Irish stew, soda bread, more to be served at community supper
First Evangelical Lutheran Church, located at 1623 Washington St. in Algonac, will host a free Wednesday community supper from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. March 19.
The menu will be comprised of Irish stew, Irish soda bread, tossed salad, beverages and dessert. Carryout will be available after 6:15 p.m.
The dinner is open to all. Donations will be accepted. For more information, call the church at 810-794-4642.
VALOR to host fundraiser euchre tournament
Veteran’s Assistance League of Recognition will host a fundraiser euchre tournament at 1 p.m. March 22 at Fred Quandt VFW Post 3901, located at 1005 Pointe Tremble Road in Algonac.
At the event, which will have free snacks and a cash bar, people can win cash prizes. The cost is $20 per person at the door and 25 cents per euchre. All proceeds will be donated to area veterans.
For more information, call 810-206-6022.
Blue Water Woman of the Year award recipients named
Six women from the Blue Water Area have been named recipients of the 13th annual Blue Water Woman of the Year awards by Blue Water Woman magazine.
All six were recognized at an awards ceremony at McMorran Theatre on March 12.
“I am so very pleased that such exceptionally accomplished and talented women have been selected for recognition,” Patti Samar, editor and publisher of Blue Water Woman magazine, said in a recent release.
Blue Water Woman of the Year was given to Thelma Castillo, who served as the president and CEO of the Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce from 2014 to 2025.
Blue Water Woman Nonprofit Administrator of the Year was given to Kathryn Baker, who serves as the community services division director at Blue Water Developmental Housing Inc.
Blue Water Woman Community Activist of the Year was given to Mary Williams, who is a retired social worker committed to many causes. She serves as head of the NAACP Youth Council and is chair of the Southside Neighborhood Improvement Authority.
Blue Water Woman Business Consultant of the Year was given to Shannon Schwabe, who is a business consultant for the Michigan Small Business Development Center.
Blue Water Woman Nonprofit Executive Director of the Year was given to Valorie Hudgens, who serves as executive director of The Arc of St. Clair County.
Blue Water Woman Volunteer of the Year was given to Georgette Assi. The owner of Port Huron Lanes bowling center, Assi has extended a helping hand to many good causes in the community over many years, offering both time and treasure.
According to Samar, the purpose for presenting an awards program for area women is to honor those who are selected for recognition, as well as to encourage and inspire other women in the community.
“This community is full of incredible women,” Samar said in the release. “I am inspired by so many of them, each and every day. I am always so honored when they allow me to share their stories with others in the pages of the magazine.”
For more information, email Samar at pjsamar@aol.com.
Healthgrades names LHMC a 2025 Patient Safety Excellence Award recipient
Lake Huron Medical Center, a member of Prime Healthcare, recently announced that it has been recognized as a 2025 Patient Safety Excellence Award recipient by Healthgrades, which it states is the no. 1 site Americans use when searching for a doctor or hospital.
“This achievement reflects LHMC’s clear commitment to safe, patient-centered care and puts the organization in the top 5% of hospitals nationwide for patient safety for the seventh year in a row,” a recent press release states.
LHMC is the only hospital in St. Clair County to achieve Patient Safety Recognition from Healthgrades, the release continues. In addition to this recognition, LHMC has also been awarded the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade “A,” making it the only hospital in the county to receive the award.
“We are extremely proud to have earned the 2025 Patient Safety Excellence Award from Healthgrades,” LHMC CEO Jose Kottoor said in the release. “This award reflects the commitment that Lake Huron Medical Center, our physicians, staff, and nurses make — every day — when caring for patients. We have a culture of safety and processes in place to keep our patients safe. We have earned the Patient Safety Excellence Award for seven years in a row, proving our dedicated staff remains committed to providing the highest quality of care, even in times of crisis, to our community.”
LHMC’s achievements are based solely on patient outcomes. To determine the top-performing hospitals for patient safety, Healthgrades evaluated risk-adjusted complication and mortality rates for approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide. Healthgrades’ analysis revealed significant performance gaps between the nation’s highest- and lowest-achieving facilities, making it increasingly important for consumers to seek care at a hospital with top safety ratings.
“From 2021-2023, 173,280 preventable safety events occurred among Medicare patients in U.S. hospitals, with four patient safety indicators accounting for nearly 76% of these incidents,” the release states.
The release states that the annual study found that patients treated in hospitals that received the 2025 Patient Safety Excellence Award have a significantly lower chance of experiencing one of the four leading safety indicators than patients treated at non-recipient hospitals:
• In-hospital falls resulting in fracture — 54% less likely
• Collapsed lung due to a procedure or surgery in or around the chest — about 55% less likely
• Pressure sores or bed sores acquired in the hospital — about 69% less likely
• Catheter-related bloodstream infections acquired in the hospital — 72% less likely.
“As a 2025 Patient Safety Excellence Award recipient, LHMC consistently puts the wellbeing of their patients and staff at the forefront, setting a high standard for patient safety nationwide,” said Debra Gradick, MD FACEP, senior physician consultant at Healthgrades. “We commend LHMC for providing consistently exceptional care while preventing serious injuries, giving patients their best chance of a seamless recovery.”
For more information, go to healthgrades.com or mylakehuron.com.
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