Fans of the Whistle Stop Revue gathered on August 12 for the first community event to be held at Blue Water Area Transit’s new downtown transfer center. The third annual benefit concert, “Music with Heart III,” raised $1,300 for the Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Center in Richmond, Michigan.
“We look forward to the bus hub connecting with our community in a variety of ways,” said Jim Wilson, BWAT general manager. “Community groups are welcome to consider us for a place to hold special events.”
BWAT’s bus hub is located at 720 McMorran Blvd. in downtown Port Huron. More than 2,000 passengers daily board buses assembled to travel along seven routes throughout Port Huron, neighboring townships and as far away as Macomb County. The center’s Sail In Café & Convenience Store is open Monday thru Saturday, 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Restrooms and Wi-Fi service are both available.
"We want everyone to know that we are more than just a place to catch a bus,” said Linda Bruckner, Blue Water Area Transportation Commission Board chair and Fort Gratiot Township trustee.
The Whistle Stop Revue is a progressive bluegrass Americana band known for its unique and eclectic style that fuses elements of bluegrass, blues, rock, country and jazz. Formed in 2012 and based in Port Huron, the band includes Joe Haugh (upright bass, guitar, vocals), Blake Short (mandolin, vocals), Drake Lolley (banjo, guitar, vocals) and Rick Doviak (guitar, vocals).
Doviak organized “Music with Heart” three years ago as a way to give back to a rehabilitation program that had helped him recover from addiction. His goal was to raise funds for the program’s arts department, since music and visual arts had played a vital role in his recovery. The annual fundraiser has so far provided Sacred Heart with musical instruments, instruction booklets, pottery materials and more.
“I’m a proud graduate of Sacred Heart’s program,” Doviak explained. “It gave me my life back and now I want to use my music to help others.”
Doviak’s mother, JoAnn Marsh, has helped him organize the concert fundraiser. Each year, her membership in a Woman’s Life Insurance Society group has increased their proceeds by $500 (a match from the organization).
Paula Nelson, CEO and president, Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Center, shared these words of appreciation: “I want to thank the many individuals who donated money at the community event. A special thank you to Woman's Life for your commitment to match the funds raised. Complementary and alternative practices can be highly effective as an adjunct to traditional treatment. By using therapies such as music or art, many people are able to communicate emotions that they might not otherwise be able to do through a traditional form of communication. Sacred Heart utilizes a recovery and wellness approach and uses many forms of complementary and alternative practices throughout our programs.”
BWAT’s transfer center provides a centralized downtown location for small (fewer than 100 people) community events hosted by and/or benefiting local nonprofit organizations.
