FYI --Family Magazine for SW Michigan

Summer 2015

SW Michigan’s

Must-Do Summer Activities School Smarts Our Guide to Picking a School

Plus: Crafts, Recipes & Advice From Local Experts

Published by

Now in Kalamazoo and Portage

Hope Starts Here

We know taking the step to get help for your child, teenager or your family can sometimes be a difficult one. That’s why we are committed to treating you with compassion from your first call through your last appointment.

· Child, family and couples counseling · Therapy for depression, anxiety, behavior problems, addiction and more · Testing for ADHD, learning disabilities, concussions Professional. Confidential. Compassionate.

866/852-4001 pinerest.org/outpatient

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Christian Mental Health Services

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Jef Otte

Ren Briggs

Who is this lovely family? See below.

Summer 2015

SW Michigan’s

Must-Do Summer Activities School Smarts Our Guide to Picking a School

Plus: Crafts, Recipes & Advice From Local Experts

Ren started working in a camp kitchen at the age of 11 scrubbing pots and then moved up to cooking. She graduated from Grand Rapids Community College’s Secchia School of Culinary Arts and worked at Alpen Rose, Via Maria, deBoer Bakery in Holland and co-opened Second Floor Bakery making upscale pastries, desserts and cakes. Ren admits she likes “to tweak recipes.“ “I like to make recipes that taste awesome. I want my family to be wowed! Why eat mediocre food?”

For our Family Man columnist Jef Otte, summer is a time to tan aggressively. Nevertheless, Jef will appear pasty until around Labor Day, when he will again put on a shirt and not take it off until the next May, when he will be pasty again.

Published by

Publisher

encore publications, inc.

Editor

tiffany fitzgerald

Contributing Editor marie lee

Graphic Designer alexis stubelt

Contributors

ren briggs, brian lam, melissa lam, jef otte

Advertising Sales celeste statler krieg lee

Melissa Lam

Brian Lam

Distrubution kama mitchell

FYI is published 6 times a year by Encore Publications, Inc. Copyright 2015. All rights reserved.

Editorial, circulation and advertising correspondence should be sent to Encore Publications, 117 Cedar St. Suite A, Kalamazoo MI, 49007. Phone: 269 383-4433. General email correspondence to publisher@encorekalamazoo.com FYI is distributed free of charge at locations throughout Southwest Michigan; home delivery subscription rate is $18 per year. Advertising rates and specifications at fyiswmichigan.com or by request.

FYI does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors; articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect FYI’s opinions or those of the FYI staff.

Brian is a seasonal contributor to FYI who has emerged from his cave after a five-month hibernation to bring us the Last Laugh. When not shielding himself from Michigan’s long, cruel winters and writing humor columns, he spends his summers growling menacingly, smacking salmon out of local streams and getting his head stuck in honey jars.

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Melissa, our Creation Station Goddess, says her favorite thing about summer is heading out to Lake Michigan, spending the day on the beach playing in the sand with her daughter Sienna and then watching the sun go down with her husband and a glass of wine. Ahhhh…we should all be Melissa.

To learn more about us visit fyiswmichigan.com

About the cover:

Local fiction authors Thisbe Nissen and Jay Nicorvo snuggle their son Sonne Niscorvosen at their Battle Creek farm.

Photo by Erik Holladay

Summer 2015

In Every Issue 3

From the Editor

4

Our Contributors

6

Fun for Free

Family-friendly fun for no charge!

8

Make This!

Layer on the love in these easy, breezy parfaits.

9

Everyday Hacks

Take the sting out of summer with these outdoor hacks.

10 Creation Station

Rocks and paint can make for a lot of fun and games.

12 Is This Normal?

FEATURE

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School Smarts Public? Private? Charter? Now’s the time many parents are thinking about picking schools for their kids. Really. Our simple guide helps make sense of the options in Kalamazoo County.

PARENT TO PARENT 30 Family Man

Super Summer Suggestions 24 great ways to get out, get cool and get away.

Ever been “momdescended?”

This stay-at-home dad has and it isn’t fun.

38 Last Laugh

Ac tivities

Why is my tween dressing like this? Why is my daughter getting so many bad headaches? You ask, experts answer.

Summer. It only took a year to get here.

32 Family Events A full slate of fun!

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Fun For Free FYI

Movie in the Park — Jurassic Park Have you ever wanted to watch a terrifying dinosaur flick in a park at night?

This is a perfect chance! Scare your t(w)eens while reminding them that good movies were made when you were young too by taking in Jurassic Park, the first flick of the new season of Movie in the Park at the South Westnedge Park, brought to you by the City of Kalamazoo Department of Parks and Recreation. Bring lawn chairs and blankets.

Date: May 29, 9 pm Place: South Westnedge Park, 1101 S. Westnedge Ave. Ages: Tweens and Teens (movie rated PG-13) More info: 337-8191

Hot Time: Battle of the Glassblowers

As if making things out of glass using fire wasn’t exciting enough, the West Michigan Glass Art Center’s Battle of the Glassblowers introduces a whole new level of spectatorship for the family.

Described as a “high-stakes, glass sporting event promis[ing] jaw dropping moments of excitement,” the battle features glassblowers and flameworkers who compete to create the best in designated categories like a pulled pony or an art piece, and for the love of attendees, who get to vote for People’s Choice awards.

Date: M ay 1, 5 - 10 pm; May 2, noon - 6 pm Place: West Michigan Glass Art Center, 326 W. Kalamazoo Ave. Ages: All ages More info: 552-9802

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Evidence Found: Explorations in Archaeology Get out of the heat (please, let there be heat this summer) and check out the Kalamazoo Valley Museum’s Evidence Found, an exhibit exploring Southwest Michigan’s “backyard” archaeology projects, from the greater Kalamazoo area to Niles’ historic Fort St. Joseph dig. Learn how the real science and methodology of archaeology compares with popular culture’s image of Indiana Jones.

Date: Through August 30, during open museum hours Place: Kalamazoo Valley Museum, 230 N. Rose St. Ages: All More info: 373-7990

Sawall

Health Foods

America’s oldest familyowned natural foods market. Providing the largest & most complete selection of natural foods & supplements in SW Michigan.

M-S 8-9, Sun 10-6

2965 Oakland Dr. Kalamazoo 269-343-3619 www.sawallhf.com

Y’OPA

Experience the Culture

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The area’s best…

Frozen Yogurt, Gelato, Custard, Sorbet, Italian Ice & Gelati

165 W. Centre Ave. Portage 269-366-4877

Happy Our Art

MacKenzies’

Cafe & Bakery

Social ART Working!

Family-owned, full service bakery specializing in Authentic Artisan Breads

• Private Parties • Children’s Birthdays • Corporate Team Building • Bachelorette Parties 1924 Whites Road Kalamazoo 269-343-5670 www.happyourart.com

Three Locations in Kalamazoo/Portage www.mackenziesbakery.com

Romence Gardens Inc.

Natural

Health Center

Serving our community since 1903

Kalamazoo’s family owned natural food market.

You’ll find everything you need for a perfect lawn & garden from our 10- acre nursery stocked with hundreds of trees, shrubs, perennials & annuals, plus all the supplies & expert advice you need for success!

9660 Shaver Rd. Portage 269-323-8310 romencegardencenter.com

Helping people feel better since 1971.

4610 West Main Street Kalamazoo

naturalhealthfoodcenter.com

Encore

SW Michigan’s Magazine

Celebrating the great things, great people and good works of SW Michigan.

Digital edition at www.encorekalamazoo.com

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Make this! FYI

Layers of Love

Scrumptious parfaits for breakfast, brunch or dessert by

Ren Briggs

Who doesn’t love a parfait? That’s right — no one, because they are one of the most delicious creations on the planet.

With yogurt, granola and fruit, parfaits serve as a delicious breakfast or brunch option or an indulgent, yet healthier dessert option.

Spring and summer are great time to make parfaits, because Michigan-grown fruit is plentiful as is local creamery yogurt and

ice cream. Be sure to check out your local farmers’ market or farms for fresh strawberries, raspberries and blueberries.

You could even take a family trip to Traverse City for the Cherry Festival July 4-11 and get fresh cherries.

Add some Good Life Granola from Holland, Hudsonville ice cream or Mediterranean-style yogurt from Mattawan Creamery and you’ve got locally sourced lusciousness all the way around.

When building a parfait, the sky’s the limit. Build them small, as a special delectable after-dinner treat for one, or larger as a centerpiece for a brunch to feed a crowd. Not worried about your figure?

(Hey, we think you look great!) Then go all out with triple chocolate cake, fruit and ice cream for a creamy summer dessert.

Best of all (like you need one more good reason, right?), parfaits are fun and easy to make with kids of any age.

Dessert parfait Breakfast or brunch parfait Ingredients •1 quart strawberry yogurt (use Greek for more protein) •1 quart vanilla yogurt •1 8-ounce bag of raspberry granola (substitute any non-sugary cereal you prefer, i.e. Rice Krispies, Cherrios, etc.)

•F resh fruit of your choice How to • Add the ingredients in layers, alternating between yogurt, cereal and fruit •S erve immediately

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Ingredients • 1/2 gallon Hudsonville Natural Vanilla Bean Ice Cream • 1 box yellow cake mix, baked per directions and cooled • 1 box triple chocolate cake mix, baked per directions and cooled • 1 16-ounce container of whipped topping • Fresh fruit of your choice • Sprinkles How to • Add the ingredients in layers, alternating between cake, ice cream and fruit • Put sprinkles on the top • Serve immediately or freeze

Everyday Hacks FYI Outdoor Hacks The great Michigan outdoors is a many splendored thing and the last two winters have taught this much: there isn’t one moment of weather that isn’t spitting freezing rain in your face whilst sucking your happiness into a grey abyss to lose.

But as we know, summer isn’t miseryfree. Sunburns, bug bites, poison ivy and beachgoing mishaps are the price of summer admission, so here’s some ways to fight back.

Ease the burn Most sunburn hacks on Pinterest require rubbing random foods all over your body. Um, no thanks. The last thing any Michigander needs is to be scrubbing dried oatmeal off a sunburn or to walk outside smelling like honey or another sweet, bug-attracting scent. Here’s an easy, ingenious hack that requires nothing but aloe vera.

1. Pour aloe vera into an ice cube tray 2. Freeze overnight 3. Apply aloe ice cubes to burned skin 4. Ahhhh...

Know your poison You would think there’d be an easy way to identify poison ivy and poison oak, but it turns out that out in the field, its hard to judge. Poison varieties are often shinier (but not always), can range between light green to red in color and can sometimes look much like other plant varieties.

The best hack for identifying poison ivy and poison oak is to commit these two images to memory and never, ever eat a white berry.

Beach safe Our parents taught us well: Never trust your valuables in any situation, especially one as improbable as a thief hiking across sand and digging through a gritty bag of mashed-up animal crackers and suntan lotion to steal them.

To protect your valuables while swimming, this hack is genius. Not only because hiding your wallet and car keys in what appears to be a dirty diaper is hilarious and probably frighteningly successful at deterring thieves, but the diapers also protect the goods from sand and sun. Put your valuables in a plastic sandwich bag first, and presto!

Waterproofed. Even if a would-be thief suspected your trick, what kind of person would want to check?

Mosquito-repelling plants As with most mosquito-repelling hacks, such as putting a dryer sheet in your pocket to drive away the little devils, nobody wants to be the guinea pig. Why get eaten up with a sheet of Bounce in your pocket when you could spray yourself with so much DEET you glow and can walk away relatively untouched? But there is one hack that allows you to ease into the process of cutting back on DEET slowly — planting naturally mosquito-repelling vegetation on your porch or in backyard social areas to reduce mosquitoes. Try these varieties: • Lemongrass • Catnip • Cascading geranium • Horsemint • Lemon Balm

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Creation station FYI

Painted Rock Games by

Melissa Lam

Spring has sprung, summer is here, school is out and it’s a great time to spend quality outdoor adventure time with our children.

Simple and engaging, arts and crafts opportunities can be found right in your backyard or on a fun nature walk. You don’t need to spend a lot of money on supplies or be a fulltime hobbyist to shared creative moments with your child. For this “create your own game” activity all you need is rocks and paint. It’s a great activity for children of ages 2-6.

Here’s How to Do It: Materials needed: • Acrylic paint

•P aint brushes (you can use fingers too, but clean up isn’t as easy) • Small rocks With your child, search for rocks about an inch to two inches in length and width. None in your yard? Take a nature walk, searching along trails or by rivers and lakes. You can also pick up small rocks at home and garden stores.

Directions:

Depending on the game you want to create with your child, there are a number of designs you can paint on your rocks.

Tic-Tac-Toe

Feeling artistic? Instead of Xs and Os, paint ladybugs and bumblebees. You’ll need at least five of each. Create a tic-tac-toe board by crisscrossing two sets of small sticks.

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Memory

Use flat rocks for this game. Create rock pairs: paint two rocks with red dots, two with blue, two with green, etc. until you have six or seven pairs of rocks. Turn the rocks over so the paint side is down and mix the rocks up. You and your child can take turns searching for the pairs by flipping two rocks over at a time. If the two you flip aren’t a pair, turn them back over and switch turns.

Feeling creative? Instead of colored dots, try pairs of bugs (as with Tic-Tac-Toe), or letters, faces and numbers.

Dominoes

Again, flat rocks work best for this game. Create the classic dot-matching game by painting a stripe down the middle of each rock and painting different dot values on either side of the line. With your child, take turns matching dot values, end to end.

Create Your Own Painted Rock Ideas

If your child is 2-3-years-old, the simple act of finding and painting rocks may be all you need to enjoy an afternoon together. Older children may enjoy creating special hopscotch rocks, pet rocks, wish rocks and more.

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Is this normal? FYI

You Ask, Experts Answer As parents and caregivers, we are expected to know all the answers and the perfect way to react to everything children can throw at us. But alas, since the method making everyone exactly the same has yet to be perfected, every child presents his or her unique developmental conundrums.

Thankfully, local psychological and pediatric experts agreed to take on your questions and provide some much-wanted guidance. In this issue, they answer queries about adolescent fashion and hygiene exploration and afternoon headaches.

(If you have burning questions for our experts, please send them to editor@fyiswmichigan.com.)

Q:

My eleven-year-old stepson showed up to stay the summer with us sporting winter gloves and wearing his cheek-length hair brushed over his eyes. Right now, we only see him every two months, and he wasn’t dressing or doing his hair like this before. It’s 90 degrees outside and he can’t see what he’s doing. Is this normal? Should we leave it alone or say something?

— Parent in Kalamazoo This behavior sounds like a blossoming adolescent trying to create his own identity. Fashion and style are often avenues of self-expression and identity experimentation. These topics commonly become a point of conflict between adolescents and parents. Take comfort that much like their moods, this age group’s fashion sense and interests tend to change abruptly and often without notice or warning.

We advise that you handle this subject with care and caution. Before having a discussion with your teen, it may be helpful to take part in some self-reflection with a trip down memory lane to remember how you may

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have responded to an adult questioning you about your wardrobe at that age. It would also prove to be beneficial to understand why his appearance is upsetting or concerning to you. If after self-reflection you continue to find it necessary to address his change in appearance, we recommend finding common ground by showing genuine interest opposed to judgment or disapproval. This approach may prevent a misunderstanding, and has the potential to blossom into a genuine conversation about his budding individuality.

This situation may become more than a fashion statement if you suspect he may be hiding evidence of self harm or he is wearing an abundance of clothes due to poor body image or self esteem. If you suspect, or if your son reports his choice in clothing or hairstyle is due to one of those reasons, mental health counseling may be beneficial.

— Nichole Holliday MA, LLPC, LLMFT, Private Practice at Child and Family Psychological Services Portage and Alyssa Noonan LLMSW, Private Practice at Child and Family Psychological Services Kalamazoo.

Q:

My 11-year-old daughter has been getting bad headaches almost every afternoon for the last four or five months. The headaches are sometimes so severe she has to take a break from what she’s doing to rest. The headaches seem to be worse when she’s at school. She hasn’t started menstruating yet, so it’s not PMS-related. We heard bad headaches might be normal for this age group. Is that true?

Preteens may develop headaches from not eating, drinking or sleeping adequately. Afternoon headaches at school can be caused by academic or social struggles, lighting and eye strain and even odors, as well. Have your child evaluated by her physician if the headaches increase in frequency or severity. If your child has difficulty speaking or remembering things, shows changes in personality, experiences vision problems, weakness or fainting, contact a doctor right away.

Regular personal contact allows LVM to anticipate client needs and provide the best possible advice—regardless of your season in life. Our clients know that their LVM Team is always available to them.

269.321.8120 | lvmcapital.com

Simplify Your Life Call Bette Today

— Rose Roth-Bowersock CPNP, Bronson Lakeview Pediatrics

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School Smarts N

Picking a School in Kalamazoo County

o decision may be more angst-ridden for a parent than choosing the schools where their child will spend the next 12 years of his or her life.

And because school choices have changed dramatically since they were children, parents often find understanding all the options can be a cumbersome and daunting undertaking.

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Our School Smarts guide helps make sense of it all. We list the schools available in Kalamazoo County serving kindergarten through 12th grade and explain what a charter school is, how Schools of Choice works and some of the advantages of private and public schools.

Just a little something to help make these school decisions little less angsty.

Public Schools Comstock Community Schools 3010 Gull Rd., Kalamazoo 269.250.8900, comstockps.org Grades: PreK–12 Enrollment: 2,030 This district has 3 elementary, 1 middle and 2 high schools. Comstock started a STEM academy in 2013 that serves kindergarten through 8th grade.

Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools 1076 N. 37th St., Galesburg 269.484.2000, g-aschools.org Grades: PreK–12 Enrollment: 1,061 This district has 1 elementary, 1 middle and 1 high school.

Gull Lake Community Schools 11775 East D Ave., Richland 269.488.5000, gulllakecs.org Grades: PreK–12 Enrollment: 3,265 This district has 3 elementary, 1 middle and 2 high schools. Gull Lake offers a Home School Partnership and virtual middle school and high school programs.

Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center (KAMSC) 600 West Vine St., Suite 400, Kalamazoo 269.337.0004, kamsconline.com Grades: 9–12 Enrollment: 300 KAMSC provides a half-day, accelerated program in mathematics, science and technology to selected high school students in Kalamazoo County. Admission is competitive.

Kalamazoo Public Schools 1220 Howard St., Kalamazoo 269.337.0100 kalamazoopublicschools.com Grades: PreK–12 Enrollment: 12,595 The county’s largest school district with 17 elementary, 5 middle and 4 high schools. The district offers the Kalamazoo Promise, which is free instate college tuition.

Mattawan Consolidated Schools 56720 Murray St., Mattawan 269.668.3361, mattawanschools.org Grades: PreK–12 Enrollment: 3,813 This district has 2 elementary, 1 middle and 1 high school.

Parchment Public Schools 520 N. Orient St., Parchment 269.488.1050, parchmentschools.org Grades: PreK–12 Enrollment: 1,679 This district has 3 elementary, 1 middle and 2 high schools.

Portage Public Schools 8107 Mustang Dr., Portage 269.323.5000, portageps.org Grades: PreK–12 Enrollment: 8,686 This district has 8 elementary, 3 middle and 3 high schools. Portage Public Schools offers the International Baccalaureate program in high school.

Schoolcraft Public Schools 551 East Lyons St., Schoolcraft 269.488.7390, schoolcraftschools.org Grades: PreK–12 Enrollment: 1,090 This district has 2 elementary, 1 middle and 1 high school.

Vicksburg Community Schools 301 S. Kalamazoo Ave., Vicksburg 269.321.1000, vicksburgcommunityschools.org Grades: PreK–12 Enrollment: 2,673 Vicksburg Schools has 3 elementary, 1 middle and 1 high school.

Charter Schools Evergreen Academy 2121 Hudson Ave., Kalamazoo 269.488.6324, oneamazingclass.org/ evergreen-academy Grades: K–6 Enrollment: 54 With an emphasis on core academics, this school is managed by the Foundation for Behavioral Resources (FBR) in Augusta and authorized by Grand Valley State University.

What is School of Choice?

The Schools of Choice law enacted 18 years ago in the state of Michigan allows parents to enroll their children in public schools outside of their district assignment or in any school within their district assignment — as opposed to relegating that a student must attend their neighborhood public school option.

There are a number of reasons why parents might choose to move their children from one district to another — from proximity to employment or day care to wanting a different school environment than their district offers.

Parents can also choose to have their child attend a different school within their own district, again for a variety of reasons.

Regarding Schools of Choice, here are important points: • Schools of Choice may be used to enroll in both public and charter schools.

• In Kalamazoo County, you must be released from your district in order to move your child to a new one. You must apply for release from your assigned district; if that is granted, then the approved release is sent to the district of your choice within the county.

• To choose a different school within your district than the one assigned to you, open enroll in the school of your choice by the deadlines determined by that school. Start this process early — there are waiting lists at some schools.

• Students who live outside of the Kalamazoo Public School district cannot enroll in KPS through Schools of Choice and be eligible for the Kalamazoo Promise.

• If you choose to go to another district or school within your district, you will most likely have to provide your own transportation to and from school.

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Get the Power of PEEP Pre-Kindergarten and Reach

The results are in‌ Children who attend a high quality Pre-Kindergarten do better in school and life because they:

Live successfully

Get great jobs Go to college Get better grades

Call KPS (PEEP) at 337-0095 Apply NOW for next school year if your child turns four years old by Dec. 1, 2015.

What is a Charter School?

The term “charter school” is most often used to denote a public charter school, which is a publicly funded, privately run educational institution offering an alternative to traditional public and private schools.

Like public schools, charter schools are funded by tax dollars and are subject to performance reviews every three to five years. Created in 1992 under a law that allowed them to receive public funding, charter schools are open to the public.

How is a charter school different than a public school? To start, anyone can establish a charter school — a community group, parents, a business, etc. Charter schools must be approved by state-sanctioned entities, says the National Education Association. Second, charter schools have more flexibility in their curriculum and don’t have to adhere to strict state mandates, calendars or objectives, other than the performance testing (such as M-STEP). Charter schools were created with the intention of establishing more educational choices for families, says the NEA. Enrollment in charter schools is limited, like private school, and charter schools usually take new students via a lottery system.

Locally, there are five charter schools which offer different emphases. It’s important to note that while they are considered “public,” charter schools in Kalamazoo are not part of the Kalamazoo Promise.

Forest Academy 5196 Comstock Ave., Kalamazoo 269.488.2315 oneamazingclass.org/forest-academy Grades: K–6 Enrollment: 172 With an emphasis on core academics, this school is managed by FBR and authorized by GVSU. Great Lakes Exploration Academy 6200 West KL Ave., Kalamazoo 844.292.4532, gleacademy.org.

Grades: K–5 Enrollment: Not available Opening in Fall 2015 with an environmental and outdoor emphasis, this school is authorized by Ferris State University.

Oakland Academy 6325 Oakland Dr., Portage 269.324.8951, oneamazingclass.org/oakland-academy Grades: K–6 Enrollment: 225 With an emphasis on core academics, this school is managed by FBR and authorized by GVSU.

Paramount Charter Academy 3624 S. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo 269.553.6400 paramountcharteracademy.org Grades: K–8 Enrollment: 491 With an emphasis on student responsibility, this school is managed

by National Heritage Academies and authorized by Bay Mills Community College.

Private Schools Gagie School 615 Fairview Ave., Kalamazoo 269.342.8008, gagieschool.com Grades: PreK–8 Enrollment: 130 PreK, 228 K-8 A for-profit, independent school with a 39-year history.

Greta Berman Arbetter Kazoo School 1401 Cherry St., Kalamazoo 269.345.3239, kazooschool.org Grades: PreK–8 Enrollment: 100 A nonprofit, independent school since 1972 and accredited by Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS).

Hackett Catholic Prep 1000 West Kilgore Rd., Kalamazoo 269.381.2646, hackettcc.org Grades: 9–12 Enrollment: 271 A nonprofit high school offering a college prep curriculum and affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church.

Heritage Christian Academy 6312 Quail Run Drive, Kalamazoo 269.372.1400, hcaeagles.org Grades: PreK–12 Enrollment: 232 A nonprofit school emhasizing community service and accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International.

Kalamazoo Christian School Association 2121 Stadium Dr., Kalamazoo 269. 381.2044, kcsa.org This nonprofit offers Christian faithbased education at its three schools: • Kalamazoo Christian Elementary School, 3800 S. 12th St., Kalamazoo, 269.544.2332 Grades: PreK–4 Enrollment: 329 K–4, 122 PreK • Kalamazoo Christian Middle School, 3800 S. 12th St., Kalamazoo, 269.544.2332 Grades: 5–8 Enrollment: 223 • Kalamazoo Christian High School, 2121 Stadium Dr., Kalamazoo, 269.381.2250 Grades: 9–12 Enrollment: 240 Kalamazoo Country Day 4221 E. Milham Ave., Portage, 269.329.0116 kalamazoocountryday.org Grades: PreK–8 Enrollment: 170 A nonprofit, independent school emphasizing technology, math, science and liberal arts and accredited

by ISACS.

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New Science Lab for 2015-16!

Nationally Recognized Teachers!

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18 • Summer 2015

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fyiswmichigan.com •

19 •

Public or Private?

One choice parents face is whether to select a public school or a private school for their children. Financial aid and scholarships at many private schools have made them an option for more families, but when trying to discern which choice is better, the answer can be fairly complicated.

At a single glance, Michigan private schools outperform public schools in core testing proficiency rates, according to the 2014 Michigan Merit Exam data. But, as MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette reporter Julie Mack points out in a July 2014 article, a drawback to looking at raw data is that you don’t always get the full picture.

In that article, WMU education professor Gary Miron said while private schools appear to do better on test scores, if the data is adjusted for socioeconomic factors, the advantage disappears. In 2011, only nine private school students in the state of Michigan were considered “economically disadvantaged,” compared to 39 percent of students in public schools. There’s no good way to compare the two using statistics because too many outlying factors exist.

Not to say there aren’t advantages to private schools.

A University of Michigan study found private schools tend to engage students in more physical activity and provide healthier snacks and meals and a more wellrounded education. Private schools have more flexibility in hiring teachers and those teachers have more freedom to pick curriculum. In addition, private schools provide environments in which more parents are involved and there are more supports outside the home.

Public schools have advantages as well, according to the same U of M study. Some studies suggest public school students perform better in college, receiving higher grades. One study found that public school students are more motivated to succeed in college because a college education is seen as a privilege and not an expectation.

Students from lower socioeconomic strata are also likely to be treated with less difference in public schools, says the U of M study. A comparison of a public and a private school in Detroit found that the public school did not discern between students based on economic status, but children on scholarship at the private school were notably pointed out in their classrooms and school environment.

When it comes down to comparing private and public schools, many researchers cite The Coleman Report, a 1966 study that has been backed up in more than 50 studies since. The report finds that the school a child attends isn’t as important as the type of home environment that child has — household income, education of parents, neighborhood and social circles. When focusing on educational success, says this study, it can be better to look outside of school rather than in it.

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20 • Summer 2015

Kalamazoo Junior Academy 1601 Nichols Rd., Kalamazoo, 269.342.8943 kalamazoojunioracademy.com Grades: K–10 Enrollment: DNP* A nonprofit school affiliated with the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

The Montessori School 750 Howard St., Kalamazoo 6274 N. 32nd St., Richland 269.349.3248, themontessorischool.org Grades: PreK–6 Enrollment: 158 A nonprofit school emphasizing the educational philosophies of Maria Montessori with PreK–6 at its Kalamazoo school and preschool and kindergarten at its Richland facilty.

Prairie Baptist School 11210 East PQ Ave., Scotts 269.626.8101, prairiebaptistchurch.org Grades: PreK–12 Enrollment: 26 A nonprofit Baptist school and member of the Michigan Association of Christian Schools.

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Providence Christian School 100 Pratt Road, Kalamazoo 269.385.4889 michiganchristianschools.com Grades: K–9 Enrollment: 61 A nonprofit, faith-based Christian school.

St. Michael Lutheran School 7211 Oakland Dr., Portage 269.327.0512, stmikeschool.org Grades: PreK–8 Enrollment: 200 A nonprofit school affiliated with the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church.

St. Monica Catholic School 530 West Kilgore Rd., Kalamazoo 269.345.2444, stmonicakzoo.org Grades: PreK–8 Enrollment: 299 K–8, 34 PreK A nonprofit school affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church.

Reformed Heritage Christian School 700 N. Fletcher, Kalamazoo 269.383.0505, refhcs.org Grades: K–12 Enrollment: DNP* A nonprofit, faith-based Christian school.

St. Augustine Cathedral School 600 West Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo 269.349.1945, stakzoo.org Grades: PK–8 Enrollment: 298 K–8, 41 PreK A nonprofit school affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church.

Vineyard Academy 8510 M-89, Richland 269.629.7253, vineyardacademy.org Grades: PreK–10 Enrollment: DNP* A nonprofit, faith-based school operated by lay Catholics.

Home School The Kalamazoo area has a strong homeschooling community. In addition to the Home School partnership at Gull Lake Community Schools, there are organizations that provide information, networking and support for homeschool families.

Kalamazoo Area Home School Association kahsaconnection.com This secular organization provides information and contacts for homeschooling families.

Homeschool Kalamazoo facebook.com/homeschoolkalamazoo A network providing information and resources for homeschoolers in the Kalamazoo area. * DNP: Did not provide Public and Charter school enrollment as of Oct. 17, 2014. Source: Kalamazoo Gazette Private school enrollment as of March 17, 2015.

Source: Schools

This School Smarts information is researched and compiled by Encore Publications staff. While every reasonable effort was made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, Encore assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Information contained here is subject to change without notice.

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fyiswmichigan.com •

21 •

24 Ideas for Glorious Southwest Michigan Days S

ummer isn’t summer unless you’re having fun. The only thing sadder than a bored child on summer break is a child’s parent or caregiver who has run out of ideas for things to do.

Lucky for us, the greater Kalamazoo area is replete with plenty o’ summer fun!

Here are some of our favorite go-to ideas for whiling away summer days that are all about getting wet, getting out of the heat and getting into nature.

And if you STILL run out ideas, check out our exhaustive list of summer events starting on page 32.

community pool area offers swim lessons, Baby and Me classes, family fun classes and open swim options. The aesthetically-striking pool space includes a shallow play pool with mosaic tile for little swimmers.

Location: 1560 M-40 North, Allegan Cost: Pre-K & younger $1; K-12 students, adults $3; seniors $2; family pass $10 Hours: Open swim 7–8:30 pm Fri; noon–2 pm Sat; family swim classes and Baby and Me swim classes available via registration (call for details) Contact: 673-7002 ext. 5504

Flash Flood Water Park

Get Wet Summer in Michigan means getting wet, of course — but don’t go jumping in the Kalamazoo River just yet (just kidding; no hate mail, please). Here are some local swimming options, free and paid, indoor and out (sans oil cleanup and bacterial contamination):

A great summer day trip for family and friends, Flash Flood Water Park offers two 200-foot outdoor water slides, two 200-foot indoor water slides, zero depth entry pools, a water playground, trampoline, inflatable jungle and slide, basketball and volleyball courts, concessions and Water Wars.

Location: 35 Hamblin Ave., Battle Creek Cost: General admission (both water parks) $9 a person; Superblast admission (both water parks, attractions and Water Wars) $12; children under 2 free; family and summer packs available and special discount admissions at certain times/days Hours: 10 am–7 pm most days; check website as hours vary by weather, season and demand Contact: 966-3667

Nicholas Kik Pool

Allegan Aquatic Center

The Allegan Aquatic Center doubles as a community pool center and a competitive swimming and diving training space for Allegan High School. The center is divided to accommodate the two areas at the same time and the

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22 • Summer 2015

Kik Pool is a part of Upjohn Park, an 18-acre spread featuring an all-access playground, volleyball, tennis, softball and soccer courts and picnic areas. With a 50-meter outdoor swimming pool, Kik Pool offers an affordable cooloff alternative.

Location: Upjohn Park, 1018 Walter St., Kalamazoo Cost: $3 child; $6 adult Hours: Call for hours Contact: 337-8191

Ramona Park on Long Lake

One of the draws of Ramona Park is its beach staffed with lifeguards who watch over the whole family while they’re enjoying Long Lake Beach. Aside from swimming and fishing, Ramona Park has multiple play structures, pavilions, picnic tables, soccer, football and baseball fields, grills and restrooms, making it a great all-day destination.

Location: 8600 S. Sprinkle Road, Portage Cost: $5 per vehicle for Portage residents; $10 per vehicle for non-residents Hours: 8 am–dusk, May 1–Oct 31; beach open 10:30 am–7:30 pm May 28–Sept. 5 Contact: 329-4522

River Oaks County Park Splash Pad

An addition to River Oaks County Park in 2014, the splash pad offers in-ground and above-ground water spray play and fun for ages 2-12. The 330 acres surrounding the splash pad area include Morrow Lake, a playground, picnic shelters, hiking trails, soccer and volleyball fields, and 100-year-old oak trees.

Location: 9202 E. Michigan Ave., Galesburg Cost: Included in park admission ($5 per vehicle) Hours: 10 am–8 pm, Memorial Day–Labor Day Contact: 383-8778

And every trip to the beach deserves some well-earned fudge, so stop by downtown South Haven on your way out of town.

Location: Water Street, South Haven Cost: Free (there is a cost for parking in South Beach lot) Hours: 8 am–10 pm all year Contact: 637-0772

Get Cool Sometimes we just can’t with a summer day. It’s too hot, too humid, too muggy, too buggy. Those are the days we seek air conditioning and here are some great places to find it:

Air Zoo

Silver Beach County Park, St. Joseph

A fun family day trip, Silver Beach in St. Joseph offers Lake Michigan beach access, volleyball, picnic areas and playgrounds. Silver Beach also has a large splash area with seating and in-ground water spouts, concession stands and an old-style carousel.

Location: 101 Broad St., St. Joseph Cost: $6 per vehicle for Berrien County residents; $8 per vehicle for non-residents Hours: 5 am–sunset daily Contact: 982-0533

South Beach, South Haven

A summer in Southwest Michigan without a trip to South Haven is no summer at all. A short jaunt down M-43 and you can enjoy swimming, walking the pier, viewing the historic lighthouse, and take in the playground, skate park and historical memorials surrounding the beach. If you don’t mind lugging your beach toys, parking up the hill from the beach will save you money.

Explore space and air flight exhibits and ride amusement park-style rides, full motion flight simulators and 3-D/4D theater programs at Air Zoo, a multi-sensory aviation museum. Air Zoo offers exhibits exploring bi-plane rides, space exploration, the history of Guadalcanal and the heroes of Michigan aviation as well as hand-painted aviation murals. Check website for more information on the museum’s revolving exhibits, like the current DaVinci exhibit.

Location: 6151 Portage Road, Portage Cost: $10 general admission; $2 individual ride tickets; $29 year-long unlimited rides pass Hours: 9 am–5 pm Mon–Sat; noon–5 pm Sun Contact: 382-6555; AirZoo.org

fyiswmichigan.com •

23 •

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24 • Summer 2015

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Bounceland

An indoor inflatable bounce castle/structure arena, Bounceland offers a reprieve from the heat whilst wearing out kids for nap/bed time. Bounceland provides jumping and climbing activities for toddlers to tweens and admission includes access to all structures. Socks are required for everyone; check website for discounted toddler times and events.

Location: 6255 Technology Ave., Kalamazoo Cost: Children under 2, $4; children over 2, $8; one nonplaying, supervising adult free; additional non-playing adults $2; playing adults $5 Hours: 10 am–8 pm Tues–Thurs; 10 am–9 pm Fri; 10 am–6 pm Sat; 11 am–6 pm Sun; closed Mondays during the school year Contact: 353-0940; Bounceland.com

Alamo Drafthouse Baby Days

Having an infant in tow can really limit your options — you want to get out of the house but the baby is too little to play or engage in many local kid-friendly options. Alamo Drafthouse has an answer: Baby Day. Movies showing before 2 p.m. on Tuesdays are designated for new parents and parents of infants. The movies are for adults and are shown with the lights up a little and the sound down a bit, so as not to disrupt your hopefully sleeping infant. Infant not snoozing? Fine by the Alamo — this is a non-judging movie-going space.

Location: 180 Portage St., Kalamazoo Cost: Cost of admission for movie-going adult: $6.75 Hours: Shows before 2 pm Tues, except on holidays or during special festivals (check site for showtimes and listings) Contact: Drafthouse.com/Kalamazoo

Local Libraries

Some of the best options for families, caregivers and grandparents looking for activities on those too-hot days are local libraries. From toddler reading times to tween anime clubs and teen advisory groups, local libraries offer free, enriching and entertaining activities every day. For detailed listings, by day and week, check FYI’s calendar on page 32 — we list events hosted at the public libraries in Kalamazoo, Portage, Comstock, Parchment and Richland.

Location: For locations, see page 32 Cost: Free Hours: For event times, see FYI’s calendar on page 32 Contact: See page 32

Jungle Joes

When kids start running in circles or jumping off your couch, it’s time to take them somewhere where it’s okay to literally be jumping off the walls. Jungle Joes offers several jungle-themed jump castles, arena games and inflatable slides and structures. There’s something for toddlers to tweens with an open, soft-padded floor area that provides a safe space for bouncing. (Socks required for everyone.)

Location: 7255 S. Sprinkle Road, Portage Cost: 1.5 hours $8 per person; 2.5 hours $10 per person; toddlers (under 23 months) $2; adults with children $3 Hours: 9 am–8pm Mon–Thurs; 9 am–9 pm Fri; 9 am–8 pm Sat; noon–6 pm Sun Contact: 324-1992; JungleJoesFFC.com

Kalamazoo Valley Museum

One of area’s not-so-hidden gems is the Kalamazoo Valley Museum, operated by Kalamazoo Valley Community College. The 60,000-square-foot museum offers cultural, historical and scientific literacy development for children of all ages via special exhibits, planetarium programs, educational programs and weekend family events. Admission and exhibits are free; some programs and planetarium shows cost $3 a person. Check FYI’s calendar on page 32 for ongoing, weekly and daily museum events.

Location: 230 N. Rose St., Kalamazoo Cost: Free admission; $3 for planetarium shows Hours: 9 am-5 pm Mon–Thurs & Sat; 9 am–9 pm Fri; 1–5 pm Sun Contact: 373-7990; KalamazooMuseum.org

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25 •

Sky Zone Trampoline Park

When it’s too hot for children to run outside, Sky Zone has an alternative — an indoor trampoline park. Sky Zone has open jump, dodgeball, the foam zone (a fly and flip trampoline runway that dumps into a pit filled with 10,000 foam cubes), a slam-dunking basketball launch pad and fitness and aerobics classes. Check schedule for ageappropriate events, from toddler time to Sky Jam (teens only).

Location: 5103 Portage Road, Kalamazoo Cost: $10 for 30 minutes; $14 for 60 minutes, $18 for 90 minutes, $21 for 120 minutes (all jumpers must purchase $1 pair of Sky Socks) Hours: 4 pm–8 pm Tues–Thurs; 3 pm–8 pm Fri; 10 am– 8:30 pm Sat; noon–6 pm Sun; toddler time 10 am–noon Tues & Fri; Sky Jam (age 14 and up) 8:30–10 pm Sat Contact: 459-9243; SkyZone.com/Kalamazoo

Hours: Open skate available everyday, call for schedule, Contact: 345-1125; WingsStadium.com/p/Recreation/ Skating/223 (public skate times)

Get Outdoors Woods, lakes, rivers marshes. There is absolutely no excuse for not experiencing Michigan’s abundant nature.

With trails, trails and more trails, there are too many local options to pass up.

Asylum Lake Preserve

The Asylum Lake Preserve is a 274-acre sprawl of trails, woods and pond vegetation surrounding Asylum Lake.

Aside from being preserved as a recreation area, the Ice skating @ Wings Event Center property, which is owned by Western Michigan University, One-up the heat by getting on ice. Wings Events Center is also a research site for WMU professors and students offers public skate times throughout the summer, afford- studying healthy local ecology and invasive species. Dogs ing you the opportunity to feel cool without having to re- are allowed on the trails, if leashed. live a Michigan winter. Open skate is available to kids and Location: 3836 S. Drake Road, Kalamazoo caregivers of all ages. Public skate times tend to change, Cost: Free so check their website for schedule.

Hours: Dawn–dusk Location: 3600 Vanrick Drive, Kalamazoo Contact: 387-8557 Cost: Age 4 & under, free; $6 over age 4; $3 skate rentals A WOODED PARK JUST MINUTES FROM KALAMAZOO & BATTLE CREEK

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13215 M-96, Augusta, MI owv@tds.net

(269) 580-1290

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26 • Summer 2015

kalamazoomuseum.org 269.373.7990 The Kalamazoo Valley Museum is operated by Kalamazoo Valley Community College and is governed by its Board of Trustees

Binder Park Zoo

Explore 433 acres of 32 exotic animal and 19 domestic animal exhibits at Binder Park Zoo. Located near Battle Creek, Binder Park Zoo is one of the largest zoos in Michigan and features a variety of animals and plants, a Wild Africa exhibit, a train, a tram, a carousel, a Wildlife Discovery Theatre and an award-winning children’s zoo where kids can feed goats, llamas, sheep and other domestic animals. (Kids can feed giraffes at the Africa exhibit.)

Location: 7400 Division Drive, Battle Creek Cost: Children 2-10, $11.50; adults, $13.50; seniors (65 and up), $12.50 Hours: 9 am–4:30 pm Mon–Fri Contact: 979-1351

Pierce Cedar Creek Institute Trails

A nature center, environmental education center and biological field station, Pierce Cedar Creek Institute offers seven miles of hiking trails exploring its 661 acres of rural woods. The institute also has educational programs, art exhibits and a clock collection on display at its visitor center.

Check the website for educational and family programming.

Location: 701 W. Cloverdale Road, Hastings Cost: Free Hours: 9 am–5 pm Mon–Fri; Sat & Sun programs only (check website) Contact: 721-4190; CedarCreekInsititute.org

Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary and Zoological Gardens

Started as a safe haven for reptiles and amphibians needing homes, Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary has hands-on and up-close experiences to observe and learn about a variety of species. Visitors can participate in feeding animals, educational programming and special events.

Location: 1698 M-66, Athens Cost: Age 3 & up, $7; age 2 & under or active military with ID, free; immediate family members of military members, $1 Hours: 10 am–6 pm daily Contact: 729-4802

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27 •

Kalamazoo Nature Center

Engage with local ecology at the Kalamazoo Nature Center, which has more than 14 miles of hiking trails and an interpretive center including a birds of prey and rainforest exhibit. The center offers educational programming exploring everything from monarch migration to citizen science.

For event listings, check FYI’s events calendar on page 32 or visit the Nature Center’s website.

Location: 7000 N. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo Cost: Adults $7; children & students $4; children under 3 free; members free Hours: 9 am–5 pm Mon–Sat; 1–5 pm Sun Contact: 381-1574; NatureCenter.org

The Olde World Village

Want something semi-educational that combines history and fun? Take in one of the special events this summer at The Olde World Village. The venue offers special events and pseudo-historical festivals in a fair type atmosphere on 35 acres. Events include May’d in Michigan (Memorial Day weekend), Buccaneer Bash (June 6 & 7), the Steam Dream Expo (June 19-21) and the BlackRock Medieval Festival (on weekends from July 11-Aug. 2). Check website for times and prices.

Location: 13215 M-96, Augusta Cost: Age 13 and older, $10; children 12 and under free; discounts for military veterans and their dependents, public safety officers and seniors Hours: Vary by event, check website for info Contact: 580-1290, oldeworldvillage.com

KL Avenue Nature Preserve

For an off-the-beaten-path experience, go to KL Avenue Nature Preserve, a 70-acre parcel in Oshtemo Township. This preserve offers rolling hills, valleys, beautiful local shrubs and trees, bird activity and wooded areas for exploring.

Location: KL Avenue, 1,000 feet east of 4th Street, Kalamazoo Cost: Free Hours: Dawn–dusk Contact: 324-1600

Strawberry picking @ Mandigo Farms

A favorite pastime of Michigan summers, berry picking is a delicious and fun way to get outdoors. Mandigo Farms, opened in 1955, offers strawberry picking in the first few weeks of June (season times vary — call ahead to be sure there are plenty of berries before you go). Mandigo has picnic tables with umbrellas and 3 Mile Lake, a block away, offers public swimming.

Location: 61077 41st St., Paw Paw Cost: Pay per weight for strawberries picked Hours: 8 am–5 pm daily, first few weeks of June Contact: 657-4481

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28 • Summer 2015

Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery

Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery, which produces a variety of fish species for the Great Lakes and connected inland waters, has exhibits, tours, hiking trails, a bird-viewing platform and hands-on activities for kids. A visit to the hatchery is appropriate for all ages and allows kids the opportunity to engage in local nature and ecology.

Location: 34270 County Road 652, Mattawan Cost: Free Hours: Before Memorial Day: 10 am–4 pm Tues-Sat; noon–4pm Sun; Summer hours (Memorial Day–Labor Day): 10 am–6 pm MonSat; noon–6 pm Sun Contact: 668-2876

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The Ultimate Ice Cream Experience 6800 S. Westnedge, Portage (269) 327-4674

4540 West Main, Kalamazoo (269) 343-0940

Center for Change & Growth, PLC 3315 Greenleaf Blvd Kalamazoo (269) 657-5800 www.playtherapytoday.com

Dr. Susan M. Carter Child & Family Psychologist Dr. Watson, CGC Canine Play Therapy Assistant

fyiswmichigan.com •

29 •

Family Man FYI

I’ve Been ’Momdescended’ by

I was at a gas station buying a Yoo-hoo and a family-size bag of Skittles the first time I got what I’ll call “momdescended.”

I had just jogged around a small lake — a good way to get outside and maybe get my son, who was then about 6 months old, to take a nap in the stroller. I figured I owed it to myself to re-up on the energy I’d just burned with a fast-acting pile of sugar that I planned to eat in the car while sweating profusely and listening to Bruce Springsteen, which is my go-to jams when I’m sweating.

My son was snoozing, strapped into his car seat, and I set him on the counter while I rummaged for money in my fanny pack, for I am an American and I do not exercise

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30 • Summer 2015

Jef Otte

unless I’m dressed in a fashion that announces to the world “I am exercising.”

The clerk cooed over the babe while she rang me up.

“Aw,” she said, “is Mommy at work today?”

I didn’t plan to be a stay-at-home dad. I had a respectable job, respectable enough to get a couple of weeks’ leave after my son’s birth — and when I came back I was laid off. What could I do? I rode the fun-employment train to graduate school. In the meantime, though, I became a fulltime parent, which meant packing an infant in the car seat and hauling him everywhere with me while I killed time between feedings.

“No,” I said. “She’s dead.”

I didn’t really say that. Actually, I mumbled assent and the clerk beamed and said “aw” again as if this information touched her deeply. Driving home, however, I came up with all sorts of retorts, and even a family portion of Skittles couldn’t ease the queasy feeling of having been patronized — or, perhaps I should say, matronized.

I realize women don’t have it easy in this world. Men can be condescending, licentious, creepy, threatening and outright hostile. Women endure lower pay and routine harassment in contexts men just don’t have to ever deal with, plus they have to gestate babies and bleed out their genitals once a month. That’s rough and I sympathize. And maybe, in light of persistent, systemic gender inequality, I don’t have any right to complain.

But ladies, hear me out.

A couple of weeks after the Yoo-hoo incident, I went to a play area for infants that I’d read about on the Internet and stood around with a group of women watching our babies gurgle and fart and try to flip themselves over. Occasionally one baby would whimper and be soothed.

“My doctor says I should start introducing solid foods,” one woman said to another, “but I’m nervous. What if she chokes?”

My ears perked; I’d recently started working some rice cereal into the diet of my son, and he loved it so much he’d gained significant weight, which pleased me, because one of my favorite things in the world is a fat baby.

Perhaps these women would be interested to know of my experience! Plus being alone with an infant all day filled me with a desperate need for adult interaction, and I would take what I could get, so, what the hell, I leaned over and threw in my two cents. “I mean, just look at him,” I concluded, gesturing to my adorable son. “Fat as a button.”

The women regarded me as if what had come out of my mouth had been not language, but rather something like a wad of chewed newsprint, maybe, or a swarm of gnats. The second woman turned to the first. “I know what you mean,” she said, as if nothing had happened. “I’m nervous about it, too.”

Now, I can’t demand conversation from strangers — actually, I don’t really care for being talked to by randos

myself. But this particular context seemed to encourage friendly, low-key interaction between people stuck in a particular place for a common purpose, and if I misinterpreted that, then okay. These women had the right not to talk to me.

But I suspect a different dynamic at play: mommy snobbery. Deep down, these women rejected my perspective on caring for infants because I don’t have the proper equipment to breastfeed them, and to that I say Ladies!

Breast-pumps exist! Furthermore, it’s the same tired stereotypes which drive wage inequality that foster the idea that a man can’t raise children full-time with the same competence and care a woman can: that men belong at work, and women belong at home. I don’t buy that. Men should try not having jobs more often — it’s pretty great.

And my son? He’s still alive, so in your face, mommies.

t r e c n o C y b Cryba

s

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April 18 May 16

al Branch KPL Centr nter ilmore Ce Bronson G Education for Health

fontanamusic.org 269.382.7774

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31 •

WHERE IS? Comstock Library — Comstock Township Library, 6130 King Highway, 345-0136 KIA — Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, 314 S Park St, 349-7775

Kalamazoo Nature Center, 7000 N Westnedge Ave, 381-1574 KPL-Alma Powell — Kalamazoo Public Library-Alma Powell, 1000 W Paterson Ave, 553-7960 KPL-Central — Kalamazoo Public Library-Central, 315 S Rose St, 342-9827

KPL-Eastwood — Kalamazoo Public Library-Eastwood, 1112 Gayle Ave, 553-7810 KPL-Oshtemo — Kalamazoo Public Library-Oshtemo, 7265 W Main St, 553-7980 KPL-Washington Square — Kalamazoo Public Library-Washington Square, 1244 Portage Rd, 553-7970

Kalamazoo Valley Museum, 230 N Rose St, 373-7990 Parchment Library — Parchment Community Library, 401 South Riverview Drive, 343-7747

Portage Library — Portage District Library, 300 Library Lane, 329-4544 Richland Library — 8951 Park St, Richland, 629-9085

WEEKLY Mondays

Thursdays

Tuesdays

Storytime Fun, story, coloring & special treat, 10:30 am, Barnes & Noble, 6134 S Westnedge, barnesandnoble.com, FREE

Storytime Fun, story, coloring & special treat, 10:30 am, Barnes & Noble, 6134 S Westnedge, barnesandnoble.com, FREE Baby & Toddler Storytime, books, fingerplays & creative movement, 10 am, Portage Library, portagelibrary.info, ages 0-23 mo, FREE (June-July only) Toddler Time @Sky Zone, trampoline park, 10 am-12 pm, Sky Zone, 5103 Portage Rd, 459-9243, skyzone.com/kalamazoo, ages 0-5, contact for cost

Open Jump @Sky Zone, trampoline park, times vary, Sky Zone, 459-9243, skyzone. com/kalamazoo, all ages, $10/30 min; $14/60 min Wednesdays

Toddler Talk, toddlers play, adults share with a parent educator, 10:15 am, KPLOshtemo, kpl.gov, ages 1-3, FREE

Wednesday Wigglers, books, singing & swinging, 10:15-10:30 am & 11-11:30 am, Richland Library, richlandlibrary.org, ages 0-3, FREE Baby Talk, talk about infant care with Connie Koning, RN, 1:30 pm, KPL-Oshtemo, kpl.gov, ages 0-12 mo, FREE Family Storytime, stories & activities, 10:30 am, KPL-Alma Powell, kpl.gov, ages 0-5, FREE

Open Jump @Sky Zone, trampoline park, times vary, Sky Zone, 459-9243, skyzone. com/kalamazoo, all ages, $10/30 min; $14/60 min

Family Storytime, stories & activities, 10:30 am, KPL-Oshtemo & KPL Eastwood, kpl.gov, ages 0-5, FREE

Open Jump @Sky Zone, trampoline park, times vary, Sky Zone, 459-9243, skyzone. com/kalamazoo, all ages, $10/30 min; $14/60 min Fridays

Family Storytime, stories & activities, 10:30 am, KPL-Central, kpl.gov, ages 0-5, FREE

Toddler Time @Sky Zone, trampoline park, 10 am-12 pm, Sky Zone, 459-9243, skyzone. com/kalamazoo, ages 0-5, contact for cost Open Jump @Sky Zone, trampoline park, times vary, Sky Zone, 459-9243, skyzone. com/kalamazoo, all ages, $10/30 min; $14/60 min Saturdays

BenJammin Educational Music with BenJammin & Analisa, move, play & sing, learn about health, safety, respect & science, 10 am, Old Dog Tavern, 402 E Kalamazoo Ave, 267-1812, BenJammin.biz, all ages, FREE

Open Jump @Sky Zone, trampoline park, times vary, Sky Zone, 459-9243, skyzone. com/kalamazoo, all ages, $10/30 min; $14/60 min Sundays

Open Jump @Sky Zone, trampoline park, times vary, Sky Zone, 459-9243, skyzone. com/kalamazoo, all ages, $10/30 min; $14/60 min

ONGOING May 15-23, Anne of Green Gables, a musical adaptation of a feisty, red-haired orphan, 7:30 pm May 15 & 22, 1 pm May 16 & 23, 4 pm May 16, 2 pm May 17, 9:30 am & 12 pm May 20 & 21, Parish Theatre, 426 S Park St, 343-1313, kalamazooarts.org, all ages, $7

