celebrate Fall With Apple Inspired Recipes on Pages 12-13
Remember When
Kalamazoo Ice and Fuel Supply Co. was one of the largest suppliers of ice in Southwest Michigan. Founder, George C. Steers, started out as a horse trader, before diversifying his business and founding the Kalamazoo Ice and Fuel Supply Co. in 1893.
Three generations of the Steers family managed the company: George Steers Sr., George Steers Jr. and his son James Steers.
The business focused on providing Kalamazoo with ice to keep things cool during the warmer months, along with wood & coal to provide heat, during the colder months.
Ice
In the early years, much of the ice was cut in blocks from local frozen lakes and rivers during the winter and stored in insulated buildings for use during the summer. Much of the ice came from the town of Nottawa, located in St. Joseph County, Michigan.
The winter of 1909 was so mild that they were forced to establish a site further north at a great expense, setting up a site in Grand Traverse County at Fife Lake, with the ice blocks being transported all over via the railroad. As you can imagine, there was a noticeable increase in cost of ice that year. Folks in Kalamazoo were paying $2.70 (up 45¢) a month to have 25 pounds of ice delivered every day. It appears that they only did so for one year because it was
extremely cost prohibitive.
Kalamazoo Ice and Fuel Co. was located at 131 E. Kalamazoo Ave. (recent A-1 Printing location). The back door was open 24 hours a day to service customers. Additionally, they had warehouses and ice stations scattered around town.
One of their ice stations, at the corner of Park and Dutton Streets, was considered an annoyance to nearby property owners. In 1928, they sought to restrain Kalamazoo Ice and Fuel Co. from operating a cash & carry ice service station on the premises. The loud noise of ice delivery, the gas fumes emitted from cars waiting in line for ice and the tooting of horns for service, were mentioned in the suit, as well how the way ice was being carried away in carts, baby buggies, on top of lawn mowers and sometimes dragged along the sidewalk. In the circuit court the bill was dismissed and the plaintiffs appealed. The case was settled by Kalamazoo Ice and Fuel Supply Co., agreeing to conform to reasonable regulations. The ice was to be delivered quietly at the station and patrons were required to attract the attention of the attendant without tooting their automobile horns.
Kalamazoo Ice and Fuel Co. eventually created self-serve, automatic ice service, called Ice-O-Mats, that held ice in waterproof bags that were available 24 hours every day. The first ones were located at 1272 Portage St.
and at 3608 S. Westnedge Ave.
In 1960, Kalamazoo Ice and Fuel Co. became this area’s first artificial ice-making plant that completely replaced the natural ice process.
The ice was made much like the ice cubes in a home freezer, only on a much larger scale.
There were two important steps to the ice making process. The first is chemically treating water to get the hardness out. The second is the agitation of the freezing water to get the air bubbles out to provide clear ice. The ice is then crushed and put through a sizer, dividing various pieces into pea size, for concession stands, a nut size used for beverages and egg size used for different types of cooling and snow, which is of little use. From water to ice, the whole process took 48 hours.
The plant could produce 200 tons of ice a day at full capacity, but they usually made 40-50 tons, depending on the demand. This technology also allowed Kalamazoo Ice and Fuel to expand ice vending machine services to over 200 outlets. If the temperatures didn’t soar too high for too long, the ice needs of the community were met.
However, in 1966, this area experienced a 10-day hot spell with temperatures in the 90’s, that encompassed the 4th of July holiday. The city’s only manufacturer and distributor of ice, Kalamazoo Ice and Fuel, couldn’t keep up with the demand. It took a week to fully replenish the supply. The ice shortage occurred throughout the state.
In 1972, owners, Stuart & Michael Hargie, changed the name was to Michigan Ice Services Co., to better reflect their business at that time.
The electric refrigerator completely replaced the ice box by 1977, which was year that the final block ice delivery was made to an old folk’s home in
Kalamazoo.
By 1979, Michigan Ice Services was one of the last block ice manufacturers in the United States. Serving Michigan, and parts of IN, IL and OH. It was one of six ice companies that served the Kalamazoo area, but it was the only local ice manufacturing plant.
In 1986 Michigan Ice Services purchased Diamond Ice Inc. of Grand Rapids.
Unfortunately, on January 4, 1991, a massive fire caused 2.2 million worth of damage at Diamond Ice Company, owned by Jim Morren. The business was still open at the Kalamazoo Ave. location. It was determined that the 1/4” asbestos lining in the ice storage freezer, saved the building.
Fuel
Kalamazoo Ice and Fuel also supplied this area with wood and coal to keep homes warm and cozy in the winter. Many locals remember big coal trucks pulling up into their driveways and delivering coal into the open window that led to their coal chute, which created a loud boom and black dust to fly through the air.
They also provided bags of coal briquettes in “clean” paper bags for fireplaces and for grilling.
Founder, George C. Steers, and his predecessors, are credited for providing comfort, in the form of ice to keep things cold and heat to provide warmth, in Southwest Michigan for over a century.
Jackie Merriam
Sources: FB: Vanished Kalamazoo, callidusai.com, courtlistener.com, FB: Fife Lake Michigan Historical Society, Michiganmemories.org, KG 12/30/1960, KG 7/10/66, KG 8/27/67, KG 6/24/79, KG 1/5/91
5 Easy Steps on When and How to Bring Your Houseplants Inside.
They look so good!
If you’ve put your houseplants outside this season, by the end of the summer, many of those indoor/ outdoor plants are looking their very best. They’ve enjoyed elevated levels of warmth, light, humidity, and fertilizer over a long season. Added sunshine, rain, and ventilation is just the spa vacation we all need after a winter cooped up indoors!
But the days are noticeably shorter, and the temperatures are cooler in the mornings and evenings. It’s time to bring them in – so how do bring those newly vibrant houseplants inside without bringing in pests, or shocking them with a different environment?
1) Make the transition less painful –Start sooner than you think
For the most part, houseplants are tropical plants that cannot be left outside in cold climate gardens. Your houseplants will act as indoor décor during the long months of winter, and you want them looking their best.
To make the transition less painful, give the plants as little change in environment as you possibly
On a recent trip to Scotland, I was delighted by the use of many words and phrases for common day to day needs
Road signs we spotted along the way, are great examples of this: Give Way (merge), Dual Carriageway (two-way
can. That means moving them inside before those indoor/outdoor differences become too great – particularly nighttime temperatures.
If you wait until the 11th hour on the night of your first frost and haul them indoors to a drier, warmer, lower-light position, they will most likely react by dropping a lot of leaves.
2) Bathe, Inspect and Evaluate It’s important to give your plants a hose bath:
• washing off dust and debris,
• thoroughly soaking the growing medium, and
• perhaps most importantly, inspecting each leaf and treating the plant for visible pests. Check each leaf of your plants carefully front and back for the telltale signs of pests.
If not the pest itself, then leaf damage or indeed black mold which lives on the honeydew excreted by sucking insects.
3) Treat, and Then Treat Again
Hitchhiking pests such as aphids, spider mites, mealy bugs, and scale can rapidly become a problem in a warm indoor environment without insect predators.
road), Hump (speed bump), Loose Chipping (loose stone), Overtaking Lane (passing lane), Pony Trekking (Pony crossing) and Lorries Turning (big trucks turning). We also had a challenge understanding the vehicle’s GPS, which told us to take ½ right turn - what ‘s that? We quickly learned it meant to curve right, not to make a hard right turn.
Other everyday words that made me chuckle include: Loo (bathroom), Wee (small), Lift (elevator), Bin (garbage can), Nappy (diaper), Take Away (Take-out), Walkabout (take a walk), Footpath (trail), Tap (faucet), Dog Lead (dog leash), To Let (for rent), to name a few.
Foods and snack names were fun too. They say Chips to mean French fries and Crisps are what we refer
Pests can travel into the house on ornaments and on pots, not just leaves. Make sure you check and treat all surfaces.
Horticultural soap is very effective on soft-bodied insects such as aphids, whereas horticultural oil works well on hard-bodied insects like scale by smothering them. Repeated treatments are necessary as there are several stages to a scale insect’s life cycle, and eggs may be protected by the bodies of adult insects.
Another alternative is to use a systemic insecticide. Wedel’s suggests using Hi-Yield Systemic Insect Granules to protect your plants from insects lurking in the soil. This can be used in potted plants outdoors and indoors and should be used as a preventative.
4) Find The Perfect Place & Don’t Forget Your Saucers!
Once you’ve committed to another beautiful winter indoors, you’ll need to decide where it’s going.
