Author

Mike Wenninger

Mike Wenninger

Mike Wenninger had a long newspaper career capped by being the
owner/editor of the weekly paper in a small town for 16 years.

Mike Wenninger's Latest Articles

What’s behind the big red doors? Sanctuary in the city

Kalamazoo's First Presbyterian Church borders Bronson Park and its weekly Red Door Dinners provide homecooked meals and hospitality for the unhoused and others in need. “Our congregation seeks to live faith as a sanctuary in the city, with the city, for the city, and others far beyond." This story is part of our Faith in Action series, sponsored by the Fetzer Institute.

Stolen silence: Tinnitus Awareness Week in Kalamazoo

“It makes me sad that I probably will never experience silence again because I really like silence. I like quiet, and now if I’m out walking in the woods by myself I would like to just be in the quiet."

How some Southwest Michigan entrepreneurs stack the odds in their favor

Who hasn't dreamed of owning their own businesses? Most of us can count on two hands the business ideas we've had. Some budding entrepreneurs have taken their ideas to the next level, seeking out financial support, expertise, and handholding to make their dreams come true.

Suipi’s East End Eatery serving up award-winning fare in Battle Creek

Winner of Best Noodles in Battle Creek's recent Restaurant Week, and taking home 4th prize in the first regional Food Prize, Suipi's East End Eatery, which opened in May, has added a new Burmese-inspired East Asian flavor to Battle Creek's food scene.

‘Going native’ could make Kalamazoo a Homegrown National Park

Kalamazoo has many parks and nature preserves. Home yards can be connecting corridors between them, creating a thoroughfare for wildlife, birds, and pollinators. If enough local yards convert even by half to native plants, Kalamazoo could become a Homegrown National Park.

BC’s Café Rica and GR’s Natural Maya inspired by native culture, supported by Northern Initiatives

Two Southwest Michigan Latinx businesses feature Mexican and Costa Rican products, sharing elements of Hispanic culture with their communities, thanks in part to nonprofit lender Northern Initiatives.

StoryCorps revisits Kalamazoo to offer residents preservable story moments

StoryCorps first came to Kalamazoo in 2007. Since then StoryCorps has had a special connection to WMUK and Kalamazoo, returning for a Military Voices Initiative project and the One Small Step project. During its recent visit, 96 special stories were recorded.

Kalamazoo’s RJ’s Printing legacy grows with new chapter and new owner

RJ's Printing has been a beloved local business for nearly 30 years. In January, Kalamazoo's Sean Hollins bought the shop from Ralph Jones, keeping the legacy of the only known Black-owned printing business in Southwest Michigan growing as a collaborative "print partner."

Kalamazoo artist Jeanne Fields’ show dares viewers to be aware

Kalamazoo artist Jeanne Fields’ exhibit, “Dare to Be Aware: Our World Needs You,” is on display during February at the Epic Center’s Westin Gallery. While Field’s paintings present dichotomies between beauty and suffering, Fields says her show is primarily “about love.”

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