{"id":193312,"date":"2025-12-12T05:57:15","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T05:57:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/12-11-25-tackling-the-worlds-problems-nowkalamazoo\/"},"modified":"2025-12-12T05:57:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T05:57:15","slug":"12-11-25-tackling-the-worlds-problems-nowkalamazoo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/12-11-25-tackling-the-worlds-problems-nowkalamazoo\/","title":{"rendered":"12\/11\/25: Tackling the world\u2019s problems &#8211; NowKalamazoo"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Today&#8217;s sponsor:<\/em><br \/><strong>High 26\u00b0\/Low 14\u00b0 Cloudy\/Maybe snow<\/strong><br \/>Today&#8217;s weather drawing by<br \/>Evie, 2nd grade, Winchell Elementary<br \/><em><a href=\"https:\/\/nowkalamazoo.org\/draw-the-weather-a-nowkalamazoo-kids-activity\/\">Learn more about Kids Draw The Weather<\/a><\/em><br \/><em>Young people from around the region convened in Kalamazoo last week to try to tackle the world&#8217;s problems. Also: A local wedding venue owner has lost his last COVID court case. And a Portage park project has won an award.<\/em><br \/>Your support turns information into understanding, and understanding into action. That\u2019s how communities grow stronger.<br \/>If you felt the world tilt toward downtown Kalamazoo last week, it was due to the hundreds of delegates representing United Nations members who converged for the annual summit held here.<br \/>For four days, they engaged in weighty debates about global affairs, opening their minds to different perspectives to find solutions to problems such as climate change and the war in Ukraine. While it may have only been a simulation, students came away with new skills to tackle real-world challenges.<br \/>&#8220;The skills I learn not only apply to school,\u201d said attendee Avila Huff. \u201cI\u2019ve also used them when my sister and I get into an argument.\u201d<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/nowkalamazoo.org\/2025\/12\/the-world-comes-to-kalamazoo\/\">Click here to read the full story by <em>NowKalamazoo&#8217;s<\/em> Jeri Love.<\/a><br \/><em>Today&#8217;s sponsor:<\/em><br \/>Ryan Reedy once owned several successful venues in downtown Kalamazoo, including Loft 310 and Skydeck. When COVID hit, planned weddings at those venues were canceled. Reedy&#8217;s company never gave refunds, which led to lawsuits. The last of those cases is finally over after an appeals court ordered Reedy to pay back the person who brought the suit. [<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wmuk.org\/wmuk-news\/2025-12-10\/michigan-court-of-appeals-rules-against-kalamazoo-business-owner\">WMUK<\/a>]<br \/>The Land and Water Conservation Fund has recommended directing almost $12 million to park projects in 11 counties. That includes a $500,000 contribution for Kalamazoo&#8217;s Milham Park. If approved by the National Parks Service, the city would use the funds to renovate trails, build a new restroom, and make the park more accessible to people with disabilities. [<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/wwmt.com\/news\/local\/west-michigan-park-improvement-projects-grants-department-natural-resources-funding-land-water-conservation-fund-kalamazoo-kent-van-buren-berrien-county\">WWMT<\/a>]<br \/>A $1.87 million renovation project completed in October has earned Lakeview Park the American Public Works Association Southwest Michigan Branch Project of the Year award. The 26-acre Portage park added gardens, trails, a canal boardwalk, and a bike rental station\/repair facility. [<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mlive.com\/news\/kalamazoo\/2025\/12\/187m-renovation-earns-lakefront-portage-park-project-of-the-year-award.html\">MLive<\/a> (may have paywall)]<br \/><em>\u2013 Newsletter debated and haggled over by James Sanford &amp; Ben Jones<\/em><br \/><em>Our weekly poll runs on Thursdays. You can only vote in the email version of the newsletter. <a href=\"https:\/\/nowkalamazoo.org\/newsletter\/\">Sign up to participate next week!<\/a><\/em><br \/><strong>Last Week&#8217;s Poll Results:<\/strong> Interested in seeing a <a href=\"https:\/\/nowkalamazoo.org\/2025\/11\/setting-the-stage-for-the-holidays\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">holiday play<\/a> this year? Which one of these tops your list?<br \/>Sponsored by<br \/><strong>Check out events by category:<\/strong><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/nowkalamazoo.org\/event\/stitch-and-chat-at-galesburg-library-2\/2025-12-11\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Stitch and Chat<\/a> \u2013 Galesburg Charleston Memorial District Library<br \/>12\/11, 10:00 AM<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/nowkalamazoo.org\/event\/tai-chi-club-at-vicksburg-district-library-2\/2025-12-11\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tai Chi Club<\/a> \u2013 Vicksburg District Library<br \/>12\/11, 10:30 AM<br \/><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/nowkalamazoo.org\/event\/silver-maples-behind-the-curtain-of-animal-care\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Silver Maples: Behind the Curtain of Animal Care<\/a> \u2013 Kalamazoo Nature Center<br \/>12\/11, 11:00 AM<br \/><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/nowkalamazoo.org\/event\/lunchtime-advent-concert-2\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lunchtime Advent Concert<\/a> \u2013 First United Methodist Church of Kalamazoo<br \/>12\/11, 12:00 PM<br \/><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/nowkalamazoo.org\/event\/the-black-brown-connect-mixer-6\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Black &amp; Brown Connect Mixer<\/a> \u2013 Catalyst Center<br \/>12\/11, 4:30 PM<br \/><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/nowkalamazoo.org\/event\/gallery-gathering-washi-transformed-new-expressions-in-japanese-paper\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gallery Gathering: Washi Transformed: New Expressions in Japanese Paper<\/a> \u2013 Kalamazoo Institute of Arts<br \/>12\/11, 5:30 PM<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/nowkalamazoo.org\/event\/kalamazoo-youth-action-councils-december-to-remember-at-bronson-park\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kalamazoo Youth Action Council\u2019s December to Remember<\/a> \u2013 Bronson Park<br \/>12\/11, 5:30 PM<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/nowkalamazoo.org\/event\/safe-healthy-homes-at-nacd\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Safe &amp; Healthy Homes<\/a> \u2013 Northside Association for Community Development<br \/>12\/11, 5:30 PM<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/nowkalamazoo.org\/event\/holiday-lights-with-a-hint-of-whoville-at-gull-meadow-farms\/2025-12-11\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Holiday Lights with a Hint of Whoville<\/a> \u2013 Gull Meadow Farms<br \/>12\/11, 5:30 PM<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/nowkalamazoo.org\/event\/kalamazoo-junior-girls-mlk-legacy-day-of-remembrance-and-recognition-ceremony\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kalamazoo Junior Girls MLK Legacy Day of Remembrance and Recognition Ceremony<\/a> \u2013 Second Baptist Church<br \/>12\/11, 5:30 PM<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/nowkalamazoo.org\/event\/nightmares-before-christmas-at-comstock-library\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nightmares Before Christmas<\/a> \u2013 Comstock Township Library<br \/>12\/11, 6:00 PM<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/nowkalamazoo.org\/event\/artist-pop-up-and-live-music-showcase-at-shakespeares\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Artist Pop-Up and Live Music Showcase<\/a> \u2013 Shakespeare\u2019s Pub<br \/>12\/11, 6:00 PM<br \/><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/nowkalamazoo.org\/event\/winter-dungeons-dragons-trouble-at-the-yuletide-feast\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Winter Dungeons &amp; Dragons: Trouble at the Yuletide Feast<\/a> \u2013 Kalamazoo Public Library, Central<br \/>12\/11, 6:00 PM<br \/><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/nowkalamazoo.org\/event\/vicksburg-high-school-holiday-band-concert\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Vicksburg High School Holiday Band Concert<\/a> \u2013 Vicksburg Performing Arts Center<br \/>12\/11, 7:00 PM<br \/><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/nowkalamazoo.org\/event\/black-christmas\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Black Christmas<\/a> \u2013 Dormouse Theatre<br \/>12\/11, 7:00 PM<br \/><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/nowkalamazoo.org\/event\/libby-york-jazz-show\/2025-12-11\/1\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Libby York Jazz Show<\/a> \u2013 Crawlspace Theatre<br \/>12\/11, 7:30 PM<br \/>See more <a href=\"https:\/\/nowkalamazoo.org\/events\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">upcoming events<\/a><br \/>Do you have an event you think we should list? <a href=\"https:\/\/nowkalamazoo.org\/event-submission\/\">Submit it<\/a><br \/>Ben Jones (he\/him) runs the tech side of things at NowKalamazoo while also compiling the daily newsletter. Jones worked in film production for several years before jumping into broadcast journalism. He claims that he has worked for every radio news department in Kalamazoo (there are more of them than you think). More recently he has delved into website development, working with everything from small, local nonprofits to large, multinational organizations.<br \/> \t\t\t\tHer mission is to sing her love letter to Michigan in every county in the state. This week, she&#8217;ll do it in Kalamazoo. Also: An&hellip;\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t<a class=\"ast-related-post-link\" href=\"https:\/\/nowkalamazoo.org\/newsletter\/archive\/12-10-25-a-song-in-every-county\/\" aria-label=\"Related post link\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"bookmark noopener noreferrer\">Read More \u00bb<\/a> \t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\tMonoform Cinema is bringing a carnival atmosphere to moviegoing. Also: Restoration work could bring trout fishing to a Kalamazoo park. And we say goodbye to&hellip;\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t<a class=\"ast-related-post-link\" href=\"https:\/\/nowkalamazoo.org\/newsletter\/archive\/12-9-25-pop-up-micro-cinema\/\" aria-label=\"Related post link\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"bookmark noopener noreferrer\">Read More \u00bb<\/a> \t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\tKalamazoo County has a chance to change course on how it charges people in jail to call home. Also: The new owner of a hockey&hellip;\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t<a class=\"ast-related-post-link\" href=\"https:\/\/nowkalamazoo.org\/newsletter\/archive\/12-8-25-a-new-jail-contract\/\" aria-label=\"Related post link\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"bookmark noopener noreferrer\">Read More \u00bb<\/a> \t\t\t<br \/>A weekday morning email roundup of Kalamazoo County\u2019s stories and events.&nbsp;<br \/>Our news is free to read, but expensive to produce. Support our future with a donation. We can&#8217;t do it without you.<br \/>A weekday morning email roundup of Kalamazoo stories and events.<br \/>You can unsubscribe at any time.\u00a0 Have a question?\u00a0<a href=\"\/contact-us\">Contact us<\/a>\u00a0or review our\u00a0<a href=\"\/privacy-policy\">privacy policy<\/a>\u00a0for more information.<br \/><span style=\"font-size: 9pt\">Copyright &copy; 2025 NowKalamazoo<br \/> Powered by <a title=\"Local Journalism Foundation\" href=\"https:\/\/www.localjournalismfoundation.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/> The Local Journalism Foundation<br \/> <\/a><\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-size: 9pt\"><a href=\"\/privacy-policy\">Privacy Policy<\/a> |\u00a0<a href=\"\/terms-of-use-and-payment\">Terms of Use<\/a><\/span><br \/> \t\t\t\t<label for=\"user_login\">Username or Email Address<\/label> \t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"log\" id=\"user_login\" autocomplete=\"username\" class=\"input\" value=\"\" size=\"20\" \/> \t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t<label for=\"user_pass\">Password<\/label> \t\t\t\t<input type=\"password\" name=\"pwd\" id=\"user_pass\" autocomplete=\"current-password\" spellcheck=\"false\" class=\"input\" value=\"\" size=\"20\" \/> \t\t\t<br \/><label><input name=\"rememberme\" type=\"checkbox\" id=\"rememberme\" value=\"forever\" checked=\"checked\" \/> Remember Me<\/label><br \/> \t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" name=\"wp-submit\" id=\"wp-submit\" class=\"button button-primary\" value=\"Log In\" \/> \t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"redirect_to\" value=\"https:\/\/nowkalamazoo.org\/newsletter\/archive\/12-11-25-tackling-the-worlds-problems\/\" \/> \t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/rss\/articles\/CBMiigFBVV95cUxPd2c4SjBJM2g0V25oT3pUSFNFeERhcEtJOHFESHppQi10RTdpQlZoYkctY2Y4YVZ0SmdsSjRXTjRvcWNnLTg4LTB2TE9nc0Z3TUhEN2FQWlZQMTBHQXBpbDN1enJ4VGYwS1JPaFVudnhZYjNKblMzeHYwTV95VWx3Qy1kckZ0N2swWWc?oc=5\">source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Today&#8217;s sponsor:High 26\u00b0\/Low 14\u00b0 Cloudy\/Maybe snowToday&#8217;s weather drawing byEvie, 2nd grade, Winchell ElementaryLearn more about Kids Draw The WeatherYoung people from around the region convened in Kalamazoo last week to try to tackle the world&#8217;s problems. Also: A local wedding venue owner has lost his last COVID court case. And a Portage park project has [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":193313,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-193312","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/193312","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=193312"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/193312\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/193313"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=193312"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=193312"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=193312"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}