News

Niles-Buchanan YMCA Hosts Annual Hometown Christmas Market Festival on December 20

YMCA of Greater Michiana announces the return of their Hometown Christmas Market Festival at the Niles-Buchanan YMCA (905 North Front Street, Niles, MI) on Saturday, December 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event, which welcomed more than 200 families last year, will feature 40 local vendors in the gymnasium, along with free family activities including a festive photo booth with instant prints, a frame-making station, cookie decorating, hot chocolate, and visits with Santa, Mrs. Claus, and

Greater Bridgman Area Chamber & Growth Alliance Welcomes Ace Hardware to Lake Charter Township

The Greater Bridgman Chamber & Growth Alliance (BCGA) is pleased to announce that Ace Hardware will soon open a new location in the Greater Bridgman area. The store will be in Lake Charter Township at the corner of Shawnee and Gast Roads, occupying the former Rite Aid building in the same shopping center as Harding’s Family Friendly Market.   The CGA began collaborating with the building’s owner shortly after the property became vacant, actively identifying potential tenants who would bring value to the

Health Happens Here: Corewell Health Lakeland Hospitals Supports Community Change with $55,000 Award

 Across Berrien County, residents are finding new ways to live healthier— walking connected trails, shopping at local farmers markets, and participating in programs that strengthen neighborhoods. By improving walkability, expanding food access, and responding to residents’ needs— these community-driven efforts show how everyday life can flourish when health becomes a shared priority. A $55,000 award from community partner, Corewell Health Lakeland Hospitals to United Way of Southwest Michigan helps

Lake Michigan College moves start date of next Police Academy session

Lake Michigan College is moving the start date of its next Police Academy session to the spring. The Academy, which is held on the College’s Benton Harbor campus, will begin March 16, 2026, after being held during the summer the previous two years. “Our advisory committee, which is made up of local law enforcement professionals, told us that holding the training earlier in the year would be a better fit. We are responding by moving up the start date of the academy to help our local municipalities better

COMMUNITY LEADERS TO DONATE FIRST BEARS TO SOUTH BEND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT’S FOURTEENth ANNUAL BEARS IN THE AIR PROGRAM

The fourteenth annual Bears in the Air program lands at South Bend International Airport (SBN) when community stakeholders donate the first bears to the program at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 3 at the “Bear Den” located in the atrium of the airport. St. Joseph County Airport Authority Board President David Sage will be joined by South Bend Mayor James Mueller, St. Joseph County Commissioner Rafael Morton, Robert L. Miller Sr. Veteran’s Center Resident Garey Hendrix, and South Bend Chocolate Company

Honor Credit Union Pays It Forward for Giving Tuesday

Honor Credit Union Pays It Forward for Giving Tuesday BERRIEN SPRINGS, MICHIGAN – DECEMBER 2, 2025 – In the spirit of Giving Tuesday, Honor Credit Union is once again living out its mission to give back to its members and the communities it serves. As part of Honor’s annual tradition, each of the credit union’s 484 team members receives $50 to pay it forward, empowering them to support local causes and create meaningful moments of generosity across Michigan. In total, the initiative reflects $24,200

BENTON CHARTER TOWNSHIP SET TO BREAK GROUND ON EUCLID AVENUE PARK

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  Media Contact: Marcy Hamilton Senior Planner/Deputy Executive Director Southwest Michigan Planning Commission 269-925-1137 x1525 hamiltonm@swmpc.org  BENTON CHARTER TOWNSHIP SET TO BREAK GROUND ON EUCLID AVENUE PARK Join us December 4th to celebrate   Benton Heights, MI — Benton Charter Township is proud to announce the groundbreaking of the Euclid Avenue Park on December 4th at 2:00pm, a new 10-acre community park that will provide residents of Benton Heights with

2025 SWMI & National October Housing Market dropped 5% in Sales from a Year Ago

“At the beginning of the fall selling season, sales only dropped 5 percent from the end of September (289 vs. 304). Selling prices continued to climb year-over-year in October for the last 6 years,” stated Luke Jeffries, Association Executive, Southwestern Michigan Association of REALTORS ® , Inc. Jeffries continued, “The number of houses sold in October increased 8 percent (21 houses) from October 2024 (289 vs. 268). Year-to-date, sales have increased 4 percent (2456 vs. 2366).” The inventory of houses

ST. JOE WINTER BEER FEST RETURNS JANUARY 31, 2026, TICKETS ON SALE DECEMBER 1

St. Joe Today invites everyone 21 years and older to come out of hibernation and meet up with friends at this lakeside destination during the 2026 St. Joe Winter Beer Fest. The event takes place on Saturday, January 31, from 12:00p-4:00p, outdoors, on the corner of Broad St. and Lake Blvd. in St. Joseph, Mich. With available tickets limited to only 1,150, Paul Knapp, executive director of St. Joe Today said, “We will kick off ticket sales before the holidays at 10:00a on December 1!” Ticket purchasers

