Leader Publications

Dowagiac City Council Monday awarded a $58,861 contract to Michigan Paving and Materials of Paw Paw for the local street paving project.
This project involves resurfacing:
• Cross Street, from West Wayne to West Prairie Ronde.
• Golf Street, from Willard to Hill.
• Henry Street, from Jefferson to Second avenues.
• East Telegraph Street, from East Railroad to Lester.
• Wooden Avenue, from Whitney Avenue to Wolf Street.

Front Street Crossing open house May 5

Cass County Council on Aging will use the north side of the parking lot at 227 South Front St. on May 5 for the public ribbon-cutting and grand opening of Front Street Crossing.
Bob Cochrane, the executive director of COA, said three to four 10-by-10-foot awnings will be erected for live entertainment by Al Mott and for serving food and beverage to guests.
The open house begins at 11:30 a.m.
The ribbon-cutting will be at noon.
The celebration lasts until 2:30.
Front Street Crossing will have fitness classes, a fitness center including aerobic and weight training equipment, an education center and serve light, nutritious breakfast and lunch selections.
Front Street Crossing normal business hours of Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., begin May 7.
COA services and programs continue at the main facility, the Lowe Center on Decatur Road at M-60, east of Cassopolis, and other satellite locations.

Dogwood
Festival Week May 11-19

Mayor Donald Lyons proclaimed May 11-19 “Dogwood Fine Arts Festival Week” in Dowagiac.
It “began with a small group of local citizens with one big idea; and that one big idea has blossomed and grown from a single author visiting the City of Dowagiac to a major cultural event that includes a diverse experience in arts and culture; worldwide renowned authors, speakers, performers and celebrities have visited our community to expand our appreciation of fine arts; and the Dowagiac Dogwood Fine Arts Committee continues to use the festival to assure that our children are given ample opportunity to experience and embrace power of artistic expression by being personally engaged.”
Council will meet at 6 p.m. May 14 to avoid conflicting with Dogwood.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1855 and Ladies Auxiliary received permission for the annual Buddy Poppy sale May 18-28. Proceeds are used for relief work for overseas troops and their families.

WHO kNEW? ‘Summer
Jam’ on June 8

Kris Lamphere, owner of WHO kNEW? Consignment, 119 South Front St., will be celebrating the fifth anniversary of her store on June 8, the last day of school, by hosting a live remote broadcast by YCountry Radio (97.5 FM). Visitors can register to win two all-access passes and tickets to the YCountry Summer Jam concert and meet headliner Lee Brice. Its boom box Roadhouse trailer will park in front of the store for the 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. broadcast.

Mill Pond
tourney June 23

Rick O’Konski received permission for the Mill Pond Improvement Association’s second annual multi-species fundraising fishing tournament at James Heddon Park on from 6 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. June 23.

National Train Day May 12

Each year, Amtrak sets aside a day to recognize the importance of rail traffic’s past, present and future impact on U.S. development.
The Amtrak station in Dowagiac has been a major part of the City of Dowagiac’s history and continues to be a transportation connection for residents.