Eco-Chic - April 2009 by Moxie Magazine

GREATER KALAMAZOO

April 2009

y r a s r e v i n n o n i A Edit

Free! Simple Elegance in the Garden

Smart Ideas for a Green Home

Recycle Renew Refresh

Look Who’s Talking

Essential • Enlightening • Entertaining

Jan Barker Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan Chief Executive Officer

Skin Envy now has the anti-aging injection, Sermorelin, now available!

April 30, 2009.

Yourself Janice Lynne Lundy

And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. ~Anais Nin

love this quote by diarist Anais Nin. I love it because it’s so true. There comes a time in each of our lives when we know that we need to make a significant change. The prospect of change may feel risky, even frightening. Yet, we also know that this particular change must happen – now – because it is just too painful to remain as we are.

How can we motivate and inspire ourselves to make a lasting change? We begin by getting in touch with our deepest desire: What is it that we really, really want for ourselves? Any change to which we aspire will be successful only if it is sourced in heartfelt desire. Our passion is the fuel which propels this journey into change, no matter what that leg of the journey might be. Whether enhancing our appearance, finding a new job, creating a loving relationship or saving enough money to buy a house, the principle is the same. Allow me to suggest three simple strategies to inspire and guide you on the road to personal change.

Give Yourself a Morning Infusion The activities in which you engage the first thing in the morning will determine the tone of your day. Rise 15 minutes early to infuse your body, mind and spirit with “good stuff.” Choose activities that enliven you, that create a positive mindset. If you are a slow starter in the morning, you might prefer to sit quietly, admire the beauty outside your window, take a reflective walk in nature, read something inspirational, or journal. Leave the television off and listen to music, instead. If you are a more active type, engaging in exercise or taking a brisk walk, indoors or out, may be just what is needed to charge your battery. Either way, observe how these activities either energize you or create lethargy, then try to choose the former.

Don’t allow “Dream Stealers” to deflate your high hopes or dampen your enthusiasm.

Janice Lynne Lundy is an inspirational speaker and retreat leader, spiritual director and the author of “Your Truest Self: Embracing the Woman You are Meant to Be,” available in bookstores nationwide or at www.amazon.com. Visit www.awakenedliving.com to learn more about Jan, her writing and her events.

Choose the Company You Keep The changes we wish to make can be buoyed or dashed by the sentiments of those around us. Simply put, it’s wise to spend time with those who support your desire for change and avoid those who may negate your cause. Don’t allow “Dream Stealers” to deflate your high hopes or dampen your enthusiasm. Find a buddy who is willing to be a loyal and supportive traveling companion. Ask him or her if they are willing to help you be accountable; to be a cheerleader when things go well; to provide a shoulder to lean on when times get tough. Set up regular times when you can check in with them, over the telephone or in person. Perhaps your buddy might agree to make this change right along with you. There is tremendous

Greater Kalamazoo Edition • April 2009

power in having someone (or a group) join in your cause. This is why Twelve Step groups are formed and why they work so well. There is success in numbers. They know that inspiration and energy flow when two or more are gathered.

Make an Honest Assessment At the end of your day, take time for reflection. Sit quietly and look back at how things went for you today. Did you stay true to your goal? Did your passion stay high? Did you make positive choices for yourself? Record your successes in a journal. If there weren’t any successes, that’s alright. Jot those down as well. Writing down our observations makes our choices real and their results more workable. This exercise is important because it holds each of us accountable. We must begin to take responsibility for the choices we make. We admit how we may have let ourselves down; we pat ourselves on the back if we kept our spirits high. No matter what happened, we tell the truth about what we did and, if necessary, make a promise to start over tomorrow. This life principle, “one day at a time,” is the motto of many self-help groups. Step-by-step, one moment at a time, is how change happens, especially significant change. Truly, we can start over and begin again. It simply takes permission from our persistent self to do so. Remember, it takes at least 21 days for a new habit to take hold; 90 days for a habit to become an important part of our lifestyle. In the words of the Chinese sage, Confucius, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” The first step is, indeed, the most important. Enhanced with daily infusions of inspiration, the support of loving companions and a well-honed ability to be honest and true, we will move slowly, but steadily, in the direction of our dreams.

C o n q u e r Yo u r C l u t t e r

What Happens to Your

By Alexandra Fix

I’ll admit it. I am the mother who offered to drive for the school field trip to the wastewater treatment plant because I was curious myself, so you know right off that I am game for the unusual. That said, if you have the opportunity to accompany a school class on a tour of a recycling facility, go for it. You will look at recycling with a new understanding and fresh commitment. Quick tour of the recycling facility Since you might not get that touring opportunity immediately, I’ll tell you what I saw at our local recycling facility. The system I observed was dual stream, rather than single stream. With dual stream, paper and cardboard are separate from commingled glass, metal and plastic. With single stream, everything to be recycled is mixed in the same bin. Here’s what happens to that household recyclable clutter after it’s been picked up curbside: Collection trucks dumped their loads into a receiving space. Material was carried by conveyor belt to a raised-platform sorting line within the facility. Individuals at different stations along the “disassembly” line each had a particular item to remove as the line of recyclables passed. The item was picked up and dropped into an open bin below the sorting line as the belt moved along. In turn, the workers pulled out the corrugated cardboard pieces, then the paperboard, such as cereal boxes and paper towel tubes. What remained at this point was mixed paper, which headed to the machine for baling. A similar scenario governed the line of commingled glass, plastic and metal. Workers removed the assorted plastic bottles numbered 3 through 7, such as shampoo bottles, mayonnaise jars, yogurt cups and egg cartons. Sorters pulled the plastic grocery store bags. A spinning magnet removed the steel cans and lids. The occasional aluminum items were plucked by hand. Nos. 1 and 2 plastic – beverage bottles, milk jugs and detergent bottles – were removed next. Glass bottles were the last items separated. Paper, mixed in with these items, simply went in the trash. It takes too much time and money to run that through the line again so it’s wasted when not properly disposed. The plastic and metal items were crushed and bundled and glass items were transported intact. Over and over the process was repeated. Fresh ideas and recycled reminders Watching the recycling process, I was struck by how much is wasted if we don’t “follow the rules” and discard our recyclables properly rinsed and separated. It’s important to know your own community’s system type and items allowed. Each facility determines which items it can recycle as a matter of supply and demand.

We live with wastebaskets without question. Why not keep “recycle baskets” throughout our homes? At home, make recycling as convenient as you can. Designate a place for the collection of recyclables before they go out to the bins in the garage. We live with wastebaskets without question. Why not keep “recycle baskets” throughout our homes? If you have more than one level, have recycle baskets on each floor. Know where you generate your recyclable waste and have a container there. It makes a difference that we rinse out bottles, jars, cans and jugs. Remove caps and recycle them separately. Dirty recyclables are considered contaminated, garner a lower price and produce a lesser quality end product. Seeing scraps of paper littering the floor was a good reminder of the importance of shredding private information before safely recycling the tiny pieces. Shredded paper should be in paper bags rather than plastic. Even though some Styrofoam containers have a recycling symbol and a number, in most communities, they cannot be recycled. To recycle an item, there must be a buyer with a plan in mind for using that material. Styrofoam does not have a big market and is usually simply trashed. Most paper coffee cups have a plastic layer within them that makes them unrecyclable. Aseptic

Greater Kalamazoo Edition • April 2009

packaging, such as milk cartons and juice boxes, creates the same problem. Chinese takeout boxes have a wax layer and are not recyclable. A closed pizza box is automatically discarded, assuming it has food contamination. Cut off the clean lid and that can be recycled. You can separate outer layers of a pet food bag for recycling and discard the waxed paper lining. Envelopes with plastic address windows are not taboo after all. The new energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs contain a small amount of mercury vapor. It’s important that these bulbs be recycled with care. At this time they can be conveniently dropped off at Home Depot Stores or recycled as hazardous waste. Check out your community’s recycling facility Web site. On ours, I found that there are places to recycle so many of the oddities in life. Scrambled up fishing line can be mailed to a sporting goods manufacturer to create fish habitat structures. Wine and champagne corks can be sent to a company making cork floor tiles. There really is a charitable organization that accepts pop can tabs. I also discovered one type of toothbrush, made from yogurt cups, which can be recycled into plastic lumber, when returned.

Greater Kalamazoo Edition â&#x20AC;˘ April 2009

here’s nothing more glamorous than stunning jewelry. It conjures up images of old Hollywood … when starlets were often draped in diamonds and pearls, and Elizabeth Taylor turned jewelry collecting into a bona fide hobby.

Fast forward to 2009 spring fashion trends: Cuffs and bangles offer vintage appeal with a modern twist. Bright colors are as striking as the classic black and white combo of onyx and mother of pearl. Get that Hollywood glamour look with show-stoppers that are fashionable and affordable. Best yet, you can make a difference with items that are fair trade and/or eco-friendly.

"In truth, we 'owners' are just the caretakers. Nobody owns beautiful paintings. Nobody ever owns anything that is beautiful. We are only the guardians." –Elizabeth Taylor

By Sara Cosgrove

Bakelite Mahjong Bracelet $29.99 Dice Charm Bracelet $24.99 Bingo Charm Bracelet $24.99 Eclectic Elements creates fun fashion accessories from recycled vintage game pieces. www.eclectic-elements.com

Crackle Glass Earrings, $12 These transparent treasures by Tara Projects through Ten Thousand Villages measure 2 inches in length, and were created by artisans in India. Fair trade.

Butterfly Fairy Cuff, $149 This hand-polished, one-sizefits-all cuff is crafted with 3 inches of vintage brass, with a nouveau vintage butterfly at the center. The vintage components make this shiny showstopper eco-friendly. www.verderocks.com

14K Two Tone Gold and Diamond Ring (.33 ct. tw.) $540 Danforth Diamond offers jewelry made from eco-friendly HARMONY Recycled Precious Metals, as well as using diamonds that are ethically sourced and conflict-free.

Peruvian Turquoise Pendant $170 Narwhal Co. Wrist Wear, $9.97 each These trendy accessories are handmade with recycled neckties. Each measures 7 inches and clasps with a mother of pearl snap. There are 36 designs to choose from. Shown here is The Swede (yellow). www.narwhalcompany.com

Hand selected for color and grain, this pendant is of the highest quality Peruvian turquoise. Available through Ten Thousand Villages, one of the world’s largest fair trade organizations. From the Manos Amigas (Hands Joined in Friendship) artisan group of Peru’s Lima region and the Andean highlands. Fair Trade.

Greater Kalamazoo Edition • April 2009

Healthy Cleaning Tips

Love In Action: Caregivers of Children with Special Needs The term ‘caregiver’ typically brings to mind adult children caring for aging parents with Alzheimer’s. There is another aspect often overlooked by society: parents of children with special needs. The child’s needs may be quite severe starting at birth. Some parents may be dealing with the same stress and caregiver overload as those dealing with Alzheimer’s, but for a much longer time span. The journey that parents of special need children travel is typically nothing like the path that they dreamed of or planned for. The reality of raising a child with special needs can be frightening. Days can be filled with appointments for doctors, various specialists, and occupational therapists. Sometimes there is a diagnosis such as Downs Syndrome or Autism, while other children are a “potpourri” of many symptoms and are considered “developmentally delayed”. Parents find themselves in unknown territory, so they quickly look for resources to better understand and help their child. Even in their confusion and concern, parents swiftly become experts at advocating for the rights and needs of their children. These parents can often feel isolated. Their lives are changed forever, bringing both joy and challenges. It can be difficult to see the joy at first, but it does come, either in the form of a milestone met or reaching a goal previously deemed impossible. A better awareness and understanding of what these families go through is needed. What can you do if you know someone that is raising a child with special needs? How can you help? There are many ways to reach out to these parents. It is always important to be sensitive and to show compassion. Sending a note, just to let them know that you care and are thinking of them, can be so uplifting. If you are able, offering the family some form of respite can be invaluable. Remember, for most of these families, this is a never-ending experience of constant care-giving. Home cooked meals delivered to the family or providing childcare for a short time so that the caregiver can get a little break are excellent ideas for lending your support. Both parents and siblings need respite. It takes a whole family to raise a child with special needs. Siblings, both older and younger, become role models and helpers. They see life from a different perspective than other children, which makes them mature beyond their age. Offering to take them on an outing is a wonderful chance for them to relax and just be kids. Caretakers need to place a greater importance on scheduling time to rejuvenate themselves. It can be in the form of exercising, getting a massage, reading a book or getting together with friends. The entire family benefits and everyday life can be more relaxed, fulfilling and less stressful when this becomes a priority. Our youngest son, John is 23 years old and is a fine young man with a developmental delay. He resides in a supported living apartment in Kalamazoo and comes home or to his favorite Uncle’s most weekends. John is very happy, independent, has a girlfriend, and has many gifts to offer, one of which is making everyone smile. I have found that we learn much more from persons with special needs than they do from us. Kalamazoo County has many resources for persons with special needs. Michigan allows persons with special needs to attend school through the age of 25. When we moved here 14 years ago, some incredible parents led the way for us. They told us where to go and who to see. The following is a list of some valuable resources our family has utilized and benefited from.

•

Community Advocates for Persons with Developmental Disabilities 269-342-9801 • www.communityadvocates.org

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Parent to Parent of SW MI 269-345-8950 • www.p2pswmi.org

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Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Area (Kresa) 269-385-1500 • www.kresa.org

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Residential Opportunities, Inc. (ROI) 269-343-3731 • www.ResidentialOpportunities.org

•

Kalamazoo Community Mental Health 269-373-6000 www.kazoocmh.org/services/services_accesscenter.php

llergy season is upon us and one common ailment that sometimes gets overlooked is allergies and sensitivities to common household chemicals or volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

VOCs are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. They include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors, according to The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products numbering in the thousands, including paints and lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials and furnishings, office equipment such as copiers and printers, correction fluids and carbonless copy paper, graphics and craft materials including glues and adhesives, permanent markers and photographic solutions. The EPA recommends reducing indoor air pollution by increasing ventilation when using products that emit VOCs. In addition, do not store opened containers of unused paints and similar materials inside your home or workplace, and use household products according to manufacturer's directions. Also, – – – –

make sure you provide plenty of fresh air when using these products. throw away unused or little-used containers safely or buy in quantities that you will use soon. keep out of reach of children and pets. never mix household care products unless directed on the label.

And be sure to keep your family safe with these tips from The Soap and Detergent Association. • • • • •

• •

•

Take a tour of your home. Making sure your entire home is safe for children can help avoid unnecessary trips to the emergency room later on. Install child-proof locks on cabinets that house cleaning supplies. Never assume a cabinet is too high for a curious, climbing toddler. Keep all household products in their original packages. Packaging includes useful first aid information in the event of accidental exposure or ingestion. Read and follow the product-label directions. Don’t leave cleaning buckets unattended. Even those with a small amount of liquid pose a danger to "top heavy" toddlers. If the child falls into a bucket, it may not tip over and he or she could drown. Schedule cleaning during “down times” such as nap time, or when children are in school or on a play date. Take out only the amount of cleaning product needed for the job at hand. Store the rest away securely so there’s no chance that small explorers will get their hands on it. Immediately clean up any spillage. Avoid distractions or interruptions when children are present during cleaning. If you answer the door, take the child with you. If the phone rings, let the answering machine do its job. Post the Poison Control Center phone number (1-800-222-1222) by every land phone in your home and save it on your cell phone.

I encourage families to utilize the support system that our community offers. Talk to these agencies and let them know your particular need. Get to know other families that walk similar journeys. You will soon discover that you are not alone and together we can overcome any obstacle.

Mary Beth Esquibel and her husband Felix reside in Portage and John lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Mary Beth is the business owner of A Single Ray of Hope – a professional Personal Assistant & Concierge Service for busy individuals, families and businesses.

John and his Mom & the Blue Bird of Happiness.

Mrs. Meyer’s offers a complete line of fragrant and eco-friendly cleaning products for the home. Using naturally derived ingredients whenever possible from corn, sugar cane, coconut and palm, Mrs. Meyer’s products make products as natural as possible without compromising freshness and performance.

Greater Kalamazoo Edition • April 2009

Greater Kalamazoo Edition â&#x20AC;˘ April 2009

ICU’s new line of eco-friendly readers are more than just

“Reading glasses are so much more than a necessity. They have become a great accessory, the ultimate finishing touch to any outfit.” – Patricia Kesten It’s not often that a garage business turns into a consumer phenomenon, but that is exactly what Patricia Kesten, founder and president of ICU Eyewear, did with her company. After one quick trip to the drugstore, Kesten decided that there was a definite need for fashion-forward reading glass styles that could be used as an accessory, rather than just a boring necessity. “I just couldn’t accept the plain-looking, old-fashioned readers that were being offered at the time. I knew I needed to design glasses that reflected the wearer’s personality,” she explains. With this in mind, she created a boutique collection of reading glasses, sunglasses and accessories for women and men.

attainable ICU Eyewear is widely available. Visit www.ICUeyewear.com and enter your zip code for a listing of retail locations. While you’re there, check out their handy eye chart to help you determine what strength readers you need to read clearly.

durable ICU readers have aspheric lenses for superior vision and spring-hinge temples for exceptional comfort and durability.

glamorous By the age of 50, 99% of the population requires reading glasses.

sustainable 16

Greater Kalamazoo Edition • April 2009

Eco-friendly matching sets start at $22.95 and are available in vibrant patterns and modern frame styles.

Made of 100% reclaimed materials, ICU’s fun and fancy eco-chic reading glasses are available in a variety of stylish shapes and fabulous color choices.

Greater Kalamazoo Edition â&#x20AC;˘ April 2009

Tax Tips for a Recession

After President-elect Obama took office, many experts expected an eventual increase in capital gains and income tax rates for high net worth individuals. However, it's likely the current recession might delay some of these anticipated increases. Accordingly, rather than worry about the impact of future tax increases, your time is better spent casting an eagle eye on your 2008 taxes. Especially in a recession, it's gratifying to find tax strategies that enable you to keep more of what you earn out of Uncle Sam's pockets. To your surprise, you may even find a silver tax lining in the current financial cloud. The down market creates opportunities for you to:

• Use your losses. Tax loss harvesting is important in any market. While you can reduce your ordinary taxable income by up to $3,000 in net capital losses each year, you can carry over losses that exceed the $3,000 limit to a future year. That strategy could be especially beneficial if the capital gains rate increases in the future. • Convert to a Roth. If converting your Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA would fit into your diversified portfolio, but you've always balked at paying the taxes due upon conversion, now might be a good time to convert. Why? While you'll still pay income taxes on the amount being converted, lower account values now mean your tax liability on a conversion will be lower. Although taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income of more than $100,000 are not eligible to do a conversion in 2008 or 2009, keep in mind that this limit will be lifted for conversions beginning in 2010. • Take advantage of first-time homebuyer credits. If you're in the market for your first home, falling real estate prices and low interest rates are obviously good news. Additionally, there's a tax credit of up to $7,500 for qualified first-time homebuyers who purchase their house after April 8, 2008, and before July 1, 2009. Although you have to repay the amount of the

credit over the next 15 years, you get a break on your current-year taxes at a time when your budget might be especially tight. • Dollar-cost average. Designed to reduce market risk, dollar-cost averaging involves investing a fixed dollar amount at predetermined intervals, as you do with your 401(k) plan. Your set contribution buys fewer shares when the market is up and more shares when the market is down. Rather than focus on a sector you perceive as safe, continue to make broadbased contributions on a regular basis to your 401(k) or IRA to enjoy the power of taxdeferred growth. This investment strategy and other similar periodic investment plans do not assure a profit and do not protect against loss in declining markets. • Stay tuned for help from D.C. While the $700 billion figure got all the press in Congress' bailout package, the bailout also includes some important tax provisions for average Americans. For instance, the alternative minimum tax (AMT), intended initially to ensure that people with high incomes couldn't dodge their fair share of taxes, was again “patched” to prevent it from catching more middle-income taxpayers. The patch increases the amounts you can exempt from your taxable income in calculating your 2008 AMT to $69,950 for married couples filing jointly, $46,200 for singles and heads of households, and $34,975 for married couples filing separately. This higher exemption amount may help you to avoid the AMT, enabling you to take advantage of deductions that the AMT disallows. Another provision that may affect a large number of taxpayers is the extension for 2008 and 2009 of an option to deduct state and local sales tax instead of state and local income tax. So, if you live in a state with little or no income tax, and you are already planning to purchase a big ticket item such as a car, you might want to do it over the course of the next year. Finally, On December 11, 2008, Congress passed the Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008 (H.R. 7327). Much of the legislation relates to pension plan funding requirements. However, one of the most significant provisions in the legislation is the temporary suspension of required minimum distributions (RMDs) for 2009 from IRAs and employer plans. The Act does not, however, make any changes to 2008 RMDs, which generally must be taken no later than December 31, 2008 (April 1, 2009, for account owners who turned age 70_ in 2008).

• Contribute to your favorite charity. Talk about win/win. Writing a check reduces your taxable income and funds a cause you care about. However, if you have appreciated stock that you've held for more than one year, donating the stock instead of cash delivers a double bonus. You'll avoid paying tax on the appreciation, but will be able to deduct the full value of the stock.

• Recalculate your rebate. If you received less than the maximum for your Economic Stimulus Act rebate check, you have a second chance to claim your fair share. Your 2007 rebate was an advance payment for what's due on your 2008 tax return. According to the technical language of the tax bill, individuals are due a check for the better of the amount due based on their 2007 and 2008 tax returns. If you phased out of the rebate because your income was too high, strategies like deferring income to 2009 or postponing IRA withdrawals could get you your rebate. A change in circumstances also could increase your rebate. For instance, a child born by the end of this year would be another dependent eligible for the child portion of the rebate credit, assuming it wasn't entirely phased out. • Use Education Tax Credits. Tax credits are more valuable than deductions. The Hope Scholarship Credit gives parents a tax credit for 100% of the first $1,200 and 50% of the next $1,200 of a dependent child's college tuition and mandatory fees for a maximum $1,800 annual tax credit per child. For students attending a degree program at least half-time and who have not completed their first two years of academic study before the beginning of the taxable year, the Hope Credit cannot be claimed in more than two tax years for any one student. The Lifetime Learning Credit is a tax credit for 20% of up to $10,000 in combined tuition and mandatory fees. There's no requirement that students be studying towards a degree or enrolled at least half-time, and there is no limit on the number of years the credit may be taken. You can claim just one of these credits during any particular year. For tax year 2008, these credits are phased out for incomes between $48,000 and $58,000 and between $96,000 and $116,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly. An election year always introduces doubt into tax planning and this year's uncertain market only exacerbates investors' anxieties. To ensure you're in the best shape on April 15th, plan to consult with your financial and tax advisor early on in 2009. 1 Source: http://personal.fidelity.com/misc/framesets/iwarticle.shtml?pagename=IW081107IMtaxlead1 2 Source: http://personal.fidelity.com/misc/framesets/iwarticle.shtml?pagename=IW081107IMtaxlead1 3 Source: http://www.kitces.com/blog/index.php?/archives/16-Should-you-be-doing-2008-tax-planning-for-your-rebate-check.html 4 Source: http://www.savingforcollege.com/tutorial101/federal_tax_incentives_to_education.php Neither Woodbury Financial Services, Inc nor its registered representative or employees provide tax or legal advice. As with all matters of a tax or legal nature, you should consult with your tax or legal counsel for advice. Securities and investment advisory services offered through Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. PO Box 64284, St Paul, MN 55164-0284, 800-800-2638, Member FINRA/SIPC and Registered Investment Advisor Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. is not affiliated with Derby Financial & Associates, LLC.

Sandy K. Derby, CFP®, ChFC™ has been in the financial services industry since 1989. She is President of Derby Financial & Associates LLC, where our goal is to help women become financially secure and independent, through comprehensive financial planning. Sandy can be reached at sandykderby@derbyfinancial.net

or 269-321-5047.

Greater Kalamazoo Edition • April 2009

Super Fruit Cobbler 6 servings

courtesy of Cherry Marketing Institute

America’s Superfruit is Good for Your Heart

2 cups frozen pitted tart cherries, thawed 1 (12-ounce) bag frozen mixed berries, thawed 3/4 cup brown sugar, divided 3 tablespoons cornstarch 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 cup reduced fat buttermilk baking mix 1/4 cup reduced fat sour cream 3 tablespoons low fat milk Heat oven to 375°F. Combine cherries, mixed berries, 1/2 cup brown sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon and nutmeg; mix well. Spoon mixture into an 8- or 9-inch baking dish.

Health and nutrition experts say to look no further than fruits grown on American soil for vitality and wellness benefits. Tart cherries, available year-round as dried, frozen and juice, are in fact “America’s Superfruit,” a homegrown and colorful way to reap the health-promoting properties of antioxidants.

Combine baking mix, remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar, sour cream and milk; mix well to form a stiff batter. Drop batter over cherry mixture, forming 6 mounds.

A growing body of science links cherries’ red color, provided by the fruit’s powerful antioxidants - called anthocyanins - to heart-health benefits related to reduced inflammation, total cholesterol and belly fat. With more than 80 million Americans living with some form of heart disease, the heart-healthy qualities of eating red have more relevance than ever. Research also suggests the red compounds in cherries may help ease the pain of arthritis and gout.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until bubbly and cobbler topping is golden brown. Let stand 20 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature. Tip: To save on cleanup time, thaw and mix the berries in a baking dish.

Because cherries are such a versatile fruit that can be purchased year-round, it’s easy to enjoy cherries in a wide range of sweet and savory dishes.

An Easy Way to Eat Red Every Day Dr. Wendy Bazilian, registered dietitian and author of “The SuperFoods Rx Diet: Lose Weight with the Power of SuperNutrients,” says “We already know cherries are an all-American favorite for their delicious sweet-tart taste and rich red color. So, it’s wonderful news that science is giving us more healthy reasons to enjoy this superfruit.” Dr. Bazilian shares her tips for easy and tasty ways to enjoy cherries every day.

• Recharge With Red Give yourself an antioxidant boost by adding dried cherries to your favorite cookie or snack bar recipe for an anytime pick-me-up.

• Super Fruit Shake Up Combine frozen cherries with low fat yogurt and other fruits, including blueberries and raspberries, for a simple but delicious smoothie that delivers an antioxidant powerhouse of flavor.

• Crunches With Cherries Before heading out to the gym, grab a single-serve bottle of 100 percent cherry juice. Research suggests cherry juice may help reduce exercise-related joint pain. For more recipes and information on the health benefits of cherries, visit www.choosecherries.com.

Cherry Good Oatmeal 4 (1/2-cup) servings 2 1/4 1 2/3

1/8 2 1/2 4

cups lowfat milk teaspoon salt cup old-fashioned rolled oats cup mixed dried berries and cherries (red tart cherries, blueberries and strawberries) teaspoon ground cinnamon teaspoons packed brown sugar cup lowfat milk teaspoons chopped toasted pecans or walnuts (optional)*

Greater Kalamazoo Edition • April 2009

Bring 2 cups milk and the salt to boil in a medium saucepan. Stir in dried oats; then stir in dried berries, cherries and cinnamon. Reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. To serve, spoon oatmeal into bowls. Pour 2 tablespoons milk over each serving. Sprinkle with brown sugar and, if desired, nuts. Tip: To toast nuts: Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread nuts in a single layer in a baking pan. Bake about 8 minutes or until lightly toasted. Cool nuts before chopping.

Garden Salad

Information and ideas for Going

courtesy Family Features

ederally regulated since 2002, the term “organic” means food grown using methods that foster the health and harmony of the ecosystem, including the people and animals living in it. Natural and sustainable have no federally regulated definitions for most products. Organic food is produced with: • No synthetic pesticides, herbicides or fumigants • No fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge • No genetically modified organisms (GMOs) • No irradiation • No hormones, antibiotics, artificial ingredients or trans fats For many, the word organic means produce such as apples, potatoes and oranges. But you can find organic varieties of nearly every kind of food. From milk to meats, choosing organic items helps keep potentially dangerous chemicals out of our bodies and helps protect the environment.

6 Hints for Living a More

Sustainable Lifestyle Save a Tree When doing your grocery shopping, take a reusable tote to carry your purchases. If every American used one reusable shopping tote for one shopping trip, we could save about 60,000 trees.

Go Organic Organic agriculture is inherently more sustainable than conventional farming because it is designed to work in harmony with natural systems, without the use of potentially harmful chemicals that affect our ecosystems. If you commit to buying just one organic food item, such as peaches or milk or lettuce, it can help.

Look for organic choices when preparing these salad recipes, complete with your own home-made dressing.

Waldorf Salad

Serves 4

Dressing 1/3 cup organic non-fat plain yogurt or sour cream 1/3 cup mayonnaise 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice 1 teaspoon grated lime zest 2 teaspoons curry powder 1/2 teaspoon honey or sugar

Salad 1/2 1/2 3/4 1

cup celery, thinly sliced cup raisins cup seedless grapes, halved apple, unpeeled, cut into 1/3-inch dice (1 cup) 1/2 cup pecans or walnuts, toasted 5 ounces baby spinach or mixed baby greens (about 6 cups) Place yogurt, mayonnaise, lime juice, zest, curry, and honey in small bowl, and whisk to combine. Place celery, raisins, grapes, apple and nuts in large bowl. Add about half of yogurt dressing, and stir to combine. Just before serving, add spinach and toss to combine. Add more dressing if needed.

Garden Salad

with Home-Made Buttermilk Blue Cheese Dressing

Serves 6 to 8 Dressing 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley 1 tablespoon snipped fresh chives 1 clove garlic, minced 1/4 cup mayonnaise 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese 1/3 cup buttermilk Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste Salad 14 ounces romaine hearts, or about 1 head iceberg lettuce (washed and dried) 1/2 cup sweet peas 1 cup fresh corn 1/2 cup diced zucchini and/or yellow squash 1/2 cup diced carrots 1 cup diced ripe tomato 1/2 cup diced cucumber 1/2 cup diced radish Combine the dressing ingredients in blender and puree. If using a head of iceberg, roughly chop lettuce into 1/2-inch pieces. Place in large bowl, add vegetables and toss to combine. Add 1/2 cup of dressing, toss to blend, adding more dressing as desired. Serve immediately.

Meatless Meal Meat carries a higher environmental cost for its food value. Try a great meatless meal once a week (all organic, of course) and enjoy.

Night on the Town Don’t feel like cooking? Visit a restaurant that uses locally grown organic ingredients. By rewarding those eateries with your business, you can make a difference right in our community.

Clean Green Use natural cleaning products to reduce your exposure to harsh chemicals and toxins, and keep the planet healthier, too.

Organic Dairy There’s more to organic dairy than meets the taste buds. These products represent a larger ecosystem and process that nurtures the soil and responsibly cares for animals that graze on the pesticide-free land.

Waldorf Salad

Greater Kalamazoo Edition • April 2009

Catch the

WAVE Dance

Catching its hot, hip and energetic vibe, novices and experts alike are filling Zumba classes across America. With roots in Latin dance, Zumba maximizes fat burning and body toning while minimizing workout procrastination and yes, social inhibitions. Much more than a fitness wave, Zumba’s combination of dance and fitness is guaranteed to make you shake, wiggle and smile.

“Zumba is a dance-fitness exercise program that uses motivating music and has a party-like atmosphere,” explains Sue McRee, personal trainer and fitness instructor with Dance N Yoga in St. Petersburg, Fla. “The dance moves are primarily Latin, such as salsa, merengue, cha-cha, reggaeton and samba, but also include hip-hop, calypso, soca, belly dance, African dance and swing.” Zumba began in the mid ‘90s when celebrity fitness trainer Beto Perez created a class based on his knowledge and training in dance and fitness and love for Latin music. Starting with warm-ups and basic moves, Zumba classes quickly progress to a cardio atmosphere filled with energy. “The class provides cardiovascular training and toning of the muscles,” says McRee. “It is based on interval training, meaning the music goes from fast to slow and fast again.”

Fitness “A person usually burns up to 800 calories or even more during a one-hour session,” said Denise Nelson, group exercise director with Riverview Athletic Club in Grand Rapids, Mich. The strength and toning it provides is very different because students are using muscles that are traditionally not used every day. “It’s simple enough that anyone can do it, but once you learn the moves and terminology, you will really get into it,” states Nelson. “Zumba is appropriate for any age group and fitness level. We have very beginners come into the club and take the class and ages range from eight to 85.” Most centers also offer Zumba Gold, which caters to active older adults and takes a more fundamental approach when combining the moves into the hour-long class.

By Kimberly Monaghan

Shake and Wiggle Zumba is set to music with melodies and lyrics and characterized by a lot of hip shaking. There are no requirements to begin a class and no specialized equipment, only loose comfortable clothing and tennis shoes. Some students get a little more creative. “Because it also includes hip wiggling and some belly dancing, I’ve had people wear scarves and sashes around their waist and have done so myself,” said Nelson. Men, women and children all take part in Zumba. It’s noncompetitive and provides great way to step out of a busy day and into a fun and welcoming atmosphere while sneaking in a workout at the same time. “In Zumba I see people interact more with each other than in a typical aerobic class,” states McCree. “Because of its uplifting energy, it helps people relieve stress. I’ve had a student tell me that Zumba helped lift her depression and another who said that is the only fitness program that she would ‘stick’ to.”

Smile Although Zumba moves are choreographed, “the steps aren’t really important,” said McRee. “It’s just important to keep moving and have fun. Most people don’t even feel like they’re exercising.” McRee adds that teachers use visual cues rather than speaking in microphones and this allows students to focus on the music which motivates them to move. “The music is very uplifting so it really does feel like you’re at a party.” Nelson agrees. “You need to bring a great attitude and open mind to class because it’s so different from the traditional aerobic-based program. And,” she stresses emphatically, “the only requirement is to have a good time.”

Greater Kalamazoo Edition • April 2009

Kimberly Monaghan is a freelance writer and certified yoga instructor, RYT.