If you’ve been gardening for many years, chances are you’ve ruined more than one indoor surface with an overwatered plant. We never think we have overwatered a plant until
to as chips. Flapjacks (pancakes), Biscuits (cookies), Porridge (oatmeal), and Black Pudding is actually blood sausage. In a shop, I asked the price of some brightly colored suckers. She looked confused until I pointed at one. She laughed and said, “You mean lollipop.” I was also challenged each time I ordered an iced tea. Apparently, tea should be hot. Occasionally, when I needed my iced tea fix, I would order hot tea and a large glass of ice. Picking up new words and sayings while traveling is often essential to be understood. However, you may even want to adopt some of the ones that are just too charming to leave behind!
Cheerio!
Jackie Merriam
we come back and find it sitting on a swollen, warped surface. Even if you are the most careful person in the world, it could happen. Save yourself the stress, invest in plastic saucers to go underneath the pretty saucers that you have.
Water issues are not just about drips. Condensation can build up between the saucer and the floor and cause mildew and disfigurement of the surface. Small spacers placed between the surface and the saucer will keep airflow from allowing this to happen.
5) Schedule Your Plant Care
Give your plants what they need on a regular basis. Strong houseplants that are not picky high-maintenance partners need three main things from you during the winter months when sunlight is low and growth is slow: regular water, regular feeding and regular pest inspections.
Article from the National Garden Bureau by Marianne Willburn with notes added by Wedel’s
Terrie Schwartz
Wedel’s Nursery, Florist & Garden Center
Graphic Designer: Lauren Ellis
Editor and Publisher: Jackie Merriam (269)
Cover Photo Taken by Laura Kurella
Random Acts of Artness
I’m sure I’ve talked about change before, but with the fall season, it is an easy and appropriate theme to revisit. I want to keep this brief, because, although you all should spend time reading through this paper, fall is one of my favorite times to spend outside, and you should do the same. Between the colorful leaves, huge billowing clouds, and the rust and golds found in the fields and forests, there is so much inspiration that can come from time spent outside. Back a few years ago, I used to encourage others to “look up” at the clouds whenever they needed to ground themselves and take a mental moment to remember their time, place, and worth in this world. As part of
Clouds of Change
spreading that message, I painted “pocket clouds,” little clouds painted on primed wood scraps that I would give to others. They could carry these clouds in their pocket; a physical, tangible reminder to look up. Look up when it’s a difficult day. Look up when you’re sad. Look up when you’re happy. Just stop, pause, and look up. Look up, because the clouds are the perfect reminder to embrace change and move with grace and ease with the moment. I would often say clouds are the best example of just being. They are not fighting
against their existence or the journey ahead. They build and grow, or they may even break apart. They shift and combine or dissipate into nothing. They are absolutely the best at going along with the changing winds. They are the supporting actors to the cosmos. Illuminated by the sun behind them, giving comfort by shading us from midday rays, and highlighting the quiet magic of the moon during the night.
And I bet you thought I was going to write about trees, you know, since that’s kinda my thing. Trees are,
clouds are, and people are all my “thing.” Trees are important. Clouds are important. You are important. And change is important. So, look up and appreciate all that the clouds can teach us: for today, reflecting on yesterday, and planning for tomorrow. Too soon the clouds will move on, and all that might remain is, perhaps, a cloud in your pocket, or even better, the reminder to embrace change. I’ve created 20 pocket clouds to give away randomly in this month’s issue of the Good News Paper. Hope you find one, or, if you don’t, simply look up.
Peace, Love, and Art. -Amy Instagram: @amylgieschen
The First Time I Saw Life Up Close: A Childhood Awakening
I’ve often talked about my childhood fascination with science—especially anything to do with nature. One moment stands out: the day I was introduced to protozoa—specifically, the paramecium.
I was nine years old, in fourth grade at North Intermediate School in Saginaw, Michigan. Our teacher was a young, energetic woman named Miss Manion. She had a knack for making science feel like a mystery worth solving. Her classroom was full of hands-on projects—we collected tree leaves, pressed them into scrapbooks, and labeled dozens of species.
But the lesson that stuck with me forever was about the paramecium. She told us these tiny creatures lived in pond water—and that just one drop could hold hundreds. It was the first time I realized there were living things all around us that we couldn’t see. A hidden world, revealed only through the lens of a microscope.
Miss Manion had a colorful diagram of a paramecium on the wall. I remember her walking us through its anatomy: the cilia—those tiny hairs—beat in rhythm to help it move and sweep food toward a gullet. Inside, bubble-like vacuoles digested food and handled waste. And in the middle of it all sat the nucleus—the command center.
But what truly amazed me—what has stayed with me for all these years—was the fact that the paramecium had a transparent cell wall. You could actually see inside the creature. It wasn’t just alive—it was open. The inner workings of life were right there, on display. That delicate membrane was like a crystal-clear window into the machinery of existence.
Miss Manion didn’t just teach us science—she shared it, like a secret worth knowing. And I wanted to know every secret she had.
That Christmas, I asked for one thing: a microscope. No toys, no games—just a way to keep exploring
this hidden world. And on Christmas morning, there it was: cool metal, glass slides, turning knobs. My very own portal into the unseen. I set it up on our kitchen stove, using the fluorescent light of our kitchen stove to illuminate the slides. I started with what came in the kit—onion skin, salt crystals, a bit of sugar—learning how to focus and adjust the light. I felt like a real scientist.
Looking back, that day in Miss Manion’s classroom was more than just a lesson. It was the first time science felt personal—not just facts on a page, but a key to understanding how the world really worked. Even on the tiniest scale, life was beautiful, complex, and wonderfully alive.
Years later in high school, I learned more about paramecia. The ones we studied were called Paramecium multimicronucleatum—a name that was fun to remember. These particular specimens had two kinds of nuclei— each with different jobs. But honestly, I was already hooked back in fourth grade. That early glimpse of transparent life had already lit the fire.
To this day, whenever I see a microscope, I think of Miss Manion, her vivid chart, and that strange, graceful creature that moved like it had a purpose. It taught me something that I think still holds true: even the smallest life can reveal enormous truths.
And maybe that’s what I love most about that memory. That tiny paramecium wasn’t just a scientific curiosity—it was proof that even the simplest forms of life can hold entire worlds. Through its transparent body, you could see everything—nothing was hidden, and every tiny part extraordinary.
Einstein once said, “The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives.” He also stated, “I have deep faith that the principles of the universe will be beautiful and simple.”
He called that feeling a kind of “cosmic religion.” And I think I understand what he meant. Because once you’ve looked into that tiny world—once you’ve seen life through the lens of wonder—it never leaves you.
We all have moments like this from childhood, I think—when something clicked and the world suddenly became larger, more connected, more alive. For me, it was a paramecium. For others, maybe it was a butterfly, a dragonfly, or the moon through a telescope.
Whatever it was, I hope we hold on to it. That sense of wonder isn’t just for kids. It’s for all of us—no matter how many years have gone by.
James D. Coppinger
e at w w w.Librar yReads.org
W We L e Loovve Y e You, Bunny ou, Bunny Mona Awad
(S&S/Marysue Rucci Books)
This atmospheric, wickedly funny prequel to Bunny is a treat. Readers get to know the bunnies and their first creation intimately. Arieus experiences many firsts: love, heartache, frat parties being made a muse. Awad fans will rejoice and new fans will be made with this riotous little novel.
T The Wil he Wilderness derness Angela Flournoy (Mariner)
Over the course of 20 years in New York and Los Angeles, Desiree, Danielle, January Monique, and Nakia face both the universal hardships of growing up and the specific challenges of doing so in 21stcentury America. These intertwining stories of five Black women finding their way into adulthood create a deeply moving portrait of friendship
Why I L Loovve Horr e Horror: Essay or: Essays on s Horr Horror L or Literiteraturature e Becky Siegel Spratford (Saga Press)
With introductions and readalikes by renowned horror expert Spratford and essays from contemporary writers,this collection will be a great resource for library staff. The essays get to the heart of why horror is such an important genre and why it speaks to such a diverse audience, with personal and entertaining passages. Horror fans and anyone who recommends books will find this invaluable
W e
Milo, an eternal wanderer and Prue, happily settled in her hometown, seem to have nothing in common. Through some tangled family challenges, they find that they have a lot to learn from each other. This wonderful romance features messy, moving, and complex characters who fight hard for their happily ever after
T The Phoebe V he Phoebe Variations ariations Jane
Told in flashback, Phoebe, about to graduate high school, is forced by her adoptive mother to meet her birth family, jumpstarting a search for identity and belonging that reveals layers of uncertainty and mistrust surrounding her best friend and the family of 14 who take her in. Illuminating and lush, this literary jewel will spark numerous discussions
Hear Heart the L t the Loovver er Lily King (Grove Press)
A young woman meets two friends, Sam and Yash, in her senior year college literature class Impressed with their intellect, she gets pulled into their circle and starts dating Sam. This coming-of-age story begins as they are all completing college, then finishes as they reconnect as adults. With beautiful writing and a character-driven story, this novel is perfect for fans of Sally Rooney
—Sophia Geron, Chesterfield Public Libraries, VA NoveList read-alike: We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman
A L Land So Wide and Erin A.
Greer, a mapmaker in the town of Mistaken who fantasizes about leaving, notices strange things happening. Then her lover mysteriously leaves town. In her attempts to save him, she learns about herself, her cursed town, and the lore surrounding both. This suspenseful and emotional romantasy is well plotted with great world building.
Hannah and four friends join a private retreat to relax and regroup after experiencing big life incidents and time apart
One by one, they start disappearing, and it's up to Hannah to figure out where her friends are and why Readers will enjoy this blend of horror and suspense with twists they won’t see coming.
Y You W
—Brooke G., DeKalb County Public Library, IL NoveList read-alike: I'm Not Done with You Yet by Jesse Q. Sutano
—Jennifer Alexander, St. Louis County Library, MO NoveList read-alike: Wahala by Nikki May
—Douglas Beatty, Baltimore County Public Library, MD NoveList read-alike: The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill
P Peopeoplle
Watching: A No atching: A Novveel l Hannah Bonam-Young (Dell)
Craig (Pantheon)
—Sharon Layburn, South Huntington Public Library, NY NoveList read-alike: Single Dads Club by Therese Beharrie
—Margaret Balwierz, Villa Park Public Library, IL NoveList read-alike: A Spell for Change by Nicole Jarvis
—Kristi Shepherd, Springfield-Greene County Library, MO NoveList read-alike: My Heart Is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones
—Ron Block, Cuyahoga County Public Library, OH NoveList read-alike: Sam by Allegra Goodman
Hamilton (Zibby Publishing)
Br Breathe In, Bl eathe In, Bleed Out eed Out Brian McAuley (Poisoned Pen Press)
arians
(Berkley)
—Kristin Skinner, Flat River Community Library, MI NoveList read-alike: 101 Horror Books to Read Before You’re Murdered by Sadie Hartmann
—Sarah Hamil, Twin Lakes Library System, GA NoveList read-alike: Brainwyrms by Alison Rumfitt
heart of the home
Put that rake down. Hang up the leaf blower. Increasingly, we are learning that much of what we do in lawn care goes against Nature—even harms our environment. At best, we are depriving our yards of the many benefits of leaf cover through the coming winter months. With millions of acres in this country devoted to our lawns, how we treat our lawns can make an immense difference in how we affect Nature.
Leaf cover teems with life. As cold creeps in, small animals and beneficial insects depend on leaf cover much as one would a warm blanket. Leaf cover boosts biodiversity. One square meter of leaf litter can house between 40,000 to 50,000 tiny arthropods that are easy to overlook but important to ecosystems. Bumblebee queens, frogs and salamanders, cocooned moths, earthworms, small rodents and other tiny invertebrates hunker down under the leaves to survive until spring. Birds who stay rather than migrate in fall depend on the bugs hidden in the leaves for sustenance.
Aside from providing habitat and a food source for wildlife, fallen leaves are rich with nutrients to feed your lawn when warm weather returns. Leaves retain moisture, add nitrogen to the soil, and can be a natural mulch for lawns and gardens, suppressing weeds.
Leave the Leaves
Raking leaves can also contribute to unnecessary waste. If burned, they contribute to planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions and release other toxic chemicals. Following a summer as dry as the one we just experienced, burning leaves can also have the danger of causing unwanted fires. If bagged, leaves go into landfills, adding to waste and releasing methane as
they rot—or fail to rot inside plastic waste bags.
Leaving leaves has yet another benefit in that the cover reduces erosion of topsoil, especially in areas prone to runoff or degradation. Topsoil contains the most nutrients, so leaving leaves over last summer’s garden can be especially beneficial.
Still can’t resist? Consider raking
only parts of your lawn while leaving some areas with leaf cover. Mowing over leaf cover rather than raking, as long as it is done in early fall before various life forms make it their habitat, can create a nutrient-rich mulch when left in place while helping those tiny creatures that make it home.
Composting leaves can at least preserve this natural ground cover and fertilizer for warmer seasons. Check if your community offers composting services if you don’t compost in your own yard. If you must use a leaf blower, at least use an electric one rather than gas-powered as burning gas contributes pollutants to the air.
Consider a few other added advantages. Personally, I love walking through that crisp and colorful loveliness covering my yard in autumn. I love having that extra time in my autumn days when I can enjoy the beauty of the season rather than declaring battle against it, spending hours in futile labor.
An important lesson for me as I moved to the country was learning that Nature always knows better. Whenever we fight Nature, we do wrong. Living within her rhythms and respecting her ways always means the wiser choice.
Zinta Aistars
TWO QUICK PATHS TO CARE.
New Names. Both Bronson. Bronson FastCare and Urgent Care are now Bronson QuickCare™ and QuickCare Plus.™ It’s the same trusted Bronson care — now with a clearer path to get it. For common illnesses visit Bronson QuickCare.™ For stitches or minor breaks choose Bronson QuickCare Plus.™ For serious emergencies like chest pain go to the nearest emergency room.
Emergency Room
A quote by Meister Eckhart reads “And suddenly you know: It’s time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings”.
One beginning that I anticipate my husband and I will exclaim many times initially is “what were we thinking!” I also predict a time or two we will express that now common satirical phrase that includes “it will be fun they said.” I can hear us now. “Let’s get a puppy so we have two bird dogs to pheasant-hunt with we said. It will be fun we said.” Yes, in a few weeks, we will be fitting into the picture of our lives another piece in the form of a German Shorthaired Pointer. At the end of September, a little brother will bring puppy breath – and teeth –along with additional joy to one of
Piece by Piece
his big sisters and disgust to his other big sister who took convincing that she would one day be grateful to have a little sister when Kutana first came home.
Soon we will experience fierce determination, strong will and drive, gifted sniffing capability and stubborn, I’m choosing not to fully listen to you while I go, go, go like the energizer bunny qualities of another GSP.
And of course, when these qualities are added to the puppy stage, well, in the wise words of my husband we get one thing - trouble! Ha!
As we reminded ourselves just a few short days ago when we counted the number of replaced items like sunglasses, a wallet, and shoes. We recalled the chipmunk we had to get
out of the dryer when Hans chased the chipmunk into the dryer vent. Or when the cashier at the store was quite curious at just how chapped my husband’s lips were when he bought Chapstick only a couple of days apart; she didn’t know the first purchase was full of Roo’s teeth marks. When we got the text message from Grammy that we needn’t worry. Kutana was ok. Even though she’d managed to reach the top of our five-foot cabinet and scatter what was on top across the floor, the fishhook did not get caught in her mouth.
Oh, what will be our memories with this little fella? Only the certainty that time will tell and that the memories will include GSP mischief, along with laughter and love.
The other new beginning is the
students I am blessed to be teaching at Western Michigan University this fall. The privilege I had last fall to teach a course has unfolded into teaching additional courses this year. Since there has not yet been an invention to add more time to a day. (smile)
We build puzzles best when we do not scatter our focus on several areas of the puzzle at one time. As I now focus on these new pieces, I am grateful that the picture of my life includes all of you who kindly and generously gave your time and attention reading Piece by Piece. Thank you for making my puzzle picture so beautiful.
Blessings to you, Christine Hassing
80 Years Ago: Detroit Tigers Win World Series
The 1945 major league baseball season was like no other in its importance in American history. The season ended just weeks after the celebratory end of World War II. More than 500 major league players who had been drafted into the U.S. armed forces began returning during the regular season, including the Detroit Tigers’ star power hitter Hank Greenberg and pitcher Virgil Trucks. The Tigers won the American League pennant, then faced the Chicago Cubs in the World Series. When Cubs second baseman Don Johnson grounded into the last out of Game 7, the World Series trophy came home to the “Arsenal of Democracy”: Detroit, Michigan.
It was the Tigers’ second of four world championships, the others won in 1935, 1968, and 1984.
When America entered the war, there was discussion of whether major league baseball should continue, given that many players would be drafted and resources might better be directed toward the war effort. But President Franklin D. Roosevelt strongly supported continuation of
the sport. On January 15, 1942—just 39 days after the attack on Pearl Harbor—he wrote to Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis: “I honestly feel that it would be best for the country to keep baseball going. There will be fewer people unemployed and everybody will work longer hours and harder than ever before. And that means that they ought to have a chance for recreation and for taking their minds off their work even more than before.”
The Tigers had some exceptional players in 1945 including infielders Rudy York, Eddie Mayo and Bob Maier, outfielders Doc Cramer and Roy Cullenbine, and pitchers Paul “Dizzy” Trout, Virgil Trucks, Al Benton, and Allegan County native and Western Michigan University alum Frank “Stubby” Overmire. The two biggest stars of the team were Greenberg and Detroit native Hal Newhouser.
Greenberg, the best power hitter in the game, had been the American League’s home run and runs-battedin leader four times, and Most Valuable Player twice. Then, in 1940, he
was the first American League player to register for the draft, reporting at Fort Custer near Battle Creek. After serving in the Army for 47 months—more than any other major league player—he returned to the Tigers on July 1, 1945 and hit a home run in his first game back. He also hit the dramatic grand slam in the 9th inning of the last game of the regular season to win the pennant. Baseball’s best pitcher was the Tigers’ Hal Newhouser, who was born into a family of blue-collar immigrants in the Motor City. Newhouser had never pitched a baseball until age 13, then played sandlot and American Legion ball for less than four years (including games against the Kalamazoo Legion team) when he was scouted and signed by the Tigers at age 17. He pitched his first major league game at age 18. The lefthander had one of the best three-year pitching spans in baseball history, winning a total of 80 games and losing just nine games each season from 194446. His 29 wins in 1944 has only been equaled once since, by the Tigers’ Denny McLain with 31 in 1968.
Newhouser was voted the American League’s Most Valuable Player in 1944 and 1945.
After a hard-fought seven-game World Series, the 1945 Tigers brought the World Series trophy home to a city and a state already celebrating the end of history’s greatest conflict.
Tony Ettwein HistoryZoo1837@gmail.com
Hank Greenberg
Hal Newhouser (1940)
Finding Hope and Connection
Aging is a journey filled with wisdom, memories, and meaningful milestones. It also brings advanced challenges and unforeseen changes. Some of these shifts are expected, while others come out of the blue. For many seniors, one of the quietest yet most painful endeavors are solitude and social isolation.
Seclusion is not just about being alone; it’s about feeling unseen, unheard, disconnected or invisible. It can weigh heavily on the mind, body and soul, sometimes more than we can comprehend. That’s why it is so crucial for individuals, families, and communities to discuss this topic with compassion, respond with care, and stop the stigma.
Why Loneliness Matters
Isolation is far more than an uncomfortable feeling. Research shows that chronic loneliness can be as harmful to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day (Holt-Lunstad, 2015). Nearly one in three older adults’ reports feeling socially secluded (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2020). These feelings of disconnection
don’t just impact mood, they increase the risk of depression, anxiety, cognitive decline, weakened immunity, heart disease, and even premature death (Cacioppo & Cacioppo, 2018). When loneliness goes undetected, it can quietly drain energy, disrupt sleep, create somatic symptoms and make daily life harder. Naming it- saying things like “I am lonely”, talking about it, and supporting each other is the first step toward healing. You may feel alone but there are ways to get connected, you may have to sit in the uncomfortable to allow the change to occur.
Common Causes of Loneliness in Older Adults
Behind every story of loneliness is a life filled with change. Some of the most common causes include: Loss of loved ones: Losing a spouse, partner, or close friend is not only heartbreaking but also disrupts daily companionship and routines.
Retirement: While often a joyful milestone, retirement can leave people feeling disconnected without the structure, purpose, and social connections that work once provided.
Health challenges: Illness, pain, or
limited mobility can make socializing more difficult, leading to unintentional isolation.
Transportation barriers: Something as simple as giving up driving can leave someone feeling abandon from friends, events, and independence.
Family changes: Adult children may move away, or loved ones may be busy with their own lives, leaving fewer daily interactions.
Each of these displacements carry its own version of grief, the grief for relationships, routines, or roles and daily purposes once encompassing life.
The Grief Connection
Grief is a natural part of life, but it can intensify loneliness if left unspoken. It doesn’t always look like tears; sometimes grief shows up as fatigue, withdrawal, irrational thoughts, irritability.
Naming grief is healing. Healing isn’t always linier, sometimes it’s messy. This may mean:
Talking openly about loss rather than holding it inside.
Finding support groups, counseling, or trusted friends to share the stress.
Understanding that there are stages in grief. And everyone grieves differently and in their own timeline.
Seasons of Connection: Restoring Purpose and Belonging in Aging
Grief reminds us of the depth of our love and connection. By naming it and sharing it, we open the door to healing. A sense of renewed hope and comfort can be felt if you allow yourself to be vulnerable about how you are feeling, because you aren’t alone…., other’s are also feeling this and normalizing can make you not feel like you are on an island.
Rebuilding Connection and Purpose
It is noteworthy to realize: loneliness and isolation do not have to be the final chapter of aging. Healing and reconnection are always possible. Sometimes though you have to take a step into the uncomfortable to feel the growth of reconnections. This may be smiling at an acquaintance, joining a gym or other activity in the area, even inviting someone to coffee…, all it takes is some bravery to make a new connection.
Some ways to nurture connection include:
Joining communities: Whether through senior centers, volunteer opportunities, religious groups, take some classes at a community college or art institute. Belonging to some-
thing larger than ourselves restores meaning.
Embracing technology: Learning video calls, online classes, or digital communities can help bridge distance and build friendships especially if transportation is an obstacle.
Intergenerational bonds: Spending time with children, grandchildren, or younger friends brings fresh energy. You have a lot to share, you just need to believe it.
Creative expression: Art, music, gardening, or writing are powerful outlets that bring purpose and beauty into everyday life. Look for a meetup
in your area, they may have a reading group, walking group, gardening group, the possibilities are endless.
Support from loved ones: Family and caregivers can make a change your mindset. Allow them to check in—not just about meals or appointments, but about feelings and stories, allow yourself to be vulnerable and create boundaries by knowing and speaking your needs and wants.
A Message of Hope
Disconnection and isolation are real, they don’t have to be your story. Every person regardless of age deserves to feel valued, connected, and
purposeful. Whether you are traveling alongside someone experiencing loneliness or you yourself is walking on the isolation journey remember that community and relationships are healing, and happiness is possible. Together, we can create spaces where older adults feel seen, heard, and embraced—because no one should walk through the golden years in islolation.
References
Cacioppo, J. T., & Cacioppo, S. (2018). The growing problem of loneliness. The Lancet, 391(10119), 426. https://doi.org/10.1016/S01406736(18)30142-9
Holt-Lunstad, J. (2015). Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: A meta-analytic review. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 10(2), 227–237. https://doi. org/10.1177/1745691614568352
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2020). Social isolation and loneliness in older adults: Opportunities for the health care system. The National Academies Press. https://doi. org/10.17226/25663
Dr. Julie Sorenson, DMFT, MA, LPC
Recipes fall for apples!
appetite suppressant and flavonoids and antioxidants with cancer-fighting benefits.
Fruity, flavorful, and loaded with health-promoting benefits, now is the perfect time to fall for apples!
The changing of Nature’s color guard also brings about a change in what we crave. It’s also made me come to realize that Mom’s “eat-onseason” rule was wise indeed because doing so not only saves you money, but also gains you access to fresher, more diverse nutrients that improve health, but also make everything taste so much better, too!
One of autumn’s offering that’s loaded with thriftiness, fabulous flavor, and mighty health benefits are apples. Loaded with goodness, apples combine their amazing antioxidants with their abundant fiber to help lower bad cholesterol and high blood pressure and thereby protect the arteries and the heart. they help boost good cholesterol, too. Helping to stabilize blood sugar, apples contain compounds that work as an
Offering polyphenols that help lower the risk of diabetes, phytochemicals that help reduce risk of both cancer and asthma; and quercetin, which helps improve memory and lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, apples also help hydrate our skin, which reduces wrinkles and help us look and feel good from the inside out!
Loaded with fiber that promotes good bowel health, an apple’s abundant fiber is also the ‘lynch pin’ that protects our bodies from disease.
Colon cancer authority Dr. Stephen O’Keefe has found that plant fiber is crucial to good health. “Plant fiber is what sustains (feeds) good bacteria in our colon. These bacteria convert the fiber into a protective substance called butyrate, which is what shields our colons from illness and disease.”
Noting that switching to a high plant fiber diet can increase levels
of butyrate substantially in just two weeks’ time, Dr. O’Keefe also mentioned that the absence of plant fiber in your daily diet is what will allow bad (illness-causing) gut bacteria to gain the upper hand. An apple a day will help you keep the doctor away, indeed!
A member of the rose family, apples are the second most valuable fruit grown in the United States. Taking four to five years for a tree to produce its first fruit, it takes the energy from about fifty of its leaves to produce just one single apple. It takes about two pounds of apples make one 9-inch pie, and it takes about thirtysix apples to make a gallon of apple cider.
Autumn is the season for apples, so there truly is no better time to indulge.
If you’re looking for an old family orchard to visit, check out sixtyfour-year-old Corey Lake Orchards (CLO) in Three Rivers, MI. A family-run orchard and farm stand
that is literally as old as me (perhaps why I am charmed by it), CLO offers a bounty of fresh-picked delights from spring through fall, and autumn’s harvest awaits you not only as a fresh-picked find, but also in a line of their own hand-crafted wine, liqueurs, and spirits, and in mouthwatering (and sometimes still warm) fresh-made treats to eat and drink hot from their bakery. Yum! Michigan is the third largest apple producing state in the United States, but many believe Michigan apples are the best-tasting in the world because of both our climate and the influence of our mighty Great Lakes! Here now is a feast of flavorful ways to help you fall for apples and some ideas to help you make your Halloween a little more flavorful, too. Enjoy!
Laura Kurella is an award-winning home cook who loves to share recipes from her Michigan kitchen. She welcomes comments at laurakurella@yahoo.com.
Apple & Sausage Quesadillas
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 Michigan Honeycrisp apples, cored and sliced 1/4-inch thick
Nonstick cooking spray
12 (6-inch) flour tortillas
1 package (12 ounces) fully cooked chicken and apple smoked sausage
8 ounces shredded pepper jack cheese
1/2 cup barbecue sauce
In medium skillet, heat butter over medium heat. Add apples and cook 5 to 6 minutes or until apples softened,
but not mushy, stirring occasionally. Heat griddle over medium heat; spray with cooking spray. Place 6 tortillas on griddle and divide sausage, cheese, and apple mixture over tortillas. Top with remaining tortillas. Cook 5 to 7 minutes or until tortillas are golden and cheese melts, turning quesadillas halfway through cooking. Cut quesadillas into quarters and serve with barbecue sauce for dipping.
Easy Apple Strudel
4 tablespoons butter, melted
2 large Gala apples (or fav.)
1/4 cup sugar
1-teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon lemon juice
5 sheets phyllo dough
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Peel, core, and thinly slice apples. Mix in sugar, spices, and juice. Place stacked phyllo sheets, unfolded, on a piece of parchment paper. Brush phyllo with butter then place filling in a 3” wide strip across dough. Fold in ends of dough and roll up. Place, seam side down,
on a baking sheet, cut four vent holes across the top, and bake for 30 minutes or till browned. Serve warm with sauce.
Sublime Sauce (optional)
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons sugar
Mix sour cream and heavy cream. Let stand at room temperature for 1 hour or until thickened like yogurt. Just before serving stir in remaining ingredients. Pour over strudel slices.
6 slices bacon
1 package (8.8 ounces) garlic-flavored naan bread (2 pieces)
4 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 Michigan Gala apple, cored and thinly sliced
1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
2 tablespoons honey
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place bacon on rimmed baking pan in
single layer. Transfer to oven and bake 18 to 20 minutes or until crisp; leave oven on. Transfer bacon to paper-towel lined plate and let cool before roughly chopping. Place naan pieces on rimmed baking pan. Top with cheese, apple, rosemary, thyme and bacon. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until naan is slightly crisp and toppings are warmed through. Serve flatbreads with parsley and drizzle with honey. Cut each flatbread into 4 pieces and serve immediately.
2 flat breads
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1/3 cup chopped walnuts
5 ounces Gorgonzola, Feta, or goat cheese
1/3 cup light cream
Olive oil to drizzle
2 large firm-sweet apples, cored and cut into 1/4-inch wedges
Kosher or sea salt to sprinkle freshly ground black pepper
2 ounces baby arugula leaves
Set a rack to the lower position then preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set flat bread on it then set aside.
In a heavy-bottomed skillet over low
heat, toast walnuts stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, with a standing or electric mixer, beat the cheese with the cream until it forms a thick paste. Drizzle flat bread lightly with oil then use a tablespoon to dot the surface of the flatbread with dollops of the cheesy cream. Arrange apple slices evenly over the surface then sprinkle with walnuts, salt, and pepper. Drizzle with a little more oil, then place in oven and bake until toppings are bubbling, about 6 to 9 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with arugula leaves right before serving.
3 cups peeled, cored, apples, chopped coarsely
3/4 cup diced onions
1/2 cup apple butter
1/2 cup dried cherries
1/2 cup white wine vinegar
1/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
1 teaspoon freshly minced garlic 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 or 3 shakes cayenne pepper, to taste In 4-quart saucepan with lid, combine all chutney ingredients. Cover. Over medium high heat, bring mixture to a boil (7 to 10 minutes); reduce heat to low. Continue cooking at low until mixture is thick, and apples are tender and soft (35 to 40 minutes). Serve with apple slices, brie or cheddar cheese, or serve on crackers. Refrigerate leftovers.
Vintage in the Zoo’s Fall 2025 Trend Report
Hello again, Good News Paper Readers! We hope your September is starting off cozy, colorful, and full of crisp fall air. With the change of seasons always comes a change in style, and this fall is no exception. Fashion cycles move quickly, but vintage always finds its way into the spotlight—partly because it never really goes out of style. What’s exciting to us is seeing how the vintage community continues to embrace shifts, reinterpret older looks, and make them feel fresh again. Our goal here is to highlight what we’re noticing in the market, with a little forecasting mixed in. And of course, at the end of the season, we’ll see if we were right (or just optimistically ahead of the curve ��).
The first thing we have to talk about: layering is back in a big way. This makes sense with cooler weather
approaching, but it’s also become a statement. Think oversized wool coats from the 80s paired with 90s flannels and 70s scarves. The more textures, the better. Layering with vintage pieces not only keeps you warm but also adds that sense of individuality that’s hard to get from today’s bigbox retailers.
We’re also seeing a revival of rich autumnal fabrics. Corduroy is practically everywhere—pants, jackets, skirts—and it’s bringing back a real “college campus in the 70s” vibe. Velvet and heavy knits are popping up too, especially in deep shades like burnt orange, olive, and chocolate brown. These pieces not only look great but are timeless, which makes them a perfect fit for the vintage rotation.
Another trend building momentum is the return of grunge-inspired
looks. Plaid flannels, oversized denim, and beat-up boots are becoming staple fall outfits again. The 90s “Seattle sound” is finding its way into closets, and it feels both nostalgic and surprisingly current. Pairing these with softer, feminine pieces—like a lace top or silk slip dress—creates that mix of edge and romance we’re seeing a lot of on the streets.
One unexpected but fun twist this season: vintage collegiate and sportswear. Letterman jackets, retro sweatshirts, and old team tees are making a big statement, often worn oversized and layered under those big coats we mentioned earlier. Prices on authen tic pieces are climbing, which shows just how much demand is out there.
And finally, we can’t ignore the bold accessory game. Chunky gold jewelry, vintage leather belts, and even patterned tights are being used
to elevate simple outfits. Accessories are becoming the gateway to vintage for a lot of younger shoppers—one statement piece can make an entire outfit pop.
As always, we encourage everyone to dig into secondhand first before reaching for new fast-fashion “retro” versions. Not only is it sustainable, but it’s also way more fun to know your velvet blazer or band tee has a story. We’ll be out here watching these trends unfold and cheering on every single person rocking their own vintage spin this season.
Here’s to a colorful, creative, and
-Chrysanthemums -Fall Containers -Pumpkins -Gourds -Trees -Perennials -Landscape Shrubs -Grasses and more
No, this is not an eye chart. This is about activities we do every day. Whether you’re craning your neck to see cars in the lane behind you, looking both ways as you cross the street, or trying to get the kinks out of your back caused by sitting at a desk too long, stiff muscles can pose problems. Virtually every activity we do, relies on ease of motion.
Tight muscles are prone to injury and stretching can help in a number of ways. It can lessen back pain, stiff necks, and sore knees. As we age, stretching can keep us active and flexible, making it easier to do everyday activities, like walking, climbing stairs, or simply reaching for something off the shelf. Equally important, it may help prevent life-altering falls, since flexibility and a good range of motion can improve balance.
Stretching is useful at any age to increase your range of motion, keep muscles limber, improve posture and balance, and help prevent falls. But it’s even more important as we age. Inflexibility puts a crimp in daily activities, making it harder to walk, raise your arms over your head, or turn your head while backing up the car.
Now that we established stretching is important, where to start? Some of us can stand or lay down to stretch but others need to sit. So let’s start
with stretching exercises that be done while seated and let’s make them one of the first things we do in the morning.
My recommendation is to start
with ankles. Ankles are our connection to the ground and need to be flexible or else we tip over and fall. Begin by rotating your ankles clockwise for about 15 rotations and switch to counterclockwise for the same number. Then point your toes forward and bring them back to vertical. A count of 10-15 should do it. These are done with our legs extended. You can do one ankle at a time or both together.
After your ankles, stretch your neck. You’ve sleeping for n extended period during which your neck didn’t move much. Start by placing your hand on the top of your head and gently tugging it to the side. Notice the word “gently.” Alternate the tug to the other side. Give your head three or four gentle tugs, holding each one to a slow count of five. Then tilt your head back and look at the ceiling and then tuck your chin into your chest.
Since we sit way too much, next stretch your hamstring muscles. These
are the muscles that go from the back of your knee to the bottom of your buttocks. Extend your right leg, take your right arm, hold it as high as you can, inhale, and slowly exhale as you try to touch your toes. Repeat on the left leg. If you’re new at this, it’s likely you won’t get very far. Be patient with yourself and know you’ll get better. Try four or five reps on each leg. Hold the stretch for about 10 seconds. You may notice that you were able to go a little deeper by your fifth repetition.
Of course, there’s plenty more you could do. I’ll return next month for more stretching suggestions. In the meantime, U-tube has countless stretching workouts for novices and more seasoned participants. The key is to do it!
MAKE your day great and be kind.
Till next time,
Ken Dettloff ACE Certified Personal and Brain Health Trainer
Create a beautiful autumn flower arrangement at one of three upcoming events offered at the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station.
Classes are led by Sherri Snyder, local artist and owner of Green Goddess Farms, and will meet in McCrary Hall, which is next door to the W.K. Kellogg Manor House. Supplies will be provided. No experience is necessary for the classes; and bringing garden gloves and pruners is helpful, but not required. To register and reserve your spot, call (269) 6712160.
Workshops
Thursday, Oct. 9, 6 to 8 p.m. — The Autumn Pumpkin Floral Arrangement class will use a pie pumpkin to
Fall Craft Workshops Offered By The Kellogg Manor House
hold an arrangement of fresh, locally grown flowers. The cost is $50 for Manor House members, and $55 for non-members.
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 10 to 11:30 a.m.
— The Mum’s the Word class will use locally grown heirloom and vintage mums along with other seasonal stars in a lovely vase arrangement, focusing on how to incorporate different color palettes. The cost is $50 for Manor House members, and $55 for nonmembers.
Wednesday, Oct. 29, 6 to 8 p.m.
— The Heirloom Pumpkin Arrangement class will use a beautiful specialty pumpkin to hold an arrangement of locally grown dried flowers. The arrangement should last a month or more, making it a great idea for a Thanksgiving dinner cen-
terpiece. The cost is $52 for Manor House members, and $57 for nonmembers.
The Kellogg Biological Station Carriage House is located at 3700 E. Gull Lake Dr., in Hickory Corners. To learn more, visit conference.kbs. msu.edu. Direct questions to the Manor House at (269) 671-2160 or conference@kbs.msu.edu.
About the Manor House
Built in 1925-26 on the highest point overlooking beautiful Gull Lake, the Manor House was once the summer home of W.K. Kellogg. The Manor House’s mission is to share with the public Kellogg’s legacy of philanthropy as well as information about the research undertaken at
the Kellogg Biological Station. The Manor House hosts special events to further support KBS’s research and education mission, and is available to tour independently year-round or with a docent by appointment.
About the Kellogg Biological Station
As MSU’s largest off-campus educational complex, KBS has put its land-grant values into practice for nearly a century, providing the public with examples of science’s crucial role in sustaining natural and managed communities. KBS students and faculty work to understand and solve real-world environmental problems for a better tomorrow. To learn more, visit kbs.msu.edu.
Great Selection of Boots for Fall & Winter
Western Michigan University Theatre Opens Season with Utopia
An Evocative, Joyful Celebration of Love, Life, and Community
Western Michigan University Theatre opens its 2025–2026 season with Utopia, a play by Charles L. Mee, reimagined and directed by Joan Herrington. Performances run September 26–October 12 in the York Theatre at
the Gilmore Theatre Complex.
Unlike a traditional, plot-driven play, Utopia is an experience — a mosaic of stories unfolding in a café.
A mother and daughter sit with coffee and croissants, listening as people around them reveal their lives in moments of love, hope, heartbreak, and delight. Imagine overhearing conversations at nearby tables, each filled
with its own blend of tenderness, whimsy, and reflection. That is the world of Utopia.
voices that is funny, tender, whimsical, and quietly profound.
“It’s just so lovely,” one colleague observed in rehearsal, and that loveliness is the heart of this production: the beauty of connection, the warmth of community, and the quiet joy of small, shared delights.
Director Joan Herrington explains, “When you produce a play by Charles Mee, he offers the opportunity to re-envision the work. His plays are not meant to be staged exactly as written but to be ‘remade.’
“Utopia can be enjoyed as respite, a candy-coated breather from the horrors just outside our window... The dialogue, a bouquet of near nonsequiturs, tends toward the precious.” — The New York Times
Performance Schedule:
September 26, 27, October 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 at 7:30 PM September 28 and October 5, 12 at 2:00 PM
Location: York Theatre, Gilmore Theatre Complex, Western Michigan University | 1351 Theatre Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
This version of Utopia includes text from several Mee plays, poems by Pablo Neruda, and music by Vivaldi and Bach. The poetry and music allow the characters to share their inner fears, passions, and turmoil — the joy and pain of finding and losing love. These interludes, part of Mee’s larger collage, serve as windows into the soul.”
Audiences can expect an evening that feels both intimate and expansive: a tapestry of human
Tickets: Available now at wmich. edu/theatre or by calling the box office at (269) 387-6222.
*2025-2026 SEASON
Western Michigan University Theatre’s full season includes beloved classics, iconic musicals, and bold contemporary stories, all created with the artistry and energy of WMU theatre students.
Extreme Sports: Beyond Human Limits invites you to challenge yourself as you jump, fly, dive, and climb, while exploring some of the most extreme sports in the world. In this action-packed exhibit, discover what it takes to maximize your potential while you explore the psychology and science behind the thrills and spills of adventure sports!
Explore the science behind athletes as you learn the physical strength
and razor-sharp mentality that fuels their determination. Hear stories from around the world that highlight athletes’ dedication and unwavering determination. Although you may think that certain sports are exclusively reserved for daredevils and thrill seekers, Extreme Sports will demonstrate that these activities require an elite level of technical skill, high intelligence, and quick decisionmaking abilities.
There are a variety of activities designed specifically for both kids and adults, creating an environment full of adrenaline and discovery.
EPIC EXHIBIT FEATURES:
• Challenge your balance on a high-line
• Try out a parkour course
• Enter a virtual race
• Pilot a wingsuit in a simulated adventure
• Scale kid-sized climbing walls
• Snuggle into a portaledge hanging tent
Developed by Science North in partnership with Ontario Science Center.
This traveling exhibit is sponsored by Outfront.
Air Zoo is located at 6151 Portage Rd., in Portage. Hours are Monday –Saturday 9am-5pm and Sunday from noon-5pm. The Extreme Sports: Beyond Human Limits exhibit is Included with general admission. For more information visit airzoo.org.
environment Fall In Line
Well, it happened again this year, just like clockwork. My afternoon pool outings came to an abrupt end! Bye-bye afternoons of catnapping on the float, reading a magazine, soaking up the warm summer sun. Even in retirement after 30 years of teaching, the Earth seems to know when it’s time to go back to school. I’ve noticed that after Labor Day, regardless of the outside temperature, the light striking the pool changes. The birch tree that only shades a small portion of the pool for most of the summer seems to completely obscure the surface from those toasty rays that are made for basking. When I was working, it was a definite signal that it was time to be back at it with a new crop of students. Now, even though I could continue to enjoy my leisure for another few weeks, it seems that Mother Nature has decided that it’s time for me to move on to autumn. No more pool time for almost 10 months. Darn!
This year, our hot, dry summer seemed to end as if someone flipped the switch to usher in much below normal temperatures. It made saying adieu to the pool somewhat easier. Coupled with darker mornings and earlier sunsets, autumn seemed to arrive with shocking speed. How can we lose so much daylight so fast? The answer, dear readers, lies in a series of complex astronomical events that result in the seasonal changes that we experience every year. And I won’t even consider the time change…
Understanding this series of phenomena is no easy task. A Private Universe, an educational film examining student misconceptions about science, asked Harvard graduates and their professors to explain how the seasons operate. They are shown confidently attempting to clarify this basic earth science concept, although mostly incorrectly! Studies repeatedly show that as many as 95% of Americans are unable to correctly attribute the changing of seasons to the Earth’s fixed 23° tilt about its axis as it orbits the Sun. Instead, many respondents point out our elliptical yearly orbit and claim that differences in the distance from the Sun to the Earth are responsible, with summer occurring when Earth is closer to the Sun and winter corresponding to that time when the planet is farther away. It would seem to be a reasonable explanation, except that it isn’t true. It’s much more complicated!
The seasons that we experience here in the Northern Hemisphere are due to the astronomical relationship between our half of the Earth and the angle at which the Sun strikes our land masses. Our summer solstice - the day with the longest daylight hours - occurs on June 21st (or thereabouts), when the tilt of our hemisphere on its axis is situated closest to the Sun, intercepting solar
energy rays more directly than on any other day. If we lived along the Equator, the Sun would be almost directly overhead at a 90° angle (± the angle of tilt) to the Earth’s surface. While we are tilted toward the Sun, experiencing summer, our neighbors in the Southern Hemisphere are at positions farthest away, experiencing their winter season.
At Michigan’s latitude, approximately midway between the Equator and the North Pole, we experience the incoming solar energy at angles slightly less than land masses at the Equator - approximately 70-ish degrees in June, but still more intensely than at other times of the year. Latitude becomes significant with respect to day/night cycling even in our state. Consider that at the winter solstice in December, daylight hours in Sault St. Marie in the U.P. are a full 27 minutes less than in Lansing!
As we travel around our yearlong orbit, Michigan moves away from the direct rays of the Sun, still receiving solar energy, but those rays are striking at a less direct angle, say 48-ish degrees during the autumnal equinox. By the time our little trip around the big star reaches the shortest day of the year (the winter solstice, on about December 21st), the angle of rays striking Michigan is only about 25°. The Sun rises every day, but it is low in the sky, and its rays are spread over a large area of land mass, making solar warming less efficient. Fret not, though, after this solstice, spring is on the way.
Right now, in late September (or early October), we are in the region of the astronomical year when our hemisphere is tilting away from the Sun. The term equinox means “equal night”. This year, the autumnal equinox fell on September 21st, marking the beginning of the season of colder days and less sunlight. If you think that our days are cold and dark, you’re right! The Sun’s rays, due to our latitude and the Earth’s tilt, need to travel farther and at a less direct angle to reach our particular neighborhoods.
So – what does all of this have to
do with my pool? Well, because of the Earth’s tilt (which is constant) and its elliptical orbit around the Sun (which is not constant), the rate of change in daytime hours when solar rays strike our particular latitude is inconsistent. After the summer solstice in June, days begin to get shorter, but not at a steady rate. At the solstice, Michigan typically receives about 15 hours and 15 minutes of sunlight. Over July, it loses about 17 minutes, and by the equinox in September, it receives only about 12-1/2 hours of daylight. That’s right! We lose approximately 3 hours of sunlight, relentlessly, minute by minute, over those summer months. My pool days are over because sunrise is later, sunset is earlier, and the angle of the Sun is more oblique to the Earth’s (or swimming pool’s) surface. The cards are stacked against my continued floating enjoyment!
But no worries! Once we pass the winter solstice, longer days will return again! Between December and January, we gain 20 minutes of sunlight, albeit cold sunshine. By March 21st, the vernal equinox, we will have regained those hours we lost in the fall, and spring is on the horizon. By then, everything will be looking brighter –
perhaps because we can look forward to so many more warm days ahead due to the Sun’s rays are striking at a more direct angle!
In the meantime, for now, fall has arrived. I look forward to snuggling in with two big, furry dogs (and a chubby cat), sipping some warm cider, and catching up on more Netflix than I can possibly accommodate. Oh yes, and maybe a few naps!
Cheryl Hach Retired Science Teacher
Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center
References: (2025, September 4). Michigan Center, Michigan weather, historical data. Wanderlog.com. Retrieved September 4, 2025, from https:// wanderlog.com/weather/72197/2/ michigan-center-weather-infebruary#:~:text=The%20average%20day%20in%20Michigan%20 Center%20during,amount%20 of%20daylight%20with%20only%20 9.1%20hours
Bacca, E. (n.d.). The days are getting shorter, but here’s when the day length really starts to tank. WOODTV.com. Retrieved September 7, 2025, from https://www.woodtv.com/ weather/the-days-are-getting-shorter-but-heres-when-the-day-lengthreally-starts-to-tank/ Reuell, P. (2013, April 30). Understanding student weaknesses. The Harvard Gazette. Retrieved August 31, 2025, from https://news.harvard. edu/gazette/story/2013/04/understanding-student-weaknesses/ [YouTube]. (2024, September 19). How the seasonal sun angle impacts weather, temperature [Video]. WTOL 11. https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=AXhypg0sJvA [YouTube]. (2024, September 19). Private Universe opening clip [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=wOLph2zyiNY
Through January 4
FREE october Events
Exhibit: Dancing with Life: Mexican Masks, Kalamazoo Valley Museum
Wednesdays, Oct. 1,8,15,22,29
Mugs & Hugs, stories, activities, play, 10-11am, Vicksburg Library
Wednesday, Oct. 1,8,15,22,29 Wednesday Wigglers, infant/Toddler, 10:15am, Richland Library
Wednesdays, Oct. 1,8,15,22,29
Teen Dungeons & Dragons, 3-5pm, grades 6-12, Register: 629-9085, Richland Library
Wednesdays, October, 1 8, 15 Cruise In’s & Live Music, Gilmore Car Museum, 5-8pm
Wednesdays, Oct. 1,8,15,22,29 Trivia at the Taproom, 7-9pm, Apoptosis Brewing Co., Kal.
Thursday, October 2
WMU Master Class: Rufus Reed Quartet, 1pm, Dalton Recital Hall
Thursdays, Oct. 2, 9
Allegan Farmers Market, 8am2pm, Corner of Water & Cutler St.
Thursday, October 2
Adult Book Club: The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by Janes McBride, 9:30-10:30 Vicksburg Library
Thursdays, Oct. 2,9,16,23,30 Free Thursdays, 11am-8pm, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
Thursdays, Oct. 2,9,16,23,30 Teen Dungeons & Dragons, 4:30-6:30pm, Register: 629-9085, Richland Library
Thursday, October 2
Gallery Gathering: Richard Mayhew’s Mohawk Hills, 5:30-6pm Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
Thursday, October 2
Wine & Euchre, 6-8pm, Sign up ahead, 468 Wine, Portage
Thursday, October 2
Flavors of Fall Cooking Class, 6-7:30pm, Register: Richland Library @ Richland Comm. Ctr.
Thursdays, Oct. 2,9,16,23,30 Triple Threat Trivia, 6:30pm Presidential Brewing Co.
Thursdays, Oct. 2,9,16,23,30 King Trivia, 7-9pm, Gull Lake Distilling Co., Galesburg
Thursdays, Oct. 2,9,16,23,30 Music Extreme Bingo, 7pm Shakespeare’s Pub
Thursdays, Oct. 2,9,16,23,30 Music Bingo, 7-9pm, Louie’s Trophy House, Kalamazoo
Thursday, October 2
Slap Your Tail Comedy: Open Mic, 7:30pm, Doors open 7pm Dormouse Theatre, Kalamazoo
Fridays, Oct. 3,10,17,24,31 Sit N’ Stitch, 10am-12pm Richland Library
Fridays, Oct. 3,10,17,24,31
Family Story Time, 10:15am, All ages, Richland Library
Fridays, Oct. 3,10,17,24,31
Live Music @ The Dock at Bayview, 8pm-12am
Saturdays, Oct. 4, 11,18,25
Kalamazoo Farmers Market 7am-1pm, 1204 Bank St.
Saturdays, Oct. 4,11,18,25
Texas Township Farmers Market 8am-Noon, 7110 Q. Ave.
Saturdays, Oct. 4,11,18,25
Otsego Farmers Market 9am-2pm, 112 Kalamazoo St.
Saturday, October 4
Vintage Mart, 10am-5pm Factory Coffee, 213 Frank St., Kal.
Saturday, October 4
Beginning Birding Walks, 11am Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery, Kal.
