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Wightman Welcomes Ladd as Municipal Services Manager
Wightman, a prominent civil engineering, architecture, and surveying firm serving communities across the Great Lakes region, is proud to announce the addition of Anthony Ladd, PE, PMP as Municipal Services Manager. In this position, Ladd will oversee Wightman’s municipal services team, partnering with communities across the region to deliver innovative, cost-effective solutions for water, sewer, roadway, and stormwater systems. His leadership will support municipalities in navigating complex regulatory
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WEDNESDAY NIGHT MARKET KICKS OFF THE 2025 SEASON ON JULY 2
St. Joe Today is excited to announce the 2025 season of the Wednesday Night Market. This weekly market will be held on Wednesdays, July 2 through August 27, from 4:00p-8:00p in Court Place Plaza (across from Silver Harbor Brewing) and will feature a mix of artisans and their handcrafted goods, as well as farmers and food/beverage vendors. Additionally, the market will host live music each week from 5:30p-8:30p, courtesy of Silver Harbor Brewing Co. There are still limited vendor spots available!
Community Race with a Purpose: YMCA of Greater Michiana Hosts 14th Annual 5K/10K in St. Joseph
The YMCA of Greater Michiana invites runners, walkers, and families to join the 14th Annual Race for YMCA 5K/10K on Saturday, July 19 at 8:30 a.m., presented by Honor Credit Union. Proceeds from the race will benefit the Benton Harbor-St. Joseph YMCA's annual campaign, which provides financial assistance for memberships and programs to local children and families in need. Participants can choose between a 5K or 10K along a scenic course that starts and finishes at the Margaret B. Upton Arboretum, featuring
LMC SEEKING MILLAGE RENEWAL AND TAX CUT ON NOVEMBER BALLOT
BENTON HARBOR, Mich. – The Lake Michigan College Board of Trustees, with two millages expiring in 2026 has decided to place a millage renewal and a tax cut proposal on the November 4, 2025 ballot. The first proposal is a renewal of the College’s operational millage of 0.665 mills that provides nearly 20% of overall funding. LMC is seeking a 20 year renewal of the levy that passed in 2006. The renewal freezes the tax rate at that level or lower until 2046. “Both of these are critical funding
June Programs Kick Off Summer at Fernwood
Along with the seasonal beauty of the gardens and natural areas, Fernwood has an exciting lineup of youth camps, programs, classes, and events this summer. The garden just wrapped up their first of three youth camp sessions. The next, called “Habitat Heroes,” is scheduled for July, followed by “Art and Mindfulness in Nature” in August. Summer day camps are generously supported by a grant from the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation. Learn more and register at
WATERFRONT HOUSE OF FRAMING AND FASHION TRANSITIONS OWNERSHIP
Waterfront House of Framing & Fashion, a cherished downtown St. Joseph destination for unique art, expert custom framing, and women’s boutique fashion, is proud to announce a change in leadership. Founder and long-time owner Valerie Byrnes has entrusted the business to local entrepreneur Corey Carolla, following the exciting news of Valerie’s recent appointment to a leadership role with the Independence Chamber of Commerce near Kansas City, MO. For the past six years, Valerie, along with her daughter Emily
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True Blue Financial Celebrate One-Year Anniversary of Benton Harbor Office with Special Ribbon Cutt
For Immediate Release Media Contact: Mikaela Owen Operations Specialist True Blue Financial 269-982-2710 mowen@trueblue.financial True Blue Financial Celebrate One-Year Anniversary of Benton Harbor Office with Special Ribbon Cutting Community Invited to June 18th Event FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 16, 2025 Benton Harbor, MI — True Blue Financial is proud to announce the one-year anniversary of its Benton Harbor location (677 West Main Street) with a celebratory ribbon cutting ceremony
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Honor Announces 16th Annual Teacher Awards
Honor Credit Union Launches 16th Annual Teacher Awards BERRIEN SPRINGS, MICHIGAN – JUNE 16, 2025 – Honor Credit Union has officially opened the application for its 16th Annual Teacher Awards, continuing its long-standing tradition of celebrating and supporting educators across Michigan. This year, 40 teachers will each receive a $500 Amazon digital gift card to help bring their classroom dreams to life, totaling $20,000 in awards across the state. The Teacher Awards reflect Honor Credit Union’s
City of Benton Harbor, Cornerstone Alliance, and Partners Celebrate Official Launch of Downtown Social District ?and New Redevelopment Tool
For Immediate Release Media Contact: Andrew Haan P: (269) 352-2345 ahaan@cstonealliance.org June 16, 2025 City of Benton Harbor, Cornerstone Alliance, and Partners Celebrate Official Launch of Downtown Social District and New Redevelopment Tool BENTON HARBOR, MI – June 16, 2024 – The City of Benton Harbor, in partnership with Cornerstone Alliance, Benton Harbor Arts Association, and the Downtown Development Authority, is proud to announce the official launch of the Benton Harbor Downtown Social
