🌱 St. Patrick’s Day Parade + Caution Urged As Storm Cleanup Continues

Good morning, Kalamazoo-Portage! I'm here in your inbox per usual to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Friday: Colder with wet snow, 1-3". High: 36 Low: 17.
• Saturday: Areas of low clouds; chilly. High: 37 Low: 27.

📢 I'm looking for business owners and marketers in Kalamazoo-Portage who want to build awareness, connect with customers and increase sales.

I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. If that's you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.

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

1. Kalamazoo's 21st annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade will return once again to downtown Kalamazoo along its usual route that begins on Burdick Street at Michigan Avenue. The parade starts at 11 a.m. and will take place at the same time as a Hooley for Healing celebration at Ruggers Up & Under that will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and aims to raise money for two local residents who were recently diagnosed with cancer. (MLive.com)
2. Kalamazoo officials are cautioning the public to be careful when visiting city parks and nature preserves in the area as the area continues to recover from the impact of the Feb. 22 winter storm. The city is still working to clear up fallen trees and debris and is addressing different areas in tiers, starting with necessary cleanups like on major streets and local streets. Currently, the city is working on neighborhood cleanup before it will be able to move on to addressing the damage at parks and reserves. (MLive.com)
3. Portage city officials recently talked about their efforts to improve housing options and livability in the city to respond to the growing workforce. Initiatives include developing affordable workforce housing along the lake center district while making quality-of-life improvements like improving greenspaces and expanding the trail system. (WOODTV.com)

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.

Today and tomorrow in Kalamazoo-Portage:

Friday, March 10

• Family Story Time At Central At Kalamazoo Public Library (10:30 AM)
• Alano Club Kalamazoo Comedy Show Fundraiser At Alano Club (6:30 PM)

Saturday, March 11

• Maple Sugar Festival At Kalamazoo Nature Center (9:00 AM)
• Rose Street Poetry Club At Kalamazoo Public Library (10:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• The City of Kalamazoo is hiring! There are a variety of opportunities available, including Community Investment Manager, Vehicle Mechanic, and many seasonal summer jobs. Check out the website to learn more and apply by clicking here. (The City of Kalamazoo, Michigan via Facebook)
• Join the City of Portage and the Deputy Director of Planning Biqi Zhao for the upcoming Community Visioning Workshop. Learn more about the city's master plan on Mar. 20 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Portage Zhang Senior Center. (The City of Portage MI via Facebook)
• Join the Portage Senior Center for a day trip to Chicago to watch Shakespeare's "The Comedy of Errors" at the Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier. The trip will take place on Wednesday, Mar. 29, and will cost $140 for members and $150 for non-members. (Portage MI Senior Center via Facebook)

You're officially in the loop for today. 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.