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Hey Kalamazoo, hope your week’s off to a good start!

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: WMU professor earns top award, 7 Brew debuts thousands of drink combos, and Easter Bunny egg hunt + lots of fun things to do for free.

Quick money tip: 2025 was gold’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150%. Analysts expect the momentum to continue, making precious metals a smart way to protect your savings. Curious how it works? Check out AHG’s free investor guide.*

📰 In the news

Celebrating a transformative educator: WMU’s Dr. Ashlyn Kuersten was named the MAC’s 2026 Outstanding Faculty Award for Student Success overall winner, recognized for mentorship and programs like Experience-Driven Learning and WMU Cold Case Program — read the full story.

Thousands of drink combos: Drive-thru coffee chain 7 Brew will open first two Kalamazoo County locations this spring and mid-summer in Comstock Township and West Main, bringing 60 to 70 jobs at each — see locations and opening details.

Community safety net expands: Kalamazoo’s long-awaited Landing Place transitional shelter for families will open April 30, housing up to 80 families in a converted hotel after delays from construction and city inspections — get all the details.

Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*

Paying hundreds of dollars a month for car insurance? Switching providers could save you up to $600 a year, and shopping around is way faster than it used to be – free comparison tools like this one make it easy.*

Highlights this week:

• Explore wellness at Kalamazoo Holistic Health Fair
• Shop local at The Vine Barn
• Explore spring wildlife at KNC Camp
• Unlock clinical-level wellness data from home*

💎 Local business spotlight

Space for real zoomies: When the backyard laps aren’t cutting it, Meadow Run Dog Park gives your pup room to sprint on 24 fenced acres, splash in a pond with a dock, and practice agility—plus temperament checks keep playtime chill. Perfect for burning off that Sunday scaries energy (yours and theirs).

Sneak in some calm: Blush Salon + Spa delivers the kind of de-stress you can feel: relaxing massages, custom facials, and a calm, modern vibe that makes scheduling self-care actually happen—book it, show up, float out, and pretend you always planned to be this refreshed.

Old-school bar vibes: Kalamazoo’s oldest watering hole, Louie’s Trophy House, still nails the comfy, taxidermy-on-the-walls charm with no fuss, good food, and weekly shenanigans like karaoke and trivia. When you just want burgers, wings, and friends without the scene, this is where you slide into a booth.

These aren’t ads or sponsored placements, just some cool nearby spots we think are worth a visit.

🫶 We got your back

Makeup that actually works: My sister and I were talking the other day about how the makeup we used in our 20s… just doesn’t work now that we’re in our 30s and 40s. Laura Geller’s entire makeup line addresses this shift, with formulas that smooth, brighten, and actually stay put. If you’re in the same boat, *their curated kits are worth a look →

The $1,300 mistake most Americans make every year: According to the National Financial Education Council, poor financial literacy costs the average American over a thousand dollars annually. That’s not investment losses. That’s money lost to bad decisions, missed strategies, and advice from people who may not always put your interests first. There’s a free way to fix that, and it starts with one question. Find out what it is →

$22k in interest (on a $30k balance): That’s what minimum payments cost you over 20 years. You’ll pay back nearly double what you borrowed, and your credit card company is counting on you not doing that math. Debt settlement programs negotiate balances down and get people out of debt in 2-4 years instead of 20. Learn more about how they work →

Why your last diet didn’t work: Sustained weight loss is nearly impossible with diet alone. Your body literally fights back by making you hungrier the moment you start restricting calories. That’s why more doctors are recommending GLP-1s. The best part? Getting them has never been easier. We compared five programs to help you find the right fit. See which ones stood out →

Your homeowners insurance has a blind spot: It covers your house if a tree falls on it. It doesn’t cover your furnace when it quits in January, your AC when it dies in July, or your water heater when it starts leaking on a Tuesday. Those are all classified as “normal wear and tear,” and they’re 100% on you. We looked into solutions that fill that gap. Here’s what we found →

📆 Free events worth checking out

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🧒 Juniors Clinic @ Kalamazoo Kennel Club | Tuesday (3/17) at 7:00 PM – Junior showmanship gets a tune-up, with a free clinic for kids who want to present their dogs like pros. Past Kalamazoo Kennel Club Juniors will cover stacking, gaiting, and ring manners for 4-H, UKC, and AKC kids. You handle snacks, they handle the stack.

☘ Shamrock Showdown – St. Patrick’s Buddy Days @ Championship Martial Arts Portage | Wednesday (3/18) at 5:00 PM – Let the kids burn off their Lucky Charms at Championship Martial Arts Portage with a free St. Paddy’s buddy class. Ages 4-14 get drills, themed games, candy, and confidence, wear green, parents register the buddy, and you get a few blessed minutes of quiet.

🏫 PPS Kindergarten Registration Night @ North Middle School Commons (Portage) | Thursday (3/19) at 5:30 PM – Time to make it official, your tiny roommate is kindergarten or Young 5s bound. Swing by the North Middle School Commons for PPS Kindergarten Registration Night, bring your questions, and RSVP required here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScu-VkK25uJT3GZJ3YgvyNOr86NO1aXHHOLGMuRT9S5XarIYg/viewform. Not sure which building claims you, check the attendance map: https://app.guidek12.com/portagemi/school\_search/current/.

🐦 Terra Talks: Backyard Birding Basics @ Portage Parks & Recreation Building | Friday (3/20) at 6:00 PM – At Portage Parks & Rec, Terra Talks brings Donna Keller from Audubon Society of Kalamazoo to break down backyard birding basics, from native plants, water, and shelter to the slick apps that ID visitors. Free with registration, and way more relaxing than refereeing the squirrels.

🦆 Duck Day @ Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery | Saturday (3/21) at 8:00 AM – Duck Day is gliding in with a free, dip-your-toes birding session at one of SW Michigan’s prime waterfowl hangouts. Expect serene views, curious quacks, and a little learning that goes down easy. Bring binoculars, leave the bread, and call it quality time.

🧹 Oshtemo Parks Trash Sweep @ Oshtemo Township Park | Saturday (3/21) at 9:00 AM – Kicking off park season, Oshtemo Township Park is hosting a no-frills trash sweep, the kind of spring cleaning we might actually finish. Grabbers, bags, gloves, and vests are provided, or bring your own. Enjoy the thaw, meet neighbors, and leave the park looking smugly tidy.

📖 Poetry/Short Story Night – Open Mic @ Creaky Floor Bookstore (Galesburg) | Saturday (3/21) at 4:00 PM – Got a short story in that desk drawer or a poem you swear is ‘almost there’? Swing by for Fallon’s open mic, free and welcoming, with a full menu, drinks, and across-the-street delivery to the bookstore. No judgment, just neighbors, words, and warm applause.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Kalamazoo report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 24°F – Low: 17°F – Precip: 59%

Snow showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 24. West northwest wind around 13 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible. Later: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy. Low around 17, with temperatures rising to around 20 overnight. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

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Tomorrow – High: 39°F – Low: 31°F – Precip: 33%

A chance of snow showers before 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. South wind 7 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Southwest wind 3 to 8 mph.

This house is wild

Immaculate 2012 Glas-built home with 5 beds, 5.5 baths, and 6,400 square feet showcases Brazilian Cherry floors, floor-to-ceiling windows on 1.6 acres across from Asylum Lake Preserve. A chef’s kitchen with Wolf range, GE Monogram refrigeration, and a concrete island pairs with 27×20 executive library. Elevator down to a 40×30 sport court, bar, projector and golf simulator, and guest suite.

Take a peek inside →