What We Love

Go Green & Be Fashion Savvy By Madeline L. Zackery

Earth Friendly Ideas “The Green Year: 365 small things you can do to make a big difference” (Alpha Books, 2008; $14.95) by Jodi Helmer. Here’s a daybook that helps you integrate green living into your everyday life. Author Jodi Helmer provides simple and inexpensive eco-friendly ideas for each day of the year. Organized by date, each tip is tailored to the time of year, so this month, check out things you can do this spring to be green. Flip to November to be green this Thanksgiving. Here are just a few samples from April’s entries: April 3: Share your favorite magazines. April 14: File your taxes electronically. April 19: Donate old newspapers to your local animal shelter. April 27: Join a community supported agriculture (CSA) program. In addition to these easy green suggestions, each page offers the “why” behind each activity; a quick “how-to” for any activity that requires additional explanation (most do not); room for readers to write in their own creative alternatives; and a box to check once you’ve completed the suggestion. A great book to keep on hand or to place in someone’s Easter basket!

Lose 41 Pounds – Now! Lose 41 pounds in less than five minutes – and keep them off. How? The average American receives 41 pounds of junk mail every year, and you can stop yours right now. When you stop your junk mail, you also keep the trees in the forest doing what trees do best: providing oxygen for us to breathe and absorbing carbon to cool the planet. Just sign up for the 41pounds.org service to stop your junk mail and unwanted catalogs. You'll enjoy a junk-free mailbox all year long. The nonprofit 41pounds.org (http://www.41pounds.org) stops your postal junk mail by contacting dozens of direct mail companies requesting they remove you from their marketing lists. The service covers everyone in your household for five years and costs $41, including a $15 donation to the environmental or community organization you choose. These partners include Outward Bound and Habitat for Humanity chapters and others. Since 2006, 41pounds.org has stopped more than 10 million pounds of junk mail and donated more than $160,000 to nonprofit organizations.

Flower Power SunStick® bridges the gap between how much sunlight a plant needs and how much sunlight a location receives. Stick a SunStick in your garden and find out how much sun that area does or doesn’t get. SunStick measures the foot candles – or light intensity – in specific areas of your outdoor landscape. At the end of the day, simply match the SunStick Home to the included Light Chart and define that area as either “Low,” “Medium” or High” light intensity. Voila! Now you know exactly where to plant your favorite flowers for maximum bloom. Also available for houseplants. For more information, visit www.gosunstick.com.

Ladies, I want to share with you a BIG fashion secret that is taking place all over the world. Clothes Swapping Parties….you heard me right! Clothes Swapping Parties! Women across America are hosting these fantastic events. Here is how it's done: you invite a few close friends or co-workers over for a light dessert or lunch. Each person is to bring 10-15 items from their wardrobe that they would like to swap. These items can be complete outfits, individual clothing pieces, shoes, jewelry, purses, etc. All clothing and other items should be clean and brand new items are really appreciated. The items are displayed on a clothing rack and tagged with each person's name and estimated value, such as; dress $30 value. Your guests should feel free to try on items. Once the person selects an item, she then talks with the owner and discusses swapping something of equal value from their collection. These types of parties are so much fun. First, it makes for an enjoyable afternoon or evening with friends. Secondly, it is a great way to clean out your closets, weed out clothes you do not wear and most of all YOU ARE DOING THE “GREEN” THING! Here are a few tips for your Clothes Swapping Party: 1) Send out your invitations early (2-3 weeks in advance) so your guests will have time to decide what they have in their closets to bring. Make sure you indicate how many items to bring and that the clothing and other items need to be in excellent condition. You may want them to bring the items prior to the event. 2) Plan your menu, making sure the food is not the type that could soil the clothing. The focus is on the clothing - so don't make the food too elaborate. A Saturday morning Brunch always works well. 3) Make the event fun, with music and have full-length mirrors around. Encourage your guests to try on the clothing so everyone can see how great they look. 4) Remember, people come in all shapes and sizes. Keep this in mind when you are making your invitation list. Encourage people to bring jewelry, shoes, purses, hats, and one size fits all items, so everyone will have something to try on and swap. 5) Plan on a series of these Clothes Swapping Parties. You can host one month, the next month perhaps by a co-worker or friend. These parties can even be an event sponsored by your organization. Spring is just around the corner, so get busy ladies and clean out those closets. Start planning your Clothing Swapping Party today! Not only is it fun but it is also GREEN! Now for a few etiquette tips: 1. Never ask: “Where did you get your outfit?” 2. Never ask: “How much did your pay for your outfit?” 3. Always give a compliment to someone; it can truly make their day! Madeline L. Zachery has been teaching etiquette and modeling for over 41 years. She has provided programs for Kalamazoo Public Library, 4-H,Big Sisters, Girl Scouts, KVCC, WMU and more. Madeline has written several children's books on etiquette, her latest just out. She is the owner of Madeline's Modeling & Talent Agency.

Greater Kalamazoo Edition • April 2009

2009 Gardening Trends Courtesty ARAcontent

Garden Media Group’s (GMG) gardening trends for 2009 reveal a resurgence in perennials, growing native plants, creating "blended" gardens using vegetables and herbs in flower beds, cultivating with best practices, planting to attract wildlife and going local. "It's a resurgence of gardening for the greater good – for the earth and our wallets," says Susan McCoy, trend spotter and president of GMG. "The most exciting movement seems to be that gardening is popular again, particularly among younger homeowners," she adds.

What's in: Eco-boosting What's out: Conspicuous consumption One simple way to be an eco-booster is to create natural habitats for wildlife with native plants that attract birds, bees and butterflies. Look for eco-friendly plants like the line of native plants from American Beauties (www.ABNativeplants.com) or the Knock Out family of roses (www.TheKnockoutRose.com), which are drough and disease-resistant, and require little care or chemicals. Go organic with peat-free soil from The Organic Mechanics Soil Company (www.OrganicMechanicSoil.com) which supports sustainable practices and feeds plants from the soil up.

edible groundcover around trees. Fruit-bearing shrubs and trees provide color, privacy and fruitful bounty mingling among veggies and perennials. Garden centers are reporting an increase in demand for fruit-bearing shrubs like blueberries and raspberries as ornamentals. Briggs Nursery (www.BriggsNursery.com) is introducing the first-ever pink blueberry, "Pink Lemonade."

What's in: Locavore What's out: Big carbon footprint Buying local is all the rage. Gardeners are aware of their role as naturalists and conservationists and are looking for native plants that thrive in their own backyards. "Native plant cultivars are selected to perform better in specific areas under local conditions," says Steve Castorani of American Beauties Native Plants. "When you select a plant that is native to the local area, it will thrive with little to no water, fertilizer or effort."

Bring sight and sound into your garden with Campania's Portico wall fountain.

For an eco-friendly garden, try adding Star Roses' Pink Double Knock Out.

What's in: Grow-it-Yourself (GIY) What's out: Having someone do it all for you Tranquil moments may be few but the recent rise in gardening reconnects us with nature, family and friends as we share our bounty. With the increased demand for yearround fresh fruits and vegetables, local farmers markets are seeing an upsurge in business, community gardens have waiting lists, and plant swaps are on the rise.

What's in: Blended gardens What's out: Segregated gardens Plant mint and fragrant thyme varietals in between cracks of stone pathways and grow strawberries for a delightful

What's in: Water What's out: Water

Bees swarm to Solidago 'Fireworks' from American Beauties native plants.

Greater Kalamazoo Edition • April 2009

For the first time, water is in and out. Whether bringing in fountains, endless waterfalls, or fish ponds, the soothing sounds of water can turn any backyard into a private oasis. Costa Farms (www.CostaFarms.com) offers plants that drink responsibly like succulents, cactus, yucca and ferns, which are easy, conserve water and add sizzle to your landscape. The Knock Out family of roses, from bright red to sunny yellow, is drought-resistant. "Water features such as fountains are showing up not only in the garden but on tabletops, and sometimes more than one in the garden," says Jon Carloftis, a renowned garden designer. He likes the classic and contemporary options from Campania International (www.CampaniaInternational.com) to bring the sight and sound of water into gardens without a lot of fuss or maintenance.

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Work It!

Save Your Energy

in the Workplace By Kimberly Monaghan

The choices in the amount of energy we use should never be taken lightly, for its use has an impact on our resources as well. Reducing the amount of energy we expend can make a difference, especially if we convince those around us to do the same. Consider these energy-saving steps: • Plug equipment into power strips and shut them off when not in use • Replace bulbs with energy-efficient substitutes • Take the stairs instead of the elevator And be sure to practice safety, too – • Check furnaces, office equipment and appliances regularly to maintain operating efficiency and avoid emission leaks and corrosion. • Properly dispose of inoperable equipment, such as batteries, light bulbs, paint and toner to help prevent clogging of landfills with toxic substances or materials that won’t break down.

Work as a Team Sharing office equipment, reducing office temperatures, turning off lights and electronics when not in use are just some of the simple ways we can make a big difference at home and in our workspaces. Taking strides to educate others on the positive impact they can make will not only do a world of good, but create a ripple effect, which recruits even more contributors. Sustainable teamwork choices include • Launching office recycling projects • Identifying in-house or one-stop solutions for technical, maintenance or project repairs • Implementing telecommuting options for the workforce and organizing teleconferences in lieu of unnecessary or extraneous travel • Organizing carpooling or using public transport and electing one individual to pick up office lunches or run errands

Get Started

ustainability, environmental consciousness and eco-footprints are concepts working their way into workplaces throughout America. In our effort to create a healthier planet, use of these terms and their accompanying noble efforts can often confuse or imply causes that seem impossible or astronomical. But there are things each of us can do to make a difference – even a small one – that in time and as a collective whole will add up to great positive impacts. One such effort includes incorporating creative sustainability into the workplace.

What is Sustainability? Simply put, the Environmental Protection Agency defines sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Our use of resources has a correlating impact on future generations and our planet. Closer to home, everything we do may place a footprint, dent or scar, if you will, on the earth. Good stewardship involves weighing the value of our decisions, paying attention to the potential results of our actions, and searching for alternative ways to reach results with minimal waste.

Simple Steps The decisions we make at work every day have future generational implications. Be insightful and look around at what’s reusable or repurposed rather than letting it gathering dust in an office or crowding a landfill. Once in the habit of making a conscious effort to conserve, you may even receive recognition for slashing significant amounts from office expenses. Here are some ways to get started: • Before printing an e-mail message, consider if printing it is necessary • Opt for two-sided copies • Recycle toner cartridges • Purchase recycled office supplies and refurbished office equipment • Use ceramic, steel or glass coffee mugs instead of paper or plastic • Share resources and supplies with neighboring organizations • Set up a collection site for bottles, cans, paper, magazines and toner • Shred scrap paper and reuse as packing materials. • Donate or sell unused office furniture and equipment

Greater Kalamazoo Edition • April 2009

A great way to begin a creative sustainability program is to assign an individual to conduct an office survey. Re-examining the way we function throughout the workday, our waste management and reduction activities, and determining how we can improve performance and reduce operating costs is a win-win for both the organization and the planet. With a little education, information and guidance, we can all make smart choices in our work day that will positively contribute to the preservation of our resources.

Creative Sustainability Resources: EPA – www.epa.org/sustainability Our Climate Ourselves Program – www.ourclimatourselves.org Simple Living – www.simpleliving.com The Story of Stuff – www.storyofstuff.com Sustainability Institute – www.sustainer.org

Kimberly Monaghan is a certified professional resume writer, freelance copywriter and owner of Career Connections.

PO Box 50374 짜 Kalamazoo MI 49005 짜 voicemail: 269-343-7865 짜 www.kalamazoonetwork.org

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Staying Healthy in a Tough Economy

isits to doctors are down 10 to 15 percent, and many individuals are not taking their medicines as prescribed. However, there are certain measures that can be taken to lessen the burden while facing tough economic times.

Approximately one in nine individuals is cutting pills, taking them every other day or doing something the doctor did not recommend. "Cutting back on health care without consulting your clinician is a very risky decision,” said Fendrick. “It may not only have an impact on your health, but also have a worsening economic consequence that will lead to greater costs down the road when minor health concerns become major health issues." Fendrick suggests that people continue to follow up with their recommended screenings and immunizations and consult their clinicians before cutting back on health care. Although these preventative measures may cost you now, they are among the most important investments you can make to protect your health and may save you money in the long run. There are affordable programs available to help individuals facing economic difficulties. Ask your doctor's office or search online for information about decreasing or eliminating the costs of health insurance and prescription medications. During an economic crisis, individuals with and without insurance tend to use the emergency room as a form of primary care. However, doing so could take a spot from someone who truly needs emergency care, while also compromising your own care. "You should really think about going to your primary care physician who knows your medical history, coordinates your follow up care and interacts with other doctors to make sure you're getting the highest quality care possible at the lowest cost," says Fendrick.

Some tips for healthy health care spending: 1. Continue to adopt healthy lifestyles: diet and exercise can help stave off many diseases. 2. Ask your doctor if prescription medications are available in generic forms. 3. Keep up-to-date with recommended screening tests, such as mammograms, colonoscopies or immunizations.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

While many individuals are dealing with cutbacks, it is important that health care remain a top priority, says A. Mark Fendrick, M.D., professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School and professor of health management and policy at the U-M School of Public Health.

5 Easy Tips for Living More Naturally Many families are interested in adopting a more natural lifestyle, especially when they're met by lifechanging moments, such as welcoming a new baby, adopting a pet, or buying a new home. According to a recent survey, however, while 78 percent of parents want their families to do more to live naturally, almost as many (63 percent) think making changes would be difficult. "Families don't have to overhaul their entire lifestyles to go natural," said Jen Singer, lifestyle expert, author and founder of www.Mommasaid.net, an online resource for moms. "Instead, you can take small steps that are easy, convenient and affordable. Even small changes can have a big impact on our homes and the world we live in." Singer offers the following five tips to help families live more naturally. • Leave it at the door. Make it a household rule to kick off shoes when entering the home. Preventing outdoor pollutants and loose surface dirt from coming inside can save water and energy because it means less mopping and vacuuming.

• Conquer cleaning naturally and effectively. Try cleaning your home with natural cleaners. Either make your own or shop for cleaning products that are made with natural and naturally derived ingredients. • Pull the plug. Unplug electronics that aren't in use. If the phone charger is sticking out of the electrical outlet without a phone on the other end, it's still using energy. Encourage other family members to unplug their phone chargers, laptops and handheld game chargers when they're not in use. • Carry a full load. Maximize the efficiency of appliances and conserve water and electricity by operating the washer, dryer and dishwasher with full loads. In some areas, electric companies may offer less expensive nighttime rates, so it's possible to save money by running electrical appliances at night. • Hang it to dry. In the long run, a dryer does more damage breaking down clothing fibers than the washer. Hanging clean laundry on a line will save energy and that favorite pair of jeans.

Making Movies Autism-Friendly AMC Entertainment (AMC) and the Autism Society of America have teamed up to bring families affected by autism and other disabilities a special opportunity: to enjoy their favorite films in a safe and accepting environment on a monthly basis with the "Sensory Friendly Films" program. In order to provide a more accepting and comfortable setting for this unique audience, the movie auditoriums will have their lights brought up and the sound turned down, families will be able to bring in their own gluten-free, casein-free snacks, and no previews or advertisements will be shown before the movie. Additionally, audience members are welcome to get up and dance, walk, shout or sing – in other words, AMC’s “Silence is Golden” policy will not be enforced unless the safety of the audience is questioned. To find a participating theater near you, visit www.autism-society.org.

Greater Kalamazoo Edition • April 2009

I n t e r i o r

I d e a s

Eco-Conscious Innovations

Smart Window Fabrics ADO Smart Fabrics collection offers two eco-friendly treatments in one fabric line: ADO ActiBreeze and ADO BioProtect. Like all ADO fabrics, Smart Fabrics are also washable, dimensionally stable and won’t fade, and they are backed with a 5-year guarantee. Why ADO ActiBreeze®? • Activates through a catalytic process that changes air odor into water and carbon dioxide when coming in contact with the fabric. • Attacks the odor molecule and acts as a filter to clean the surrounding, circulating air space. • Works to clean surrounding, circulating air space – eventually working to clean and neutralize odor that’s caused from pollutants in the space air of a room. • Works to neutralize odors including cigarette smoke, pet odors, kitchen cooking odors, formaldehyde and ammonia, to name a few. • Is effective in natural or artificial light sources. Why ADO BioProtect? • Prevents the breeding and proliferation of bacteria on the fiber surface. • Reduces the spread of bacteria in order to reduce the risks of skin allergies and infectious diseases. • Utilizes silver ions – which attack the bacteria and bacterial metabolism and destroy it. The ADO Smart Fabrics collection features stylish drapery fabrics in modern colors and designs. Ask your local window treatment professional how you can add style and wellness to your home environment.

If you are considering new carpet or window treatments for your home, consider these green choices from Mohawk and ADO Corporation.

Plastic Bottles - Spun into Yarn One in every four plastic bottles recycled in North America becomes luxuriously soft Mohawk carpet. In fact, Mohawk recycles nearly three billion plastic bottles each year and, since 1999, has kept more than one billion pounds of plastic out of landfills. Mohawk’s EverStrand carpet is made using P.E.T. (polyethylene terephthalate) extruded from recycled plastic bottles and contains 100 percent post-consumer recycled content. And because plastic beverage bottles are made with top-quality resins as required by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, the recycled product is superior to lower grades of synthetic fibers used in making other brands of carpet yarns. Plastic bottles are sorted, ground into fine chips, and then cleaned. These chips are then melted and extruded into fiber and spun into carpet yarn. Every part of the plastic bottle is recycled. The cap and the label are used to make carpet cores around which the carpet is wrapped. These are reused over and over again, unlike cardboard cores that would typically be discarded.

Naturally Stain Resistant and Soft Carpet Produced from Corn Sugar Another Mohawk innovation in sustainable flooring is their SmartStrand carpet with DuPont Sorona renewably sourced polymer. In a partnership with DuPont, this carpet exclusively offers fiber which is produced from corn sugar. The result is a luxuriously soft carpet that offers durability and stain protection, while also making less of an environmental impact. The production of Sorona polymer requires 30 percent less energy than the production of an equal amount of nylon. Greenhouse gas emissions from the production of Sorona are 63 percent lower than nylon manufacturing. This energy reduction results in approximately one gallon of gasoline saved per every seven square yards of carpet. Stain resistance is engineered into the fiber and will never wear or wash off, meaning you never need to re-treat the carpet with stain protectors after steam cleaning. Stains such as mustard, red wine and even cherry Kool-Aid can be simply removed with warm water and your favorite earth-friendly detergent. The fiber even resists discoloration from bleach.

On average, 30 plastic bottles are recycled to make one square yard of Mohawk EverStrand carpet.

Greater Kalamazoo Edition • April 2009

:H &DQ One Thin Mint at a Time HELP GIRLS CHANGE THE WORLD BUY GIRL SCOUT COOKIES TODAY! Funds from the purchase of these tasty iconic treats support philanthropic projects, travel, and much more for girls right here in your community.

An interior designer and artist, Julie Hogan has more than 20 years experience in retail and residential design.

All that was old is new again. Did you know that your grandmother’s hand-medown dining table is now eco-chic? Recycled and repurposed furniture represent cost-effective green living at its finest. By choosing to repurpose furniture you reuse existing products, which ultimately saves money and natural resources. Repurposing also reduces pollution associated with the manufacture of new products and it cuts the quantity of merchandise entering landfills. If it isn’t exactly as you’d like, don’t be afraid to change it. Re-upholster with natural fabrics, add cushions, re-paint with low-VOC paint or change the hardware to make the piece perfect. Living green is really about making conscious choices; choices that initially don’t seem to be that big of a deal, but collectively, make a big impact. -WL

courtesy ARA

Green Choices for the Home By Julie Hogan

id you remember to bring the reusable bags with you when you got groceries this week, or are they still in the trunk of the car? This green living stuff is still a work in progress. At least you made a conscious decision to buy the bags in the first place, and that’s a start. Good for you! Remembering to actually use them is the challenge. To quote the famous Kermit the Frog, “It’s not easy being green!” Each time you make a purchase for your home, aside from your groceries, you are making earth-conscious decisions whether you realize it or not. By selecting items that follow certain principles you can make distinctions on how green you choose to be. It can also improve your health, protect the environment and keep the green in your pocketbook.

Have a headache? It could be your paint. You know that brand new, just finished, just painted smell? It’s not your money burning; it’s chemicals in the air. Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are a class of chemicals that evaporate readily at room temperature. They are called volatile because they are quick to vaporize and quick to combine with other molecules, meaning that they can react with living tissue or other airborne substances to create air pollution inside your house. This could be why you have a headache. By choosing low- or no-VOC paint and flooring options, you make a conscious decision to eliminate the chemicals in your home and maintain a

healthier environment for your family and the planet. Dutch Boy's new Refresh paint is a no-VOC paint that's been independently GreenGuard Certified. Benjamin Moore has created Aura latex interior paint using a waterborne technology that is both low odor and low VOC, and Sherwin Williams also offers the Duration home brand paint that is available in low VOC. These paints can be custom color matched.

Floors can lower your carbon footprint. Besides the walls in your home, your floors take up most of the space and have the potential to create the biggest carbon footprint in your home. By thinking green again and choosing wisely, you can have both beautiful and earth-friendly floors. Shaw Floors offers a carpet recycling program, based out of Augusta, Georgia, that has kept up to 300 million pounds of carpet out of our landfills per year. They recycle post-consumer nylon carpet and convert it back to its original nylon material to create new carpet products. Visit www.shawfloors.com to learn more about their inventive sustainability effort. How about cork? Besides using it to plug your wine bottle, cork is an ideal flooring option. A harvested resource from Portugal, cork trees can live to be 200 years old and still produce bark to make cork. Cork floors are extremely durable and have been used in public buildings for years. These beautiful floors have a unique, almost sponge-like feel about them, which makes them easy to walk or stand on. Cork is a natural thermal insulator and a warm choice for flooring.

Greater Kalamazoo Edition • April 2009

Here are some simple ways you can incorporate green choices into your home decorating.

Furniture Consider FSC Certified wood products if selecting new furniture for your home. FSC Certification means the wood in a product has been sustainably produced. Key FSC principles include the protection of forests, soil and indigenous species, restricted chemical use and limits on genetic engineering. Or shop for furniture that's made of reclaimed materials from factory scraps or other pieces of furniture. Other options include furniture constructed of bamboo or rattan, both of which are environmentally friendly materials because they replenish rapidly.

Rugs Look for rugs made from natural fibers, such as organically grown cotton, bamboo, jute and sisal. Avoid those manufactured with synthetic fibers such as nylon, polyester, rayon or other petroleum by-products because they're made using plastic, which isn't biodegradable. If they end up in a landfill, they may be there for decades to come.

Curtains/Blinds When dressing your windows, opt for curtains and blinds that are made of non-toxic, environmentally sustainable, natural reeds, bamboos, grasses and other natural plant fibers. Once gathered, these materials are woven into patterns without the use of chemicals, dyes or other harsh processing found in traditional curtain material. Or consider custom drapes made from organic cotton.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to get listed in our Events Calendar. Our deadline is the 10th of the month prior to publication. Email us at: wlskazoo@provide.net Please type Calendar in the subject line. Or you may mail your info to P. O. Box 2284, Portage MI 49081-2284 April 1 Parchment Community Library Bharata Natyam Indian Dance, Hukilau Hawaiian Dance, and Tap Dance. Please join local dance instructor Susan Iervolina for one, two or three sessions. She has costumes, if you're adventurous! 6:30-7:30 pm. Registration required. Free. Call 343-7747 for more information. April 1 or 15 Kalamazoo Center for the Healing Arts Massage as a Profession Workshop 6 - 8 p.m. FREE Info @ 373-0910, www.kcha.com April 1 - 26 Kalamazoo Institute of Arts 2009 West Michigan Area Show. One of the area's largest juried shows, this annual exhibition presents examples of the best art produced in a 14-county region of West Michigan. This year's guest juror is photographer Larry Fink, whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Art in America, Vogue, Rolling Stone and The New Yorker. Tues. - Sat. 10 am - 5 pm, Sun. 12 - 5 pm. Free. 269-349-7775. www.kiarts.org. April 1 - April 30 Gryphon Place The Gryphon Place 2-1-1/HELP-Line begins its spring volunteer training program on Monday, May 11, 2009. Please visit www.gryphon.org or call 381-1510 for more information. April 2 Miller Auditorium 41st Annual Spring Conference On Wind & Percussion Music. Featuring the conference all-star band and University Symphonic Band. 7:30 pm. Free. 269-387-4667. www.wmich.edu/music. April 2-5 The University Theatre, Gilmore Theatre Complex "Mother Courage and Her Children April 2-4 - 8 pm; April 5 - 2 pm. $20, $15 Seniors, $5 Student. 269-387-3227. www.wmich.edu/theatre. April 2-11 Parish Theatre Intimate Apparel. (Adult themes, Situations). Fri. & Sat. 8 pm, Thurs. 4/2 - 7:30 pm, Sat. 2 pm. 269-343-1313. April 3 Miller Auditorium Comedian Nick Swardson. You may know him as Terry Bernardino in the Comedy Central series "Reno 911!" and from his co-starring roles in comedy hits including Blades of Glory, Benchwarmers, and Grandma's Boy, but Nick Swardson is also a hilarious stand-up comedian with two Comdey Central Presents stand-up specials. 9 pm. Students $8 & $12, General Public $16 & $24. 269-387-2300. www.millerauditorium.com. April 3 & 4 Radisson Hotel M.O.D.A. Spring 2009 Fusion Fashion Show-1/2 Proceeds to: Susan G. Komen for the Cure VIP tickets -$30: 6:30; General Admission tickets $10 - 7:30: Show: 8 pm. Advance VIP tickets: modawmu@hotmail.com

April 3 & 4 Wellspring Theater at the Epic Center Cori Terry & Dancers Alternative Dance Project proudly presents ARENA Dances by Mathew Janczewski of Minnesota.. $20 Adults, $10 with student ID, Free for children ages 5 and younger. Tickets can be purchased by calling 269-387-2300, or online to www.millerauditorium.com, or visiting the Community Box Office at the Epic Center or Miller Auditorium. April 3 & 4 Whole Art Studio Miss Macbeth .." This story of an actress lusting after the big Lady M, shows us the consequences of "o'rleaping" ambition. $5. 269-345-7529. www.wholeart.org. April 3-18 Farmers Alley Theatre Jane Eyre . One of the greatest love stories of all time has been transformed into this major new Broadway musical. Fri. & Sat. 8 pm, Sun. 2 pm. $22 Adults, $19 Seniors/Students. 269-343-2727. www.farmersalleytheatre.com. April 3-25 New Vic Theatre "The Witching Voice". A play with music by Arnold Johnston, highlighting the life and loves of Scottish poet Robert Burns. Fri. & Sat. 8:30 pm. $25. 269-381-3328. www.kazoocivic.com. April 4th Shamanic Study Group Light Warrior Clan will gather from 10-4 pm for the first purification sweat lodge of 2009! Please RSVP to Mlapearl@aol.com or call 269-966-3116. April 4 Wellspring Theater at the Epic Center Open Modern Dance Master Class with Mathew Janczewski. Join Alternative Dance Project guest artist Matthew Janczewski of Minneapolis ARENA Dances for a free master class. Space is limited, so call 269342-4354 in advance to reserve your spot. 12 - 1:30 pm. Free. 269-342-4354. www.wellspringdance.org. April 4 First Baptist Church, 315 W. Michigan Ave. Radio Theater: Hellfire . A blazing fire has overwhelmed the well of a wildcat oilfield owner. Watching all he works for disappearing in a bright blaze, the owner must decide; let the fire burn or try to extinguish it himself. 6 pm. Free. 269-342-5059. www.KalamazooArts.com. April 4 Dalton Center Recital Hall New Sounds Festival 2009. 7:30 pm. Free. 269-387-4667. www.wmich.edu/music. April 4 Kalamazoo County Expo Center, Room E Kalamazoo Coin Show. Presented by the Kalamazoo Numismatic Club and featuring many dealers buying and selling coins, tokens, currency and related items. 9 am - 5 pm. Free. 269-327-7314. April 5 Light Fine Arts Building, Kalamazoo College KSO - The World of Villa-Lobos. Explore the life, times and music of Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos with director Raymond Harvey and the KSO. 3 pm. $25 Adults, $8 Students. 269-387-2300. www.KalamazooSymphony.com.

April 6 Kalamazoo Nature Center Birds of Prey. Indoor, interactive family program. 1 pm. Free with Regular KNC Admission. 269-381-1574. www.NatureCenter.org. April 6 Gilmore Center at Bronson Hospital Cryoablation Talk: Dr. Roger Beyer, MD, MA, FACOG will discuss this in-office procedure for abnormal uterine bleeding. 6:30 pm. Refreshments served. Call 269-657-6058 to reserve a seat. April 7 Kalamazoo Nature Center Wildflower Idol. Join Naturalists Pete Stobie and Karen Wilson as they present KNC s first ever Wildflower Idol! Indoor/Outdoor, interactive family program. 1-2:30 pm. Free with Regular KNC Admission. 269-381-1574. www.NatureCenter.org. April 7 Kalamazoo Institute of Arts ARTbreak: "The Calumet Region," with Gary Cialdella. Kalamazoo photographer New Book: The Calumet Region: An American Place. 12:15 pm. Free. 269-349-7775. www.kiarts.org.

Kalamazoo Civic Auditorium Stage Door . Fri. & Sat. 8 pm, Thurs. 4/16 - 7:30 pm, Sat. 2 pm. 269-343-1313. www.kazoocivic.com. April 10 Kalamazoo Valley Museum Spring Break Hands-on Happenings: Down to the Core . Discover what's at the core of the Museum's collection! To learn more visit the exhibit cases on the Museum's first floor. 1-4 pm. Free. 269-373-7990. www.kalamazoo.org. April 10 Kalamazoo Area Math & Science Center KAS Presents: "Extrasolar Planets". This talk will review our current understanding of observed solar systems with a focus on how they are different from our own. 7 pm. Free. 269-337-0023. www.kasonline.org. April 10 Kalamazoo Nature Center Egg-citing Natural Dyes . Bring your own eggs and use natural dyes made from cabbages, onion skins, and other common kitchen ingredients to make beautiful and unique colored eggs. Please bring enough hardboiled eggs for your whole family to participate. Hands-on indoor activity for families and adults. 1-3 pm. Free with Regular KNC Admission. 269-381-1574. www.NatureCenter.org.

April 7, 14, 21, 28 Kalamazoo Center for the Healing Arts Yoga $60 for 6 weeks, $12 for drop-ins; 5:30, 7 pm Info @ 373-1000, www.kcha.com

April 10 Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Art & All That Jazz. Guided tours of the High School Area Show with music by the Wild Woodys. 5-7 pm. Free to KIA members, $3 for others. 269-349-7775. www.kiarts.org.

April 8 Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Kalamazoo Art League Lecture: "The Naked Cartoonist: A New Way to Enhance Your Creativity . With Robert Mankoff, cartoon editor of The New Yorker magazine. 10 am. Free for Art League Members, $10 for non-members. 269-349-7775. www.kiarts.org.

April 10 & 24 Unwindings Integrative Breathwork, a musical-journey for insight, emotional healing & creativity. 7pm 9pm. 5464 Holiday Terrace, Kalamazoo. $30. Pre-registration at 269-388-2988 or adamczassociates.com.

April 8 Kalamazoo Nature Center Nature Stories with Mr. Pete. Indoor/Outdoor, interactive, families w/ preschool aged children. 10 am. Free with Regular KNC Admission. 269-381-1574. www.NatureCenter.org.

April 11 Kalamazoo Nature Center Small Wonders. Parent-led activities for ages 2-5. 9:30 - 11:30 am. $2/child, in addition to regular KNC admission. 269-381-1574. www.NatureCenter.org.

April 8 Kalamazoo Nature Center Aquatic Creature Feature. Hellgrammites, caddisflies, and scuds, oh my! Outdoor, family hike. 1 pm. Free with Regular KNC Admission. 269-381-1574. www.NatureCenter.org. April 9 Kalamazoo Valley Museum "Standing in the Shadows of Motown". The story of how the founder of Motown Records found a group of musicians who called themselves the Funk Brothers who became the house band on all of the label's major hits. 7:30 pm. $3. 269-373-7990. www.kalamazoomuseum.org. April 9 Miller Auditorium Western Michigan University Concert Band. David W. Montgomery, Conductor. 8:15. Free. 269-387-4667. www.wmich.edu/music.

April 5 Kalamazoo Nature Center Signs of Spring Hike. Outdoor trail walk with activities. 2 pm. Free with regular KNC admission. 269-381-1574. www.NatureCenter.org.

April 9 Kalamazoo Public Library Craft Couture: Don't Box Me In . Learn the basics of decoupage and design your own keepsake box. 6:30 pm. Free. 269-553-7880.

April 6-10 Kirk Newman Art School Spring Break Art Camp. Students will be introduced to works of art from the KIA's current exhibitions and the Permanent Collection. All materials are provided. 9 am - 4 pm. $265 for full days, $150 for half days. 269-349-7775. www.kiarts.org.

April 9, 14 Kalamazoo Nature Center In Search of Woodcock . Venture to the edge of open fields to catch a glimpse of these amazing birds. Outdoor, exploratory program for adults and older children. 7:45-9:15 pm. KNC Members Free; Non-members, $4/adult, $3/senior, $2/children. 269-381-1574. www.NatureCenter.org. April 10-25

April 6

Downtown Kalamazoo Art Hop 5 pm Various participating sites around town. Free event that lets you enjoy new art exhibits in a fun, casual atmosphere at stores and more downtown.

