Author

Al Jones

Al Jones

Al Jones is a freelance writer who has worked for many years as a reporter, editor, and columnist. He is the Project Editor for On the Ground Kalamazoo.

Al Jones's Latest Articles

Haymarket Plaza is set to be downtown Kalamazoo’s newest gathering place

Thursday, Sept. 16 there was a celebration of the completion of the Warner Building and dedicated the Haymarket Plaza, a 7,000-square-foot open area designed to accommodate entertainment, food trucks, and outdoor seating for food and beverages designed to attract downtown residents, workers, and visitors.

Kalamazoo family reclaims a blighted corner to open a business that makes your mouth water

An underused piece of property is now the home of Bone Yard Café Bar-B-Que & Specialty Dogs where Ricky and Yvonne Thrash and their family sell barbecue spare ribs, rib tips, French fries, specialty hot dogs, and side dishes.

Fifty years will be celebrated with 50 acts of kindness Kalamazoo’s Family Health Center leaders say

The Family Health Center provides primary, preventive, and supplemental health services, including dental and mental health care, to more than 50,000 active patients in Kalamazoo County. This year, Family Health Center is saying "thank you" for 50 years of support and expansion.

Dozens of micro-businesses receive major support in Kalamazoo grant program

A boxing academy, a guitar shop, a visual artist, a lawn care/landscaping service, a coffee shop, a chiropractor, and a carpentry shop were among the 90 small businesses in 16 Kalamazoo neighborhoods to receive shares of $450,000 made available in the second annual Kalamazoo Micro-Enterprise Grant program.

… And if you cannot afford an attorney, Kalamazoo Defender has a plan

The 2-year-old nonprofit organization of attorneys in Kalamazoo takes a holistic approach to criminal defense to help defendants in the criminal justice system. It hopes the work is the start of a process to get people who are accused of crimes get on a track out of the system.

Good things can happen when dogs lead the way at Kalamazoo’s Fairmount Dog Park

Regulars at Fairmount Dog Park in Kalamazoo say it's a place where you become friends – just by having a common ground, which is the park.  

Report on Kalamazoo police response to 2020 protests is questioned and supported

When it came to evaluating Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety's response to civil unrest in 2020, consultants say they tried to "find where that truth is in the spectrum. But it’s not all one way or another."

Escuelas de Kalamazoo dicen estar listos para ayudar a los jóvenes hispanos a regresar a clases

En las Escuelas Públicas de Kalamazoo se han implementado planes para tratar de asegurar que los estudiantes latinos se mantengan al día con sus lecciones y triunfen académicamente.

Northside neighborhood offers opportunities on National Night Out

A night to get to know your local public safety officers has grown to so much more. This year opportunities to learn how to train for good-paying jobs were part of the celebration in the Northside Neighborhood.

Kalamazoo School officials say they’re ready to help Hispanic youngsters get back to classes

Plans to try to assure Latino students keep up with their lessons and succeed academically have been put in place in the Kalamazoo Public Schools.

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