Culture Archives

Women in media panel in Kalamazoo explores progress, persistent challenges in journalism

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April 17, 2026

Hosted by the Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative, the event — “Women in Media: Behind the Headlines” — featured professionals from print, radio, nonprofit and academic media backgrounds who reflected on both the progress women have made in the industry and the barriers that remain. The panel included Sue Ellen Christian, professor at Western Michigan University’s School of Communication and former Chicago Tribune reporter; Sehvilla Mann, news director at WMUK Public Radio; Kristie May, managing editor at NowKalamazoo; Aya Miller, reporter at MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette; and Theresa Coty O’Neil, managing editor at Second Wave Media. The discussion was moderated by Marie Lee, editor and publisher of Encore Magazine.

Charles Thomas: Why sleep is so Important for our health

By Charles Thomas

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Opinion

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April 17, 2026

Watershed Voice columnist Charles Thomas writes, "Why is lack of sleep such a big problem? Because sleep is critical to our health and wellbeing! While we don’t know exactly what the purpose of sleep is, there are many theories around why we humans spend a third of our lives sleeping. "Sleep allows our bodies to heal and our tissues to be restored during a period of rest. It also helps us consolidate our memories of the day, and regulate our moods. There is research that suggests sleep helps us tolerate pain better, and it can help remove cellular garbage in the brain called amyloids, which are linked to Alzheimer’s disease."

Save the date: Watershed Voice Artist Showcase

By Alek Haak-Frost

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Culture

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April 8, 2026

The sixth annual Watershed Voice Artist Showcase, a celebration of local musicians, spoken word artists, and local journalism, will return to The Huss Project this summer in Three Rivers.

Celebrating our sixth birthday and Local News Day

By Alek Haak-Frost

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Opinion

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April 8, 2026

Watershed Voice officially launched six years ago on this day in 2020, providing a combined 3,400 stories, columns, podcasts, poems and the like to residents of St. Joseph, Kalamazoo, and Cass Counties over the last 2,191 days. Help us celebrate our birthday with a donation, and sign up for our free newsletter in observance of Local News Day on April 9.

Three Rivers Pride pauses festival, identifies key organizational needs

By Maxwell Knauer

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Three Rivers

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April 2, 2026

The board, which is made up of four members — President Riley Mains, Secretary Alexis Jacobs, Treasurer Ziggy Standish, and member Desireé Horrocks — said the organization is using this year to strengthen its structure and improve long-term sustainability. “At this point, we really have to focus on strengthening the organization so that we can provide you all with the festival that the town deserves,” Standish said. The Pride festival is the group’s largest event of the year and has cost about $20,000 to $35,000 to host in past years, the board told Watershed Voice.

Over 350 gather for No Kings rally in Three Rivers

By Maxwell Knauer

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Three Rivers

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March 31, 2026

More than 350 people gathered at the corner of U.S. 131 and Michigan Avenue on Saturday, March 28, from 3 to 4 p.m. Supportive drivers honked as they passed, while others shouted at demonstrators from their vehicles. At least two trucks repeatedly drove past the crowd in the lane closest to the sidewalk, revving their engines and emitting diesel exhaust toward protesters.

Farrand Hall hits market as owners look to pass the torch

By Maxwell Knauer

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Culture

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March 25, 2026

For now, co-founder James Gray said he hopes people see the sale not as an ending forced by controversy, but as a handoff. “Like many businesses, they get sold, owners pass the torch,” he said. “It’s a great thing that we were able to build something that could be sold. We are excited to see it continue with new ownership.” He added: “We truly believe Farrand Hall has a soul mate out there and that person will give this property the same love and dedication that we gave it.”

Local stories hit the big screen at Kalamazoo Film Society’s fourth annual showcase

By Maxwell Knauer

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Culture

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March 12, 2026

The event features mostly filmmakers from Kalamazoo and the surrounding region, with films shot in — and in some cases about — the city itself. One of the featured filmmakers, Jerod Kauffman, created a documentary about the final days of the longtime dive bar Harvey’s on the Mall, which closed after a buyout. Kauffman said he wanted to capture the story of a place that helped define Kalamazoo’s nightlife culture. “The closure was sudden to everyone — the community and staff — so I wanted to immortalize a place that was loved by so many,” Kauffman wrote to Watershed Voice. “I saw a fence and bulldozer outside the building today on the way to work. I think it's going to be torn down, so I am happy I was able to capture a piece of Kalamazoo history and the bar that stood and served the community for 40+ years.”

Useless Creatures to donate all of today’s sales to tornado relief

By Maxwell Knauer

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Three Rivers

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March 12, 2026

Useless Creatures Brewing Company plans to donate all sales today, Thursday, March 12 to tornado recovery efforts. All of the money will go to The Huss Project who has been organizing volunteers, collecting donations, and providing resources for those in need in the wake of the tornado.

Sturgis Civic Players to present “Anne of Green Gables” March 20–22 at Sturges-Young Center for the Arts

By Watershed Voice

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Sturgis

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March 12, 2026

Directed by Elizabeth Smith of Sturgis and adapted from one of the best-selling books in the world, Anne of Green Gables follows Anne Shirley’s journey from a mischievous girl to a young woman, exploring themes of imagination, belonging, and family. This production spans six years of Anne’s life — from her arrival in Avonlea as a 12-year-old to her young adulthood at 18 as she prepares to set out on her own. The production highlights many of the story’s most beloved moments.

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