🌱 Y Bar And Bistro Permanently Closed + Fifth-Grader To Release Book

Hello all. Michelle Paul here with your fresh copy of the Kalamazoo-Portage Patch newsletter, filled with all the local news you need to know right now.

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Now, your local weather:

• Wednesday: Mostly sunny and warm. High: 87 Low: 62.
• Thursday: Sun mixing with clouds. High: 78 Low: 66.

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

1. The well-known Y Bar and Bistro on West Michigan University's campus is permanently closed. The bar was a staple for college students in Kalamazoo and the former owners of the business have already stated they hope the next owners will make the space an exciting college bar once again. It was not confirmed why the restaurant was closed down, but that corner was a focal point of ongoing violence and suspicious activity the last month. Since 2021, the authorities have been called to that corner or the bar's exact address more than 1,300 times and two people have died there. (WOODTV.com)
2. This coming July, an 11-year-old Kalamazoo boy will be publishing his first book centered around the world of coding. Fifth grader John Bolden II will be releasing his book "John B. and the Wonderful World of Coding." This book is recommended for children in grades second through fifth as an easy-to-understand introduction to the world of coding for those interested including relevant terminology, fun facts, and more. There will be a book launch event both in-person and virtually on Jul. 11 at 7:30 p.m., more details and information can be found here. (wkfr.com)
3. This past Monday, Kalamazoo residents were able to gain free admission to all parks in the area as well as free access to the Kik Pool. The head lifeguard loved the free admission day as it added new faces at the pool to interact with during the day. The Kik Pool is open Monday through Thursday from 1:30-6:00 p.m. (FOX 17 West Michigan News)

Today and tomorrow in Kalamazoo-Portage:

Wednesday, June 21

• Kids Try It - Playground Sports At Oakland Drive Park (10:00 AM)
• IdeaWorx - Business Incubator: Launch Your Business At Portage Parks & Recreation Building (6:00 PM)
• An Evening With Mike Gordon At Bell's Eccentric Cafe (7:00 PM)

Thursday, June 22

• Family Storytime At Oshtemo Branch Library (10:30 AM)
• Acrylic Pour Painting At Eastwood Branch Library (3:00 PM)
• Adult Pickleball Leagues Session 1: Recreational At Ramona Park & Beach (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Make sure you mark your calendar for Jul. 8 as Booker T. Jones is making his way to the Kalamazoo State Theatre for a free concert as part of the Black Arts Festival. Make sure you take a moment to register early as seating for the event is limited. (Kalamazoo State Theatre via Facebook)
• If you have an interest in continuing your education past your time at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, come to the Transfer Student Cook-Out on Jun. 29 for an opportunity to learn about several colleges from school representatives. The cook-out is the perfect opportunity to network with several different college representatives while enjoying yourself with some free food, you can RSVP for the event here. (Kalamazoo Valley Community College via Facebook)
• Today (Jun. 21) Afropop and R&B artist Jonathan Chawanangwa Chitaya will be returning to the Beats on Bates stage with his band for a wonderful performance on Bates Alley. If you are unable to make this week's show don't worry, there is free entertainment every Wednesday from 5:30-8:30 p.m. all summer long so you have more opportunities in the coming weeks. (Downtown Kalamazoo via Facebook)

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Featured events:

• Building Wealth in Your 40s Webinar (June 26)

You're all caught up 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.