Remember When
R.M. Jones Gift Shop was the place to shop “for those who like the finer things.” If you wanted to give an extra special wedding, birthday, anniversary or holiday gift, R.M. Jones was the prime destination in downtown Kalamazoo for over 70 years!
The shop was founded as a Regina Vacuum store by Helen and Roland Monroe (R.M.) Jones in 1937, with a $1,200 loan from Helen’s parents. In addition to vacuums, they carried small appliances, including toasters and irons. The industrious couple added fine and costume jewelry to the mix during WWII, when merchandise was hard to get.
The original location was in a small room on the second floor above Paul Morrison Jewelry in downtown Kalamazoo. The Depression opened some stores in the State Theatre building, so they moved into the space at 113-114 W. Lovell St., which doubled their floor space and was completely remodeled in 1939.
Sometime later, rents went soaring, so they moved to a 2-story building located at the foot of W. Main Hill at corner of Stadium and W. Main Street (738 W. Main St.)
Helen & Roland’s business model was simple, following the Golden Rule and treating others as you would want to be treated. They went out of
their way to be helpful and provide the best customer service around. If someone was looking for a specific dinnerware or flatware replacement piece, they would find it.
Their son, Robert (Bob) Granville, joined the business and it became a big seller of unique gift items and collectibles, such as Waterford Crystal, Royal Copenhagen China from England, Swarovski Chrystal ornaments, figurines, broaches and pins, Hummel, Lladro and Norman Rockwell figurines, Beeleek Giftware and the Fontanini nativity line from Italy, among others.
Former customers shared their fond memories of the store on the popular Vanished Kalamazoo Facebook site, including: “They carried the best in Kalamazoo. I registered there for wedding gifts, it was a status thing years ago.” “It was really special if someone bought you a gift from R.M. Jones. I still have a music box from my 12th. Birthday.” “Jones Gift Shop was a great place to buy music boxes. Too bad it has vanished. The shop had unique gifts that could not be found elsewhere.” “My grandmother always loved going in there.” “Christmas and birthdays were always special with gifts from Jones. Always the best customer service.”
“My wedding china came from Jones’.” “My mom or Aunt would
take me in there, as a young boy, and I felt like I was being punished, until we visited the soda fountain at the drugstore next door called Dunwell’s.”
The hard-working founding couple worked in the store until their retirement. Roland retired at age 80, and Helen remained active in the business until Roland’s death at the age of 83. Helen lived to be 91.
The family affair continued when Bob, age 68, and his son, Ronald Monroe, age 35, took over the business after the owners retired. Ronald was well-groomed to take over the business, working full time since he was 21 years old. Father and son were raised in the business.
Early in 2002, the city of Kalamazoo bought the Jones building, one of the oldest in Kalamazoo, along with all the other shops at the foot of W. Main Hill. The buildings were razed on December 6th, 2010 to make room for Walgreen’s Pharmacy.
R.M. Jones moved to 3300 Miller Road and opened on September 16, 2002. The 5,600 sq. ft. location was twice as big and had parking for 26 cars versus leasing space for up 9 cars downtown. With the additional space they added Danbury Mint die cast cars and tractors. They touted their new location as “a destination for collectors,” and “Kalamazoo’s best
kept secret.”
Sadly, R.M. Jones, a premier gift shop, and one of Kalamazoo’s oldest businesses, closed its door in 2009.
Jackie Merriam
Credits: (KG 12/29/91), (KG 11/24/1995), KG11/27/92.
Native Plants: What are they?
What is a native plant?
Seems like a simple question, right? It turns out that some things are not so easy to define. Horticulturists, botanists, growers and gardeners don’t always define the word “native” in the same way. Here’s how they differ.
The Strict Definition of Native
Some people believe that only plants found growing naturally in the wild, with no intervention from humans, are truly native to the place they are growing. If you collected seeds from these wild plants and grew them in your garden, those seedlings would also be considered native.
