🌱 New Free Clinic In Kalamazoo + Treasurer Recall Positions Rejected

Hello, everybody! I'm back with your new copy of the Kalamazoo-Portage Patch newsletter. Let's get this week started off right with a quick dive into everything you need to know about what's happening these days in town.

But first, today's weather:

A little rain. High: 46 Low: 31.

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

1. Kalamazoo will soon be welcoming its first free-standing free clinic in more than a decade with the anticipated opening of the Helping Hands Wellness Center in early April. The new clinic aims to provide free, non-emergent care for individuals who don’t have insurance or are at risk. It will be located in the old Secretary of State building next to the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. (MLive.com)
2. The Kalamazoo County Board of Canvassers rejected two recall positions directed towards Kalamazoo County Treasurer Thomas Whitener on Friday. The petitions are the latest in ongoing issues with the county treasury department reported by the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners, which has expressed concern with the treasurer’s “lack of experience.” Reported issues include failing to deliver quarterly reports at the end of 2022, requiring the hiring of outside accountants for $150 an hour, and nearly missing a debt payment. (WWMT)
3. State health officials and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer have announced that Michigan will officially be recognizing March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. The initiative aims to raise awareness about developmental disabilities and educate the public on the issues and contributions of the 180,000 Michigan residents who are living with developmental disabilities. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council are the two primary organizations behind the initiative. (WKZO)

Today in Kalamazoo-Portage:

Monday, March 6

• Drop-In Playtime At Comstock Township Library (9:30 AM)
• Monthly Dementia Caregiver Support Group At The Bellflower (11:00 AM)

Tuesday, March 7

• Quarterly Downtown Business Townhall At The Catalyst Center (2:00 PM)

From my notebook

• Check out the City of Portage’s weekly meeting schedule for this week. First on the schedule is the Board of Review Organizational Meeting, which will meet at Portage City Hall on Mar. 7 at 9:00 a.m. (The City of Portage MI via Facebook)
• Looking for a new career? Portage’s newest ambulance service Life EMS is always looking for qualified staff to help ensure there are enough staff members to handle the new workload. Learn more about careers with the company on its website. (CW7 Michigan)
• The Kalamazoo Valley Museum recently hosted the 18th annual Kalamazoo Fretboard Festival over the weekend. Click through the link to view pictures from the event. (MLive.com)

Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! I'll catch up with you soon with your next 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.