Day-to-day interactions with happy customers keeps Pastrami Joe’s owner going
In 2022, Andrew Scibbe’ purchased Pastrami Joe’s Deli in Marshall. Two years later, he reopened a second location in downtown Battle Creek.
Battle Creek unites to build 1,000 homes and power economic growth
Battle Creek leaders launched a new Housing Fund to address a 3,000-unit shortage, aiming to build and rehabilitate 1,000 homes by 2035 to boost workforce growth and community stability.
Lighting the Northside: How one church is helping to transform Kalamazoo
From mentoring students and supporting seniors to launching literacy programs and expanding neighborhood resources, Bishop Michael Scott I and Galilee Baptist Church are redefining what it means to be the hands and feet of faith in Kalamazoo’s Northside.
Four griddles and a dream: Full of Crepe finds its sweet spot in St. Joe
A family-owned creperie, Full of Crepe, has brought sweet and savory crepes — and a touch of Italian espresso — to downtown St. Joseph, quickly becoming a local favorite.
Dial back the decades: Old Skool Bar opens with a no-phones philosophy
Old Skool Bar has opened in downtown Kalamazoo with a retro-inspired, no-phones philosophy, inviting patrons to unplug, connect face-to-face, and enjoy vinyl music, pinball, pool, and dancing in a reimagined entertainment space.
All aboard for a perfectly college ride at WMU Theatre
WMU Theatre’s intimate staging of Keith Bunin’s “The Coast Starlight” captures the restless hope, impulsiveness and emotional rawness of youth, showcasing how college theater turns a deceptively simple train ride into a poignant exploration of growth, connection and exhilarating uncertainty.
As federal funding for housing shifts, Kalamazoo pulls together to keep people off the street
Kalamazoo County finds ways to keep programs for the unhoused and those at risk of becoming homeless up and running as federal funding becomes uncertain.
Where experience meets enthusiasm: KCC Concert Band blends generations in “Awakened Voices”
Spanning generations from recent high school graduates to musicians with 70 years of experience, Kellogg Community College’s Concert Band brings together players in a community-driven performance shaped by flexibility, resilience, and a shared love of music.
Financial literacy efforts target homeownership disparities in Calhoun County
The Southwestern Michigan Urban League has launched a new financial literacy initiative in Battle Creek and Calhoun County aimed at equipping underserved families — particularly People of Color — with the knowledge and tools needed to build wealth and achieve homeownership.
Objects of Affection: From a crochet hook to a bowling ball, love stories in Kalamazoo
In honor of Valentine’s Day, Western Michigan University multimedia journalism students explore how everyday objects become powerful symbols of love, identity and memory through photos and captions.