However, if you selected one of those seedlings, gave it a name, and propagated it for sale, strict nativists would no longer consider your new named seedling to be native. Since none of the plants Proven Winners sells can be found in the wild, none of them can be called native by this definition.
Native Cultivars
Many people who enjoy native plants also consider seedlings and cultivars of these plants to be native. You may have heard the term native cultivar (“nativar” for short) used to describe such plants. A nativar is a plant that results when native parent plants are used to create a new cultivar.
In the case of one parent, a plant breeder might select and propagate one plant that has an especially
By definition, neighbors are simply a group of people that live nearby, but neighbors can be so much more. Take the time to
unique trait, like brighter colored flowers, out of a hundred seedlings sown from a na tive species. This one selected plant would be considered a nativar because it is a derivative of the native species.
In the case of multiple parents, a plant breeder might make a “complex cross”, transferring the pollen from more than one native plant onto another in hopes of making seedlings that inherit desirable traits from multiple parent plants. The resulting seedlings would all be considered nativars.
Proven Winners perennials and shrubs that are labeled as “native to North America” are all native cultivars. These plants’ ancestry includes only native species and native cultivars with North American parentage. If any of the parents used to create a new plant was not native to North America, the resulting Proven Winners plant would not be classified as native.
Are native plants easy to grow?
There are many myths surrounding native plants. One is that all native plants are easier to grow and longer lived than cultivars. In many cases, this is not true. First, you need to
get to know your neighbors. Say “hello” and take a few minutes to chat, you will probably find a common interest and possibly a new friend.
We are in the midst of summer, the perfect time to reconnect with old neighbors and welcome new ones.
When I was growing up, neighbors were an integral part of our lives, borrowing eggs or a cup of sugar in a pinch and knowing the families who had two cars in case of an emergency was essential
Many popular tv sitcoms were created around quirky, yet lovable neighbors. Some popular television neighbors include: Barney & Betty Rubble, Fred & Wilma’s neighbors in the Flintstones, Ethel & Fred Mertz in I Love Lucy and Cosmo Kramer in Seinfeld,
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look at where the plant you want to grow is live in Wisconsin and that plant is native to the Southeast U.S., it may be quite difficult for you to grow because of the difference
breeders select cultivars of native plants, one of the characteristics that is commonly sought after is disease resistance. Many native species of Monarda (bee balm), for example, are commonly plagued by powdery mildew in the wild, but named cultivars have been selected for their disease resistance.
Breeders also select for traits like stronger stems that don’t require staking, a longer bloom time, selfcleaning flowers that don’t require deadheading, longevity in the landscape, and greater vigor. All of these things save gardeners time and resources, making many nativars easier to grow and maintain.
What’s your gardening goal?
Whether your goal is to recreate a tiny piece of the prairie, grow your own organic produce or decorate your garden, patio and porch with welcoming colors. Many gardeners enjoy lower maintenance plants,
to name a few.
I am blessed to live among a community of awesome neighbors who are always willing to lend a helping hand. Examples include: Paul repairing my grandson’s bikes on a regular basis, Chad smoking meats for my annual family summer trip and Gary watching my house like a hawk while I’m away. On the flip side, I water neighbor’s plants, grab their mail, walk children home with skinned knees, help a neighbor bleed his brakes (a new skill acquired), and buy lemonade, popsicles or whatever is for sale from the enterprising youth among us. Reach out to your neighbors this summer - who knows, you make a new friend or two.
Jackie Merriam
those that draw in butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators, and those that require less frequent watering. Many native plants offer these desirable attributes. As plant breeders develop new varieties each year, there has become an expansive group of native cultivars to choose from at Wedel’s.
Article from Proven Winners
Native Plants currently at Wedel’s: Trees
• Red Maple
• Red, White, Pin, Swamp & Bur Oak
• Tulip Tree
• American Beech
• White Pine
• American Hornbeam
• Pawpaw Tree
• Butternut Tree
• White Fringe Tree
Shrubs
• Ninebark Shrub
• Arrowwood Viburnum
Perennials
• Butterfly Weed
• May Flower (Wedel’s carries more native wildflowers in the spring.) Water Plants
• Horsetail Rush
• Marsh Marigold
Wedel’s Nursery, Florist & Garden Center
Cover photo courtesy of Plainwell Kayak Company.
Graphic Designer: Lauren Ellis
Editor and Publisher: Jackie Merriam (269) 217-0977 - goodnews.jackie@gmail.com Like us on Facebook!
This publication does not specifically endorse advertisers or their products or services. No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without the written permission from the publisher.
Random Acts of Artness
Michigan Summers. I don’t know about you, but I believe Michigan Summers are the best summers. We have so many opportunities for exploration and fun in Michigan. Some might argue that memory making isn’t limited to a season in Michigan—the home field of all four seasons—and they aren’t wrong, but Michigan memories, for me, are the most vivid in the summer. Sunsets, sunrises, hikes, campfires, hammocks, boating, swimming, kayaking, baseball, and more. This summer is already escaping me, and I’m sad to say it hasn’t been filled with only adventure. There’s work and kid’s sports, and projects, and commitments. There are the needs of our day that have to happen. There are the wants of our day that we wish to happen. The wants often aren’t the same as the needs and aren’t given as much priority, but perhaps some wants truly are a need. I have come to find that adventure is a need. I could easily choose to stay home and read, garden, fix things around my house, paint, or just have some beers and watch TV on my downtimes and weekends—and believe me, there is plenty of that in my life, and these aren’t bad things. Adventure is a conscious
choice. I don’t mean to define it for you either—adventure is whatever it means to you. To me, adventure is experiences outside of the day-today obligations and the “musts.” This past weekend I chose experiences; I “Chose my own Adventure.” (Wink, wink, to those books from my childhood—core memories here people.) In reflection, what made the experiences into memories are the people who joined me. Friends, family, my fiancé—a triple threat of a weekend. Michigan summer did not disappoint. There was taking in a sunset on Lake Michigan while on our friends’ sailboat waiting for another spectacular fireworks display over South Haven. Then, hiking Fort Custer two days in a row—one was a shortened trail due to attacking mosquitos and poor preforming bug spray, and, the next day, a longer trail with superior bug spray but still combating the relentless bugs. An impromptu decision to go to the Air Show in Battle Creek filled my Saturday and left me with a sunburn. I must say, watching the acrobatics and the power of flight moved me to a feeling of exuberant joy and excitement that I hadn’t experienced since I watch the show as a child. Finally, ending my week-
sitting with my parents in their
and having a sweet conversation. Choices. These choices brought laughter, heart-lifting peace, and renewed energy to a week that could have ended with more projects, more obligations, more to-do lists, Instead, it was quite adventurous, because it included many of the people
I care about. Please find 20 pieces of original art tucked in random copies of this month’s edition. Hope you feel adventurous in the choices you make towards a fulfilling life.
Peace, Love, and Art. -Amy Instagram: @amylgieschen
end
backyard, viewing my mom’s impressive flower beds,
Graffiti–Street Art
What other form of art is disparagingly associated with “illicit,” or “vandalism”? Graffiti is often linked with shabby neighborhoods, abandoned buildings, and urban ghettos.
I enjoy photographing “street art.” Unlike traditional art, street art is ephemeral – its fate left to the hardships of weather, venues demolished, being painted over, or simply fading away over time. Photography is a means to preserve these artworks.
In 2018, a judge awarded $6.7 million to twenty-one New York graffiti artists whose works were destroyed when a building was demolished for a condominium project. The artists’ attorney said the cultural significance and value of the “aerosol art” is now recognized as fine art. So, is it vandalism and defacement or fine art? “Art,” after all, is said to be, “in the eye of the beholder.”
A fond grade school memory was the classroom visit of an art teacher, Miss Underhill. Her presence in
the otherwise drab classroom, was exhilarating. Everything about her – her colorful dress and the clanky bracelets that bounced up and down on her wrists—were a burst of stimulation. The happiness and excitement in her voice left no doubt art was her passion. She embodied art.
She did not “teach” art by demonstrating how to draw a house or a horse by drawing squares and circles. Art was neither a formula nor recipe to follow. Rather, without explaining concepts, she led students on an exploration to find the art within them. Crayons and paints were keys to unlock doors of imagination. Every splash of color that went from mind, to hand, to paper was part of an alphabet of an emotional language. Miss Underhill personified the pleasure of visual art.
“Every child is an artist,” said Pablo Picasso; “The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” To this day, Miss Underhill remains an enduring inspiration for me. Whether one makes or observes art, it triggers an internal dialog to understand that personal experience.
People visit art museums to see the works of renowned artists: Picasso,
To honor a century of excellence, the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts is pleased to share new membership levels with the community. As part of our mission to cultivate the creation and appreciation of the visual arts in West Michigan, these new membership levels increase access to benefits that inspire, fulfill, and transform.
van Gogh, Monet…all well-known names, familiarity with their life work and personal histories.
Street artists are predominantly anonymous and unknown. They apply their talents fearful of apprehension. A search for “famous graffiti artists” offers a list of street pseudonyms like: Revok, Blet le Rat, and Pink Lady. If graffiti is signed, it is usually with one of these monikers.
Yet, some graffiti artists have worldwide fame—not always by name. Perhaps the most famous is England’s “Bansky”– the pseudonym of an artist and activist whose actual name remains unknown.
On a photo shoot in Detroit’s Eastern Market, I came upon several remarkable street murals. One in particular caught my attention. As I marveled the work, I wondered who the artist was. Fortunately, this artist’s style—fat, pudgy, male faces with four eyes, provided the bread crumbs to track the artist’s partial identity. She is a highly-regarded Parisian street artist who goes by “Kashink.”
The missing identities of street artists may seem a hindrance of full appreciation of this medium; but, it may equally contribute to its appeal. In
contrast to museum artists’ notoriety, the attention of street art is on the art and not the artist. The work stands on its merit–not the reputation and prestige of the person who created it.
Perhaps the earliest forms of graffiti were cave drawings—depictions which were illustrations of daily life or of spiritual significance. What we know is that someone intended to make a statement. Graffiti is widely considered a form of social or political expression. Many are blatantly political – anti-war, promoting social grievances, or support or opposition to causes.
Street art is a powerful form of communication. Its public venue is ideally suited to disseminate ideas and influence opinions. One could make a strong case for “street art” as the architype of “social media.”
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, in his Sherlock Holmes short story, “The Adventure of the Copper Beeches,” wrote: “To the man who loves art for its own sake, it is frequently in its least important and lowliest manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived.”
James Coppinger
Graffiti (ɡr fēdē ) – Writing or drawings scribbled, scratched, or sprayed illicitly on a wall or other surface in a public place–street art, defacement, vandalism.
For book recommendations from your Kalamazoo Public Library Staff go to www.kpl.gov/blog/
Business Casual Business B. K. Borison (Berkley)
Nova and Charlie belong to each other—and for more than the single spicy night they agree to spend together. This cozy, small-town, friends-tolovers story has so much warmth and love, making this final installment of the Lovelight Farm series sheer perfection. This is the warmest cuddle of a romance that readers will never want to end.
—Laura Eckert, Clermont County Public Library, OH NoveList read-alike: The Hookup Plan by Farrah Rochon
T The Bright Sw he Sworord: d: A No Novveel of King Arthur l Lev Grossman (Viking)
This mystical, action-oriented read delves into the story of King Arthur. Collum, a young knight traveling to Camelot in hopes of joining the Round Table, arrives to learn that King Arthur is dead. Adventure soon calls, and Collum and the knights set off on a quest to heal Britain. The multiple points of view and diverse characters will keep readers engrossed.
—Kristin Skinner, Flat River Community Library, MI NoveList read-alike: The Lost Queen by Signe Pike
T The L he Lost Story: A No ost Novveel l Meg Shaffer (Ballantine Books)
Jeremy and Rafe disappeared in a West Virginia state park only to reappear six months later without explanation. Jeremy remembers everything but can t talk about it; Rafe remembers nothing. When a woman needs help to find her sister, the former friends are forced to work together. This character-driven story with intriguing magic should appeal to all fans of portal fantasy
The Game Changer
Hockey player Ian is seeking to rehab a sullied reputation, so he teams up with his friend's little sister Delilah, who's seeking to boost viewership of her cooking show. Ian's never considered her a romantic partner, but Delilah's had a crush on him since she was a teenager. When they reconnect as adults, their relationship quickly heats up
The Ex V he Voowws s
A sweet second chance romance, in which exes Georgia and Eli must cooperate to save their best friend’s wedding. A satisfying story of two people finding their way back to each other, either as friends or something more. An incredibly well-written romance
Not Another L Loovve Song e Julie Soto (Forever)
Two rival musicians find love in this satisfying enemies-tolovers story. Xander has everything Gwen wants, and he doesn't seem to appreciate it. When Gwen is unexpectedly given first-chair violin over him, their rivalry intensifies reaching a crescendo that leaves Gwen wondering if this is a rivalry or an attraction. A sexy, lyrical romance
Thorne
Marcela's in love with her best friend Ben who's engaged to another woman (whom Ben's brother Theo adores). If this love square sounds messy, it is. When Marcela stops Theo from professing his love at Ben's engagement party, they stumble upon a fake dating predicament and decide to roll with it. This love story feels authentic, and the characters have palpable chemistry
T The F he Faculaculty L ty Lounge: A No ounge: Novveel l Jennifer Mathieu (Dutton)
After the untimely demise of long-time teacher Mr. Lehrer the lives of the school s faculty are explored through stories that include a bookbanning controversy, a man s evolution from punk rock musician to principal, and a janitor’s poignant friendship with Mr. Lehrer. Mathieu is a high school teacher, and this novel rings with authenticity and love for her subject
Bury Y Your Gay our Gays s Chuck Tingle ( Tor Nightfire)
TV writer Misha has just been given an ultimatum: straighten out his main characters, or let them be queer and kill them off immediately. He refuses, and the ghosts of his own horrormovie past come to haunt him. Highly recommended for any horror fan who's ever rooted for two queer-coded characters to "just kiss already!”
—Jennifer Winberry, Hunterdon County Library, NJ NoveList read-alike: You Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca
—Beth Mills, New Rochelle Public Library, NY NoveList read-alike: Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
T
he Game Lana Ferguson (Berkley)
T The Ne he Next Best Fl xt Fling ing Gabriella Gamez (Forever)
—Rebecca Whalon, Lakeland Public Library, FL NoveList read-alike: The Graham Effect by Elle Kennedy
—Taylor Banze, St. Charles City-County Library, MO NoveList read-alike: Funny Story by Emily Henry
—Angela Strathman, Mid-Continent Public Library, MO NoveList read-alike: The Uncoupling by Meg Wolitzer
—Erin G., Siuslaw Public Library District, OR NoveList read-alike: The Rule Book by Sarah Adams
T
Jessica Joyce (Berkley)
—Magan Szwarek, LibraryReads Ambassador, IL NoveList read-alike: Kiss Me, Catalina by Priscilla Oliveras
—Sarah Howison, Cincinnati & Hamilton County PL, OH NoveList read-alike: Patricia Wants to Cuddle by Samantha Allen
The Genius of Judy: Ho he Genius Judy: How w Judy Blume Re Judy Rewrwrote ote Chil Childhood f dhood for Al or All of Us l of Us Rachelle Bergstein (Atria/One Signal)
heart of the home
Whispers in the Wind
The softest breeze—and I hear her. The copper wind chimes hanging just outside my door clink together and resonate with warm, soothing tones.
“Hi, Mama,” I say, without even thinking. My heart knows she is near, and she is in the breeze, whispering her presence. I greet her reflexively, as if she was standing before me.
Mama died in January 2021. At the bottom of the chimes hangs a diamond-shaped emblem that reads: “In Loving Memory of Velta Aistars.” The chimes were a gift from the memory care facility in Kalamazoo where she took her last breath.
Our relationship was, well, complicated. We had achieved expertise at pushing each other’s buttons. We looked at life with wildly opposing perspectives. I wasn’t about to romanticize our relationship, as so many do, just because she was now gone. Her last years became especially difficult as dementia clouded her thinking and fantasy became as real as what stood before her. Logic and reason lost meaning. I learned to agree with all that she said, no matter how ir-
rational.
Yet the last few months of Mama’s life, even as she deteriorated, healed all wounds. She called me her angel. Her eyes lit up every time I walked in the door, carrying a bag of treats, her favorite snacks. Always blueberries, and I would feed them to her as if to a little bird. Always chocolate, and she would hum in pleasure.
Her last night on this earth, I crept into her bed and spent the night curled up next to her so that we were facing each other, holding hands between us. She could no longer speak. Only a tear now and then seeped from her eye.
My father had died a few months before. Having spent 70 years together, I knew her heart longed for him, and I whispered to her that last night, “Don’t be afraid, Mama. He’s waiting for you. I know he misses you, too, and he will hold you, hold you tight.”
Now, she whispers to me in the breeze. I know it is her. I know they are together, and her mind has cleared, and her heart is at peace. Wind chimes do that with their
sweet sounds, hitting that right note exactly, softly, perfectly. I have since made or purchased chimes for friends experiencing stress or grief. They are most meaningful when the pieces that make that music are something that the recipient loves. So many options: pieces of sea glass or seashells collected along a favorite beach; painted metal lids for the person with a garden who loves to can; colorful beads and tiny silver bells for the person of fashion; dried and seasoned hollow bamboo stalks for the world traveler; nuts and bolts for the handyperson; old silverware from grandma’s cupboard. The list of possibilities is infinite.
It is music that soothes the soul. Perhaps even carrying a voice from another plane to whisper love in your ear. Say hello.
Zinta Aistars
To the outside world, we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were, we know each other’s hearts, we share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys. - Clara Ortega
An image of my great uncle celebrating his recent 103rd birthday sparked a memory from my grandmother’s 90th birthday party.
My grandma’s youngest sister was standing behind her, embracing my grandma in a hug. A younger sister by 15 years. As my sister and I stood observing, we both found our eyes brimming with water on the verge of spilling out as tears. We were not only witnessing a loving bond. We
PiecePieceby
both felt the knowing that one day that would be her and I, my younger sister of nearly fourteen years, standing behind me.
My sister embracing me in a hug, both of us in celebration of a welllived life to that point. In the embrace, a circle of unspoken memories realized individually and interwoven as families through marriage, parenthood, aunthood, grandchildren, widowhood. Lives that vacationed together and couldn’t wait to fill each other in on adventures taken separately with a spouse, family, friends. The squeeze speaking of the days cascading into years, while also wondering how it was possible the years went by so quickly. The
arm-hold demonstrating that even if consecutive days passed between conversations, priority was never short-changed to stay current with each other’s lives.
My sister embracing me in a hug, both of us wise enough to focus on our blessings while also knowing that our annual birthday celebrations were growing fewer. Our circles of family and friendships having grown smaller at that point. We would only have to glance at who was in the room with us to know the smiling faces missing beside us. Parents. Other siblings. Friends we played board games with and went out for a bite to eat on a Sunday afternoon. The tender spots in our hearts where grief resides
would remind us of who played a part in our well-lived lives.