City of Buchanan Announces Ribbon Cutting for Downtown Infrastructure and Placemaking Project

Regional Chamber Honors and Celebrates the 2025 HYPE Winners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Jasmine Hansen Events Director jhansen@smrchamber.com 269-932-4605 Regional Chamber Honors and Celebrates the 2025 HYPE Winners November 20, 2025   Stevensville, MI – Southwest Michigan’s brightest entrepreneurial talent gathered at the Watermark Solarium last night for the second annual HYPE – Highlighting Young Professional Excellence. Hosted by the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber in partnership with the Emerge Innovation Hub, this dynamic event

Lake Michigan College Career Center Honored with Prestigious 2025 Handshake Career Spark Award

Lake Michigan College has been recognized with a 2025 Handshake Career Spark Award, placing the institution among the top 2% of career centers nationwide. The award celebrates excellence in student engagement, employer engagement, and reporting and analytics.Out of more than 1,500 educational institutions using Handshake, only 40 career centers received this distinguished honor. Lake Michigan College was selected as one of ten winners in its school category, demonstrating the career center's exceptional

The Recovery Den Grand Opening Set for November 22nd

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  Media Contact:                                        Jazmine Tuck Manager, Operations and Marketing The Recovery Den jazmine.tuck@recoveryden.com THE RECOVERY DEN GRAND OPENING SET FOR NOVEMBER 22ND Stevensville's Newest Business Opening Inside the Village Square November 19th, 2025   STEVENSVILLE, MI – Downtown Stevensville’s Village Square is gaining another business with the grand opening of The Recovery Den on Saturday, November 22nd at 2650 John Beers Rd.. Owned by

Bridgman's Holiday Village Returns December 6th

  For Immediate Release  Media Contact: Nancy Kiernan Bridgman CGA Director 269-285-2152 NKiernan@BridgmanCGA.org  Bridgman's Holiday Village Returns December 6th November 18, 2025   Bridgman, Michigan – On Saturday, December 6th downtown Bridgman will be transformed into the ultimate Christmas destination with the return of the beloved Holiday Village. This event, is organized and orchestrated by the Greater Bridgman Area Chamber & Growth Alliance (Bridgman CGA), an affiliate of the Southwest

East Campground Bathhouse Renovation Completed at Weko Beach & Campground

EAST CAMPGROUND BATHHOUSE RENOVATION COMPLETED AT WEKO BEACH & CAMPGROUND Funded by the MDNR Recreation Passport grant program November 6, 2025   Bridgman, Michigan – The City of Bridgman is pleased to announce the completion of the East Campground Bathhouse Renovation Project at Weko Beach & Campground. This exciting improvement enhances visitor comfort and supports continued excellence in the campground’s amenities.   The project was made possible through grant funding from the Michigan Department

LMC Visual & Performing Arts Department holding auditions for Spring musical production of “Big Fish

The Lake Michigan College Visual & Performing Arts Department will hold open auditions for the Spring musical production of "Big Fish," directed by LMC Instructor of Theatre Shalico Sain. Auditions will be held from 6-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 9, and from 6:30-9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, in the LMC Mendel Center Hanson Theatre, 2755 E. Napier Avenue, Benton Harbor. Students and community members are welcome to participate and need only attend one audition date, though they should plan to stay for the full

Best-Selling Guitarist Bryan Lubeck Presents ‘Welcome Winter with Bryan Lubeck & Friends’

Best-Selling Guitarist Bryan Lubeck Presents ‘Welcome Winter with Bryan Lubeck & Friends’   An Intimate Acoustic Holiday Concert at the Box Factory on Dec. 13 ST. JOSEPH, MI – The Box Factory for the Arts welcomes the season with “Welcome Winter with Bryan Lubeck & Friends,” an intimate, all-acoustic holiday concert led by best-selling guitarist Bryan Lubeck. Drawing from his Top-10 ranked holiday favorite “We Three Strings” and his best-selling release “Welcome Winter,” Lubeck blends Spanish-guitar

United Way of Southwest Michigan Supports SMCAA’s “Stuff a Truck” 2025 to Help Food Insecurity

 United Way of Southwest Michigan is coming together with the Southwest Michigan Community Action Agency (SMCAA) to support their annual “Stuff a Truck” Food Drive with 99.9 Y Country and News Talk Sports 94.9 WSJM.   The event takes place this week, November 17-21 from 6am-6pm and Saturday, November 22 from 10am-Noon at Roger’s Foodland in St. Joseph. The event is now in its 29th year raising funds, food, and personal care items for the SMCAA with the need continually rising each year.   “One of our

