Encore Magazine July 2023

From the Editor

Every month is another opportunity for Encore to bring readers stories about passionate folks who work to make our community a better place. Our July issue is a great example of people doing just that but in very different ways.

There's no doubt that finding affordable housing is a struggle for many in our community, and at time when residential development usually means building big, expensive homes, our cover story this month highlights one developer going in the other direction. Hollander Development Corp., established by Joseph Hollander and now run by his son Matt, is building multi-family housing communities that are not only affordable and attractive, but sustainable too. It's an amazing effort helping not only our community's most vulnerable folks, but the environment as well.

We also feature two very different sporting events being held this month in Portage that each exist because of their founder’s passionate love for the game.

Writer Robert M. Weir tells us about the Continental Base Ball Club of Kalamazoo, a club created by Chris Fusciardi that likes to play "America's game" as it was played in the 1860s. The club is hosting 13 other teams for the inaugural Portage Vintage Base Ball Festival on July 15.

Meanwhile, our Back Story profiles James Hackenberg, tournament director of Latitude 42 Pickleball Fever in the Zoo, scheduled for July 14–16 at Ramona Park. A more recently developed game, pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America. Hackenberg and his wife, Yvonne, are not only Pickleball Hall-of-Famers, but love the sport so much they started the Kalamazoo Pickleball Club and a nonprofit organization called Pickleball Outreach, which has funded the development of new pickleball courts in several local communities.

Finally, we spotlight the Kalamazoo Film Society, whose members have shared their passion for art films, independent films and foreign films with Kalamazoo since 1988 and just this year put local filmmakers in the spotlight through the first KFS Filmmakers Showcase.

This issue is a great chance to sit back and reflect on how people who aren't stingy about sharing their passions have given so much to our region. From green housing to the silver screen, their community contributions have made us all richer.

Left to right: Tyler J. Stewart, Charles S. Ofstein, William B. Millard & Hannah M. Recknagel

CONTRIBUTORS ENCORE

It is nearly impossible to live a quality life without a roof overhead, Zinta says in discussing her cover story for this issue. “It was refreshing to talk with the good people at the Hollander Development Corp. and learn about their commitment to build housing for those among us who may not have the income required to pay today’s high rents or the ability to work, or have a criminal history,” she says. “They do so without sacrificing beauty, efficiency or sustainability. They are making a difference in Michigan communities.” Zinta is the creative director of Z Word, LLC, and the producer and host of the weekly radio show Art Beat, on WMUK 102.1 FM.

Kalloli admits she didn't know much about the sport of pickleball before she interviewed James Hackenberg for Encore's Back Story. Hackenberg is the director of this month's Pickleball Fever in the Zoo tournament. "It's really nice to know that there is an outdoor game for all ages," Kalloli says. "The fact that a 95-year-old — Jim's mother-in-law — can play pickleball is just mind-blowing." Kalloli is an intern at Encore and a Western Michigan University student majoring in digital media and journalism and creative writing.

In this issue, Heidi introduces readers to the Kalamazoo Film Society, which started in 1988 and has changed with the times as the film industry has. “As an unabashed fan of everything movie,” Heidi says, “interviewing Dhera Strauss and Mike Marchak, current and past presidents of KFS, brought out the fangirl in me as we talked about the films that have traveled to Kalamazoo by way of KFS and about the rich history of The Little Theatre.” In addition to writing for Encore, Heidi has written the novel Chasing North Star, which is available in local bookstores and online. You can follow her at heidimccrary.net and facebook.com/ HeidiMcCraryAuthor.

Robert is a baseball fan and has previously written articles for Encore about the Detroit Tigers’ spring training (February 2015) and the now-defunct Kalamazoo Kings minor-league team (May 2006). In this issue, he spotlights the Continental Base Ball Club of Kalamazoo, a team of modern competitors who play by the rules of the 1860s, including not wearing baseball gloves to field batted balls. Having practiced with the Continentals and watched one of their games, Robert says he now has a new, historical perspective on “America’s game.” You can see more of Robert’s writing at robertmweir.com.

Zinta Aistars

Heidi McCrary

Robert M. Weir

Kalloli Bhatt

First Things

Something Musical Booker T. Jones to perform

A collaboration among three community organizations and the State Theatre will lead to a free concert by Booker T. Jones at the State at 7 p.m. July 8.

Jones was the frontman for the R&B/funk band Booker T. and the M.G.’s. The concert, titled "Booker T. Jones: Celebrate 60 Years of Green Onions," is a nod to the anniversary of the group’s instrumental tune, "Green Onions," which was a No. 1 hit when released in 1962 and has appeared on many movie soundtracks since then.

The concert is sponsored by the Kalamazoo Public Library, the Black Arts and Cultural Center, the Gilmore and the State Theatre and is part of the 2023 Black Arts Festival and the library's 150th anniversary celebration.

Jones, a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, record producer and arranger, has earned a Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and continues to tour and record internationally.

Registration is required to attend and can be done at bit.ly/grnonion.

Something Informative Historical walks throughout the month

Something Heroic Air Zoo hosts Justice League exhibit

Which DC Justice League superhero do you resemble? You can find out at an exhibit hosted by the Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Center, 6151 Portage Road.

The interactive exhibit, DC Super Heroes: Discover Your Superpowers, opened May 26 and will remain through the end of August. It was created by the Children's Museum of Indianapolis. Guests can join the Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Batman and Cyborg to learn new skills, work together to solve problems, catch supervillains and learn which Justice League superhero they most resemble.

The Air Zoo's hours are 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Saturday and noon–5 p.m. Sunday. Admission to the Air Zoo is $12.95–$15.95 and free for children up to 4 years old. For more information, visit airzoo.org.

You can delve into community history and architecture this month with several walks led by Lynn Houghton, the regional history curator for Western Michigan University’s Zhang Legacy Collections Center and a frequent Encore contributor. These 60– to 90–minute walks are free, and no registration is required. Walks take place rain or shine, unless severe weather is predicted. Tour topics, dates and meeting locations are:

• Vine Historic District, 8 a.m. July 7, Pearl and West Dutton streets.

• Stuart Historic District, 6:30 p.m July 13, Woodward Avenue and West Main Street.

• Village of Schoolcraft, 8 a.m. July 21, Burch Park, at Grand and West Clay streets.

• Oakwood Park, 6:30 p.m. July 27, the former Oakwood Elementary, 3140 Laird Ave.

The walks are sponsored by Gazelle Sports, Discover Kalamazoo and the Zhang Legacy Collections Center. For more information, visit gazellesports.com.

Something Creative Smithsonian exhibit lands in Three Rivers

The Smithsonian-created exhibit Spark! Places of Innovation will be at the Three Rivers Public Library from July 8–Aug. 19.

Through photography, video, objects and digital stories, this interactive exhibit explores the places, people and circumstances that spark technical, social, cultural or artistic innovation and invention in rural communities.

In conjunction with the exhibit, the library will feature an exhibit on innovations from Three Rivers, including information about Rocky Evans, who created the Accelerated Freefall Training Program for skydiving. It also will host a falconry class and Suds & Civilization, which will explore the social history of beer, wine and spirits.

Library hours are 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Monday–Friday and 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturday. For more information, visit threeriverslibrary.org.

Something Aquatic Sample paddle sports in July

If you've been wondering what's up with SUPs (stand-up paddleboards), you can find out more about paddleboarding and other paddle sports every Tuesday evening this month at Ramona Park, 8600 S. Sprinkle Road, in Portage.

The city of Portage is hosting weekly Paddlesports Sampler classes from 6–8 p.m. that will introduce those ages 8 and older to canoeing, kayaking and paddleboarding, Certified instructors and equipment will be on hand. There is a maximum of eight participants for each class, and registration, which is required, ends a week before each class starts.

The fee is $45 per class. For more information or to register, visit portagemi.gov/calendar.

Five Faves

Five houses of worship that once stood in Kalamazoo

BY lynn houghton

Places of worship have been a part of Kalamazoo since its beginnings. Titus Bronson, regarded as the founder of Kalamazoo, and his brother-in-law Stephan Richardson gave Kalamazoo County a square of land in the center of the village for the community's first four churches. Known as Church Square, it is now the site of one of the town's oldest structures, First Baptist Church, completed in 1855 and owned today by the Kalamazoo Nonprofit Advocacy Coalition. Churches have been predominant structures in Kalamazoo, not only downtown but also in all of the neighborhoods. While many older church buildings still exist, many, sadly, are gone. Here are five houses of worship I wish were still around:

People’s Church

Southeast corner of West Lovell and South Park streets

First Unitarian Church, which was established in 1858, completed its first church building in 1863, at the corner of South Park and West Lovell streets. In 1889 came the arrival of minister Caroline Bartlett, who in 1894 oversaw construction of a new church on the same site. She also implemented a number of programs and community services, including the community’s first kindergarten, household science classes for girls, manual training classes for boys, and a public gymnasium. Charles Gombert, who designed Henderson Castle, at the top of West Main Hill, was also the architect for this church. In 1968, the congregation built a new church in Oshtemo Township, and the building shown here came down not long after.

St. Mary Catholic Church Charlotte

Avenue

The first Catholic church on the east side of Kalamazoo, St. Michael’s, opened in 1921. In 1934, with plans for a new church, the parish purchased three acres of land at the site of the Michigan Female Seminary, a private girls' school operated by the Presbyterian Church from 1867–1907 on Charlotte Avenue. Along with the land, the parish received permission to use any materials from the seminary building, including bricks and wood, for its new church. The pastor, Father Joseph Bartkowiak, and many of the parishioners built this first church themselves. It was completed in 1938 and renamed St. Mary Catholic Church. A new church replaced it in 1963, and the former structure became a part of St. Mary's Elementary School but came down in 2005.

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Southwest corner of South Park Street and West Michigan Avenue

Organized in March of 1837, this congregation completed its first church that same year on Church Square. In 1847, they replaced that wood-frame building facing South Park Street with a larger brick structure that faced West Main Street, which is now West Michigan Avenue. It was said that Richard Upjohn, an architect related to the Upjohn family living in the area, drew up the plans for this Gothic Revival structure. By 1884, the congregation, which had been raising money for a new building, merged with St. John’s Episcopal Church on West Lovell Street and used the money to build a new building on that site. The St. Luke’s brick building came down and was replaced by a YMCA building, which is also no longer there.

Temple B’nai Israel South side of East South Street, east of South Burdick Street

Congregation B’nai Israel was established in 1866, and early services were held at private homes until the congregation purchased a site on East South Street for a temple, a schoolhouse and a home for the rabbi. The temple, dedicated in January 1875, had a dome along with a rounded arched entrance and a decorative window above. Newspapers gave information about the size of the main hall as well as details about the interior decoration and furnishings, and the building's unique exterior graced the cover of the 2001 book Kalamazoo Lost and Found, written by me and fellow historian Pamela O'Connor. Temple B’nai Israel moved in 1910, but this building remained and was covered by a two-story addition until 1976, when it was demolished for a parking ramp.

First Church of Christ, Scientist

Northeast corner, West South and South Park streets

Almost all of the churches originally on Church Square or around Bronson Park were examples of Gothic Revival buildings except this one, First Church of Christ, Scientist. Its Neoclassical style, borrowing from both Greek and Roman architecture, was considered very progressive when it was built. The building was completed in 1912 and had a massive front portico with large columns and a triangular pediment. The first floor held meeting rooms and a fireplace, while the second floor had an auditorium with an oval stained-glass skylight. The congregation moved to a building in the Edison neighborhood and sold this church in 2006 to the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, which demolished it in 2019.

About the Author

Lynn Houghton is the regional history curator of the Western Michigan University Archives and Regional History Collection. She leads the Gazelle Sports Historic Walks, a series of free architectural and historic walks at various locations in Kalamazoo County that happen during summer and fall, and she is the co-author of Kalamazoo Lost and Found, a book on Kalamazoo history and architecture. She also participated in the PBS documentary series 10 That Changed America, about the history of architecture and urban planning. She has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from WMU and a master’s in library and information science from Wayne State University.

WHAT’S

free SUMMER concerts ARE BACK!

Summertime

2023

The Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo is collaborating with the cities of Parchment, Portage, Oshtemo Township, Richland Township, Vicksburg and Kalamazoo, as well as numerous venues, artists, and the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation to bring you the 2023 Summertime Live concert series. This year’s series is bigger and better than ever, with:

1 3 venues & 115 free concerts!

All types of musical genres are represented, so there’s something for everyone. Best of all, each concert is FREE of charge so bring your family and friends to soak up some soul-soothing live music this summer!

For full schedule, visit: KalamazooArts.org/Summertime-Live/

Brian Powers

Old-School Sport

Vintage base ball club is gonna play like it’s 1860

BY ROBERT M. WEIR

Kalamazoo was a baseball town well before the Kalamazoo Growlers came to Mayors' Riverfront Park and local players Charlie Maxwell, Mike Squires and Derek Jeter went on to the big leagues. It was a baseball town back before there were even mitts, when players caught the ball in their bare hands and played in open fields with handmade bats and balls and the sport was referred to by two words: base ball.

Thanks to one man, a local team still plays the sport as it was played in the mid-1800s and this month will host 13 other clubs in the first Portage Vintage Base Ball Festival, set for July 15 at Ramona Park.

The Continental Base Ball Club of Kalamazoo (Continental BBC) is a vintage base ball club that has played old-time base ball in the area for nearly a decade. It was formed on the initiative of Chris Fusciardi, 39, who discovered vintage base ball while living in Kalkaska and playing with the Hartwick Pines club. When he moved to Kalamazoo in 2010,

Fusciardi says, he "was disappointed to find out that Kalamazoo did not have a vintage base ball club. That was the point when the idea of starting a club first came up."

There was a club in Paw Paw — the Paw Paw Corkers, with whom Fusciardi played in 2011 and 2012. "In those first two years, I played clubs from large and small cities across Michigan, and I didn't understand why Kalamazoo should be any different,” he says. “After that (2011) season I was determined to start a club. I gave it a go, but unfortunately the interest fell apart when it came time to invest funds. I rejoined Paw Paw for 2012 but was determined to try again after that season to get a Kalamazoo club off the ground.

Left: Roger Smith holds baseballs showing the difference between a ball used in a vintage game, far left, with those of modern times. Below: The Continental Base Ball Club members, back row, from left, John Hadder, James Bathurst, Tim Simmons, Jack Simmons, Roger Smith and Noah Barrett; front row, from left, Dirk Westbury, Charles Ybema, Chris Fusciardi and Logan Fusciardi.

“That offseason we had a bit more interest in joining the club and, despite being short a few players, played our first game in June 2013 with our friends from the South Haven Bark Peelers. That game marked the first time in roughly 145 years that the Continental Base Ball Club of Kalamazoo took the field, and we have been playing every year since." (See "Base Ball in Kalamazoo: A Short History," page 14.)

Now, a decade later, the Continental Base Ball Club of Kalamazoo has 12 members and is part of the national Vintage Base Ball Association, which has 15 other teams in Michigan and more than 100 across the country. Many other clubs not affiliated with the VBBA also exist and play by various vintage rules, and Fusciardi says that vintage base ball games are regular occurrences throughout the country, especially at historic sites like Greenfield Village in Dearborn and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Look, Ma, no mitts

Vintage base ball is definitely old school. First off, as mentioned, it's written with a space between “base” and “ball,” unlike today's baseball. With no designated ballparks in the mid-1800s, games were played on open fields, as is vintage base ball today.

In the vintage game, the bases are smaller and flatter than those used in modern baseball and are placed approximately 90 feet apart, a dimension that has changed only slightly over time.

Ground rules, a term that has carried over into modern baseball, are determined by the home team, according to physical objects in the field of play, such as trees, a mound of dirt or a barn. The teams discuss these rules before a game begins. Fusciardi says he played a game in Northville, Michigan, where there were tiers of bushes in the outfield. A ball hit over the first tier was a single; over the second, a double; and over the third, a triple.

The balls used in vintage games are made by players themselves — as was the case in the 1860s — or by a few small manufacturers. Compared to a modern hardball, vintage balls are a little larger, slightly more supple, covered with one piece of leather rather than

Base Ball in Kalamazoo: A Short History

The game of “base ball” has evolved from the earliest days of civilization, when humans found some purpose or pleasure in using a stick to propel a stone or hard, round object. In the 1700s and 1800s, the British played a ball-and-bat game called “rounders” that immigrants brought to the Americas. Sometimes called “town ball” and played with pegs stuck in the ground instead of bases, the game grew in popularity in eastern U.S. cities in the 1830s and 1840s.

The National Association of Base Ball Players established a set of rules in 1858.

During the Civil War, base ball spread across the country as Union soldiers introduced the game to Confederate prisoners. By the end of the war, the sport was commonly known as “our national game.”

The first documented game in Kalamazoo was played in 1859. The Champion Base Ball Club of Kalamazoo formed a year later and changed its name three times: to Continental Base Ball Club of Kalamazoo in 1861, Una Base Ball Club in 1868, and The Kalamazoos in 1875.

Other teams in the city during the 1860s were the Burr Oaks, the Excelsior Base Ball Club, and the Gymnastic Club (later called Mount Carmel).

The Continentals were undefeated in 1866, scoring 232 runs in five games. The Unas, playing in open lots at the west end of Cedar Street and off Portage Road in the Edison neighborhood, drew large crowds and soundly beat teams from Plainwell to Chicago.

two, and have a different stitching pattern, called a “lemon peel stitch.”

The bats are a little larger and heavier than bats used in modern leagues. Many are handturned, some by players themselves, and the bats are made from hickory, oak, ash, maple and even balsa — unlike modern bats, which are exclusively made from ash by established bat-making companies.

The players then and vintage ball players now do not wear gloves when on the field.

Mitts did not come on the base ball scene until the late 1800s.

Dirk Westbury, 44, who has been playing vintage base ball for 20 years, says catching a flyball with bare hands “isn’t a problem … if you catch it right. If you don’t cradle it, it can sting a bit.”

John Hadder, who is in his second season of vintage ball, says, “Like with martial arts, you do hand-hardening drills and get yourself used to it.”

The scores in a vintage ball game are high compared to the modern game — 20 or 30 runs per team are common, with some teams scoring 50 or more.

Strikeouts are rare, and walks do not exist in vintage base ball. Rather, the pitcher lobs the ball underhand with the intention of letting the batter put the ball in play. Defense is the key to winning the game.

The Continental Base Ball Club of Kalamazoo is a multi-generational team, and the players have nicknames, as was common back in the day.

Fusciardi’s son, Logan (nickname “Danger Zone”) Fusciardi, 19, went with his dad to practices as a youngster. He played his first vintage game at age 14. “Catching a batted ball barehanded is hard on your hands,” Logan says. “Dad didn’t want me getting hurt as a kid.”

Westbury (“Mac”) played his first vintage games with the Mighty River Hogs Base Ball Club of Midland. He was drawn to the sport by his love of baseball and his wife’s involvement with the Midland County Historical Society. This is his fifth year with the Continentals. “I like the history aspect of it,” he says.

Hadder (“Mad,” to go with his last name), 54, played Little League and collegiate intramural softball and joined the Continentals because “Chris (Fusciardi) talked me into it last summer. Now I’m hooked.”

First local festival

Ramona Park, the site of this month's Portage Vintage Base Ball Festival, is an ideal old-time setting, with its open fields, trees and nearby beach where people go for rest and recreation.

The atmosphere of the festival will also be old-timey, says Fusciardi, as in casual, fun, idyllic. The role of the umpire will be traditional — calling only foul balls or baulks (how balks were spelled in the 1860s) by the pitcher. Players will call their own outs on the honor system. With the absence of bleachers, fans will sit in foul territory on chairs or blankets.

Hadder says the festival will be “a reenactment, with players in uniforms of that period." It will be like visiting an outdoor museum, he says, with historical figures

Clockwise from top left: Dennis "Pops" Wiegmann, captain of the Black Flags Base Ball Club of Drovertown (Indiana), pitches to Continentals player Tim Simmons; Drovertown player Kyle "Splinter" Redner, at left, is on base guarded by Continentals player James "Screwball" Bathurst; bases in vintage base ball are smaller and flatter than in the modern sport; Continentals Logan Fusciardi watches game play.

Brian Powers

Portage Vintage Base Ball Festival

moving about in authentic uniforms using authentic equipment. But, unlike in a Civil War reenactment, the outcome of these games will not be known in advance.

“It’s still a game,” says Fusciardi. “You still have competition.”

The 14 teams playing will come from Chicago; Elkhart, Indiana; and several Michigan locations: the Detroit area, Chelsea, Douglas, Flint, Hillsdale, Saginaw and Sidney

(near Greenville). A total of 21 games will be played, each lasting about 75 minutes, and three games will be in progress at any given time, with teams playing by 1860 rules, 1864 rules and 1867 rules. There is no admission fee; spectators need only bring a desire to step back in time and a blanket or chair to sit on.

Fusciardi (“Schoolboy”) emphasizes that the festival isn’t a tournament. “No one’s

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When: 8 a.m.–7 p.m. July 15; the first game will begin at 8 a.m.; the last at 5 p.m.

Where: Ramona Park, 8600 S. Sprinkle Road, Portage.

What: Hosted by the Continental Base Ball Club of Kalamazoo, 14 vintage base ball clubs playing the game by rules from the 1860s will provide entertainment and education on three fields of play.

For more information on the festival: Visit the event' s website at kalamazoocontinentals.org/portagevbb-festival; its Facebook page at fb.me/ e/2PBQVvBfH; and its Instagram account @continentalbbcofkzoo.

For more information about the Continental Base Ball Club of Kalamazoo: Visit kalamazoocontinentals.org or facebook. com/ContinentalBBC on Facebook.

playing for a trophy. We’ll celebrate 1860s baseball, educate, entertain and see if anyone expresses an interest in trying it. We’re always willing to answer questions.”

He invites any healthy person interested in playing 1860s base ball to contact him, either via the team’s website or Facebook page or on the day of the game. “Just come and say you want to play, and we’ll try to get you in,” he says, and that includes women.

“There’s a lot of baseball passion here,” he says of Kalamazoo, noting that the area's modern baseball scene includes Little League, middle school, high school and collegiate teams; the former Kings and the current Growlers professional teams; and adult softball leagues.

“And we have this vintage team — the Continentals — that is closely aligned with how the game was traditionally played.”

Brian Powers

When it comes to affordable, sustainable housing, Hollander Development Corp. is building what it believes

BY ZINTA AISTARS

At a time when a growing number of families are unable to afford housing, childcare, food, transportation and health care, Matt Hollander is dedicated to building affordable and sustainable housing in greater Kalamazoo and across western Michigan.

Since 2018, Hollander has been president of the Portage-based Hollander Development Corp., and he believes people should have not just shelter, but housing.

"There is this movement currently to build tiny units and tiny houses for the unhoused, but I view that as dystopian,” Hollander says. “Putting people into small boxes is a race to the bottom. Yes, they need shelter, and tiny houses can be a triage to something better, but it should be only a step in a continuum to affordable housing.

“Anyone dealing with the unhoused knows that we are dealing with a variety of issues — mental health, fleeing violence, addiction — and we are doomed to failure if we do not address all these issues.”

Hollander developed his passion for providing affordable, environmentally friendly housing because of his father’s influence.

Joseph Hollander, Matt’s father, established the Hollander Development Corporation (HDC) in 1979, and since then the company has developed more than 40 multi-family communities across the state, building more than 4,000 homes.

“My dad was a real estate attorney, and he served as deputy director of operations for the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA),” Matt Hollander says. “At first, HDC was something he did on the side, but by the mid-‘90s he was full time into developing.”

When Hollander was growing up— he was born in Okemos but his family moved to the Kalamazoo area when he was 3 — the concept of housing that is accessible for all was always present in the family. “It was clear that

Matt Hollander, left, and Jason Muniz, center, of Hollander Development Corp. have teamed up with Jamauri Bogan, right, to form Edison Community Partners, LLC, to build an affordable, sustainable senior housing development in Kalamazoo's Northside neighborhood.

we believed in housing for everyone,” he says. “I never really thought about doing anything else in my life other than this.

“When I was 15, I ran a vacuum in apartment buildings in Portage, working for my dad. It was my job after school. My father was always an example to me. Developments for affordable and sustainable housing were an interest that stayed with me when I went to Western Michigan University.”

green construction

Hollander earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and environmental sciences at WMU in 2008. Soon after graduation, he took on the position of coordinator of sustainability projects at WMU, where he remained until 2013. He developed and managed programs for interns, researchers and student workers in various sustainability projects. He mentored students, managed countless campus-wide sustainability programs, developed the university’s sustainability website, coordinated events and more.

“But then I wanted to come back to something smaller, nimbler, than the large university projects,” Hollander says. He returned to HDC, now as a principal, and over the next nine years developed commercial, mixed-use and other real estate projects. He became an expert in LEED and other green building projects. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the most widely used green building rating system. It is a globally recognized certification for buildings that meet the highest sustainability standards.

The four levels of LEED certification include basic certification plus Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels, issued with a particular point count by the U.S. Green Building Council when a building meets certain criteria with regards to integrative thinking; energy; water; waste; materials; location and transportation; sustainable sites; health and human experience; regional impacts; innovation; and global, regional and local context.

“My interest in sustainable design began while I was at WMU, while my dad was getting interested in green building at HDC,” Hollander says. “MSHDA was beginning to

realize that LEED usually applied to higherincome housing but (that) low- and midlevel could benefit too. We wanted to make it more attainable. My dad was always an environmentally conscious person, an avid outdoorsman, and we would have conversations about sustainable design over the dinner table.”

One of HDC’s first green builds was an apartment complex, Deerpath, in East Lansing, built in 1979 and brought up to green standards in 2011–2012.

“Not every building in our portfolio is green. Not the older buildings, but all our newer developments are,” Hollander says.

affordable apartments

Another HDC project was The Creamery, on the corner of Lake Street and Portage Street in Kalamazoo’s Edison neighborhood. It’s a $14.7 million, mixed-use, mixed-income, energy-efficient development that also houses HDC's office.

It has 48 residential apartments that are affordable for the lowest-income earners and workforce households. Rents begin at $417 to $980 per month for the lowerincome units depending on the size and are higher for workforce households, ranging from $1,200 to $1,550 per month, based on bedroom type and household income.

Top: From left, Jason Muniz, Matt Hollander and Joseph Hollander, of Hollander Development Corp; Kelly Lively, of U.S. Senator Gary Peter's office, and Brittney Drake, of Little River Holdings LLC, at the ribbon cutting for Hillcrest Village apartments built by Hollander in Manistee. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Zide/Manistee News Advocate.) Bottom: Renderings for the Legacy Senior Living Project in Kalamazoo's Northside neighborhood. Right: The Creamery boasts 48 apartments and an on-site childcare facility.

All units have washers and dryers, air conditioning, garbage disposals and ceiling fans, and the rent covers utilities.

The project also received recognition for sustainability. “When we built The Creamery here, we achieved LEED Platinum,” says Hollander. “We were one of Michigan’s first all-electric buildings. We have gas connections for the commercial spaces in the building, but with that one caveat, all the apartments here are electric.

“We also added solar power for part of the building and a green roof. It’s been a popular space for residents and community. We even had a jazz festival up there recently.”

In 2022, the U.S. Green Building Council of West Michigan announced Hollander Development Corp. as the Certified Green Building Award Winner for Multifamily housing for The Creamery project. The Certified Green Building Awards recognize exemplary building projects that received high-performance certifications.

childcare and jobs included

The development takes its name from its previous occupant, the Klover Gold Creamery Co., Hollander explained. Klover Gold Creamery processed milk, butter, and dairy foods at the location from 1904 to 1997, but after Klover left the building, it became a blighted area. The city of Kalamazoo demolished the empty building and conducted a neighborhood survey to gather ideas about the needs of the surrounding community.

HDC took over the site in 2019, obtained state incentives to help in financing, worked with Byce & Associates as architects for the project and Frederick Construction Inc. as construction manager, and opened it to the public in 2021. HDC then partnered with the YWCA to develop a childcare center within the building and to provide full-time employment for more than 20 community residents at businesses housed in The Creamery.

“We brought in the YWCA to offer affordable, traditional childcare services as well as Kalamazoo County’s first 24-hour drop-in childcare facility, a nature-based playground, and other wraparound family services within the building,” Hollander says. what is ‘affordable’?

"Affordable housing," as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, is housing and utility expenses that cost no more than 30% of an individual or family's income.

When defining affordability for its housing developments, Hollander says, HDC uses the ALICE Report of the Michigan Association of United Ways as a starting point but hopes to improve upon that — a plan that remains in progress, he says. ALICE refers to people who are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed — in other words, the growing number of families who are unable to afford the basics of housing, childcare, food, transportation, health care and technology.

The ALICE Report defines affordable housing as costing 30 percent of household

income, “but that (definition) wasn’t developed scientifically,” Hollander says. “People have student loans, cell phone connections, health-care costs and other expenses too. It’s just not realistic. It’s living in outer space.”

In HDC’s attempt to lower that percentage and boost affordability, it accepts housing vouchers to serve the lowest-income renters. “And even with vouchers, it can be difficult for these families,” Hollander says. “Many landlords won’t accept vouchers because there’s this myth that these people will destroy the apartment and leave, but that’s a minority. That’s simply an attack on the poor.”

HDC also leases to people with a criminal history — another marginalized population that has difficulty obtaining leases. “We look at these case by case,” Hollander says. “We look at their individual story and make a decision from that.”

a senior housing partnership

When it comes to managing HDC’s assets and the properties it builds, HDC Vice President Jason Muniz steps in. He is the primary point of contact for HDC’s debt and equity partners.

“Matt and I go way back, some 25 years,” Muniz says. “I oversaw The Creamery project, but now we are transitioning into the next development — the Legacy Senior Living project, on Kalamazoo’s North Side, at 740 N. Burdick St.”

Muniz points to an office drawing board showing a 70-unit senior housing development to be located on a block between East North Street, North Burdick, and Edwards Street. The project is now midway through the design phase, and HDC is anticipating groundbreaking in early 2025.

HDC created a new entity called Edison Community Partners, LLC, with three owners — Matt Hollander, Jason Muniz and Jamauri Bogan — to take on this project.

“About two years ago, we noticed a couple parcels of land the Kalamazoo Land Bank had, too small for us, but then we noticed neighboring parcels and found out those were owned by the Mt. Zion Baptist Church on Roberson Street,” Muniz says. “When we asked them if they were willing to sell the land, we learned that they had been planning

to call us. We both saw the same need for elderly housing in the area.”

Now the church and Edison Community Partners are working together to secure funding for the project through state and federal tax credits and tax initiatives.

“There are many funding challenges for a project like this, because it is critical that we can offer vouchers to be more competitive,” Muniz says. “And then there is the challenge of incentivized minority participation and ownership. There is now a great deal of national attention for DEI — diversity, equity, and inclusion — but there is still a big disparity on where the equity goes.”

Hollander adds, “Ownership of real estate continues to be dominated by white males. What we are trying to do with this Legacy project is to break that cycle. We want to create more opportunities for women and minorities to participate on our project teams and as subcontractors and vendors. How do we improve access to intergenerational

wealth? Edison Community Partners is working to be a part of these conversations.”

The $25 million Legacy project will have 50/50 ownership by Edison Community Partners and Mt. Zion Baptist Church. It is projected to be a net-zero-energy development, with low-carbon design and all electric. Units will be 630 square feet each, and rent will include the cost of utilities.

The housing will be for residents 55 years and older of low- and mid-income levels and, preferably, with roots in the Northside neighborhood. “We won’t discriminate against anyone applying from other areas,

but our plan is to inform the surrounding community to apply,” Hollander says. “Seniors will qualify for independent, not assisted, living. Some, in fact, may still be working.”

The Legacy project will also not displace any existing homes, Muniz says. On the drawing board, he points to a couple of older homes located on the edges of the project that the partners will build around. There is space for everyone, he says.

“The Legacy pilot project is our learning opportunity and our hope that others will follow in our footsteps,” Muniz says.

‘more fun than football’

The lead developer for the Legacy project is Bogan, who began working initially as an associate developer with Edison Community Partners in 2021. A former WMU Broncos football running back, the New Jersey native decided to remain in Kalamazoo after earning a bachelor’s degree in personal finance and a master’s in business administration.

Bogan says he has been interested in affordable housing since he was a preteen sitting in with his mother at her real estate meetings. He absorbed what he heard, learned from it, and was inspired. In Kalamazoo, he started his own business, Bogan Developments, LLC.

“I don’t miss football. This is much more fun than football,” he says. “And as I kept working on ideas for affordable housing, I kept hearing about Hollander Development Corp. We were both doing similar things.”

So similar, in fact, that Bogan was invited to become the third partner on the Legacy project for affordable senior housing. The sustainability factor, however, was new to him.

“Sustainability was not my original concern,” Bogan says, “but I learned from working with Matt Hollander, who became my friend and

“Ownership of real estate continues to be dominated by white males. What we are trying to do with this Legacy project is to break that cycle. We want to create more opportunities for women and minorities to participate on our project teams and as subcontractors and vendors."

–Matt Hollander, president of Hollander Development Corp.

mentor. I understand now the importance of sustainable building, why it is necessary. Matt is a visionary, forward-thinking in all he does. He is always searching for ways to make these developments more sustainable, and he is the best in what he does.”

Bogan was also sold on the Legacy project by looking at The Creamery as its predecessor.

“All people need a nice place to live, and that means a focus on amenities, like providing affordable childcare for the community,” he says. “People talk about it, but do they do it? When I saw what HDC had not only talked about it but done, that sold me.”

‘this project has purpose’

Bogan describes his role in the Legacy project as building understanding in the surrounding community of what the Edison Community Partners hope to accomplish, learning what the community wants and needs, and aligning with those needs as well as well as with Mt. Zion Baptist Church.

“People want to be proud of the place where they live,” he says. “I am hearing people talk about wanting to feel safe and being able to age in place. They want on-site amenities that include a community room and a grill station for those warm summer days.”

All these ideas are being incorporated into Legacy plans. Bogan, with his own strong base in faith, says he appreciates especially the unique collaboration with Mt. Zion, an African-American church.

“You can’t just preach on Sunday and leave people hopeless Monday through Saturday,” he says. “I’ve been passionate about community service since my college years, and I was buying real estate, but I was still missing purpose. I wanted to work on something that affects people, and that’s why I connected with the Hollander team. This project has purpose.

“You know, when I was playing football, we had a term we used — 'elite.' That meant beyond the best. And that is what Matt and the Hollander team are doing and why I want to be a part of the Legacy project — this is elite. This is the kind of work we will be doing for the next 100 years.”

TheArts

Spotlighting greater Kalamazoo's arts community

Screen Presence

Kalamazoo Film Society has celebrated filmmaking for 35 years

BY HEIDI MCCRARY

Films. Even the word is outdated in the literal sense now that filmmakers are shooting feature-length movies on iPhones and editing them on laptops at a kitchen table. And viewing films no longer requires visiting a theater, since they can just as easily be viewed on websites, cable TV and streaming services.

So, where does that leave organizations like the Kalamazoo Film Society, whose whole reason for being is to celebrate the art of filmmaking?

“We realize that the industry is changing fast, and our mission continues to be to provide a diverse selection of films, ranging from the most recent winners at Cannes, Sundance and other film festivals to the best that the American independent film movement has to offer. But… the best place to watch a movie is still on the big screen,” says Dhera Strauss, current president of the Kalamazoo Film Society and retired Kalamazoo College media producer and instructor.

The Kalamazoo Film Society was founded in 1988, and its origin story plays out like an indie film from the ‘80s: A group of film aficionados decides that the show must go on after their beloved Le Bijou Theatre, in the lower level of what is now the Radisson Plaza Hotel, closes its doors, leaving the city without a venue for the screening of independent and foreign films.

Dedicated to bringing independent and outside-the-norm films to Kalamazoo audiences that might otherwise not have access to them, KFS initially showed movies in a variety of venues before receiving an invitation from Diether Haenicke, then-

Kalamazoo Film Society

What: A nonprofit, volunteer-run organization that brings indie films, art films and foreign films to the area. Cost of membership: Annual membership is $10 and includes a discounted price of $7.75 for adult admission to all KFSsponsored films showing at Celebration Cinema Crossroads. For more info: Visit kalfilmsociety.net.

president of Western Michigan University, to make its home base the Little Theatre, on WMU's campus — a venue, by the way, that got its start as a movie theater back in the 1940s.

With the Little Theatre as a new home, KFS volunteers secured the films, ran the film projector, sold and took tickets, and handled the overall logistics of operating a movie theater. The downsides of such an endeavor were the limitations of the theater's lone screen and dependence on a volunteer staff.

“Because we were doing everything ourselves, we could only showcase one film a month,” says Strauss. “We were limited on show times and funds, but we made the best of it, and people still talk about our time at the Little Theatre.”

Mike Marchak, KFS president at the time, recalls an incident that shows the importance and impact of film.

“Back when we were still at the Little Theatre, we received the rights to show the film Persepolis, a 2007 animated film about an Iranian girl growing up during the Islamic Revolution of 1979,” Marchak says. “This film was actually banned from being shown in Iran, so we were very excited to be able to show it to our audience.

“Meanwhile, just down the road from us, Shirin Ebadi, the first Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner, was appearing at the Great Lakes PeaceJam Youth Conference at the WMU Bernhard Center. Somehow, she heard that we were showing Persepolis and she came to our viewing — first time she was able to see this incredible film. It was the biggest high for us that we were able to do that for her.”

But as more movies became digitally produced and film reels more antiquated, it became clear that KFS had outgrown the Little Theatre's dated projection equipment, so the group started seeking alternate sites. Enter the Alamo Drafthouse.

A Texas-based cinema chain, the Alamo Drafthouse opened its only Michigan location at the corner of Portage Road and South Street in 2013. Alamo had not only 10 screens but also a unique-for-thetime option of offering food and alcoholic beverages, so patrons really could have “dinner and a movie.” With help from James Sanford, marketing manager at the theater, KFS found a new venue and an ideal partner. Unfortunately, after only three years, the Alamo Drafthouse closed, leaving KFS once again without a home for showing films.

Left: Viewers enjoy a movie created by a local filmmaker at the first KFS Filmmakers Showcase held in February at Celebration Cinema Crossroads. (Photo by John McCrary.) Above: Mike Marchak, top, led the Kalamazoo Film Society for years; now Dhera Strauss, bottom, is the current president of the KFS.

But Eric Kuiper, director of alternative programming at Celebration Cinema Crossroads in Portage, was paying attention. Kuiper offered to partner with KFS and provide a home base for the organization — a partnership that continues to this day. It's a deal KFS sees as being beneficial to both parties. Celebration gets to sell more tickets and concessions, while KFS benefits from the number of screens available and the chain’s program that brings arthouse films to smaller cities that otherwise would never be able to see these films.

“It’s truly a win-win for everyone," Strauss says. “We can now feature so many more films, and we’re no longer dependent on volunteers for the logistics of running the films. Last year we helped bring over 50 films to the Kalamazoo area. And, unlike with the limited show times at the Little Theatre, at Celebration Cinema we’re able to provide patrons with multiple show times and days, allowing people the flexibility to see the films around their schedules."

"And let’s not forget the popcorn,” she adds with a laugh.

Online Options

Even with a secure home, the 150-member film society has faced challenges. With the devastating arrival of Covid-19, which brought business and organizational efforts to a standstill, KFS board members were forced to come up with movie viewing alternatives for its members, including watch parties for the Academy Awards and movies available on popular streaming services, like Netflix and Amazon Prime. One such watch party, a viewing of In This Family, a documentary short exploring a Filipino family's reaction to having a gay son that won the audience selection in the PBS Short Film Festival, even netted the participation of the film's director, writer and

star Drama Del Rosario in the group’s Zoom session. These collectiveviewing events were followed by discussion and reviews. And even though folks are again seeing movies in cinemas, the success of these online events has KFS planning to continue to offer them.

“We understand the importance of incorporating the online aspect that films now provide to us while also acknowledging that watching a great movie is still a special experience best enjoyed with others in the dark of a movie theater,” Strauss explains.

And the organization is not just about watching movies but also supports the making of movies. KFS partnered with Celebration Cinema Crossroads this past February for its first annual KFS Filmmakers Showcase, an evening celebrating local filmmakers who had the opportunity to have their short films shown on the big screen and to participate in a Q&A session with the audience.

The event was not a competition, Strauss emphasizes, but a showcase honoring all local filmmakers that participated.

“We’re not about ‘who’s best.’ Seeing your hard work up on the big screen is a gift," she says. "You always want to feel like the film you created is a part of you, and we can help make it successful by inviting people to talk about the film and the process and story behind it.”

Marchak also emphasizes the significance of the big screen. “We understand that people today are watching movies on phones and laptops, but movies are meant to be viewed on the big screen at a movie theater for the full effect, with the sharpest of visuals and the best-quality sound. That is the greatest art form of the 21st century.”

Scenes from the movies created by local filmmakers that were showcased by the KFS. (Photos by John McCrary.)

TheArts

ExceptiontotheRule

July 13–16

Face Off Theatre Company

What is really keeping six Black students stuck in detention in the worst school in their inner city is the focus of this play directed by Arizsia Staton.

While five of the students are detention regulars, the sixth — a newcomer named Erika — shocks everyone with her arrival, since she's one of the best students at the school, with college and a bright future ahead of her. They soon find out they all have one thing in common: They are in an institution that wasn't built for them, and more than classroom walls keep them trapped in detention.

Show times are 7:30 p.m. July 13–15 and 2 p.m. July 16 at the Jolliffe Theatre, in the Epic Center, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall. Tickets are on a pay-what-you-can basis and available at faceofftheatre.com

MillionDollarQuartet AnythingGoes

Baskerville,ASherlockHolmes Mystery

Barn Theatre

If you like mystery, music and madcap antics, then the Barn Theatre has a slate of shows for you this month.

First up is Million Dollar Quartet , which depicts a legendary jam session that featured Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash. Show times are 8 p.m. June 27–July 1 and 5 p.m. July 2.

Shortly on its heels is Anything Goes , which follows the madcap adventures of the oceanliner S.S. American's crossing to Europe. Show times are 8 p.m. July 5–8 and 11–15 and 5 p.m. July 9 and 16.

Finally, the Barn presents Baskerville, A Sherlock Holmes Mystery , a whodunit featuring five actors playing more than 40 characters. Show times are 8 p.m. July 18–22 and 25–29 and 5 p.m. July 23 and 30.

The Barn Theatre is located at 13351 West M-96, Augusta. Tickets are $45–$53. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 731-4121 or visit barntheatreschool.org.

TheMusicMan

July 7–16

Center Stage Theatre

This feel-good musical about a con man, a kids' band and the savvy librarian who's on to him will be staged at Comstock Community Auditorium, 2107 N. 26th St.

Steve Brubaker plays the lead role of Harold Hill, who targets the naïve residents of a 1910s Midwestern town by posing as a boys' band leader to raise money and then skip town. Kristine Schomisch plays librarian Marian Paroo, who sees through him and falls in love with him anyway.

Show times are 7 p.m. July 7, 8, 14 and 15 and 2 p.m. July 9, 15 and 16. Tickets are $12–$15 and available online at kzoocst.com.

Rent ShePersisted,TheMusical Farmers Alley Theatre

The creative folks at Farmers Alley wrap up one classic musical and begin another this month.

Rent, a rock musical about falling in love, finding your voice and living for today, concludes a run that began June 22. Show times are 7:30 p.m. June 29–July 1, July 6–8, and July 13–15 and 2 p.m. July 2, 9 and 16.

A time-travel adventure featuring inspirational women from U.S. history, ShePersisted,TheMusical , will open July 29. Based on the best-selling children's book written by Chelsea Clinton and directed by Marissa Harrington, the family-friendly production follows fourthgrader Naomi's field trip to a women's history museum, where she meets female activists, athletes, artists and more. Show times are 7:30 p.m. July 29 and Aug. 3–5 and 2 p.m. July 30 and Aug. 6.

Both shows will be staged at Farmers Alley Theatre, 221 Farmers Alley. Tickets are $25–$49.

For more information or to purchase tickets call 343-2727 or visit farmersalleytheatre.com.

Summertime Live Concerts

Various times

Various venues

July is a very musical month across the region, with a full slate of Summertime Live concerts. The concerts are free, and attendees are encouraged to bring their own blankets or chairs to the venues. The groups and individuals performing in July and the concert locations are:

• Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. July 1, Bronson Park

• Payton and Annabelle, 3 p.m. July 5, Richland Area Community Center, 9400 East CD Ave., Richland

• Chris Karl, 5 p.m. July 5, Gilmore Car Museum, 6865 W. Hickory Road, Hickory Corners

• DJ the DJ and Rae of Light, 5:30 p.m. July 5, Bates Alley (between Pitcher and Portage streets), downtown Kalamazoo

• Allie Garland and Sean Gibson, 11:30 a.m. July 7, Bronson Park

• Bronk Brothers, 6 p.m. July 9, Flesher Field, 3664 Ninth St., Oshtemo Township

• LaSoulfulRock, 3 p.m. July 12, Richland Area Community Center

• The Iconix, 5 p.m. July 12, Gilmore Car Museum

• Out of Favor Boys and Michael and Sophia Mcintosh, 5:15 p.m.

July 12, 126 N. Kalamazoo Ave., downtown Vicksburg

• The Skeletones and DJ Conscious, 5:30 p.m. July 12, Bates Alley

• Departure: A Journey Tribute Band, 7 p.m. July 13, Overlander Bandshell, 7810 Shaver Road, Portage

• Jake Kershaw, 5:30 p.m. July 14, State Theatre, 404 S. Burdick St.

• Serita’s Black Rose, 11:30 a.m. July 14, Bronson Park

• Grace Theisen and band, 7:30 p.m. July 14, Haymarket Plaza, 139 N. Edwards St. downtown Kalamazoo

Live Music Performances

Throughout the month Dormouse Theatre

• Kalamazoo Concert Band with Megan Dooley, 6:30 p.m. July 17, Kindleberger Park, 122 N. Riverview Drive, Parchment

• Mama’s Hot Sauce, 5 p.m. July 19, Gilmore Car Museum

• Special Guest and Pinter Whitnek, 5:15 p.m. July 19, downtown Vicksburg

• Acana, 5:30 p.m. July 19, Bates Alley

• Sophia Mcintosh, 11:30 a.m. July 21, Bronson Park

• The Iconix, 4 p.m. July 23, Texas Drive Park, 6603 Texas Drive, Texas Corners

• Crossroads Resurrection, 6:30 p.m. July 23, Kindleberger Park

• Crescendo Fiddlers, 3 p.m. July 26, Richland Area Community Center

• Glad All Over, 5 p.m. July 26, Gilmore Car Museum

• The Mickeys and Ada LeAnn, 5:15 p.m. July 26, downtown Vicksburg

• Yolonda Lavender and DJ Chuck, 5:30 p.m. July 26, Bates Alley

• The Incantations, 11:30 a.m. July 28, Bronson Park

• Dana Scott, 4:30 p.m.; The Iconix, 6:30 p.m. July 28 Celery Flats, 7328 Garden Lane, Portage

• The Michigan Nightingales, 4 p.m. July 30, Bronson Park

• Blue Leaf’s Band, 6:30 p.m. July 30, Kindleberger Park

For a full summer concert schedule, visit kalamazooarts.org/ summertime-live.

Jim Gill

Artists with new albums and a local indie band will grace the stage at the Dormouse Theatre,1030 Portage St., this month. Set to perform are:

• Faux Beamage, Kalamazoo musicians playing indie and ambient music, 8–9 p.m. July 1. Tickets are $10.

• Kyle James, a country music singer/songwriter and Western Michigan University graduate playing music from his latest album, Climbing, with Headband Henny opening the show, 8–9:30 p.m. July 6. Tickets are $10.

• Bell Book and Canto, an eclectic quartet playing music from their new album, Take Back the Night, 8 p.m. July 28. Tickets are $15.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit dormousetheatre.com.

July 13

Merrill Park

This children's musician and author will present a concert celebrating active play at 10:30 a.m. at Merrill Park, 5845 Comstock Ave.

This free concert is presented by the Comstock Library, and those attending are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets, and hats.

Bell Book and Canto

TheArts

Art Hop July 14 Downtown Kalamazoo

This month’s Art Hop will have a focus on mental health and art therapy.

This free event, organized by the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo, runs from 5–8 p.m. and will feature artists working in the field of mental health. Interactive workshops with the artists will be held throughout the evening.

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.

Sugoi!200YearsofJapaneseArt Through Sept. 3 Kalamazoo Institute of Arts

The KIA will have a variety of events this month to support this exhibition, which highlights artists and art practices from East Asia. With works on loan and others from the KIA's permanent collection, the exhibition explores day-to-day city happenings, the importance of Japanese theater for historical narratives, and the joys, trials and innovations of Japanese culture.

Among the events at the KIA that will supplement the exhibition are:

• Curators’ talk by KIA Chief Curator Rehema Barber and Associate Curator Katherine Ransbottom, noon–1 p.m. July 11; reserve tickets online.

• A guided tour of the exhibition, 1:30–2:30 p.m. July 16 & 30.

• Michigan Hiryu Daiko performing the ancient art of taiko drumming, noon–1 p.m. July 18; reserve tickets online.

• Book discussion on The Cat Who Saved Books, the international bestseller by Japanese writer Sosuke Natsukawa, 2–3 p.m. July 19.

• Exploring Traditional and Modern Japan, a discussion of Japanese lifestyles and customs and a demonstration on wearing a summer kimono by Western Michigan University Soga Japan Center Program Director Michiko Yoshimoto, 6–7 p.m. July 20; reserve tickets online.

The KIA is located at 314 S. Park St. For more information or to reserve tickets, visit kiarts.org.

Ongoing Exhibitions

WestMichiganAreaShow , through Aug. 27, Kalamazoo institute of Arts

UnveilingAmerican Genius , through Dec. 31, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts

Author Talks

In person and online

Various venues

CrossCurrents:East/West WoodblockPrints , through July 28, Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, 326 W. Kalamazoo Ave.

LITERATURE

Authors of both fiction and nonfiction works will discuss their writing in talks this month. The Portage District Library will feature two in-person presentations:

• Susan Teague reads from her book Goddesses Galore: You and Me, Sister, at 5:30 p.m. July 13.

• Writer Maria Dong will read from her first book, Liar, Dreamer, Thief, at 2 p.m. July 15. The Kalamazoo Public Library will host three online talks this month:

• Charles Soule, author of She-Hulk, will talk about his new book, The Endless Vessel, at 2 p.m. July 15.

• Renowned psychologist Ethan Kross will talk about his book, Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It, at 1 p.m. July 20.

• Poet and bestselling author Erika Sánchez will talk about her memoir-in-essays, Crying in the Bathroom, 4 p.m. July 25.

To register for these talks, visit kpl.gov.

Maria Dong Susan Teague

PERFORMING ARTS THEATER Plays

The Very UnMerry Adventures of Robin Hood — Youth production of the Kindleberger Festival, 5:30 p.m. July 12–14, 3:30 p.m. July 15 & 16, Kindleberger Park Stage, Parchment, kindlebergerarts.org.

Exception to the Rule — Six Black students find out how to make it through detention in the worst high school in the city, 7:30 p.m. July 13–15, 2 p.m. July 16, Face Off Theatre Company, Jolliffe Theatre, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, faceofftheatre. com.

Baskerville, A Sherlock Holmes Mystery — Five actors play more than 40 characters in a thrilling whodunit, 8 p.m. July 18–22 & 25–29, 5 p.m. July 23 & 30, Barn Theatre, 13351 West M-96, Augusta, 731-4121, barntheatreschool.org.

Musicals

Million Dollar Quartet — Depicts a legendary jam session that featured Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash, 8 p.m. June 27–July 1, 5 p.m. July 2, Barn Theatre, 731-4121, barntheatreschool.org.

Rent — This musical follows a year in the life of a group of impoverished young artists & musicians in New York’s Lower East Side under the shadow of HIV/ AIDS, 7:30 p.m. June 29–July 1, July 6–8 & 13–15; 2 p.m. July 2, 9 & 16, Farmers Alley Theatre, 221 Farmers Alley, 343–2727, farmersalleytheatre.com.

Anything Goes — Step aboard the S.S. American and set sail for a madcap musical adventure that blends nostalgia with modern-day fun, 8 p.m. July 5–8 & 11–15, 5 p.m. July 9 & 16, Barn Theatre, 731-4121, barntheatreschool.org.

The Music Man — Traveling con artist Harold Hill targets the naïve residents of a small town in 1910s Iowa by posing as a boys' band leader to raise money before he can skip town, 7 p.m. July 7–8, 14 & 15, 2 p.m. July 9, 15–16, Center Stage Theatre, Comstock Community Auditorium, 2107 N. 26th St., kzoocst.com.

Grease — This classic musical straight from Rydell High’s senior class of 1959 is presented during the Kindleberger Summer Festival of the Performing Arts, 7 p.m. July 12–14, 5 p.m. July 15 & 16, Kindleberger Park Stage, Parchment, kindlebergerarts.org.

She Persisted, The Musical — Some of America’s most fearless women get the spotlight in this production directed by Marissa Harrington, 7:30 p.m. July 29, Aug. 3–5, 2 p.m. July 30 & Aug. 6, Farmers Alley Theatre, 343–2727, farmersalleytheatre.com.

MUSIC

Bands & Solo Artists

Faux Beamage — Indie and ambient music, 8–9 p.m. July 1, Dormouse Theatre,1030 Portage St., dormousetheatre.com.

Richland Summertime Live 2023 — Free concert series, 3–6 p.m., Richland Area Community Center, 9400 East CD Ave.: Payton and Annabelle, July 5; LaSoulfulRock, July 12; Crescendo Fiddlers, July 26.

Cruise-In Concerts — Live concerts, 5 p.m. Wednesdays, Gilmore Car Museum, 6865 Hickory Road, Hickory Corners: Chris Karl, July 5; The Iconix, July 12; Mama’s Hot Sauce, July 19; Glad All Over, July 26; 671-5089, gilmorecarmuseum.org.

Beats on Bates — Outdoor music under the lights of Bates Alley, 5:30–8:30 p.m. Wednesdays: DJ the DJ, Rae of Light, July 5; The Skeletones, DJ Conscious, July 12; Acana, July 19; Yolonda Lavender, DJ Chuck, July 26, kalamazooarts.org/summertime-live.

Gun Lake Live Summer Series — Lakefront concerts at 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Lakefront Pavilion, Bay Pointe Inn, 11456 Marsh Road, Shelbyville: Project 90, July 5; Brena, July 12; Jedi Mind Trip, July 19; Bronk Brothers, July 26; 888–486–5253.

Kyle James — Music from his latest album, Climbing, 8–9:30 p.m. July 6, Dormouse Theatre, dormousetheatre.com.

Bell’s Eccentric Cafe Concerts — Andy Shauf w/Skullcrusher, July 6; Tommy Prine w/Jordan Smart, July 11; Sierra Ferrell, July 12; A Taylor Swift Experience, July 13; The Bright Blues Future Tour w/Hacky Turtles, July 14; Hurray for the Riff Raff w/Squirrel Flower, July 15; Grace Theisen and Chloe Kimes w/Rebel Eves, July 20; Here Come the Mummies w/Desmond Jones, July 21; Aaron James Wright w/Kyle Rasche and Dave Johnson, July 22; Babylon by the Bus Tour w/Subatomic Sound System, July 23; all shows begin at 8 p.m., 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave., 382–2332, bellsbeer.com.

Lunchtime Live! — Live music, games & food, 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., Bronson Park: Allie Garland and Sean Gibson, July 7; Serita’s Black Rose, July 14; Sophia Mcintosh, July 21; the Incantations, July 28; kalamazooarts.org/summertime-live.

Booker T. Jones: 60 Years of GreenOnions— Free concert by famous rock and soul artist, celebrating Black Arts Festival and the 150th anniversary of Kalamazoo Public Library, 7 p.m. July 8, State Theatre, 404 S. Burdick St., kazoostate.com; registration required at bit.ly/grnonion.

Bronk Brothers — Duo performs as part of Oshtemo’s Music in the Park Summertime Concert Series, 6–7:30 p.m. July 9, Flesher Field, 3664 S. Ninth St., oshtemo.org/events.

Burg Days of Summer — Live music, 5:15–8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, downtown Vicksburg: Out of Favor Boys, Michael & Sophia Mcintosh, July 12; Pinter Whitnek, July 19; The Mickeys, Ada LeAnn, July 26; kalamazooarts.org/summertime-live.

Jim Gill — Children’s musician plays silly and inspiring songs and games, 10:30–11:30 a.m. July 13, Merrill Park, 5845 Comstock Ave., Comstock Township; comstocklibrary.org; bring a blanket or chair.

Portage Summer Concert Series — Departure: A Journey Tribute Band, 7 p.m. July 13, Overlander Bandshell, 7810 Shaver Road, portagemi.gov/ calendar; bring a blanket or chair.

Grace Theisen and Band — Americana/blues group performs as part of the Summertime Live free outdoor concert series, 7:30–9 p.m. July 14, Haymarket Plaza, 139 N. Edwards St., kalamazooarts.org/summertime-live.

Jake Kershaw — Guitarist/vocalist performs outside the State Theatre, 404 S. Burdick St., July 14; seating starts at 5 p.m., music at 5:30 p.m., kazoostate.com. Kalamazoo Concert Band with Megan Dooley — Summer concert series with symphonic band music and vocals, 6:30 p.m., July 17, Kindleberger Park, Parchment, kindlebergerarts.org/concert-series-2.

The Iconix — Melodies and rhythms of the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s and today, 4–6 p.m. July 23, Texas Drive Park, 6603 Texas Drive, texastownship.org.

Crossroads Resurrection — Kalamazoo-based blues, jazz and funk band, 6:30 p.m. July 23, Kindleberger Park, Parchment, kindlebergerarts.org/concertseries-2.

Friday at the Flats — Live music July 28 at the Celery Flats pavilion, 7335 Garden Lane, Portage: Dana Scott, 4:30 p.m.; The Iconix, 6:30 p.m.; portagemi.gov/calendar.

The Michigan Nightingales — Traditional gospel song and vocal arrangements, 4–5 p.m. July 30, Bronson Park, kalamazooarts.org/summertime-live.

Blue Leaf’s Band — Four-piece rock band reviving the sounds of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, 6:30 p.m. July 30, Kindleberger Park, Parchment, kindlebergerarts.org/concert-series-2.

Orchestra, Chamber, Jazz, Vocal & More

Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra — Performing in the Park Summer Concert Series, 7:30 p.m. July 1, Bronson Park, kalamazooarts.org/summertime-live.

FILM

Kzoo Parks Summer Cinema — Free outdoor movies, 6–10 p.m.: Air Bud, with SPCA adoption event, July 14, Fairmount Dog Park, 1108 Prairie Ave.; Vivo, with face painting, July 28, Frays Park, 4400 Canterbury Ave.; kzooparks.org/events.

Back to the Future — Portage’s Movies in the Park feature begins after sunset (approximately 9 p.m.) July 28, Celery Flats Historical Area, 7335 Garden Lane; bring a blanket or chair and snacks; portagemi. gov/calendar.

VISUAL ARTS

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts

314 S. Park St., 349-7775, kiarts.org

Exhibitions

WestMichiganAreaShow— Juried exhibition in a variety of media by artists from a 14-county region of western Michigan, through Aug. 27.

Sugoi! 200 Years of Japanese Art — Celebrating the artists and art practices of East Asia, through Sept. 3.

Unveiling American Genius — Abstract & contemporary works emphasizing stories told by African American, Latino & other artists, through Dec. 31.

Events

WestMichiganAreaShow Guided Tour — 1:30–2:30 p.m. July 9.

Curators’ Talk on Sugoi! 200 Years of Japanese Art — Take a closer look at this exhibition with KIA Chief Curator Rehema Barber and Associate Curator Katherine Ransbottom, noon–1 p.m. July 11; reserve tickets online.

Sugoi!200YearsofJapaneseArt Guided Tour — 1:30–2:30 p.m. July 16 & 30.

Taiko Drumming — Explore the ancient art of taiko drumming with the professional group Michigan Hiryu Daiko, noon–1 p.m. July 18; reserve tickets online.

Book Discussion — On The Cat Who Saved Books, by Sosuke Natsukawa, 2–3 p.m. July 19.

Exploring Traditional and Modern Japan —

WMU’s Soga Japan Center Program Director Michiko Yoshimoto discusses lifestyles and customs, including food, clothing and housing, and offers a demonstration on wearing a summer kimono, 6–7 p.m. July 20; reserve tickets online.

UnveilingAmericanGenius Guided Tour — 1:30–2:30 p.m. July 23.

West Michigan Area Show Artist Highlight —

Artist Paul May discusses woodturnings that include native and exotic species of wood, and Maureen Nollette talks about her art that challenges societal infrastructures using materials associated with domesticity, noon–1 p.m. July 25; reserve tickets online.

Other Venues

Cross Currents: East/West Woodblock Prints

— Exhibition by Kalamazoo artist Mary Brodbeck & Japanese artist Yoshisuke Funasaka, through July 28, Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, 326 W. Kalamazoo Ave., Suite 103A, kalbookarts.org.

Art Hop — Displays of art with the theme “Mental Health and Art Therapy,” 5–8 p.m. July 14, downtown Kalamazoo, 342–5059, kalamazooarts.org.

Richland Art Fair — 9 a.m.–4 p.m. July 15, Gull Meadow Farms, 8544 Gull Road, glacv.org.

LIBRARY & LITERARY EVENTS

Comstock Township Library 6130 King Highway, 345-0136, comstocklibrary.org

Family Storytime at Merrill Park — Stories, songs and rhymes, 10:30–11:30 a.m. Wednesdays, through July, Merrill Park, 5845 Comstock Ave.; bring a blanket or chair.

Adult Book Club — Discussion of T. Kingfisher’s Nettle & Bone, 6–7:30 p.m. July 31.

Kalamazoo Public Library

553-7800, kpl.gov

Movie Mondays — Enjoy snacks, crafts and a movie at the library, 1:30–3:30 p.m. Mondays, through August, Eastwood Branch, 112 Gayle Ave.

KPL Mobile Library — 3:30–5 p.m. July 3, New Village Park/Heather Gardens, 2400 Albans Way; noon–4 p.m. July 7, Douglass Community Association, 1000 W. Paterson St.; 4–5:30 p.m. July 18, Park Street Market, 512 N. Park St.; 5–7 p.m. July 19, Kalamazoo Literacy Council, 420 E. Alcott St., as part of Family Literacy Day, with multi-generational activities; 11 a.m.–noon July 20, Ecumenical Senior Center, 702 N. Burdick St.; 10–11 a.m. July 25, Lodge House, 1211 S. Westnedge Ave.; 3–4 p.m. July 25, Maple Grove Village, 735 Summit Ave.

Rose Street Poetry Club — Adults share in the reading and writing of poetry and learning of new poetry forms, 10–11 a.m. July 8, Central Library, 315 S. Rose St.

Booker T. Jones: 60 Years of Green Onions— July 8; see MUSIC listings.

Page Turners Book Club — Discussion of The Boys, by Katie Hafner, 6:30–7:30 p.m. July 10, Oshtemo Branch, 7265 W. Main St., and online; registration required.

Reading Race Book Group — Discussing Sing, Unburied, Sing, by Jesmyn Ward, 6:30 July 11, SHARE Garden Atrium, 471 W. South St.

Coffee Talk — “How to Keep Your Hometown From Becoming a Ghost Town,” video talk by John Paget, 10:30–11:30 a.m. July 12, Oshtemo Branch.

Online Author Talk: Charles Soule — Bestselling author of Daredevil and She-Hulk, 2–3 p.m July 15; registration required.

Magician Brad Lancaster — Magic and puppet show, 6:30–7:30 p.m. July 18, Alma Powell Branch, 1000 W. Paterson St.

Online Author Talk: Ethan Kross — Author of the bestseller Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It, 1–2 p.m. July 20; registration required.

Dungeons and Dragons Game Night — Play a live game with other adults, from beginner to experienced levels, 5:30–7:30 p.m. July 20, Central Library; registration required.

Online Author Talk: Erika Sánchez — Daughter of Mexican immigrants and author of Crying in the Bathroom: A Memoir, 4–5 p.m. July 25; registration required.

Parchment Community Library

401 S. Riverview Drive, 343-7747, parchmentlibrary.org

Friends of the Library Book Sale – Outside the library during the Kindleberger Festival, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. July 15.

Portage District Library

300 Library Lane, 329-4544, portagelibrary.info

Home Organization Workshop — Break through the barrier of procrastination and get inspired to organize by The Organizer Man, Dan Cunningham, 7–8 p.m. July 10; registration required.

Family Big Build — Help build a 50-foot Hotwheels race car track, help construct a huge dominoes setup, or work on an individual project, 2–3:30 p.m. July 13; registration required.

Goddesses Galore: Art Reception and Author Talk — By Susan Teague, author of Goddesses Galore: You and Me, Sister, 5:30–7 p.m. July 13.

Pub(lic) Library Trivia — Pub-style trivia, 6:30 p.m. July 13; registration required.

Kalamazoo Macintosh Users Group — Get help with Macintosh programs & accessories, 9 a.m.–noon July 15.

Author Talk — Maria Dong reads from her debut novel, Liar, Dreamer, Thief, and answers questions, 2 p.m. July 15.

Sundaes and Sharing — Make a sundae and then enjoy a story told by Madalene Big Bear, from the Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi, on culture and customs, 7 p.m. July 26; registration required.

Sand Castle Family Fun — Sand castle building and other family activities, 2–4 p.m. July 27; registration required.

Classic Movie Screening The Music Man, 2–4 p.m. July 29.

Richland Community Library

8951 Park St., 629-9085, richlandlibrary.org

Family Movies — Encanto, 1 p.m. July 1; Family Camp, 6 p.m. July 11; The Bad Guys, 1 p.m. July 29; events include popcorn and crafts.

Murder! In the Stacks: Murder Mystery Party — Play detective, follow clues and enjoy snacks, 4–6 p.m. July 22; registration required.

Michigan’s Interurban Railway History — A talk by historian Mark Tomlonson, 7–8 p.m. July 27.

Vicksburg District Library

215 S. Michigan Ave, 649-1648, vicksburglibrary.org

Book Club for Adults — 9:30–10:30 a.m. July 6. Tai Chi Class — 7–8 p.m. Tuesdays & 10:30–11:30 a.m. Thursdays.

Ladies Library Auxiliary — Noon–3 p.m. July 7. Bridge Club — 9:30 a.m.–noon Tuesdays.

Writer’s Roundtable — Meet with other writers to discuss your current project, 1–2:30 p.m. July 26.

MUSEUMS

Air Zoo

6151 Portage Road, Portage, 382-6555, airzoo.org

DC Super Heroes: Discover Your Superpowers — Interactive traveling exhibit focusing on DC’s Justice League members, including Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, through August.

Summer STEAM Days — Free outdoor community events with hands-on science stations staffed by local businesses and educators, 11 a.m. July 22 & Aug. 19.

Fly-In of Visiting Helicopter and Rides — UH-1 Huey Greyhound will be visiting & available for ticketed rides beginning at 11:30 a.m. July 29 & 30; tickets can be purchased in advance on the Air Zoo’s website.

Gilmore Car Museum

6865 Hickory Road, Hickory Corners, 671-5089, gilmorecarmuseum.org

Wednesday Night Cruise–Ins — Collector cars, oldies music & food, 5–8 p.m. Wednesdays on goodweather nights, through September.

Deutsche Marques — An all-German auto show, including BMW, Audi, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen vehicles, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. July 8.

Mad Dogs & Englishmen — British-made vehicle show, plus swap meet, bagpipes and British tea time, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. July 9.

Celebration of Brass — The Museum of the Horseless Carriage presents a car show, swap meet and on-site activities, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. July 14–15.

Corvette & Camaro Show — 9 a.m.–4 p.m. July 16.

MOPARs at the Red Barns — An all-Chrysler show featuring muscle cars, antique cars and specialinterest vehicles, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. July 22.

Tractor Show — Featuring vintage tractors, a tractor parade, farm machinery displays, a sawmill and demonstrations, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. July 28–29.

Kalamazoo Valley Museum 230 N. Rose St., 373-7990, kalamazoomuseum.org

Wonder Media: Ask the Questions! — Test your media literacy skills and learn to discern misinformation & disinformation in the media, through 2023.

Adventure Awaits! — Drop-in summer sessions for kids & their adult caregivers, with hands-on crafts, planetarium shows & special performances: Explore the Land, July 1; Explore the Water, July 5, 12 & 15; Explore Space, July 19, 26 & 29.

NATURE

Kalamazoo Nature Center

7000 N. Westnedge Ave., 381-1574, naturecenter.org

Great Blazes! — Interpretive hike with a KNC educator, with observation, discovery and conversation, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. July 1.

Grassland Bird Hike — Walk approximately 2 miles with senior research biologist John Brenneman through Willard Rose Prairie, looking for grassland birds, 7:30–9:30 a.m. July 8.

Mindfulness Yoga — With meditation, 6–7 p.m. July 12.

Creative Wilderness: Artists & Authors — This month Renae Baumgart from RIP Studio discusses freehand ripping and repurposing, 1–3 p.m. July 13.

Kalamazoo Paddle & Ride Adventure — On the Kalamazoo River and the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail in collaboration with the Kalamazoo River Watershed Council and Open Roads, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. July 22; maximum 2½-hour paddle and one-hour bike ride with break for lunch; for ages 8 and up (children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian); registration required.

EVENTS ENCORE

Kellogg Bird Sanctuary

12685 East C Ave., Augusta, 671-2510, birdsanctuary@kbs.msu.edu

Birds and Coffee Chat Online — Learn about avian physiology, 10 a.m. July 12; registration required.

Wild Wednesdays — Families with younger children join a naturalist on the trail and then enjoy a naturethemed craft of more outdoor exploration, 10 a.m.: Turtles and Snakes, Oh My, July 12; Dragonflies and Damselflies, July 19; Flutters and Flowers, July 26.

Other Venues

Wild Wetlands: The Secret Life of Bogs — Exhibition exploring how fens & bogs help combat climate change, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Friday, through Sept. 5, Portage City Hall Atrium, 7900 S. Westnedge Ave., portagemi.gov/calendar.

Kalamazoo Astronomical Society Public Observing Session — The Moon & Double Stars of Summer, July 8; A Young Moon & The Summer Triangle, July 22; both from 9:30 p.m.–1:30 a.m., Kalamazoo Nature Center, 7000 N. Westnedge Ave., kasonline.org.

Ranger Hike: Bug Safari — Get into the thicket to look for creepy crawlers, 2:30–3:30 p.m. July 9, West Lake Nature Preserve, 9001 S. Westnedge Ave., portagemi.gov/calendar.

Social Hike at Pilgrim Haven — Led by a volunteer hike leader, 5:30 p.m. July 13, 77000 block of 18th Avenue, South Haven, swmlc.org.

MISCELLANEOUS

Kalamazoo Farmers Market — 8 a.m.–1 p.m. Tuesdays & Thursdays, 7 a.m.–2 p.m. Saturdays, through October; Night Market, 5–10 p.m. July 21, Aug. 18 & Sept. 15; 1204 Bank St.; pfcmarkets.com.

A Walking Tour of Downtown Kalamazoo Breweries — 1–4 p.m. July 1, 8 15, 22 & 29; 3504598, westmibeertours.com.

Portage Farmers Market — 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Sundays, through October, Portage City Hall, 7900 S. Westnedge Ave., 329-4522.

Richland Farmers’ Market — Produce, artisans, artists and food trucks, 3–6 p.m. Wednesdays, through Sept. 13, Richland Community Center, 9400 East CD Ave., Richland, richlandareacc.org.

Historic Walks — Walks discussing local history and architecture: Vine Historic District, begins at Pearl and West Dutton streets, 8–9:30 a.m. July 7; Stuart Historic District, begins at Woodward Avenue and West Main Street, 6:30–8 p.m. July 13; Village of Schoolcraft, begins at Burch Park on West Clay Street, 8–9:30 a.m. July 21; Oakwood Park, meet at Oakwood Center, 3140 Laird St., 6:30–8 p.m. July 27, gazellesports.com/pages/kalamazoo-historic-walks.

Black Arts & Cultural Center Youth Day — Activities for youth to experience African art and dance, with food available and information booths, noon–4 p.m. July 7, Douglass Community Association, 1000 W. Paterson St., blackartskalamazoo.org.

Kalamazoo 4-H Open Horse Show — Public horse show with over 65 classes and most riding

disciplines, 9 a.m. July 8–9, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 2900 Lake St., msue.msu.edu/kalamazoo.

Black Arts Festival — A celebration of Black culture and arts in our community, with music, food vendors and more, 11 a.m.–8 p.m. July 8, Bronson Park, blackartskalamazoo.org.

Taco & Tequila Festival — With margaritas, live music and activities, 4–8 p.m. July 8, Homer Stryker Field, 251 Mills St., tacoandtequilafestmi.com.

Kalamazoo Food Truck Rallies — 5–7:30 p.m. July 11, The Mill, Vicksburg; 5–7:30 p.m. July 18, Fannie Pell Park, Plainwell; 5–10 p.m. July 21, Arcadia Creek Festival Place, downtown Kalamazoo; 5–7:30 p.m. July 25, Warner Vineyards, Paw Paw; foodtruckrallykz. com.

Paddlesport Sampler — Learn basic skills of a variety of watercraft with certified instructors and equipment provided, 6–8 p.m. July 11, 18 & 25, Ramona Park & Beach, 8600 S. Sprinkle Road; registration required, portagemi.gov/calendar.

Stand-up Paddleboard Yoga — For all skill levels, 6:30–8 p.m. July 12, 19 & 26, Ramona Park & Beach; registration required, portagemi.gov/calendar.

Kindleberger Summer Festival of the Performing Arts — Live concerts, theater performances, parade, book sale, vendors and more, July 12–17, Kindleberger Park, Parchment, kindlebergerarts.org.

Pet Portraits — A pre-scheduled 15-minute caricature of your furry friend, 1–4 p.m. July 13, South Westnedge Dog Park, 9010 S. Westnedge Ave.; registration required, portagemi.gov/calendar.

Southwest Michigan Postcard Club Show —

Twenty dealers showing over 1 million vintage and antique postcards, photographs, ephemera and postal history items, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. July 14, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. July 15, North Room, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 517–230–0734.

Olde Tyme Tractor & Steamer Show — Threshing machines, baling and community garage sale, with parade and more, July 14–16, Scotts Mill County Park, 8451 S. 35th St., Scotts, 579-4627, kalcounty. com/newsandevents.

Latitude 42 Pickleball Fever in the Zoo — Sanctioned competition for USA Pickleball members ages 13 & older; July 14–16, Ramona Park, pickleballbrackets.com.

Portage Vintage Base Ball Festival — Featuring 14 vintage baseball clubs playing on three fields using 1860s rules, 8 a.m.–7 p.m. July 15, Ramona Park, kalamazoocontinentals.org/schedule; bring a chair or blanket.

Kalamazoo Reptile & Exotic Pet Expo — Buy, sell or trade a variety of reptiles, amphibians, small mammals and other exotic pets, plus supplies & food, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. July 15, Kalamazoo County Expo Center South, kalamazooreptileexpo.com.

Christmas in July Craft and Vendor Show — 10 a.m.–4 p.m. July 22, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 270-8028.

The Mobile Hunters Expo — Trade show to test gear, purchase gear & receive education, with giveaways and raffles, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. July 28, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. July 29, North and Main rooms, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 513-767-8807.

FINLEY GLEASON

LUKE LARSON

Evening on the Holy Water

After the last wash of light paints florals on the clouds and sky darkness rises from the ground like river water swallowing the black wicker of branches, the sweating grass the hum of bat wings and the moist breath of weeds. Wading toward a floodlight and the stone-slab steps on the bank swarmed with shadings of insect wings, this is how it must be to cross into heaven— a pale handed extended, an unsure step, the hope you will not fall.

— Robert Haight

The “Holy Water” in the title of this poem refers to a nine-mile stretch of the Au Sable River east of Grayling, a flies-only, catch-and-release section where Haight often fishes. Haight lives in Marcellus and also has a place in the U.P. For many years he taught writing at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, where he founded the Visiting Writers Series. His most recent collection of poems is Shimmer (Kelsay Books, 2021).

Was your event the first pickleball tournament to be held locally?

There was a Kalamazoo tournament started by the first pickleball ambassadors in the Kalamazoo area, Melissa Muha and Bob Northrop. Bob unfortunately passed away due to complications from diabetes, and Melissa moved to Indianapolis, so we took over running the tournament. Initially, we called it the Bob Northrop Memorial Tournament, but over the years we started calling it Pickleball Fever in the Zoo.

What goes into organizing a pickleball tournament?

The first thing you need to run a successful pickleball tournament is a good team. I’ve been blessed to have that with the Kalamazoo Pickleball Club members. There’s a lot of little logistical things to be taken care of to make sure you provide a good-quality tournament experience for the players. I have an outstanding team that runs registration, the events desk, keeping track of matches, organizing referees, parking, food and first aid.

Along with making sure it’s a safe environment for everyone to play, we also make sure that the venue can handle a tournament.

A two- or four-court complex won’t work. Last year, we were at the Texas Township Sixth Street Park, which has eight courts, but this year, we’re moving to Ramona Park because it has 12 courts. That’s a good-size facility to run a tournament of our size.

The Portage community is also behind us and helping out with things we might need. Of course, our sponsor, Latitude 42, is a big part of it because they put up a nice contribution that makes it possible for us to keep the costs down for the players.

How many people do you expect this year?

We are shooting for 250 participants. A few years ago our tournament was the Great Lakes Regional Tournament, which is a part of the USA Pickleball Association, the governing body of pickleball, and we drew upwards of 500 players, but now that we’re no longer a regional tournament our numbers have dropped a little bit.

In terms of spectators, it’s hard to say — 150 people over the course of three days would be pretty good. A lot of times, players come with family members, or you get pickleball players who come out to support friends. It is free to the public, so there’s no charge to enter or park.

If you don’t know anything about pickleball, here’s a great opportunity to see it played. People are always willing to explain it to somebody if they just want to know. The scoring can be a little confusing for a beginner, but that’s the most confusing part of the game. We have pretty good players in Kalamazoo, so if people want to see high-level players, this is a good chance to do that.

What

are the costs of running the tournament?

Our No. 1 one cost is the fees we pay to Portage to use their courts and tie those up for three days. We also have player gifts, refreshments and medals. There are also little incidental things like renting portable lavatories to make sure there’s enough restroom facilities nearby and office materials that are needed to print out things such as scorecards.

Latitude 42 Pickleball Fever in the Zoo

What: A USA Pickleball MMP (Medal Match Plus) sanctioned event for players 13 and older who are members of USA Pickleball. All matches will have a foot fault finder (a person responsible only to watch the kitchen line and call foot faults) or a referee.

Categories: Men’s doubles, men’s singles, mixed doubles, women’s doubles and women’s singles.

When: July 14–16.

Where: Ramona Park, 8600 S. Sprinkle Road, Portage.

Cost: $65 per person and $10 per event; free for spectators.

Registration: Register at pickleballbrackets.com/ptd. aspx?eid=26b58d9a-c211-4087-b890-a01c1036f151. Partners must register for the age level of the younger play and the skill level of the higher-skilled player.

What are some challenges you face?

The biggest challenge we always face is the weather. One year, we had West Hills Athletic Club as a backup, but now we simply put on the entry fee that it’s an outdoor tournament and if there’s bad weather and we have to cancel, too bad. (No refunds.) We can’t do anything about the weather.

It’s also important to keep in mind that matches need to move along so people don’t have a lot of wait time in between their matches. That’s what my team does very well. They give players a quality experience by making sure that all the little things that you want in a tournament are taken care of. We want a good experience for players and spectators.

Why do you like being the tournament’s director?

Without question, the most satisfying thing about promoting pickleball, whether it be running a clinic, running a tournament or contributing in some way to getting new courts built, is seeing the enjoyment people get from this very fun, social game. Long-lasting friendships have been created through the game of pickleball. We have met so many wonderful people throughout the United States by playing in tournaments and playing recreationally.

The reason we run the tournament is to raise funds for our nonprofit, Pickleball Outreach. We do not take out any administration fees. All funds go into the nonprofit, and it donates the funds to local communities that request support for growing the sport and helping people have another option for a healthy lifestyle. Pickleball has helped many people, both physically and emotionally. It's just a labor of love to give back to the sport that has enriched our lives in so many ways, especially through the friendships we have developed.

— Interview by Kalloli

Bhatt,

edited for length and clarity

James Hackenberg (continued from page 38)

James Hackenberg Tournament Director

Latitude 42 Pickleball Fever in the Zoo

J

ames Hackenberg really relishes pickleball, and his love of the game will be evidenced by the Latitude 42 Pickleball Fever in the Zoo tournament July 14–16 at Ramona Park, in Portage.

Hackenberg, a 75-year-old Kalamazoo native, has been the tournament’s director since 2014.

He and his wife, Yvonne, are Pickleball Hall-of-Famers who have won various national tournaments. They started the Kalamazoo Pickleball Club and a nonprofit organization called Pickleball Outreach, which he says “has donated over $100,000 to local communities to build pickleball courts or enhance existing ones.”

“It’s a very easy game to learn,” Hackenberg says. “It’s also multigenerational. My 97-year-old mother-in-law still plays. We have pictures of her, my wife, our daughter and our granddaughter playing at the same time. That’s one of the beauties of it. The top players in the world right now are youngsters, and there are some former tennis players who played Davis Cup tennis moving to the game now. It’s just an exciting time to be a part of pickleball.”

(continued on page 37)

Brian Powers