🌱 Kalamazoo 5th Grader Places In Spelling Bee + Kalamazoo Pride Fest

Hello, hello! I'm here with your Monday edition of the Kalamazoo-Portage Patch newsletter, full of everything you need to know about what's happening in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Monday: Periods of sun. High: 83 Low: 57.
• Tuesday: Pleasant with plenty of sun. High: 82 Low: 53.

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 today in Kalamazoo-Portage:

1. The Southwest Michigan First Chamber is hosting a Quarterly Downtown Business Townhall meeting in Kalamazoo on Jun. 6 and will provide updates on the ongoing development of downtown Kalamazoo. Attendees are encouraged to actively participate, sharing their ideas, challenges, and engaging with fellow residents. Honor Credit Union is partnering to offer refreshments, and interested individuals can reserve their spot or find more information here. (WKZO)
2. Kalamazoo fifth-grader Clara Mervak showcased her spelling skills in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, making it to the semifinals and finishing tied for 22nd place overall. Although she faced tough competition and found the experience stressful, Clara expressed satisfaction with her performance. She emphasized the importance of root words, which not only assist in spelling but also benefit writing. (MLive.com)
3. The Kalamazoo Pride Festival kicked off with a lively event at Arcadia Creek Festival Place, drawing a large crowd and featuring the Mx/Miss/Mr. Kalamazoo Pride Drag Pageant. Hosted by OutFront Kalamazoo and presented by Bell's Brewery, the festival aimed to celebrate diversity, raise visibility, and foster a sense of community. The weekend-long event included over 100 vendors, outreach programs, food trucks, and an official after-party at Bell's Eccentric Café. (MLive.com)

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Today and tomorrow in Kalamazoo-Portage:

Monday, June 5

• Monthly Dementia Caregiver Support Group At The Bellflower (11:00 AM)
• Tiny Art For Teens At Central Library (3:00 PM)
• Page Turners Book Club At Oshtemo Branch Library (6:30 PM)

Tuesday, June 6

• Mini Tuesday/Thursday Markets At Kalamazoo Farmers Market (8:00 AM)
• DisruptHR Kalamazoo At Bell's Back Room (3:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Over the weekend, the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety responded to a call at Arcadia Creek Festival Place where a group of ducklings was stuck under a storm grate. Officers successfully rescued all nine ducklings by rappelling down and then handed them over to an animal sanctuary with the plan to reunite them with their mother promptly. (Kalamazoo Public Safety via Facebook)
• Kalamazoo has been recognized as one of the top three cities for new graduates, offering a mix of entertainment, employment prospects, and affordability. With a vibrant small business scene and diverse options, recent college graduates are finding Kalamazoo to be an appealing destination. (Western Michigan University via Facebook)
• The Seed Library had a successful spring, distributing over 3,000 seed packets to the community, and although they received a generous donation to restock, it may be the last addition for the summer growing season. Native seeds will be restocked in December for winter sowing, and the Kalamazoo Master Gardeners Association volunteers were thanked for their assistance in packaging and labeling the recent seed donation. (Portage District Library via Facebook)

Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll see you soon.

— 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.