5/10/23: Found on the streets of Istanbul

Explore the cultural tapestry of Istanbul one bite at a time, guided by the delicious offerings of street vendors. Also: City, company leaders react to a state report on air pollution in Kalamazoo. And the Crossroads Mall is suing Metro over buses on their land.

The flavorful streets of Istanbul

There are no shortages of street food and other culinary staples in Istanbul, with a population of more than 15 million people, so it’s not a bad place to be when a trip deep into southcentral Turkey to research the origins of baklava gets canceled due to a devastating earthquake.

After ensuring the thousands of dollars in quake relief fundraising was sent to the right organization, it was time to make the best of a longer-than-anticipated stay in a city that has a foot in both Europe and Asia that goes back thousands of years and was the capital of two empires.

Sink into history with each bite Chef Channon Mondoux takes and recipes she discovers, passed through generations.

City officials, company react to toxic gas report

It’s official: toxic gases released from a Northside factory and wastewater treatment plant are well above safe limits. That’s one of the major takeaways from a report released Monday by the state’s Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). Local officials and representatives of the owner of the factory have differing responses. Graphic Packaging International (GPI) runs the Northside factory where much of the emissions have been found. In a statement, the company said it is reviewing the report and its “priority will always be the health and safety of our employees and the community.” The company has repeatedly been cited by state regulators for its emissions.

Meanwhile, the city of Kalamazoo, which owns the wastewater treatment plant, has hired a private company to enhance air quality monitoring. City Public Services Director James Baker said they are also working to create a dedicated pipeline between GPI and the treatment plant. “This sewer would be all enclosed,” he said. “So there would be no part of this sewer that would be able to transmit air outside of the treatment plant.” That would help both locations cut down on harmful emissions. The MDHHS will hold a town hall on Thursday to discuss and answer questions about the report. That will be held at Mt. Zion Baptist Church beginning at 5:30pm.

More News You Need To Know

Crossroads Mall sues Metro over bus stops

The owners of the Crossroads Mall in Portage have filed suit against Kalamazoo’s bus system, accusing the buses of accessing its property without its permission. According to the lawsuit, Kalamazoo Metro has used mall property for a bus stop since 2006 without an easement to allow it. They’re asking the court to award them $2 million.

The current owners of the mall, Kohan Retail Investment Group, bought the mall in January 2022. The managers of the mall have faced off with Metro before. Earlier this year, mall management tried to force Metro to pay them $50,000 per year to use their roads. Metro has so far refused, and has said it will move its bus stop off site if need be. [WOOD]

Inflation raises cost of Portage schools projects

Portage Public Schools is reconsidering how to proceed with several major projects after inflation caused those projects’ price tags to soar. Voters in 2021 agreed to a bond proposal to fund the replacement of five elementary schools, the remodeling of another, and various bus and technology improvements. But thanks to inflation, the cost of those projects has surpassed the $175 million that voters signed off on. Altogether, the projects are now estimated to cost $266.3 million and the district isn’t sure where the extra money will come from.

The district isn’t planning to cut back on any of the planned improvements. “Despite the inflation challenges – which are not unique to PPS – we are not compromising what we said these schools would be for future generations,” said Johnny Edwards, assistant superintendent of operations. That leaves the district with the task of figuring out where the extra money will come from. The district could apply for grants or ask voters to approve another bond proposal. There is also a little money left over from a previous bond proposal and the district’s sinking fund. [MLive]

Things To Do In Kalamazoo

Birding the Kleinstuck Preserve – Kalamazoo Nature Center
8:00AM 5/10

Artist Happy Hour – Gigging in the 21st Century with the Edison Jazz Fest – The Clover Room
5:30PM 5/10

The Ice Hours: An Evening with Author Marion Starling Boyer – Richland Community Library
6:00PM 5/10

Board Game Night – Main Street Pub, West Main
6:00PM 5/10

Words and Wine – Distant Whistle Brewhouse
6:00PM 5/10

Field Trip at Kleinstuck Preserve – Audubon Society of Kalamazoo
6:30PM 5/10

3 of a Kind – Hilton Garden Inn
7:00PM 5/10

Dooley and friends – O’Duffy’s Pub
7:00PM 5/10

Karaoke – Shakespeare’s Pub
8:30PM 5/10

59th International Congress on Medieval Studies – WMU
5/11-13

Creative Wilderness w/Conrad Kaufman – Kalamazoo Nature Center
1:00PM 5/11

Cocktails with Clarence – Southwest Michigan First
4:30PM 5/11

Dr. James Jackson Presents: Clearing the Fog, Thriving w Long COVID – this is a bookstore | Bookbug
6:30PM 5/11

RCL Film Club: The Farewell – Richland Community Library
7:00PM 5/11

Jerome Ford and Darcy Wilkin – The Clover Room
7:30PM 5/11

Comedy Open Mic – Valhalla Kalamazoo
9:00PM 5/11

Road to Restoration Driver’s License Clinic – Mt. Zion Baptist Church
10:00AM 5/12

Documentary and Donuts: “The Grace Lee Project” – Portage District Library
10:00AM 5/12

How to Sew a Cloak with Erica – Richland Community Library
3:00PM 5/12

Cross Currents: East/West Woodblock Prints by Mary Brodbeck and Yoshisuke Funasaka – Kalamazoo Book Arts Center Gallery
5:30PM 5/12

Music with Steve Kamerling – Brick + Brine
6:00PM 5/12

Artist Reception: Art Drawn From Nature II: Migration – Kalamazoo Nature Center
6:00PM 5/12

The Nightingale – Tye Chua Dance
6:00PM 5/12

Dylan Tolbert – The Distant Whistle Brewhouse
6:00PM 5/12

Celebrating My Legacy: The Ultimate Mother’s Day Experience – The Xperience
7:00PM 5/12

Barrelhouse Acoustic Blues – Green Door Distilling Co.
7:00PM 5/12

The Beer Garden Sessions ft. SWAMPBILLY – Presidential Brewing Co.
7:00PM 5/12

The Hunchback of Notre Dame – Kalamazoo Civic Theatre
7:30pm 5/12-13, 5/19-20; 2pm 5/14, 5/21

Sketch Show: Miss Communication – Dormouse Theatre
8:00PM 5/12

Santino Jones wsg Jessica Ivey – The Clover Room
8:00PM 5/12

G-Rex – Papa Pete’s
9:00PM 5/12

Paco Romane & Friends – Rugger’s Up & Under
9:00PM 5/12

See more upcoming events

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