Ben Lando

Mar 27, 2025 | nowkalamazoo.org | Ben Lando |Launched NowKalamazoo

On this block nearly a half-century ago, a bakery’s recipes and neighborly ethos made it a household name. “At that time people said, ‘Oh, you can’t have a business north of Michigan Avenue.’ Of course, you know, ‘It’s too close to the north side.’ And so we said, ‘Looks okay to us,’” said Judy Sarkozy, co-founder and co-owner of Sarkozy’s Bakery. “It was hard working at the time but the neighborhood really helped out.”Sarkozy’s first full-time employee found his calling there, too.

Mar 19, 2025 | nowkalamazoo.org | Ben Lando |Launched NowKalamazoo

If you’re receiving unwanted emails that purport to be local news, how can you block the content you don’t want and identify that which you do? This is the question we asked ourselves as we began investigating a supposed local news outlet that appears to be a national company that uses artificial intelligence, unfounded claims, and questionable journalistic ethics. Read our investigation here: Bad ‘news’: Mysteries, misrepresentation, and misinformation.

Feb 10, 2025 | nowkalamazoo.org | Ben Lando |Launched NowKalamazoo

The lioness of local literature purveyance and promotion, Dean Margaret Hauck, tended her shop with the tenacity that comes from spending her pre-school and kindergarten years in a Japanese internment camp and a life observing the changing world. She passed away Saturday, February 8. It was her dedication to her stepfather’s business, the Michigan News Agency, 308 W.

Nov 29, 2024 | nowkalamazoo.org | Ben Lando |Launched NowKalamazoo

When we started NowKalamazoo we wanted to be both a watchdog and a cheerleader for our community. The watchdog part is easy: stories that explain how the levers of power work, and what happens when they don’t. The cheerleader part is difficult. There’s soooooo much awesome throughout Kalamazoo County. How can we cover it all?

Nov 4, 2024 | nowkalamazoo.org | Ben Hoger |Kristie May |Ben Lando |“Black Voices

Kalamazoo County’s first general election early voting experience is over and the final day to cast a ballot in this contentious election is tomorrow. What about future elections – is there a way for the system and process to be improved, regardless of who is on the ballot? We polled attendees at the Friday rally for Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance, held at the private aviation hangar RAI Jets next to the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport.