From the Editor
As winter sets in and days get shorter and grayer, we could use a little light to shine through the gloom. Our annual December issue aims to do just that, with beautiful imagery and uplifting stories.
Each December, Encore publishes its "Revealed" issue of unseen images taken by our photographer Brian K. Powers over the course of the year. Through his work, Brian captures scenes many of us would normally overlook, and he is unparalleled as a portrait photographer. He always provides us with more wonderful photos than we have pages to print them on, and this issue allows us to share some of these not-to-be-missed images with our readers.
In addition, our stories in this issue focus on those in our community whose work affects others in many positive ways. For example, writer Robert M. Weir introduces us to Charles Parker, who has for decades made it his mission to create a space where youth and families can grow and bond. His work has become a family affair, with his own children and grandchildren embracing his cause.
Also in this issue, we learn of Bronson Healthcare's Best by Request program, a concierge service designed to give Bronson employees an extra set of hands for tasks like shopping and running errands. This service is a unique employee perk that makes a lot of working folks' lives a lot less harried.
Finally, we meet Toni Will, general manager of the K-Wings hockey team. As a rare female general manager in a very much maledominated sport, Toni's strong spirit and love for her job is paving the way for other women to follow her into leadership roles.
Enjoy this month's issue!
Left to right: Morgan Rogalke-Scime, Charles S. Ofstein, Tyler J. Stewart, Olivia A. Kurajian, William B. Millard
Publisher encore publications, inc
Editor marie lee
Art Director alexis stubelt
Photographer brian k powers
Contributing Writers zinta aistars, jordan bradley, marie lee, scott peterson, robert m weir
Copy Editor/ Poetry Editor margaret deritter
Advertising Sales janis clark kimberly juwong
Distribution ron kilian robert zedeck
Office Coordinator kelly burcroff
Proofreader hope smith
Telephone: (269) 383–4433 Fax: (269) 383–9767
Publisher@encorekalamazoo.com
First Things
A round–up of happenings in SW Michigan
Good Works
Charlie's P.L.A.C.E — Charles Parker is on a mission to build youth into leaders and engage families
Enterprise
Extra Set of Hands — Bronson's concierge program helps make employees' lives less harried
Back Story
Meet Toni Will — She's blazing a trail as the first female general manager of the K-wings hockey team
Brian K. Powers captured this stunning sunset view of
marsh on Little Sugarloaf Lake in Portage.
Zinta Aistars
Zinta says it's the little things that make life — and work — a pleasure, which is why she enjoyed reporting on a concierge service that Bronson Methodist Hospital provides for its employees. "Health care staff are among the busiest and most stressed in the work force, but Bronson's concierge service, called Best Upon Request, makes life and work easier and more pleasurable for physicians, surgeons, nurses, technicians, anyone on the health care staff," says Zinta. "Taking over a bit of shopping for groceries or gifts or a quick meal is what makes it easier for health care staff to focus on the work at hand — taking care of patients."
Zinta is creative director of Z Word LLC, a writing and editing service, and host of the weekly radio show Art Beat, on WMUK 102.1 FM.
Having grown up in Battle Creek, Jordan has heard the name "K-Wings" for most of her life. Though she's not a sports fan, she says she's thrilled to see General Manager Toni Will at the business helm of the hockey team. "It was really cool to talk with Toni for this month's Back Story," Jordan said. "I think any woman contending with a challenging dynamic — in work or just in general — can look to her for inspiration. I know I will." Jordan is a freelance contributor to Encore. When not writing, she can be found listening to good tunes, working out in a yoga studio, or taking a cemetery walk with her desert dog.
Brian Powers
Brian has been Encore's photographer for nearly a decade, and what a beautiful era it's been for the magazine. "I am always surprised at the number of 'extra' images I have when it comes time to putting together the Revealed issue," he says, "and am grateful for the opportunity for them to see the light of day." Brian is a freelance photographer who lives in Portage.
Robert M. Weir
Robert wrote the Good Works story about Charles Parker and Charlie’s P.L.A.C.E. in this issue.
Weir met Parker while donating blood at the Douglass Community Association one summer and started a conversation that led to the story. “I was inspired by his smile, his passion, and his organization’s efforts to support the young people in our community,” says Robert. “He’s out there. He’s involved. And he has been for decades. He deserves to be in Encore.” Robert, an avid traveler and adventurer based in Kalamazoo, is a frequent contributor to Encore
Jordan Bradley
Kalamazoo Candle Company
166 S. Kalamazoo Mall • 269.532.9816 kalamazoocandle.com
Candles are a classic holiday gift, so why not give the best with Kalamazoo Candle Company? Shop 50+ fragrance options and more! Mention Encore at checkout for10% off!
Genesis Fitness and Wellness
205.433.9377 • genesisfitwell.com
Health and fitness is the best gift you can give to those most important to you. Have our certified personal trainers come virtually or in-person to the safest environment — your home!
Gift Guide 2024
Elina Organics
4205 S. Westnedge Ave.
269.384.9080 • elinaorganics.com
National award-winning, handmade, organic, clinical skin care products and services made in Kalamazoo. Voted best facial of Chicago by Chicago Magazine and Best Facial for Glowing Skin by CS Magazine
Air Zoo – Aerospace & Science Center
6151 Portage Road, Portage 269.350.2842 • airzoo.org
A membership to the Air Zoo offers unlimited access to exhibits, rides, simulators, shows and member-only events all year! Members enjoy presales on programs, discounts in the gift shop and reciprocal membership opportunities. Explore options at airzoo.org/ membership.
Kazoo Books
2413 Parkview Ave.
269.553.6506 • kazoobooks.com
35 years of bookselling experience makes us the perfect place to shop for the right book as a gift or holiday reading. Take a break from the rush and relax in the fireplace room. Remember entrance and parking in the back.
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
314 S. Park St. 269.349.7775 • kiarts.org
This year, give the gift of art in KIA memberships, gift certificates, classes, and one-of-a-kind works of art from the Gallery Shop. Learn more about hours of operation at kiarts.org.
Gift Guide2024
Luxe Gift Shop & Boutique
112 W. South St. Kalamazoo • 269.366.4446 luxegiftshopandboutique.com
Visit the tiniest store in Kalamazoo. We curate meaningful local and global products for you so together, we empower women. Happy Holidays!
Binder Park Zoo
7400 Division Dr., Battle Creek 269.979.1351 • binderparkzoo.org
Give the gift of adventure this holiday season with a zoo membership as we celebrate our 50th anniversary in 2025! Come experience educational opportunities, family fun, unlimited visits, and the chance to support wildlife conservation. It’s the perfect gift for animal enthusiasts of all ages.
Mitten Running Co.
6290 S. Westnedge Ave., Portage 269.492.3544 • mittenrunningco.com
Now selling pickleball paddles, shoes, and accessories! Whether you are a seasoned runner, dog walker or just looking for properly fit, quality athletic shoes, we offer top brands in running footwear, apparel, accessories, and nutrition. Stop in for your free digital foot scan and we will get you dialed in for your next excursion. Located next to V&A Bootery in Portage.
Burtrum Furs & Leathers
5568 Beckley Road, Suite 8 &10, Battle Creek 269.979.4101 • burtrumfursandleathers.com
SW Michigan’s largest full service outerwear store, with over 800 coats in stock for men and women, specializing in fur and leather. Children's rabbit parkas, cashmeres, ski parkas, rainwear, vests, ponchos, wraps, 100s of accessories, hats, headbands, earmuffs, scarves, gloves, slippers, belts, wallets and more!
Liberty Square Furniture
8639 Portage Road, Portage 269.329.0434 • lsfhome.com
Liberty Square is so much more than a furniture store! We offer unique and tasteful holiday decor and accessories to adorn your home this holiday season.
Taste of Heaven
2328 Winters Dr., Portage 269.349.0849 • drizzled.org
Give the gift of indulgence this season with Taste of Heaven! Handcrafted popcorn and sweets that will delight every palate. Perfect for family, friends and holiday hosts. Sweeten their day!
The Pantry on Tap
Schultz Sweets
6857 West Main St., Unit 6 269.254.8277 • schultzsweets.com
Stop in for handmade caramels, chocolates and holiday sweets! Stay for lunch and ice cream or enjoy a warm beverage in our cafe. Shop online and check out our candy making parties at Schultzsweets.com
7634 S. Westnedge Ave., Portage 269.978.6641 • thepantryontap.com
Add some flavor to your life! The Pantry on Tap is a gourmet store featuring olive oils, balsamic vinegars, dips, spices and unique gifts to bring out your inner chef. To pre-order your holiday or corporate gifts, call 269.978.6641.
Jewelry Gallery
3940 W. Centre Ave., Portage 269.459.1669 • UniQJewelry.com
&
Tulips Little Pop Up Shop
2036 Parkview Ave.
269.459.6481 • tulipslittlepopup.com
Mon–Tues: 10–5; Wed–Fri: 10–6 Sat: 10–5; Sun: 11–3
Mention this and receive 20% OFF one Gretchen Scott item of your choice! Offer expires: 12.20.24
Lana's Boutique
124 S. Kalamazoo Mall 269.345.3302 • lanasboutique.com
Shop at Lana’s for unique gifts, accessories and clothing to make the season bright. Locally owned for 20 years, we’re proud to offer a personalized shopping experience for all! Enjoy free gift wrapping for the holiday season! Shop online www.lanasboutique.com.
V&A Bootery
Southland Mall, Portage 269.323.9888 • vabootery.com
V&A Bootery has a huge selection of boots for men and women this fall, including the Dansko Lizanne. From work to cocktail parties and more, Lizanne is a beautiful and functional short bootie clog on a blonde sole. Check out this style and many more from brands like Birkenstock, Taos, Rieker, Clarks, UGG and Sorel.
Gift Guide2024
www.parkclub.net frontdesk@parkclub.net | 269-381-0876
The Park Club
Tromblay Salon and Gallery
219 W. South St. 269.381.0876 • parkclub.net
Downtown Kalamazoo’s premier private dining club since 1904. Gift a membership of superior cuisine, attentive personalized service, and a loyalty to comfortable elegance.
6794 S. Westnedge Ave., Suite F, Portage 269.548.7633 • 13cookiesllc.square.site/ The Park Club A Unique Christmas Gift
627 S. Burdick St.
269.383.4300 • tromblay.com
Enjoy browsing the eclectic mix of clothing and gifts artfully displayed in the historical Bosman building downtown Kalamazoo. Local art, leather goods, blouses and beeswax, you never know what you'll find at Tromblay.
Air Zoo Store
Air Zoo — 6151 Portage Road, Portage 269.350.2828 • airzoostore.org
Shop local for the perfect gifts! Explore unique books, jewelry, toys, and more for everyone on your list, even the hardest to shop for. Visit us in-store seven days a week or online anytime at airzoostore.org.
Cookies
Perfect for holiday parties and as a gift for that special person. We accommodate large and small orders and offer a variety of flavors and options for dietary restrictions. Located in Portage Carillon Centre. Open Wed–Sat. Custom order pick-up Mon–Sat.
Encore Magazine
117 W. Cedar St. • 269.383.4433 encorekalamazoo.com
Nothing stuffs a stocking like a subscription to Encore! The magazine for those who love Kalamazoo, each issue celebrates the people, places and things of our community. Subscribe online at encorekalamazoo.com/subscribe.
First Things
Something Groovy Knee Deep Shag to play Bell’s
The Kalamazoo funk-rock band Knee Deep Shag, which reunited seven years ago after a 13-year hiatus, will reconnect with local fans at 8 p.m. Dec. 20 in Bell's Back Room, 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave.
The five-member band, consisting of Phil Barry on guitar, Matt Gross on vocals, Rob Cookman on keyboards, Jeff Moehle on drums and Mike Fuerst on bass, formed in 1991.
The Grace Thiesen Band will open the show. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 day of show and available at bellsbeer.com.
Something Historical Exhibit explores American Revolution
A pop-up exhibit that looks at the diverse viewpoints and experiences of the people and places that shaped the birth of the United States will be featured this month at the Ladies’ Library Association building, 333 S. Park St.
The American Revolution Experience is presented by the Lucinda Hinsdale Stone Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and invites visitors to consider the choices faced by members of the revolutionary generation as tensions mounted in the 1770s. The exhibit includes perspectives from ordinary citizens, including Patriots and Loyalists, men and women, Black and Native populations and international allies.
The exhibit runs from Dec. 2–31 and is open from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Friday, and noon–3 p.m. Sunday. The building will be closed Dec. 9 and Dec. 23–26. Admission is free.
Something Good
Underwear
Party to help those in need
Want to know who would really like to get some underwear this holiday season? Ministry With Community, which is hosting its Underwear Party Week Dec. 2–6.
This annual event gathers warm clothing and raises funds for the daytime shelter, which provides resources and meals for those experiencing homelessness, substance abuse disorder and other crises.
The organization is seeking donations of new adult in clothing, including underwear, thermal wear and winter gear for adults in sizes medium to 3XL. Donations can be dropped off from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. at Ministry's facility, at 500 N. Edwards St. Monetary donations will also be accepted.
For more information, visit ministrywithcommunity.org.
Something Artsy
Markets feature
local artisans
If you're looking for a work of art for someone this holiday, there are three opportunities this month to see and shop wares made by local artists and artisans.
The annual Kirk Newman Art School Holiday Art Sale at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts will offer paintings, sculpture, jewelry and more, created by faculty and students of the KIA. The sale runs from 5–8 p.m. Dec. 6 and 9 a.m–3 p.m. Dec.
Something to Celebrate
New Year’s Fest
With fireworks, a ball drop, and more than 15 acts giving multiple performances, New Year's Fest returns to downtown Kalamazoo to ring in 2025.
The event includes live music, improv comedy, a magic show, a ventriloquist, scavenger hunts and even superheroes and princesses. It will take place from 6 p.m.–midnight at five indoor stages, a heated tent and the Bronson Park stage.
7, with early hours for KIA members from 5–8 p.m. Dec. 5. For more information, visit kiarts.org.
The Buy Local: Art & Gift Fair at the Kalamazoo Nature Center will feature an abundance of handcrafted items from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Dec. 7. And after you shop, you can take a hike on the center's trails for free. For more information, visit naturecenter.org.
The Holiday Market at the Kellogg Manor House, 3700 E. Gull Lake Drive, gives you a chance to peruse items created by artisans and to tour the home, which was the summer estate of cereal magnate W.K. Kellogg and will be decorated for the holidays. The market will be open from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Nov. 30 and Dec. 7, 14 and 21, with an admission fee of $5. On Dec. 11 the market will have free admission for its Jingle and Mingle event, which will run from 5–8 p.m. and feature a cash bar. The market's Kids Day, Dec. 7, will include craft making and a candy cane hunt. For more information, visit kbs.msu.edu/2024/10/ holiday-market-4.
The cost of admission to indoor performances is $8 in advance. Outdoor shows, the fireworks and the ball drop are free.
Admission buttons can be reserved online from noon Dec. 15 to noon Dec. 31. They also can be purchased in advance at Maple Hill Auto Group, KELC Events, Midtown Fresh Market (cash only), and various Harding's markets.
The cost of admission if buttons are purchased at Bronson Park the day of the event is $12. Those sales begin at 5 p.m.
For more information, visit newyearsfest.com.
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Charlie’s P.L.A.C.E.
One man's mission to build youth into leaders & engage families
BY ROBERT M. WEIR
Brian Powers
For some kids, the idea of being a leader is as remote as the idea that they can become an astronaut. But Kalamazoo's Charlie Parker doesn't want it to be.
The 74-year-old is the co-founder and executive director of Charlie’s P.L.A.C.E., a local organization formed in 2013 to help “youth understand the importance of being a leader and what a leader looks like.”
“A leader’s not always the person out front all the time,” Parker says. "The leader is the person behind the scenes, listening, pushing, encouraging and giving directions."
The P.L.A.C.E. of the organization's name stands for Pursuing Leadership and Community Engagement, and while the organization's education, athletic and skilldevelopment programs are youth-focused, the organization also involves families and the community in its work.
“Through Charlie’s P.L.A.C.E. we give families a place to come in fellowship and be involved with their kids,” Parker says. “We get the community involved with building leaders."
Although the organization does not have a place of its own, it is taking steps to find property and build a multipurpose recreational center and is seeking donations to make that dream a reality.
Parker estimates that Charlie’s P.L.A.C.E. programs touch the lives of more than 5,000 youth and their families annually. Its four primary programs each year are a mother/son dance in May, a summer Youth Basketball League, the Kalamazoo County Track and Field Meet in August, and Trunk of Treats on Halloween.
Charles Parker, founder of Charlie's P.L.A.C.E., holds the Olympic torch he ran with as part of the torch relay for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
Other Charlie’s P.L.A.C.E. endeavors include judo and self-defense demonstrations and classes; a summer reading program; a twoday youth basketball minicamp where young people learn body conditioning, fundamental basketball skills and sportsmanship; and a support program to assist families in need.
The organization also collaborates on community events such as co-sponsoring Kalamazoo’s annual Memorial Day Parade with the Kalamazoo Sunrise Rotary Club and is involved in the Kalamazoo Promise’s Beyond the Backpack program, an event in early September to provide students with information and resources regarding basic education, socio-emotional and physical health issues, literacy, and recreational and enrichment activities.
All of these efforts are meant to be in keeping with the organization's motto: "Sowing seeds of hope, reaping a harvest of dreams."
Early involvement with youth
Long before Charlie’s P.L.A.C.E. was created, Parker was heavily involved with developing youth in the community. He worked for Kalamazoo Public Schools for two decades as a football, wrestling and track coach and as a behavioral specialist; served as director of program development at Lincoln Program Center and for Kalamazoo’s Parks and Recreation Department; was a client advocate within Kalamazoo County’s Public Defender Office; and worked with the Boy Scouts of America and the YMCA.
His credentials include an associate’s degree from Kalamazoo Valley Community College (1982), a bachelor’s degree in social work from Western Michigan University (1988), graduation from the Kalamazoo County Reserve Police Academy (1971), and attainment of YMCA senior director status (1990).
While at the Boy Scouts of America in 1971, Parker became part of the group who started the Youth Basketball League, a summer program teaching basketball fundamentals, team building and social skills. He took over the YBL program in 1982 when he became outreach director for the YMCA. While the acronym “YBL” stands today for
Youth Basketball League, Parker explains that those letters initially represented the involvement of the Y, the Boy Scouts and the Lincoln Community School, which became involved in 1992. When Parker left the YMCA in 2003, he developed the Community Outreach Committee, which became the new organizer for the YBL.
Over the years, the games have been held in a variety of facilities. In 2024, the YBL games were held in a newly renovated gymnasium at the Douglass Community Association on Paterson Street.
“Everyone is invited, no matter the skill level," Parker says. "For some kids it’s their only opportunity to play organized basketball. We get the families involved. It gives them something to talk about around the supper table. They share it on Facebook. The kids see their mom and dad, grandparents, aunts and uncles cheering for them and supporting them. That’s what it’s all about.”
James Ray, who played in the YBL in the 1970s, says, “I had all kinds of relatives who watched me play.” Ray went on to be the point guard for the Loy Norrix High School district championship team in 1978. Ray’s son also played in the YBL, and his 16-yearold grandson plays now.
“YBL is about sportsmanship and camaraderie,” Ray says. "The teams are like family, and Charles is always teaching, helping people reach their potential."
Gwen Lanier, who has cheered for her three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren playing in YBL games, says the program “is one of the most organized sports programs in this community.”
YBL celebrated its 53rd year in June and now has 27 teams involving 270 youngsters, girls as well as boys. Parker's daughter, Tiffany, became commissioner of the league in 2010 and developed a co-ed league for third- and fourth-graders as well as a two-day co-ed basketball camp for third- to ninth-graders.
Top and right: Kids and families in line to get treats during the annual Trunk of Treats event held in the Northside neighborhood that is hosted by Charlie's P.L.A.C.E. on Halloween. Photos by Robert M. Weir.
Many of these girls and boys become varsity players at Loy Norrix and Kalamazoo Central high schools.
“Our intent is to develop scholar-athletes," says Parker, "so this year we encouraged all our players to read one book of their choice and do a one-page book report and also attend leadership and sportsmanship workshops.”
Recreation figures into several of Charlie's P.L.A.C.E.'s programs, including the annual Kalamazoo County Youth Track and Field Meet, held in August and hosted in collaboration with Gazelle Sports to
encourage youth to keep active and moving. This free event is open to all youth ages 5 to 14, and no experience is required. More than 125 youngsters participated in 2023. This year's meet, held at Kalamazoo Christian High School, drew 155 participants.
Charlie’s P.L.A.C.E. also hosts Trunk of Treats annually on Halloween in the 1900 block of Krom Street near Parker’s home on Kalamazoo’s Northside where community members and volunteers line the street with decorated cars to pass out candy to participants.
Trunk of Treats officially began as a Charlie’s P.L.A.C.E. event in 2013, but in the last decade, has grown immensely. “We had over 2,000 people in 2023,” Parker says.
Involving families
But beyond providing an opportunity for families to watch children participate in sports, Charlie's P.L.A.C.E. also aims to create family engagement through events such as the annual mother–son dance, held at the Radisson Plaza Hotel and attended by 400 people, including mothers with their babies.
“You see moms out there dancing with their sons, playing games, having a ton of fun," Parker says. "And we have moms who are 60 or 70; they bring their sons who are in their 40s or 50s. We don’t discriminate. We’re wide open.”
Parker and his organization also promote gentlemanly conduct. When a boy and his mother enter the dance, Parker says, “we tell them, ‘Open the door for her and stand behind the door. Let your mom come through and smile at her.’ That’s part of being a man, an adult. To respect their mom and all ladies.
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“I’m always looking at ways to help kids build positive images and not let other people define who they are.” Parker says he applied this philosophy when raising his six children and now does so with his six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
His family encouraged him in 2013 to bring all the various programs and efforts he was spearheading in the community into one entity and to call it Charlie's P.L.A.C.E. Parker says he was hesitant at first. “I’m a behind-the-scenes person. I didn’t want them to name it after me.”
Yet, he acknowledges that Charlie’s P.L.A.C.E. brought his various skills and interests together in one entity. But most of all, he was simply motivated to help young people. “It’s better to get the kids involved now, while they’re young. The money spent on youth camps and programs is nothing compared to trying to get them out of jail.”
Several of his children and two of his grandchildren are involved with Charlie’s P.L.A.C.E. and serve on the board of directors, and other grandchildren and great-grandchildren are also involved in the organization.
Parker says that 95% of the young people who participate in Charlie’s P.L.A.C.E programs are students who attend Kalamazoo public schools, but youths from other Kalamazoo County communities, Battle Creek, Benton Harbor and even Detroit also participate. “That’s how big our programs have grown,” he says. “Everybody’s welcome. We don’t turn anybody away.”
Regardless of the activity, Parker says, Charlie’s P.L.A.C.E. “is all about giving youth an opportunity they normally wouldn’t have to be in the spotlight and feel good about themselves.” He adds that this exposure has led some youths to find beneficial, community-service employment in all parts of the city and beyond.
For More Info
To learn more about Charlie’s P.L.A.C.E. or to volunteer, donate or participate in activities, visit the organization’s Facebook page or website, www.kzoocharliesplace.com.
Lanier, who is co-founder of Mothers of Hope, a nonprofit that helps people with substance abuse issues, says, “Charles and his daughters come out and work with people where they are. They reach a lot of kids down in the trenches.”
Currently, Charlie’s P.L.A.C.E. operates out of Parker’s home and conducts its programs in rented facilities, but the board is looking for suitable land on the Northside to construct a building where they can conduct more youth programs and parenting classes. “We want to have three gyms and a community room that will hold 300 people and a second room for classes and office space,” says Parker.
He expresses gratitude to those who promote the organization’s efforts through word-of-mouth and funding from private donations, grants, and individuals who pay a fee to participate in some of the programs.
Parker is motivated by what he sees as the need for young people to know their history and not allow anyone to take that knowledge away from them. “It’s important,” he says, “to know where you came from, where you’re at, and where you want to go. To take responsibility for making your own future and writing your own history and not let other people do that for you.”
Unseen Encorephotos from 2024
Revealed
For nearly a decade, Encore has been blessed to have photographer Brian K. Powers create the beautiful imagery that graces the pages of our publication and Art Director Alexis Stubelt to utilize those images in a way that makes the magazine as pleasing to look at as it is to read.
Many times, however, when Brian's on assignment, he just can't help himself and he'll take many more images than can accompany our stories. Sometimes something not even related to the story will catch his eye and he seizes the opportunity to capture it while he can. For us, not using these images in the magazine is like putting works of arts in a vault never to be seen.
That's what our annual Revealed issue is all about — showcasing our unprinted images so that they can be seen and appreciated. As you look through this issue we hope you'll not only recall the people and places Encore featured in 2024 but see their beauty in a new way.
Reflections of autumn illuminate Mud Lake in Portage.
photography by BRIAN K. POWERS
Clockwise from above: Multiple textures can be seen in this architectural highlight of the Kalamazoo State Theatre; author Bonnie Jo Campbell beside her beloved Kalamazoo River; painted air vents adorn the roof of The Marlborough building; a graffiti message on North Church Street in downtown Kalamazoo; a bison head decorated for Halloween at Louie's Trophy House.
Clockwise from top left: Artist and art therapist Gay Walker in her studio; a steampunk-like still life in a workshop at Jerico in Kalamazoo; sun rays shine through a spray of water in a local neighborhood; blue oyster mushrooms being cultivated by a local chef; the lines of a Pride crosswalk painted on a downtown Kalamazoo street.
Want that photo for yourself?
If you're interested in purchasing a larger print of any of the photos in this issue, send a request to editor@encorekalamazoo.com for pricing and additional information.
Clockwise from top left: A window scene in Kalamazoo's Fiddleleaf Cafe; the interior atrium of Celebration Cinema in Portage; blueberries being sorted at Mitchell's Patch of Blue farm in Bangor.
An Extra Set of Hands
Concierge program provides Bronson employees with helpful perk
BY ZINTA AISTARS
Best Upon Request team member Michelle Hughes in the concierge office as she awaits requests to fill for Bronson Methodist Hospital employees.
The surgeon checked her watch before heading toward the operating room at Bronson Methodist Hospital for an emergency surgery. She had planned to make a quick lunch-hour trip out of the hospital to pick up a few items for her 8-year-old’s birthday party, but this surgery had to take precedence.
Knowing her daughter would be disappointed if there were no party decorations or party prizes for her little friends, the surgeon turned to Best Upon Request for help. She did a quick click-click on the app on her phone to pick out the items needed and send the request, and her shopping was done. The surgeon tucked her phone into her pocket and entered the operating room, relieved that her daughter would be satisfied with her party.
Best Upon Request is a national organization that provides a wide range of concierge services to various businesses and hospitals, with the goal of helping decrease employees' stress while increasing engagement in the workplace.
“Best Upon Request has been serving our employees for 23 years,” says Marcie McCann, communications specialist for Bronson Healthcare Group. “They are a concierge service for anyone who works here full or part time. It’s a free service — pay only for the product you wish to purchase.”
Bronson employees at both its Kalamazoo and Battle Creek locations can use concierge services such as grocery shopping, dry cleaning, mailing packages, clothing alterations, automotive care, day care arrangements, laundry, event planning, notary use, pet care and more.
“Pretty much anything you can think of,” says Chelsea McMullin, benefits system manager for Bronson Healthcare Group. “It can be as easy as sending an email, using the app, or stopping by the Best Upon Request office on location to make your request. The first time, you fill out a form and get your credit card on file. After that, it’s simple and fast.”
“You don’t even have to know the items exactly. Just describe what you need,” McCann adds. “You can ask questions or give suggestions as they are shopping for you.”
Best Upon Request typically provides a cost estimate of the goods and services ahead of time so there are no surprises when the items arrive. Memberships at Costco and Sam’s Club help to save on prices. Tips are not accepted.
“This kind of service, saving time and stress for our employees, is a huge benefit in terms of mental health,” McMullin says. “They really value it. We have a couple Best Upon Request people working at our Kalamazoo location and one in Battle Creek. They really get to know us and feel a part of our organization.”
Aaron Jager, an employee at the Kalamazoo hospital, says he loves this service. “As a busy family of five, with three teenage boys, we have greatly benefited from using the Bronson concierge service," he says. "They help us
Brian Powers
out several times per week by purchasing groceries and other small items that we ask for. This service has saved us countless hours of our time over the past several years. Each member of the concierge team that I have met is always friendly, kind and so helpful. For me and my family, I think that this is one of the best benefits that Bronson offers to its employees.”
Chuck Haddox, Best Upon Request’s vice president of client services, praises Bronson's longtime use of the service. “Bronson was ahead of the curve when they partnered with Best Upon Request more than two decades ago to provide concierge services to their employees as a gift of time,” he says. “By taking on employees’ errands and todos, our concierge team has been able to reduce their stress and help them make time for moments that matter.”
The concierge service saved Bronson Healthcare employees a combined total of 1,163 hours at the two locations in one month. Employees requested a total of 1,179 services in that month, spending a total of approximately $25,000.
“Overall, shopping is the most frequently used service, including grocery shopping, but employees also use it to buy stamps and gift cards,” McCann says. “Other commonly used services include pickup and delivery of items, dry cleaning and shipping.”
McMullin adds, “When you consider what a fast-paced world we live in, certainly in a health care organization a concierge service like this is a great mental health resource. When you get this kind of
help in your day, it leaves you more time to spend with your family. That helps you focus more on your work when you are here. It is one of our most-appreciated perks in our already robust benefit package at Bronson Healthcare.”
Brian Powers
Bronson employee JeanAnn Miller, left, picks up an order from the Best Upon Request office at the hospital.
Arts Accolades Annual awards honor arts accomplishments
BY THE ARTS STAFF
A cellist and composer, a photography teacher, and a lighting and stage designer will receive awards for lifetime achievement in this year's 2024 Community Arts Awards from the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.
The Community Arts Awards annually recognizes artists, arts organizations and arts supporters in the greater Kalamazoo area. This year's awards will be presented during a ceremony at 7 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Dale B. Lake Auditorium, on the Texas Township campus of Kalamazoo Valley Community College.
Medal of Arts awards
The Community Medal of Arts is a lifetime achievement award that recognizes individuals' long-term contributions to and leadership in the local arts community. The three recipients this year are Elizabeth Start, Mary Whalen and Lanford "Lanny" Potts
Start, a composer and cellist, will be recognized for her creative contributions as well as for founding and leading the Connecting Chords Music Festival, formerly called the Michigan Festival of Sacred Music. Start performs with the Kalamazoo and Elgin (Illinois) symphonies and and has given more than 500 performances of over 140 works.
Her composition “Traces: Inspired by Strong Women” was commissioned by the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra for its 100th season and won the 2024 Christine Clark/Theodore Front Prize from the International Alliance of Women in Music Search for New Music.
In addition, Start has taught cello, acoustics, composition, music history and theory, world music, and music appreciation at institutions that include Columbia College, DePaul University, Elgin Suzuki, and Kalamazoo College.
Whalen will be honored for her work to promote photographic art as the director of the photography and digital imaging program at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, where she also teaches several classes. She is also a teaching artist in Kalamazoo area schools with Education for the Arts, a program of the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency.
Her work has appeared in various publications and exhibitions, and her recent projects have included a series of cyanotypes with encaustics as well as typesetting and bookmaking at the Kalamazoo Book Arts Center.
TheArts
Spotlighting greater Kalamazoo's arts community
Potts will be recognized for his 27-year career as a lighting and stage designer. He began working in this field at age 16 when he was the stage manager and lighting designer for the Miss Indiana Pageant and by age 21 was selected to stage manage at the John F. Kennedy Center for the American College Theatre Festival.
His first Kalamazoo productions were in 1986 as the technical director and lighting designer for the Kalamazoo Civic Youth Theatre. In 1987, he was hired as the technical director for Festival Playhouse at Kalamazoo College. Potts also serves as a design consultant and has been responsible for the design and/or upgrades of the Judy K. Jolliffe Theatre and Cori Terry Theatre, at the Epic Center; the Southridge Church main stage and youth stage areas; Calvary Bible Church; Farmers Alley Theatre; and Kalamazoo College's Dalton Theatre. Leadership awards
Three individuals will receive the Gayle Hoogstraten Arts Leadership Award:
• Ben Gudbrandson, an orchestra teacher and cellist, teaches fourth- to eighth-grade orchestra at Parkwood Upjohn Elementary School and Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts. He was named the District 11 Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association’s Teacher of the Year in 2020. He is also artistic director of Kalamazoo Kids in Tune, an after-school orchestra program aimed at meeting the musical and social needs of musicians in second to 12th grade at Kalamazoo Public Schools.
From left: Elizabeth Start, Mary Whalen and Lanford "Lanny" Potts.
Gudbrandson
• Cab Rininger, a visual communications professional, leads the Media Design team at Kellogg Community College, in Battle Creek. Before joining KCC, Rininger worked as a designer and art director for clients including the SPCA, Pfizer, Stryker, and the United Way. She also teaches college graphic design and visual communication classes.
Miller Auditorium, located on the WMU campus, hosted its first audience in 1968. The state-of-the-art facility hosts touring productions of Broadway shows, concerts, comedy events and family shows and serves as a venue for the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Kalamazoo Concert Band and Gilmore International Piano Festival. Youth awards
Courtney Gardner and Carly Rose Koch will each receive the Adam F. Carter Young Artist Award.
• Kate Yancho has been executive director of Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers since 2016. She received a bachelor's degree in dance performance from Kent State University and a master's in higher education and student affairs from Ohio State University. She spent eight years as the assistant director of student activities at Kalamazoo College, where she also was the advisor to the Frelon Dance Company, taught dance classes, and choreographed musical productions. Yancho was appointed to the Michigan Arts and Culture Council in 2021 and teaches a dance management course at Western Michigan University. Awards for nonprofits
Friends of Poetry and Miller Auditorium will each receive an Epic Award, which recognizes nonprofit organizations or programs that enhance life in our community through the arts.
Friends of Poetry, founded in 1976, has fostered the reading and writing of poetry throughout the community. It does so through readings, workshops, special events and two annual contests: the Poem That Ate Our Ears contest for youth poets and an annual chapbook competition that publishes short poetry books.
Gardner has been actively involved in community theater since she was 8 and has performed with Center Stage Theatre and the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre and at Kalamazoo Central High School. She is also an improv team member and a part of the Hawthorne Singers at Kalamazoo Central.
Koch has been performing and writing songs since age 6 and has appeared in musical theater productions at Portage Central High School, Farmers Alley Theater and the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre. She was nominated for Michigan's Sutton Foster Awards, which recognize excellence in high school theater, for her roles in Anastasia (2023) and Mean Girls (2024). In 2023, Carly won the Michigan School Vocal Music Association Musical Theatre Intensive competition.
Business award
Finally, DeNooyer Chevrolet will receive the Business Arts Award. The car dealership has sponsored events and programs of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Fontana, Chamber Arts, the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre, the Gilmore Piano Festival, the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo, and the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. It also sponsors Summertime Live Concert Series performances.
Rininger
Yancho
TheArts
Spotlighting greater Kalamazoo's arts community
Crumbsfromthe TableofJoy
Dec. 6–14
Face Off Theatre
How 17-year-old Ernestine Crump and her family adjust to life after the death of her mother is the focus of this play set in the 1950s.
Arise Rock stars in the role of Ernestine, and other cast members include Tim Baker and Aija Hodges.
Show times are 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6, 7 and 14 and 2 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Jolliffe Theatre, in the Epic Center. Tickets are on a "pay-whatyou-wish" basis and available at faceofftheatre.com.
ANot-So-SilentNight
Dec. 13–14
Center Stage Theatre
A holiday-themed cabaret performance by this community theater organization will be staged at Connections Community Church, in Schoolcraft.
The program is a fundraiser for the Comstock-based Center Stage Theatre, which invites everyone who auditions to be part of a production. Show times are 7 p.m. Dec. 13 & 14 and 2 p.m. Dec. 14. Tickets are $15 and available at kzoocst.com.
RoseRed& SnowWhite
Dec. 21
All Ears Theatre
A contemporary, all-audio theater version of the Grimm Brothers' fairy tale about two sisters and their mother who live in an enchanted forest will be performed at 6 p.m. at the Kalamazoo Nonprofit Advocacy Coalition building, 315 W. Michigan Ave.
The show is free. For more information, visit allearstheatre.org.
NextStop,Broadway
Nov. 30–Dec. 2
WMU Department of Theatre
Tony-nominated actress
Caitlin Kinnunen will join seniors from the Western Michigan University theater department for this annual cabaret performance in WMU's Williams Theatre.
Kinnunen originated the role of Emma Nolan in Broadway's The Prom, for which she received a Tony Award nomination. Her film credits include Our Ladies, The Intern, Sweet Little Lies, It’s Kind of a Funny Story, and We Need to Talk About Kevin.
Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. performances are $7–$24 and available by calling 387-6222 or visiting wmich.edu/theatre.
ChristmasCabaret
Dec. 13–22
Barn Theatre
The Barn Theatre's Christmas Cabaret promises to make audiences feel merry and bright by offering favorite carols and holiday songs.
The show will be staged in the Augusta theater's Rehearsal Shed and feature family-friendly holiday fare as well as complimentary dessert, coffee and hot chocolate.
Show times are 7 p.m. Dec. 13 and 17–20 and 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 14–15 and 21–22. Tickets are $39 and available by calling 731-4121 or visiting barntheatreschool.org.
OngoingProductions
AChristmasCarol—New Vic Theatre
AChristmasCarol:Season’sGreedings—Farmers Alley Theatre Rodgers&Hammerstein’sCinderella—Civic Auditorium
TheArts
WMU School of Music
Throughout the month
Various venues
The school closes out its fall semester with a handful of performances this month. Unless noted, the performances will be in the Dalton Center Recital Hall and are free:
• WMU Drum Choir, 5 p.m. Dec. 2.
• Student Chamber Ensemble, 7 p.m. Dec. 2, Zion Lutheran Church, 2122 Bronson Blvd.
• Arturo O’Farrill, pianist, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5, $5–$15.
• A Choral Christmas , featuring WMU choral groups Amphion, Anima & University Chorale, 4 & 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7, First Presbyterian Church, 321 W. South St., $5–$15.
• Brass for the Holidays , Western Brass Quintet & guests, 3 p.m. Dec. 15, $5–$15.
To purchase tickets or for more information, visit wmich.edu/music/events.
Choral Performances
Throughout the month
Various venues
There's no sound that better signifies the holidays than the singing of choirs, and this month offers several choir performances (in addition to WMU's A Choral Christmas):
The Kalamazoo Men’s Chorus teams up with the Kalamazoo Ringers handbell choir in a concert titled Christmas in Kalamazoo at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3 at Centerpoint Church, 2345 N. 10th St. Admission is free.
Blendings Vocal Ensemble's Together on a Winter Night concert will feature a selection of choral music, jazz standards and holiday favorites at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Kalamazoo Nonprofit Advocacy Coalition, 315 W. Michigan Ave. Tickets are $15 at the door.
Kalamazoo Choral Arts goes global with holiday music from around the world at 4 p.m. Dec. 8 in Stetson Chapel, on the Kalamazoo College campus. Tickets are $21.50–$29.50 and available at kalamazoochoralarts.org.
The Kalamazoo Children's Choir presents its holiday concert, Promises to Keep, at 3 p.m. Dec. 15 at First Congregational Church, 345 W. Michigan Ave. Tickets are $12–$15 and available at kalamazoochildrenschorus.org.
ABaroqueNoel
Dec. 1
Early Music Michigan
Singers and instrumentalists will perform Marc-Antoine Charpentier's Messe de Minuit at 3 p.m. at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 1747 W. Milham Ave., Portage.
The group will be joined by Les Écuries du Roy, an oboe ensemble that will perform on reproductions of 17th-century instruments.
Tickets are $15–$50, with a pay-what-you-will option. To purchase tickets, visit earlymusicmichigan.org.
Arturo O'Farrill
It’stheBestTime oftheYear
Dec. 6
Kalamazoo Concert Band
Vocalist Megan Dooley and cellist and songwriter Jordan Hamilton will join the band to perform holiday favorites and traditional carols at 8 p.m. Dec. 6 at Miller Auditorium.
While the concert is free, tickets are required and can be requested at kalamazooconcertband.org.
LetItSnow!
Dec.
14
GetinTheSpirit!A Holly,JollyConcert
Dec. 7
Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
Broadway performers Hannah Elless (top) and Josh Young (bottom) and the Kalamazoo Children's Chorus will join the orchestra for this holiday season concert at 7:30 p.m. in Chenery Auditorium.
Elless, a Kalamazoo native, is best known for her role as Margo Crawford in the Broadway production of Bright Star, while Young was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance as Judas Iscariot in the 2011 revival of Jesus Christ Superstar
Tickets are $18–$57 and available at kalamazoosymphony.com.
The Kalamazoo Ringers
With seven octaves of handbells and six octaves of choir chimes, this handbell choir will perform a holiday-themed concert at 3 & 7 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 212 S. Park St.
Admission is free, but an offering will be taken at intermission. In addition, the group will collect hats, scarves, gloves and mittens to be donated to local people in need. For more information, visit kalamazooringers.org.
TheNutcrackerKalamazoo!
Dec. 7–8
Ballet Kalamazoo
The holiday classic gets a little local flavor when it's performed this month at Comstock Community Auditorium, with such local favorites as Candy Cane Lane and Blue Moon ice cream woven into the tale.
The production will feature guest artists Matthew Rusk, of the St. Louis Ballet, and Seyong Kim, dance professor at Western Michigan University.
Show times are 6 p.m. Dec. 7 and 2 p.m. Dec. 8. Tickets are $15–$30 and available at balletkalamazoo.com.
ImageMeetsText: ALegendaryPoetry Workshop
Dec. 12
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
Different approaches to the process of writing poems inspired by works of visual art will be explored in a workshop conducted by local poet, visual artist and educator Denise Miller at 6 p.m.
Participants will select pieces from the Legendary Voices exhibition and formulate poetic responses, with the option to share their work with the group during a gallery walk-through. No previous experience writing poetry is required.
The event is free, but registration is required. To register, visit kiarts.org.
NutcrackerSuites&Treats
Dec. 18
Ballet Arts Ensemble & the KSO
Dancers from the Ballet Arts Ensemble join forces with artists-in-residence from the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra to present an abridged version of this holiday tale at the Radisson Plaza Hotel's Arcadia Ballroom.
The show, with choreography by Cathleen Huling, is an hour-long performance of various suites from Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker. Show times are 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5–25 and available at kalamazoosymphony.com.
Megan Dooley Jordan Hamilton
Denise Miller
TheArts
Art Hop
Dec. 6
Downtown Kalamazoo
The theme “A Year in Review” will be the focus of this month’s Art Hop.
This free event, organized by the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo, runs from 5–8 p.m. and features a variety of artists’ works as well as live music and the chance to visit downtown businesses.
The Arts Council has an app that provides a guide and map of Art Hop sites, information about participating artists, and walking directions. For more information or to access the app, visit kalamazooarts.org.
VISUAL ARTS
Ongoing Exhibitions
LegendaryVoices:ArtfortheNext Century , Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
PowerfulForces:Legends,Rituals& WarriorsinEastAsianArt , Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
JackCarney,ARetrospective , Richmond Center for Visual Arts
AimeeLee:ThisBastIsaLatticea MatrixaDialect , Kalamazoo Book Arts Center
THEATER Plays
A Christmas Carol: Season’s Greedings — Adaptation of the Dickens' story with puppetry, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5–6, 2 p.m. Dec. 1, 7–8, Farmers Alley Theatre, 221 Farmers Alley, 343–2727, farmersalleytheatre.com.
Crumbs from the Table of Joy — 17-year-old Ernestine adjusts to life after her mother dies, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6, 7 & 14, 2 p.m. Dec. 15, Face Off Theatre Company, Jolliffe Theatre, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, faceofftheatre.com.
Musicals
Rodgers&Hammerstein’sCinderella— Modern take on the fairy tale, 2 p.m. Dec. 1, 7–8, 14–15 & 21–22; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6, 13 & 20, Civic Auditorium, 329 S. Park St., 343-1313, kazoocivic.com.
A Christmas Carol — Annual production of the Dickens' story, 8 p.m. Dec. 4–5, 11–12 & 18, New Vic Theatre, 134 E. Vine St., 381-3328, thenewvictheatre.org.
Next Stop, Broadway — WMU theater seniors & actress Caitlin Kinnunen perform, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5–7, Williams Theatre, WMU, 387–6222, wmich. edu/theatre.
Other
ANot-So-SilentNight — Cabaret fundraiser for Center Stage Theatre, 7 p.m. Dec. 13, 2 & 7 p.m. Dec. 14, Connections Community Church, 11500 N. US-131, Schoolcraft, kzoocst.com.
Christmas Cabaret — 7 p.m. Dec. 13, 17–20, 2 & 7 p.m. Dec. 14–15 & 21–22, Barn Theatre, 13351 W. M-96, Augusta, 731-4121, barntheatreschool.org.
Rose Red & Snow White— All-audio production, 6 p.m. Dec. 21, KNAC building, 315 W. Michigan, allearstheatre.org.
DANCE
In the Works — Western Dance Project performs, 6 p.m. Dec. 6, Epic Center, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, wmich.edu/dance/events.
The Nutcracker Kalamazoo! — Ballet Kalamazoo w/guest artists, 6 p.m. Dec. 7 & 2 p.m. Dec. 8, Comstock Community Auditorium, 2107 N. 26th St., balletkalamazoo.com.
Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet — Puppets, costumes & acrobatics, 7 p.m. Dec. 9, Miller Auditorium, WMU, millerauditorium.com.
Nutcracker Suites & Treats — Ballet Arts Ensemble & Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, 5:30 & 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18, Radisson Arcadia Ballroom, 100 W. Michigan Ave., BAEtickets.org.
MUSIC
Bands & Solo Artists
Bell’s Eccentric Cafe Concerts — Saxsquatch & Bridge Band, Dec. 7; May Erlewine & The Motivations, Dec. 12; Chris Knight, Dec. 13; AllAmerican Funk Parade w/DJ Joe Hertler, Dec. 14; Knee Deep Shag w/Grace Theisen Band, Dec. 20; Mighty Big Rig w/Sean Anthony Sullivan & Ten Peso Version, Dec. 21; Dopapod, Dec. 27–28; 8 p.m., 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave., bellsbeer.com.
Orchestra, Chamber, Jazz, Vocal & More ABaroqueNoël — Early Music Michigan presents Marc-Antoine Charpentier's Messe de Minuit, 3 p.m. Dec. 1, Prince of Peace Lutheran, 1747 W. Milham Ave., earlymusicmichigan.org.
Messiah Sing — Sing-along of Handel’s Messiah, 4 p.m. Dec. 1, First Congregational Church, 345 W. Michigan Ave., connectingchordsfestival.com.
WMU Drum Choir — 5 p.m. Dec. 2, Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU, 387-4678, wmich.edu/music/ events.
WMU Student Chamber Ensemble — 7 p.m. Dec. 2, Zion Lutheran Church, 2122 Bronson Blvd., wmich.edu/music/events.
Christmas in Kalamazoo — Kalamazoo Men’s Chorus & Kalamazoo Ringers, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3, Centerpoint Church, 2345 N. 10th St., kalamazooringers.org.
Gull Lake Jazz Orchestra — 7 p.m. Dec. 4, The Dock at Bayview, 12504 East D Ave., Richland; call 731-4911 for reservations.
Together on a Winter Night — Blendings Vocal Ensemble performs, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4, KNAC, 315 W. Michigan Ave., facebook.com/blendingsensemble.
Arturo O’Farrill — Pianist, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5, Dalton Center Recital Hall, wmich.edu/music/events.
Crescendo Student Performance — Dec. 6, Crescendo Academy of Music, Epic Center, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, 345-6664, crescendoacademy. com.
Kalamazoo Mandolin & Guitar Orchestra — 6 & 7:15 p.m. Dec. 6, during Art Hop, Kalamazoo Valley Museum, kalmando.com.
It’s the Best Time of the Year — Kalamazoo Concert Band w/Megan Dooley & Jordan Hamilton, 8 p.m. Dec. 6, Miller Auditorium, kalamazooconcertband.org.
A Choral Christmas — WMU's Amphion, Anima & University Chorale, 4 & 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7, First Presbyterian Church, 321 W. South St., wmich.edu/ music/events.
GetinTheSpirit!AHolly,JollyConcert — KSO, Kalamazoo Children’s Chorus & guests, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7, Chenery Auditorium, 714 S. Westnedge Ave., kalamazoosymphony.com.
Holiday Concert — Brass Band of Battle Creek, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7, Kellogg Auditorium, 50 W. Van Buren St., Battle Creek, bbbc.net.
Celtic Woman: White Christmas Symphony Tour — Irish music, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7, Miller Auditorium, millerauditorium.com.
Allegan Brass Collective – 2 p.m. Dec. 8, Parchment Community Library, 401 S. Riverview Drive, parchmentlibrary.org.
Holidays with Kalamazoo Choral Arts — 4 p.m. Dec. 8, Stetson Chapel, Kalamazoo College, 3377407, kalamazoochoralarts.org.
Mannheim Steamroller’s Christmas — Music with multimedia effects, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11, Miller Auditorium, millerauditorium.com.
Crescendo Community Voices — Concert by teens & adults with intellectual disabilities, 4 p.m. Dec. 12, First Congregational Church, 345 W. Michigan Ave., crescendoacademy.com.
LetItSnow!— Kalamazoo Ringers, 3 & 7 p.m. Dec. 14, First United Methodist Church, 212 S. Park St., kalamazooringers.org.
PromisestoKeep— Kalamazoo Children’s Chorus, 3 p.m. Dec. 15, First Congregational Church, 345 W. Michigan Ave., kalamazoochildrenschorus.org.
BrassfortheHolidays— Western Brass Quintet, 3 p.m. Dec. 15, Dalton Recital Hall, wmich.edu/music/ events.
COMEDY
Slap Your Tail Comedy — 8:30 p.m. Dec. 7, Dormouse Theatre, 1030 Portage St., dormousetheatre.com.
Crawlspace Comedy Theatre — Dust Bunnies, Dec. 19–21; Blunder Bus, Dec. 27; Stuart MacDonald Comedy Magic, Dec. 28; shows at 7:30 p.m., Crawlspace Theatre, 315 W. Michigan Ave., crawlspacecomedy.com.
FILM
Japanese Film Series — Samurai Cat, Dec. 3; Bento Harassment, Dec. 5; 5 p.m., 2028 Brown Hall, WMU, wmich.edu/events.
Tangerine — 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18, Dormouse Theatre, 1030 Portage Road, dormousetheatre.com.
VISUAL ARTS
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts 314 S. Park St., 349-7775, kiarts.org
Exhibitions
Powerful Forces: Legends, Rituals & Warriors in East Asian Art — Power & legend in East Asian art, through Jan. 19.
Legendary Voices: Art for the Next Century — Celebrating the KIA's centennial, through Feb. 16. Events
Sunday Tours — Docent-guided tours, Legendary Voices, Dec. 1 & 15; Permanent Collection, Dec. 8; Highlights of 100 Years, Dec. 22; 1:30 p.m.
Kirk Newman Art School Holiday Art Sale — Works by students & faculty, 5–8 p.m. Dec. 6, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Dec. 7; members only, 5–8 p.m. Dec. 5.
ARTbreak — Legendary Artist’s Talk: James Palmore, Dec. 10; Exploring Common Myths about the Samurai, Dec. 17; sessions at noon, KIA Auditorium; registration requested.
Gallery Gathering: Chinese Goddess Figures — Figures representing Bixia, Yuanjun & Guanyin, 5:30 p.m. Dec. 12; register online.
Image Meets Text: A Legendary Poetry Workshop — Write poetry inspired by visual art, 6 p.m. Dec. 12; register online.
Book Discussion — The Friday Night Club by Sofia Lundberg, Alyson Richman & M.J. Rose, 2 p.m. Dec. 18; register online.
Art Bridges Access for All — Free admission, 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Dec. 19.
Richmond Center for Visual Arts WMU, 387-2436, wmich.edu/art
Jack Carney, A Retrospective — Black & white photography, through Dec. 7, Albertine MonroeBrown & Netzorg-Kerr galleries.
DeVries Student Gallery — Sebastian Bottger paintings & Lily Wilkie-Jones sculptures, Dec. 3–14.
Other Venues
Aimee Lee: This Bast Is a Lattice a Matrix a Dialect — American hanji paper art, through Jan. 17, Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, 326 W. Kalamazoo Ave., Suite 103A, 373-4938, kalbookarts.org.
Art Hop — Displays of art at downtown locations, 5–8 p.m. Dec. 6, 342–5059, kalamazooarts.org.
LIBRARY & LITERARY EVENTS
Comstock Township Library 6130 King Highway, 345-0136, comstocklibrary.org
CTL Writers — Group writing discussion, 10 a.m. Fridays.
Holiday Open House — Treats, crafts & live music, 1–3 p.m. Dec. 7.
Sky Pictures: Finding the Constellations — Talk by Kalamazoo Astronomical Society, 6 p.m. Dec. 11; registration required.
State Rep. Matt Hall Listening Hour — Chat with the representative’s staff, noon p.m. Dec. 18.
Adult Book Club — Freya Sampson’s The Lost Ticket, 5:30 p.m. Dec. 19; registration required.
Pride Book Club — Jacob Tobia's Sissy: A Comingof-Gender Story, 4 p.m. Dec. 20, in-person & online; registration required.
Classic Film Break — Screening of Miracle on 34th Street, 1 p.m. Dec. 27.
Kalamazoo Public Library 553-7800, kpl.gov
Friends of KPL Gift Book Sale — Books, DVDs & CDs, noon–6 p.m. Wednesdays, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Thursdays–Saturdays, through Dec. 28, Friends of KPL Bookstore, Lower Level, Central Library, 315 S. Rose St., kpl.gov/friends.
KPL Mobile Library — 3:30–5 p.m. Dec. 2, New Village Park/Heather Gardens, 2400 Albans Way; 11 a.m.–noon Dec. 9, Ecumenical Senior Center, 702 N.
Burdick St.; 3:30–4:30 p.m. Dec. 10 & 31, Interfaith Homes, 1037 Interfaith Blvd.; 2–3 p.m. Dec. 12, Leisure Pointe Condominiums, 4814 Weston Ave.; 3–4 p.m. Dec. 16, Douglass Apartments, 1211 Douglas Ave.
Common Threads — Conversation & camaraderie with fellow yarn lovers, 6 p.m. Dec. 16, Central Library.
Parchment Community Library 401 S. Riverview Dr., 343-7747, parchmentlibrary.org
Holiday Chocolate & Parchment Wassailing — Parchment Community Choir, Mall City Voices & Kalamazoo Recorder Players inside the library, homemade cocoa & cookies in the rear parking lot, 6–8 p.m. Dec. 4.
Parchment Book Group — J.R.R. Tolkien's Letters from Father Christmas, 6 p.m. Dec. 9.
Mystery Book Club — Andrea Penrose's Murder at Kensington Palace, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 17.
Silent Book Club — Read in companionable silence, 5:15 p.m. Dec. 23.
Portage District Library
300 Library Lane, 329-4544, portagelibrary.info
Kalamazoo County Historical Society —
Discussion on local history, 7 p.m. Dec. 2.
Silent Book Club — Read in companionable silence, 3:30 p.m. Dec. 4; registration required.
Muffins & the Market — Discussion of stock market trends, 9 a.m. Dec. 5 & 19.
Friends of the Library Book Sale — 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Dec. 7; Friends of the Library members can shop early, 4–5:30 p.m. Dec. 6.
Trivia! — For adults, 6 p.m. Dec. 10; register as an individual or a team of six.
Introduction to Beekeeping — Presented by Charlotte Hubbard, 6 p.m. Dec. 11; registration required.
International Mystery Book Discussion — Ragnar Jónasson’s Snow Blind, 7 p.m. Dec. 12.
Documentary & Donuts — Viewing of Somm, about sommeliers, 10 a.m. Dec. 13.
Kalamazoo Macintosh Users Group — Help with Macs, 9 a.m.–noon Dec. 14.
Saturday Sound Immersion — Wind Willow Consortium members play, 10 a.m. Dec. 14; registration required.
Plots & Pages: A Local Writers Group — Discussion on the craft of writing, 6 p.m. Dec. 17.
Adult Holiday Musical Chairs — Competition with a Victorian record player, 7 p.m. Dec. 18; registration required.
Grinch’s Winter Break Drop In — Family movie, treats & crafts, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Dec. 21.
Light Lunch & Literature — Claire Keegan’s Small Things Like These, noon Dec. 23; registration required.
Richland Community Library 8951 Park St., 629-9085, richlandlibrary.org
Bridge Club — Noon–3 p.m. Tuesdays.
Tea Tasting — 6 p.m. Dec. 3; registration required. Cookbook Club — Julia Rutland's The Christmas Movie Cookbook, 6 p.m. Dec. 10.
Richland Area Writer’s Group — Open to new members, 10 a.m.–noon Dec. 14 & 28, in person & online.
Family Santa Bingo — All ages welcome, 1 p.m. Dec. 14.
Richland Genealogy Group — Open to new members, 10 a.m. Dec. 18, in person & online.
RCL Book Club — Percival Everett’s James, 6 p.m. Dec. 19.
Vicksburg District Library
215 S. Michigan Ave., 649-1648, vicksburglibrary.org
Bridge Club — 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays.
Book Club for Adults — 9:30 a.m. Dec. 5
Writer’s Motivational Group — Set goals & report progress, 4:30 p.m. Dec. 26. MUSEUMS
Gilmore Car Museum
6865 Hickory Road, Hickory Corners, 671-5089, gilmorecarmuseum.org
Winter Wonderland — Outdoor driving experience, 5–9 p.m. Dec. 5–8, 12–15, 19–23, 26–29.
Kalamazoo Valley Museum 230 N. Rose St., 373-7990, kalamazoomuseum.org
Mystery & Benevolence: Masonic & Odd Fellows Folk Art — Regalia of the Freemasons & Independent Order of the Odd Fellows, through Jan. 5.
Collecting Black History: Murphy Darden's Legacy — Mini-exhibit from the collection of the late artist, through Jan. 5.
Kalamazoo State Hospital: 165 Years of PsychiatricCare — History of Michigan’s longestoperating mental hospital, through Jan. 19. Other Venues
Pre-Kwanzaa Bazaar — Food, vendors & music, 5–8 p.m. Dec. 6, Black Arts & Cultural Center, Suite 102, Epic Center, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, blackartskalamazoo.org.
Christmas at Wings Arts & Crafts Show — 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Dec. 7 & 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Dec. 8, Wings Event Center, 3600 Vanrick Drive, wingseventcenter.com.
Holiday Walk & Market — Works by local artisans, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Dec. 7, 14 & 21; Jingle & Mingle, 5–8 p.m. Dec. 11, Kellogg Manor House, 3700 E. Gull Lake Dr., Hickory Corners, Kbs.mus. edu.
December to Remember — Cocoa & activities, 5:30 p.m. Dec. 12, Bronson Park, kzooparks.org.
Christmas Craft Show — 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Dec. 14, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 903–5820.
Christmas in the Burg — Activities & Christmas parade, downtown Vicksburg, starts at 1 p.m. Dec. 14, vicksburgmi.org.
Kalamazoo Record & CD Show — 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Dec. 15, Room A, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, Rerunrecords.com.
Kalamazoo Indoor Flea Market — 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Dec. 21, Main Room, Kalamazoo County Expo Center.
American Revolution Experience — Traveling exhibit, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Thursday & Saturday, 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Friday, noon–3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2–31, closed Dec. 9 & 23–26, Ladies Library Association Building, 333 S. Park St., ladieslibrarykzoo.org, 344-3710.
NATURE
Kalamazoo Nature Center
7000 N. Westnedge Ave., 381-1574, naturecenter.org
Buy Local: Art & Gift Fair — 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Dec. 7. Fridays for Future — Online discussion of “Building Resiliency Through Community-Based Farm Education, Natural Building & Off-Grid Living,” noon Dec. 13 & 27. Other Venues
Online Viewing Session — Utilizing a remote telescope in Arizona, 8:30 p.m. Dec. 21 online (cloud date, Dec. 28); register at kasonline.org.
Birds & Coffee Chat Online — Rare birds spotted in Michigan, 10 a.m. Dec. 11; Kellogg Bird Sanctuary, 12685 East C Ave., Augusta, 671-2510, birdsanctuary@kbs.msu.edu
MISCELLANEOUS
Underwear Party Week — Donate winter clothing & underwear, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Dec. 2–6, 500 N. Edwards St., ministrywithcommunity.org.
Kalamazoo Boat Show — 2–8 p.m. Dec. 6, 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Dec. 7 & 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Dec. 8, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 2900 Lake St.
New Year’s Fest — All-ages event with performances, ball drop & fireworks, 6 p.m.–midnight Dec. 31, downtown Kalamazoo, facebook.com/NewYearsFest.
COUNTY PARK PASS
DECEMBER 1-20
3 ANNUAL PASSES GET 1 FREE* $30 REGULAR $25 SENIORS 62+
Only available for purchase in person at the Parks Office, 2900 Lake St. M-F, 8am-4:30pm
Cold Brook, Markin Glen, Prairie View, River Oaks, Scotts Mill, and Woollam Preserve *Free pass
The Christmas Card
This is my father, holding his Roleflex camera at his waist, pointing it at our living room mirror, composing our annual Christmas card picture.
This is me standing next to him, wearing my new Cub Scout uniform, yellow kerchief like a glowing wreath around my neck.
My older brother stands on the other side, looking into the mirror through the thick lenses of his black-rimmed glasses, a curious owl.
My mom is in the background holding my baby brother, who drools on his shirt, grinning his famous one-toothed smile.
On the count of three we all come together in this instant, our eyes shining in the light of the Advent candles glowing on the table in front of us, still happy then.
— Scott Peterson
Before retiring, Peterson was an educator in Mattawan. He has also taught at Western Michigan University and was a teacher-consultant for the National Writing Project. His essays and poetry have appeared in Longridge Review, Plain Song Review, Teach. Write Journal and other anthologies and magazines.
Toni Will (continued from page 38) to her children, earning a personal trainer certification, and participating in so many endurance races over the span of 11 years — five half-Iron Man triathlons and two full — it could make your head spin just thinking about it.
“I had this love for hard things,” Will admits. How did you get to where you are today?
Twelve years ago Southwest Michigan First was looking for someone to run the Chamber. I had no idea what the Chamber did, but it sounded interesting to me. I loved the idea of small businesses advocating for small businesses, educating small businesses, connecting, doing the ribbon cuttings and the groundbreakings. I made it 20 months, but I wasn't happy there. I was in my mid30s with three kids, a husband, a mortgage, and I was seeking less responsibility. I applied for a store manager job at the Radisson, at Sydney (a boutique).
A lot of people at Greenleaf Hospitality (which owns the Radisson and Wings Stadium) knew me because of my work at the Chamber, and they were like, “Toni, you are way overqualified for this. You're going to be bored. This isn't right. We're going to find you something else.” So eventually they called me and said, “We've got something for you: director of sales for the Kalamazoo Wings.” I said, “The hockey team? It's still around?” And they said, “Yeah, that's the problem. We'd like you to come in here and help turn it around.”
And this is literally what I said: “I don't know sh-- about hockey.” They wanted someone that knows how to sell, that knows how to build and lead a strong, effective culture, and they wanted someone that loves Kalamazoo. Ten years later, it is the best job I never knew I wanted.
What is it like being the first female GM of the Kalamazoo Wings?
I will say it the way I normally would: I run off “f--- you” fuel. When I walked in here a decade ago, I didn't know what I was walking into. I was naive. I didn't think my gender was anything. I came in here, and for two or three years my nose was to the grindstone. It didn't matter that I was a woman. It wasn't until I could catch my breath and I'm sitting in a Board of Governors meeting, and I'm like, “Oh, I got a lot of work to do here.”
I want to talk about this. Because if I don't talk about it, then some other young girl could see me and think, “How do I do what she's doing?” There is some defiance, because I am treated differently at times and because I'm courageous enough to say, “I don’t know. Let me learn.” Would a man ever do that?
But what I continue to bump up against — even though I've broken through — is the proverbial glass ceiling. By that, I mean I'm the first woman to ever be on the executive committee of the ECHL Board of Governors, and that took years, and I would like to be the first woman chairperson of the Board of
Governors. I've had that goal for a long time. Will I get there? I don't know. It's hard. It's hard on that board. It's very political. There's a lot of ego. And I think differently than they do.
What are you most excited about for the K-Wings’ 50th season?
There’s a lot to celebrate this year. We kicked off our 50th anniversary season by achieving the Guinness World Record for the highest number of waving foam fingers. It was huge and so much fun. This is the second world record we've accomplished under my leadership. We did it five years ago at the largest lightsaber battle for Star Wars night.
And then we're having 50 — I mean 50! — years of professional sport in a city the size of Kalamazoo. We held Legacy Night on Nov. 1, where it was our 1,000th ECHL game in this league. We've got Hockey Heritage in January. We're retiring a player number — No. 11, Brett Jarrett. The entire Board of Governors is going to be here with the Stanley Cup. We're having the ECHL Hall of Fame dinner, and five inductees are going into that. Over the 50 years, we've had thousands of players through these doors and 5.5 million fans, and soon we'll be moving out of this building. A lot to celebrate.
But as soon as the puck drops on the current season, I start working on the next.
— Interview by Jordan Bradley, edited for length and clarity
Lori Hannemann, Michael Brundage, CFP® & Michelle Eldridge, CFA,CPWA® Wealth Management Partners
Toni Will General manager, Kalamazoo Wings
Before Toni Will, 46, became the first female general manager for the Kalamazoo Wings and the first female on the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) Board of Governors Executive Committee in its 36-year history, she was a standard Southwest Michigander. Born and raised in Vicksburg, she attended Kalamazoo Valley Community College and Western Michigan University, where she received a degree in business management.
“In college, I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do, because I had an interest in fitness and nutrition,” Will recalls. “But my dad gave me some really good advice: 'Get a business degree and you can do anything you want.' It made a lot of sense to me.
I was always working. I always liked to work, and so I worked full time my senior year of college at Western.”
Will graduated and embraced a career in banking, beginning with Old Kent Bank, traversing through bank mergers, marriage,givingbirth
(continued on page 37)
Brian Powers
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