HOLIDAY SHOPPERS WILL FIND GREAT BUYS THROUGHOUT SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN ON BLACK FRIDAY AND SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY, NOV. 28-29

Holiday shoppers seeking great deals will find them throughout Southwest Michigan (SWMI), on Black Friday, November 28, and Small Business Saturday, November 29.  "Find unique, locally sourced gifts for everyone on your list right here in St. Joe," says Paul Knapp, executive director of St. Joe Today. "Our local merchants offer everything from gourmet foods and handcrafted wines to one-of-a-kind toys and games." Knapp said another appreciated gift this holiday season is a Love Local SWMI Gift Card,

Over 1,500 Volunteers Rake a Difference Across Southwest Michigan in 2025

United Way of Southwest Michigan’s 15th Annual Rake a Difference event was held Thursday, November 13 as volunteers spread throughout Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties to rake leaves and clean gutters for senior citizens. The event saw its biggest volunteer number ever, with a total of 1,541 volunteers participating across 148 teams. Over 347 senior homes were served during this year’s event. A massive 11,455 leaf bags were distributed to teams as well.Rake a Difference is a vital community event where

HYPE is proud to announce the contestant finalists, come support them on November 19th at the Solarium by Watermark

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Jasmine Hansen Events Director jhansen@smrchamber.com 269-932-4605 MEET THE 2025 HYPE CONTESTANTS HYPE is proud to announce the contestant finalists, come support them on November 19th at the Solarium by Watermark November 13, 2025   Saint Joseph, MI - On August 1st, the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber, announced the return of HYPE – Highlighting Young Professional Excellence, a Shark Tank-style pitch competition that gives early-stage business owners

Lake Michigan College ensembles unite for annual Holiday Collage concert

The warmth and spirit of the season will fill the Lake Michigan College Mendel Center Grand Upton Hall when the LMC Visual & Performing Arts Department presents its annual Holiday Collage concert at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3. The College’s complete lineup of instrumental and vocal ensembles will come together in song, accompanied by dramatic readings during this festive celebration. The evening features performances by the LMC Concert Choir, LMC Vocal Chamber, and Vox LMC directed by Rebecca Derbas-Selvidge,

Cook Plant Foundation Awards $50,000 Grant to Support ''Salute the Troops Playground'' at Bridgman Ame

The Greater Bridgman Area Chamber and Growth Alliance (BCGA) is proud to announce that the Cook Plant Foundation has awarded a $50,000 grant in support of the Salute the Troops Playground, a new military service-themed community park to be developed at the Bridgman American Legion Post 331.   The Salute the Troops Playground is designed to honor local veterans and active-duty service members while providing a safe, inclusive, and engaging recreational space for families throughout the Bridgman area. The

Lake Michigan College to Host Two-Day Speaker Series on Global Perspectives, Part of the Annual Celebration of International Education Week

Lake Michigan College invites the public to a dynamic two-day event series featuring international experts discussing cross-cultural communication and Pan-Africanism. Both events are free and open to the community.   Wednesday, November 19, 2025    "The Benefits of Multiple Perspectives: Lessons from International Experts"     The Unspoken Language of Success    Ever wonder why a thumbs-up works in one country but offends in another? Or how the best leaders read the room without a single word being

GhostLight Theatre’s announces it’s 2025 Season FINALE “THE THANKSGIVING PLAY – a comedy by Larissa Fasthorse November 13th – Nov. 23rd directed by Michael Alan Herman

 A fully staged production of the wickedly funny satire“The Thanksgiving Play – a play by Larissa Fasthorse” will be produced at The GhostLight Theatre beginning Thursday, November 13th through Sunday, November 23rd.  Stage Directed by Michael Alan Herman, The Thanksgiving Play features a 4-person cast including Kip Bartloff, Shane Blair, Josie Eli Herman and Rebecca Maxey.  A group of mismatched teachers and actors have been charged by the school district to devise an ethnically sensitive play to somehow

Regional Chamber’s HYPE Pitch Competition Fuels Dreams for Young Entrepreneurs

For Immediate Release  Media Contact: Arthur Havlicek President & CEO info@smrchamber.com 269-932-4042 Regional Chamber’s HYPE Pitch Competition Fuels Dreams for Young Entrepreneurs November 21, 2024   Stevensville, MI – Southwest Michigan’s brightest entrepreneurial talent gathered at the Watermark Solarium last night for the debut of HYPE – Highlighting Young Professional Excellence. Hosted by the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber in partnership with the Emerge Innovation Hub, this dynamic