port huron

Sandy Hunwick Harrison Center PHASD

Harrison Center Help Adults Pursue Higher Education

The Futures for Frontliners program offers Michigan residents 18 years and older the opportunity to complete high school and pursue a career path at a community college or job training program. It is open to all adults who worked in an essential industry at least part-time for 11 weeks between April 1st and June 30th.

For those who need to complete their high school diploma or GED, Harrison Center, the adult education wing of Port Huron Schools, offers the tools and support to help students succeed. Harrison has a teacher on site Monday – Friday  for students. Fridays are by appointment only for those who want to limit their contact with others. Students can take classes, get individual tutoring, and/or work at home to finish their high school diploma or study for their GED tests.

Harrison Center’s Career Navigator, Sandy Hunwick, helps students with any barriers they face on the path to high school completion, and then she helps them move on to the next part of their educational journey at college or a career training center.  When asked about the benefits of the Futures for Frontliners program, she aid, “If you were thinking that you’d love to go back to school, now there’s a way. This is a pathway to help you afford college and expensive career training programs. If you worked, now there’s a way.”

For more information on eligibility, and to apply to the Futures for Frontliners program, visit the website <HERE> Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM on December 31, 2020.

To learn more about Harrison Center, visit their website <HERE>.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

The Dry Dock Provides Safe Community for those in Recovery

Port Huron, MI — 2020 has been a difficult year for a lot of people, and an even tougher year for those recovering from addiction. But, the Dry Dock Recovery Reading Room in Downtown Port Huron has persisted in providing a ray of hope for those in recovery to find acceptance and a safe, positive environment.

The Dry Dock opened in February of this year. Three brothers, Linn, Jeff, and Brad Bartlett, rented a unique space right on the Black River by the Military Street drawbridge. The brothers, who are all in recovery themselves, used their experience in the hospitality industry to make a welcoming and friendly gathering space for people in the process of conquering addiction.

The space provides not only friendly conversation and plenty of reading material, but a chance to make healthy choices in the face of isolation and loneliness, which can be amplified by the pandemic.

There is no charge to visit the Dry Dock. While the facility is not affiliated with any particular recovery program, they have information on overcoming all kinds of addictions. They also host events such as a clean and sober Boat Night, euchre games, and art and music shows.

For more information, call Linn Bartlett at (810) 941-8510 or check out their facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/Dry-Dock-Recovery-Reading-Room-100292064904693/.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Health Department Urges Caution at Social Gatherings as COVID-19 Cases Increase

The St. Clair County Health Department is urging the public to follow safety practices while attending social gatherings. Cases of COVID-19 are on the rise in St. Clair County, and in the last two weeks the average number of new cases has increased by 55%.

The Health Department is reporting that 20% of cases are tied to social events which indicates that people are not following public health guidance when gathering.

Dr. Annette Mercatante, Medical Health Officer, St. Clair County Health Department, said in a press release, “As St. Clair County residents and as proud Americans, we know what we have to do to slow the spread of transmission because we did it before. We came together at the beginning of the pandemic and effectively drove down the case counts by wearing masks, maintaining six feet of social distance from others, and practicing proper handwashing.”

As of Tuesday morning, there were 253 active cases of COVID-19 in St. Clair County, up 69 cases from our report last week. As cases increase the Health Department is also asking individuals to respond to public health nurses when they reach out for contact tracing purposes. Nurses will never ask for sensitive information related to insurance, credit cards, or social security numbers.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Lake Huron Medical Center’s October Employee and Volunteer of the Month

Port Huron, MI – Lake Huron Medical Center (LHMC) is pleased to announce its October Employee of the Month, Mike Pilon and Sandy Bonito as the October Volunteer of the Month.  LHMC is honored to have a strong team of staff and volunteers working hard to deliver high quality care to the Blue Water Area. 

Mike is a Registered Nurse in the Physical Rehab department and has been with LHMC since  March 2016. He was nominated by a patient who commented, “Mike started me on my first  Chemo infusion. He made me feel safe while being compassionate and reassuring. His  professionalism made the process as smooth as possible. He went above and beyond to make  sure I was informed and comfortable at all times. I greatly appreciated him.” 

Sandy has been a long-time volunteer and is an invaluable member of the Lake Huron  Foundation Volunteer Organization. She was nominated by an employee who commented,  “Sandy wears many hats within the volunteer organization including but not limited to: spiritual  caregiver, fundraiser, Board member, administrative support specialist and fierce advocate for  our patients and community. Sandy’s can-do attitude is infectious and she’s up for any task no  matter how big or small. Even though our volunteer organization has not been able to be IN  hospital most of the year due to COVID, Sandy has stayed engaged wherever she can.” 

Lake Huron Medical Center is proud of each of its employees and volunteers; and extends a  special thank you and congratulations to all our team members, especially Mike and Sandy, as  we celebrate their accomplishments. 

To learn more about the programs and services offered at Lake Huron Medical Center, visit  www.mylakehuron.com.  

Sharon Wilton Ft. Gratiot

Ft. Gratiot Twp. Sees Completion of Several Projects – More on the Horizon

Ft. Gratiot Township has seen several business remodels and new projects in the last couple of months. Shoppers and diners may have noticed transformations at Big Boy Restaurant, Aldi, and the former Birchwood Athletic Club along with the relocation of Dunham’s Sports into one of the anchor spaces at Birchwood Mall.

Sharon Wilton, Ft. Gratiot Township Community Development Director, says the township has been busy welcoming new businesses and sharing the excitement of the remodeling and expansion projects.

Moran Blue Water just finished converting the former Birchwood Athletic Club into its new Collision Center, and they are looking forward to their next project, a remodeled showroom for their new and used cars at their existing property on 24th Avenue.

The township is also looking forward to a new senior day care program on Lakeshore Road called the P.A.C.E. Program for the All-Inclusive Care of the Elderly. It will be the only facility of its kind in the Thumb Area, and will provide seniors a safe and active environment to spend their days when it opens around August of 2021.

The Ft. Gratiot Township Planning Commission met Tuesday night and approved Ft. Gratiot Place Apartments which will be 180 apartments on Krafft Road near the social security building. Wilton said, “These will be mid-level income apartments, and they are going to be really nice.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

 

Blue Water Area COVID-19 Update

St. Clair County, MI — Lambton County, Ontario

Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of October 14, 2020 at  10:30 AM are as follows:

  • State of Michigan: 137,702 confirmed cases; 6,928 deaths
  • St. Clair County: 1,028 confirmed cases; 59 deaths
  • Ontario: 61,413 confirmed cases;  3,017 deaths
  • Sarnia-Lambton: 350 confirmed cases; 25 deaths

As of Wednesday, St. Clair County had 184 active cases of the virus, and 4% of hospital beds in the county are being used for COVID-19 patients.

The St. Clair County Health Department is encouraging the public to take advantage of one of their community flu clinics which are happening throughout October. More information is available at www.scchealth.co.

 

Lambton County currently has 2 active cases, and Bluewater Health reported a patient currently hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 as of Tuesday.

Lambton Public Health is in the process of contact tracing a case of COVID-19 that was discovered at Colonel Cameron Public School in Corunna.

The Ontario government recently established targeted public health measures in the Ottawa, Peel, and Toronto regions and is urging Ontarians to limit trips outside the home and follow recommended guidelines for social distancing, wearing face masks, and handwashing

Please continue to rely on reputable sources for information on COVID-19:

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand