Over the last decade and a half, Michigan has lost specialty crops at nearly twice the rate of the U.S. on average, according to a report released in March by the Michigan State University Extension. More than 1,700 Southwest Michigan farms ceased operation between 2012 and 2022, the most recent year for which data is available.
At 21, David Munoz, a lifelong Sturgis resident, is a father of two and the son of first-generation Mexican immigrants. Both of Munoz's parents made sacrifices to build a new life in Sturgis. His father worked long hours as a welder; his mother raised three children while navigating a new country with limited resources. They never owned a home. They never took a vacation. But they gave their son something more enduring, a sense of purpose.
The $5,000 micro-grant from the Three Rivers Area Community Foundation closes a $3,700 shortfall the association faced in its fundraising efforts. The total project cost is about $170,000 and will add three new courts to the existing two at Armstrong Park.
Gerry Bundle of Cassopolis writes, "We now publicly appeal to SMC’s Board of Trustees to reconsider, and to expand the Presidential Search Committee toward representing the unrepresented with a sense of resolve over resistance."
Event organizer and *culture is not optional Executive Director Rob Vander Giessen-Reitsma estimates that nearly 2,000 people attended the annual Back to School Celebration over the weekend.
Rev. Nicole Smith of Three Rivers writes, "Sadly, with the fracturing we are experiencing in American society the 'common good' has suffered terribly. Now we are wired and trained to think only of things that benefit us as individuals, with no consideration of the ripple effect such behavior has on our communities and society at large. In secular language we call this selfishness, in the Church, we call it Sin. Thankfully there is a place where community and individualism come together in a healthy way that promotes the 'common good.' That place is the local library, if you are lucky enough to have one in your town."
On Thursday morning, the St. Joseph County Courthouse hosted a civil hearing regarding a parking violation issued to Farrand Hall, a historic wedding venue co-owned by Hagan and Gray. The citation was issued after three cars were found parked in the easement of Timber Run Trail during a private wedding hosted on May 25.
Every August, the Huss Project (1008 8th St.) transforms its space into a hub of generosity and community spirit. At the heart of the celebration is a giveaway of 500 high-quality backpacks filled with age-appropriate school supplies for elementary, middle, and high school students.
Since 2020, the district has been conducting a survey of the St. Joseph River, paddling mile by mile, collecting thousands of data points to help assemble an interactive map that will give a full-scale understanding of the river — from bird sightings to trash collected to water safety.
"Each artist produces and shares from a deeply personal space. These types of intentional interactions foster deeper connections and community," Aundrea Sayrie said in a statement after the event.
A NOTE FROM OUR EDITOR
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