Saturday, October 4
Baby Grands with Luther S. Allison, 11am, relaxed familyFriendly event with snacks Alma Powell Library, Kalamazoo
Saturdays, Oct. 4,11,18,25
Live Music, The Dock @ Bayview, 8pm
Saturday, Oct. 4,11,18,25
Karaoke & Dance Night Back Alley Saloon, 9pm12am, Continental Lanes
Sundays, Oct. 5,12,19,26 Portage Farmer’s Market 9am-1pm, Portage City Hall
Sunday, October 5
Plant-Based Party, 12-4pm Kalamazoo Farmers Market
Sundays, Oct. 5,12,19,26
Sunday Night Blues Jam, 6-9pm, Shakespeare’s Pub
Mondays, Oct. 6,13,20,27
Family Storytime 10-11am, Books, songs, more! Vicksburg Library
Monday, October 6
Italian Dinner, 4:30-7pm Gull Lake High School By Gull Lake Area Rotary Tickets: Gulllakerotary.org
Monday, October 6
WMU Master Class: Iian Morgenstern Bass Trombone 6pm, Dalton Recital Hall
Monday, October 6 Make a Miniature Craft 6pm, Parchment Library
Tuesday, October 7 Kalamazoo County Senior Expo 9am-3pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center
Tuesdays, Oct. 7,14,21,28 Preschool Workshop (ages 3-5) 10:15am, Richland Library
Tuesday, October 7 Craft Stitching Groupbring a craft, 1-4pm, Parchment Library
Tuesdays, Oct. 7,14,21,28 Weekly Gaming, grades 6-12, 3-5pm, Richland Library
Tues. Oct. 7 & Wed. Oct. 8
Art 101: Beginning watercolor, 6pm, Register: Richland Library
Tuesdays, Oct. 7,14,21,28
Trivia @ 468 Wine, 6:30-8:30, 8842 Portage Rd., Portage
Tuesdays, Oct. 7,14,21,28 Trivia Night, 7-9pm Louie’s Trophy House
Wednesday, October 8
Birds & Coffee Chat on Zoom: Ducks, 10-11am, register: birdsanctuary@kbs.msu.edu
Wednesday, October 8
ArtBreak: The Rope Project: A Community Connected, 12-1pm Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
Wednesday, October 8
Bad Art Night, 5:30-6:30pm Vicksburg Library
Wednesday, October 8
Studio Recital: Best of MAT 7:30pm, WMU Dalton Recital Hall
Thursday, October 9
High School Portfolio Day, for high school juniors & seniors, 8amNoon, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
Thursday, October 9, 23
Teen Break & Bulldog Break For teens & Tweens
2:45-4:45, Vicksburg Library
Thursday, October 9
Writers’ Motivational Group, 4-5pm, Vicksburg Library
Thursday, October 9
The Art of Brush: Family Night With Chinese Ink Painting, 6-8pm, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
Thursday, October 9
Friends Read Book Club, discuss what you’re reading/refreshments
6:30-&:30pm, Paw Paw Library
Fri., Oct. 10 – Sat., Oct. 11
Fall Stamp & Cover Show, 10am5pm, Kalamazoo Expo Center
Friday, October 10
Memory Café – for people with Mild dementia and their care Partners, 10:30am – Noon Paw Paw District Library
Friday, October 10
Boo Bash: Family Friendly Halloween Event, 6-8pm, Richland Library
Saturday, October 11
Kalamazoo Indoor Flea Market, 9am-3pm, Kalamazoo Expo Ctr.
Saturday, October 11
Internet Users group, bring Smart Phones, 10am-Noon & questions, Paw Paw Library
Saturday, October 11
Fall Craft Show, 10am-3pm Girl Scouts Heart of MI
Saturday, October 11
Art Detectives: A very Big Fall by Emmy Kastner, 10:30-noon Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
Saturday, October 11
Geek Fest, 11am – 3pm Kalamazoo County Expo Center
Saturday, October 11
Washington Ave. Arts & Culture Crawl, Kal., 12-4pm
Sun., Oct. 12 – Jan. 4, 2026
Exhibit: Am I An American Or Am I Not? Kalamazoo Valley Museum
Sunday, October 12
Vintage in the Zoo, 10am5pm, Kalamazoo Farmers Mkt.
Sunday, October 12
2nd Sundays Live: Parkwyn Jazz Trio, 2pm, Parchment Library
Monday, October 13
Parchment Book Group: The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmer, 6pm, Parchment Library
Tuesday, October 14
Scrabble Club for Adults, 1-2:30, Vicksburg Library
Tuesday, October 14
Cookbook Club: Life’s too Short to Stuff a Mushroom by Prue Leith
Try recipe at home/bring to share 6pm, Richland Library
Tuesday, October 14
Gargoyles, Grotesques, GraveYards & Ghosts, 6-7pm
Presented by MI photographer and historian Jeff Morrison, Paw Paw District Library
Wednesday, October 15
Book Discussion: The Lantern of Lost Memories, 2-3pm, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
Thursday, October 16
Artful Night: Joy Light Lecture In East Asia Art: East Asian Birding in the Galleries, 6-7pm Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
Thursday, October 16
KIY Pet Ghosts (ages 10-14), 6pm, Register, Parchment Library
Thursday, October 16
Book Club: Slade House by David Mitchell, 6pm, Richland Library
Monday, October 16
STEAM event & activity 6-7pm, Vicksburg Library
Thursdays, October 16
Heartbreak Book Club: The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling, 6:30-7:30 Paw Paw District Library
Friday, October 17
Fiber Friends-bring project/lunch, 10am-2pm, Parchment Library
Fri., Oct. 17 – Sun., Oct. 19
Hot Tub & Swim Spa Sale, Fri. 11-6, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 11-4, Kalamazoo County Expo Center
Friday, October 17
Spooktacular – trunk-or-treating, Carnival games, prizes & more! 7:30pm, Paw Paw Library
Saturday, October 18
Arts & Eats Tour: Free Admission 9am-5pm, Kellogg Bird Sanctuary
Saturday, October 18
Once Upon a Saturday, 10:15am All ages, Richland Library
Saturday, October 18
Washi Tape Bookmarks, 11am3pm, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
Saturday, October 18
Trunk or Treat, 1-4pm, Cryptid Crossfit, 5070 E. Main St., Kal.
Monday, October 20
STEAM event & activity 11am-noon, Vicksburg Library
Tuesday, October 21
Lego & Duplo Club, 1-2pm & 5:30 – 6:30pm, Vicksburg Library
Tuesday, October 21
Se Shanty Singalong, Presented By shantyman Ben Traverse, 6-7pm, Paw Paw Library
Tuesday, October 21
Mystery Book Club: Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge, 6:30pm, Parchment Library
Tuesday, October 21
Team Jeopardy Trivia Night, 7pm, Register @ Richland Library
Wednesday, October 22
ArtBreak: A Visit to the Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, 12-1pm, Park Trades Center, Kalamazoo
Wednesday, October 22
Between the Pages Romance Book club, 6pm, Register: Richland Library, event at Ned’s on Gull Lk.
Thursday, October 23
Ghost Board, grades 3-5, 4pm, Richland Library
Thursday, October 23
College Night, 6-8pm, DJ/food, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
Friday, October 24
Poetry Circle for Adults, 121pm, Vicksburg Library
Friday, October 24
Blood on the Clocktower: Ghosts & Ghoulies, 5-9pm Register, Richland Library
Sat., Oct. 25-Sun. Oct. 26
Harvest Craft Show, Sat. 9am3pm, Sun. 10am – 3pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center
Saturday, October 25
Mystical Market Halloween Celebration, 10am-5pm, Factory Coffee, 213 Frank St., Kal.
Saturday, October 25
Halloween Craftiness (grades 1-4) Register ahead, 10:30am, Parchment Library
Saturday, October 25
Halloween Forest, 2-4pm Milham Park, Kalamazoo
Sunday, October 26
Trunk or Treat, 1-3pm, Free Costumes, face painting, candy, St. Timothy’s Church, Richland
Sunday, October 26
WMU Master Class: Gia Evans, Flute, 1pm, Dalton Recital Hall
Monday, October 27
Read Aquiet for Adults,10:3012pm, Vicksburg Library
Monday, October 27
Kalamazoo County ID
Mobile Unit, 3-6pm, Parchment Library
Saturday, October 28
Savvy Solo Traveler, 6pm Richland Library
Wednesday, October 29
LEGO Challenge, PreK-5th grade, 2-5:30pm, Richland Library
Thursday, October 30
Halloween Celebration, wear your costume, food, games, 5:30-7:30pm, Vicksburg Library
Thursday, October 30
Gallery Shop Artist Feature: Deborah Percy & Arnold Johnston, 6-8pm, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
Thursday, October 30
Zombie Toss (ages 10-14), 6pm, Register, Parchment Library
Thursday, October 30
Between the Lines Book Club: The Poison Thread by Laura Purcell, 6:30-7:30, Paw Paw Library
Friday, October 31
Listen Up Book Club-
An audiobook club for people with low vision, 10:30-11:30, Paw Paw Library