port huron

Take Survey to Share Thoughts on Broadband Internet Throughout Downtown Port Huron

The City of Port Huron is taking a survey to gauge the interest in broadband internet service throughout downtown.

Jazmyn Thomas, Community Development Program Administrator, said that Port Huron has Block Grant funding from the federal government that could be used to fund the broadband project.

Thomas explained that eligible projects must have a COVID tieback and benefit low to moderate-income persons. The universal broadband service downtown would allow people to use pocket parks, public meeting areas, or their vehicles to get work done and allow for social distancing.

If the broadband project happens, Thomas said Port Huron would be pioneering the effort as no other community has used the federal block grants in such a way.

Downtown Development Director Natacha Hayden said, “The pandemic compelled a high need for quality broadband services for essential things like work and school in many communities.” Hayden pointed out the challenges with connectivity that can happen with such close proximity to the Canadian border.

City of Port Huron Broadband Internet Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2WQJRBV

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

New Theatre District Festival June 3-5 Celebrates Local Theatre

Local theatre is alive and well in Port Huron. To celebrate the love of live shows and the talent that brings the shows to life, Port Huron’s Downtown Development Authority is creating a Theatre District and kicking off the idea with a Theatre District Festival.

The Theatre District Festival will be held June 3rd through 5th in Downtown Port Huron.

The three theaters that are part of the “District” are the Citadel Stage, the home of Enter Stage Right; McMorran Place, the home of Port Huron Civic Theatre; and the St. Clair County Community College Fine Arts Theatre, the home of the SC4 Players.

The Festival will feature art vendors, outdoor entertainment, and of course theatrical performances, along with music and dancing. Vendors will be placed along Bard Street and Superior Street to connect the three theaters.

Artists and vendors are being recruited now. 

For vendor signup go here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScrYIgYDzjGIsP-o34yixiA-lNY4T-zPQfn38DJr3aZX1WFFQ/viewform

To learn more about the theatre district visit their website here:

https://www.phtd.org/

Drug Task Force Conducts Four Raids in Less Than 48 Hours

On April 6th and 7th, the St. Clair County Drug Task Force conducted four drug raids in the city of Port Huron. The raids resulted in several arrests and officers seized weapons, drug packaging materials, and multiple illegal drugs.

The first raid was around 11 AM on April 6th in the 1500 block of Lapeer Road. Officers executed a search warrant and arrested a 33 year old Port Huron man. He faces drug possession and distribution charges along with resisting arrest, maintaining a drug house, and being a habitual offender.

The second raid happened shortly after 8 PM in the 2000 block of Moak Street. A 36 year old Port Huron man was arrested in that raid and faces charges related to the possession of meth, cocaine, and a firearm, along with maintaining a drug house.

The raids on April 7th occurred in the early evening. One was at the 3100 block of Electric Avenue and involved the arrest of a 22 year old man and a 17 year old male, both from Port Huron. The second was in the 1700 block of 11th Street where two residents of Port Huron, a 45 year old woman and a 38 year old man were arrested.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Mecanum Knights Win First Place and Imagery Award at Macomb Tournament

The Mecanum Knights are flying high after a stellar tournament weekend. The Port Huron Schools Robotics Team ended up being on the winning alliance to end last weekend’s Macomb District event with a bang.

Robotic teams form “alliances” in strategic bids to match team strengths and work together to accomplish the game’s tasks.

Kristen McRobie, Enrichment Coordinator for Port Huron Schools, explained, “During alliance selections, The Mecanum Knights were chosen by the 1st seed alliance to compete alongside of Team 1189, The Gearheads, out of Grosse Pointe, Michigan, and Team 494, The Martians from Goodrich, Michigan.  The First Seed Alliance dominated the quarterfinal, semifinal, and final matches and won the Macomb District event with a record of 6-0 in the playoff rounds.”

The Team also brought home the Imagery Award, which celebrates attractiveness in engineering and outstanding visual aesthetic integration of machine and team appearance.

The next event is the State Finals at Saginaw Valley State University on April 13-16th.

http://www.team3667.com/

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Urban Pioneer Program Can Help First Time Homebuyers in City of Port Huron with a $10,000 Grant

For first-time homebuyers looking to buy a house in the City of Port Huron, the Urban Pioneer Program could help with a down payment and closing costs. The program, funded by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, is increasing the grants from $5,000 to $10,000 to keep up with rising home prices.

Jazmyn Thomas, Community Development Program Administrator, said that the City has the goal of increasing homeownership in the city. Thomas said that the program has helped over 150 households since 2011 and has funds available, anticipating the housing market heating up in the coming months.

The process of buying and owning a home can be complicated, and the grants are awarded after the future homeowners have worked with both a lender and a realtor and have found a home.

A free class is available through Blue Water Community Action that explains homeownership in great detail and is recommended by the Urban Pioneer Program.

There are income requirements for the program, such as a maximum income of $65,000 for a family of four. Links to details for the Urban Pioneer Program and the Homebuyer Education Class can be found below.

https://www.bwcaa.org/homebuyer-education

https://www.porthuron.org/departments/planning_community_development/community_development_division.php

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Salon PiZazz Closing Its Doors

Correction 4/5/22 @ 11:12 AM: An earlier version of this story said that Salon PiZazz owner, Kelly Strilcov, will be retiring, which is not correct. Kelly Strilcov issued a statement saying she is “absolutely not retiring”. I apologize for the misunderstanding. – Jessie Wiegand

Salon PiZazz, a downtown Port Huron hair salon, is closing its doors after almost 20 years in business. The salon’s stylists will be transitioning to other local salons.

The salon had been awaiting a move while the owner of its building, Harrison Investment Properties, has been renovating the entire block. In a press release, Strilcov said the “renovations are taking significantly longer than initially projected, resulting in the decision by both parties to permanently close the doors of Salon PiZazz by the end of April.”

Harrison Investment Properties is the owner of the entire block on Quay Street which includes Wings Etc. They originally planned for Salon PiZazz to relocate from their storefront on the northwest corner of the building to a space overlooking the Black River.

Kelly Strilcov said closing the salon is bittersweet. “The daily behind the scenes responsibilities of ownership have never been my strong suit. Not having those will be a relief. However, what’s being lost brings much sadness.”

Strilcov will continue to coordinate Mannequins Making a Difference, the artistic hair, makeup, and modeling competition for charity that takes place during Blue Water Fest.

“With Salon PiZazz closing, the annual fundraiser will now provide opportunities for other area salon teams and stylists to design a mannequin to showcase their own talents and to Make a Difference for one of our local nonprofits,” said Strilcov.

To find out where Salon PiZazz’s stylists transition to, check salonpizazz.com or the Salon PiZazz Facebook page.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand