Things to do in Kalamazoo

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Baby/Toddler Storytime at Portage District Library – Portage District Library
6/18, 9:30 AM

Wild Wednesdays at the Bird Sanctuary: Petals and Seeds – Kellogg Bird Sanctuary
6/18, 10:00 AM

Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep: Sheer Genius! Exhibit – Kalamazoo Valley Museum
6/18, 10:00 AM

Rooftop Yoga – Move with Joy
6/18, 10:00 AM

Mugs and Hugs – Vicksburg District Library
6/18, 10:00 AM

Family Storytime at Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery – Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery
6/18, 10:30 AM

Card Groups: Hand & Foot – Richland Area Community Center
6/18, 11:30 AM

Card Groups: Euchre – Richland Area Community Center
6/18, 12:00 PM

Small & Mighty Business Series: Which Business Structure is Best? – Catalyst Center
6/18, 12:00 PM

Ping Pong – Richland Area Community Center
6/18, 1:00 PM

Chair Yoga – Oshtemo Community Center
6/18, 1:00 PM

Book Discussion: Scarlet in Blue – Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
6/18, 2:00 PM

Poppin’ Picture Books – Kalamazoo Public Library, Central
6/18, 2:00 PM

Anime in the Afternoon – Kalamazoo Public Library, Central
6/18, 2:00 PM

Ask a Gardener – Kalamazoo Public Library, Central
6/18, 2:00 PM

Coffee and Connections in the Afternoon – Kalamazoo Public Library, Alma Powell
6/18, 2:00 PM

Richland Farmers’ Market – Richland Area Community Center
6/18, 3:00 PM

Read to Carly – Kalamazoo Public Library, Eastwood
6/18, 3:30 PM

Farm Fresh Cooking Class for Kids – Richland Area Community Center
6/18, 4:00 PM

Youth & Teen Creative Workshops – Kalamazoo Civic Theatre
6/18, 5:30 PM

Beats on Bates – Bates Alley
6/18, 5:30 PM

‘Burg Days of Summer – Oswalt Park
6/18, 5:30 PM

Portage Road: Community Open House and Feedback Session #4 – Portage Zhang Senior Center
6/18, 5:30 PM

Ayurvedic Wellness Center Summer Solstice Celebration – Ayurvedic Wellness Center
6/18, 5:30 PM

Wednesday Game Night – Main Street Pub, West Main
6/18, 6:00 PM

Wednesday Night Ride – Kal-Haven Trailhead
6/18, 6:00 PM

Queer Women’s Community – OutFront Kalamazoo
6/18, 6:00 PM

Pride Book Club – To My Trans Sisters – Comstock Township Library
6/18, 6:00 PM

Beginners Mat Yoga – Oshtemo Community Center
6/18, 6:00 PM

Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) Yoga – Ramona Park & Beach
6/18, 6:30 PM

Yoga on the Lawn – Bronson Park
6/18, 6:30 PM

Marcel Fable Price Presents: “New American Monarch” – this is a bookstore & Bookbug
6/18, 6:30 PM

Kalamazoo Growlers vs Battle Creek Battle Jacks – Homer Stryker Field
6/18, 6:35 PM

Trivia in the Taproom – Apoptosis Brewing Co.
6/18, 7:00 PM

Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra Craft Music In The Beer Garden – Bell’s Eccentric Cafe
6/18, 7:00 PM

Music Bingo Night – Main Street Pub Vicksburg
6/18, 7:00 PM

Sporcle Trivia at Brewery Outré – Brewery Outré
6/18, 7:00 PM

Karaoke Bingo – Presidential Brewing Co.
6/18, 7:00 PM

LFG Trivia Night – LFG Gaming Bar
6/18, 7:00 PM

Richard Goode and Sarah Shafer – Stetson Chapel, Kalamazoo College
6/18, 7:30 PM

Open Mic Night @ Louie’s Trophy House – Louie’s Trophy House
6/18, 8:00 PM

The Addams Family: A Musical – Barn Theatre
6/18, 8:00 PM

Extreme Karaoke – Shakespeare’s Pub
6/18, 8:30 PM

Kalamazoo Nature Center Free Admission Day – Kalamazoo Nature Center
6/19

Free Park Day
6/19, 12:00 AM

Kalamazoo Farmers Market – Kalamazoo Farmers Market
6/19, 8:00 AM

Yoga-Hatha Vinyasa with Cathy Tucci – Richland Area Community Center
6/19, 9:00 AM

Book Discussion: The Women – Richland Area Community Center
6/19, 9:30 AM

Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep: Sheer Genius! Exhibit – Kalamazoo Valley Museum
6/19, 10:00 AM

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Katie Bernardo has spent the past decade building youth sports in Victoria.

Now, she’s drawing attention to what she sees as a major gap in the system.

“There is nowhere in Victoria for kids to consistently play ball hockey or ice hockey. We’re the only municipality in the region without a real multi-use public arena for that,” said Bernardo, who recently stepped down from Greater Victoria Minor Ball Hockey after 10 years.

On June 13, she launched a petition urging the City of Victoria to invest in a new multi-use recreation facility that could accommodate both ice and hard-floor hockey – a project she says is long overdue. In the first five days, the petition had garnered 56 signatures.

“Greater Victoria Minor Ball Hockey has doubled in size since the pandemic. We had to cap registration and turn kids away. Victoria Minor Hockey is in the same boat,” she said. “Parents are frustrated, and kids are missing out.”

For Bernardo, the push is personal.

Her eldest son found community and mentorship through hockey from a young age – something she believes every child should have access to.

That son, Jacob, now 19, suited up for the Victoria Cougars last season and has played in the VIJHL for three years. Bernardo says the mentorship he received early on helped him reach that level.

“It meant so much to us, having that outlet and focus,” she said. “We found great role models, and I think there’s so much potential to help others the same way.”

Of course, building a new arena would come at a cost – likely a significant one.

The city has already committed to major recreation investments, including the long-awaited Crystal Pool replacement, projected to cost between $209 and $215.9 million and not expected to be completed until 2030. That facility will include multi-purpose rooms for sports, dance, fitness, wellness and art.

Another shift is on the way as the downtown YMCA prepares to move from its Broughton and Quadra location to the Bay Centre within the next year.

While neither facility is suited for ball or ice hockey, these changes are expected to place additional strain on recreation space across the city.

Even if Victoria were to build its own multi-use facility, many of Greater Victoria’s major recreation centres were constructed between 1961 and 1977 – a boom era that shaped the region’s infrastructure:

– Archie Browning Sports Centre (1961)

– G.R. Pearkes Recreation Centre (1969)

– Gordon Head Recreation Centre (1971)

– Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre (1972)

– Cedar Hill Recreation Centre (1972)

– Henderson Recreation Centre (1972)

– Esquimalt Recreation Centre (1974)

– Oak Bay Recreation Centre (1975)

– Panorama Recreation Centre (1977)

With that in mind, Bernardo knows a new facility won’t materialize overnight – and she’s OK with that.

“It doesn’t all have to happen now,” she said. “But we need to be planning. We need the conversation to keep going.”

Victoria Coun. Matt Dell agrees.

“There’s no question Victoria needs more public amenities and recreation spaces. Our population is growing, and previous councils didn’t invest enough in these types of facilities,” Dell said.

While the city’s current focus is on replacing Crystal Pool, Dell believes a new multi-sport venue should be next.

“I’d love to see a new indoor sports facility ready within five to 10 years – something that includes indoor courts, soccer fields, and a rink,” he said. “It’s important, and I’m glad residents like Katie are speaking up.”

Bernardo’s petition proposes exploring unused commercial space or incorporating a rink into future development projects.

The Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre (SOFMC), which opened in 2005, does offer public skate times and limited community bookings. But Bernardo says the arena’s packed schedule makes access difficult.

She also sees potential in the SOFMC parking lot as a future site for a new multi-use facility.

Dell says that idea has merit.

“That site is under a long-term contract with a private operator, so we’re limited for now,” he said. “But when that contract ends – in 10 to 15 years – we could build something great there, maybe with underground parking and a new arena above.”

In the meantime, Bernardo plans to present her petition to Mayor Marianne Alto and city council.

She’s also organizing programming through South Island Youth Hockey, with a summer series starting in July at Esquimalt’s Archie Browning Sports Centre and a fall league planned for Eagle Ridge in Langford.

“I’d be thrilled if we could get the ball hockey floor included in any project. That would be a great start,” she said. “At the end of the day, we’re talking about giving kids a safe place to belong. That’s going to benefit the whole community.”

The Supreme Court Sided with Politicians — We Stand with Trans Youth and Their Families

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s law banning doctors from providing essential health care to transgender youth. It’s a deeply disappointing decision—one that history will judge harshly. Politicians have no place in the exam room. Parents, not lawmakers, should make medical decisions for their children.

This ruling marks a dark chapter, but it’s not the end of the story. Our families are not backing down. As we continue reviewing the decision with our national legal partners, one thing remains clear: we will keep showing up, speaking out, and fighting for a future where every child has access to the care, support, and dignity they deserve.

What’s important to know right now is:

• Today’s ruling has no immediate impact on Florida families.
• Florida’s law banning healthcare for transgender youth remains under review by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.
• This did not create a blanket ban—states that are currently providing medical care for transgender youth can continue.

There’s no way to soften how cruel this ruling is. The Supreme Court failed families today—giving extremist politicians cover to criminalize care, intimidate doctors, ignore evidence, and override parents trying to do what’s right for their kids. But we’ve never relied on the courts alone.

This is a moment for action, not despair. They’re counting on silence and fear. Instead, we organize. We show up. We protect each other. Every story, every vote, every challenge to their cruelty moves us closer to a future where our families are safe and respected.

Here are a few things you can do right now to stand in solidarity with the transgender community:

We’re not stopping until every one of these bans—including Florida’s—is repealed, the damage is undone, and all young people can access the care they need to thrive. We will fight in courtrooms, legislatures, and every space where decisions are made—until no child is denied care because of who they are.

To every trans young person and every family fighting for them: you are loved. You deserve safety, respect, and the freedom to thrive.

LEWISTON, ID – Monday is the start of the new LCSC men’s youth skill and development camp. Later that day, it will be the women’s fundamental skills camp.

Starting with the men’s and women’s youth camps, the kids receive expert coaching staff, including LC coaches, players, and high school coaches.

The goals of the camps are to focus on and work on the fundamentals and the skill development of the sport.

There are also individual and team competitions that are based on age and ability.

For the men’s youth camp group, it is graded first through sixth, and then for the women’s upcoming camps, it is graded sixth through 12th grade.

This week for the women’s camp has been the junior youth camp, which is grades first through fifth.

One of the coaches, Kendall Wallace, knows that next week’s coaching for the older grades will be different.

“Each summer, when you coach, you see them grow and get bigger. Then our next week’s camp, where we coach and teach the more advanced groups,” Wallace said.

Camp prices are $159 for the men’s youth camp and $150 for the women’s youth camp.

The registration ends on June 26th, which is next Thursday.

Make sure you bring your water bottle, and are encouraged to bring your basketball.

For the men’s youth camps, they run from June 23rd through the 26th at 9-11:30 am.

The women’s camps run from June 23rd through the 26th at 1-4 pm.

If you are interested in registering for the camp, click here.

Katie Bernardo has spent the past decade building youth sports in Victoria.

Now, she’s drawing attention to what she sees as a major gap in the system.

“There is nowhere in Victoria for kids to consistently play ball hockey or ice hockey. We’re the only municipality in the region without a real multi-use public arena for that,” said Bernardo, who recently stepped down from Greater Victoria Minor Ball Hockey after 10 years.

On June 13, she launched a petition urging the City of Victoria to invest in a new multi-use recreation facility that could accommodate both ice and hard-floor hockey – a project she says is long overdue. In the first five days, the petition had garnered 56 signatures.

“Greater Victoria Minor Ball Hockey has doubled in size since the pandemic. We had to cap registration and turn kids away. Victoria Minor Hockey is in the same boat,” she said. “Parents are frustrated, and kids are missing out.”

For Bernardo, the push is personal.

Her eldest son found community and mentorship through hockey from a young age – something she believes every child should have access to.

That son, Jacob, now 19, suited up for the Victoria Cougars last season and has played in the VIJHL for three years. Bernardo says the mentorship he received early on helped him reach that level.

“It meant so much to us, having that outlet and focus,” she said. “We found great role models, and I think there’s so much potential to help others the same way.”

Of course, building a new arena would come at a cost – likely a significant one.

The city has already committed to major recreation investments, including the long-awaited Crystal Pool replacement, projected to cost between $209 and $215.9 million and not expected to be completed until 2030. That facility will include multi-purpose rooms for sports, dance, fitness, wellness and art.

Another shift is on the way as the downtown YMCA prepares to move from its Broughton and Quadra location to the Bay Centre within the next year.

While neither facility is suited for ball or ice hockey, these changes are expected to place additional strain on recreation space across the city.

Even if Victoria were to build its own multi-use facility, many of Greater Victoria’s major recreation centres were constructed between 1961 and 1977 – a boom era that shaped the region’s infrastructure:

– Archie Browning Sports Centre (1961)

– G.R. Pearkes Recreation Centre (1969)

– Gordon Head Recreation Centre (1971)

– Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre (1972)

– Cedar Hill Recreation Centre (1972)

– Henderson Recreation Centre (1972)

– Esquimalt Recreation Centre (1974)

– Oak Bay Recreation Centre (1975)

– Panorama Recreation Centre (1977)

With that in mind, Bernardo knows a new facility won’t materialize overnight – and she’s OK with that.

“It doesn’t all have to happen now,” she said. “But we need to be planning. We need the conversation to keep going.”

Victoria Coun. Matt Dell agrees.

“There’s no question Victoria needs more public amenities and recreation spaces. Our population is growing, and previous councils didn’t invest enough in these types of facilities,” Dell said.

While the city’s current focus is on replacing Crystal Pool, Dell believes a new multi-sport venue should be next.

“I’d love to see a new indoor sports facility ready within five to 10 years – something that includes indoor courts, soccer fields, and a rink,” he said. “It’s important, and I’m glad residents like Katie are speaking up.”

Bernardo’s petition proposes exploring unused commercial space or incorporating a rink into future development projects.

The Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre (SOFMC), which opened in 2005, does offer public skate times and limited community bookings. But Bernardo says the arena’s packed schedule makes access difficult.

She also sees potential in the SOFMC parking lot as a future site for a new multi-use facility.

Dell says that idea has merit.

“That site is under a long-term contract with a private operator, so we’re limited for now,” he said. “But when that contract ends – in 10 to 15 years – we could build something great there, maybe with underground parking and a new arena above.”

In the meantime, Bernardo plans to present her petition to Mayor Marianne Alto and city council.

She’s also organizing programming through South Island Youth Hockey, with a summer series starting in July at Esquimalt’s Archie Browning Sports Centre and a fall league planned for Eagle Ridge in Langford.

“I’d be thrilled if we could get the ball hockey floor included in any project. That would be a great start,” she said. “At the end of the day, we’re talking about giving kids a safe place to belong. That’s going to benefit the whole community.”