port huron

Downtown Port Huron’s First Friday is for Kids on July 1st

All the fun downtown isn’t just for the grownups. Downtown Port Huron is the place to be for kids and their families this Friday, July 1st from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. This month’s First Friday is focusing on kids.

Children of all ages are invited to take a stroll on the sidewalks of downtown Port Huron to check out the activities planned just for them. Downtown businesses will have face painting, games, coloring, and other types of fun.

Kids will also get a chance to meet the people who keep the community safe. A fire truck will be on site for kids to get up close and personal with, along with representatives of the military and first responders.

A Little Something, a gift shop and ice cream shop in downtown Port Huron will have special activities for kids, along with free ice cream for the first 200 kids, sponsored by local businesses.

For the full details on all of the special events in Downtown Port Huron, go to DowntownPH.com.

After the kids’ events, The Gobies, a local band will be rocking the McMorran Main Stage.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Levi’s Link Run Raises Funds for Hospital Programs for Kids with Special Needs

Want to experience a challenging run or walk course while helping out kids living with special needs? Levi’s Link is making that possible this weekend.

Levi’s Link is a special needs program at McLaren Port Huron. The program provides individualized care for patients with special needs such as autism, Down’s Syndrome, sensory processing disorders, and others.

There’s still time to sign up for the 5th Annual Levi’s Link 10K, 5K, and One Mile Fun Run and Walk. The walk will be held both virtually and in person. The in-person event is this Sunday, June 26th at 9:00 a.m. at the Mid-Michigan Materials property on Fisher Road in Jeddo, an expansive gravel pit with challenging terrain. 

Levi’s Link got started by Megan Wilson, a local mother with a son on the autism spectrum, wanting to make an improvement at the hospital. Wilson’ research prompted the creation of Levi’s Link at McLaren Port Huron, which is now a model for programs at other hospitals. The Levi’s Link Program at McLaren Lansing will also benefit from this year’s race.

A link to more information can be found below.

www.levislinkrun.com

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Sanborn Multi-Use Trail Ready for Walkers, Joggers, and Bikers with June 28th Ribbon Cutting

The Sanborn Park Multi-Use Trail is getting officially launched on June 28th at 4:00 p.m. The community is invited to celebrate the opening of the new trail.

The trail is notable as it is natural and unpaved and suitable for walkers, joggers, and bike riders. There is an outside loop for beginning riders and two inner BMX lines for experienced riders.

Melanie Chandler, co-supervisor of the Port Huron Recreation Department, said that the Department saw a resurgence of outside play, particularly outside city parks, and they wanted to create more interesting opportunities for that.

Chandler said, “After visiting other communities with similar bike trails, we were excited to offer this to our own community. With help from the City of Lapeer, we completed the trail in April. We hope everyone enjoys it.”

Care was taken to preserve the environment at the park, which is heavily wooded, with cooperation from the Friends of the St. Clair River. Funding for the trail was provided by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Fund.

The trail entrance is east of the playground at Sanborn Park on the north side of the City of Port Huron.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Why It’s Important for All Americans to Celebrate Juneteenth

Today’s guests, Alphonso Amos, Jessica Brown, and Kevin Watkins share why Juneteenth is important to them and how the whole community can come together for this celebration of a major event in American history.

Learn more about the Juneteenth Celebration at St. Clair County Community College on Saturday, June 1th from noon- 4 PM here:

https://sc4.edu/event/juneteenth-celebration/

Learn more about Black Lives Matter Port Huron here:

https://www.facebook.com/BlackLivesMatterPortHuron

SC4’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion here:

https://sc4.edu/office-of-diversity-equity-inclusion/

Port Huron Chapter of NAACP here:

https://www.facebook.com/Port-Huron-Branch-of-the-NAACP-479353555461261

 

The WGRT Local News Podcast is part of the WGRT 102.3 FM Podcast Network. For the latest episodes of all of our featured podcasts, visit our website here:

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Michigan Task Force on Women in Sports Makes Recommendations

Note to reader- Title IX : “Title 9”

The Michigan Task Force on Women in Sports has made its first recommendations after three years of research and development. The Task Force has been looking at ways to support and promote opportunities for women and girls in sports in Michigan.

Task Force Chair, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, made the announcement at the Mackinac Policy Conference last week. Benson said that “it’s critical that women and girls in Michigan are provided what they deserve – high quality and equitable opportunities to participate in sports as athletes, coaches, and administrators.”

The Task Force recommends that Federal Title IX laws be expanded and modernized, as the landmark law is now 50 years old. They also recommended that investment in talent and leadership pathways be made to explicitly support the growth of women and girls in and through sports. Another recommendation was to engage the public, youth sports, and business communities to support solutions for equitable opportunities.

A link to the full report can be found at WGRT.com.

https://www.michigan.gov/sos/-/media/Project/Websites/sos/35lawens/WIS-Task-Force-Exec-Summary-Web.pdf

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Spero Offers Free Obstetric Ultrasounds as Part of Nurse-Sonographer Training

Spero Pregnancy Center in Port Huron is offering free obstetric ultrasounds to expectant mothers on Thursday and Friday, June 23rd and 24th.

While ultrasounds are always free to women seeking services at the center, this special event is for training registered nurse-sonographers on their ultrasound equipment. All pregnant women at least 5 ½ weeks along are invited to help the Spero staff while getting free ultrasound pictures of their little ones on the way. While finding out whether it’s a boy or a girl is not part of the free ultrasound, participants will be entered into a drawing for a gift card.

The Spero Pregnancy Center is located at 1211 Griswold Street in Port Huron. Volunteers and staff at the life-affirming non-profit medical clinic offer free services such as pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, counseling, mentoring, material assistance, adoption referrals, and prenatal and parenting classes.

Call 810-985-4673 to make an appointment for the free training ultrasounds.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland