In The News

Niles Daily Star: Pokagon Band preps for annual Pow Wow

Niles Daily Star Thursday, August 23, 2012

The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians invites the community to join the festivities Sept. 1-2 for its 27th annual Kee-Boon–Mein-Kaa Pow Wow, reports the Niles Daily Star. There will be dancing, drumming and traditional cultural events. The Potawatomi phrase "kee-boon-mein-kaa" refers to the traditional celebration of huckleberry harvest. There will be dancers and drummers in the pow wow arena to display traditional, contemporary and Great Lakes old-style dancess, showcasing regalia reflecting traditional Potawatomi and Great Lakes styles and designs not usually seen on the pow wow trail.

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Source: Niles Daily Star

Kalamazoo Gazette: It was a Dog Day in August

Kalamazoo Gazette Thursday, August 23, 2012

The Kalamazoo Gazette reports that the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts opened its doors Aug. 18 not only to the usual patrons but to their four-legged friends as well. For the first time, dogs were allowed to enter the building and accompany their owners everywhere except the galleries. There were activities for dog owners to enjoy, including make-and-take bandanas and dog photographs. Hot dogs were served in the courtyard.

Sara Wick, a docent with the museum, volunteered to hold people's dogs while they viewed the art exhibits. "I didn't know this was in our job description," Wick quipped. Proceeds from the fundraiser will go to future programming at the KIA.

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Source: Kalamazoo Gazette

Kalamazoo Gazette: Rebuilding Sarkozy Bakery

Kalamazoo Gazette Thursday, August 16, 2012

Sarkozy Bakery was destroyed by fire in February and the community rallied around owner Judy Sarkozy urging her to repoen. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports she is in negotiations with a property owner in downtown Kalamazoo for a new location.

A benefit concert to raise money for the bakery has been set for Sept. 8. Pianist Phyllis Rappeport organized the event that will feature some of the Kalamazoo area’s most well-known musicians.

"My immediate response to the news of the fire, after some tears, was to put together a benefit concert," Rappeport told the Gazette. "Music brings people together and speaks to them as nothing else can, so the idea of a concert was a natural."

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Source: Kalamazoo Gazette

Michigan Radio: At the Blueberry Festival

Michigan Radio Thursday, August 16, 2012

Michigan Radio was on hand for South Haven’s Blueberry Festival. They encountered blueberry bath soaps, blueberry coffee, frozen and fresh blueberries, blueberries in brats and sausages, chocolate covered blueberries, blueberry candles, dog treats, mustard, popcorn, soda pop, butter, cookies, pancake mix, pie filling, jam, jelly and blueberry whoopee pies. Plus there’s dried blueberries, and even blueberry flavored beef jerky. The list goes on and on.

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Source: Michigan Radio

MLive: Art Encounters celebrates music, art

MLive.com Thursday, August 16, 2012

When organizers say that Art Encounters on Saturday will be a festival of music, art demonstrations and interactive arts and crafts for all ages, it isn’t a cliche. It really will be for all ages, reports Tom Haroldson for MLive. The free second annual event from 1-4:30 p.m. at the Portage District Library and Portage Senior Center will have "yarn bombing," crafting your own ice cream sundae, lessons in juggling and tightrope walking. Plus the best from local artists.

"Our main goal is to introduce people to local performers and different types of music, different types of art; we want them to try it," Marsha Meyer, of the Portage District Library told MLive.

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Source: MLive

The Atlantic Cities: Music puts Kalamazoo on the map

The Atlantic Thursday, August 16, 2012

As part of the mapping of the geography of music in America, Richard Florida says: "Other smaller metros that do better than expected are Kalamazoo, Michigan (the former home of the Gibson guitar factory, founded in 1902, and the site of some major classical music festivals) at 8th overall."

That's music to our ears.

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Source: The Atlantic Cities

B.C. Enquirer: Volunteers for balloon championships needed

Battle Creek Enquirer Thursday, August 09, 2012

About 30 volunteer crew members are needed for the 20th World Hot Air Balloon Championships slated to get under way Aug. 17, reports the Battle Creek Enquirer. Ideally, those who volunteer will be able to crew for the morning and evening flights through the week, said co-chairperson Andrea Boughton, to provides consistency. But anyone who would like to crew even for just the morning or evening or for part of the week should contact her by email or call her at 269-317-0176.

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Source: Battle Creek Enquirer

MLive: Ideas sought from public regarding county park

MLive.com Thursday, August 09, 2012

Most of the 26 miles of Lake Michigan frontage in Allegan County is privately owned, making the public access to Lake Michigan in one county park the park's most valuable asset, Kevin Ricco, Allegan County development director told the MLive.

Ideas on what would make the park better are being sought at a public brainstorming session from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 20 at the Ganges Township Hall, 1904 64th Street, Fennville.

The park currently features two picnic shelters, a playground area, a maintenance building, two restroom buildings, picnic tables and stair access to the beach.

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Source: MLive.com

Kalamazoo Gazette: Eagles delight Nature Center goers

Kalamazoo Gazette Thursday, August 09, 2012

Two eagles spotted -- and photographed -- recently by visitors at the Kalamazoo Nature Center were the buzz of the center's Facebook page recently, reports the Kalamazoo Gazette. Chris Babiasz, host and buyer for Kalamazoo Nature Center gift shop, said two separate visitors showed her their pictures.

Excerpt: "We've known for several years that one (eagle) has lived on other side of the river," Babiasz said. He's been seen soaring, and a class of children last year were lucky enough to see the huge bird swoop down to pull a fish from the water, she said. "We didn't realize there was a pair."

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Source: Kalamazoo Gazette

Courier-Leader: St. Julian wines bring home 10 medals

Courier-Leader Thursday, August 09, 2012

St. Julian Wine Company of Paw Paw received three gold medals, two silver medals and four bronze medals in the Sixth Annual Mid-American Wine Competition, the Courier-Leader reports. St. Julian's award winners competed in Iowa with more than 600 wines entered by over 100 different wineries from 15 Midwestern states, July 13-15.

The local wine company collected gold for its steadfast Riesling, and its new Sweet Nancie champenoise and Cock of the Walk red wine.

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Source: Paw Paw Courier-Leader

B.C. Enquirer: Zoo welcomes three black bears

Battle Creek Enquirer Thursday, August 02, 2012

Three orphaned bears from the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage have a new home at Binder Park Zoo. They are approximately six months old and could be seen jogging around the former snow leopard showcase recently, the Battle Creek Enquirer reports. Director of Wildlife and Conservation Jenny Barnett says the zoo thought "this would be a great opportunity to teach about bears and have people learn about how to live with bears."

Barnett said the existing exhibit isn’t capable of holding three full grown black bears and will need an expansion, almost doubling the living conditions. This could cost $200,000 and will take plenty of fundraising to become a realistic goal.

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Source: Battle Creek Enquirer

Kalamazoo Gazette: Barn art forms new quilt trail

Kalamazoo Gazette Thursday, August 02, 2012

Colorful painted squares of wood on the barns are popping up in Vicksburg -- the beginning of Kalamazoo County’s first quilt trail, reports the Kalamazoo Gazette. By the end of this year there could be at least 11 "quilts" along the trail, and by fall next year there could be more than 20. All of them are or will be scattered throughout the Vicksburg Community Schools district.

Excerpt: "It's all about tourism," said Kitch Rinehart, an art major who helps design and paint the quilt squares with assistance from some of the owners who sign agreements to have the quilt patterns hung on their business or barn.

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Source: Kalamazoo Gazette

B. C. Enquirer: Young girl thrives with martial arts

Battle Creek Enquirer Thursday, August 02, 2012

The Battle Creek Enquirer reports: Battle Creek's Kaylynn Budreau would make the great subject of new martial arts film should Hollywood be so inclined. The "Hapkido Kid," perhaps? She is 8-years-old, four feet tall, weighs 58 pounds and just received her first black belt in Hapkido at the Korean Martial Arts Academy last month. "She lives and breathes Hapkido," said her mom Stacy, who along with her dad Rob, and younger sister, Kirra, are her biggest fans. "We never thought it would get this big, we just love it for her."

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Source: Battle Creek Enquirer

Niles Star: Sales price rising in housing market

Niles Star Thursday, August 02, 2012

The housing market in June shifted as more higher-priced houses sold, bringing the average selling price up 56 percent, Gary Walter, executive vice president of Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors Inc. told the Niles Star. "The average selling price at $221,118 and the median selling price at $141,900 surpassed prices recorded during the peak years of 2006 through 2008," Walter said. "This upswing in selling prices brought positive percentages for the year-to-date average and median selling prices for the first month this year. So, at the end of the first half of the year, the year-to-date average selling price was $161,281 and the year-to-date median selling price was $95,000."

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Source: Niles Star

B.C. Enquirer: Show will go on for Marshall Civic Players

Battle Creek Enquirer Thursday, July 26, 2012

Over 35 years, the Marshall Civic Players Youth Theatre has grown into one of the biggest programs in the area, the Battle Creek Enquirer reports. Unique to the program is that no child is turned away who wants to participate in the show. It has grown so much over the years that it has split into two divisions: Junior Youth (for fifth to ninth grade students) and Youth (advanced ninth graders to seniors). In August, the group performs its 50th youth production, "The King & I," at the Franke Center For the Arts in downtown Marshall.

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Source: Battle Creek Enquirer