Jay Gavan is one of the guitarists with Guitar UP!, a surf-rock band he founded with his brother, guitarist Shawn Gavan, seven years ago. This summer they released their first full-length album, Western Pacific, which will be available at their concert Friday night, Aug 23,  at Old Dog Tavern. Joining them in the group are bassist Mark Duval and drummer Bryan Heany. 

Jay Gavan says his interest in surf rock was formed as a kid when his older brother was learning guitar from an instructor who loved The Ventures. Over the years they pursued different musical paths, but would jam on surf rock tunes when they got together for family gatherings. The 12 original tunes on the new album were written by Jay and Shawn as well as drummer Bryan Heany. They reflect influences from spaghetti Westerns, James Bond soundtracks, as well as Michigan landmarks like the Mystery Spot in St. Ignace and the Straits of Mackinac. 

Caitlyn Bodine works in Kalamazoo. When she moved into her office on Howard Street a few years ago, she noticed that the sidewalk around the corner on Crosstown Parkway was closed.

“And I just thought at the time that maybe the sidewalk was under construction, something must be going on. But now it’s been three years and the signs are still here!” she said.

Caitlin Horrocks has moved from piano keyboard to the one used by writers. Her story collection, This is Not Your City, was a New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice and a Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers selection. Her new novel, The Vexations, published in July by Little-Brown, has already gained critical acclaim, including a nod from Oprah. It’s a historical novel about the eccentric French composer, Erik Satie (1866-1925).

A longtime effort to bring a public defender's office to Kalamazoo County has succeeded. The nonprofit entity called Kalamazoo Defender opened for business on July 1 to work with income-challenged defendants. The Sixth Amendment guarantees Americans legal representation in criminal cases.

On July 1st, things began looking up for Kalamazoo County residents who can't afford an attorney. Now, defendants can turn to a central office of 22 attorneys dedicated exclusively to such cases, and soon two social workers will be on staff to link clients with community resources so they can live healthier in hopes of preventing recidivism. The newly created Kalamazoo Defender is the first ever public defender's office in the county.

Anyone who has a hummingbird feeder – or the right kind of flowers - in their yard has probably wondered at the tiny birds they attract. But two biologists in Kalamazoo County are doing much more. They’re helping keep track of hummingbirds by catching and banding them.

South Haven is celebrating an anniversary. On May 10th, 1869 it was incorporated as a village. Tom Renner, a member of South Haven’s Sesquicentennial Planning Group says the first historical records of the area’s existence date back to 1787 “The Native Americans back then called this land, ‘Ni-No-Kong’ which meant beautiful sunsets.”