Greater Kalamazoo Edition â&#x20AC;˘ April 2009

April 11 Masterpiece Memories All Day Crop. We will serve you lunch, dinner, snacks, &beverages. You will receive free scrapbooking goodies and double punches on your "punch card" for all purchases made during the crop. One lucky cropper will receive a free future all-day crop. Scrapbook for 12 hours, 10am - 10pm. $30. Call 269-381-8541 to reserve your seat. www.masterpiece-memories.com. April 11 Kalamazoo Nature Center New Family Nature Club! Families United in Nature (FUN). Join us for a Family Play Date! Meet other families that enjoy exploring the outdoors and having fun along the trail. This club will meet several times a year to explore different habitats along our nature trails. Take home memories and a list of extension activities! All ages, outdoor program. 1-2:30 pm. Free with Regular KNC Admission. 269-381-1574. www.NatureCenter.org. April 11 Kalamazoo County Expo Center, Room A Kalamazoo Antique Bottle & Glass Show. Antique bottles of all types including flasks, medicines, fruit jars, dairy bottles and other related glass. Free appraisals. 10 am 3 pm. Adults $3, Seniors $2, Children 12 and under are free. 616-581-7005. April 11 Kalamazoo County Expo Center, Room E Southwest Michigan Postcard Show. Annual Spring show featuring 40 dealers and over one-million post cards from 1900-Present. 10 am- 5 pm. Adults $2, Children 12 and under are free. 517-230-0734.

April 12 Brook Lodge Easter Buffet. Full hot buffet with a wide selection of menu options. Call for reservations. 11 am- 3 pm. Adults $24.95; Seniors (62 & up) $19.95; Children ages 6-12 $9.95, 3-5 $4.95, 2 & under-free. 269-731-2200. www.brooklodgemsu.com. April 12 Kalamazoo Nature Center Signs of Spring Hike. 2 pm. Free with Regular KNC Admission. 269-381-1574. www.NatureCenter.org. April 12 W.K. Kellogg Manor House Easter Brunch. Brunch served buffet style in the Kellogg Manor House. 11 am & 1 pm. $11-$21. 269-671-2400.www.kbs.msu.edu/manorhouse/events. April 13 Dalton Center Recital Hall 30th Annual Music Therapy Clinic Concert. 7 pm. Free. 269-387-4667. www.wmich.edu/music. April 14 Kalamazoo Institute of Arts ARTbreak: "Up Close and Personal with West Michigan Artists" (Part 1). Meet some of the artists whose work makes up the 2009 West Michigan Area Show. 12:15 pm. Free. 269-349-7775. www.kiarts.org. April 14 Dalton Center Recital Hall Western Michigan University Trombone Choir. Steve Wolfinbarger, Director. 7 pm. Free. 269-387-4667. www.wmich.edu/music. April 14 Plainwell Counseling Center Integrative Breathwork, a musical journey for insight, emotional healing & creativity. 7 pm - 9 pm. 319 Park St., Plainwell. $30. Pre-registration 269-388-2988 or adamczassociates.com. April 15, 22 Kalamazoo Nature Center Wildflowers after Work. Wednesdays at 5:30 pm. KNC Members Free, Non-members, $4/adult, $3/senior, $2/children, in addition to regular admission. 269-381-1574. www.NatureCenter.org. April 15 Shamanic Study Group Light Warrior Clan will gather from 6-10pm for a teaching and potluck. Registration is required at mlapearl@aol.com or 269.966.3116. April 16 Gilmore Center at Bronson Hospital Incontinence Talk: Dr. Roger Beyer M.D., M.A., F.A.C.O.G, will discuss urinary incontinence treatments for women. 6:30 pm. Refreshments served. Call (269) 657-6058 to reserve a seat. April 17 & 18 Kalamazoo County Expo Center & Fairground, Hazel Gray Bldg. Pinball At the Zoo & The Kalamazoo Arcade and Game Room Show. Michigan's premiere pinball show featuring a swap meet, tournaments and auction. Everything for your game room is here including "classic" arcade games. Fri. 1 - 10 pm, Sat. 9 am 6 pm. $8 Adult, $3.50 Children 5-13. 269-628-4628. www.pinballatthezoo.com. April 17 & 18 Whole Art Theater, 246 N. Kalamazoo Mall "Allergic to Happiness". Crawlspace Eviction performs live improv and sketch comedy. 8 pm. $7 students, $10 general. 269-599-7390. www.crawlspaceeviction.com. April 17 Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Glass Art Auction. Battle of the Glassblowers, members of the West Michigan Glass Society and glass artists from around the country donate glass art to be auctioned off. 6- 9pm. Free. 269-552-9802. www.wmglass.org. April 18 Chenery Auditorium Annual District Male Chorus Sing. 250 men from 12 choruses from Michigan, Indiana and Ohio perform in a mass chorus as well as solo performances. 8 pm. 269-377-0440.

April 18 Kalamazoo Nature Center Earth Day Celebration - Free Admission Day! Enjoy the exhibits and the grounds. Learn more about KNC programming (visit the KNC Camp table for a taste of summer fun!) and about good things happening nearby at the Community Information Tables. 9:30 am - 5 pm. Free. 269-381-1574. www.NatureCenter.org. April 18 First Baptist Church, 315 W. Michigan Ave. All Ears Theatre: Jack and the Beanstalk . Life lessons - and a giant - await Jack at the top of the stalk in this classic tale. 6 pm. Free. 269-342-5059. www.KalamazooArts.com. April 18 Kalamazoo County Expo Center & Fairground, Room A Kalamazoo Reptile & Exotic Animal Show. Vendors with interesting reptiles, amphibians and other exotic animals. 10 am 3 pm. Adults $4, Children 6-10 $2, Under 5 are free. 269-779-9851. www.KalamazooReptileShow.com. April 18 Kalamazoo Center for the Healing Arts Reflexology Class 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m $ 60 Info @ 373-0910, www.kcha.com April 19 Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center Come experience the many activities at Sherman Lake YMCA! Enjoy swimming, climbing, archery, and more fun family activities! Bring your friends and neighbors for this free afternoon of fun! 2-4 pm. For additional information please contact: Jackie Mitchell at 269-731-3004 or jackiem@ymcasl.org. April 19 Kalamazoo Valley Museum Film: "Piano Blues". Director and piano player Clint Eastwood explores his lifelong passion for piano blues, using rare historical footage and interviews and performances by such legends as Pinetop Perkins, Jay McShann, Dave Brubeck and Marcia Ball. 1:30 pm. Free. 269-373-7990. www.kalamazoomuseum.org. April 19 Cityscape Events Red Tent - "The Rite Event" annual fundraiser to support the Red Tent/Girls in the Wild programming. GITW is a rite of passage†journey†with a wilderness retreat and year-round programming for girls age 11-18. The event with have a Silent and Live Auction, food and fun. $35. 1:00 - 4:00pm. www.redtentcommunity.org†or 269-762-6600. April 19 Celebration Cinema: Portage The SW Michigan Jewish Film Festival is the only satellite site of Detroit's Lenore Marwil Jewish Film Festival. Films to be shown are Max Minsky and Me at 10:30 am, The Hope at 1:30 pm, followed by, Circumcise Me, Noodle at 4:30 pm, and The Counterfeiters at 7:30 pm. Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance. Please see www.swmichjff.9f.com for further information. April 20 Richland Community Center Women In Networking Meeting (W-I-N) 6 - 8 pm. Networking, light buffet @ beverages. Cost: $8, or bring a guest for $12 for both. RSVP to turluck@comcast.net by April 16. April 21 The Beacon Club The Kalamazoo MI After Five Women's Connection. Please join us for and evening of fun and inspiration. 6:30-8 p.m. The program cost: $17.00. Please RSVP by April 16 by calling Christa at 269-323-7311. April 21 Kalamazoo Institute of Arts ARTbreak: "Up Close and Personal with West Michigan Artists" (Part 2). Meet some of the artists whose work makes up the 2009 West Michigan Area Show. 12:15 pm. Free. 269-349-7775. www.kiarts.org. April 22 & 23 Miller Auditorium The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee . In the Tony AwardÆ winning new musical comedy THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, six young people in the throes of puberty, overseen by grownups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, learn that winning isn t everything and that losing doesn t necessarily make you a loser. 7:30 pm. $25-$50. 269-387-2300. www.millerauditorium.com.

April 22 Derby Financial & Associates "Job Transition Workshop". Derby Financial: Guest speakers from local employment agencies. 6:00-7:30 pm. To register call 269-321-5047 by April 20. 268 E. Kilgore Ste. C Portage April 23 Kalamazoo Valley Museum "The Five Heartbeats". A quintet of friends rise to fame in a musical drama from director Robert Townsend. 7:30 pm. $3. 269-373-7990. www.kalamazoomuseum.org. April 24 - May 2 Parish Theatre, 426 S. Park St. James and the Giant Peach . 269-343-1313. www.kazoocivic.com. April 24 - April 25 Kalamazoo Center for the Healing Arts SolSpring - Rediscover Your Center FREE April 24, 2- 8 & April 25, 10 - 4 Free chair massage, spa samples & workshops that include: acupuncture, naturopathy, natural birth, colon therapy, natural headache remedies, full body massage demonstration. Info: www.kcha.com, 269-373-1000 April 24-26 Parish Theatre, 426 S. Park St The Curious Savage . Fri. & Sun. 2 pm, Sat. 7 pm. 269-343-1313. www.kazoocivic.com. April 25 Kalamazoo Nature Center KAS Public Observing Session. The Kalamazoo Astronomical Society (KAS) invites the public to witness nature's grandest spectacle - the universe itself! Telescopes of all shapes and sizes will be set up near Owl Observatory, located on the grounds of the Kalamazoo Nature Center. 8 pm. $4 adult, $3 child. 269-381-1574. www.kasonline.org. April 25 & 26 Kirk Newman Art School Visiting Artist Workshop: "Pots and Possibilities," with Nick Joerling. 9 am-5 pm. $130 (discount for KIA members). 269-349-7775. www.kiarts.org. April 25 KVCC, Texas Township Campus Gala Showcase. The West Michigan School of Middle Eastern Dance presents showcase of Middle Eastern and Latin dance. 7:30 pm. $10. 269-375-0990. www.wmschoolofmed.com. April 25 Kellogg Bird Sanctuary Sanctuary Tour. The Sanctuary's expert volunteer interpreters will lead a walking tour of the sanctuary grounds, talking about the history and birds and answering all of your questions. 10-11:30 am. Members Free; non-members general admission. 269-671-2510. www.kbs.msu.edu/birdsanctuary. April 26 Chenery Auditorium Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra Concert. Carmina Burana with the Kalamazoo College Singers directed by James Turner. 4 pm. $10 Adults, $7 Seniors, $5 Students. 269-349-7557. www.kjso.org. April 26 First Presbyterian Church, 321 W. South St. Homage to Haydn . A choral concert featuring music by Franz Josef Haydn to commemorate the 200th anniversary of his death. 3 pm. Adults $18, Seniors $15, Students $5. 269-373-1769. www.kalamazoosingers.org. April 26 Kalamazoo Valley Museum Sunday History Series: "Red Terror in Kalamazoo: The 1948 Shakespeare Strike". 1:30 pm. Free. 269-373-7990. www.kalamazoomuseum.org. April 27 - May 1 Wellspring Theater at the Epic Center Wellspring's International Dance Day Film Series. In celebration of International Dance Day, Wellspring presents five dance films in five days in the Wellspring Theater at the Epic Center. Each evening, a different documentary film honoring great choreographers and dance pioneers will be shown. 7 pm. Free. 269-342-4354. www.wellspringdance.org.

April 28 Kalamazoo Institute of Arts ARTbreak: "Naked and Hot: The Way of Anagama," Ancient Japanese firing technique. 12:15 pm. Free. 269-349-7775. www.kiarts.org. April 29 Kalamazoo Public Library Who Hit John . 7 pm. Free. 269-553-7880. www.kpl.gov. April 29 Shamanic Study Group Light Warrior Clan will gather from 6-10pm for a teaching and potluck. Registration is required at mlapearl@aol.com or 269-966-3116. April 30 Radisson Women's LifeStyle Birthday Party 5:30 - 7:30 D'Oeurves, cake, cash bar, Door Prizes Galore - Join us as we celebrate our 1st year. All guest are welcome - Please RSVP to 269-569-1647 or birthday@womenslifestylekalamazoo.com April 30 - May 3 Nelda K. Balch Playhouse Senior Performance Series. Thur., Fri. & Sat. 8 pm, Sun 2 pm . Adults $15, Seniors/Students $10, Thurs. $1. 269-337-7333. www.kzoo.edu/theatre. May 1 - 3 Downtown Kalamazoo Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra League will host the High Notes of Downtown Living III, a tour of downtown Kalamazoo lofts, luxury condominiums and apartments. For tickets and information, call (269) 349-7759 May 1 - 3 Kalamazoo County Expo Center & Fairground, Room Gem & Mineral Show. Friday is "Kid's Day" with many school field trips attending. Fri. 4 - 8 pm, Sat. 10 am - 6 pm, Sun. 10 am - 5 pm. Adults $3, Children under 12 are free. 269-649-1991. May 1 - 3 Cloud 9 Escape to Traverse City. Stay. Play. Explore. Weekend at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa.Call all of your favorite friends now and plan to escape to Traverse City for a weekend full of FUN! Each Cloud 9 chick is responsible for their own transportation to the event and reservations for the Stay. Play. Explore. Weekend can be made by calling 800-748-0303. May 1 Websters Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra League - Lunch & Informal Fashion Show from Sydney; 12:00 1:30 pm $25.00 RSVP by 4/27 269-762-8984 May 2 & 3 Kalamazoo Ballet and Bullard School, 431 E. South St. Kalamazoo Ballet: "Alice in Wonderland". Sat. 2:30 & 4:30 pm, Sun. 3 & 5 pm. $12 General, $10 Seniors & Students, $8 Children 7 & younger. 269-387-2300. May 2 THE LADIES LIBRARY Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra League- Lunch & Limited Tour of Historic Facility; 11:30 1:30 $25.00 RSVP by 4/27 269-762-8984 May 2 Prairie View Park Dog Walk: 9 am - 2 pm - Annual Fund Raiser for the Kalamazoo Humane Society 25th Anniversary - Bring your dog for a walk and so much more. Info @ www.KazooDogWalk.org or call 269-345-1181 May 3 Park Club Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra League Brunch; 11:30 1:30 $25.00 RSVP by 4/27 269-762-8984 May 5 Studio 24 Cinco de Mayo/Mother s Day/Spring Celebrations! Open House, Food,Beverages, Door Prizes, Valet Parking and more. Come celebrate with us bring a friend & each receive a gift. 141 E. Milham Portage 269-345-0866

April 27 Personal Care Center Integrative Breathwork, a musical journey for insight, emotional healing & creativity. 7 pm - 9 pm. 8799 Gull Rd., Richland $30. Pre-registration (269) 388-2988 or adamczassociates.com.

Greater Kalamazoo Edition • April 2009

From Drink Pouch to Backpack Kids learn to “upcycle,”raise money for classroom By Angela Klinske

Who knew yogurt cups, drink pouches and cookie wrappers could be so fashionable? And so lucrative?

One company has found a way to turn wrappers into practical but fun accessories: think Kool-Aid purses, Oreo backpacks and Honest Kids pencil bags, all made from recycled – or in this case, upcycled – wrappers from popular products found inside a kid’s lunch bag. Kids from around the country are getting involved as they collect their lunch bag trash and send it to a unique recycling program, available through TerraCycle of Trenton, N.J. It’s a fun learning experience and a way to raise money for their classrooms. Through TerraCycle, schools and non-profits nationwide participate in free packaging return programs as a way to raise money through the collection of hard-to-recycle items, such as drink pouches, cookie wrappers and yogurt lids. Kids can earn about two cents for each item upcycled through TerraCycle, which can add up to lots of cash to help their school purchase much-needed classroom items. We’ve all heard of recycling, but what is upcycling? “It’s taking a material created to be used once, and now we’ve given it a second life and a longer life,” said Albe Zakes, vice president of public relations at TerraCycle. Case in point: Drink pouches are packed in a child’s lunch box and then thrown out once the juice has been drunk. However, through TerraCycle’s upcycling program, the pouch gets a new use as a pencil case or a backpack. The collection programs, called brigades, divert packaging waste from landfills and help raise consumer awareness about recycling. And with a monetary reward as incentive to recycle, the brigades raise money for a charitable organization of the collector’s choice. Participation is free and all shipping costs are paid.

Students at Northside Elementary in Ann Arbor, Mich. raised $85 last year and used the money to help fund its Cross Country Kids running program, said physical education teacher Rick Dekeon, who coordinates the TerraCycle brigade at Northside. The kids used the money to purchase T-shirts, medals and water bottles for their running club. Northside students collect drink pouches at lunch time, and two or three student volunteers take turns cutting off the tops, cleaning out the pouches, and collecting them in pre-postage paid envelopes, said Dekeon. TerraCycle sends the school $.02 for each pouch collected. Some schools choose to give to charitable organizations sponsored by TerraCycle. Garfield Elementary in Flint, Mich., for example, sends their pouches back to TerraCycle, and TerraCycle sends the collected funds to an organization that helps preserve the rainforest. The upcycled packaging is turned into affordable accessories – from pencil bags to backpacks – and are available at major retailers nationwide, such as Walgreens, Home Depot and Target, and online through www.terracycle.net. TerraCycle was founded in 2001 by Tom Szaky and Jon Beyer. The company’s flagship product is TerraCycle Plant Food, an all-natural, all-organic, 'goofproof' liquid plant food made from waste (worm poop) and packaged in waste (reused soda bottles).

To sign up your school or nonprofit organization, log on to www.terracycle.net.

Schools raise anywhere from $10 to a few hundred dollars with TerraCycle upcycling programs, according to Lauren Taylor of TerraCycle. The money raised can be used for whatever the classroom needs. One school used funds to pay for an operation for a classroom pet, said Taylor. Other schools have used the money to pay for science clubs, class trips and classroom supplies.

= Here are a few of TerraCycle’s brigades to get school kids and nonprofits on the recycling path: The Nabisco Cookie Wrapper Brigade collects used cookie wrappers of any size from brands such as Oreo and Chips Ahoy! and donates two cents for each wrapper collected. TerraCycle uses proprietary technology to fuse the wrappers together into sheets of waterproof fabric, which then can be made into kites,

tote bags, shower curtains and much more. The Drink Pouch Brigade, sponsored by Capri Sun and Honest Kids, collects used drink pouches and donates two cents to participating schools or community groups for every pouch collected. The used pouches are cleaned and then sewn into colorful tote

Greater Kalamazoo Edition • April 2009

bags, handbags and other quality items. The Stonyfield Farm Yogurt Brigade collects used yogurt containers and donates two cents for each 6ounce and five cents for each 32-ounce container collected. They are then turned into eco-friendly planting

Conversation Starter

By Alexandra M. Fix

Go Green How to Build an Earth-Friendly Community By Nancy H. Taylor Gibbs Smith Publisher, 2008, $12.95 “If everyone in the United States switched to compact fluorescent lightbulbs, we could retire ninety power plants from production.” “The average American dinner travels roughly 1,500 miles before it ends up on the dinner table.” “Test scores in green schools show a 20 percent improvement over students tested in non-green schools. Studies show that the brain works better in a daylit environment.” With facts like these, Nancy Taylor attempts to open our eyes to the importance of making changes as a community. Yes, individually we can make a difference, a small difference, but imagine the impact if we could multiply our efforts by the number of neighbors we could influence. Taylor urges us to get involved and take action. If we’re going to replace appliances, do our homework and choose the most energy efficient models. If we’re going to reroof our home, add insulation to the roof and attic. We need to find out about and support green building initiatives in our community schools, hospitals and public buildings. It’s important that we understand the effect on the environment of our transportation choices and make changes where we can. Maintaining and enhancing water quality is a constant quest not to be taken lightly. Another area where we can effect change is in the choice to eat local, fresh and sustainable in order to reduce the consequences of food processing and transportation of goods over distances. This book holds so much food for thought in one compact, readable volume.

Handle with Care By Jodi Picoult Atria Books, 2009, $27.95 Willow O’Keefe, six years old, is a sweet, precocious, trivia-loving little girl and a perfect doll—as breakable as a china doll. She has osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), sometimes known as brittle bone disease. While still within the uterus, she experienced seven breaks and within four minutes after birth, she had sustained nine more. For Day 100 in first grade, Willow takes a list of the 75 bones she has broken so far and 25 more that she hasn’t broken yet. Faced with enormous medical bills and escalating household debt, Charlotte and Sean, Willow’s parents, realize that they might be able to ease a little of their financial difficulties if they could win a lawsuit against the obstetrician who provided their prenatal care. Certain clues of the enormity of Willow’s health issues were missed in early pregnancy testing and the possibility of abortion was not discussed. Painfully though, in filing a wrongful birth lawsuit against her obstetrician, Charlotte is actually suing her best friend, Piper. With skill and finesse, Jodi Picoult once again explores some hot topics. Conversations about this book will center around disabilities, quality of life, abortion and adoption. They will consider how coping with disabilities puts tremendous strain on family relationships. Life and love are complicated.

Mommy Millionaire, How I Turned My Kitchen Table Idea into a Million Dollars and How You Can, Too! By Kim Lavine St. Martin’s Press, 2007, $23.95 When her husband lost his job, Kim Lavine, a stayat-home mom in Grand Haven, Mich., joined the rising trend of women entering the business world as entrepreneurs and she made a grand success of her venture. For years she had been gifting friends with colorful corn-stuffed pillows to be warmed in the microwave for soothing moist heat or popped in the freezer for icy cold relief. She called them “Wuvits.” Determined to keep up the mortgage payments and put food on the table, her commercial venture began in earnest. As she put one foot after the other she found herself on the way to becoming a millionaire, even while putting her family first. The nicest part is that she has decided to share that wealth of experience and hard-earned knowledge with readers and potential women entrepreneurs. In this book, Lavine walks her readers through the steps in writing a business plan, developing and funding an idea, marketing a product, telling its unique story and ultimately devising and executing an exit strategy when the million has been made and you are ready to sell the company. Filled with details of her successes and failures, wise moves and mistakes, she offers herself as a valuable mentor for any reader aiming for a little slice of the American dream.

Seen through multiple viewpoints, readers will experience the fine lines between opinions we have come to expect from Picoult’s writing. In this, her sixteenth novel, Picoult has once again taken an issue of our times and developed it from all of its angles and opinions. What if Charlotte had been given a choice about Willow’s birth in the face of these looming disabilities? Many readers have strong opinions, for and against, Picoult’s novel endings. This ending will not disappoint that controversy. I made the mistake of letting down my guard for a moment, as the ending rolled smoothly to its conclusion. But, as with many Picoult novels, expect the unexpected. Prepare to be stunned.

Alexandra Fix is the author of ten non-fiction children’s books including the series Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (Heinemann Library). She is a former children’s librarian, registered nurse, freelance writer and avid reader. Enjoying college, one class at a time while her children were growing up, fed her love of literature and creative writing. She and her husband have five grown children and multiple grandchildren living all over the country.

Greater Kalamazoo Edition • April 2009

Greater Kalamazoo Edition â&#x20AC;˘ April 2009

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