’s website at www.porthuronrec.com. For more information, participants are welcome to call the  recreation department at (810) 984-9760 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Courthouse Seeks to Quell Rumors on COVID-19 Cases

PORT HURON, MI – Since March 2020, the safety of the public and court staff has  been of highest importance. Identification of cases will continue throughout the county,  and county employees are not an exception. The court system works closely with the  St. Clair County Health Department to identify cases and exposures as well as  identifying risk reduction strategies. At this time, NO public exposures have resulted  from any identified cases within the court system. All individuals who may have been  exposed to COVID have been notified. The exposure situation was handled swiftly and  exceptionally well by court directors and leadership.

Daniel J. Kelly, Chief Judge for St. Clair County Courts, further states, “These are  challenging times we are living through today. Our main goal right now is to protect,  serve and maintain precautionary procedures in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.”

Those that have circumstances required to be handled within the court are encouraged  to continue to use remote resources, such as email, fax, telephone and the court  website when possible.

General court system inquiries, please visit: http://www.stclaircounty.org/Offices/courts

Submitted by St. Clair County

Visiting Nurse Association & Blue Water Hospice Honor Shining Stars

Port Huron, MI –  Visiting Nurse Association & Blue Water Hospice recognizes staff for going above and beyond through the Shining Star program. Those awarded regularly demonstrate the mission, vision, and focus of the agency while helping patients, clients, and each other. Leadership nominates staff for the award quarterly.

This past quarter, the following individuals were given the Shining Star award:

Carrie Barnes, Health Services

Judy Bloink, Blue Water Hospice Home

Jackie Cole, Blue Water Hospice Home

Carol Hill, Home Health Care

Paula LaFortune, Blue Water Hospice Home

Louise Markovic, Private Duty

Suzanne Tomczak, Home Health Care

Jeannie Westbrook, Health Services

Amanda Whitmore, Blue Water Hospice Home

Cindy Wisdom, Blue Water Hospice Home

 

Since 1952, Visiting Nurse Association has provided a continuum of care including home health care, palliative care, private duty, and hospice care to the people of St. Clair, Sanilac, Lapeer, and Macomb counties. Visiting Nurse Association and Blue Water Hospice is a non-profit organization that provides high-quality, cost-effective health care to any patient and family member with short-term, long-term, or end-of-life care. Learn more about the services offered by VNA/BWH by visiting www.vnabwh.com.

Hunter Hospitality House Plans New “Family House”

Port Huron non-profit, Hunter Hospitality House, is adding a third property to its roster of homes away from home for people who need to stay close to local hospitals.

HHH has announced the acquisition of a ranch style home next door to Lake Huron Medical Center. The house will be named the Hunter Hospitality Family House.

The organization saw the need for a house that was specifically designed for families, unlike their other properties that are more bed-and-breakfast style, more suitable for adults. The new home will be more comfortable for entire families to stay in while being close to loved ones in the hospital. While the house is near Lake Huron Medical Center, transportation to McLaren Port Huron is provided by HHH.

The house needs renovation. Roofing, flooring, construction, and landscaping all need professional attention. Donations of both time and talent will be needed to make the Family House a reality, just as those donations have sustained the other HHH properties.

The new house is scheduled to be opened on December 7, 2021, which is the 30th birthday of the late Hunter Willard, after whom the organization is named.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Virtual “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” This Weekend

This year’s “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” is going on as planned this Saturday, September 19, but with a socially distant twist. Participants are asked to walk in their own neighborhoods or favorite park and take a picture of themselves while walking.

MaryBeth Fleury, President of the Dementia & Alzheimer’s Resource Committee, said that walkers can post their walk pictures on the Committee’s Facebook page and share who they are walking for or why they are walking.

Fleury said that the committee is not seeking donations from the walk this year due to the community’s financial strain under COVID-19 restrictions, but general donations are always accepted. The annual goal of raising awareness of Alzheimer’s continues this year even without the large fundraising gathering. 

The Dementia & Alzheimer’s Resource Committee was organized in 2014 by a local caregiver and advocate, Marcia Haynes, who realized that St. Clair County had some wonderful dementia care resources, but that collaboration was needed to get them together in one place to better serve the dementia caregiver.

 More information about the Dementia & Alzheimer’s Resource Committee can be found at www.darcscc.org. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland