Southwest Michigan Spark-May 2023

Expert Advice

Roofing

Q: With all the recent stormy weather, should I have my roof repaired?

Health Food

Counseling

Q: How do I stop feeling so down in the dumps?

Justin Reynolds Manager

A: We recommend that roofs be inspected about once every five years if the roof is under 15 years old and then once every other year for roofs older than 15 years. These inspections can and should be done after the kind of stormy spring weather we have had this year. We have seen a little of everything since the first of the year including wind related damages and even hail damage on roofs that have been inspected so far this year. Inspecting a roof in this manner can often lead to minor repairs that can prolong the normal life expectancy of your existing shingles that are still in relatively good condition as this is confirmed more times than not during our inspections. For a free roof inspection, please give us a call at (269) 342-0153 or visit us at worryfreeroof.com

Sherriff-Goslin Roofing Co.

Since 1906 342-0153 800-950-1906

Healthcare

Q: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of a Stroke?

Q: I am new to the area and was wondering if Sawall Health Foods carries bulk foods?

A: Whether you need a teaspoon of Cinnamon or a 25 lb. bag of organic whole wheat flour, Sawall’s carries over 400 of your favorite all natural and organic bulk selections. You will find West Michigan’s largest selection of bulk products including spices, whole grains, dried fruits, legumes, rice, flours, coffee, tea, soup mixes, fresh roasted or raw nuts, all natural and organic candy and a wide selection of granolas, gluten free granolas and trail mixes.  We receive weekly deliveries to ensure that our bulk is fresh.

Mark Sawall Owner

Mon-Sat. 8am-9pm, Sun. 10am-6pm

Sawall Health Foods

Oakwood Plaza • 2965 Oakland Dr. at Whites Rd. • 343-3619 • www.sawallhf.com

Funeral Services

Q: Most funeral homes appear to be about the same, so what’s the difference?

Kim Powers, Owner, Licensed Professional Counselor

A: Depression often subtly makes its way into one’s mental health, impacting relationships and behaviors. Others may express their concern for you. Interventions such as mental health therapy, medications, and implementing healthy coping skills may be necessary to improve your well-being. Make today the day to create positive change and reach out for help.

Heart Soul Mind Strength LLC

Faith. Acceptance. Empowerment. Purpose. Www.HeartSoulMindStrengthLLC.com

510-827-1305

Transitions

A. The key to achieving the best possible outcome for a person having a stroke is to know the signs and BE FAST. When someone with a stroke is brought to any one of Bronson’s hospitals in an ambulance, the stroke team is notified so they can be prepared for immediate intervention.

Monica Scarsella, Vascular Neurologist

• Balance. Vertigo or you’re feeling dizzy or falling to one side.

• Eyes. Loss of vision or blurred vision.

• Face. Facial drooping to one side.

• Arms. Weakness in the arms, leg or face.

• Speech is slurred or doesn’t make sense.

• Time is very important. Act quickly if you notice any of these symptoms and call 9-1-1 immediately. This is the fastest and safest way to get to the hospital.

Bronson Neuroscience Center

bronsonhealth.com/stroke

(269) 341-7500

Rob Baas Langeland

A: The BIG difference is also the most important one: our people –their attitude, spirit, and willingness to help a grieving family. Our staff is always prepared to go the extra mile for every family we care for. Do you feel like you’re with people who really want to take care of you? Or just process you? It should always be the former and Langelands has service like no other.

Langeland Family Funeral Homes

“Quiet dignity with compassion” has meant so much for many people... for many years.

4 locations to serve you 269-343-1508 • www.langelands.com

Diana Duncan Director of Sales and Marketing

Q: How much time should I allow for an appointment with a senior living community Sales Counselor?

A: Allowing up to 90 minutes for a personized appointment will give you a great start in understanding what options work best for your health age and finances as well as timing your move.

Friendship Village

“Where Connections Matter”

1400 North Drake, Kalamazoo 269-381-0560

www.friendshipvillagemi.com

Member Home Builders Association of Greater Kalamazoo

Finding happiness every day

We often go to great lengths and expense to bring happiness into our lives, when in reality, it’s usually the small little, day-to-day pleasures that bring us the most joy. If we stop to “Smell the Roses,” as the saying goes, we may find that what we are searching for has been right in front of us all along. One of my guilty pleasures is riding slow meandering back roads on my bicycle. On many such rides, I cross paths with a a lady named Gail, who is out riding her bike looking for cans. She is in her 70’s and rides nearly year-round for exercise and tracks many miles per day.

A few months ago on such an encounter, she shared with me that she found a few golf balls at the edge of the road by a local golf course. She asked if I played golf. When I said, “yes,” she inquired what my favorite golf brand was. I replied, “Calloway.”

The other day when I ran into her on my ride, she mentioned that she found a few

INDEX MAY 2023

Calloway balls and would leave them for me in a bag by her mailbox.

When I stopped by on my way home, I was thrilled to find a bag full of 60+ Calloway golf balls waiting for me. This made my day!

FROM THE EDITOR

This small act of kindness got me thinking about a book I read recently, titled: Things to Look Forward To, written by Sophie Blackall. In the book she explains that during a tough time in her life, she almost lost sight of beauty and wonder. Until one morning, while she was standing in a hot shower, she started thinking of the little things in life that make her happy.

She began by making a list and eventually published the book, which includes fifty little pleasures that we often take for granted, like the sun shining down upon us, hugging a friend, the smell of clean laundry and the joy of collecting pebbles and many more. Each short page is colorfully illustrated and brought a smile to my face.

The best way to find happiness is to look for it every day in everything you do.

Steve Ellis, SPARK Publisher steve@swmspark.com

ON THE COVER:

Editor and Publisher: Steve Ellis

Graphic & Page Development: CRE8 Design, Kalamazoo

Content/Photography: Lauren Ellis

Writers and Contributors Include: Area Agency on Aging, Steve Ellis, Lee Dean, Laura Kurella, Richard Martinovich Dave Person, Kalamazoo Nature Center, 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.

Kalamazoo in Bloom’s “Pete” the Peacock in Bronson Park.

Photo by John Seward

A baseball cap sends a mixed message

Lee A. Dean screendoor@sbcglobal.net

I see dozens of advertisements every day while on the internet and ignore most of them. But recently I saw an ad for a baseball cap with a thought-provoking and nostalgic message emblazoned above the bill.

This cap declares, “I miss the America I grew up in.” At first blush, I agreed with the sentiment. My coming-of-age years were not always idyllic, but they were certainly positive ones. I can watch today’s news for three minutes and be convinced we’re all hurtling toward Hades on a finely waxed toboggan. And yet the more I started to analyze the sentiment, the less I came to agree with it.

An honest comparison of the years 1955 to 1975 with today reveals there are indeed some things I miss about those years, but plenty that I don’t.

Let’s start with navigational aids. In the America I grew up in, we needed verbal directions, foldout maps, or a road atlas to find our destination. If texting while driving is stupid, how about reading a map while driving? Now, GPS tells us where to

go, all without the trouble of squinting to read that tiny print on a map. Advantage, now.

Back then, as kids we rode our bicycles everywhere without fear. As a five-year-old, I walked from my house on the east side of Kalamazoo to Roosevelt School. Today, I would be very reluctant to let a small child walk to school without adult supervision unless that school was on the same block. The region of America I grew up in had three television stations. If you had an antenna with a rotor, you could perhaps triple that number. Today, we have thousands of choices from terrestrial, satellite, cable, or streaming sources. Ironically, my favorite TV shows today are the ones I used to watch on those three channels. Why do I need to tune into either of today’s late night Jimmys when I can dial up Pluto TV and watch Johnny? Mr. Carson will always be the king.

Remember when weddings were news? I typed up plenty of them in my first daily newspaper job. There was the photo of the bride, complete with descriptions of the gown. Other newsworthy items include Eagle Scouts, honor rolls and extensive coverage of high school sports teams. Today, the only question that’s relevant is, “what’s a daily newspaper?”

The music of the ‘60s and ‘70s is vastly

superior to today’s unmelodic piffle. But today, thanks to music subscription services, all the good old songs are available to me and I can literally call the tune. I used to have 200 albums in an old apple crate. Now I have 200,000 albums on my smartphone.

The cars in the America I grew up in were classics in appearance and names. We drove Cougars, Mustangs, and Wildcats. But today’s cars are vastly superior in performance and safety. Buying a new part costs far more than it used to, but the parts last longer. I haven’t needed to buy a starter for a vehicle in years.

The America I grew up in had no laser eye surgery, heart transplants, joint replacements, MRI machines or heart valve replacements. Medical advancements such as these extend life and enhance its quality.

The America I grew up in didn’t have microwave ovens. ‘Nuff said.

When I was a kid people could buy cigarettes from vending machines. Then they would smoke those cigarettes on airplanes, in restaurants, at ballgames and even in the hospital. Today, the air is blessedly free of nicotine pollution in public places.

When I went to high school, we never worried about school shootings. We had a few pickup trucks with gun racks in our

parking lot, but these guys all either took hunter safety courses or learned how to handle weapons from their fathers. Any differences were settled with fists under the willow tree at the bottom of the hill.

The closest thing we had to the Internet was an encyclopedia. “Look it up,” my folks would say, and so I would dive into our Funk and Wagnalls volumes. Today, we have massive amounts of information at our fingertips, which has often made life easier. As someone with oafish hands and weak eyes, how-to videos have been a godsend when tackling home improvement projects. Thank you, YouTube University.

In the early years of the America I grew up in, you could find colored drinking fountains, segregated public accommodations, real estate redlining, and other evidence of institutional racism. We still have a fair distance to travel on the path of racial reconciliation. But no one, other than the worst kinds of slobbering white supremacists, would ever want to go back to the days when fire hoses and dogs were used against people marching for the right to vote.

Here’s my response to that online advertisement: I’ll keep my positive memories of the past, my embrace of the present, and my hopes for the best possible future. You can keep the hat.

Humphrey Block / Peninsula Building: A Kalamazoo Landmark

by Keith Howard, Kalamazoo Public Library

Don’t believe everything you read. A historical marker at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Portage Street in downtown Kalamazoo claims the building was built by Nicholas Baumann in 1874 and was originally designed for the Peninsula Restaurant, none of which is actually true. Baumann’s “Peninsular” saloon, restaurant, and billiard hall was, in fact, located across the street.

Still, the building on the southeast the corner of Michigan and Portage is historically significant. Now called the Peninsula Building, it was originally built as the “Humphrey Block” in 1855 and remains the third oldest-known surviving building in downtown Kalamazoo. At first a grocery store, the building has since housed some of Kalamazoo’s most prominent businesses. It predates every known photograph of the city and has become an iconic local commercial landmark.

Named for General Bissel Humphrey, an early homesteader and stagecoach proprietor, the three-story brick building went up during the summer of 1855. Its first tenants, William Edgar & John Dudgeon, operated a wholesale and retail grocery and provision store, where they stocked nearly every kind of foodstuff imaginable, from eggs and butter, to flour, sugar, salt, fish, tea, and whiskey.

During the Civil War years, the Humphrey Block became “a place of great importance and renown.” It served as a recruiting station, a provost marshal’s headquarters, and a soldier training facility. During the war, Mrs. J.B. Daniels operated an improvised hospital on the third floor, where she cared for dozens of soldiers who became ill due to poor conditions in their encampment.

One of the building’s most prominent and longestrunning tenants was Samuel Folz, “The Excelsior One Price Clothier.” Folz moved his well-established clothing store into the vastly larger quarters of the Humphrey Block in 1892, creating an expansive 6,000-square-foot retail space. The Folz store became locally famous as “The Big Corner.”

During the summer of 1921, the Humphrey Block was sold and Folz moved out. The new owners planned to remodel the structure, but the building was condemned instead, after inspections revealed loose bricks in the upper floors, crumbling mortar, and loose joists. City officials ordered the removal of the upper floors, leaving only the street level portion and basement from the original construction.

After the upper floors were rebuilt, a series of large retailers occupied the building during the years that followed, including Montgomery Ward, and the Kalamazoo Stove Company. A large 50-foot porcelain and steel sign atop the building carried the stove company’s motto, “A Kalamazoo – Direct To You.” The sign remained until 1970, long after the company had gone out of business.

The building sustained serious damage during the 1980 tornado, but it survived. After an extensive $250,000 restoration effort, the Peninsula Building was reopened in 1981, and earned a place on the Michigan State Register of Historic Sites.

In 1996, the first floor was transformed into a brewpub, and the upper floors were renovated as loft apartments. A victim of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Olde Peninsula Brewpub closed its doors in 2021 after 25 years in business. The Saugatuck Brewing Company currently is renovating the brewpub space and hopes to recapture the magic of the historic building with its own brewery and restaurant.

More at kpl.gov

Mother’s Day Morels!

by Laura Kurella

When hunting for a true morel mushroom, look for one that is small to large in size with caps that are oblong, cone-shaped, bulbous, or egg-shaped that flow unbroken into a naturally hollow, short, stout stem. The cap can range in color from blonde and light brown or even grey, to a dark brown shade.

Overall, the morel has a fragile, even brittle honeycomb-like exterior. When peering inside you should find both the cap and stem hollow and extending the full length of the mushroom and its stem.

FYI: False morels have a separate stem that is not part of the cap. Nor is it hollow. Found growing in pastures, orchards, and meadows on disturbed ground near spruce, ash, elm, and apple trees, morels also grow in burnt forests, too.

Not to be consumed raw, because doing so creates gastric distress, morels are best ingested after being gently sautéed or fried.

Mouth-watering Buttery-garlic Morels

Prep time: 5 minutes; cook time: 10 minutes; Total time: 15 minutes. Yield: 2 servings

2 handfuls fresh or dried morels

2 tablespoons light olive oil

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided use

1 garlic clove, minced

2 sprigs of fresh rosemary and or thyme

Splash of red wine, red wine vinegar or lemon juice

1/4 cup chicken stock

Unrefined mineral sea salt, to taste black pepper, to taste

Note: If using dried mushrooms, reconstitute in clean water for 30 minutes or until soft then gently strain, discarding gritty water. Place mushrooms on a clean dry towel. Inspect and slice larger mushrooms into lengthwise quarters or halves. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil. Once oil shimmers, add the morels. Cook the morels until they are brown, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Add half the butter, all the garlic, and the whole sprigs of herbs. Stir to blend then cook until garlic sings, about 2 minutes. Deglaze pan with a splash of red wine, red wine vinegar, or lemon juice and broth.

Reduce heat to low. Sauté morels until tender, about 3 minutes. During the last minute of cooking, add remaining butter, and swirl the pan to incorporate. Season to taste with salt and pepper then serve with warm rustic bread or alone.

The arrival of spring brings with it the finest tasting mushroom in Michigan: The morel! Reaching a cult-like status among foraging enthusiasts, morels continue to draw increasing interest, luring more and more people into the woods to hunt them down, making these tiny fungi just as coveted, if not more so, as the deer! Shotguns aside, all anyone needs to pick off some morels is a sharp eye, and a keen sense of what to look for, especially since there are false morels out there to fool you!

laurakurella@yahoo.com.

Laura Kurella is an award-winning food columnist, recipe developer, and home cook who loves life in Michigan. She welcomes your comments at

Book Reviews

Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family

Robert Kolker

In this heartbreaking true story, we learn about a family of twelve children, ten boys and two girls, and how they had to cope with six of the ten boys developing schizophrenia. Mimi and Don Galvin were the picture of a beautiful and successful American family. However, as the boys started to grow older, one by one, six of them started to exhibit strange behavior. Details are given about the brothers and their difficult behavior, hospitalizations, and treatments. We see how the medical world coped with schizophrenia at the time. We learn how Don and Mimi, and the other six children coped with their brothers’ illnesses. Most of all, we see a family torn apart by a vicious disease. The story of the Galvin family is difficult to read, but a worthwhile look into a troubled family.

Moonlight and the Pearler’s Daughter

Lizzy Pook

An extraordinarily vivid feminist adventure story based on Lizzie Pook’s deep research into the pearling industry and the era of British colonial rule in Australia, Moonlight and the Pearler’s Daughter is ultimately about the lengths one woman will travel to save her family.

The pearl-diving boat captained by Eliza’s eccentric father returns after months at sea—without Eliza’s father on it. Whispers from townsfolk point to mutiny or murder. As she searches for the truth, Eliza

discovers a dark underbelly of sweltering, stinking decay beneath the glamourous veneer of the pearling industry. How far is Eliza willing to push herself to solve the mystery of her missing father? And what family secrets will come to haunt her along the way?

Saved: a War Reporter’s Mission to Make It Home

Benjamin Hall

Journalist Benjamin Hall was no stranger to reporting from some of the world’s most dangerous places, but during a trip to Kyiv in March 2022, he came closer to danger than he’d ever been before. This eyeopening memoir of his experience surviving (and recovering from) a bombing is an impactful story. It tells of perseverance and the human spirit but also gives an invaluable look at what it means to report the news today and why the bravery of those on the front lines can matter more than ever.

Hang the Moon

Jeannette

Walls

Hang the Moon is a sharp, enthralling new novel about a young girl born in 1900s Virginia and the singular way she manages to navigate a truly complicated life. Sallie Kincaid hasn’t ever had it easy. Her father’s a bully, her mother’s dead, and her efforts to build a relationship with her half-brother ends in tragedy. Still, Walls traces her willful attempts to keep herself above water, telling an inspiring, exciting, and unforgettable story about family secrets, breaking the law, and making your own way in the world.

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

Book Reviews by the Portage District Library staff

always had it in my head to volunteer” – Cindy Buist

By Jim Coppinger, Milestone Senior Services Volunteer

Cindy Buist (by-st) grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and came to Grand Rapids for work and soon met her future husband. She learned of a position at Pine Rest, a Christian mental health service organization founded in 1910, and was hired as a nurse’s aid and then became a children’s activity leader..

She decided to resume college at Western Michigan University and earned a degree in computer science. Cindy says computers were coming into conventional use and the growing technology industry was an exciting field to enter.

With her technology skills, Cindy joined Kalamazoo Christian Schools as Accounts Manager where she worked twenty-five years before retiring.

After she retired, Cindy traveled and acclimated to her new lifestyle. However, as Cindy says, it was always in her head to volunteer once she retired – that is exactly what she did.

Cindy visited a website called Volunteer Kalamazoo.org and scrolled through listings of hundreds of various positions local organizations needed to fill. She stopped on Lending Hands and has been a volunteer there two mornings a week for the past ten years. Lending Hands loans medical equipment at no charge for clients who have recently undergone surgery (hip, knee, etc.) or

otherwise need support equipment for a short period of time while they recover at home. During the COVID pandemic, Lending Hands shut down to protect clients and volunteers but is now back in full operation and is in need of volunteers. https://lendinghandsmi.org/vounteer

Before it ceased operation, Cindy also volunteered at Centrica Day Services—an adult daycare operation where she helped prepare, serve, and clear lunch service for daycare participants.

Cindy enjoys reading, doing crossword puzzles, cooking, and baking. But her highest priority is spending time with her six children and their families, some of whom live in other states (and Canada)—providing Cindy ample opportunity for travel.

Cindy derives endless satisfaction from being a volunteer and working with fellow volunteers (many of whom have become friends). It is filled with enjoyment and genuine appreciation—it isn’t work.

Cindy encourages everyone to follow her and all the generous people serving our community, to give even a small portion of time to help others. We all have talents and abilities that would be a perfect fit for volunteer opportunities. It is truly a blessing to share.

Milestone Senior Services (previously known as Senior Services of Southwest Michigan) is an AmeriCorps Seniors grantee. AmeriCorps Seniors empowers people age 55 and older to serve their communities. RSVP helps people find a volunteer opportunity that fits their passion. There are currently opportunities in Kalamazoo County and a few in Calhoun County. Volunteers are needed with Meals on Wheels, Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes, Telephone Reassurance for Seniors, Milestone Home Repair, and more. Regular, flexible schedules available. Contact RSVP at 269-3820515 or apply to volunteer at www.milestoneseniorservices.org.

“I

VOLUNTEERS ENSURE ANOTHER YEAR OF COLORFUL SUMMER BLOOMS

By Dave Person david.r.person@gmail.com

Volunteers are needed to create a more colorful Kalamazoo and picturesque Portage.

But first they must be ready and willing to get their hands dirty.

Kalamazoo in Bloom, observing its 39th anniversary this year, is planning to hit the ground digging come the second week of May. That’s when the planting of 20,000 annual flowers will signal another beautiful summer ahead for Kalamazoo County’s two largest cities.

“Anybody can show up (to volunteer on any planting day),” says Monika Trahe, executive director of Kalamazoo in Bloom. “You don’t have to have planting experience. We’ll help you.”

Trahe is the only year-round employee of Kalamazoo in Bloom. She is joined each March by CJ Drenth, a seasonal gardener/educator who does the ordering, design and garden preparation for Kalamazoo through November.

In May they will be adding two seasonal gardeners who will work in Portage through September.

Beyond those four, it’s up to volunteers, who are starting to come back after Covid diminished their ranks.

Before Covid, Trahe says, planting was done in halfday shifts. Groups of students from local high schools and one middle school were among the 60 to 200 volunteers who would show up each planting day.

But in 2020, when the pandemic closed schools in the spring, those groups and other organizations that participated were unable to take part, and they have been slow in returning to the garden beds.

In the last couple of years, Trahe has gotten anywhere from three to 38 volunteers on each of the dozen or so planting days.

“We have a greater need for volunteers because we don’t have as many groups to pull from,” she says. Fortunately, the numbers appear to be slowly increasing, and last year Loy Norrix High School students got involved again, Trahe says.

Volunteers’ responsibilities include not only digging holes, planting and mulching, but also helping with check-in of other volunteers, distributing snacks and filling other supportive roles.

PHOTO BY DEREK KETCHUM

“What we focus on is the annual flowers,” Trahe says. “Annuals leave this full color and beautiful blooms.” This year the first planting days, which will consist of filling Bronson Park’s two peacock topiary structures with dirt, will be on Friday, May 12, and Saturday, May 13.

Then on Monday and Tuesday, May 15 and 16, the planting of those two structures, known as Mike the Peacock and Mike Jr., will take place.

Wednesday through Saturday, May 17 through 20, planting will be done around Portage’s City Center, Library Lane and at the Portage Bicentennial Park trailhead. While the peacocks are the pride of Kalamazoo, butterfly and canoe topiaries welcome visitors to Portage.

Back in Kalamazoo on Monday, May 22, planting will be done at Arcadia Creek Festival Place in the morning and the Transportation Center in the afternoon. Tuesday, May 23, will be devoted to installing topiaries at Bronson Park, followed by three days, May 24-26, of planting at the park, Kalamazoo City Hall and the Kalamazoo County Courthouse.

“We try to have everything done before Memorial Day Weekend,” Trahe says.

Then, after the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Fair in Bronson Park on the first weekend in June, large pots of flowers will be added to the mix in the park as well as City Hall and the County Courthouse.

Volunteers range from first-timers to longtime volunteers like Linda Whitlock, who has been volunteering with Kalamazoo in Bloom for 25 years and has been

on its board of directors since 2006, currently serving as vice president.

Before she retired in 2019, she was a horticulturist and coordinator of the master gardener program for Michigan State University Extension.

Retirement has freed her up to spend even more time planting, adopting a flowerbed to care for throughout the summer — another responsibility for which volunteers are needed — and helping main-

tain other volunteers with their adopted flowerbeds. “I keep my fingernails dirty and my knees complaining,” she says.

Kalamazoo In Bloom has its roots in Kalamazoo County Flowerfest, an annual three-day festival that started in 1984, the brainchild of Gale Arent, its first president, who was MSU Extension director for the county.

“This was kind of his vision,” Whitlock says. Kalamazoo County Flowerfest gave way to Kalamazoo in Bloom in 2003.

Much of Kalamazoo in Bloom’s success is attributed to the area’s bedding-plant industry.

Napps Greenhouses provides the flowerbed flowers in Kalamazoo and Corstange Greenhouses does the same in Portage. The large pots of flowers come from River Street Flowerland.

“We support local; we buy local,” Trahe says. And that has proved to be a successful business model.

Over the years, Kalamazoo in Bloom and its predecessor Kalamazoo County Flowerfest have been recipients of the Governor’s Tourism Award in 1991, received recognition from America in Bloom in 200205, including a first place Community Involvement Award that first year, and received the 2015 President’s Award from Keep America Beautiful.

Photos provided by John Seward

Celebrates the many benefits and joys of bicycling in the community. The 12th Annual KBW is May 13-20 plus, May is National Bike Month

KBW includes many local events including:

Vicksburg Bike Check Up

Saturday, May 13, 9am-10am

Location: Vicksburg Historical Museum

Sponsor :Vicksburg Historical Society

Free - Bike Check up and adjustments. Fee for any required parts.

Primary Contact Leah Richards 269-64917433

Bronson Park Cycle Show

Saturday, May 13, 10am-3pm

Location: Bronson Park

Sponsor: City of Kalamazoo Community Planning and Economic Development

Free to the public. Primary Contact: Nolan Bergstrom 269-337-8045

Bike Rodeo

Wednesday, May 17, 5pm-7pm

Location: Mayors Riverfront Park Sponsor: Kzoo Parks

This event will teach bike safety and skills. There will also be a bike and helmet fitting. Youth will receive a passport for each station completed. At the end of the course each child will receive a certificate of completion. There will also be giveaways and refreshments during the event.

For a complete list of events, sponsor, supporters and much more, go to Kalamazoobikeweek.org

Here’s a few selling points: You’ll help to preserve nature by creating biodiversity at home. In addition to saving money on your grocery bill, gardening is a form of exercise, and it’s good for your mental health as well. If time or space is a factor, remember you can start small with just a few herbs. Kalamazoo Nature Center’s Farm Director Kirsten Clemente says, “If you have a small area, but you want to feel like you’ve planted something for a meaningful contribution to your daily cooking, then plant a nice little herb garden in the ground or in a pot.”

Some suggested herbs include thyme, parsley, dill, oregano. It all depends on your preference and what you add to your dishes. Clemente added, “you’ll be snipping at that little garden throughout the summer and into the fall, and you won’t be spending outrageous prices for a few tiny sprigs at the supermarket.”

If you do put your veggies/flowers in the ground, however, keep in mind the best time to plant. Mid-May is what’s known as the frost-free date for

Do you need a reason to start a backyard garden?

By Kimberly Zewatsky, Kalamazoo Nature Center

this part of Michigan. Farmers call May 15 through May 31 the prime transplanting season. About 80% of plants get put in the ground during that time. That’s a good rule for home gardeners too. Most plants, including frost sensitive flowers, will do well during the last two weeks in May.

One of the few exceptions Clemente says are snap peas. They’re usually planted in early April because they don’t tolerate hot weather very well. Once you decide when and what to plant, you’ll have to consider the soil. “There is so much variability in the soil in Kalamazoo County,” says Clemente. “What might be considered good soil in one area, might not be in another area.” For first time gardeners, it’s generally common to roto till. But after that, you can start to prepare for the next season by smothering your soil in the fall with leaves. Clemente explained, there are all sorts of funguses and microbes in the soil that we kill when we rototill.

Those fungi and microbes form a symbiotic relationship with the plant’s fruits. The plant photosynthesizes and pushes sugars into the soil to feed all those little guys. The funguses and microbes in turn bring nutrients to the plant root.”

Perhaps you’re interested in planting a pollinatorfriendly garden? It’s not that difficult. You don’t have to grow a specific mix, said Clemente. “90% of the flowers people put in their gardens will attract beneficial insects and pollinators. One of the plants I see pollinators land on the most is when my dill goes to seed. They are shaped like flowers and are called umbrella flowers. They’re composed of hundreds of micro flowers, and pollinators and beneficial insects adore them because they have a nice big landing pad.” For additional detailed grower information and supplies, Clemente suggests researching the website johnnyseeds.com.

One last benefit to consider as you plan your garden, new research suggests antidepressant microbes in soil can have a beneficial effect on the way the body manages serotonin. It promises an exciting natural method for treating depression. So, get busy, get happy, by getting your hands dirty in your little garden at home.

Learn more about Kalamazoo Nature Center’s DeLano Farms and farming practices at https://

Movie Reviews

An operatic reimagining of Herman Melville’s Billy Budd, awash in luminous and corporeal images, French director Claire Denis’ 1999 singular film continues to beguile and perplex. The film, set on the parched coast of Djibouti, not only reinvents Melville’s posthumously published novella, but also addresses, albeit obliquely, and with very little conventional storytelling, the incongruities of obsession, masculinity, jealousy and the legacy of French colonialism. In other words, the film modernizes Shakespearean tragedy through a contemporary prism with dazzling results. What little plot does exist, centers around a regiment of French Foreign Legion soldiers stationed on a base in the former French colony of Djibouti. The soldiers are seen mostly interacting among themselves, going through the mundane motions of training and soldiering. When Galoup (Denis Lavant), the troupe’s commander, takes a disliking to a new soldier, irreconcilable conflict enters the once seemingly cohesive group, leading to an unforgettable ending. Beau Travail was recently named the seventh best film of all time by Sight and Sound Magazine’s survey of critics. – Submitted by Ryan

Gage

Winning Time

Based on Jeff Pearlman’s 2014 book entitled Showtime and renamed for the purpose of avoiding confusion with HBO’s premium cable competitor, Winning Time tells the story of the Los Angeles Lakers as they launch their 1979-80 season. At the outset of what would prove to be a pivotal season for the Lakers, they, like many other teams in the league, were on the ropes and suffering from low attendance and a general lack of innovation. John C. Reilly stars as Dr. Jerry Buss, a real estate mogul who cannot help but fathom the unrealized potential of the NBA and sells off his assets to acquire the Lakers. Reilly, fast approaching legendary status for his acting range and incredibly eclectic collection of roles is perfectly cast and absolutely nails Buss’s characteristic brash, sleazy, multimillionaire-meets-

the cast constitutes a remarkably deep bench from Quincy Isaiah and Soloman Hughes (Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar respectively) to Sally Field (Jerry’s accountant mother, Jessie) and Gaby Hoffman (Lakers’ Arena manager, Claire Rothman). The show highlights (without a specific focus, I should add) the various relationships that made the ‘79-’80 Lakers season such a spectacle both on the court and off: Magic and Kareem, Magic vs. Larry Bird, Paul Westhead and Pat Riley (Jason Segel and Adrien Brody), and Larry Buss vs. Red Auerbach to name a few. Season one sets the stage for the LA Lakers dynasty of the 1980s and thankfully will not leave us hanging, having been renewed for a second season, slated to release on HBO sometime later this year. – Submitted by Patrick Jouppi

Cocaine Bear

What exactly is a cocaine bear? In real life, circa 1985, a black bear came across a large, abandoned shipment of cocaine in the wilds of Tennessee. It had been dropped from a plane by drug smugglers (whose plan to escape after ditching the cargo hit a karmic snag when one of the runners’ parachutes failed to open). The bear ingested a substantial amount of the 75 pound payload, and was found dead in the woods of northern Georgia. So does Cocaine Bear dramatize that incident? Not exactly… a story about a bear dying alone of a cocaine overdose might allow for an existential masterpiece of cinema, but this is not that film. So what’s the story with this cocaine bear? The less one knows about Cocaine Bear, the better. Suffice to say that, in the hands of director Elizabeth Banks, Cocaine Bear is one of the smartest stupid movies ever made. It knows it’s a ridiculous film, but the way it plays with thriller tropes, from a subplot reminiscent of an afterschool TV special, to another involving law enforcement which gives off Fargo vibes, makes for a more subversive experience than its creature feature roots suggest. Unexpected laughs, horrifying shocks, CGI that’s both obvious and believable, one of Ray Liotta’s last film roles… Cocaine Bear has it all, as long as expectations aren’t as high as its subject.

Reviews submitted by Ryan Gage. These great titles and others are available at the Kalamazoo Public Library.

French Fries!

By Richard Martinovich

The lines outside Vlaams Friteshuis Vleminckx in central Amsterdam are long. People wait patiently to get a paper cone stuffed with fries drowned in a rich mayonnaise.

The Dutch are crazy about their fries, known as Friet or Patat. There are numerous “fries stands” -- or frietkot in Flemish -- in the Netherlands that serve fries, some offering 20 different toppings (“war sauce;” mayo, peanut satay, onions is popular). The Dutch are no more obsessed than their neighbors south, Belgium, where fries are part of their national identity (There is a French fry museum, The Frietmuseum in Belgium!). Belgians are said to consume more fries than any country, and petitioned UNESCO to recognize Belgium as the birthplace of fries, claiming when a river froze over in 1680, and fish were inaccessible, residents began frying potatoes instead! American soldiers stationed in a French-speaking region of Belgium in WW I were introduced to the fried potatoes and hearing the French language spoken, wrote home about “French Fries.”

Where French fries first appeared is

still a hot potato discussion, but there is no doubt fries are a universally loved food, eaten across many cultures. In Britain, chips are a thicker cut fried potato that goes well with fish, and a sprinkle of malt vinegar.

Americans eat nearly 30 pounds of French fries per person annually, and McDonald’s sells around 9-million pounds of fries a day! In the US, fries compliment a meal; a burger or sandwich. Maybe in the 1970’s, you went to Schwarz’s Drive-in on Westnedge for a burger and fries. In America we like to put ketchup on them.

Around Kalamazoo, there is a large selection of restaurants, pubs and taverns that make their own unique fries. Lake Street Tavern, HopCat, Louie’s Trophy House and Nonla Burger are just some that garner rave reviews for their fries.

National French Fry Day is July 13! Bon Appetit, or Patat!

WARRIORSWednesday

Take A Hike!

The Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy has two volunteer groups – the Wednesday Warriors and the Privateers – who roam the preserves of nine counties. This month we encourage you to get out to one of the preserves open to the public and enjoy the panorama of spring wildflowers that is May. Bring your friend. Bring your kids. Bring your dog. Bring your camera. Bring ‘em all! Go to swmlc.org/public-nature-preserves for directions and descriptions.

Kristi Chapman, volunteer, Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy

HEALTHYLIVING:

Water Bottles

I recently made a visit to Salt Lake City, Utah to visit family. It’s a different world compared to Southwest Michigan: From the air, flying over the snow covered mountains and the Great Salt Lake is definitely a foreign, awesome sight. And the on-the-ground experience is equally eye-candy at street and trail level. So much to take in! And while there is much to see and experience, one thing struck me as fantastically awesome while I was out there: EVERYONE CARRIES A WATER BOTTLE!

I’m not even slightly exaggerating. Like an automatic appendage, a water bottle is either on each person or within reach. Young and old.

Now, obviously, there’s the Utah high altitude and dry air (did you know Utah is the second driest state in the U.S.?) that necessitates constant hydration. But there’s something to learn from the good people of Utah, and that is, that carrying your filled water bottle around (and drinking from it regularly!) can become a natural, automatic thing.

Case in point:

My two-year-old little twin granddaughters don’t leave home without them. It’s been instilled in them, and they know the consequences of being thirsty and not having their water bottle. Now, I know what you’re going to say, SW Michigan Friends, “We don’t have high altitudes and dryness in these parts; I really don’t need to carry one around all day long.” But my friend, here’s the thing: YOU DO!

Keeping our bodies hydrated remedies many health issues. Consider these point about how staying hydrated is critical to our health. Water*:

• Aids digestion and gets rid of waste.

• Works our joints by lubricating them.

• Makes saliva (which we need to eat).

• Balances our body’s chemicals. Our brain needs it to create hormones and neurotransmitters.

• Delivers oxygen all over our body.

• Cushions our bones.

• Regulates our body temperature.

• Act as a shock absorber for our brain, our spinal cord

• And, if pregnant, water acts as a shock absorber for the fetus. How many different ways do we need to hear about water being a remedy to many of our maladies, if only we would stay hydrated?

Signs of dehydration** include:

• Headache, delirium, confusion.

• Tiredness (fatigue).

• Dizziness, weakness, light-headedness.

• Dry mouth and/or a dry cough.

• High heart rate but low blood pressure.

• Loss of appetite but maybe craving sugar.

• Flushed (red) skin. Swollen feet. Muscle cramps.

• Heat intolerance, or chills.

• Constipation.

• Dark-colored pee (urine). Your pee should be a pale clear color.

A good article to consult on the internet about the importance of water intake is on the my.clevelandclinic.org site that shares important information about dehydration and the benefits of staying hydrated. I’ll let you pull that info up. For now, I’m here to tell ya: If two little baby girls can be brought up to know that “water is good for us”, well, then, surely, we can take queue and follow suit. Get yourself a cool water bottle (or two or three!) and get into the habit of drinking the suggested daily intake. The reasonable goal is eight cups of water per day. And, as with everything, you should talk with your doctor to get the best fit for yourself and your lifestyle. Take your water bottle with you everywhere you go. Whether you’re stepping out for a quick errand. Taking a walk around the block or taking on one of our beautiful Southwest Michigan trails exploring the awesome sites of spring and summer.

If the new generation in Utah has mastered the habit of carrying water everywhere and made it a natural, we can, too!

And our bodies will thank us for it, wherever on this Earth our feet take us.

*information taken from the my.clevelandclinic.org site

** information taken from mayoclinic.org

Vicky Kettner is the Association Director of Marketing, Community Relations, and Member Engagement for the YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo.

Tales road FROM THE ~ howell, michigan ~

inferred - No Liquor.” It was said you had to get a room in the Temperance to get a good night’s sleep as the other hotels had taverns connected to them. When driving into Howell, it is hard to miss the massive Livingston County Courthouse in the center of town. The classic bright red brick building opened in 1890. The lobby is full of impressive oak and maple woodwork.

By Steve Ellis

Howell is located about two hours east of Kalamazoo, tucked in between M-59 and I-96. I often swing through town for a quick stop or bite to eat when I visit relatives on the east side of the state. I love the downtown and the dozens of two and three story brick buildings that are over a century old.

The City of Howell, was established as a village by an act of Legislature on March 14, 1863.

The first actual settlements in Howell, were made in the year 1834. The village was laid out by Flavius J. B. Crane and Edward Brooks in July 1835, and was named Howell in honor of Thomas Howell, a friend of Mr. Crane and son of Judge Howell of Candaequa, New Jersey.

In 1835, John D. Pinckney built the first log house in this area and the settlement became known as Livingston Centre. In this year, Moses Thompson and his family migrated here from New York, and Livingston Centre began to grow in population.

The first building erected was a two story frame house, which was a public house known as the Eagle Tavern, or hotel.

Other public houses and taverns came along including the Temperance Hotel, which was just what the name

The Howell Carnegie Library first opened in 1906. The rotunda of this gorgeous building has been described as “breathtakingly beautiful” and I would be hard pressed not to agree. The expansion and restoration of the original 8,000 square foot building which occurred in 1991, added another 22,000 square feet and compliments the

sound. In addition, he added two stages and a cafe vibe in the lobby to host community activities and create a venue to showcase regional artists. The renovated theatre reopened September 26, 2014.

Across from the theatre is a new business, named Coratti’s Pizzeria Bar and Bocce. A modern looking building with great decor, pizza and indoor bocce ball. I’m looking forward to dining there on my next visit to Howell.

I peaked in the door of Aberrant Ales Brewery, which was packed. This newer brewery prides it self on “departing from the standard and deviating from the norm” as it’s name implies. They have a great food and beer selection.

Loving baked goods as I do, I couldn’t resist stopping into M Street Baking Co., and was thrilled with the tasty, thick slice of iced raisin bread.

old Carnegie building.

There is a wonderful statue in front of the library of Duane Zemper, a legendary photographer who photographed the town and its citizens for over 50 years.

The iconic Historic Howell Depot and Museum is open during the summer-Sundays 11am-3pm. The Depot is listed on the National Register of Historical Places.

The Historic Howell Theatre opened on December 1928, with Marion Davies in “Show People.” The theatre has been opened and closed several times over the past 20 years. I stopped in and spoke with Owner/Operator, Tyler DePerro. He completed a major facelift in 2014, which included renovations, new decor and the installation of digital projectors, screens and surround

On the main corner downtown is Diamonds Steak and Seafood, an upscale steakhouse with a great reputation. Before I hit the road to head home, I grabbed a quick cup of coffee at Black Iron Coffee Roasters, known for their small batch, artisan coffee and their soup and sandwich selection.

The big event each year is the Howell Melon Fest that celebrates their famed, delicious cantaloupe grown only in Howell. The festival has been held in downtown Howell since 1960 and is a wonderful family-friendly Howell tradition. The festival occurs this year from August 18 - 20.

The Lions Club - Lawton Community Center and Heritage Museum

This historic building was built in 1903 for the Grape Juice Company of Lawton. It changed hands a few times before ending up with William Houppert in 1933 who turned it into a winery. In 1940 an ember from a passing train landed on the roof and caught the place on fire. Fire departments from the area were called on to help fight the battle. Even Kalamazoo was called out but the wooden structure was essentially lost.

Houppert tried to rebuild but it never opened up again. The rebuilding was predominantly done with field stone that area farmers brought to the site. Mr. Houppert sold the facility to Warner Vineyards around 1944 or so. Eventually Warner’s quit using the building and it fell into disrepair. The Lawton Lions Club purchased it in 1990 and did a total renovation of the building. Members of the Lions Club and the community spent three years working on the project and it opened as a great location for weddings, receptions and parties as well as events by other non-profits organizations. The Center can be reaced at 269 624-2371

The museum is located in the lower wine cellar and opened in 1998 as a non-profit organization. Since then, it has doubled in size and and celebrates the history of the area grape and wine industry.

The Museum does not have regular hours, but tours are given upon request to any group regardless of size. There is no charge but a donation is appreciated.

For tour information, call Bruce Marks at 269-624-1474