June 6–July 19, The Way We Worked, Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit, children’s activities, movies, geocaching, tours, 10 am-5 pm, Plainwell Paper Mill, 211 N Main St, 685-6821, museumonmainstreet.org, all ages, FREE

Thru June 19, Secret of the Cardboard Rocket, a story of two children who build a cardboard rocket to explore space, 11 am Mon-Fri, 1 pm Sat, 2 pm Sun, Kalamazoo Valley Museum Planetarium, kalamazoomuseum.org, all ages, $3

July 6-25, Superhero LEGO Display, see amazing LEGO creations by Western Michigan LEGO Train Club, regular library hours, Portage Library, portagelibrary.info, all ages, FREE

Thru June 19, Wildest Weather in the Solar System, explore atmospheres on other planets, magnetic storms on the sun & anticyclones, 3 pm Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat & Sun, Kalamazoo Valley Museum Planetarium, kalamazoomuseum.org, all ages, $3

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32 • Summer 2015

July 8-12, The Ballad of Jessica James, Kindleberger Summer Festival of the Performing Arts youth play, 5:30 pm July 8, 10, & 11; 3:30 pm July 12 & 13, Kindleberger Park, 650 S Riverview Dr, Parchment, kindleberger.org, all ages, outdoors, bring blanket or chair, FREE

July 8-12, Oklahoma! Kindleberger Summer Festival of the Performing Arts family musical, 7 pm July 8, 10, & 11; 5 pm July 12 & 13, Kindleberger Park, 650 S Riverview Dr, Parchment, kindleberger.org, all ages, outdoors, bring blanket or chair, FREE July 17-25, Mary Poppins, a musical adventure of everyone’s favorite nanny, 7:30 pm July 17, 18, 24, & 25; 2 pm July 19, Comstock Community Auditorium, 2107 N 26th St, 348-SHOW, kalamazooarts.org, all ages, $12, $10 student

Thru Aug 30, Evidence Found, hands-on exploration of modern archeology, 9 am-5 pm Mon-Sat, 1-5 pm Sun, Kalamazoo Valley Museum, kalamazoomuseum.org, all ages, FREE

MAY May 1

Kalamazoo Marathon & Borgess Run for the Health of It!, Meijer Kids Fun Run & Motivational Mile, Borgess Nazareth Campus, 345-1913, thekalamazoomarathon. com, all ages, outdoors, cost varies Willie’s Auto Shop Grand Opening, new interactive exhibit with car-themed activities, 10 am-4 pm, Kids ‘n’ Stuff Children’s Museum, 301 S Superior St, Albion, (517) 629-8023, kidsnstuff.org, ages 1-7, $6.50, under 1 free Kalamazoo Rock, Gem, Fossil & Mineral Show, pan for gold, crack open a geode, other activities, 4-8 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 979-3348, kalamazooco.com, all ages, $3 adult, 12 & under & scouts in uniform free Art Hop, art at locations around Kalamazoo, 5-8 pm, kalamazooarts.org, all ages, outdoors, FREE

Battle of the Glassblowers & Flame-Off, glassblowers & flameworkers transform hot molten glass into art, 5-9 pm, West Michigan Glass Art Center, 326 W Kalamazoo Ave, 552-9802, wmglass.org, all ages, FREE Beauty & the Beast, Home School Performing Arts presents Disney’s musical of a French fairy tale, 7 pm, Comstock Auditorium, 2107 N 26th St, (855) 472-1472, hpami.org, all ages, $8 Saturday, May 2

Spring Wildflower Hikes, 1.5 mile hike to Little Grand Canyon, 9-11 am & 11 am-1 pm, Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, 701 W Cloverdale Rd, Hastings, cedarcreekinstitute.org, all ages, outdoors, $3 members, $6 non-members Willie’s Auto Shop Grand Opening, new interactive exhibit with car-themed activities, 10 am-4 pm, Kids ‘n’ Stuff Children’s Museum, 301 S Superior St, Albion, (517) 629-8023, kidsnstuff.org, ages 1-7, $6.50, under 1 free Kalamazoo Rock, Gem, Fossil & Mineral Show, pan for gold, crack open a geode, other activities, 10 am-6 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 979-3348, kalamazooco.com, all ages, $3 adult, 12 & under & Scouts in uniform free LEGO @ the Library, build, race & imagine, 10:30 am, KPL-Oshtemo, kpl.gov, all ages, FREE

Family Fishing Clinic, learn the basics of fishing, 11 am-1 pm, Spring Valley Park, 2600 Mt. Olivet, 337-8191, kalamazoocity. org, all ages, outdoors, FREE Battle of the Glassblowers & Flame-Off, glassblowers & flameworkers transform hot molten glass into art, 12-5 pm, West Michigan Glass Art Center, 326 W Kalamazoo Ave, 552-9802, wmglass.org, all ages, FREE

Beauty & the Beast, Home School Performing Arts presents Disney’s musical of a French fairy tale, 1 pm & 7 pm, Comstock Auditorium, 2107 N 26th St, (855) 4721472, hpami.org, all ages, $8 Kalamazoo River Valley Trail Spring Wildflower Walk, learn about native spring wildflowers, 2 pm, Commerce Lane (behind the post office), Parchment, kalamazooaudubon.org, all ages, outdoors, FREE First Saturday @ KPL, stories, activities & door prizes, 2 pm, KPL-Central, kpl.gov, all ages, FREE Sunday, May 3

Kalamazoo Marathon & Borgess Run for the Health of It!, full & half marathon, 10K & 5K run & 5K walk, times vary, Borgess Nazareth Campus, 345-1913, thekalamazoomarathon.com, all ages, outdoors, cost varies Kalamazoo Rock, Gem, Fossil & Mineral Show, pan for gold, crack open a geode, other activities, 10 am-5 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 979-3348, kalamazooco.com, all ages, $3 adult, 12 & under & scouts in uniform free Mass of the Children, Kalamazoo Singers & Kalamazoo Children’s Chorus, 3 pm, First United Methodist Church, 373-1769, kalamazoosingers.org, all ages, $15 adult ($18 at door), $5 student Monday, May 4

Tinker Tots—Bubbles, explore playing with bubbles, 10:30 am, KPL-Central, kpl. gov, ages 1-4, FREE

Anime Club, food, fun & Anime, 4:30 pm, Parchment Library, parchmentlibrary.org, teens, FREE

Tuesday, May 5

Toddler Tales Storytime, songs, rhymes, movement & a story, 10:15-10:45 am, Parchment Library, parchmentlibrary.org, ages 2-3, FREE Preschool Story Time, enjoy a book & a craft, 1-1:45 pm, Richland Library, richlandlibrary.org, ages 3-5, FREE Wednesday, May 6

Baby & Me, fun for you & your baby, 11:15-11:35 am, Parchment Library, parchmentlibrary.org, ages 6-23 mo, FREE Jewelry Making with Meg Tang, learn to make unique jewelry (registration required), 4:30 pm, KPL-Alma Powell, kpl. gov, grades 5-12, FREE

Stop Motion Animation, use apps to create a stop motion film (registration required), 4:30 pm, KPL-Central, kpl.gov, grades 3-5, FREE Thursday, May 7

Teen LEGO Club, build with LEGOs, 4 pm, Portage Library, portagelibrary.info, teens, FREE

National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day Carnival, celebrate children’s mental health, 4-7 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 979-3348, kalcounty. com/parks, all ages, FREE

Glass Arts, fuse glass with experts from West Michigan Glass Arts (registration required), 4:30 pm, KPL-Washington Square, kpl.gov, grades 5-12, FREE 53rd Annual Michigan Youth Arts Festival, Michigan’s best young artists showcase their talents in visual & performing arts, times vary, Western Michigan University, 545-9200, michiganyoutharts.org/festival, all ages, FREE Friday, May 8

Flywheelers Farm History Day, learn about farm life in the 1900s through hands-on displays, 9 am-2 pm, Michigan Flywheelers Museum, South Haven, michiganflywheelers.org, all ages, outdoors, fregister by email michiganflywheelers@ yahoo.com, FREE Preschool Story Time, enjoy a book & a craft, 10:15-11 am, Richland Library, richlandlibrary.org, ages 3-5, FREE

53rd Annual Michigan Youth Arts Festival, Michigan’s best young artists showcase their talents in visual & performing arts, times vary, Western Michigan University, 545-9200, michiganyoutharts.org/festival, all ages, FREE Saturday, May 9

Bird House Workshop, assemble a red cedar bird house (pre-registration required), 10-11:30 am, Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, 701 W Cloverdale Rd, Hastings, cedarcreekinstitute.org, all ages, outdoors, $15 members, $20 non-members Touch-A-Truck, see & touch unique vehicles, learn from those who serve & protect out community, 10 am-2 pm, Kalamazoo Co. Expo Center, 2900 Lake St, 815-0034, kalcounty.com/parks, all ages, outdoors, $10 family, $4 adults, $2 children, 10 amnoon siren free zone KSO Carnival of the Animals, KSO Brass Quintet, instrument petting zoo, craft, 10:30 am & 12:30 pm, KPL-Central, kpl.gov, all ages, FREE ticket required Drop-in Mother’s Day Crafts, choose 3 crafts to make for mom, 10:30 am-3 pm, Comstock Library, comstocklibrary.org, all ages, FREE

Art Detectives: The Dog Did It, art-focused event with story and activity, 11:15 am, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, 585-9291, kiarts.org, FREE 53rd Annual Michigan Youth Arts Festival, Michigan’s best young artists showcase their talents in visual & performing arts, times vary, Western Michigan University, 545-9200, michiganyoutharts.org/festival, all ages, FREE

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Monday, May 11

Little Scientists: Shadows, explore shadows through stories & activities (registration required), 10:30 am, KPL-Central, kpl.gov, ages 3-6, FREE Just Move Playdate, a totfriendly obstacle course for free play, 10:30 am-12:30 pm, Just Move Fitness, 626 Romence Road, Ste 104, justmove.com, FREE Tuesday, May 12

Toddler Tales Storytime, songs, rhymes, movement & a story, 10:15-10:45 am, Parchment Library, parchmentlibrary. org, ages 2-3, FREE Preschool Story Time, enjoy a book & a craft, 1-1:45 pm, Richland Library, richlandlibrary. org, ages 3-5, FREE Wednesday, May 13

“Drive in” Movie, decorate a cardboard box “car,” enjoy a short film & snack (registration required), 10:30 am, KPL-Alma Powell, kpl.gov, ages 3-6, FREE

Baby & Me, fun for you & your baby, 11:15-11:35 am, Parchment Library, parchmentlibrary. org, ages 6-23 mo, FREE Thursday, May 14

LEGO @ the Library, build, race & imagine, 10:30 am, KPLEastwood, kpl.gov, all ages, FREE Yoga Storytime, stories paired with yoga poses (registration required), 10:30 am, KPL-Washington Square, kpl.gov, ages 3-6, FREE

Kalamazoo Spring Carnival, 50 thrilling family-friendly & children’s rides, 4-9 pm, Wings Event Center parking lot, wingsstadium.com, all ages, outdoors, $17/day Teen Origami Sun Catcher, make an origami suncatcher (registration required), 6-8 pm, Parchment Library, parchmentlibrary.org, ages 11-18, $2 supply fee Teen Advisory Group Meeting, books, crafts, ideas & pizza, 6:30 pm, Portage Library, portagelibrary.info, teens, FREE Friday, May 15

Preschool Story Time, enjoy a book & craft, 10:15-11 am, Richland Library, richlandlibrary.org, ages 3-5, FREE

Kalamazoo Spring Carnival, 50 thrilling family-friendly & children’s rides, 4-11 pm,

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34 • Summer 2015

Wings Event Center parking lot, wingsstadium.com, all ages, outdoors, $17/day Saturday, May 16

Farm Wellness Day 5K, 5K trail run/walk, kids’ fun run & obstacle course (registration required), 9 am-1 pm, Lake Village Homestead, 7943 S 25th St, farmwellnessday5k.org, all ages, outdoors, $30 Family Bike Fest, families, kids, adults & the community celebrate bikes, 10 am-1 pm, Mayors Riverfront Park, kalamazoobikeweek.com, all ages, outdoors, FREE Family Fishing Fair, fishing, kayaking, boating safety, prizes, 10 am-1 pm, Ramona Park, 3294522, portagemi.gov, all ages, outdoors, 150 kids receive free fishing rod, FREE

Kalamazoo Reptile & Exotic Animal Show, reptiles, amphibians & exotic pets, 10 am-3 pm, Kalamazoo Co. Expo Center, 2900 Lake St, 779-9851, kalcounty.com/parks, all ages, $4 adult, $2 children, under 6 free, $15 family max Frontier Days, reenactments from 1780-1870, vendors, live entertainment, 10 am-6 pm, Olde World Village, 13215 M 96, Augusta, 580-1290, facebook.com/FrontierDaysMI, all ages, outdoors, $10, 12 & under free LEGO @ the Library, build, race & imagine, 10:30 am, KPLCentral, kpl.gov, all ages, FREE Crybaby Concert, 45-minute concert for children, 11 am, Bronson Gilmore Center for Health Education, 7 Healthcare Plaza, 382-7774, kalamazooarts.org, ages 0-5, FREE

Kalamazoo Spring Carnival, 50 thrilling family-friendly & children’s rides, 4-11 pm, Wings Event Center parking lot, wingsstadium.com, all ages, outdoors, $17/day Sunday, May 17

Frontier Days, reenactments from 1780-1870, vendors, entertainment, 10 am-6 pm, Olde World Village, 13215 M 96, Augusta, 580-1290, facebook. com/FrontierDaysMI, all ages, outdoors, $10, 12 & under free Kids R.O.A.R.—Rogue Obstacle Adventure Race, interactive adventure race (registration required), 12-2 pm, Sherman Lake YMCA, Augusta, 731-3000, shermanatortri.org/

kidsroar2014, ages 8-14, outdoors, $15 pre-registration, $20 on site Kalamazoo Spring Carnival, 50 thrilling family-friendly & children’s rides, 4-11 pm, Wings Event Center parking lot, wingsstadium.com, all ages, outdoors, $17/day Monday, May 18

J-Pop Club, latest media & food from Japan, 3:30 pm, KPLCentral, kpl.gov, teens, FREE Tuesday, May 19

Preschool Story Time, enjoy a book & a craft, 1-1:45 pm, Richland Library, richlandlibrary. org, ages 3-5, FREE

Teen Game Club, video, board & card games, 4 pm, Portage Library, portagelibrary.info, teens, FREE

LEGO @ the Library, join others & build with LEGOs, 6:30 pm, KPL-Washington Square, kpl.gov, all ages, FREE Wednesday, May 20

Light Painting, use a digital camera to create a light painting (registration required), 4:30 pm, KPL-Central, kpl.gov, grades 3-5, FREE Thursday, May 21

West Michigan Apple Blossom Cluster Dog Show, AKC Dog show featuring obedience trials & rally trials, 9 am-5 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, midogshows.com, $5 per vehicle; $20 5-day pass Jewelry Making with Meg Tang, learn to make unique jewelry (registration required), 4:30 pm, KPL-Eastwood, kpl. gov, grades 5-12, FREE Friday, May 22

West Michigan Apple Blossom Cluster Dog Show, AKC Dog show featuring obedience trials & rally trials, 9 am-5 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, midogshows.com, $5 per vehicle; $20 5-day pass Preschool Story Time, enjoy a book & a craft, 10:15-11 am, Richland Library, richlandlibrary.org, ages 3-5, FREE Saturday, May 23

West Michigan Apple Blossom Cluster Dog Show, AKC Dog show featuring obedience trials & rally trials, 9 am-5 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, midogshows.com, $5 per vehicle; $20 5-day pass

May’d in Michigan, Michigan artisans, entertainment, vendors & food, 10 am-6 pm, Olde World Village, 13215 M 96, Augusta, 580-1290, all ages, outdoors, FREE Sunday, May 24

West Michigan Apple Blossom Cluster Dog Show, AKC Dog show featuring obedience trials & rally trials, 9 am-5 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, midogshows.com, $5 per vehicle; $20 5-day pass May’d in Michigan, Michigan artisans, entertainment, vendors & food, 10 am-6 pm, Olde World Village, 13215 M 96, Augusta, 580-1290, all ages, outdoors, FREE Monday, May 25

West Michigan Apple Blossom Cluster Dog Show, AKC Dog show featuring obedience trials & rally trials, 9 am-5 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, midogshows.com, $5 per vehicle; $20 5-day pass May’d in Michigan, Michigan artisans, entertainment, vendors & food, 10 am-6 pm, Olde World Village, 13215 M 96, Augusta, 580-1290, all ages, outdoors, FREE

Musical Storytime, songs, stories & special guests, 6:30 pm, KPL-Central, kpl.gov, all ages, FREE Tuesday, May 26

West Michigan Apple Blossom Cluster Dog Show, AKC Dog show featuring obedience trials & rally trials, 9 am-5 pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, midogshows.com, $5 per vehicle; $20 5-day pass Wednesday, May 27

Party in the Park, story hour, book for each child, healthy snacks & costumed characters, 10 am, Bronson Park, kpl.gov, ages 0-5, free, RSVP 553-7873 LEGO @ the Library, build, race & imagine, 4:30 pm, KPLAlma Powell, kpl.gov, all ages, FREE Thursday, May 28

Bookworms, book club for kids & their grown up, reading Flora and Ulysses, 4:30 pm, KPL-Central, kpl.gov, ages 6-11, FREE

Friday, May 29

Kalamazoo Growlers vs. Battle Creek Bombers, opening night, fireworks & giveaways, 7 pm, Homer Stryker Field, 4929966, growlersbaseball.com, all ages, outdoors, $8-26 Movies in the Park, Jurassic Park, 9 pm, South Westnedge Park, 1101 S Westnedge Ave, 337-8191, kalamazoocity.org, all ages, outdoors, FREE Sunday, May 31

Circus Pages, circus stars, exotic animals & daredevils, 1 pm & 4 pm, Kalamazoo Co. Expo Center, circuspages.com, all ages, $15 adults, 14 & under free

JUNE Thursday, June 4

Dionysys Greek Festival, Greek food, music & dance, special children’s activities,11 am-4 pm, Arcadia Festival Place, outdoors, FREE Teen LEGO Club, build with LEGOs, 4 pm, Portage Library, portagelibrary.info, teens, FREE Friday, June 5

Art on the Mall, artisans display & sell work, 12–9 pm, Kalamazoo Mall, downtownkalamazoo.org, outdoors, FREE Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Art Fair, nearly 180 artists, music & food, 1-8 pm, Bronson Park, outdoors, FREE

Art Hop, art at locations around Kalamazoo, 5-8 pm, kalamazooarts.org, all ages, outdoors, FREE

Dionysys Greek Festival, Greek food, music & dance, special children’s activities.

11 am-4 pm, Arcadia Festival Place, outdoors, FREE Jump into Summer, Dooley Noted & Red Sea Pedestrians perform, 6 pm, Kalamazoo Valley Museum, FREE Saturday, June 6

Art on the Mall, artisans display & sell work, 9 am-5 pm, Kalamazoo Mall, downtownkalamazoo.org, outdoors, FREE

Kalamazoo Arts Institute Art Fair, nearly 180 artists, music & food, 1-8 pm, Bronson Park, outdoors, FREE Buccaneer Bash, live entertainment, vendors, food, 10 am-6 pm, Olde World Village, 13215 M 96, Augusta, 580-1290, all

ages, outdoors, $10 adults, 12 & under free LEGO @ the Library, build, race & imagine, 10:30 am, KPLOshtemo, kpl.gov, all ages, FREE Drop-in Father’s Day Craft, choose 3 crafts to make for dad, 10:30 am-3 pm, Comstock Library, comstocklibrary.org, all ages, FREE

DoDah Parade, fun floats & whimsical costumes, 11 am, downtown Kalamazoo, downtownkalamazoo.org, all ages, outdoors, FREE Gaming & Animation Festival, see stop motion creations using claymation & LEGOs, 12-4 pm, Kalamazoo Valley Museum, FREE

First Saturday @ KPL, stories, activities & door prizes, 2 pm, KPL-Central, kpl.gov, all ages, FREE

pm, Kalamazoo Co. Expo Center, 343-9020, www.ukcdogs. com, all ages, $5/vehicle per day, $10/vehicle weekend Monday, June 15

J-Pop Club, latest media & food from Japan, 3:30 pm, KPLCentral, kpl.gov, teens, FREE Tuesday, June 16

Harborfest, celebrate Southwest Michigan’s maritime history, music, crafts & food, South Haven, southhavenharborfest. com, all ages, outdoors, FREE

Teen Game Club, video, board & card games, 4 pm, Portage Library, portagelibrary.info, teens, FREE Wednesday, June 17

Harborfest, celebrate Southwest Michigan’s maritime history, music, crafts & food, South Haven, southhavenharborfest. com, all ages, outdoors, FREE

Sunday, June 7

Thursday, June 18

Thursday, June 11

Teen Heroes vs. Villains Party, declare yourself a hero or vil-

Buccaneer Bash, live entertainment, vendors, food, 10 am-6 pm, Olde World Village, 13215 M 96, Augusta, 580-1290, all ages, outdoors, $10 adults, 12 & under free

Harborfest, celebrate Southwest Michigan’s maritime history, music, crafts & food, South Haven, southhavenharborfest. com, all ages, outdoors, FREE

Kids @ Custer Triathalon, linear swim course, paved bike course, paved trail & grass run (registration required), 6:308:30 pm, Ft. Custer State Recreation Area, 978-2437, kidsatcuster.com, two courses for ages 6-9 & 10-13, outdoors, $35 till June 7, $45 on site

Harborfest, celebrate Southwest Michigan’s maritime history, music, crafts & food, South Haven, southhavenharborfest. com, all ages, outdoors, FREE

Kids’ Klassic, 1K & 2K fun run (registration required), 6 pm, Kalamazoo YMCA, 1001 Maple St, kalamazooklassic.org, 15 & under, outdoors, $30 Saturday, June 20

FUNfari & Lemur Lap Kids’ Fun Run, activities focused on healthy, active lifestyles, 9 am-2 pm, Binder Park Zoo, 979-1351, binderparkzoo.org, all ages, outdoors, pre-register online, $10 members, $12 nonmembers Kalamazoo Reptile & Exotic Animal Show, reptiles, amphibians & exotic pets, 10 am-3 pm, Kalamazoo Co. Expo Center, 2900 Lake St, 779-9851, kalcounty.com/parks, all ages, $4 adult, $2 children, under 6 free, $15 family max

APR 18 - The Odyssey of Runyon Jones May 2 - Little Red Riding Hood May 16 - The Importance of Being Earnest

Friday, June 12

May 30 - The Bickersons

Ultimate Air Dogs & Dog Show, UKC Premier dog show, various events, 8 am-4 pm, Kalamazoo Co. Expo Center, 3439020, www.ukcdogs.com, all ages, $5 per vehicle per day, $10 per vehicle for weekend

All Ears Theatre performs newly scripted radio programs for live audiences, complete with old school sound effects, from January through May. Shows are later broadcast on 102.1 WMUK-FM. Performances are at 6:00 pm at the First Baptist Church and are FREE to the public.