Berrien County Parks to Celebrate Grand Opening of New Accessible Playground at Silver Beach County
For Immediate Release Media Contact: Jill Adams Director Berrien County Parks Department 269-983-7111 x8234 jadams@berriencounty.org Berrien County Parks to Celebrate Grand Opening of New Accessible Playground at Silver Beach County Park Public Invited to Ribbon Cutting on June 17th For Immediate Release: June 13, 2025 St. Joseph, Michigan – Berrien County Parks is proud to announce the official ribbon cutting ceremony for the brand-new playground at Silver Beach County Park on Tuesday,
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CITY OF BENTON HARBOR PRIORITIZES COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS WITH THE ADDITION OF A PRIORITY HEALTH FITNESS COURT®
For Immediate Release Media Contact: Alex Little City Manager City of Benton Harbor 269-927-8457 alittle@bhcity.us CITY OF BENTON HARBOR PRIORITIZES COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS WITH THE ADDITION OF A PRIORITY HEALTH FITNESS COURT® New project to be part of the National Fitness Campaign – A nationwide initiative to plan and build Healthy Infrastructure® FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 12, 2025 BENTON HARBOR, MI - On Monday, June 16th, the City of Benton Harbor in partnership with the
2025 MAAC Award Winners
2025 MAAC Award WinnersHeather Boersma's "Year of Jubilee" won Best of Show Award winners have been announced for the 2025 Michiana Annual Art Competition (MAAC), now on display at the Box Factory for the Arts. Voting for the People’s Choice is still open to the public.MAAC in the Box is a juried, fine art exhibition designed to recognize and reward excellence of artists in southwestern Michigan and northern Indiana. More than 150 original works by 120 artists were selected for the
Berrien County Small Business Access to Capital Event Announced
For Immediate Release Media Contact: Bruce Piekarski Market President - Berrien Co MI/NC IN bpiekarski@horizonbank.com 269-982-1080Berrien County Small Business Access to Capital Event Announced Business Owners Invited to Join Horizon Bank & SBA Experts June 24th For Immediate Release: June 11, 2025 Berrien County, Michigan – Business owners and entrepreneurs alike are invited to join Horizon Bank, a panel of industry experts, and local community organizations for an insightful morning
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Ziker Cleaners Celebrates Southwest Michigan Additions
Ziker Cleaners, a trusted name in garment care for over a century, is proud to announce their expansion into downtown St. Joseph. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. at 425 State Street, and the public is invited to join local leaders, customers, and the Ziker team to celebrate the occasion. With 108 years of local ownership and industry-leading innovation, Ziker Cleaners brings its legacy of quality service and community commitment to the St. Joseph market.
Watermark Brewing Co. Celebrates 9 Years with a Pirate-Themed Bash Presented by Honor Credit Union
For Immediate Release Media Contact: Chris Mason Co-Founder / Business Maneuverer chris@watermarkbrewing.com www.watermarkbrewing.com (269) 930-0380 Watermark Brewing Co. Celebrates 9 Years with a Pirate-Themed Bash Presented byHonor Credit Union For Immediate Release: June 9, 2025 Stevensville, Michigan – What started as a bold idea shared over a table at Honor Credit Union nearly a decade ago has grown into one of Michigan’s most beloved breweries. This summer, Watermark Brewing Co. is
Outstanding Musician of the Year Finds Musical Renaissance at Lake Michigan College
Marcia Blake of St. Joseph has been selected by the Lake Michigan College Visual & Performing Arts Department as the 2025 Outstanding Musician of the Year Award recipient.The Outstanding Musician of the Year Award is a long-standing tradition at LMC, started in 1974. Each year, the music faculty surveys the prospective music graduates and, if a qualified candidate is identified, presents the award to the student who best exemplifies leadership in performance ensembles and has demonstrated significant
Great Strides Underpin Palisades’ March to Restart
Great Strides Underpin Palisades’ March to Restart We are pleased to report that the restart of the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant in Covert Township, Michigan, continues to advance, with several recently achieved milestones reinforcing confidence in the facility’s near-term return to service. From hands-on maintenance and training areas to regulatory approvals and self-governing industry association assessments, the scope and pace
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First Church of God Opens New Community Space, The Commons Leadership Invites Non-Profit and Communi
For Immediate Release Media Contact: Arthur Havlicek President & CEO info@smrchamber.com 269-932-4042 First Church of God Opens New Community Space, The Commons Leadership Invites Non-Profit and Community Partners to Utilize Space For Immediate Release: June 5, 2025 St. Joseph, Michigan – Nearly 100 individuals gathered on Monday, June 2nd at First Church of God for a special Ribbon Cutting Ceremony hosted by the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber celebrating the grand opening of The
Honor Credit Union Announces 2025 Community Commitment Scholarship Winners
Honor Credit Union is excited to announce the recipients of its 2025 Community Commitment Scholarship program. Each year, this program honors Michigan high school seniors who go above and beyond in their dedication to community service while also excelling academically. Through a blind selection process, twelve outstanding students have been chosen to receive a $2,500 scholarship to support their continued education. The 2025 recipients exemplify what it means to lead with purpose, serve others,
The GhostLight Theatre’s 2025 summer production season kicks off with Jonathan Larson’s award-winning Broadway musical “RENT” – June 12th-29th in Benton Harbor
The GhostLight Theatre continues its 2025 Theatre Season with RENT – a musical written by the late Jonathan Larson, & directed by Spencer Ryan Diedrick (Once, Lewiston/Clarkston). Rent will mark the 3rd production of The GhostLight Theatre’s 6th season, and it will be presented in the GhostLight’s Black Box Theatre space from Thursday, June 12th through Sunday, June 29th. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, curtain is at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday at 3 p.m. at 101 Hinkley Street in Benton Harbor. General
Lake Michigan College announces 2025 winners of WAVE Awards celebrating high school musical theatre
Edwardsburg High School's "Newsies!" led the way, taking home four awards, during the fourth annual WAVE Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theatre held May 21 at Lake Michigan College's Mendel Center Jenkins Theatre. Presented by LMC's Visual & Performing Arts Department and loosely designed after Broadway's Tony Awards, the WAVE Awards recognize high school theater students and arts educators from Berrien, Van Buren, and Cass Counties in Michigan and St. Joseph and Elkhart Counties in
Zo’s Mini Donuts Announces Grand Opening, Bringing Sweet Tradition to Southwest Michigan
Zo’s Mini Donuts, the beloved local donut venture founded by sisters Zoey and Lydia Heyn, is thrilled to announce the grand opening of its newest location in Southwest Michigan. The celebration will take place at 508 Pleasant St, St Joseph, MI 49085 on Friday, June 13th, with festivities running from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Guests can look forward to trying their award-winning hot and fresh donuts and a chance to meet the founders behind this rapidly growing community favorite. Their season will run June 13th
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Competitive Edge: Staying Rooted in the Community, Reaching New Heights, Ribbon Cutting & Open House Planned for June 11th
For Immediate Release Media Contact: Arthur Havlicek President & CEO info@smrchamber.com 269-932-4042 Competitive Edge: Staying Rooted in the Community, Reaching New Heights Ribbon Cutting & Open House Planned for June 11th For Immediate Release: June 2, 2025 Saint Joseph, Michigan – Competitive Edge recently brought the company's headquarters back to its original stomping grounds, setting up shop in a spacious new warehouse and office facility right here in St.Joseph. After selling their
Greater Bridgman CGA Announces Return of the Street Dance
Greater Bridgman CGA Announces Return of the Street Dance Beloved Tradition Returns as Part of Celebrate Bridgman on July 12th For Immediate Release: May 29, 2025 Bridgman, Michigan – The Greater Bridgman Area Chamber and Growth Alliance (CGA) in partnership with Classic Catering & Events, Indiana Michigan Power an AEP Company and the greater Bridgman community is excited to announce the Street Dance will return as part of Celebrate Bridgman on July 12th. For many years hundreds of individuals
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ST. JOE TODAY COMMISSIONS A TEMPORARY MURAL FOR THE BLUFF STAIRS 2025
St. Joe Today is happy to announce the installation of another temporary mural on the stairs leading up to Lake Bluff Park and downtown St. Joseph. St. Joe Today was able to bring this project to the community with support from the Schalon Foundation. St. Joe Today started the mural project in 2018, the week leading up to Chalk the Block, with a permanent mural on the back of the Welcome Center building and continued in 2019 with a temporary mural on the bluff stairs, both pieces commissioned and
Dablon Vineyards & Winery Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary
Baroda, MI — May 29, 2025 — Dablon Vineyards & Winery is thrilled to announce its 10th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, May 31, 2025, marking a decade of globally inspired, locally produced wines. Dablon Vineyards & Winery is a family-owned estate vineyard in Southwest Michigan, situated just inland from Lake Michigan. We craft exceptional wines from grapes grown on our unique terroir and rolling hills. Named for explorer Claude Dablon, who planted French varietals on Michigan soil in the 1600s, we
United Way of Southwest Michigan Adapts Funding Cycle in Response to Changes in Funding Landscapes
ST. JOSEPH, MI (May 28, 2025) – In a bit of a ‘perfect storm’ scenario, United Way of Southwest Michigan President & CEO Anna Murphy said changes in the economy & workforce locally coinciding with the changes to federal, and eventually, state budgets, are making things exceptionally challenging. “Everything around us is quickly adapting and changing, so our organization’s sustainability mission for the future is to be agile and nimble with our processes. Whether that’s raising funds or making funding
