Good morning, South Bend.

Mayor James Mueller renamed Jefferson Boulevard this morning to kick off downtown preparations for a St. Patrick’s Day parade set Saturday at 11 a.m. featuring floats, marching bands and Irish dancers; the city will also turn East Race green and enforce road closures beginning Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

Hundreds are without power as more than 700 customers on the west side face outages following a transformer fire near Greenview Avenue.

Stoplights on busy Sample Street are also out, according to Indiana Michigan Power and Dispatch.

LaSalle Grill, a downtown dining landmark (known for its gourmet approach), closed on March 12, leaving a gap in local dining and community gatherings.

Mark McDonnell, who championed downtown events, helped boost community pride and his legacy will be missed.

Bremen was once known as the Mint Capital for refining peppermint and spearmint that fueled local businesses and shaped school colors.

Although a fungal outbreak led farmers to shift to corn and soybeans, the town still celebrates its historic mint legacy.

The South Bend Symphony will perform Celebrate Local Returns on Sunday, Mar.

15 at 2:30 p.m. at the University of Notre Dame's DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, featuring local composers (John Liberatore, Jorge Muñiz, and Marjorie Rusche) and guest soloists Clare Longendyke and SBSO Principal Flute Leslie Short.

After severe storms on Wed, March 11, flooding affected the Jewel Woods neighborhood on the south side, and temperatures dropped later that day.

A viewer provided photos that captured the waterlogged streets.

On Monday, Mar. 9, local officials and community members met at Moose Family Center to review plans for expanding the Clay Fire and Penn Township fire territory.

Fire chiefs and township trustees offered feedback during the hearing as the process moved forward.

During Brain Injury Awareness Month, Nanci Zehner, who suffered a traumatic brain injury from a bicycle fall last August, is making steady progress in her recovery at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital (Grand Rapids).

Her ongoing physical therapy inspires care teams and neighbors.

Tatum is a five-year-old black and white cat known for exploring every room at Pet Refuge Inc. in South Bend.

The shelter urges locals to follow adoption procedures to welcome her home.

Bremen's boys basketball team showed resilience as coach Matt Miller and his son Bryce overcame personal loss and injury setbacks to win their first sectional championship in decades (the Lions will face Fort Wayne Bishop Luers in a regional game Saturday at 7 p.m. at Huntington North High School).

Michiana Home Show

10 AM – 7 PM — Century Center — Free entry — Explore vendor booths showcasing home improvement and design.

Spring Plant Sale & Swap

12-3 p.m. — Potawatomi Conservatories — Members access at noon, non-members at 1 p.m. — A chance to buy and trade plants with fellow gardening enthusiasts.

We Are Phoenix - Music of Rebirth and Renewal

The South Bend Chamber Singers will present the Indiana premiere of a new oratorio for choir and strings with video projections by American composer Tim Takach. We Are Phoenix illuminates the analogy between humans and our planet: we both suffer loss and devastation and yet rise again and again, becoming stronger each time. With the Notre Dame Children's Choir.

Neighborhood Evolution: Explore South Bend's Small Developer Ecosystem

5-10 p.m. — Aloft South Bend — Event cost varies — Discover how local developers are revitalizing South Bend through transformative projects and innovative community strategies.

Polish Easter Food Blessing

12-6 p.m. — St. Joseph Young Men's Society — Free entry — Celebrate culture with traditional Polish food and community activities.

Easter Elegance: Brunch with the Bunny

2-4:30 p.m. — DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel South Bend — Reservations required — Celebrate Easter with an elegant brunch featuring prime rib, action stations, and Bunny photos.