🌱 Patch AM: Were your dental tools properly sterilized at Kalamazoo’s Family Health Center?

Greetings Kalamazoo! We’re your go-to source for what’s happening in town. Read on to get plugged in! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Were your dental tools properly sterilized at Kalamazoo’s Family Health Center?
• How a beloved WMU bus driver earned his own Kalamazoo street
• Kalamazoo family mourns the passing of David John Larson, age 80.

Also on today's calendar: Lessons & Carols + Holiday Tea and 5 more events.

Today's riddle: Jimmy, did you crash on your bike again? You’ve lost a tooth! 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Sunday: Very cold with snow showers, with a high of 21 and low of 9 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Monday: Cloudy and very cold, temps: high: 22, low: 20.
• Tuesday: Rather cloudy and not as cold, with a high of 35 and low of 32 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Family Health Center in Kalamazoo releases statement after malfunction in sterilization equipment used to clean dental tools (wzzm13.com) — If you’ve had dental care at Kalamazoo’s Family Health Center recently, the clinic is alerting patients after discovering a possible malfunction in its tool-sterilizing autoclave on November 5. Officials say there’s currently no evidence of patient harm, and they’re working with Kalamazoo County, state health officials, and the CDC while adding extra safety and training steps.
   

2. Why's That: Who was the Eddie of Eddie's Lane? (wmuk.org) — A tiny connector between Stadium Drive and Oakland Drive, Eddie’s Lane, really is named for beloved Western Michigan University shuttle driver Edward “Eddie” Powless, who ferried generations of students across Kalamazoo. Local archivists retrace how students informally named the road, then successfully lobbied city commissioners to make it official, honoring a driver remembered for kindness, smiles, and knowing riders by name.
   

3. David John Larson (wlen.com) — Kalamazoo readers are asked to remember Adrian native David John Larson, whose daughter and grandchildren live here and are among his surviving family. The longtime small-business owner and Sand Creek graduate died at 80 after a lengthy illness, and his family will hold a memorial later. Contributions in his memory may be made to Hospice of Lenawee.
   

4. ECHL: Justin Taylor Breaks ECHL Game Played Record (insidetherink.com) — Longtime Kalamazoo Wings forward Justin Taylor has just broken the ECHL’s all-time games played record, logging his 885th appearance while carrying franchise records for games and points in Kalamazoo. The 36-year-old spent 13 of his 16 ECHL seasons with the K-Wings, piling up more than 500 points here and helping lead deep Kelly Cup playoff runs.
   

5. Funding cut puts flint-born RX Kids program under scrutiny — leaders assure families payme (midmichigannow.com) — Kalamazoo’s Rx Kids site is caught up in a surprise $18.5 million funding cut at the state level, but program leaders insist local families will keep receiving payments. The prenatal and infant cash-support program, launched in Flint and expanding statewide, is leaning on private donors and previously approved state funds to maintain benefits while pressing lawmakers and supporters to stabilize future funding.
   

📸 Around Kalamazoo

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Kalamazoo

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Sunday December 14

• Lessons & Carols + Holiday Tea
  St Luke's Episcopal Church , 247 W Lovell St , Kalamazoo
  4:00 pm

Tuesday December 16

• Ukulele Jam
  Comstock Community Center , 6330 King Hwy , Kalamazoo
  4:00 pm

Wednesday December 17

• CHAMPS and YEP Holiday Party
  SunnySide United Methodist Church , 2800 Gull road , Kalamazoo
  8:00 am

Thursday December 18

• Foot Care Clinic
  Comstock Community Center , 6330 King Hwy , Kalamazoo
  9:00 am

Friday December 19

• Pārrunu grupa “Aka”
  Kalamazoo Latvian Association , 122 Cherry Hill St , Kalamazoo
  11:00 am

Sunday December 21

• Dievkalpojums/Church Service
  Kalamazoo Latvian Association , 122 Cherry Hill St , Kalamazoo
  10:00 am

Monday December 22

• CHAMPS and YEP Closed for Holiday Break
  Eastside Neighborhood Association Building , 1301 East Main Street , Kalamazoo
  8:00 am

Wednesday December 24

• Dievkalpojums/Church Service
  Kalamazoo Latvian Association , 122 Cherry Hill St , Kalamazoo
  5:00 pm

📣 Kalamazoo Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Sunday December 14

• Dievkalpojums/Church Service
  Kalamazoo Latvian Association , 122 Cherry Hill St , Kalamazoo
  10:00 am
• Brunch With Santa
  The Backyard of Kalamazoo , 10441 Stadium Dr , Kalamazoo
  11:00 am
• 2nd Sundays Live! – Chapter Two Band
  Parchment Community Library , 401 S Riverview Dr , Parchment
  2:00 pm
• 2nd Sundays Live! - Chapter Two Band
  Parchment Community Library , 401 S Riverview Dr , Parchment
  2:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• You know everyone has got something they can give to help someone else.
  It doesn't have to be monetary. It can be your time, a good coat from the back of your closet as example. How about go shovel someone's sidewalk that… (Nextdoor ML Avenue)
• Living Nativity Tonight inside!
  Milwood United Methodist Church. We are on the corner of Portage and Lakeway. There will be a petting zoo outside including Roscoe the Camel! I know… (Nextdoor Milwood)

• Workbox Staffing posted a job opening for Part-Time Cleaner/Janitorial in Kalamazoo. Apply here.
• Vista Musical Instruments posted a job opening for Production Associate in Kalamazoo. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Kalamazoo here.

Ok Kalamazoo! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I didn’t lose a tooth, Mom. It’s right here in my pocket.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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