Armor Physical Therapy Opens New St. Joseph Clinic
Armor Physical Therapy is excited to announce the ribbon cutting ceremony for its newest outpatient orthopedic and sports physical therapy clinic in St. Joseph. The event, hosted by the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber, will take place on Friday, June 6, 2025 at 1:00 p.m., with an open house happening until 6:00 p.m. Community members, local leaders, and healthcare professionals are encouraged to attend to meet the team, tour the facility, and learn more about the specialized services
See Winners of the MAAC Art Competition on Exhibit at the Box Factory
Award winners have been announced for the 2025 Michiana Annual Art Competition (MAAC), now on display at the Box Factory for the Arts, 1101 Broad St. Voting for the People’s Choice is still open to the public.MAAC in the Box is a juried, fine art exhibition designed to recognize and reward excellence of artists in southwestern Michigan and northern Indiana. More than 150 original works by 120 artists were selected for the exhibit.Awards were presented at the opening reception in eight categories and Best of
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LAKE BLUFF ARTISAN FAIR RETURNS TO LAKE BLUFF PARK ON MAY 31ST
Over 50 regional artisans and crafters will share their talent at the Lake Bluff Artisan Fair, held in Lake Bluff Park from 10:00a-5:00p on Saturday, May 31. Event attendees will find one-of-a-kind handcrafted, homemade goods such as home décor, furniture, jewelry, candles, clothing and more. St. Joe Today invites the community to enjoy this eclectic artisan fair that overlooks Lake Michigan. 2025 show dates are May 31, July 19, August 16 and August 30. While you are downtown, be sure to EAT, SHOP, STAY
2025 SWMI & National April Housing Market Slipped from the Robust Sales in March
“Southwest Michigan’s housing market sales in April 2025 slipped from the robust results in March. Sales and the average selling price declined. Only the median selling price increased above that in March.” stated Luke Jeffries, Association Executive, Southwestern Michigan Association of REALTORS®, Inc. Jeffries continued, “The number of houses sold in April fell 20 percent to 196 from 245 in April 2024. Year-to-date, the number of houses sold was down 1 percent (744 vs. 752).” The good
Contemporary Dance Troupe Performs 'in the Round' at Box Factory on June 7
Contemporary Dance Troupe Performs 'in the Round' at Box Factory on June 7 ST. JOSEPH, MI – Southwest Michigan’s premiere contemporary-dance company, CPR Dance: Inhale Movement, will present its new dance concert, “Resonance,” at the Box Factory for the Arts on Saturday, June 7, from 7-9 p.m.Tickets can be purchased online for $12 general admission or $15 cabaret tables at ticketstripe.com/cprdance2025. Walk-in tickets are $15. Admission is free for children 12 and under.“Resonance” is a collection of new
MEDC Announces $8.8 Million in Grants for Organizations Supporting Under-Represented Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMAY 21, 2025 Contact: Otie McKinley517-930-8049mckinleyo@michigan.org MEDC Announces $8.8 Million in Grants for Organizations Supporting Under-Represented Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs The Trusted Connector Grant and Entrepreneur Support Grant, administered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, provide funding to support
Allegiant Announces New Route to Fort Lauderdale with One-Way Fares as Low as $59*
The Airline Offers New Low-Cost Travel Options to Popular Destinations in Eight Cities Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ: ALGT) today announced five new nonstop routes to eight cities around the country. To celebrate, the company is offering one-way fares on the new routes as low as $39.* The routes, launching this fall, will provide the only nonstop service between these cities. Additionally, the airline added an intrastate route for travelers in Tennessee. "This expansion caters to passengers and
Swinging into Action – 38th Annual Softball Fundraiser to Support The Center for Growth and Independence
The Center for Growth and Independence kicks off their 38th Annual Softball Fundraiser, taking place July 25th and 26th at Plangger’s Park in Benton Harbor, MI. This event, sponsored by Dominion Chevrolet, brings the community together for a weekend of friendly competition, team building, and a positive impact for the community’s most vulnerable populations. This community event takes one of America’s favorite games, baseball, and adds a creative twist: bribe the ump to put the other team at a disadvantage!
St. Joseph, MI Businesses: How to Respond to the CTA, BOI and FinCEN Now
The Corporate Transparency Act may require certain U.S. companies to disclose beneficial ownership information to FinCEN to combat financial crimes. While a Texas federal district court’s preliminary injunction puts this requirement on hold, many experts expect that to be overturned. In that event, failure to file could lead to fines of $500 per day, up to a maximum of $10,000, and possible criminal penalties. However, filing your Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) report will help you avoid fines
