By Patti Samar In 1991, John Engler fired me. Okay, that is not exactly true. He wasn’t brave enough to come by my office and do it himself. 😉 In 1991, then-Michigan Governor John Engler sent one of his minions to the office where I worked in Lansing, and Mr. Minion told our entire staff … More PATTI SAMAR: Wear the Damn Shoes
By Patti Samar Sara Tait is a people person. And in her role as a major gift specialist at the McLaren Port Huron Foundation, Tait enjoys nothing more than building long-lasting relationships with donors or potential donors, helping them realize their dreams of, perhaps, leaving a legacy at the hospital, oftentimes in tribute to a … More SARA TAIT: Stepping Up
By Dale Hemmila When you step into Salon PiZazz in downtown Port Huron, you are greeted by the gleaming chrome, glass, and mirrors that hair salons feature. But if you look beyond that typical luster, you will find an owner with a heart as glowing as the salon she owns. Salon owner Kelly Strilcov stands … More KELLY STRILCOV: Making a Difference
By Dale Hemmila For someone who surrounds herself with ships, Laura Scaccia makes a big deal about bridges. Scaccia owns The Mariner in downtown Marine City, a converted historical theater, known for its world- class display of shipping memorabilia and models, including an 18-foot long, detailed model of the HMS Titanic, and a recently acquired … More LAURA SCACCIA: Building Bridges
By Dale Hemmila Life, like a good book, sometimes it takes a chapter or two before the real story — the good stuff — really begins. Just ask award-winning singer and songwriter Julianne Ankley. The Jeddo-native did not start singing in public until she was in her 30s. Since that time, she has spent the … More JULIANNE ANKLEY: Musically Talented
By Patti Samar Editor/Publisher Marcia Haynes carries with her a favorite poem called “The Dash.” The poem explains that it is not the year of birth nor the year of death that tells the story of one’s life, but rather, the dash in between those years. Haynes’s dash is a long and productive one. Haynes … More MARCIA HAYNES: Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way
By Patti Samar Editor/Publisher Ila Shoulders is a woman driven by faith. Faith in the Lord has helped her through life’s ups and downs. And, over the past 100 years of her life, Shoulders has had reason to question that faith – and she’s certainly been given reason to question her faith in humanity itself … More ILA SHOULDERS: A Century of Civic Leadership
By Patti Samar Editor/Publisher Slow but steady wins the race. That cliché sums up the career of Port Huron Police Department Captain Marcy Kuehn. After joining the department in 1989 just a few months following her high school graduation, Kuehn slowly but surely completed her education – she eventually earned a master’s degree – all … More MARCY KUEHN: Problem Solver
By Patti Samar Editor/Publisher This year, more women will likely run for elected public office than ever before. “What difference does it make whether or not there are women in office?” some people ask. It has been proven that men and women approach problem solving in different ways. It doesn’t mean one is better than … More 2020: Year of the Woman
By Patti Samar Mary Fortune wanted to do something to honor the memory of her late husband this year. And 30 holiday wreaths later, she’s made an impact on veterans in the Blue Water Area and beyond. Fortune, a resident of Kimball Township, created 30 holiday wreaths and placed an ad on the Facebook Marketplace … More MARY FORTUNE: Feeling Festive