🌱 Epic Center Raises $1.95M + Sweetwater's Donut Eating Contest

Hi all. I'm back with your fresh edition of the Kalamazoo-Portage Patch newsletter. Here are all the most important things to know about what's happening in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Monday: Partly sunny and very warm. High: 85 Low: 58.
• Tuesday: Partly sunny and very warm. High: 88 Low: 64.

From our sponsor:

Today’s Kalamazoo-Portage Patch newsletter is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. T-Mobile has invested billions to light up their best network ever, covering 99% of people in America with LTE, which helps to keep communities like ours informed and connected. We thank T-Mobile for their support and for making today’s Kalamazoo-Portage Patch newsletter possible.

Here are the top three stories in Kalamazoo-Portage today:

1. Downtown Kalamazoo's Epic Center is nearing its fundraising goal as it successfully secures $1.95 million out of its targeted $2.2 million. The funds will be utilized to enhance the visitor experience by modernizing and renovating various facilities within the center, including dressing rooms, the theater seating area, the kitchen, and the box office. Plans also include the replacement of the roof and HVAC system, along with an upgrade to the building's security measures. (WWMT-TV)
2. The Sweetwater's Donut Mill on Stadium Drive and the Salvation Army are teaming up to host a donut-eating contest fundraiser. The event will take place at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 30, featuring two competitions: the Armed Services Showdown for military members, and a timed donut-eating contest open to all. The goal is to raise funds for the Salvation Army, which has successfully generated $11,000 in previous years through this event. (MLive.com)
3. Calling all green thumbs: ReLeaf Michigan is seeking volunteers to plant trees at Kalamazoo Public Library’s Washington Square branch on Jun. 10. Participants are asked to meet at the Washington Square Library at 8:45 a.m. to enjoy light refreshments and view a planting demonstration from ReLeaf staff. Anyone interested in volunteering or learning more about the project can sign up online; no planting experience is required. (WWMT-TV)

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Today and tomorrow in and around Kalamazoo-Portage:

Monday, May 29

• Hobby Hangout Day At Voss Media Board Game Cafe, Galesburg (6:00 PM)

Tuesday, May 30

• Adult Pickleball Leagues Session 1: Competitive At Ramona Park & Beach (6:00 PM)
• Portage City Council Meeting At City Hall (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• For those traveling along I-196 in West Michigan, please be advised of ongoing closures starting tomorrow (Tuesday, May 30) through the end of August. The Michigan Department of Transportation is investing over $8 million for the repair of five bridges over the interstate this summer. (MLive.com)
• Six Kalamazoo County regions have seen population growth between 2020 and 2022, while the other 13 have seen a drop in population. Portage is up 0.2 percent from the previous Census, while Kalamazoo is down 0.9 percent (despite a slight increase between 2021 and 2022). (MLive.com)
• As of Memorial Day Weekend, the average price of gas is approximately $3.63/gallon in Kalamazoo County, according to new GasBuddy data. This is slightly above the $3.55 national average at the time of publication. (WWMT-TV)

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Memorial Day. See you all soon for another update!

— Michelle Paul

About me: Michelle Paul is a Utah-based writer and photographer with a professional background in content management and registered nursing. When not working on projects ranging from photo editing to copywriting, they enjoy traveling, video games, and expanding their skills.