Saturday, June 13

Ultimate Air Dogs & Dog Show, UKC Premier dog show, various events, 8 am-4 pm, Kalamazoo Co. Expo Center, 3439020, www.ukcdogs.com, all ages, $5/vehicle per day, $10/ vehicle weekend Ultimate Air Dogs & Dog Show, UKC Premier dog show featuring various events, 8 am-4

Friday, June 19

Free Upcoming Shows

Teen Advisory Group Meeting, books, crafts, ideas & pizza, 6:30 pm, Portage Library, portagelibrary.info, teens, FREE

Sunday, June 14

lain at this party featuring costumes & competitions, 6:30 pm, Portage Library, portagelibrary.info, teens, FREE

For a complete schedule of shows, visit Kalamazooarts.org Funding provided by

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35 •

LEGO @ the Library, build, race & imagine, 10:30 am, KPLCentral, kpl.gov, all ages, FREE Harborfest, celebrate Southwest Michigan’s maritime history, music, crafts & food, South Haven, southhavenharborfest. com, all ages, outdoors, FREE Sunday, June 21

Harborfest, celebrate Southwest Michigan’s maritime history, music, crafts & food, South Haven, southhavenharborfest. com, all ages, outdoors, FREE Monday, June 22

Musical Storytime, songs, stories & special guests, 6:30 pm, KPL-Central, kpl.gov, all ages, FREE Wednesday, June 24

High Flying Fun with the Air Zoo, study birds, experiment with kites, gliders & planes (registration required), 6:30 pm, Portage Library, portagelibrary.info, grades K-4, outdoors, FREE

Thursday, June 25

Sacred Sounds presents the Collingsworth Family, an evening of family worship & praise, 7 pm, Chenery Auditorium, (616) 662-0850, all ages, call for ticket prices Friday, June 26

Preschool Play & Learn, encourage pre-reading skills through play-centered learning, 10-11:30 am, Portage Library, portagelibrary.info, preschool, FREE Saturday, June 27

Cheetah Chase 5K, run through the zoo (registration required), 8 am, Binder Park Zoo, 7400 Division Drive, 9791351, binderparkzoo.org, all ages, outdoors, call for cost

JULY Thursday, July 2

Teen LEGO Club, build with LEGOs, 4 pm, Portage Library, portagelibrary.info, teens,FREE

Thursday, July 9

Teen Advisory Group Meeting, books, crafts, ideas & pizza, 6:30 pm, Portage Library, portagelibrary.info, teens, FREE Friday, July 10

Art Hop, art at locations around Kalamazoo, 5-8 pm, kalamazooarts.org, all ages, outdoors, FREE Friday, July 17

Preschool Play & Learn, encourage pre-reading skills through play-centered learning, 10-11:30 am, Portage Library, portagelibrary.info, preschool, FREE Saturday, July 18

Kalamazoo Reptile & Exotic Animal Show, reptiles, amphibians & exotic pets, 10 am-3 pm, Kalamazoo Co. Expo Center, 2900 Lake St, 779-9851, kalcounty.com/parks, all ages, $4 adult, $2 children, under 6 free, $15 family max LEGO @ the Library, build, race & imagine, 4:30 pm, KPL-Central, kpl.gov, all ages, FREE

Monday, July 20

Big Truck Petting Zoo, meet Big Truck Driver M & learn construction site safety, 10 am, Portage Library, portagelibrary. info, all ages, outdoors, FREE J-Pop Club, latest media & food from Japan, 3:30 pm, KPLCentral, kpl.gov, teens, FREE Tuesday, July 21

Teen Game Club, video, board & card games, 4 pm, Portage Library, portagelibrary.info, teens, FREE Saturday, July 25

MOPARS at the Red Barns, West Michigan’s largest allChrysler products car show, 9 am-4 pm, Gilmore Car Museum, GilmoreCarMuseum.org, all ages, outdoors, $12, 11 & under free Monday, July 27

Musical Storytime, songs, stories & special guests, 6:30 pm, KPL-Central, kpl.gov, all ages, FREE

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The Spaces In Between It’s June … blue skies and broad expanses—the perfect time to get away from it all. The specific destination doesn’t matter. Whether the mountains or the shore, what matters most is what the place offers: solitude and serenity or lights and action.

What matters is what the space does for us and allows us to do.

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36 • Summer 2015

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The Last Laugh (continued from page 38) Days 4–31: We hear the first rumors that this will be a really rough winter. We consider a gym membership, but decide to wait until November because there are still enough nice days to go for a run.

November

First two weeks: We never go for a run and put that unworn swimsuit into winter storage. We give more thought to that gym membership.

No snow thus far, so we begin to hear the first rumors that this will be a really mild winter.

Last two weeks: Winter white out! This is will be the worst winter on record. It is unsafe to drive to the gym in these conditions, but we still work on our beach bod by switching from beer to red wine.

December

The white out subsides. A mild winter for sure, we declare. We set our New Year’s resolution that starting Jan. 1, we will hit the gym. We’ve only gained five pounds since August, which means we need to lose 10 to get to our ideal acceptable weight.

January

Day 1: Hungover. Diet starts tomorrow.

Days 2 – 5: We go to the gym! Following a solid 20 minutes on the treadmill, we curl a 12-pound weight. We see a ripped 20-something who spends 14 hours a day in the gym and decide to add a few crunches to our workout next week.

Days 6 – 31: Winter white out! Too cold for the gym.

Also, no question, unequivocally, this will be the worst winter ever.

February

We spend 100 percent of our waking minutes asking when winter will finally end. Someone reminds us it’s Groundhog Day, but we don’t remember what happens if the groundhog sees its shadow because we only associate the day with the Bill Murray movie. “That’s a great movie,” we remind each other. Then, “So, do you think winter’s ending any time soon?”

March

There’s too much snow on the ground for summer beers, so it’s time to switch to white wine. We’ve gained 10 pounds since fall, and losing 15 by July might be asking a lot. But if we can at least lose the 10 we’ve gained, we can make that swimsuit work.

interrupt. We are not in the mood. We are over the grey and the snow and the rain. We talk to our spouses about moving to Arizona. Jeff and Olivia moved to Arizona and they love it. They remind us every day on Facebook.

“Just . . . just shut up,” we repeat in a defeated tone so as to let Stuart know it’s not personal. He knows.

May

We are in the homestretch. Speaking of stretch, we are now 15 pounds up from last fall, but we don’t care. We don’t care if wearing that suit makes us look like a freshwater walrus rolled up on the shores of Lake Michigan. We don’t care that the gym is still deducting monthly fees. We want sun. Our vitamin D count is at rickets level.

We hear the first rumors that this will be a mild summer.

June - August

Day 1: We made it! We slowly emerge from our homes into the Michigan sun. We wave to our neighbors. We collectively twist the caps off of our lime beers, but wait to sip until our wheat beer neighbors run inside to grab a bottle opener. Summer is here.

Rest of the summer: Heat wave! Undoubtedly, this will be the hottest summer ever. How is it possible that it’s 80 degrees before 8 a.m.? And why, a thousand times why, did we opt for leather seats?

The silver lining? We sweat off 10 pounds of water weight by mid-July, putting us a scant five pounds above last summer, but that swimsuit is still a little too tight. We buy another suit one size bigger. It’s snug, but if we drop five pounds, it’s perfect!

The kids’ camps begin. The neighbors invite us for barbecues and pool parties. Every weekend until the end of August is booked with the kids’ events and summer gettogethers. Plus, we need to mow the lawn.

It’s so hot. We complain about the AC at work. Stuart asks if we think we’ll have an Indian Summer, but we can’t remember what that means or whether its a politically correct term anymore, so we just shrug.

Camps end. The kids get antsy. It’s a great time for a vacation. But what self-respecting Michigander would leave the state in late summer? This is what we wait all year for!

By the end of August, the heat wave subsides. We pick up our summer beer, take a seat out on the deck. We never wore the swimsuit, but it will still look good next year and we’ve got another year to lose those five pounds.

Somewhere off in the distance, a plastic hockey puck rockets through a window.

April

Intermittent downpours melt the snow. If you don’t like the weather in Michigan, just wait- “Shut up, Stuart!” we

fyiswmichigan.com •

37 •

LAST LAUGH FYI

A Year in The Life

By Brian Lam

S ummer in Michigan.

It’s the reason we Michiganders endure the rest of the year. Now that it’s finally arrived, we can take a sobering look back at what we went through to get here.

September

Day 1: A nearly perfect day. We recline in our deck chairs and watch the clouds go by. “This is what it’s all about,” we say, taking a last sip of our wheat or lime beer.

We’re briefly startled by the sound of a basketball shattering a garage window in the distance, which could be ours, but aren’t going to be bothered because it’s an amazing Michigan day.

Days 2 –30: A slight wind blows during the afternoons, triggering endless hours of discussing whether we will have an early winter. As we look back at summer, we are a little disappointed that we never quite got into shape to actually wear that new swimsuit, but we’re optimistic! We’ve got almost a full year to give it another go.

October

Days 1–3: Schizophrenic weather. There’s an early chill, broken by moments of the sun. A cold rain falls. We make the joke: If you don’t like the weather in Michigan, just wait 10 minutes, either unconcerned or unaware that this same joke is made in all 50 states and that it rings truer in 47 of them. For the next 25 days, for example, it’s exactly 42 degrees all day. (continued on page 37)

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38 • Summer 2015

KPL_FYI_JUN-AUG15_SRCAd.pdf 1 3/23/2015 12:58:25 PM

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fyiswmichigan.com •

39 •

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