Halbritter Funeral Home

The new name of the business will be Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Services with Ted Halbritter III staying on as a consultant and helping with funeral services. James T. Meyer will be named to a management position.A native of Niles, Halbritter has been a licensed funeral director in Michigan for 46 years and active in various civic and professional organizations. The business was previously owned by Fred Kiger."Our funeral firm has been committed to local, family ownership," Halbritter said in a release. He said Wickens has gained a lot of experience working at two well-known Indiana firms and the two share common values.Wickens is a licensed funeral director in Indiana and Michigan, and most recently served as executive vice president and general manager of Saint Joseph Funeral Home and Cemetery in South Bend. (South Bend Tribune)

For those who can’t travel Monday to see the total solar eclipse, there are plenty of opportunities to celebrate and learn the science behind the event here in Southwest Michigan, where a partial eclipse can be seen at 2:21 p.m.• The Berrien Springs Community Library is having an eclipse party at 1:30 p.m. at the library, 215 W. Union St., Berrien Springs.• The Eau Claire District Library is having an eclipse viewing starting at 1 p.m. The library will have free eclipse glasses.• Halbritter Wickens Funeral Home is hosting a solar eclipse party. The event is free and open to anyone. It will be in the parking lot of the funeral home, 615 E. Main St., Niles, from 2-3 p.m. Protective glasses for viewing the eclipse and light refreshments will be provided. For more information call 683-3000 or visit the Halbritter Wickens Funeral Services Facebook Page.• An eclipse event begins at noon the Hartford Public Library, 15 Franklin St., Hartford. The library will have a TV set up with a live stream from NASA of the total eclipse and protective glasses to view the progress outside. Refreshments will be served. The library is hosting an event at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18 for people to learn about the eclipse.• The Lincoln Township Public Library is having a “Sun Party” 1-4 p.m at the Community Park behind the library, 5575 S. Roosevelt Road, Stevensville. Drop in to learn about safely viewing a solar eclipse and make a pinpoint viewer. Eclipse viewing glasses will be available at the event, while supplies last. In case of inclement weather, the library will have the eclipse viewable online in the Lawrence Room.• The Niles District Library is celebrating the solar eclipse from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Community Room. The library will have planetary snacks, give attendees a pair of eclipse glasses, and teach about what is happening in the solar system during a solar eclipse with a special Eclipse Day webcast from NASA. Weather permitting, attendees can go outside to view the eclipse.• The Maud Preston Palenske Memorial Library in St. Joseph is having a... (Herald Palladium)