Port Huron Shopping

Callers wish ex-school official well

In his guest column today, Geoffrey Hering explains his decision Monday to resign from the Port Huron Area School District Board of Education. A couple of you react to that decision.

Talk to me:

» Ken from Port Huron: "You have to compliment Geoffrey Hering. Many times, he was the one who would question change and go against the other members of the board of education. He wasn't always acceptable to the good ol' boys. Have a nice retirement from the school board, Mr. Hering."

» John from the South Side of Port Huron: "Kudos to Geoffrey Hering for saying good-bye to the school board members with whom he had to work. I don't blame him. I would have done the same thing. At least you got your integrity, Geoff. That's something that the other board members can't say."

» George from Memphis: "My compliments to Patricia Ferda for 'Minnesota governor right to tax the rich,' her very truthful, telling-it-like-it-is Tuesday letter about the Republicans. It's good to see I am not the only one who can see the Republican Party is bad for this country. Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton is showing America how you fight these Republican bullies by giving them their own medicine. I only wish President Barack Obama would follow his lead. After watching what the Republicans have done since they became the majority in the U.S. House, my motto is: 'Republicans: What are they good for? Absolutely nothing.'"

Gov. Mark Dayton proposed a tax on Minnesota's wealthiest residents to help balance the state budget. Republican lawmakers' resistance prompted a government shutdown.

» No Name: "I really appreciated the letter from Patricia Ferda. I agree with her 100%. I think the rich should start paying. The Republicans better get straight."

» Citizen for What is Right: "I think it's about time someone talks about the pollution at the beaches. Who better than Sue Amato of the St. Clair County Health Department to send the message? The people who smoke on the beaches pollute the sand, wildlife, air and health of others who go there. Smokers' so-called 'freedom' endangers the freedoms of others who think it is their God-given right to breathe clean air. If Marine City and the county want to do right by their residents they should ban smoking on the beach. It also would promote tourism. Who in their right mind wants to go to a beach that's polluted?"

» No Name: "This is from the absent-minded lady who left her purse attached to the shopping cart at Meijer. I would like to dearly thank the wonderful lady who returned it to the greeter at Meijer and he so kindly and graciously turned it into the desk. Everything was in it. I really appreciate it. Thank you for being so kind and so honest.

Betty Ford's body in Michigan for second service | The Times ...

Mourners were lined up for a public viewing of Betty Ford's body following a similar, and sometimes tearful, send-off by thousands of well-wishers in California earlier in the day. After another memorial Thursday in Grand Rapids, Ford is to be buried at her husband's presidential museum. Gerald Ford died in 2006.

“They've contributed so much,” said Steve Avink of nearby Jenison who watched the ceremonies when Gerald Ford's casket returned to Grand Rapids for burial in January 2007 and was at the airport Tuesday when Betty Ford's casket arrived at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport from California. He was there to show support for the family.

A private ceremony attended by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and other dignitaries was held at the museum prior to the public viewing.

On Tuesday, a service at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Palm Desert, Calif., was attended by 800 people, including former President George W. Bush and first lady Michelle Obama.

Like hundreds of others in Michigan, Avink wanted to pay his respects. He praised Betty Ford's “openness about drugs and addiction.”

Wednesday crowd wasn't as large as when Ford's funeral and memorial services were held over two icy winter days four years ago. But Betty Ford, who gave dance lessons in Grand Rapids and worked at a local department store before marrying Gerald Ford, was remembered fondly by those who came to pay homage.

Port Huron telephone directories

Directory of shopping centers in the United States

Traveling Michigan's Thumb

The Directory of Michigan manufacturers

Souvenir history of Port Huron, Michigan