Good morning, Portage.

Kim Phillips, the director of senior citizen services, was honored nationally as a Trailblazer in Aging at the 2026 Age+Action Conference — the award spotlights her leadership in Portage and her work expanding services for older residents.

After losing her corporate job in January, Leigh Ann Messer turned her late-night baking side hustle into a full-time business called Late Night Macs.

She bakes French macarons for local farmers markets - including at Portage Zhang, which held its ribbon cutting on May 26.

WMU will offer a voluntary early separation program for tenured faculty 60 and older to save $5 million amid budget challenges.

Eligible faculty with long service will receive a buyout payment if they apply from Sept. 1 to Sept. 30 plus then forfeit future employment at the school.

Monarch butterflies have been seen across Michigan as of May 28, with sightings noted in areas near Portage (their arrival signals the start of the spring migration).

They are expected to remain until early fall as conservation efforts to protect milkweed continue.

Federal officials ordered a 3-foot drawdown of the reservoir at Sturgis Dam near the historic Langley Covered Bridge due to safety concerns, and the city will hold a meeting on June 11 for affected residents + farms may face irrigation disruptions while repair work is planned to begin this fall.

Health officials now urge residents and visitors to report sightings of harmful algal blooms using an updated EGLE form.

The alert follows a recent advisory for Austin Lake in Portage and asks people to share details and photos to help protect public health.

PickleRage, a national indoor pickleball club, opened its second Michigan location at 525 Romence Road on May 7 by converting a former grocery store into a 48,000 sqft facility with 10 courts and lounges.

The venue offers open play for $7 and Friday night sessions from 5 to 10 p.m.

Eight Kalamazoo-area girls soccer teams will face district finals from May 28 to May 30, with Portage Central hosting its Division 1 match on May 30 (in Portage).

Winning teams will advance to regional semifinals on June 2.

Light Saber Kids Combat Discovery Class

10 AM - 11 PM — BSD Dance Studio — Free entry — Learn the basics of light saber combat and unleash your inner fighter in a fun, engaging environment.