Bluegrass for Breakfast ~ Page 12
Expert Advice
Roofing
Q: Should we be concerned about the amount of snow and ice accumulating on our roof? total amount of snowfall has been
Manager
and ice is substantial, we recommend removing as much of the snow and ice as possible. However, safety should be your foremost concern. Emergency room personnel can tell you many stories of unfortunate homeowners injured while climbing a ladder or getting onto their roofs to remove snow and ice. Therefore, we recommend purchasing a ‘snow rake’, a long handled shoveling device, designed to pull snow and ice off the roof while you stand safely on the ground. Please be aware, however, since a snow rake is made from aluminum, you must kept it away from any electrical power lines on your roof. Once spring weather arrives, we offer to inspect roofs for winter snow and ice damage free. Most new roofs show little or no effect from such a hard winter. Older shingles can be damaged quite easily from excessive snow and ice accumulations. Call us at (269) 342-0153 or visit us at worryfreeroof.com today to learn more.
Sherriff-Goslin Roofing Co.
Q: How can I plan for
Q: Why are prices LOWER at smaller independent pharmacies?
A: Since the first week of January, our
Justin Reynolds significant. Since the weight of snow
Finances
Pharmacy
retirement if my employer doesn’t offer retirement benefits?
Arun Tandon, R.Ph A: There is a misconception in the general public mind that the chains and bigger companies would have better prices. This is basically the result of heavy advertising by the Walgreens and the Walmarts of the world. They might advertise some drugs for a low price which they more than make up by charging more than double on all other medications. The managers at these chains don’t have access to the cost and don’t have the authorization to change any prices. But Independents have that, as owners, We have the sense of responsibility to help the members of the community by charging patients without insurance at cost Plus price. For a Great service AND even better prices , shop your community Independent Pharmacy.
first step should be to open an IRA and contribute as much as allowable each year. Because of the potential for tax-deferred, compounded earnings, IRAs offer similar long-term growth opportunities as employer-sponsored plans. In addition, you may qualify for tax-deductible contributions or tax-free withdrawals, depending on whether you invest in a regular IRA or Roth IRA.
Mon-Fri 9-6, Sat 9-1
Drenth Financial Services
Advanced Health Pharmacy
Douglas Drenth
A: In many cases, your
5659 W. Michigan, Kalamazoo 269-978-0250 • ddrenth@fscadvisor.com
Member Home Builders Association of Greater Kalamazoo
7916 Oakland Dr at Centre St 269 324-1100 • FREE DELIVERY advancedhealthpharmacymi.com
Securities offered through FSC Securities Corporation, member FINRA/SIPC. Insurance services offered through Drenth Financial Services and is not affiliated with FSC. HFG Financial Group is not affiliated with FSC or registered as a broker-dealer or a registered investment advisor. Individual situations will vary. Please contact a professional for specific advice. Entities listed here do not offer mortgage services. Prepared by Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. Copyright 2013.
Health Food
Funeral Services
Transitions
Since 1906 342-0153 800-950-1906
Q: Time for me stop eating all of those “goodies” and get some supplements to help lose my Linda Sawall HOLIDAY Owner WEIGHT GAIN.” Does Sawall’s have any on sale? A: Yes. Come in right away for our top sellers. IRWIN NATURALS are 50% FOR JANUARY as well as RENEW LIFE CLEANSES are 50% OFF to help you detox. Lose... Detox and Save at Sawall! Mon.-Sat. 8-9, Sun. 10-6
Sawall Health Food
Oakwood Plaza • 2965 Oakland Dr. at Whites Rd. • 343-3619 • www.sawallhf.com
Q: When downsizing,
Q: How specific
how can I determine the monetary worth of the items we are donating to create an accurate, itemized list for tax purposes?
should I get in making pre-arrangements?
A: Some people like to
have all their I’s dotted and T’s crossed. They know what they want and believe that having all the details in place will work out best for them.
Tod Langeland Administrator
Others like to make just the basic choices, so their families will know what they want, but other things can be arranged as the family likes. In any case, the opportunity of preplanning protects your family on the most difficult day of your life.
Langeland Family Funeral Homes
“Quiet dignity with compassion” has meant so much for many people... for many years. 6 locations to serve you 269-343-1508 • www.langelands.com
Madeleine Socia
A: The Salvation Army
website offers a general Donation Value Guide for calculating the approximate tax-deductible value of commonly donated items. Click on http://satruck.org/donation-value-guide and you will find a high – low range for everything from air conditioners and blenders to curtains and evening dresses. It is up to you to evaluate the condition of each item and assign a final price. For antiques, jewelry, fine art and musical instruments, you may want to consult a dealer for a professional appraisal. Submit the list with the items and keep all receipts in one file for tax time!
Friendship Village
Senior Living Community 1400 North Drake, Kalamazoo (269) 381-0560 www.friendshipvillagemi.com
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that piled up, made it difficult. Someone once told me this is called “post-vacation depression.” The kids are older now, busy with their own lives and not able to get away. So instead, Jackie and I now take several “winter retreats” to fun places. The Potawatomi Inn at Pokegan State Park and the historic Lakeside and Gordon Beach Inns in Union Pier are a few of our favorites.
January is always a challenging month for me. The excitement of the holidays is behind us, it gets dark way too early and warm weather is many months away.
from the
EdITOR
ON THE COVER:
They are close to home, offer off-season rates, and no need to plan weeks ahead to get a room. We enjoy reading by the fireplace, brisk hikes through the woods and exploring the local towns, funky stores and restaurants.
In the past, during the kid’s spring break, my family took trips to somewhere warm. It was always a great getaway, exploring new places and showing off a slight tan for a few days when we returned.
These peaceful and relaxing weekends are only a little more than an hour away. We return, refreshed and rejuvenated and they make the long winter months, much more bearable.
However, I remember feeling more stressed when we returned than before leaving. The cold, dreary weather and a weeks worth of work
Steve Ellis, SPARK Publisher steve@swmspark.com
From Left: Peter Humphreys, Pat Mertaugh and Jimmy Cooper in front of the Cooper Cafe on Douglas Ave in Cooper.
Photo by Steve Ellis
All current and past issues can be read at swmspark.com
Inside |
january 2015
Lee Dean: Where Never is Heard............................. 4 History: Bowers Lighters........................................... 5 Healthy Living: Yoga and the Older Adult............... 6 Artist Profile: Wayne Hayward.................................. 7 Spark Book Reviews.................................................. 8 Spark Recipe: Kale-le-uiah!....................................... 9 Volunteering: Joe Schmitt........................................10 Nature: Winter Birds .............................................. 11 Cover Story: Saturday Sunrise Serenade .............. 12 Tuesday Toolmen: 3 Things to a Project ............... 14
Like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/swmspark
Amazing Tales: Hunting Accidents......................... 15 Gauging Your Radon Risk........................................15 Spark Movie Reviews.............................................. 16 History: Dr. William H. Johnson House.................. 17 Sage Advice: Giving Thanks .................................. 18 The Day Rock “N” Roll Came to Kalamazoo..........18 Two Days, Hospice Care of SW Michigan...............19 Tales from the Road: Glacier National Park........... 20 Michigan Pickers: Political Memorabilia..................21 Smallmouth: Lending their Voice.............................21 Community Calendar...............................................22
Editor and Publisher: Steve Ellis Graphic Design: Jay Newmarch at CRE8 Design, LLC Creativity/Photography: Lauren Ellis Writers and Contributors Include: Area Agency on Aging, Steve Ellis, Lee Dean, Laura Kurella, Dave Person, Kalamazoo Nature Center, Kalamazoo Parks and Recreation, Kalamazoo Public Library, Kalamazoo Valley Museum, Portage Public Library, Senior Services of Southwest Michigan , YMCA SPARK accepts advertising to defray the cost of production and distribution, and appreciates the support of its advertisers. The publication does not specifically endorse advertisers or their products or services. Spark is a publication of Ellis Strategies, LLC. No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission from the publisher.
To advertise in upcoming SPARK publications, contact: Steve Ellis, 269.720.8157, steve@swmspark.com
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Where never is heard a dull, boring word Lee A. Dean screendoor@sbcglobal.net In matters of spirituality and lifestyle, I line up with the Quakers, who emphasize simplicity in all things. I part with my Friends when it comes to their propensity for plain speaking. Quaker practice recommends conversation without overstatement. For example: if you’re hungry, say you’re hungry. Don’t say you’re starving. All realism and no hyperbole make for plain speech, all right. And it’s about as exciting as plain white bread. Talk, like food, is best served with spice. That’s why I collect colorful and unusual sayings like others collect Beanie Babies. Regional colloquialisms, original similes, pungent phrases … these are some of the arrows in my conversational quiver. I can credit (or blame) this particular verbal and written preference to my family of origin, which contains many expert practitioners of colorful speech. But the real culprit comes from the world of cartoons. It’s my theory that your favorite Warner Brothers cartoon character shines a light onto your personality. Bugs Bunny tops my list, but a close second is that big overblown trash-talking rooster, Foghorn Leghorn. His original similes were the stuff of legend. He likened the physical attributes of the lovelorn hen Miss Prissy to “the highway between Dallas and Fort Worth: no curves.” His nerdy little foil Egghead Jr. was “as timid as a canary at a cat show.”
Skillful use of such phrases serves another purpose; they are a worthy substitute for swearing, which has by now become tedious. You can have some fun by charging up to the verge of using an off-color word or phrase and then sharply veering in the other direction. At our house, we say, “colder than a well-digger’s Adam’s apple” or “colder than a witch’s thorax.” This ability to be salty without being profane is one of the attributes shared by many of my favorite phrases. For example: – My father would describe someone who did not possess high mental acuity as being “sharp as a marble” while my Grandpa Hartwell might say that person was “dumb as a mud fence.” – Of the many euphemisms for “crazy,” my favorites are “His cheese has slid off his cracker” and “He’s a couple of enchiladas shy of a combination plate.” – A lazy person is “as useless as a milk bucket under a bull.” – Why say the roads are slippery when you can say that it’s “slicker than snot on a doorknob?” (Gross, but it gets the point across.) – If someone proposes a bad idea, tell them “that dog won’t hunt.” – Someone short on money is “financially embarrassed.” If that person is you, say, “I’m not broke, but I’m very badly bent.” – If someone has made a bad mistake, according to one of my old newspaper bosses, he would be described as having “stepped in it and squished it around.” – Have an overloaded to-do list? Then you’re “busier than a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest.”
– When a sports team had just scored to put the game out of reach, Don Meredith would sing, “Turn our the lights, the party’s over.” My dad would say, “That takes the rag off the bush.” – One of my professors at Western Michigan years, when urging us not to have unrealistic expectations of a certain politician, would say, “You can’t expect a Pekingese to have bulldog pups.” – If someone is skinny, they can be described as being “bony as a bicycle.” Another one of my dad’s favorite verbal maneuvers was to take a normal situation and turn it inside out to create an absurdity. For instance, he would point out a sedan hauling a yacht and say, “Look at that boat pushing that car!” He would describe an old friend by saying, “We went to different schools together.” Sports are replete with memorable phrases. My friend and mentor, coach Sam Morehead, would describe a one-sided loss as “a trip to the woodshed.” If one of his basketball teams had a particularly poor shooting night, he’d say they “couldn’t hit the red side of a green barn.” If a Detroit Tigers’ player was in a batting slump, Grandpa Hartwell would complain that he “couldn’t hit a bull in the butt with a bass fiddle.” I could go on and on, but my space is limited. You might say it’s tighter than bark on a tree. So now it’s your turn. What are your favorite original and/or colorful sayings? Shoot me a line at screendoor@sbcglobal.net. If I get enough, I’ll share them in a future column.
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Bowers Lighters A small brick factory on Willard Street in Kalamazoo’s historic Stuart neighborhood was once the home of the Bowers Manufacturing Co. that made cigarette lighters. The building had housed the Verdon Cigar Co. in the early 20th century and then the Electric Phonograph Co. Ernest Bowers was a machinist who had moved to Kalamazoo around 1908. For 10 years he was the superintendent of the Cook Standard Tool Co. He then started the Bowers-Dodgson Tool Co. that later merged with the Kalamazoo Spoke and Nipple Co. where he was the manager. In 1928, Bowers started the Bowers Tool and Die Co. that set up operations in the Willard Street factory. He patented an improved “slide-sleeve” lighter that looked a bit like a lipstick tube and shielded the flame from the wind. The Great Depression almost brought the young enterprise down, however. The Bowers factory managed a small profit by making a variety of lighters with daily production reaching 4,000 units in 1938. World War II provided a major opportunity for Bowers. At first, a shortage of brass caused the company to close its doors. Then in 1942, it received a government contract to produce the “Army-Navy Flameless Lighter.”
This lighter burned a cord that glowed like a cigarette, but without an open flame. Not only did this make it easier for servicemen on ships or in foxholes to light cigarettes in wind or bad weather, but it was also less visible to enemies. Bowers had to dramatically increase production. Some 250 employees, mostly women, produced more than 12 million lighters before the war ended. The company was the government’s largest supplier of lighters. The transition to peacetime production in the years after World War II presented several challenges, including the founder’s retirement. His son, Frederick, took the reins and by 1952 was producing six million lighters annually. One innovation was the “Peli-Can” table lighter made with the cone tops used on beer cans of the day. The company switched from brass to aluminum after the Korean War in the mid-1950s. However, foreign
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manufacturers became serious competitors selling copies of the Bowers lighters. Frederick Bowers negotiated an agreement with the Japanese manufacturers that ended the import of the copies. In the 1960s, the company improved the process for finishing the aluminum metal so that high-quality, silkscreened advertising could be printed on the lighters. These colorful lighters would be a primary product until the mid-1970s. Frederick died in 1966 and his son, Jon, took over the business. The company moved from Willard Street to a modern facility on Sprinkle Road. It no longer produces lighters but is a custom maker of aluminum components for other manufacturers. The building still stands at 614 W. Willard Street and has recently been refurbished. Neighborhood residents can now occasionally detect the smell of roasting coffee beans in the morning drifting from one of the bright blue building’s new tenants. museON. Reprinted with permission from the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. The museum is operated by Kalamazoo Valley Community College and is governed by its Board of Trustees. For more information about the museum visit www.kalamazoomuseum.org.
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6 Matt Barretta, YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo, 269 345 9622 x 160
Yoga has often been thought of as an alternative form of exercise using deep meditation and complicated poses performed on a mat. Compared to the long history of yoga, such traditional exercising programs like weight training and swimming seem like fads. Yoga began more than 5,000 years ago in India and soon became popular throughout the world as a form of meditation and achieving inner and outer balance. Studies confirm the physical benefits of yoga. These effects are a result of doing a series of poses combined with an awareness of breathing and stretching.
HEALTHY LIVING : The benefits of
Yogaand the
Older Adult
Yoga is beneficial for almost every age, but it can be the ideal form of exercise for the older adult. Yoga can relieve or improve many of the physical problems associated with aging. The benefits and advantages of yoga include the following: • It improves flexibility and balance • It strengthens the back and helps alleviate back pain • It is joint friendly and can be adapted to physical limitations • It helps to relax the mind and body • It requires little or no equipment (e.g., a chair can be used for support in stretches and poses) • It can adjusted to be performed at a pace that fits individual abilities and time constraints • It can be done alone or with others A limited study was conducted in Vermont to assess the benefits of yoga. The study group was comprised of seniors with an average age of 78. These adults participated in a 12- week yoga class either once or twice a week. A pre and post class evaluation
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was performed to measure flexibility, balance and strength. At the end of the 12 weeks, everyone showed improvement but especially those who participated in the class twice a week. The overall improvement in strength, flexibility and balance ranged from 22%25%. Yoga differs from other types of exercise because it engages both the body and the mind. You can work out on a treadmill and read or listen to music, but yoga requires a level of mental awareness and breathing that has its own set of benefits. The slow, restorative breathing has been proven to help reduce high blood pressure, stress and anxiety. Before beginning yoga, talk to your doctor about the right poses and stretches for you. Then try simple poses at home to see what works best. You can also try an age and fitness level yoga class that fits your needs and ability level. The YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo offers levels of yoga classes from beginner to advanced as well as a chair yoga class that is based on traditional poses and stretches. The effects of yoga combine physical and mental benefits. The physical benefits of yoga are increased flexibility and balance; improved strength, especially in the lower back; and looser, more limber joints. Another physical benefit of yoga is lowered blood pressure. Yoga is also beneficial mentally as it reduces stress and tension and helps to relax the mind and body. You may find that one of the world’s oldest forms of exercise is right for you – Yoga! *The YMCA recommends that you check with your doctor or health care provider before beginning an exercise program.
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His art results in a lot of beautiful music Wayne Hayward grew up in the Delton area. A friend once brought a baroque flute home from Ireland and Wayne decided to turn one on a lathe with some hard maple he had handy. After making many flutes Wayne thought back to when his dad asked him to learn to play the mandolin and banjo. He never learned to play either of them before he passed, so, he decided to build a mandolin as kind of a tribute. Wayne started with a kit but found it left no room for creativity or adjusting the sound. So, with materials left over from building flutes, he decided to build his own version of a mandolin. With much trial and error and taking it apart several times, he finally got the sound he was looking for. It is still his favorite and the one used to base most of his mandolins on. Later, Wayne had a few folks ask if he could fix some old instruments: A 1956 SJ Gibson that somebody had sat on and folded in half, a ukulele that had been on fire and a violin that was in five pieces. These quite literally should have been thrown away, but Wayne enjoyed the challenge and rebuilt them. While doing so, he started thinking about building other instruments that were more in tune with the individual’s needs. Wayne learned that some folks just can’t play some instruments because of their physical aspects or their abilities. So, he started making one-off customs. Working directly with each person to build them an instrument that fit them and their style.
Wayne has continued to progress into other instruments and has a small shop on Pine Lake. Wayne has played many instruments over his life but does not believe he has mastered any of them. He says that, “I’m in awe of what a real musician can do. When someone that knows what they are doing, plays something I put together, it is pure joy for me.” Wayne’s great craftsmanship can be seen at whiskeyhotelinstruments.com
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The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
Book Reviews Book Reviews by the Portage District Library staff Still Life with Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen Rebecca Winter is a 60year-old photographer who took her famous photograph, Still Life with Bread Crumbs, after her unbearably arrogant husband brought home unexpected guests to dinner then went to bed after they left, leaving the mess for her to clean up. Her domestic-themed photography won her fame for a while but two decades later she has sublet her stylish Upper West Side Manhattan apartment and moved into a ramshackle cottage upstate to save money, support her aging parents, and help out
her grown-up son. As she photographs birds, a dead raccoon, some mysterious wooden crosses with childlike mementos and meets a kind roofer with stories of his own, she realizes she has been viewing life around her as two dimensional objectives but “not what they amounted to.” Still Life with Bread Crumbs is a deeply moving and often humorous story of unexpected love, and a heartfelt journey into the life of a woman, her loses, her relationship with parents and her son, her new found love as she discovers that life is not a constant, it is filled with spontaneity, inconsistency, surprise and depth with more possibilities than she ever imagined.
This is the story of a middle-age literary snob who owns a failing independent bookstore in an old Victorian cottage on Alice Island off the coast of Massachusetts. A. J. Fikry’s life is not at all what he expected it to be. His wife has died, his bookstore is experiencing the worst sales in its history, and now his prized possession, a rare collection of Poe poems, has been stolen. He tries to isolate himself but his friend the island police officer, his sisterin-law Ismay, and Amelia, the quirky, high spirited Knightly Press rep refuse to let him do so. Then a package appears at the bookstore. It’s that unexpected arrival that gives A. J. Fikry the opportunity to fill the emptiness in his life and the ability to see everything anew. It doesn’t take long for the wisdom of all those books to become again the lifeblood of A.J.’s world; or for Amelia, the determined sales rep to appreciate the change in A.J. As surprising as it is moving, The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry is a tale of transformation and second chances, an indelible affirmation of why we read, and what happens to us when we love.
War Dogs by Greg Bear So aliens come to earth and offer advanced technology and an equal share of resources to the whole world. Actually doesn’t sound so bad does it? BUT (and there is always a but) in return for these great resources, humans have to help the aliens fight a long term war…on Mars. Enter our main character, Master Sargent Venn. He has returned to earth with a secret that is not revealed until the end. Greg Bear does an excellent job conveying military relationships and keeping the secret as a nice slow reveal for the last two-thirds of the book. Bear writes with purposeful confusion in some sections of the book, but the “a-ha” moment is very much worth sticking these out. Take the trip to Mars and back, you won’t regret it! All these titles are available at the Portage District Library. For more information about programs and services available at PDL, go to www.portagelibrary.info.
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Kale-le-uiah! Now that we are once again at the top of another year and so many are seeking to shed excess pounds, I was shocked to hear that people who are overweight also tend to be malnourished! This happens when the food being consumed has low or no nutrients. Empty calorie “junk” food - as it used to be called - doesn’t possess the vital nutrients needed to nourish us so, the appetite is not satiated and we just keep eating. It’s no wonder we pack on the pounds! Thankfully, we have some super nutrient dense foods that can help to un-do the damage we’ve done - like kale! Kale is the queen of greens because not only does it boast exceptional nutrient richness and health benefits but, it also delivers a delicious yet subtle, earthy addition to whatever dish it’s in! Popular since ancient Greek and Roman times, kale is low fat, has no cholesterol and has many beneficial anti-oxidant properties.
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Kurella’s Cool Kahuna Kale Salad by Laura Kurella
DRESSING 1 cup chopped fresh pineapple 1/4 cup fresh lime juice 1 cup coconut milk 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 3 tablespoons chia seeds 1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted SALAD 5 cups packed kale, stems /ribs removed and cut into ribbons 2 ripe mangoes, chopped 3 large bananas, chopped 1 cup fresh pineapple, chopped 2 tablespoons shredded coconut 1/2 cup sliced almonds FOR DRESSING In a blender, blend all dressing ingredients until smooth. Pour into a large bowl. FOR SALAD Prepare the kale then add to dressing. While kale marinates, chop the rest of the fruit up, adding it to the kale mixture as you go. Top with coconut and nuts then serve or chill until serving. Approximate servings per recipe: 8. Nutrition per serving: Calories 187; Fat 9g. (sat 6g.); Sodium 24 mg; Carbohydrates 26g; Fiber 4g; Sugar 15 g; Protein 4g.
For more on this and other cooking subjects, look for Laura on Facebook at LAURA KURELLA COOKS! Contact Laura at: laurakurella@yahoo.com . For more great recipes, visit laurakurella.com. Laura is host of Radio Recipes- a LIVE show that airs Tues. mornings at 7:15 am (EST) at 99.3 FM - True Oldies radio
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The gift of giving Joe Schmitt’s giving spirit started very early on. As a youngster growing up in Algoma, WI, he along with his five brothers would volunteer many Saturdays helping put new roofs on homes for those in need. Their father owned a small lumber company and while the homeowners likely paid for the shingles, the labor was free, a gift of a generous family. That gift of giving remained – and remains – a part of Joe’s life. The 66-year-old Portage resident has been involved in ministerial work all his adult life. Although he completed the arduous training to be a priest, he never became one. Instead, he completed degrees in ministry and theology, married, helped raise children John and Katie with wife Becky, and worked in Catholic Dioceses in Minnesota, Texas, Colorado, and Kalamazoo. Two years ago he retired as the Director of Marriage and Family Ministry for the Diocese of Kalamazoo. Becky, who has a master’s degree in social work, has worked for Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services for 17 years.
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Joe said he did some volunteer work when he was employed, but since retiring has taken on a number of volunteer gigs with, and separate from, RSVP – Your Invitation to Volunteer. RSVP is a national service program of Senior Services of Southwest Michigan that connects older adult volunteers with area organizations. Once a week he serves lunch at Ministry with Community and frequently gleans for them. “I visit places that serve food like Starbucks, Jimmy Johns, Bob Evans, the Fountains and others to collect for Ministry,” he said. “We collect food that would otherwise
Volunteering: By Bill Krasean RSVP Advisory Council Volunteer
be thrown away, but they keep it airtight or frozen for Ministry.” Joe recently joined RSVP’s Peer Prevention Players, a group of four men and five women who perform comedy sketches for older adults. He also sings with the Portage Senior Chorus at similar venues. In addition he is a volunteer driver for Volunteers 4 Seniors program at Senior Services, assisting elderly people who can no longer drive to get to and from doctors, shopping, or other appointments. “I was
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a little reluctant to be a driver but you meet some fascinating people,” he said. And once a month he gathers with other seniors to meet with Legislators in Lansing as a representative for the Area Agency on Aging to advocate for those seniors who can’t. “We win some issues and lose on some issues,” he said. In 2007 he was ordained a Deacon in the Catholic Church and as part of that role he volunteers to give communion to patients at the Borgess Medical Center. “As a Deacon, I can do most anything that a priest can do except say Mass and forgive sins,” he said. Much of his professional ministerial life has been devoted to family and marriage ministry, and he continues that as part of his contract with St. Thomas More Catholic Student Parish as an assigned Deacon there. “Even though I was not ordained a priest, I have stayed in ministry in a professional capacity for more than 40 years,” he said. As a volunteer and extrovert by nature, Joe meets a wide variety of people, many of them poor and in need – and always fascinating. “One older man I met was a veteran of the Korean War, and you know how proud veterans often have their medals and pins in frames,” he said. “This man had his attached to an envelope box top sitting on top of a bookshelf. That’s all he could afford.” “For me it’s like meeting Jesus,” he said, touching his heart. “To me, it is why we are here – to learn from one another what it means to love each other. Jesus: He encompasses love.” More information about RSVP and volunteer opportunities for older adults at Senior Services of Southwest Michigan is available from Tracie Wheeler at 269-382-0515.
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Winter
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Birds
Winter can be a great time for watching birds. Many people enjoy putting out feed and observing all the life it brings to the leafless landscape. Although many of the species that visit feeders are easily recognizable like Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Mourning Doves, you may be seeing a lot more diversity than you’d suspect. Several of these species can look very similar, especially the “sparrow”-like birds. Many people have a hard time with these species and some refer to them as “LBJs” or “Little Brown Jobs.” Here are some helpful tips: Sparrows: American Tree Sparrows are one of the most common feeder-birds. American Tree Sparrows have a rufous (red) crown and a distinct dark spot on their breast. Tree Sparrows look very similar to many other Sparrow species, especially Chipping Sparrows. People often get them mixed up because in the summer months, Chipping Sparrows will have a similar-looking rufous crown, but not in winter. Chipping Sparrows are also very uncommon in the winter months. The Song Sparrow is the only streaked-breasted sparrow that normally remains in Michigan in winter. American Tree Sparrows and House Sparrows are the most abundant winter sparrows. The male and female House Sparrows look different so be careful!
Photo Credit: Bill Krasean
Peninsula. The House Finch is a smaller, slimmer bird with a squared-off tail. The head is plain and the streaks on the breast are blurry. The back of the male does not get red. The Purple Finch is slightly larger and chunkier with a notched tail. The head pattern includes a white eye stripe and the streaks on the sides of the bird are dark and distinct. The back of the male will be red.
Goldfinches and Pine Siskins: In winter, American Goldfinches are not the bright yellow birds with blackish wings that you are used to seeing. They are generally olive brown, often with a yellowish tinge, and gray or black wings. They can be confused with the similar Pine Siskin. Siskins are streaked birds with small patches of yellow in their wings and tail. Goldfinches are not streaked and do not have yellow in their wings or tail. They will flock together, so look closely. If you haven’t identified a Pine Siskin before, you may have assumed it was some sort of Sparrow.
If you feed birds, remember to do it with the bird’s well-being in mind. First, keep bird feeders clean with diluted bleach water. Do this at least once a month. Don’t put out more food than the birds eat and rake up hulls that pile up around the feeders, especially when it is wet or thawing. This ensures bacteria can’t spread on the moist seed. Finally, give birds room. Crowding increases stress and disease transmission. If you like to regularly watch your feeder, consider participating in the Winter Feeder Survey, a joint project between Michigan Audubon Society and the Kalamazoo Nature Center. Contact Kyle Bibby with any questions.
Finches: In general, Finches have larger, stout bills. House Finches are more common than Purple Finches, except perhaps in the northern Lower Peninsula and the Upper
Kyle Bibby, Kalamazoo Nature Center kbibby@naturecneter.org (269) 381-1574 x 22
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saturday sunrise serenadE
ys, a d s e n d e (W too! )
By Dave Person – david.r.person@gmail.com
When the sun comes up over the Cooper Café north of Kalamazoo, it’s no longer lonely for the Lonesome Moonlight Trio. The threesome of Jimmy Cooper, Peter Humphreys and Pat Mertaugh have been a Wednesday and Saturday morning staple at the restaurant at 7759 Douglas Avenue, just south of D Avenue, since 1991. For people who enjoy a little bluegrass music with their orange juice and hotcakes, it’s the place to go. The trio gets a lot of support from patrons who are there on a regular basis to listen to them play. “We have some regulars that come … and some that came years ago, (moved away) and come back and say they’re glad we’re still here,” says Cooper, at 61 the youngest member of the trio. Then there are those who vacation in West Michigan on a regular basis and make it a point to take in the sounds of the string band. “They stop in here and bring their friends. … They know we’ll still be here,” says
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Mertaugh, 70.
“We call our instruments starvation boxes,” Mertaugh says. “We’re not really playing for the money; we play because we love to play.”
Despite how much enjoyment the trio’s fans get out of listening to them play, it still doesn’t compare to the pleasure that Cooper, Humphreys and Mertaugh reap from strumming and singing. That’s obvious when you consider the restaurant doesn’t pay the band to perform there. The musicians get a free breakfast before they perform and tips that are left for them at each table, which are supplemented by a tip from the restaurant. “We call our instruments starvation boxes,” Mertaugh says. “We’re not really playing for the money; we play because we love to play.”
Humphreys plays rhythm guitar; Mertaugh plays the five-string banjo, resonator guitar and fiddle; and Cooper plays harmonica, mandolin, banjo and banjolin. Humphreys and Mertaugh do most of the vocals, with Cooper joining them on harmony. “We’re an old-time string band who’s not afraid to play bluegrass,” says Humphreys, 65. They also play country music, blues and what they call “fiddle tunes.” The band got started at the Cooper Café (named for the township in which it is located and not related to Jimmy) when Cooper’s cousin, Sharon Van Gemert, owned the restaurant. At that time they were part of a larger group, the Brook Farm String Band, which had been playing there. Van Gemert, who now owns the Old Plank Road Restaurant in Plainwell, is also a musician and sometimes joined them on the hammered dulcimer or banjo.
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“She’d be in the kitchen working and she’d come out and she’d play a couple tunes and then go back in the kitchen,” Cooper says. “When Sherry (Van Gemert) had this place she’d have (evening) concerts here too,” Mertaugh says. “She’d pack them in.” “Terry (Watson), the lady who owns it now, thought it would be a good idea if we kept on playing,” Cooper says. The restaurant is the only regular venue that the Lonesome Moonlight Trio plays at, but from time to time they play at funerals for fans of their music who have died. The Cooper Cafe is open from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday for breakfast and lunch and 6:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday for breakfast only. The Lonesome Moonlight Trio finish their breakfast and take the stage at 9:30 a.m. and play until noon on their two designated days. But those aren’t the only times they are making music. Humphreys, who is retired from the Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital, plays with both the revamped Brook Farm String Band, which is now also a trio, and the Celery City Sodbusters. Cooper, a driver for Lake Michigan Mailers, also plays with the Celery City Sodbusters. Mertaugh, a Gibson Guitar Co. retiree, plays with a number of groups at nursing homes and assisted-living facilities and is also a member of the Wasepi Bluegrass Gospel Singers. “I’m playing all the time here and there and everywhere,” he says.
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Three Things to Ensure a Successful Project
tuesday
Over the years, I have learned that there are three things I must do to have a successful outcome for any but the simplest project. by Ken VanEseltine, Tuesday Toolman It seems that there are gods of home repair that watch over those performing repair. They will help you have success, if you do these three things.
toolmen
1. Blood Sacrifice The first thing I learned that must happen is very easy to do: offer a blood sacrifice. This almost always happens automatically without any effort upon my part. The wrench slips and I smash my knuckles into a rough, unyielding surface: Ta da! I am bleeding. There is the blood sacrifice. 2. Magic Words This is also very easy because immediately upon performing the drawing of the blood for the sacrifice, the magic words just flow from my lips. When around children or other sensitive individuals, be sure to moderate the specific magic words you say: “ouch”, “darn”, and “rats” will serve to placate the gods of home repair in these circumstances. 3. Three Pilgrimages These three trips to the hardware store, plumbing shop, or home supply store, as appropriate, are also crucial. Many people have realized that they always seem to make three trips to the store: the first to get the materials for
the project, the second to get the materials forgotten the first time, and the third to get the materials they didn’t realize they needed, to replace the materials they broke, or to ask advice on how to use the materials from the first two trips. Most people do not realize that they are doing this to entertain the gods of home repair and, if they do not make these trips, the project will fail. So, while I am working on a project and I accidentally puncture my finger jamming it into the tip of a screw, I say to myself, “Oh, good. There is my blood sacrifice. The gods will smile upon my efforts.” And, after uttering a few choice swear words (because it really hurts), I say to myself, “Ah. Those are the magic words the gods were looking for me to utter. I’m sure my project will come out wonderfully, now.” And, after my third trip to the lumberyard, I sigh with relief because surely the gods are laughing at me and will smile upon my project now. One last thing to watch for: if you should complete your project and have a perfect result, the gods of home repair will come and take your project away for their own use. I have never had this happen to me because I have never had a perfect product. So, when I finish a project and the end result has minor blemishes, I am not upset. I am relieved because the gods will not take it away and I get to keep it! Enjoy your projects and have fun. Do not be upset with the minor things that happen along the way. Ken VanEseltine is a member of Tuesday Toolmen, a group of volunteers who work with the Home Repair Department of Senior Services to provide home safety checks, minor home repairs, and alterations to homes to allow senior citizens to stay safely in their own homes.
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Residents Reminded of Cancer Risk from Radon Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer and the second is radon: a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas found naturally in the environment. Radon gas is released from rock or soil and may seep into homes through the foundation. High indoor radon levels increase the risk of exposure to radiation which increases the risk of lung cancer. January is National Radon Awareness Month. The Kalamazoo County Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Center will provide free short-term radon test kits during the months of January and February while supplies last to Kalamazoo County residents who bring in household hazardous waste. Open hours are Tuesdays and Fridays from 8 am to 1 pm and Wednesdays 12 pm to 6 pm. The HHW Center is located at 1301 Lamont Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49048. Materials accepted at the HHW Center can be found on our website: www.kalcounty/htw or by calling 269-373-5211.
Hunting Accidents
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I am fascinated with quirky old stories, and over the years, working in the newspaper industry, I have accumulated more than 500 of these little gems. This is the latest installment in a series, with more to come in future issues of Spark.
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Woodchuck Chase Fatal Jackson - While chasing a woodchuck near his farm home Friday, Vaughn Raymond, 46, a dairy operator, slipped and his gun was accidently discharged. Raymond was found dead by his son, Royce, 11. He is survived by his wife and two sons. April 17, 1936
Hunter Mistaken for Bear; Wounded Newberry - Lloyd Ross, 38, a hunter from Flint, was in the Newberry Hospital Friday, gravely wounded by another hunter who mistook him for a bear. November 16, 1934
Youth, Wearing Gray Coat, Shot as Rabbit Saugatuck - Because Sanford Plummer’s gray overcoat looked like a rabbit skin as he hid behind a corn shock in a field near here, he is nursing a partially paralyzed right arm. Sanford, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Plummer was hunting with a group of boys when one of them, mistaking the gray arm for a rabbit, fired at it. The rifle bullet entered the muscle between the shoulder and elbow. November 26, 1934
Hastings Hunter, Shot Out of Tree as a Bear Marquette - Michigan state police began an investigation here Saturday of the death of Louis Abbey, 39, Hastings, who was shot and instantly killed in a tree near Birch Friday when his hunting companion, Floyd Craig, also of Hastings, mistook him for a bear they had been tracking. November 24, 1934
Short-term radon testing kits can also be picked up for free during January and February at the Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services Department, Environmental Health Division located at 3299 Gull Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49048. Radon kits are available year round at the Environmental Health Division for $10.00. Long-term radon kits can be purchased for $20.00. Kits can also be ordered on-line: http://www.radon.com/sub/mi/. To learn more about radon, contact the Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services Department at (269) 373-5210 or visit www.kalcounty.com/eh.
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Movie Reviews 2001: A Space Odyssey Recent internet buzz about a leaked trailer for the newest installment of the Star Wars series and the release of Christopher Nolan’s film Interstellar (in theaters now) got me thinking about the first, great science fiction film, Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. It’s a beautiful enigma of a film that continues to stand up to the test of time given its enduring philosophical and scientific themes, not to mention its visual originality and marked refusal to conform to commercial and artistic conventions. It should be noted that it was not everyone’s cup of tea when it originally opened in movie theaters in 1968 and it’s glacial pacing, minimalist dialogue and conceptual approach to narrative won’t please many of today’s film viewers but for those willing to give into its pondering lyricism and subtle jabs of satire and social commentary, you will be rewarded.
About Time Mixing romantic clichés with time traveling tropes, About Time directs viewers to live life to its fullest in the most sugary of ways. The message throughout the film is crystal clear and delivered like a hammer slamming against your head and your heart--life is precious and chockfull of peaks and valleys, so therefore, even if your family has the capacity to travel backward in time to modify one’s choices and missteps, one should mindfully cherish the insignificant, every day moments that form one’s life. It’s a terribly obvious film with just enough melodrama and character to move the heartstrings while not insulting the audience’s intelligence. What better way to spend a cold and snowy Michigan weekend than inside with a bowl of popcorn and a movie with beautiful people romping about their romantic endeavors with time travel at their fingertips.
The Wind Rises The Wind Rises is the newest animated film from Japanese master Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away). The film is the story of a
young Japanese boy named Jiro, who dreams of one day designing airplanes for either commercial or government use. His idol, an Italian designer named Caproni, appears in Jiro’s dreams to provide his young admirer with important life lessons, many of which waver between both words of encouragement and ominous warnings about the potential of his aeronautical creations to be used for less than productive goals. Miyazaki’s personal tale about the journey toward professional and romantic success is set just prior to the beginning of World War Two, turning the film’s mostly lighthearted and fantastical air toward its more melancholy conclusion. Visually, the film has all of Miyazaki’s trademark qualities—dreamy, romantic and full of vibrant fancy.
The Young Girls of Rochefort Made during a time when the Hollywood musical was all but dead, French director Jacques Demy’s sherbet-toned, song and dance-fest was about as uncool as it got in the sphere of mid-sixties French cinema when it hit theaters in 1967. It was a Technicolor throwback, a flamboyant and syrupy homage to the Hollywood musicals made during the previous decade. Starring French actress Catherine Deneuve (Delphine), her real-life sister Francois Doreleac (Solange) and American icon Gene Kelly, the film is set around a city-wide festival in the uninspiring port town of Rochefort. The self-absorbed twins (Delphine is a dancer and Solange is a composer) are bored with their predictable, mundane lives and wish for the riches of celebrity in their artistic fields. Love and romance of course are also on their to-do list. Made in collaboration with sixties It-composer Michel Legrand, Demy’s classic is an energetic and luminous show of treacly schmaltz with its quixotic heart worn unashamedly upon its brightly colored sleeve. Reviews by Ryan Gage, Kalamazoo Public Library. These great titles are available from the Kalamazoo Public Library.
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Dr. William H. Johnson
In the last years of the Civil War, Dr. William H. Johnson built one of the distinguished examples of Italian Villa design in Kalamazoo. Its regular features: the hooded doorway, the elaborate double hooded windows, the bracketed eaves and sophisticated observatory make this particular building an excellent illustration of the fashionable suburban architecture of mid-century. Dr. Johnson, born in New Jersey in 1814, came to Kalamazoo during the Civil War and established himself as a prosperous physician and druggist. In 1864, he built his home next to F. E. Woodward’s estate in what was then the “best” residential district on the edge of the village. With him were his wife, Louisa, born in Canada, and his stepdaughter, Madelon Stockwell. The 1870 Census-taker declared him one of the wealthy men of the village, with a total worth of $42,000. Madelon Stockwell attended Albion College (where a library was named for
House
her parents) and earned the first literary degree given to a woman from the University of Michigan (where a dormitory was named for her in 1939). She married Charles Turner, a lawyer who soon died of consumption. When Dr. Johnson passed away in 1883, Madelon continued as mistress of the house. She taught art at Kalamazoo College for a time, but soon withdrew from village life. She managed her estate carefully, though almost a recluse, and when she died in 1924, left behind some $200,000 most of which she left for a building at Albion College. The house then passed to M. C. J. Billingham, prominent Kalamazoo architect, who occupied it as home and office for more than a quarter of a century. The home is located at 209 Woodward Avenue.
Story courtesy of Kalamazoo Public Library. More local history stories and photos at kpl.gov/local-history
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Giving Thanks. An Important Start to this New Year. It has almost been three years since the inaugural issue of SPARK and this column. As the New Year starts, I want to give thanks: • For Steve Ellis, who had the foresight, passion, and guts to produce a magazine filled with interesting articles and helpful information for our community; • For Anne, who manages the Choices for Independence Program but does so much more on behalf of frail elders, professionals, and students in our community; • For Kelly’s persistence and advocacy for resident rights as our area’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman; • For Janice, our outstanding Senior Expo Coordinator and staff assistant; • For the Choices for Independence social workers, Judy, Marilyn, Patti, Ann and nurses, Don and Kristin who every day show compassion and understanding; • For Judy H., who provides exemplary support for the Choices for Independence Program; • For Laurie, our lead Information & Assistance Specialist who has a wealth of knowledge about our community’s resources and accomplishes much over the phone;
• For Liz, our quality assurance and planning coordinator and the fresh ideas and knowledge she brings; • For Norma, whose passion for Personal Action Toward Health programs is un-matched; • For the members of the Older Adult Services Advisory Council and especially Don Ryan, Chairperson, who give freely of their time and talents;
Judy Sivak, MSW Director, Area Agency on Aging IIIA, 3299 Gull Rd., Kalamazoo, Phone: 269-373-5173 (Info & Assistance Line) www.Kalcounty.com/aaa
• For the County Board of Commissioners who over the years have supported the Area Agency on Aging both financially and with their advocacy; • For Lucinda, my boss and the rest of the Health & Community Services Department management team who provide support and guidance; • For all of the providers of services that help keep older adults independent and safe in their homes. I am truly blessed to be able to work with such knowledgeable, generous, and compassionate individuals and I assure SPARK readers that when you call the Area Agency on Aging IIIA for assistance or participate in any of our programs, you will be very satisfied. Wishing you a most happy and healthy New Year.
The Day Came to Kalamazoo By Steve Ellis Over the years, I have attended dozens of wonderful performances by the likes of Bob Dylan, Pearl Jam, The Kinks, Ella Fitzgerald, BB King, Alison Krauss, and Ray Charles. However, none of these concerts would hold a candle to what took place over fifty years ago at the Central High School Auditorium which is now Chenery. Alan Freed brought “The Big Beat” to Kalamazoo on April 28, 1958 and each of the two shows drew 1800 screaming fans. This star-studded group of musicians may be the greatest to ever grace a Kalamazoo stage. The line-up included Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly and the Crickets, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins (I Put a Spell on You), Frankie Lymon (Why Do Fools Fall in Love), Larry Williams (Bony Moronie, Dizzy Miss Lizzie) The Diamonds (Littlle Darlin’, The Stroll) The Chantels (Maybe) and Danny and the Juniors (At the Hop).
Louis Bockstanz, the Gazette reporter that reviewed the concert, was not impressed. His review begins with “Taking the same instruments used by other bands to create music and the same vocal chords used by other singers to croon sweet songs, “The Big Beat” filled the Central High School auditorium with “rock “n” roll” and the audience with varied hysteria, pleasure and plain disgust,” “Jerry Lee Lewis, headliner of the show and probably not hurt by the similarity of his name to another Jerry Lewis may be able to sing but none of those at the show can testify to it. Between the din set up by the background band, the pounding Lewis did on the piano, and the shrieks of the youngsters in the set, it was impossible to hear a word Lewis spoke except “Breathless” for which the band halted momentarily in the song of the same name.” Bockstanz mentions that Frankie Lymon must be a renegade in the profession because his words could actually be understood and his “Why Do Fools Fall in Love,” won the biggest burst of applause. He reviewed Buddy Holly by proclaiming, “The Crickets did not have to depend on the background band and for their “too-much noise”. They did it themselves with deafening crashes from their electric guitars.” Well things have a changed a bit since then and this group of performers went on to sell millions of records and are now considered some of the greatest performers ever.
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Two Days The two days in which I discovered unconditional love, comfort, healing & companionship wanted, encourage social interaction, increase self-esteem, and improve motor skills. And it’s just downright fun to be with them.
Story submitted by Shelly Parkhurst Marketing Communications Specialist Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan Sounds good doesn’t it? It’s pretty much what everybody on the planet needs. And it’s right here where I work at Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan through our pet therapy program. The simple sight of a dog and feel of its fur can bring peace and joy to our hospice clients and adult day guests throughout the year. Our therapy dogs are trained and certified, but it is the healing gift of themselves and the generosity of their owners that makes our program so popular. It is incredible to see and experience what these dogs, from the large German shepherd to the miniature poodle and every size and breed in between, are able to do while visiting clients. They help to calm and soothe those who are anxious or lonely. They help people feel needed and
I am the marketing specialist at Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan and I had the idea to make our 2015 calendar showcase this wonderful program. All of the pet owners are trained hospice volunteers. They were eager to bring their dogs to be photographed and to talk about the special ways their dogs make a difference in the lives of our clients. In two days, I met 13 dogs (I am truly a cat person) and succeeded in getting at least one priceless photo of each of them. It wasn’t easy; by the third or fourth dog they were more interested in sniffing the floor than paying attention to the job at hand. I also got to talk to 13 of our amazing
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volunteers who have committed their time to helping our clients live well. I realized that these volunteers and their pets are essential to making us the compassionate agency we are today. AND I decided that when I retire I’m going to get a dog and train to become a pet therapy volunteer at Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan. If you still need a 2015 calendar with an adorable dog for every month of the year, please call Shelly Parkhurst at 269.345.0273. Cost is just $5 per calendar.
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found that it was also nerve wracking in a car.
Tales
from the
road
By Steve Ellis This past August, Jackie and I flew out to Missoula, Montana on our way to Glacier National Park. We got up early and headed downtown for breakfast at the Shack, an old converted Packard Dealership. We inquired about renting bikes and were asked if we would be participating in the “Naked Bike Ride, that was starting any minute. West Glacier, the main entrance to the park, is 150 miles north of Missoula. We headed north along the east side of the very large Flathead Lake past dozens of roadside cherry stands. Reaching West Glacier, we found that we still had a 56-mile drive to reach our cabin in East Glacier. East Glacier is a great little town with a handful of small motels and restaurants. Our modern cottage was west of town with a perfect view of the mountains. We walked around the legendary Glacier National Park Inn with its huge lobby and grounds and our first glimpse of the 1930’s bright red tour buses We met Ian Tipet, who managed the lodges in the park for more than 40 years and was retiring and heading back to London. Jackie and I had dinner at the Whistle Stop, sitting outdoors and listening to Ernie Heavy Runner and Don Yellow Owl play old Hank Williams songs. We sat with a young couple from Portland that were riding a motorcycle around the country. The young lady told us that the very winding road through the mountains to the east was quite scary on the back of a motorcycle. We later
We had breakfast the next morning at the very good, Two Medicine Grill and then headed to the west entrance of the park at the town of Babb. We paid the $25 National Park entrance fee and turned onto the famous Going -to-the -Sun Road that bisects the park. Our first stop for a hike was at St Mary’s Falls. Heading into the woods for the first time, we were not sure what to expect with all of the bear warnings and people ringing bells. At the lower falls, we watched college kids jumping off the bridge, doing back flips into the icy water below. A young man and woman that were getting married jumped in together, holding hands. Logan Pass in the middle of the park is a don’t miss spot. The trail starts out on a wooden boardwalk through fields of wildflowers and continues on for about a mile and half to a viewing area overlooking Hidden Lake. This is one of the most breathtaking views in the park and home to many mountain goats. We drove through remainder of the park and had dinner back in East Glacier at the great Serrano’s Mexican Restaurant. The next morning we had breakfast at Luna’s-a fun old rustic restaurant and headed to Two Medicine with a pretty waterfall and large rocks to jump off into the river. A family I met talked me into jumping into the icy water from the rocks above. We continued on up to Many Glacier at the northern end of the park with its great lodge on Swiftcurrent Lake. As we hiked around the lake, we spotted three moose feeding on the vegetation in the lake. We stood nearby and took pictures, appreciating their size and beauty. The next morning we drove to West Glacier, discovering the historic Izaak Walton Inn, an old railroad depot modernized into a lodge with rooms available in old caboose cars. We checked into our cottage at the Lake McDonald Lodge and hiked to Avalanche Lake-a steep 2-mile hike to a crystal clear lake surrounded by mountains and waterfalls that was one of the trip highlights. We headed back to the lodge and took a tour boat ride around Lake McDonald, finishing with a great pizza at Jammer Joe’s Grill and Pizzeria at the lodge. After another day of hiking, we headed back to Missoula for a fun evening of dinner and visiting the Big Sky Brewing Company for free samples of their Moose Drool and other tasty beers.
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Memorabilia tracks our Political History Ken Hosner grew up in Cleveland, moved to Kalamazoo at a young age and was a history major at WMU. His love of history evolved into a career as a history teacher in Comstock and collecting political buttons. Ken purchased his first few buttons at an antique store in Lawrence. He remembers them as being political buttons with photos of Alf Landon, William McKinley and Calvin Coolidge. He later attended and bought a few political buttons at a show at the Conrad Hilton Hotel in Chicago. After this, Ken was hooked and now has one of the largest collections in the country including: buttons, license plates, canes, posters and other related political memorabilia. Political buttons date back as far as George Washington. Early 18th century buttons were sewn-on clothing buttons. The first photographic image on pins dates to 1860 with Abraham Lincoln and his opponents using the tintype or ferrotype photo process. The first mass production of pin-back metal buttons began in 1896 with the William McKinley
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PICKERS campaign for president. These “celluloid” buttons used a metal disk covered with paper and covered by a layer of clear plastic. One of the most valuable buttons is a 1920 James M. Cox and running mate Franklin D. Roosevelt button. Less than 100 of these “jugate” buttons exist. The cash strapped Cox campaign lost in a landslide to Warren G. Harding , which caused memorabilia from this election to be some of the most valuable in existence. Ken still enjoys the hobby and attends 8-10 shows a year including one in Troy, the 2nd Friday and Saturday in May, that is the longest running in the country. He can be reached at 269 345-5983 or mrbuttons1964@charter.net
Smallmouth: Lending their voice for local, non-profit fundraising events Smallmouth, a local band, has played together since 2007. The band’s mission is to provide music for local non-profit fundraising events at no cost. So far, Smallmouth has raised over $20,000 for organizations including the Battle Creek Charitable Union, Fair Food Matters, Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes, the Cheff Center, Boys & Girls Club, Kalamazoo CARES, the SPCA, and Relay for Life. Members of Smallmouth include: Bob Duke, Sandy Duke, Dennis Martin, Ed Martini, Ann Marie Renaud, and Mike Renaud. Producer Tim Hafner also played and sang on their new album. The Smallmouth band’s debut recording, A Cook’s Mill Anthology: Songs of Great Lakes Farm Families, 1849-1905, was released this past fall at the Southwest Michigan Harvest Fest. The annual festival attracted thousands to the headquarters of Tillers International, the Cook’s Mill facility near Scotts, Michigan. Smallmouth Band performed the entire album at the event sponsored by Fair Food Matters. All proceeds from sales of the CD and from iTunes downloads will go to support Tillers International programs. The collection of songs composed by band members evokes nineteenth century farm life in the Great Lakes region. Through the poems that comprise 100% of the lyrics, A Cook’s Mill Anthology invites listeners to hear how the revolution in farm machinery redefined gender roles within farm families. Most of the verses selected for the project, first appeared in the Prairie Farmer or the Michigan Farm Journal. Setting the words to music originated as an extension of Smallmouth Band mem-
bers’ interest in the work of the non-profit organization Tillers International. The Tillers farm acreage is located where the Cook family operated a gristmill for decades at a prime location on the Portage River, on OP Avenue between South 34th and South 36th Streets. Tillers purchased the 400+ acre site, including the tract still known as Cook’s Mill, in 2003. For further information about this great band, contact Dennis Martin at 269-2072851. Email: dennis.martin@mwcradio.com
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community calendar SPECIAL EVENTS John Daley Memorial One One Run-Jan 1, 1pm, Spring Valley Park, 342-5996 Art Hop, Jan 9, Downtown Kalamazoo Kalamazoo Indoor Flea & Farmers Mkt- Kal County Expo Center, Every Tue & Wed. Classics Uncorked Winter Evening-KIA, Jan 9, 8pm, 387-2300 January Thaw, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Winter/Spring Semester Kickoff, Jan 14, 9:30am-11:30am, 387-4200 Kal Civic Theatre, Lend Me a Tenor-Jan 9-24, 343-1313 Fantasia Ballet Folklorico-Kal Valley Museum, Jan 16, 7-9pm, $5, 373-7990 Kalamazoo Dance, Jan 17 , 7-10pm, The Pointe Community Center, Fee, 344-5752 Kal Reptile and Exotic Animal Show, Kal County Expo Center, Jan 17 The Big Weekend Sale, Kal County Expo Center, Jan 17-18, $2, Miller Auditorium, Magic of Motown Jan 17, 8pm 3872300 Snowshoe Nature Hike: Winter Animal Signs, West Lake Nature Preserve, Jan 17, 2pm, 329-4522 Wings Stadium Sports Card Show, Jan 17, 9am-4pm The World of Prokofiev-Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU, Jan 18, 3pm, 349-7759 Acclarion, Canada’s premier accordion and clarinet ensemble-Kal Public Library, Jan 21, 7-8pm, FREE Weekend Indoor Flea Market, Sat Jan 24 , 8am-3pm Kal County Expo Center Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Miller Aud, Jan 21-22, 387-2300 Ladies Library Association Concert Series, Ladies Library Assn., 8pm, 344-3710 The Who’s Tommy, Parish Theatre, Jan 23, call 3431313 for details Fontana Presents Jordi Savall, Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU Jan 24, 8pm, 382-7774 Thunderbirds RC Swap Meet, Kal County Expo Center, Jan 24, 9:30am-2:30pm 823-4044 Bobby McFerrin Takes on Gershwin, Miller Aud, Jan 30, 8pm, 349-7759 The Four Bitchin Babes, Miller Aud, Jan 31, 8pm, 3872300 Winter Jamboree, Milham Park Golf Course, Jan 31, 11am-1pm, 329-4522
YMCA OF GREATER KALAMAZOO
1001 W. Maple St., 269-345-9622 Classes: Winter Session begins Monday, January 5! Blood Pressure Clinics: Tues, Jan 6, 3p-5p, Wed, Jan 21, 11am-1:30pm, Thur, Jan 29, 1p-3p, Fri, Jan 16, 10am12pm, Diabetes Support Group, Monday, Jan 19, 1:30p-2:30p. Learn information about living with diabetes, exchange recipes, and meet new friends Chapel The “Y” Read Book Group Fri, Jan 16 1:30p-3p Join us for a discussion on the novel, “The Inventions of Wings” by Sue Monk Kidd Chapel SilverSneakers Yoga (formerly YogaStretch), Wed. 9:30am-10:30am. Members free/ $45 Community. SilverSneakers Classic (formerly Muscular Strength and Range of Movement), T/Th 11a-12p. Members free/ $68 Community. SilverSneakers Splash (formerly SilverSplash), M/W/ TH 3p-4p. Members free/ $87 Community, 2 times a week, $75 Community. Tai Chi for Arthritis, T/TH 10a-11a, $32 Mbr/$68 Community. Instr: Glenda Van Stratton. 345-9622 x127. SilverSneakers Circuit (formerly CardioCircuit), M/W 11a-12p, Members free/$68 Community SilverSneakers Cardio (formerly CardioFit) New class, T/Th, 1:30p-2:30p Members free/$68 Community
YMCA OF GREATER KALAMAZOO
Portage Branch 2900 West Centre Ave., 269-324-9622 Blood Pressure Clinics, Jan 6 10:30a-12:30p. YogaStretch, Friday 11:45a-12:30p Members Free, Community $23. Muscular Strength and Range of Movement, Monday 1p-2p, Members Free, Community $30, Wednesday/ Friday 10:30a-11:30p, Members Free/ $60 Community Soothing Yoga, Friday 9:30a-10:30a, Members $27, Community $42
COMSTOCK COMMUNITY CENTER 269-345-8556
Bell Ringer’s Choir: Mon, 10am-12pm. All levels of skill Free. Bingo: Every Thursday at 1pm. Bring a $1.00 value item in a paper sack. Free. Bridge: 2nd & 4th Wednesday of each month, 1pm. This is a group of experienced players. 324-2404 to sign up to play. 50 cents to play. Ceramics: Tues, 1-3pm, $5 per week includes supplies Conversation Cafe: Every Tues, Wed, Thur. at 11:30am. Enjoy a home cooked meal. Call by noon the day before to order. Cost is $5 and includes beverage. Exercise: Tues & Thur, 10:30-11:30am. Low impact exercises and all levels welcome. Cost is $2 per class. Flex/Yoga Class: Thursday’s, 9:30-10:30am. . Walkins welcome. Cost is $2. Foot Care Clinic: 2nd Monday of the month. Please call 345-8556 to make an appt. Cost is $25 per visit. Knitting and Crocheting: Every Mon and Wed, 1-3pm, FREE Line Dance: Wednesdays at 9-10:30am. Cost is $2. Massage: Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s by appointment only. Cost is $20 for 1/2 hour and $40 for hour. Mystery Lunch: 3rd Wednesday of month, 11am-3pm. Must be able to walk. Call to register. Cost is $3 and lunch cost in on your own. Out to Breakfast: 8:30am. Meal cost is on your own. Jan 6 @, The Crew on E. Cork, Jan 20 @ Niko’s on King Hwy Out to Lunch: 11:30am. Lunch cost is on your own. Jan 30 @ Ten Ten on Gull Rd Potluck: 3rd Monday of each month at noon. Bring a dish to pass and your own tableware. Free. Stay Independent-Prevent Memory Loss: 3rd Mon. of month, 1-2pm. Different memory loss topic each month $5. Tai Chi, Mondays at 5:30pm-6:30pm $5 Texas Hold ‘em Poker: Tuesdays at 12:30 pm. Beginner’s welcome. Free. Therapeutic Swim Class: Comstock Community Center Water Class‚ meets every Tues and Thur from 1011am. (269) 552-2358. Cost is $40 for 8 week class. TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly): Every Tuesday 5pm-7pm. 383-0312. Membership is $26 annually. Zumba: Thursday’s, 6:30-7:30pm. $3 Cooking Class: 6 week class, Wed’s Jan 14-Feb 18. 2-3:30pm Call to reg, FREE Be The Best You Can Be: January 13, 12-1pm. Call to reg, FREE Food-Fun-Trivia: January 20, 12-1pm. Call to reg, FREE Movie Day: January 16, 11am-1pm. Join us for a show and lunch. Movie will be “Against the Wild”.
ECUMENICAL SENIOR CENTER
702 N. Burdick Street, 381-9750 Monday - Exercise, Free Blood pressure 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. • Bible Study 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday – Craft (knitting) Ceramic Class Instructor:
Tina Krum Cost $4.00 per class Trip to Beauty School – 3rd Tuesdays of each month Wednesday– Bible Study 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Medicine Check 12:30 p.m. - Book Reading Thursday – Scrapbooking 10:00, Spanish Class, (six week class) and Community Prayer Circle @ 2p.m. Friday – Computer classes @10:00, Bingo @ 10:30 a.m. Lunch 12:00; 1:30 p.m. - Wii Bowling, games, and movies. Grocery Bingo- 2nd Friday in each month Monthly Birthday Celebration, Bible Study Monday - 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Wed. 10:30 to 11:30
PLAINWELL Euchre-Tuesdays 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. singles or couples. Tai Chi M 3-4 pm $ Senior Game Day 1st Th of Month 1-4pm Mid Lake Chorus Tuesdays 6-9pm VFW 1st Monday of month 7-9pm Enhance Fitness Mon, Wed, Fri, 1-2pm Jazzercise M 6:15-7:15pm & T & Th 6-7pm $
PORTAGE SENIOR CENTER 269-329-4555
Alzheimer’s Assoc. Support Group, 7:00-8:30pm, 3rd Tuesday A Matter of Balance Workshop, Fri, 9:30 a.m. Jan 9 – Feb 27. Sponsor: Area Agency on Aging. Art Open Session, 1:00 p.m., Mon, PSC Members only. Asian Cooking Demonstration, Mon, Jan 19, 1:15 PM, Registration $2/$5 non-members. Sponsor: TenderCare Portage, Chef Roger. Bid Euchre & Other Cards, 6:30 p.m. Tues. New players welcome. PSC members only. Big Screen Movie: Monday, Jan 12, 1:15 p.m. “Born Free”. View the movie for free; popcorn 50 cents. Billiards – 12:30 – 4:45 p.m., Tue, Thur, Fri. Mem only. Blood Pressure Clinic, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., 2nd Thur Body Rebound, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m., Mon, Wed, & Fri all month. Non-aerobic exercise class. 8-weeks: $42/$52 non-mem. Register at PSC. Book Club, 2nd Monday @ 10:00 a.m. Bridge – Relaxed Pace, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m., Mon and Wed all month. Relaxed pace, won’t you join our group? PSC members only. Bridge, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Tues and Fri all month. Experienced players welcome. PSC Members only. Canasta Club, 1:00 p.m., Mon. Exp and beginning players welcome. Lessons available. PSC Mbrs only. Chair Volleyball Drop-in Play: 1:00 – 2:30 p.m., Tues The PSC offers free, drop-in play come and try it out. PSC Members only. Choir Practice, 9:30 a.m. Thurs, Community Service Van (CSV) Program Transportation, 8:30 – 1:00 p.m., Mon - Fri. Trans. available for PSC programs or PSC lunch. Call 329-4555 for apptmt Computer Tutoring:, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon, Mon & Fri Reg at PSC, members only. Fee $10/hr. Cribbage, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m., Mon, no fee. You’re welcome to join our group. PSC Members only. Dining Out Club - Dinner, 5:00 p.m. Mon, Jan 5, Applebee’s, 6675 S. Westnedge Hosted by Hal & Shirley Ray. Advance reg PSC 329-4555 by prev bus day is required. Self-pay. Dining Out Club - Breakfast, 8:30 a.m. Tue, Jan 13, Michelle’s, 3610 Sprinkle Rd Hosted by Hal & Shirley Ray. Advance reservation at PSC 329-4555 by prev bus day is required. Self-pay. Dining Out Club -Lunch, 11:30 a.m. Thur, Jan 15, Finley’s American Grill, 5160 W. Main Kalamzoo., Hosted by Hal & Shirley Ray. Advance reserv at PSC 329-4555 by previous bus day is required. Self-pay. Dominoes, 1:00 p.m. 2nd and 4th Fri. New players welcome. PSC members only. Enhance Fitness, 8:10 – 9:10 a.m., Mon, Wed, and Fri. Improve fitness, muscle strength, & balance. 8-week: $42/$52 non-member, . Register at the PSC. Euchre, 1:45- 4:45 p.m. Wednesdays. New PSC mem-
bers/players welcome. Foot Clinic, 12:15 – 4:00 p.m. Thur by appointment Hand Chimes, Thursdays, 1:00 p.m. (hand chimes provided) Laptop Intro to Office, 10:00 – noon, Wed. 7 weeks. Instructor Royce Bland teaches a class designed for those with basic working knowledge who would like to learn how to utilize Microsoft Office $24/Members only. Register at PSC. Living with Alzheimer’s: for early-stage caregivers. Tuesdays, January 6, 13 & 20, 6:30 p.m. Free and Open to Public. Loaves & Fishes Bag Recycling – Bring your plastic & paper bags to the Center the first week of the month. Lunch, 11:45 a.m. (Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Fri) Reservations required, call Senior Services at 382-0515. Mah Jongg, 1 p.m. Tues. New PSC members welcome. New Member Orientation, Thursday, January 8, 10:30 AM, Register at 329-4555. Painting with Acrylics, Wednesdays, 1:00 p.m., $62/$72. Register at 329-4555. Ping-Pong, 3:30 – 4:45 p.m., Mon and Thur. Have fun and exercise at this drop-in event. Equipment provided. Members only. Pinochle Double Deck, 1:00 p.m., Friday (1st, 3rd, 5th). PSC Members only. Pinochle Single Deck, 1:00 p.m. Thur, PSC mbrs only. Poker Night – Just for Fun, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. on 2nd Tuesday. Free. Dealer’s choice poker game, call PSC for more information. PSC Members only. Portage Rotary, Noon on Wed. PSC Band Practice, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m., Tues. New players welcome! For schedule or more info call 329-4555. PSC Members only. PSC Needlers, 9:00 a.m. – 12 Noon, Thursdays. Knitting and crocheting. Items made are donated to charities. New needlers welcome. PSC Trip Office, open for res (324-9239), Tues and Fri, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Quilting, 1:00-4:00p.m., Fri all month. Bring quilting supplies. New quilters welcome. Readers’ Theatre, 2nd and 4th Wed Recycled Card Project, 10:30 a.m. – noon, Tues. New PSC participants welcome, members only. Make new greeting cards from used cards. Red Hat Society, if you are interested in joining this group, contact Marie Tucker at 375-2104. Reminiscence Writing, 10:30 a.m. Wed Write and share essays/poems, family history, travels, etc Instructor: Wilma Kahn, MFA, DA. 7 wks, Fee: $32/$42 non-member, register at PSC. Scrabble, 1:00 to 4:45 p.m. 1st and 3rd Frid. New members welcome. Silver Sneakers Splash, 11:00 – 12 noon. Tues and Thurs. Aquatics based exercise program held at YMCA Portage, designed to build strength, increase range of movement. Fee: Pay at YMCA Portage, $60/7 wks. PSC or “Y” Members only. Sisterhood Group, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., 2nd Fridays. Sisterhood is a women’s social group that meets the second Friday of each month. Welcome new “sisters”. Stay Independent – Prevent Memory Loss, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m., 2nd Thursday. Instr: Suzanne Gernaat, fee $7/$9 non-member per ses. A discussion/activity group T’ai Ji, 8:30 – 9:30 a.m., Tues. Instructor, Ed Kehoe, 7-weeks. Fee: $42/$52 non-member. Reg. at the PSC. Three C’s: Coffee · Cards · Conversation, 2:00 p.m., 1st and 3rd Saturday. Bring a snack to pass. Information: 329-4555. Members welcome. Walkers with Walkers, 9:30 a.m. Crossroads Mall Tues. and Thurs. PSC Members only. Walking - Daily, 8:30 a.m., Mon – Sat at Crossroads Mall, Food Court entrance. Wii Bowling, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. Tues. Have fun with this video game bowling league without spending $$ at an alley. PSC Members only. Woodcarving, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Tues. PSC member’s free/non-members $3.00/wk. Yoga, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m., Mon. 8 weeks. Christine Peckels, Location: St. Catherine’s of Siena – Stanley Center. $72/82Non-members.
january 2015
SENIOR SERVICES OF SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN 269-382-0515
Lunch M-W at 11:45am. Reservations must be made by noon, one day in advance. 382-0515. (Dec 1 & 15) Mon 11:00-noon Medicare Medicaid Assistance Program: Mon-Fri, call 1-800-803-7174 for appt. Massage: Relieve stress and promote relaxation with State Licensed graduate of Health Enrichment Center; therapist Eugenia Muller, bringing 21 years of experience. Mon. 9:00am-4:00pm-30 minutes for $15. call 269-382-0515 to schedule your apt. “Swinging with Susan” Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program, M & W, ALL fitness levels. 10:00am-11:00am. Susan Iervolina. $30/7wks (14 classes) TOPS for Seniors. Mon. Lose weight with support and encouragement ($3 per month) 12:00-2:30pm Ballroom Dance. MON. (basic and intermediate) $25/8 weeks. 3:15-4:45pm Chair Yoga: W/Leslie Neuman. Balance your mind and your body. Tue. 9:30-10:30am Voluntary contribution of $5.00 Art Painting. Tue. 10am-12pm, Bring your own supplies and enjoy the fellowship. No fee. TimeSteppers. Senior tap class with Sue Forrester. Beginners welcome. Tue 1:30-2:30, Thurs. 9:30-10:30am Helping Hands. Tue, Jan 13 & 27 Knit/crochet items to distribute to community agencies. 1:00pm-4:00pm Visually Impaired Group. WED (Jan 7 & 21) Support for the visually impaired. 10:30am-12:00pm Senior Foot Clinic, Wed ($25, & bring bath towel). 344-4410 for appt. 10:30am-4:00pm Tai Chi w/instructor Ed Kehoe. $5/week, 1:30pm2:30pm Intermediate/Advanced Ballroom Dance. W 3:154:45pm Don and Ann Douglass instruct advanced steps of this popular dance style. $25/8 weeks Local Collaborative Group Meeting: Thurs. Jan. 29th; 12:00-2:00pm. MI Choice Waiver Program Kalamazoo, Branch, St. Joseph, Calhoun, and Branch counties. Participants in the program get their voices heard and enjoy lunch on us! RSVP by Jan 21st Bridge Experienced Players TH 12:30-4:00pm Line Dance Fri 10:00-11:00am. Susan Iervolina leads this advanced class. $35/7weeks. Prime Time Players Rehearsal. Talented seniors perform for the community. –Fri. 1:30pm-3:00pm
RICHLAND AREA COMMUNITY CENTER 629-9430
Book Club: 3rd Thur., 9:30am “Jan. book, The JumpOff Creek by Balson Bridge: Mon., 12:30-3:30pm Drop-In Coffee Hour: Tue./Thur., 9:30-10:30am Euchre: Wed., 12:30-3:30pm Foot Clinic: Bi-monthly, 4th Tue, call for appt., Kathleen Barnum, 671.5427 GL Rotary: Thur., 7:30-8:30am Kindermusik: Fri., 9:30-10:15 Hand & Foot (cards): Wed., 1:00-3:30 Laurels Lunch & Learn: 2nd Thur., 11:30am-12:30pm Painted Lady Studios Art Class: Wed. 9am-Noon, $30 (call first) PAF: 2nd Tue., 5:30pm Senior Dining Coupons: Tue. 9am-1pm, Wed. 9am5pm Square Dance: beginning Sept., 3rd Sat., 7:30-10am “Swingin’ with Susan” Exercise (sponsored by Laurels of Galesburg): Tue./Thur., 10:30-11:30am, $3 per class Tai Chi, Intermediate: Wed., 4:30-5:30pm Yoga-Gentle w/Cathy Tucci: Tue./Thur., 10:15-11:15am, (sliding fee—age 49 & under, $10/age50-59, $8/age 60-69, $6/Age 70 & above, $3. Buy 10 classes, get the 11th free.) Yoga w/Sherry King: Mon., Noon-1pm, Wed, 9:4510:4am, $10 per session WIN: 3rd Mon., 5:30-8:00
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RACC PACK ADVENTURE TRAVEL We have a great variety of exciting trips available and are always adding more. For a complete listing of our travel programs, call 269.629.9430 or visit www.richlandareacc.org.
SOUTH COUNTY COMMUNITY SERVICES Weekly Fitness classes, Out-to-eat, Matter of Balance Class, Line Dancing Class, Tai Chi, flu shot Clinics 649-2901 for info
THREE RIVERS SENIOR CENTER Photography, Calligraphy, Polymer Clay Beading, Open Art Studio, Bridge Club, Hooping, Arthritis Exercise, Balance Exercise, Bingo, bunco, Book Club, Breakfast club, massage, hair cuts, computer classes, wifi, wii. Call the COA for dates and times at 269 2798083.
PLAN YOUR TRIP Portage Senior Center 324-9239
“I LOVE LUCY!” Live on Stage, Feb 14, Wharton Center, Lansing. THE ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE in Savannah, Georgia, March 15 – 23. MORE LOCAL TREASURES, March 31, Kalamazoo. VERA BRADLEY VALUES, April 11, Ft. Wayne, Indiana. MUSIC AND MORE, April 17, Grand Rapids. “BILLY ELLIOT”, April 30, Drury Lane Theatre, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois. “TALLEY’S FOLLY”, May 13, Purple Rose Theatre, Jackson & Chelsea.
Richland Area Community Center A great variety of exciting trips available and are always adding more. For a complete listing of our travel programs, call 269.629.9430 or visit www.richlandareacc.org
WMU Osher Lifelong Learning Institute 800-887-4971
North American International Auto Show, Jan 21, $140 ($155 non-members)
Comstock Community Center 345-8556
New York City, Apr 23-29, 2015, $725/$797.50 member/non-member pp/dbl Nat’l Parks & Canyonlands of the West, Sept 11-18, 2015, $2874/$3271.40 member/non-member pp/dbl Mt Rushmore, the Badlands and Black Hills of SD, Sept 19-27, 2015, $735/$808.50 member/non-member pp/dbl Branson Holiday Show Extravaganza, Dec 6-12, 2015, $599/$658.90 member/non-member pp/dbl
KALAMAZOO COUNTY MEAL SITES Nutritious hot lunches are served by Senior Services Inc. to people 60 and older at Kalamazoo County meal sites. To reserve a lunch, call the Nutrition Center at 269-382-0515 by 1 p.m. the day before you plan to visit. A cost-sharing donation is suggested for each lunch. Here are the meal sites, their addresses and the days they are open: Coover Center, 918 Jasper St., 11:45 a.m. Mon-Wed. Crossroads Village, 6600 Constitution Blvd., 11:30 a.m. Mon-Fri.
Dillon Hall, 3299 Gull Rd, 11:30 a.m. Mon-Fri Ecumenical Senior Center, 702 N. Burdick St., 11:45 a.m. Mon-Fri. Evergreen Community Room, Evergreen North Complex, 5700 Vintage Lane, noon Mon-Fri. Northwind Place Apartments, 1004 Douglas Ave., noon Mon-Fri. Portage Senior Center, 320 Library Lane, 11:45 a.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Spring Manor Friendship Center, Spring Manor Apts, 610 Mall Drive, Portage, noon, Mon-Fri. Spring Valley Crossing, 2535 Mount Olivet Road, Parchment, noon Mondays-Fridays. Washington Square Friendship Center, Washington Square Apartments, 710 Collins St., noon. Mon-Fri.
ST. JOSEPH COUNTY MEAL SITES The St. Joseph County Commission on Aging helps coordinate lunches for people age 60 and older at three meal sites and 11 participating restaurants. Call 800-641-9899 or 269-279-8083 for information on how to make reservations, which are required by 10 a.m. the day before you plan to visit. A cost-sharing contribution of $2 at meal sites and $3.50 for restaurant vouchers is requested for each lunch. Meal sites, their location and the days they are open are: Kline’s Resort Meal Site: Fridays Noon-1:00p.m. Sturgis Senior Center, 304 N. Jefferson St., Mon-Fri. Three Rivers Senior Center, 103 S. Douglas Ave., M-F.
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