Encore Editor Marie Lee says she was intrigued by the different career journeys for two local CEOs she interviewed for this issue. Marie wrote the cover feature on Bronson Healthcare Group President and CEO Bill Manns, and she interviewed Kalamazoo Nature Center CEO Heather Graves for the Back Story profile. "If you were to map out Heather Graves' career, it would look like the trail system through the Nature Center's woods," says Marie. "She started out at the YMCA, then worked in hospital health care and public health and then environmental education, and while they seem to be different paths, they all converged and led her to where she is today. On the other hand, once Bill Manns decided in college to go into health care administration, he has been on a trajectory straight to the top of his field. The commonality between them is that they both hold positions where they seek to have an impact on the larger community."
Robert M. Weir
The first time Encore contributor Robert Weir visited the Zen Dens, his sinuses were congested. He says an hour of relaxing and breathing saltinfused air in the Salt Cave quickly cleared them, and an hour of effortless float therapy in a private chamber of Epsom-salt-enriched water, enhanced by gently twinkling ceiling lights and soft mood music, removed tension from his muscles. Intrigued, he sought out entrepreneur/owner Teri Foley to find out about the inspiration and vision behind Foley's creation of the Zen Dens. Robert is a frequent contributor to Encore.
Publisher encore publications, inc
Editor marie lee
Art Director alexis stubelt
Photographer brian k powers
Contributing Writers
jordan bradley, marie lee, scott peterson, robert m weir
Copy Editor/Poetry Editor margaret deritter
Advertising Sales janis clark kimberly juwong
Distribution ron kilian robert zedeck
Office Coordinator kelly burcroff
Proofreader hope smith
Encore Magazine is published 12 times yearly. Copyright 2025, Encore Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Editorial, circulation and advertising correspondence should be sent to:
www.encorekalamazoo.com
117 W. Cedar St. Suite A, Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Telephone: (269) 383–4433
Email: Publisher@encorekalamazoo.com
The staff at Encore welcomes written comments from readers, and articles and poems for submission with no obligation to print or return them. To learn more about us or to comment, visit encorekalamazoo.com. Encore subscription rates: one year $36, two years $70. Back issues $6, $12 by mail. Advertising rates on request.
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by those interviewed and published here do not reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Encore Magazine or the official policies, owners or employees of Encore Publications
Bill Manns Bronson Healthcare's Driving Force
From the Editor
In September 2021, as the world emerged from the Covid-19 pandemic, Encore and the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo forged a partnership to help the local arts community recover from the damage the pandemic had inflicted on it. From visual arts groups to theater and music venues, the pandemic and its resulting shutdowns hit these organizations hard. Unable to stage performances or draw in patrons, they lost revenue and staff and made critical budget cuts. Even when restrictions lifted, patrons were slow to come back to shows and venues.
Even though Encore, during that time, also suffered losses in terms of advertising revenue, we wanted to help the arts community bounce back. We joined forces with the Arts Council to provide an opportunity for arts organizations to boost their visibility. The Arts Coverage Initiative created a dedicated section in Encore that features upcoming arts events and programs each month and profiles local artists or arts organizations. In addition, we added reviews of performances to Encore's website.
The Arts section can take up to eight pages in a given issue and essentially provides free promotion for the arts organizations featured. The initiative was initially funded by a generous grant from the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation. In subsequent years, the ACI has continued to receive grant funding from the Gilmore Foundation as well as the Dorothy Dalton Foundation. To date, we have published nearly 200 pages of arts content and numerous reviews. Our readers have responded enthusiastically to this enhanced coverage, with many telling us that Encore's Arts section and our comprehensive Events of Note calendar are their go-to sources for the arts and cultural events in our area.
As we near our fourth year of providing this enhanced coverage, there is less grant funding available for this effort. That's why I am reaching out to you, dear reader, to help us continue to offer this important coverage for the arts community. You can make a donation to a dedicated fund for the Arts Coverage Initiative on the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo's website, at secure.kalamazooarts.org/donate/q/encore. For ease, you can use the QR code at left to go directly to that site.
If you appreciate Encore's coverage of the arts and the information we provide about the arts in Kalamazoo, I hope you will consider donating today. And, as always, thank you for being a loyal reader of Encore
Have a wonderful March.
Left to right: Morgan Rogalke-Scime, Charles S. Ofstein, Tyler J. Stewart, Olivia A. Kurajian, William B. Millard
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First Things
Something Natural Series addresses environmental stewardship
A lecture series on environmental stewardship will tackle subjects from native plants and public lands to invasive species.
Terra Talks, hosted by the city of Portage, will feature experts discussing topics related to protecting the environment, starting in one's own backyard. The talks will all begin at 6 p.m. in the Portage Parks and Recreation Building and are free, but registration is required.
The topics, speakers and dates are:
• "Invasive Species Management," with Abigale Bristol, invasive species specialist at the Van Buren Conservation District, March 7.
• "Evolution of a Naturalist: From Lawn Lover to Native Gardener," with Donna Keller, president of the Audubon Society of Kalamazoo, March 14.
• "Designing Native Plant Gardens: Minimizing the ‘Error’ in Trial & Error," with Mike Weis, owner of Dropseed Native Gardens, March 21.
• "Stewardship Strategies: Public Lands, Parks & Private Parcels," with Jesse Lincoln, conservation scientist with the Michigan Natural Features Inventory, March 28.
To register, visit portagemi.gov/calendar.
Something Musical Fretboard Festival returns
The annual event that showcases Kalamazoo’s stringed-instrument heritage with live music, workshops and vendors returns to the Kalamazoo Valley Museum on March 21 and 22.
The Kalamazoo Fretboard Festival is a free event and will take place in person and virtually. It will kick off at 6 p.m. Friday with mandoliner Brian Oberlin, who will present "The Artistry and History of the Mandolin."
The next day there will be 15 performances by artists and groups that include The Birdseed Salesman, Zero Sun, Joel Mabus, Whiskey Before Breakfast, Brian Oberlin Jam Session and Darcy Wilkin.
In addition, attendees can meet instrument designers, attend stringed instrument workshops and visit vendors. The festival runs from 6–8 p.m. March 21 and 9:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m. March 22. For a festival schedule, visit kalamazoomuseum.org/events/fretboard-festival.
Something Domestic Expo highlights home and garden
If you are looking for some new ideas to spruce up your abode, then you will find plenty at the Kalamazoo Home & Garden Expo March 7–9 at the Kalamazoo County Expo Center.
The event is sponsored by the Home Builders Association of Western Michigan. More than 200 vendors will be on hand with exhibits featuring the latest building trends and products, and there will be seminars on everything from growing mushrooms to healthy home remodeling.
The hours of the expo are noon–8 p.m. March 7, 10 a.m.–8 p.m. March 8 and 11 a.m.–4 p.m. March 9. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. For more information, visit kalamazoohomeexpo.com.
Something Country
Dwight Yoakam, The Mavericks at Wings
Country music legend Dwight Yoakum will team up with the Grammy Award-winning country band The Mavericks in a March 27 concert at Wings Event Center.
Yoakum has sold more than 25 million records since his 1986 debut single "Honky Tonk Man." The Mavericks, country musicians with multicultural influences, have garnered eight Grammys for their music, the most recent in 2017 for Best Americana Album. The alt-country band 49 Winchester will also perform.
The concert begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $45–$100 and available at wingseventcenter.com.
Something Festive
Spring Gala celebrates Asian culture
Celebrating the beauty of Asian culture will be the focus of the Asian Initiatives Spring Gala at 6 p.m. March 22 at Miller Auditorium.
Hosted by the Western Michigan University Asian Initiatives of the Haenicke Institute for Global Education, the event celebrates Asian Pacific Heritage Month and will feature performances and displays showcasing Asian artistry and culture.
Among those slated to perform are the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra, the Kalamazoo Children’s Chorus, Peking Opera actress Linghui Tu and actor Suosen Lv, and Kalamazoo Chinese Academy dancers.
Tickets are $8–$22 and available for purchase at the Miller Auditorium box office and at millerauditorium.com.
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Dwight Yoakam
The Mavericks
Five Faves
Recycle, upcycle and find treasures at these secondhand shops
BY JORDAN BRADLEY
There’s something delightful and mysterious about a secondhand shop. Even the most dilapidated shop in the remotest corner can hold a sense of wonder and instill a feeling of curiosity: What life did these objects have before they came to reside here? To me, secondhand shopping is a way to get off the consumer conveyor belt and be intentional about what I bring into my home, all while recycling and upcycling discarded things. We are fortunate that Southwest Michigan has some incredible vintage, antique and secondhand shops. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but here are five fantastic shops for five different vibes:
Kalamazoo Fashion House
426 S. Burdick St., Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo Fashion House offers a curated collection of quality secondhand clothing that just screams, “Yes, I have a great tailor, and, no, I will not share their number.” With spring on the wing, this is the place to go for your next light sweater or timeless outerwear. A handful of local vintage clothing vendors have racks on the right side of the shop floor, while the rest of the clothing racks are organized by color, making it extremely easy to find the missing piece for your spring break ensemble or your next statement piece. Just a note: This shop is only open on Fridays and Saturdays between noon and 5 p.m., so plan accordingly.
Kalamazoo Kitty Marketplace
581 Romence Road, Portage
When you’re looking to refresh your home’s interior — whether your dog tore up your beloved couch, a clumsy relative burned your kitchen table, or you’re just sick of looking at that ratty recliner — you can go to Kalamazoo Kitty Marketplace. Be forewarned: The amount of good-quality, well-cared-for and fabulous furniture in this marketplace can be overwhelming. Be sure to carve out a good chunk of your day — say, the entirety of your Saturday late morning and afternoon — and to start your venture fully caffeinated and with a full stomach so that you can focus on the hunt. And don’t forget your measuring tape!
Schoolcraft
Antique Mall
209 N. Grand St., Schoolcraft
Do you like kitsch? Then get your booty down to Schoolcraft Antique Mall. Don’t get me wrong; here you will discover many wonderful antiques, but this shop also possesses a level of vintage kitsch that is utterly charming. And the great thing about the Schoolcraft Antique Mall is that it offers a wide variety of items. From furniture, home decor, jewelry, glassware and antique collectibles on the first floor to vintage and secondhand clothing, jewelry and accessories in the basement, Schoolcraft Antique Mall has much to offer the thrift shopper.
Heritage Architectural Salvage & Supply
150 N. Edwards St., Kalamazoo
Amazing Grace Antiques
106 E. Michigan Ave., Marshall
You know your single, well-traveled, adventurous and totally chic aunt/sister/friend who can usually be found wearing a unique item of clothing, jewelry or other accessory and always has some sage advice or wild story? Well, Amazing Grace Antiques in Marshall is the embodiment of the attic you imagine she has. Every corner and tabletop in this vintage storefront is lovingly curated by vendors and supplies tons of aesthetic inspiration to entice your inner tastemaker. This shop is the place you go whenever you’re looking for something but you can’t quite put your finger on what it is. Trust that Amazing Grace Antiques will provide!
Have you been bitten by the highly contagious DIY-renovation bug that has had a chokehold on certain neighborhoods of the internet for at least the past decade? Heritage Architectural Salvage & Supply will not only inspire your next do-it-yourself project, but provide good-quality materials salvaged from historic homes that have become victims of the wrecking ball. You’ll find stunning period light fixtures, solid wooden doors, clawfoot tubs and so much more, all with dazzling potential to transform your home into a page right out of Architectural Digest. If you’re harboring a secret (or not-so-secret) desire to build a greenhouse out of old windows, this is your go-to shop.
About the Author
Jordan Bradley is a freelance contributor to Encore and a secondhand shop fanatic. When Encore Editor Marie Lee asked her to write a Five Faves piece about secondhand shops in Southwest Michigan, Jordan replied, “Only five? Impossible!” Yet, Marie persevered, and Jordan acquiesced.
“I really appreciate that secondhand and vintage shops allow really beautiful pieces to find new homes,” Jordan said. “Going to these kinds of shops is also an opportunity to be open-minded, to be on the lookout for new possibilities and surprises.”
A Relaxing Business
Salt floats and caves among ways customers find calm at Zen Dens
BY ROBERT M. WEIR
Above: Teri Foley, owner of Zen Dens, in the shop which features a variety of health and wellness items for sale as well as relaxation services and treatments.
Right: The Salt Cave, in which the air contains fine salt powder to help with breathing issues.
T
eri Foley suspected for a long time that people needed to find ways to relax, so she started a business to help them do so.
“I started Zen Dens on a hunch,” says the entrepreneur and owner of the wellness spa she opened on Stadium Drive in 2020. “I had met people looking for different ways to find relaxation, something other than taking a pill. I had this inner feeling that the community needed this service.”
Foley’s inner feeling had been brewing for 30-some years, through her employment in the accounts payable department at First of America Bank, as an accountant for Richard-Allen Scientific (now Thermo Fisher Scientific) and as a human resources executive for MPI Research in Mattawan (now part of Charles River Laboratories International).
But even though her jobs focused primarily on numbers, she found that she "enjoyed employee relations and was well-suited for human resources."
“People would seek me out," says the 50-year-old. "They would come to my desk and sit down, and they would talk to me. They called
me ‘an energy cleanser.’ That’s because I listen, but I’m not heavy with what people tell me. I don’t carry their burdens.”
'Compassion care'
Foley’s concern for the well-being of others — which led to what she calls “compassion care” — is at the core of Zen Dens' mission “to allow people a reprieve from their day-to-day lives.”
“Working in HR, I saw a lot of job burnout and mental health issues," Foley says. "People were exhausted. I would ask, ‘Do you have anything left for your family?’ And I found myself wanting to create a place for people to take a timeout, to reset themselves.
“People come here and select one or more of our services, and they don’t have to think about anything else. If people are late, I say, ‘Don’t worry; it’ll all work out. I don’t want you to be stressed about coming to get de-stressed.’”
The name Zen Dens came from a brainstorming exercise. “We just started calling each of our services a den because the space for each is a little private sanctuary. And we wanted people to feel relaxed, so that’s where the Zen part came in.”
Zen Dens initially offered three services: salt therapy, float therapy for one person or couples, and red-light therapy, all of which are purported to help relieve anxiety, depression and inflammation. In recent years the facility has added a cold plunge, an infrared sauna, a vibrational/acoustic sound lounge, and ionic foot detox. Reiki and massage are available by appointment. Foley says she is considering adding more services, including a do-it-yourself massage suit, a hydration station utilizing infrared heat, chromotherapy (which uses colored light to promote relaxation), aromatherapy and a Vichy shower (a massage with warm water from multiple shower heads).
Chelsea Skin Collective, which provides skin care and makeup lessons, is also part of Zen Dens. "Looking good is feeling good, so that’s another way that people experience wellness," Foley says.
A diverse clientele
The feeling of relaxation begins at Zen Dens' door, where a sign reads, “Zen Zone … Soft Voices … Quiet Feet Please.” Inside, the aura continues, with a mural of flowing lines in hues of gemstones and with crystals infused within the walls.
“I feel honored to be doing this work. I’m grateful for all the relationships I make with people when they come in,” Foley says. “And so we hold this space for people not to be judged, to be as they are.”
But not every client comes to Zen Dens to soothe their frazzled mind. Dana Marie, of Parchment, began doing salt floats to help ease chronic back pain that was the result of an injury.
"The first time we floated, I didn't have excruciating pain like I did after being
injured," she says. "It makes you weightless. You're just floating, and your spine elongates. I would walk in there hunched over in pain, and after floating I could stand up and move, and for a day or two I felt significantly better. I wouldn't say pain-free, but my mobility was better."
This page, clockwise from top: The ante room and door to Zen Dens' Float Tank, which contains water with a high concentration of Epsom salts that make it possible float on top of the water; wellness items for sale; and a light therapy bed. Opposite page: A space for relaxing within Zen Dens.
Marie now engages in a salt float once a month and has also taken advantage of the restorative yoga class offered in Zen Dens' salt cave. "It's like a five-pose yoga class, and you're in the stretches for a longer period of time to help ease the pain."
A scary start
Despite Zen Dens' name and purpose, Foley admits that leaving her career to start Zen Dens was “scary.”
“I walked away from a significant career in human resources, an executive-level paycheck, 401k, medical insurance. Everything I earned and saved is now here in Zen Dens. I opened the business on February 2, 2020. Then Covid hit.”
Yet, her penchant to let go of burdens prevailed. “Somebody told me, ‘If you’re on your mission, you’ll be provided for.’ I probably repeated that to myself ten thousand times. And I just held the belief that I was doing something good for the community and that it would work out.”
During those early months of the pandemic, Foley kept herself at ease by utilizing her own facility. “I floated every day that I was closed. I went from one tank to another. I lay in the red-light therapy bed. I meditated in the salt cave, and it was awesome. Then when I opened again in mid-June 2020, people slowly started to come.”
Today, Foley estimates that more than 10,000 people have utilized Zen Dens — people of all ages, from children to one person who is 102. Executives, professionals, laborers, retirees. Medical and holistic health care providers, some of whom refer their clients to Zen Dens.
“Everybody is welcome. Each den is designed so people don’t have to spend a lot," says Foley. "We are here to support you in whatever you need.”
Front row, center: Richard D. Reed
Middle Row (L-R): Wesley J. Todd, James M. Marquardt, Michael A. Dombos, Stephen M. Denenfeld, Lana M. Escamilla, Jennifer Wu, Owen D. Ramey, Kimberly L. Swinehart, Vernon Bennett III
Back Row (L-R): Christopher D. Morris, Jonathan J. Vander Horst, Joseph W. Vander Horst, David A. Lewis, Ronald W. Ryan, Michael A. Shields, Thomas C. Richardson
Bronson CEO BILL MANNS
A driving force for health care equity and community responsibility
BY MARIE LEE
As a teen, Bill Manns was already on the road to becoming a physician. In fact, he was so determined that he turned down a full-ride scholarship to Michigan State University to attend the University of Michigan, with the intention of going to medical school. He worked one summer in a morgue to see if he could "handle the blood and guts of it." But one day, walking across campus, he saw a banner promoting a summer internship program that ultimately changed his career trajectory.
"I remember somebody had put up a banner that said, 'Careers in Health Care,' and it had administration in tiny letters," the CEO of Bronson Healthcare Group recalls. "I didn't know what health care administration was. I applied for this internship, got it, and I'm placed at an inner-city hospital. One Monday we had our CEO Council and the issue of the day was gunshot wound victims coming into our emergency department."
The meeting was attended by the hospital's leadership, and safety was a key discussion topic because sometimes the victims came in armed could be accompanied by fellow gang members or whoever shot the victim might follow them to the ER to finish the job.
Manns, now 58, was a junior in college then, sitting in a leather swivel chair in what he describes as "one of the nicest board rooms I've ever been in," taking it all in. After much discussion, the solution proposed was to equip hospital security guards with handheld metal detectors to check those coming into the ER for weapons.
"We're a busy inner-city ER seeing 70,000 or 80,000 visits a year," Manns says. "And I spoke up and said I had a question. And the CEO was pretty condescending, saying, 'Little Billy has a question.' So, I clear my throat and ask, and this was a defining moment for me, 'What criteria are we going to use to determine who you stop?'
"You could have heard a pin drop on that plush carpet. And it was at that point that I looked around and saw I was the only person not wearing a dark blue, black or gray suit. I was the only person under 55 in this room. I was the only Black guy."
Manns realized that these executives had a markedly different perspective from his own. Having grown up in Detroit, Manns had experienced being pulled out of his car by police, frisked and thrown against a wall.
"I cannot envision myself trying to get into an emergency department being worried about one of my loved ones while somebody else who didn't look like me walked right in while I'm getting frisked. And that was
Bill Manns, second from left, talks with Bronson Neuroscience Center team members, from far left, Anita Buitenwerf, clinical coordinator for stroke; Larry Morgan, system medical director of neurocritical care & stroke; and Lindsay Bliss, vascular neurologist.
the point," he says. "It was at that moment that I realized I can have a direct one-on-one impact being a physician, but I can have a global impact being a health care executive."
Manns switched majors, graduating with a bachelor's degree in organizational psychology. He went on to earn a master's degree in health services administration from U of M's School of Public Health.
What followed has been a fast trip up the career ladder, with positions that have taken him from Detroit to California and back to Michigan. He was president of Mercy Health Saint Mary's, a health network in Grand Rapids, when he landed the CEO role at Bronson Healthcare Group in 2020.
Responsiblity to the community
For Manns, the role at Bronson was attractive because of the hospital group's emphasis on aiming for health equity and addressing health disparities. "It was really intentional on the board's part that equity is at the center of our plan for excellence, our strategic plan. We're the largest employer in the region and the preferred health provider in the region," he says. "We have a responsibility to this community. And that intentionality drives a lot of what we do. It means the world because we can impact and start to really move that needle."
Manns saw the challenge of tackling health disparities in the community on the first day of his new job, which was March 20, 2020, as the world was within the grips of the Covid-19 pandemic.
During the early months of the pandemic, people of color were contracting and dying from the virus at a rate 1.4 times higher than those in the white community, according to covidtracking.com. When the vaccines came out, Bronson personnel were on the front lines in clinics throughout the community administering the shots, but Manns said participation among people of color in the greater Kalamazoo community was low, due to stigma and fear.
The hospital forged partnerships with area churches and the Family Health Center to provide the vaccines if they could figure out ways to get them into the community.
"One of the coolest things we did was a drive-through vaccination site at Stones
Church. We had Pastor (Addis) Moore of Mount Zion (Baptist Church, a predominantly Black church in Kalamazoo's Northside neighborhood) get the vaccine. When you think about the fear that was happening at the time, to have folks like that say 'I got the shot, and it's OK' and then to say 'We're going to do it at a church, and you don't even have to get out of your car,' it really decreased the stigma, anxiety and fear."
The result was that both Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties achieved equivalency between Blacks and whites in terms of mortality from Covid. "It was being able to immunize so many people so quickly in partnerships with the rest of the community," Manns says. "It was not just a Bronson problem. We are part of the community, and we decided to solve it together."
At the same time, Manns was able to see the staff, physicians and employees under his watch perform under pressure. "It could have been incredibly stressful and torn the team apart, but we really jelled around 'How do we ensure that Bronson is here for another
A Drive of a Different Kind
When Bill Manns needs to drive somewhere, he's got a tough decision to make.
The self-professed "car nut" has 14 cars, ranging from a 1986 Jeep Wagoneer "Woody" and a 1959 Ford Thunderbird to several Mercedez Benzes, including a wagon and a convertible.
"That's my happy place," he says of his home's garage. "I really enjoy working on restoring and detailing cars."
Having grown up in Detroit, Manns says, his fascination with automobiles is only natural.
"We had older cars growing up, and I would work on them with my dad and my uncle, so it brings back fond memories. And talk about stress relief. The ability to take a wrench and turn it and it moves something, that's instant gratification," he says with a laugh.
Manns admits his collection has far surpassed the confines of the available garage space of his Parkview Hills home, where he and his wife, India, live. As a result, he stores his cars in buddies' garages or wherever he can find a spot.
"My cars all over the place," he says.
Manns' love of cars has landed him a spot on the Gilmore Car Museum's Board of Directors. When asked what his dream car would be, he responds, with a sly smile, "The next one."
have a list of impressive accomplishments to celebrate.
recognized as one of America's 250 Best Hospitals by Healthgrades, an online source for health care information. This month Bronson is being named a 2024 Elite Winner of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For by the National Association for Business Resources — an honor given to only 14 companies a year. Bronson is the only winner in Michigan.
Remaining independent
Clockwise from top left: Manns converses with Katie Mann, director of practice operations for neurosciences and sleep health; Manns and his wife India; and Manns, far right, works on a Ford Mustang with his son, far left, and a friend.
125 years, and how do we do the right thing?' I saw the team really become one. The employees responded, the mid-management responded, the executives responded, the board responded, and you just felt everybody come together for the community."
Indicators of success
The outcomes of the Covid vaccine program have not been the only indicators of Bronson's success under Manns' leadership.
As he observes his fifth anniversary as Bronson's CEO at the end of this month, he'll
In the past five years, Bronson's Medical Group has grown by 25 percent and has more than 800 physicians and advanced practice professionals. Bronson has opened a slew of facilities, including seven new primary-care locations, a new Cancer Center in Kalamazoo, new urgent-care locations in Battle Creek and downtown Kalamazoo, and a new hospital in South Haven. It has added 1,000 new employees since 2020, and, according to Manns, staff retention rates at Bronson are better than national averages.
In total, Bronson Healthcare Group now has about 9,300 employees and more than 70 locations serving Southwest and SouthCentral Michigan.
At the same time, the health care group has garnered accolades. In February, it was
That kind of success can bring attention, and in a world where large health care conglomerates gobble up smaller organizations or two large health care organizations merge, Bronson might seem ripe for the picking. (In 2023, Grand Rapids-based Spectrum Health merged with Beaumont Health to create Corewell Health, the largest in-state health care system in Michigan. And last year, as part of a joint venture, Ascension Michigan hospitals, including Ascension Borgess, and Genesys hospitals were incorporated into the larger Henry Ford Health.)
Not to worry, says Manns. "We're too big to be small," he says laughing, "and we're too small to be big."
Joking aside, Manns stresses that Bronson's deep connection to the community it serves and the local makeup of its board of directors are key factors that will keep the organization independent.
"It's a local board, and the fact that those men and women receive services here and
their neighbors receive services here, the decision process is different. I've worked for large health systems and just having that connection with the board is different," he says. "When you're the largest employer, the chances are as you go out, somebody somewhere you meet works for Bronson. And that's meaningful. That connection and that culture, we've got to protect that and keep it. So, we'll do the right thing for the community."
Expanding and contributing
As Bronson's services have expanded, its footprint has as well, especially in the Kalamazoo area. Since 2005, it has acquired several downtown properties, including the former Upjohn headquarters on John Street and the former Kalamazoo Gazette building. And in 2024, it purchased the former Stryker headquarters on Airview Boulevard, just north of the Kalamazoo-Battle Creek Airport.
As a nonprofit corporation, Bronson is exempt from paying property taxes on its growing property holdings, which has rankled some in the community. But, Manns says, "one of the things that I don't think people consider is that last year we provided $147 million of uncompensated care — about $403,000 a day."
In addition, he says Bronson, whose revenue has nearly doubled since 2020, funnels its profits into its employees, technology,
services and facilities, reinvesting more than $325 million in capital into the region. "I think we're doing a good job of repaying the community," he says.
Another contribution Manns sees Bronson making is using employment to ease health disparities in the communities it serves.
"When I was in graduate school, my favorite professor, Dr. Lichtenstein, said, 'If you want to improve someone's health status, give 'em a job.' Bronson's role as employer means a great deal to me. We strive to break down barriers to employment, such as: How do we take bias out of our hiring process? How do we begin to reflect the diversity of our community? To the extent that we break down those barriers, we start to improve the health status for everybody. That really drives a lot of the things that we do."
Toward that end, Bronson created the Medical Assistant (MA) Career Pathway program, a free, on-site training program available to Bronson employees that incorporates on-the-job training, classroom time and individual coaching and support. Throughout the 6-month program, students acquire essential skills, learn medical terminology and gain other competencies. Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to sit for a nationally recognized exam to become Registered Medical Assistants. To date, more than 50 individuals have successfully completed the program.
Manns notes this is an important program because medical assistants, who work directly with providers and patients, are "really hard to find."
"So we grow our own," he says.
Chasing 100 percent
Looking forward, Manns says he sees opportunities for Bronson to continue to "expand our territory" and to "raise the bar."
The hospital has the No. 1 critical care and stroke care services in the state of Michigan, according to Healthgrades, and several of its other programs, such as gastrointestinal surgery and medical treatment, pulmonary care and surgery, are ranked in the top five for the state.
"We have very, very high patient experience, but we always chase 100 percent, right? In a lot of our specialty areas, we are the first, second or third highest-performing hospital in the state. But how do we elevate even more of the specialties and subspecialties so that we're the No. 1 one in the state?"
These are ambitious goals at a time when the health care industry faces substantial pressure due to inflation and labor shortages, according to a McKinsey & Co. report. But Manns is nothing but optimistic.
"Our financial performance has been strong," he says, "and just keeping it strong is an opportunity as we look at the headwinds ahead."
Works by Schubert, Fauré, and Brahms
TheArts
WMU School of Music
Throughout the month
Various venues
From jazz to vocal music, the WMU's School of Music has a wide variety of concerts scheduled in March. Unless otherwise noted, the performances will be in the Dalton Center Recital Hall and tickets are $5–$15.
• Western Invitational Jazz Festival, closing concert featuring the University Jazz Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. March 1.
• Western Brass Quintet,7:30 p.m. March 12.
• Southwestern Michigan Vocal Festival, including the Festival Chorus, Honors Choir and WMU University Chorale, 7 p.m. March 13, Miller Auditorium.
• Choral Showcase, with Amphion, Anima and University Chorale choirs, 7:30 p.m. March 15.
• WMU Student Chamber Ensemble, 3 p.m. March 16, Milwood United Methodist Church, free.
• Brendan Ige, tuba player, 7:30 p.m. March 17.
• GC 47, featuring Gold Company and Gold Company II student vocal jazz groups, 7:30 p.m. March 21 and 22 and 2 p.m. March 23.
• Birds on a Wire, new-music ensemble, 7:30 p.m. March 25, free.
• Multimedia Concert, featuring faculty and guest artists, 7:30 p.m. March 26.
• Hana Beloglavec, trombonist, 7:30 p.m. March 28.
• University Symphonic & Concert Bands, 3 p.m. March 30, Miller Auditorium.
• Steve Wolfinbarger Retirement Celebration, with WMU and Alumni Trombone Choirs, 7:30 p.m. March 31, free. For more information, visit wmich.edu/music/events.
Kalamazoo College Concerts
Throughout the month
Dalton Theatre
A variety of musical genres will be presented by the college's ensembles this month. Unless otherwise noted, the performances will be in the Dalton Theatre:
• Kalamazoo College Singers, 4 p.m. March 2.
• Academy Street Winds, 4 p.m. March 9.
• International Percussion Ensemble, 7 p.m. March 12. For more information, visit music.kzoo.edu/events.
MUSIC
Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
March 1, 4 & 29
Miller Auditorium
The KSO has a busy month in March, with three performances scheduled:
• Appalachian Spring , at 7:30 p.m. March 1, will feature music capturing the essence of spring, including Copland's Appalachian Spring and Vivaldi's La primavera (Spring), from The Four Seasons. Tickets are $5–$68.
• EverybodyLovesRhythm , at 7 p.m. March 4, a collaboration of the KSO and Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers and will include familyfun activities before the performance. Tickets are $5–$15.
• Prokofiev’s Romeo & Juliet , at 7:30 p.m. March 29, will include selections from the composer's ballet and will feature pianist Garrick Ohlsson. Tickets are $5–$68.
To purchase tickets, visit kalamazoosymphony.com.
War&Peace
March 8
Chenery Auditorium
Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky and Vaughan Williams' Dona Nobis Pacem will be among the pieces performed in this collaborative concert of Kalamazoo Choral Arts and Kalamazoo Philharmonia. The concert is set for 7:30 p.m. at Chenery Auditorium. Tickets are $3–$7 and can be purchased at kalamazoochoralarts.org or at the door.
The Gilmore Concerts
March 9 & 16
Two venues
The Gilmore will present two concerts this month.
Elisabeth Brauss, a 30-year-old German pianist recently named a BBC New Generation Artist, will perform at 4 p.m. March 9 in the Wellspring Theater, at the Epic Center. Brauss is performing as part of The Gilmore Piano Festival's Rising Stars Series. Tickets are $10–$28.
Grammy Award-winning pianist Richard Goode and soprano Sarah Shafer will perform together at 4 p.m. March 16 in Kalamazoo College's Stetson Chapel. Goode won a Grammy in 1998 for his recording of Brahms sonatas. Shafer has performed leading roles with the Metropolitan and San Francisco operas and has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and at the Spoleto Festival USA. Tickets are $10–$55. Zaide Pixley will give a concert preview at 3 p.m.
To purchase tickets for each concert, visit thegilmore.org.
Garrick Ohlsson
TheString’stheThing
March 14–15
Festival Playhouse
Kalamazoo College senior May Moe Tun directs this one-act play that juxtaposes the Minotaur myth with the reality of living an existence where you feel that you are neither “one” nor “the other," as explored from a mixed-race perspective.
Show times are 6 p.m. March 14 and 15 at the college's Balch Playhouse, 129 Thompson St. Admission is free. For more information, visit festivalplayhouse.kzoo.edu.
TheGreatGatsby and Dreamgirls
Opening this month
WMU Theatre
The Western Michigan University theater department stages two productions this month.
The glittering world of the ultra-wealthy in the 1920s will be explored in The Great Gatsby through an "immersive" theater experience at WMU's Heritage Hall. Audience members must be 16 or older and are encouraged to wear formal attire as they watch F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel play out. Show times are 7:30 p.m. March 16, 20–23 and 27–29. Tickets are $12–$22.
The second production, Dreamgirls , is a musical that follows a Motown girl group's rise to superstardom. Show times are 7:30 p.m. March 28, 29, April 4, 5, 10, 11 and 12 and 2 p.m. March 30, April 6 and 13 in WMU's Shaw Theatre. Tickets are $7–$24. Tickets for each show are available at wmich.edu/theatre.
Parade and DancingatLughnasa Opening this month
Kalamazoo Civic Theatre
From a murder trial in rural Georgia to harvest time in Ireland, the Civic presents two productions this month with very different storylines.
The first, Parade , follows the story of Leo Frank, a Jewish Brooklyn native residing in rural Georgia who is on trial for the murder of a girl he employed. Show times are 7:30 p.m. March 14, 15, 21 and 22 and 2 p.m. March 16 and 23 at the Civic Auditorium. Tickets are $17–$32.
In Dancing at Lughnasa , the illegitimate son of one of the five Irish Mundy sisters who reared him recalls growing up poor in a small town in Ireland. The production is presented by the Senior Class Reader's Theatre, a Civic program for adult performers 50 and older. Show times are 7:30 p.m. March 28, 29, April 4 and 5 and 2 p.m. March 30 and April 6 in the Civic's Carver Studio. Tickets are $15.
Tickets for each production are available at kazoocivic. com or by calling 343-1313.
Other Productions
California Suite, March 1 & 2, Kalamazoo Civic Theatre
Eurydice, March 1 & 2, Festival Playhouse
TheArts COMEDY
Comedy Performances
Throughout the month
Various venues
If you need a little comic relief this month, you'll have many opportunities to get it.
Crawlspace Comedy Theatre offers a slate of improv performances:
• Oh Hey! & Baby Steps, March 1.
• Crawlspace Eviction, March 7 & 8.
• What Sharp Teeth & Canned Champagne, March 14.
• Blunder Bus & Joyce II Men, March 15.
• Superstar Super Show with Clarence Lloyd, March 21.
• Superstar Song Show with Matt Gross of Knee Deep Shag, March 22.
All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $2–$15 and can be purchased at crawlspacecomedy.com.
The Misfit Variety Show comes to the Dormouse Theatre at 7:30 p.m. March 20. The show, hosted by comedian and actress Lauren LoGiudice, features a rotating cast of eclectic comedians who create an experience for those who don't fit the mold.
Tickets are $10–$50 and available at dormousetheatre.com.
EtherealMotion
March 22
Ballet Arts Ensemble
Swan Lake, Act II, and Homeward, an original work by Ballet Arts Ensemble Artistic Director Betty Kondo, will be among the dances presented by this youth ballet group during its spring concert at Gull Lake Center for the Fine Arts, in Richland.
Show times are 1 and 6 p.m. Tickets are $15–$20 and can be purchased at balletartsensemble.org.
Continuing Production
Midwest Regional Alternative Dance Festival (RAD Fest)through March 2, Epic Center
Local Filmmaker Showcase
March 13
Kalamazoo Film Society
Works by local filmmakers will hit the silver screen at Celebration Cinema in Portage in this event presented by the Kalamazoo Film Society.
The free event begins at 6:30 p.m. After the screenings, the filmmakers in attendance will participate in a question-andanswer session. For more information, visit kalfilmsociety.net.
Javier Zamora
March 15
Chenery Auditorium
This poet who recounts his harrowing migration from El Salvador to the U.S. at age 9 in his memoir Solito will speak at 3 p.m. at Chenery.
Solito is Zamora's second book and this year's selection for the local Reading Together program. His debut poetry collection, Unaccompanied (2017), explores the impact of the war in El Salvador and immigration on his family.
Zamora has been a Stegner Fellow at Stanford and a Radcliffe Fellow at Harvard and holds fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation.
His presentation will be followed by a Q&A session and book signing. For more information, visit kpl.gov/category/readingtogether.
Edible Book Festival
March 29
Kalamazoo Book Arts Center
This annual event proves reading can be delicious. It's part of the global Edible Book Festival, which is celebrated in more than 20 countries and invites entrants to create edible creations that are related to a book.
Locally, entries will be set up from 4:30–5:30 p.m., and voting will occur until 6 p.m. After the winners are announced, eating of the books will begin. Attendees are encouraged to come between 5:30 and 6 p.m. to see the uneaten books and cast a vote.
For more information, visit kalbookarts.org.
Author Talks
March 5, 19 & 25
Various venues
Three Michigan authors will give talks at area libraries this month.
Kalamazoo's Bonnie Jo Campbell, author of the bestselling novels The Waters (2024) and Once Upon a River (2018), will speak at 6 p.m. March 5 at Portage District Library. Registration is required, at portagelibrary.info.
Joe Koenig, author of Getting the Truth: I Am D.B. Cooper, will talk about this 2019 book about the legendary hijacker at 6 p.m. March 19 at Comstock Township Library. Registration is required, by calling 345-0136 or at comstocklibrary.org.
Michael Delaware, the Michigan history vlogger and author of Victorian Southwest Michigan True Crime, will speak at 6 p.m. March 25 at Richland Community Library. For more information, visit richlandlibrary.org.
TheArts
is published in partnership and funding provided by
Joe Koeing
TheArts
Three Exhibitions
Various dates
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
The KIA is hosting three exhibitions this month and will offer a talk and workshop by one of the artists.
An Infinite Constellation of Love features videos, sculptures, paintings and site-specific installations by JooYoung Choi. The exhibition opened Feb. 22 and will run through June 15.
Choi will present a lecture titled "Exploring the Power of Visual Art and World-Building" at 6 p.m. March 20 in person and online. She will also lead a workshop for families at 1 p.m. March 22 that will involve creating flowers representing unconditional love. Registration is required for both programs.
A crowd-sourced exhibition titled Sourced from the 'Zoo , featuring objects and artworks from the greater Kalamazoo community that represent regional and personal histories, runs March 8 to May 25 at locations in downtown Kalamazoo.
Finally, the annual exhibition Young Artists of Kalamazoo County , which features artwork by students from kindergarten through eighth grade, will run March 15 to April 15.
For more information or to register for the lecture or workshop, visit kiarts.org.
Ongoing Exhibitions
The Illustrated Accordion, through March 21, Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, with reception 5–8 p.m. March 7
A nine-year-old boy. An impossible journey.
For more information on Javier Zamora, please visit prhspeakers.com.
PERFORMING ARTS
THEATER
Plays
California Suite — Neil Simon’s play set in a Beverly Hills hotel, 7:30 p.m. March 1, 2 p.m. March 2, Parish Theatre, 405 W. Lovell St., 343-1313, kazoocivic.com.
Eurydice— Orpheus & Eurydice’s journey to the underworld reimagined, 7:30 p.m. March 1, 2 p.m. March 2, Balch Playhouse, 129 Thompson St., festivalplayhouse.kzoo.edu.
Late Nite Catechism — Interactive comedy theater, 3 p.m. March 9, Miller Auditorium, millerauditorium.com.
TheString’stheThing— Explores an existence where you feel that you are neither one nor the other as explored from a mixed-race perspective, 6 p.m. March 14 & 15, Balch Playhouse, 129 Thompson St., festivalplayhouse.kzoo.edu.
The Great Gatsby — Immersive theater experience through WMU's Heritage Hall as the story based on the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel plays out, 7:30 p.m. March 16, 20–23 & 27–29, 625 Oakland Drive; for ages 16+ only; formal attire encouraged; 387-6222, wmich.edu/theatre.
August Wilson’s Two Trains Running — About a diner owner in a historically black neighborhood at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, 7:30 p.m. March 21, Miller Auditorium, millerauditorium.com.
Dancing at Lughnasa — Five Irish sisters struggle to adapt to their changing world, 7:30 p.m. March 28, 29, April 4 & 5, 2 p.m. March 30 & April 6, Carver Studio, 426 S. Park St., 343-1313, kazoocivic.com.
Musicals
Parade — A Jewish man from Brooklyn on trial for murder fights to prove his innocence, 7:30 p.m. March 14, 15, 21 & 22, 2 p.m. March 16 & 23, Civic Auditorium, 329 S. Park St., 343-1313, kazoocivic.com.
The Simon & Garfunkel Story — Concertstyle theater show with live band & film footage, 7:30 p.m. March 19, Miller Auditorium, millerauditorium.com.
Dreamgirls — A Motown girl group rises to superstardom, 7:30 p.m. March 28, 29, April 4, 5, 10, 11 & 12, 2 p.m. March 30, April 6 & 13, Shaw Theatre, WMU, 387-6222, wmich.edu/theatre.
DANCE
Midwest Regional Alternative Dance Festival (RAD Fest) — Featuring modern, post-modern & contemporary dance, hosted by Wellspring/ Cori Terry & Dancers, through March 2, Epic Center, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, wellspringdance. org/radabout, 342-4354.
Ethereal Motion — Ballet Arts Ensemble performs a mixed repertoire, including Swan Lake, Act II, 1 & 6 p.m. March 22, Gull Lake Center for the Fine Arts, 7753 N. 34th St., Richland, balletartsensemble.org.
MUSIC
Bands & Solo Artists
Bell’s Eccentric Cafe Concerts — All shows at 8 p.m. unless noted otherwise: Satsang, March 7; Jimkata, March 8; Chloe Kimes, March 9; Gregory Stovetop & Seth Bernard, March 13; The Red Sea Pedestrians w/The Nathan Moore Affair, March 14; Emo Night Brooklyn, 7 p.m. March 22; live music during Oberon Day, beginning 11 a.m. March 24; Yolonda Lavender, Normal Mode and Brandon Fitzpatrick and the Element, March 27; Mustard Plug w/The Mushmen & Sierra Miffed, March 28; 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave., 3822332, bellsbeer.com.
A Queer Crescendo — Four local queer composers share new classical works, 7:30 p.m. March 7 & 8, Stetson Chapel, Kalamazoo College, queertk.org.
Whiskey Before Breakfast — Irish music, 2 p.m. March 9, Parchment Community Library, 401 S. Riverview Drive, 343-7747.
Paper Sound, Januzzi Watchman, Zero Sun — Post-punk & indie music, 8 p.m. March 14, Dormouse Theatre, 1030 Portage St., dormousetheatre.com.
R.E.S.P.E.C.T. A Celebration of the Music of Aretha Franklin — Live band & vocalists celebrate the Queen of Soul, 7:30 p.m. March 25, Miller Auditorium, millerauditorium.com.
Dwight Yoakam with The Mavericks — Country music, 7 p.m. March 27, Wings Event Center, 3600 Vanrick Drive, wingseventcenter.com. Orchestra, Chamber, Jazz, Vocal & More Appalachian Spring — Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra presents music capturing the essence of spring, 7:30 p.m. March 1, Miller Auditorium, kalamazoosymphony.com.
Western Invitational Jazz Festival — Closing concert, featuring the University Jazz Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. March 1, Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU, wmich.edu/music/events.
Kalamazoo College Singers — 4 p.m. March 2, Dalton Theatre, Kalamazoo College, music.kzoo. edu/events.
EverybodyLovesRhythm — A collaboration by the KSO & Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers, 7 p.m. March 4, Miller Auditorium, millerauditorium. com; come early for family-fun activities.
War&Peace— Kalamazoo Choral Arts performs with Kalamazoo Philharmonia, 7:30 p.m. March 8, Chenery Auditorium, 714 S. Westnedge Ave., kalamazoochoralarts.org.
Elisabeth Brauss — Pianist, 4 p.m. March 9, Wellspring Theater, Epic Center, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, 342-1166, thegilmore.org.
Academy Street Winds — 4 p.m. March 9, Dalton Theatre, Kalamazoo College, music.kzoo. edu/events.
International Percussion Ensemble — 7 p.m. March 12, Dalton Theatre, Kalamazoo College, music.kzoo.edu/events.
Western Brass Quintet — 7:30 p.m. March 12, Dalton Center Recital Hall, with pre-concert talk at 7 p.m., wmich.edu/music/events.
Southwestern Michigan Vocal Festival — Festival Chorus, Honors Choir & University Chorale, 7 p.m. March 13, Miller Auditorium, wmich.edu/music/events.
The Peter Washington Trio — Jazz, 7:30 p.m. March 13, Crawlspace Theatre, 315 W. Michigan Ave., crawlspacecomedy.com.
Crescendo Academy of Music Student Recital — 2 p.m. March 15, First Congregational Church, 345 W. Michigan Ave., 345-6664, crescendoacademy.com.
Choral Showcase — WMU choirs Amphion, Anima & University Chorale, 7:30 p.m. March 15, Dalton Recital Hall, wmich.edu/music/events.
WMU Student Chamber Ensemble — 3 p.m. March 16, Milwood United Methodist Church, 3919 Portage St., wmich.edu/music/events.
Richard Goode & Sarah Shafer — Pianist & soprano, 4 p.m. March 16, Stetson Chapel, Kalamazoo College, thegilmore.org.
Brendan Ige — Tubist, 7:30 p.m. March 17, Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU, wmich.edu/ music/events.
Kalamazoo Fretboard Festival — Celebrating Kalamazoo’s stringed-instrument heritage with in-person and virtual performances, workshops & vendors, 6–8 p.m. March 21, 9:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m. March 22, Kalamazoo Valley Museum, 230 N. Rose St., kalamazoomuseum.org.
GC 47 — WMU’s Gold Company & Gold Company II vocal groups, 7:30 p.m. March 21 & 22, 2 p.m. March 23, Dalton Center Recital Hall, wmich.edu/music/events.
Birds on a Wire — New-music ensemble, 7:30 p.m. March 25, Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU, wmich.edu/music/events.
Hana Beloglavec — Trombonist, 7:30 p.m. March 28, Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU, wmich.edu/music/events.
Prokofiev’s Romeo & Juliet — Performed by the KSO, 7:30 p.m. March 29, Miller Auditorium, kalamazoosymphony.com.
University Symphonic & Concert Bands — 3 p.m. March 30, Miller Auditorium, wmich.edu/ music/events.
Steve Wolfinbarger Retirement Celebration — Performance by WMU Student & Alumni Trombone Choir, 7:30 p.m. March 31, Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU, wmich.edu/music/ events.
COMEDY
Crawlspace Comedy Theatre — Improv performances by Oh Hey! & Baby Steps, March 1; Crawlspace Eviction, March 7 & 8; What Sharp Teeth & Canned Champagne, March 14; Blunder Bus & Joyce II Men, March 15; Superstar Super Show w/Clarence Lloyd; all shows begin at 7:30 p.m., Kalamazoo Nonprofit Advocacy Coalition, 315 W. Michigan Ave., crawlspacecomedy.com.
Misfit Variety Show — Eclectic comedians, 7:30 p.m. March 20, Dormouse Theatre, 1030 Portage St., dormousetheatre.com.
FILM
Local Filmmaker Showcase — Presented by Kalamazoo Film Society, 6:30 p.m. March 13, Celebration Cinema, 6600 Ring Road, Portage, kalfilmsociety.net.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire — Film screening, 7 p.m. March 13, Dormouse Theatre, 1030 Portage St., dormousetheatre.com.
VISUAL ARTS
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts 314 S. Park St., 349-7775, kiarts.org
Exhibitions
An Infinite Constellation of Love — Videos, sculptures & paintings by JooYoung Choi, through June 15.
Sourced from the 'Zoo — A rotating exhibition of art, treasured objects & stories celebrating Kalamazoo & displayed in downtown locations, March 8–May 25.
YoungArtistsofKalamazooCounty— Artwork by students from kindergarten through eighth grade, March 15–April 15.
Events
Sunday Drop-In Conversation —Docents discuss KIA artwork, 1:30–2:30 p.m. Sundays.
ArtBridges Access for All — Free general admission every Thursday, 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
Kirk Newman Art School Hands-On Event — A “make it & take it" activity during Art Hop, with small fee covering materials, 6–9 p.m. March 7.
Dr. Abbas Daneshvari: American & European Art in the Crucible of Postmodernism — Lecture on cultural transformations reflected in the arts, 10 a.m.–noon March 12; reception following lecture.
Book Discussion — Of Javier Zamora’s Solito: A Memoir, this year's local Reading Together title, 2 p.m. March 12; registration requested.
Gallery Gathering — Discussion of the exhibition An Infinite Constellation of Love, 5:30 p.m. March 13; registration requested.
ARTbreak — Program about art, artists & exhibitions: Connecting Chords/Engaging Drums, with Elizabeth Start, March 19, in person & livestreamed on YouTube; The Art of Puppetry, with Bradford Clark, March 26, on KIA’s YouTube Channel; both sessions begin at noon.
Exploring the Power of Visual Art & WorldBuilding — Lecture by JooYoung Choi, 6 p.m. March 20, online & in person; registration requested.
The Garden of Courage & Love Workshop —
Create flowers representing people who have shown unconditional love, 1 p.m. March 22; registration required & limited to 20 participants.
Other Venues
The Illustrated Accordion — Exhibition of accordion-style books, through March 21, Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, 326 W. Kalamazoo Ave., Suite 103A; reception 5–8 p.m. March 7, 373-4938, kalbookarts.org.
Art Hop — Displays of art with the theme “Community" at various locations, 5–8 p.m. March 7, downtown Kalamazoo, 342–5059, kalamazooarts.org.
Annual Student Exhibition — Works by students in the WMU Frostic School of Art, March 11–25; reception & awards announcement, 5–8 p.m. March 21, Albertine Monroe-Brown Gallery, Richmond Center for Visual Arts, wmich.edu/art.
LIBRARY & LITERARY EVENTS
Comstock Township Library 6130 King Highway, 345-0136, comstocklibrary.org
Seed Library Launch Day — Pick up a pack of seeds to plant, 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m. March 1.
CTL Writers — Group writing discussion, 10 a.m. Fridays; no class March 21.
Multicultural Night — Celebrating National Read Across America Day with programs, presenters & activities, 5 p.m. March 12.
Adult Book Club — 1:30 p.m. March 13.
State Rep. Matt Hall Listening Hour — Talk with the representative’s staff, noon March 19.
An Evening with Joe Koenig & D.B. Cooper — Michigan author talks about his book Getting the Truth: I Am D.B. Cooper, 6 p.m. March 19; registration required.
Spoken Word & Poetry Night — Share a poem or listen to others to celebrate World Poetry Day, 4:30 p.m. March 21.
Pride Book Club — Discuss Patricia Highsmith's The Price of Salt, 6 p.m. March 26, in person & online; registration required.
Adult Book Club — Discuss Sara Nisha Adams’ The Reading List, 5:30 p.m. March 27; registration required.
Kalamazoo Public Library 553-7800, kpl.gov
KPL Tech Days — Personal session to learn about technology & the internet, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
March 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25 & 29, Central Library, 315 S. Rose St.; sessions are first-come, first-served.
KPL Mobile Library — 2 p.m. March 6, Leisure Pointe Condominiums, 4814 Weston Ave.; 3 p.m. March 10, Douglass Apartments, 1211 Douglas Ave.; 3 p.m. March 11, Maple Grove Village, 735 Summit Ave.; 4 p.m. March 19, Oakwood Neighborhood Association, 3320 Laird Ave.; 3:30 p.m. March 24, New Village Park/Heather Gardens, 2400 Albans Way; 10 a.m. March 25, Lodge House, 1211 S. Westnedge Ave.; 3:30 p.m. March 25, Interfaith Homes, 1037 Interfaith Blvd.; stops are approximately one hour.
Parchment Community Library 401 S. Riverview Drive, 343-7747, parchmentlibrary.org
Parchment Book Group — Discuss the local 2025 Reading Together selection, Solito: A Memoir, by Javier Zamora, 6 p.m. March 10.
Mystery Book Club — Discuss Anthony Horowitz's A Line to Kill, 6:30 p.m. March 18.
Silent Book Club Sessions — Read in companionable silence, 5:15 p.m. March 24, 10:15 a.m. March 25, 1:15 p.m. March 26.
Friends of the Library Book Sale — 9 a.m.–1 p.m. March 29, with early-bird admission $2 between 8 & 9 a.m.
Portage District Library
300 Library Lane, 329-4544, portagelibrary.info
Kalamazoo County Historical Society — Local history speakers & discussion, 7 p.m. March 3.
Book Discussion — On Javier Zamora’s Solito: A Memoir, 6:30 p.m. March 4; registration required.
An Evening with Bonnie Jo Campbell — Local author of The Waters, 6 p.m. March 5; registration required.
Muffins & the Market — Discussion of recent stock market trends, 9 a.m. March 6 & 20.
Kalamazoo Plant It Forward Plant Swap — Advice & plants, 10 a.m. March 8.
International Mystery Book Club — Discuss Rachel Hawkins' The Villa, 7 p.m. March 13.
Documentary and Donuts — View Beyond the Tree Line, about a couple's trek of the Appalachian Trail, 10 a.m. March 14, followed by discussion.
Kalamazoo Macintosh Users’ Group — Help with Macintosh programs, 9 a.m.–noon March 15.
Kalamazoo Valley Genealogical Society — Open to anyone interested in genealogy, 7 p.m. March 17, in person & online.
AI Prompting Strategies: Keeping the Human in the Loop — Presentation on generative artificial intelligence, 1:30 p.m. March 18; registration required.
Plots and Pages: A Local Writers Group — Mark Love discusses the craft of writing, 6 p.m. March 18.
Design with Canva: Unleash Your Creativity — How to use this design software, 6:30 p.m. March 20; registration required.
Lakeshore SciFi, Fantasy & Horror — Meet West Michigan speculative fiction authors, 2–4 p.m. March 22.
Light Lunch & Literature — Discuss Gabriel Garcia’s Chronicle of a Death Foretold, noon March 24, with light lunch served; registration required.
Richland Community Library 8951 Park St., 629-9085, richlandlibrary.org Bridge Club — Noon–3 p.m. Tuesdays.
RCL’s Annual Art & Writing Contest — Submit works during March for judging by popular vote in April.
Wills & Trusts — Presentation by Jessica Brandow, 7 p.m. March 6; registration required. Cookbook Club — Discuss Elizabeth Gordon’s Simply Allergy-Free, 6 p.m. March 11.
Tea Culture — Discover tea cultures around the world, 6 p.m. March 12; registration required.
Adult Dungeons & Dragons Bravo Team — Play a new crusade each month, 3 p.m. March 13, 5 p.m. March 19; registration required.
Richland Area Writer’s Group — Open to new members, noon March 14 & 28, in person & online.
Inclusive Insight Series: Know Your Rights — An overview of laws protecting those with disabilities, 6 p.m. March 18.
Richland Genealogy Group — Open to new members, 10 a.m. March 20, in person & via Zoom.
RCL Book Club — Discuss Eleanor Shearer’s River Sing Me Home, 6 p.m. March 20.
Michael Delaware — Meet the Michigan author & historian, 6 p.m. March 25.
Vicksburg District Library 215 S. Michigan Ave., 649-1648, vicksburglibrary.org
Bridge Club — 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays. Book Club for Adults — 9:30 a.m. March 6; book selection at circulation desk.
Writer’s Motivational Group — Set goals & report progress, 4 p.m. March 27.
Other Venues
Rootead’s Poetry Night — Healing through spoken word with a featured artist, for young adults ages 18+, 7:30 p.m. March 6, Rootead Studio, 505 E. Kalamazoo Ave., Suite 3, rootead.org.
Gratitude Through the Divine Lens: Exploring Sacred Poetry — Free workshop led by Tasleem Jamila for those18–25 years old, 6:30 p.m. March 8, Fire Historical and Cultural Arts Collaborative,
1249 Portage St., kalamazoopoetryfestival.com. Worth the Detour — Workshop on when life doesn’t go as planned, led by Markeva Love, 6:30 p.m. March 11, First Congregational Church, 345 W. Michigan Ave., kalamazoopoetryfestival.com.
Reading Together 2025: Meet the Author — Javier Zamora, author of Solito: A Memoir, with Q&A session & book signing, 3 p.m. March 15, Chenery Auditorium, 714 S. Westnedge Ave., kpl. gov/event.
Edible Book Festival — Celebrating the art of the book, 4:30 p.m. March 29; winners announced at 6 p.m. & eating beginning at 6:05 p.m., Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, 326 W. Kalamazoo Ave., Suite 103A, 373-4938, kalbookarts.org.
2025 Lecture Series — Open Wheel Racing with a panel of racing personalities, March 2; 1913 Automobile Culture, Tom Wilson, March 9; Orville Gibson’s Legacy, Robin Nott, March 16; A Barn-Find Journey, Lowell Otter, March 23; Enameled Automobilia, Todd Carlson, March 30; all sessions begin at 2 p.m.
Kalamazoo Valley Museum
230 N. Rose St., 373-7990, kalamazoomuseum.org
Ray Harryhausen: Miniature Models of the Silver Screen — Artifacts from the animation filmmaker’s collection, through April 27.
TheArtofAdvertising — Nostalgic signs & ads from local businesses, through Aug. 31.
Colorful Collections — Items in a rainbow of hues from the museum's collection, through Aug. 31.
NATURE
Beginning Birding Walk — 9–11 a.m. March 1; meet at Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery's second parking lot, 34270 County Road 652, Mattawan, kalamazooaudubon.org.
Terra Talks — Lecture series on environmental stewardship: Invasive Species Management, March 7; Evolution of a Naturalist: From Lawn Lover to Native Gardener, March 14; Designing Native Plant Gardens: Minimizing the ‘Error’ in Trial & Error, March 21; Stewardship Strategies: Public Lands, Parks & Private Parcels, March 28; all sessions begin at 6 p.m., Portage Parks & Recreation Building, 320 Library Lane, portagemi. gov/calendar; registration required.
Maple Sugar Festival — Maple sugaring demonstrations, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. March 8, Kalamazoo Nature Center, 7000 N. Westnedge Ave., 381-1574, naturecenter.org.
Birds & Coffee Chat Online — 10 a.m. March 12; presented by Kellogg Bird Sanctuary, birdsanctuary@kbs.msu.edu; registration required.
Total Lunar Eclipse Watch — With the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society (KAS), 11 p.m.–6 a.m. March 13, Kalamazoo Nature Center, 7000 N. Westnedge Ave., kasonline.org.
KAS General Meeting — Stars Without Nuclear Fusion: Much of the Physics Without All of the Confusion, presented by Dr. Kirk Korista, 7–9:15 p.m. March 14, Kalamazoo Math & Science Center, 600 W. Vine St., kasonline.org.
Ranger Hike: Whispers of Spring — Guided hike to see signs of spring, 2 p.m. March 22, West Lake Nature Preserve, 9001 S. Westnedge Ave.; registration required, portagemi.gov/calendar.
Audubon Society of Kalamazoo — Michigan Motus Array: Exciting Detections in Michigan, discussion about the Motus Wildlife Tracking Systems, 7:30 p.m. March 24, People’s Church, 1758 N. 10th St., kalamazooaudubon.org.
MISCELLANEOUS
Kalamazoo Restaurant Week — With 16 venues participating, through March 1, kalamazoorestaurantweek.com.
Kalamazoo Winter Market — Produce & artisan wares, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. Saturdays, through April 30, St. Joseph Catholic Church gymnasium, 930 Lake St., facebook.com/@KalamazooWinterMarket.
Craft Show — 250+ vendors, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. March 1, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. March 2, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 2900 Lake St., 269-903-5820.
Kalamazoo Home & Garden Expo — Building trends, products & ideas, noon–8 p.m. March 7, 10 a.m.–8 p.m. March 8, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. March 9, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 375-4225, kalamazoohomeexpo.com.
Girl Scouts Spring Fling Craft Fair — Small business owners & handmade items, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. March 8, Girl Scouts Building, 601 W. Maple St., discoverkalamazoo.com.
ARC Community Advocates’ Inclusion Conference — Conference to promote inclusivity, 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m. March 14, Delta Hotel & Conference Center, 2747 S. 11th St., communityadvocates.org.
Kalamazoo Living History Show — War re-enactors, craftspeople, vendors & history buffs, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. March 15, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
March 16, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, kalamazooshow.com.
Kalamazoo County 4-H Tack Sale — Items for horses & farms, 5–9 p.m. March 17, Kalamazoo County Expo Center; for more information, email kalamazoo4hhorse@yahoo.com.
Vintage in the Zoo — Vintage wares, 5–10 p.m. March 21, Louie’s Trophy House, 629 Walbridge St., vintageinthezoo.com.
WMU Asian Initiatives Spring Gala — Celebrating Asian Pacific Heritage Month with dance & more, 6 p.m. March
22, Miller Auditorium, WMU, 349–7557, millerauditorium.com.
Kalamazoo Reptile & Exotic Pet Expo — Reptiles, amphibians & exotic pets, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. March 23, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, kalamazooreptileexpo.com.
KazooPex Stamp & Cover Show — Covers, postcards & supplies, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. March 28 & 29, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 375-6188.
for the Fine Arts in Richland
Walking in March
Stately grace of sandhill cranes, just returned.
Skim of ice around the edges of the ponds.
Trees cutting shadows out of morning light, tossing them across the fields.
Branches reaching out, touching brittle fingers over roads.
Steady companionship of earth and body, mind and movement, Remember.
— Scott Peterson
Before retiring, Peterson was an educator in Mattawan, Michigan. He has also taught at Western Michigan University and was a teacherconsultant for the National Writing Project. His essays and poetry have appeared in Longridge Review, Plain Song Review, Teach. Write. Journal and other anthologies and magazines.
Heather Graves (continued from page 34)
The Y is really where I learned the business leadership side of a nonprofit. I also started to work with marginalized, historically excluded communities and with health care partners, securing a grant to make the YMCA in Colorado Springs a presumptive eligibility site to approve people applying for government-funded insurance, to help take the backlog off the Department of Human Services.
I then started making my way into the health care space, moving over to hospital health care, working in the area of access. I went to work in public health and worked on mom/baby health, suicide prevention, attainable and affordable housing, and substance use disorder and addiction. But Covid was so politicized that I found myself caught in the bureaucracy of managing the political aspects of that and not really being able to serve.
An executive director position opened up at Catamount Institute, an environmental education center, and I applied, got the position, and got back into my nonprofit roots. I loved it.
I had been away from Kalamazoo for just over 25 years — my family's still here and my husband's family is still in Michigan. In 2023, we decided we wanted to be connected with family and reconnect to a community that aligns with our personal and professional values. When I saw the CEO position for the Kalamazoo Nature Center, I applied, and it was a very rigorous, arduous search and interview process. And I had the honor and privilege of taking the position. How has the KNC changed since you came here as a kid?
Some things have not changed. Education, conservation and research are still the cornerstones of what we do. I think the physical appearance has changed significantly over the years, as far as the aesthetics and really paying attention to native over invasive species. There's been tremendous effort to restore and protect the native biodiversity and try to eradicate the invasives.
We've also grown a lot. We were one of the first nature centers in the country. We're unique because we are not funded by a government or municipal entity but through private donors, fee-for-service grants, family foundation grants and those types of things. My predecessors really set us up to be a self-sustaining organization with the animal care programs, education and research.
What challenges does the KNC face?
Our Visitor Center is going on 65 years old. We are committed to keeping the integrity of the building and our grounds, and that's a challenge because the upkeep of an older building is just harder. At the same time, we have about 1,500 acres that also need to be maintained. Fundraising is also a challenge, especially in a community that has several nonprofits going for the same dollars. We have to be concise and consistent about our mission and the benefits of nature so that funders are interested and see the value in what we do.
In a time of more devices that divert our attention, how does the Nature Center stay relevant?
We strive to meet people where they are and connect them to nature for their first experience and keep them engaged with the natural world for life. You don't have to be a scientist or expert to come here. We just want you to come. We have folks that engage in our programs that maybe do hold a Ph.D. in earth science or conservation, but we also have people that come who are afraid of bugs or don't like dirt and they don't feel safe. We want to provide a safe space for whatever level you are at. And we hope that in that time, whether it's through an innovative program or an experience, that you will develop a connection to nature and that you'll want to engage deeper and grow that connection in your relationship with nature for mental health, emotional health, physical health and for care of our planet and natural world.
— Interview by Marie Lee, edited for length and clarity
Heather Graves CEO, Kalamazoo Nature Center
Growing up in Kalamazoo Township's Northwood neighborhood, Heather Graves (nee Knotts) was a stone's throw from the Kalamazoo Nature Center and naturally spent a bit of time there.
"Our house was just south of the Markin Glen campground entrance. Of course, it wasn't a campground then. It was just open space with ponds and field and forest," the 54-year-old recalls. "That was a time when kids literally left the house at daybreak and didn't come back until the streetlights came on, so my sister and I and the neighborhood kids would explore all along the Kalamazoo River and the railroad tracks and just be out in the wild."
It's safe to say that since she came aboard as the KNC's CEO last August, Graves is probably spending a lot more time at the Nature Center now than she did as a child.
"But the feel and the magic and the beauty and the wonder are all still here," she says.
How did you get where you are today?
I graduated from Parchment High School and went to Kalamazoo Valley Community College. I worked two jobs and went to school at the same time, so I did four years at Valley and got my associate's degree and transferred to Western (Michigan University) and graduated in December 1996.
While I was at Western, I worked for the YMCA, in its before- and after-school programs, and was offered a full-time position. I did that for a couple years and had an opportunity to take on an executive role at the YMCA in Jacksonville, Florida. After about four years, I moved out to Colorado Springs, where Eric (her college boyfriend and now husband) was and secured a position with the YMCA there.
(continued on page 33)
Opening March 2025
The Sandhill Café you know and love is returning to the all-new Gun Lake Casino Resort!
The carefully crafted menu features familiar favorites, new takes on timeless dishes and classic comfort foods with a contemporary twist. Savor every flavor in a gorgeous new location with the same warm, relaxed atmosphere.
