KALAMAZOO, Mich.—The non-profit organization behind the flowers you see in Bronson Park and outside the Portage District Library needs your help.

Kalamazoo in Bloom is looking for volunteers to take part in community planting days, which are May 17 in Portage and May 23 in downtown Kalamazoo. Last year, more than 300 people took part.

In honor of Portage’s silver anniversary, Kalamazoo in Bloom is designing a “50” made out of flowers at the corner of South Westnedge and Old Westnedge.

Volunteer registration for the community planting in Portage will take place May 17, at 8 a.m. on Library Lane.  Parking is available at the Portage District Library.

From DiscoverKalamazoo.com:

Thanks to more than 2,000 people’s overflowing love for Kalamazoo’s craft beer scene, Kalamazoo is now in the running to be crowned the next “Beer City USA.”

Kalamazoo swept the April 2013 nomination poll for the title of Beer City USA, garnering 2,008 (61 percent) of the nomination votes. However, the journey isn’t over yet.

Now, the community’s support in needed to help pull off the win.

From 2 p.m. May 6 through 11:59 p.m. May 10, Kalamazoo will face off against nearly two-dozen other beer-haven contenders in an online poll on the National Beer Examiner’s website. To vote, visit www.VoteKalamazoo.com.

KALAMAZOO, Mich.--  Female volunteers will be pounding nails and putting up siding this weekend,  as part of National Women Build Week.

More than 60 female volunteers are expected to team up with the Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity on May 4, to help rehabilitate a home at 2335 Springmont Avenue in the Oakwood neighborhood.  Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity volunteers are expected to spend a week at the site, demolishing, framing, siding and cleaning up the yard.  Many volunteers—men and women- have already signed up, but a few spaces are still available for May 7-9, and after May 12.  To register to help, contact Denny at 344-2443 ext. 204 or email vc@habitatkalamazoo.org.

National Women Build Week runs May 4-11.