Here are two ideas that are pretty unique!
1) Galveston Police Department is selling a DVD to raise funds to replace equipment lost durring hurricane Ike.
2) The team leader from St. Clair County Dive Team is allowing citizens to tour his unique waterfront home in Port Huron for $10 per person. (Way to go Wayne!!!)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
December 28, 2009
Family puts labor of love on display
By LIZ SHEPARD
Times Herald
It took three years to complete their home. Now, the Brusates are offering a peek of their labor of love to the public as a way to raise funds for the St. Clair County Dive Team.
Wayne Brusate said he was on the property at 1002 Michigan St. in Port Huron nearly every day through the construction process. The nearly 5,000-square-foot home, which sits along the St. Clair River with a view of passing freighters and the Blue Water Bridge, created a buzz throughout the community as it was erected.
Brusates, a chief with the county's dive team for nearly 40 years and a commercial diver, said he decided to have an open house to benefit the team because funding is scarce. The event takes place from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. today.
"The budget we have left just isn't enough," he said. "Without the dive team raising it on their own, we wouldn't be able to function like we do."
St. Clair County Sheriff Tim Donnellon said funding was cut about 58%, from $25,229 in 2008 to $10,685 in 2009.
The divers respond to a variety of incidents, including rescues and recoveries, he said. The team also assists with events such as the Float Down and offshore boat races in St. Clair.
"When you look at the 110 miles of coasts we've got here, all the ponds and rivers, (the dive team is) tremendously important, and we've got a great asset and we're trying to keep it working," Donnellon said.
Brusates said construction of his home brought a lot of attention, so he figured he'd capture that for the team.
Rick Mills, owner of East Lakes Builders, said his staff was on site less than two years building the four-story home.
He said the structure is a cross between a commercial and residential building. It has everything from a crane capable of picking up a boat along the river to a rock climbing wall in the basement, geothermal heating and old wooden boats hanging from the ceiling. It's also wheelchair-accessible with an elevator.
Mills said people constantly were asking questions as they constructed the home, which he said was "the most technically challenging house" he has built.
Brusates said he was involved in every aspect of the project. He said he filled his basement with artifacts and finds from dives.
Dive suits from several different eras are on display, along with propellers, anchors and glass bottles from in old wrecks.
Brusate was among the divers who discovered the Regina in Lake Huron between Lexington and Port Sanilac in 1986. The Canadian steamer sank during a storm in 1913.
Brusate has several artifacts from the shipwreck, including whiskey bottles.
Until the house was constructed, Brusate said he didn't have anywhere to display his treasures.
"It's amazing," he said. "I didn't know I had so much stuff."
Additional Facts
IF YOU GO
OPEN HOUSE
The Brusates are having an open house from 4 p.m. to about 7 p.m. today at their home at 1002 Michigan St., Port Huron.
Cost is $10 per person, and tickets will be sold at the door.
Proceeds benefit the St. Clair County Dive Team.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
--- In
SAR-Diver@yahoogroups.com, "wbladesr" wrote: > > GALVESTON - The supply of DVD's produced by Galveston police officers is about gone, according to Sgt. Renaye Ochoa and Detective Scott Pena, the team behind the production. > > Hundred of photos were snapped before, during and after the destructive onslaught of Ike on September 13, 2008. Taken by from the windows and balconies of the San Luis Hotel where officers were sheltered when Ike made landfall, these photos captured moments not seen by anyone else. > > The DVD contains over 700 pictures developed into a slideshow presentation with musical background and can be played on computer or television screen and depicts all the drama and excitement of actually 'being there' when it happened. > > Proceeds from sales are being used to replace valuable dive equipment lost in the storm, most of which was the personal equipment of individual police dive team members. > > The DVD's are available by calling or emailing Sgt. Ochoa. 409-765-3686 or rochoa@... It may also be purchased in the lobby of police headquarters at 601 54th St., Galveston. > > "Hurricane Ike" the DVD is available for $10. >
.Our rotation list has over 50 wreckers.. Although we train monthly, we utilize that time in training with new equipment or training newer divers with old equipment. We train with the VRS-2000 if a vehicle goes off a bridge and we need to get it closer to shore and we tow the vehicle with our dive vessel until close enough for the wrecker cable !!! 
