News
Small Business Saturday crowds break records
NILES — By 10 o’clock Saturday morning, the Grand LV in downtown Niles was overflowing with Christmas spirit. As guests walked into the main floor ...
Ambrosia Neldon, Author at Leader Publications - Page 6 of 27
Berrien County
Niles Salvation Army working to reach goal
NILES — As many area residents celebrated the official start of the holiday season this weekend, they more than likely heard the jingle jangle of ...
by Ambrosia Neldon, Monday, December 2, 2019 8:18 am
Columns
NELDON: Optimists remind me to look to the bright side
I had strung together what seemed like a full week of Mondays by the time I walked into the Niles Noon Optimist Club meeting at Ho ...
by Ambrosia Neldon, Thursday, November 21, 2019 8:47 am
Business
Apothica opens shop in downtown Niles
NILES — A painted purple door at 222 E. Main St. in downtown Niles serves as a portal to a land of frivolity and fun. ...
by Ambrosia Neldon, Monday, November 18, 2019 9:17 am
Columns
NELDON: Five reasons to shop local this holiday season
There’s no denying it, southwest Michigan. Winter is here. The silver lining? So is the holiday season. I am one of those curmudgeon-y Michigan residents ...
by Ambrosia Neldon, Thursday, November 14, 2019 8:50 am
Niles
Halbritter Wickens collecting donations for military, veterans
When Kristopher Wickens was deciding which college to attend, he had a stipulation: it had to be close enough to home that he could still ...
by Ambrosia Neldon, Friday, November 8, 2019 9:18 am
Column
NELDON: Dowagiac reminds us to care for our community
Last week I had the pleasure of joining a group of co-workers at the Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner, and my sappy self was ...
by Ambrosia Neldon, Thursday, November 7, 2019 9:23 am
Business
Farm market partners with local organizations, schools to give to those in need
NILES — With the spooky season wrapping up, the Shelton’s Farm Market crew is swapping pumpkins and cornstalks for wreaths and stockings — and offering ...
by Ambrosia Neldon, Thursday, October 31, 2019 7:58 am
News
Niles District Library appoints new director
NILES — In the 1980s and ‘90s, Steve Compoe and his grandmother had a tradition: visiting the Niles District Library. Back when the current rotunda ...
by Ambrosia Neldon, Friday, October 25, 2019 9:01 am
Columns
NELDON: Halloween costumes teach us a lesson in communication
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view. … Until you climb into his skin and walk around ...
by Ambrosia Neldon, Thursday, October 24, 2019 8:58 am
Columns
NELDON: What is on the ‘Horizon’ for southwest Michigan?
Many times in the last three years, I have used this space to talk about the momentum building in southwest Michigan. We have talked about ...
by Ambrosia Neldon, Thursday, October 17, 2019 8:40 am
Berrien County
PHOTO STORY: Thousands attend Chapel Hill Arts and Craft Show
BERRIEN SPRINGS — An estimated 8,000 people attended the Chapel Hill Arts & Crafts Show at the Berrien County Youth Fairgrounds Saturday. Vendors presented a ...
by Ambrosia Neldon, Monday, October 7, 2019 8:54 am
Columns
NELDON: Anniversary issue goes on a trip down memory lane
If the latest cover of Michiana Life is giving our loyal readers a sense of déjà vu, don’t worry; it is designed to do so. ...
by Ambrosia Neldon, Thursday, October 3, 2019 8:16 am
Galleries
A grand parade
NILES — Clouds parted just in time for the Four Flags Area Apple Festival’s annual grande parade, which stepped off at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. This ...
by Ambrosia Neldon, Monday, September 30, 2019 9:07 am
Columns
NELDON: Apple Festival means fall in southwest Michigan
Any day now, the street where I grew up will look just like a picture puzzle — row after row of deciduous trees creating a ...
by Ambrosia Neldon, Thursday, September 26, 2019 8:49 am
Columns
NELDON: What is the cost of government transparency?
In 2014 and 2015, Michigan legislators attempted to pass bills that would ultimately pull public notices out of newspapers. Veiled as a way for local ...
by Ambrosia Neldon, Thursday, September 19, 2019 8:12 am
Columns
NELDON: It’s time for football, fall and fellowship
For the next two months, Friday nights across southwest Michigan will showcase the epitome of community pride. Football stadiums will fill up with high school ...
by Ambrosia Neldon, Thursday, September 12, 2019 8:44 am
Columns
NELDON: Good old-fashioned face-to-face
Decades into the digital age, I believe we can all agree there are a lot of benefits to digital media. From a business standpoint, Leader ...
by Ambrosia Neldon, Thursday, September 5, 2019 8:38 am
Columns
NELDON: Local newspapers should share local opinions
As I write this column, the Leader Publications newsroom is empty. This is not because we have cut staff, or because a flu bug wiped ...
by Ambrosia Neldon, Thursday, August 29, 2019 8:33 am
Columns
NELDON: Look for the silver lining
More than 40,000 feet above ground last week, I was reminded to look on the bright side. I departed on an afternoon flight to Charlotte, ...
by Ambrosia Neldon, Thursday, August 22, 2019 8:27 am
Columns
NELDON: ‘High school never ends’
When I was in high school, popular punk rock band Bowling to Soup belted an anthem with lyrics that could not have rung more true ...
by Ambrosia Neldon, Thursday, August 8, 2019 8:32 am
Columns
NELDON: Recognizing more local business than ever
When voting started last month for our annual Best of the Best contest, Leader Publications encouraged voters to keep one word in mind when casting ...
by Ambrosia Neldon, Thursday, July 25, 2019 9:28 am
Columns
Heroes come in all shapes, sizes
Thanks to pop culture, when we hear the word “hero,” images of brawny men in spandex often come to mind. Some have the power to ...
by Ambrosia Neldon, Thursday, July 18, 2019 8:26 am
Column
NELDON: Free press is not free to produce
We live in a generation that is more connected than ever. Access to information comes as easily as tapping on a smart phone. We can ...
by Ambrosia Neldon, Thursday, July 11, 2019 9:39 am
Niles
Niles Amvets hosting fundraiser Friday, Saturday
Two months ago, when a veteran was facing breast cancer and struggling to pay bills, a local organization stepped up to help out, raising $3,000 ...
