port huron

Lightship To Get Much-Needed Repairs

Port Huron, MI — The Huron Lightship needs some serious repair after last summer’s damage. City Manager James Freed has recommended that the City of Port Huron award a contract to Martin Construction to repair the structure.

A rare meteotsunami caused water levels in the St. Clair River to quickly raise and then recede, resulting in significant damage to the Huron Lightship. The boat, which had been permanently grounded at Pine Grove Park for decades, actually floated up and destroyed much of the mechanical structures.

Some work has already been done to repair the Lightship, which is a working Museum, under the management of Port Huron Museums. It is not currently open to visitors due to the damage.

The final restoration involves replacing the damaged walkway to the Lightship and backfilling around the ship to maintain stability. After soliciting bids from several contractors, Martin Construction was the only contractor willing to take on the project. The cost is $62,400 for the complete project.

According to Freed, the backfilling needs to take place quickly to ensure the stability of the vessel.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Port Huron Schools Develops Committee to Address Pandemic Recovery

A group of education stakeholders met on August 4th to develop a strategic plan for students in the Port Huron schools. The group’s members are from a variety of sectors, including students, and they will focus on helping students recover from the effects the pandemic had on education.

Theo Kerhoulas, Port Huron Schools Superintendent, said “The purpose of the committee is to review feedback and identify major areas for planning consideration as we create the best learning environment for our students and families, while supporting our community needs in the significant recovery from the pandemic. These stakeholders will advise my team in development, implementation and communication of the recovery plan for Port Huron Schools.”

The stakeholders include teachers, parents, community representatives, and school administrators and board of education members. The recovery plan will involve determining where things stand presently and developing a strategy to address wellness, academics, school climate, and family and community engagement in the future.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Festival of Trees Staying at the Hospital for 2021

McLaren Port Huron has decided to host their popular Festival of Trees event at the hospital again this year and forgo the pre-pandemic gala at the Blue Water Convention Center.

Festival of Trees is held from Thanksgiving through the New Year, and last year’s event transformed the South Tower lobby into a winter wonderland. Spectators could drive by and see the beautifully decorated trees through the windows.

The 2021 event raised more than $65,000 to support new technology for early diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.

This year, McLaren Port Huron will transform all main floor public areas into winter wonderlands viewable to the public throughout the South, Main, North, and Karmonos lobbies.

All funds raised from this year’s Festival of Trees will support the purchase of equipment to enhance breast imaging services at the Demashkieh Women’s Wellness Place.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

New Blue Water Bridge Commuter Pass Offers Lower Toll

Crossing the Blue Water Bridge has been restricted since the start of the pandemic. There are some updates to the crossing restrictions and a new program for international commuters.

The Michigan Department of Transportation advises that travelers always check with either U.S. Customs and Border Patrol or Canada Border Services to get the latest travel rules. They should also start expecting longer wait times and congestion at the border.

Some of the changes instituted during COVID-19 restrictions have become permanent. Cash is no longer accepted for eastbound travelers. Only commercial cards, debit or credit cards, and the new Edge Commuter Pass are accepted.  

In explaining the commuter pass, Blue Water Bridge Administrator Amy Winn-VanHoeck said, “Our commuter pass program is a newer addition and one we are thrilled to now be offering our customers. The reduced toll rate using this commuter pass makes it very reasonable for customers, and the ease of using the pre-paid pass automated toll lane will help to streamline processes and offers a different method of payment now that we have opted to continue to forgo the use of cash.”

The commuter pass rate is $2.50 per non-commercial vehicle.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Museums for All Offers Reduced Admission Fees to Port Huron Museums

The Port Huron Museums are part of the Museums for All program. The program supports lowered admission rates for low-income families.

What does Museums for All mean? The initiative “encourages individuals of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly and build lifelong museum habits.” All kinds of cultural institutions are included in Museums for All, including the Thomas Edison Museum, Carnegie Center, and the Huron Lightship.

Admission to the Port Huron Museums is generally $10 per person per site or $28 for a multi-site pass. With Museums for All, tickets are just $3 per person for those who present a Bridge Card or prove eligibility for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

Museums for All allows for free or reduced admission to over 700 museums nationwide. Over 3 million visits have been facilitated by Museums for All since 2014. Museums for All was started by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), a federal agency based in Washington, DC. It is administered by the Association of Children’s Museums through a cooperative agreement with IMLS.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Lake Bonisteel Music Association Fest at Pine Grove Park August 7th

A popular summer tradition in the Blue Water Area, the BlueChiliGrass Festival, is off the calendar for another year, but a new tradition is getting started. The Lake Bonisteel Music Association, which put on BlueChiliGrass, is hosting a music festival this weekend, Saturday, August 7th, from noon to 8:00 p.m. at Pine Grove Park.

LBMA Fest is family-friendly and will feature live music. Right now, there are nine musical acts on the playlist. There will also be arts and craft vendors.

Food and non-alcoholic beverage vendors will be on site. All that guests need to bring is a lawn chair. Entrance to the music festival is free.

In addition to hearing a variety of music in one of the most beautiful settings in Port Huron, Pine Grove Park, there will be an instrument “petting zoo” where kids can try out different musical instruments.

The Lake Bonisteel Music Association promotes cultural activities in the Blue Water Area with a focus on arts and music. The association has been hosting family-friendly cultural events since 2011. A link to their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LakeBonisteelMusic/

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland