Encore Magazine July 2023

CONTRIBUTORS

Zinta Aistars

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 Bhatt

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.

Heidi McCrary

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 M. Weir

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.