My sister embracing me in a hug, and I relishing her arms around me, both of us grateful for the joy of knowing what it means to exceed the meaning of sisterhood. We wouldn’t know we were being photographed in the minds of two hearts, framing a permanent snapshot in their memories to feed their own wishes that they, too, will know ninety and seventy-six. As sisters by blood and best friends by choice, clasped together with love.
Christine Hassing https://christinehassing.com
THEY SAVED HISTORY :
Foiling an Early Plot to Kill Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln’s assassination in April 1865, in the closing days of the Civil War, had a profound impact on America, just as his presidency itself greatly changed our nation’s course. However, that wasn’t the first serious plot to kill our 16th president. In early 1861, before he even took office, dozens of Southern sympathizers conspired to kill President-elect Lincoln. Had their plot been successful, our history would have been very different. “The Baltimore Plot” might very well have succeeded if not for a small group of brave and dedicated patriots.
Three of those patriots were women.
A good place to begin their story is Lincoln’s election in November 1860. Although his actual policies on slavery at that time weren’t far different from those of some previous presidents, his opposition to the expansion of slavery in the west resulted in strong animosity among pro-slavery citizens, especially in the South. By the time Lincoln was inaugurated, six states had seceded, with more to follow.
The first knowledge of the plot
came early in 1861, when noted nurse and mental health advocate Dorothea Dix overheard Southern soldiers discussing a possible plot. Initially, it appeared that the plot involved cutting of railroad and telegraph lines, blowing up bridges, and eventually staging an insurrection in Washington. Dix reported the plot to Army commanding general Winfield Scott, who then contacted the president of the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railroad, Samuel M. Felton, whose property was at risk.
Felton hired the nation’s most prominent detective, Allan Pinkerton, who agreed to send five of his best agents to Baltimore to investigate “men of disunion proclivities.”
Flash back to 1856, when 23-yearold widow Kate Warne entered Pinkerton’s office seeking employment. He thought she was applying for a clerical job, but she was responding to an advertisement for detectives. Pinkerton told her, correctly, that there were no female detectives in the country, but she convinced him that women could be good observers, detail-oriented, and could go places unnoticed where
men couldn’t. Pinkerton decided to hire Warne as his “lady superintendent.” He described her as “graceful, self-possessed,” with an “intellectual cast.” That same year, Pinkerton also hired British-born Timothy Webster, age 34, who Pinkerton described as athletic, “a man of great physical strength and endurance” and who “knew no fear.”
Warne and Webster were among the five agents Pinkerton sent to Baltimore in February 1861, along with Hattie Lawton, a female agent who had been hired by Warne.
Webster infiltrated the group of conspirators while Warne and Lawton earned the confidence of their wives and girlfriends. It was Warne who confirmed that Lincoln’s intended killing was part of the plot, and was imminent.
On February 20, 1861, near the end of Lincoln’s 70-city whistle-stop journey from Springfield, Illinois to Washington, Pinkerton revealed the plot to Lincoln. Lincoln agreed to go along with a secret re-routing on his final leg to Washington. Warne gave Lincoln a felt hat to cover his wellknown head and passed herself off as
his sister. She arranged for the second train to take them to Washington, and the plot was foiled.
Following Lincoln’s inauguration, Warne and Webster continued working for Pinkerton as Union spies. Just one year later, while working under cover, Webster’s identity was revealed and he was captured. On April 13, he was executed on orders by Confederate president Jefferson Davis, becoming the first Union spy to be executed.
Less than three years after the war ended, Kate Warne contracted pneumonia. She died in January 1868 at age 35. She’s buried in the Pinkerton family plot at Graceland Cemetery in Chicago, and next to her is a memorial marker for Timothy Webster.
Tony Ettwein
A. America’s first female detective, Kate Warne
B. Allen Pinkerton, President Lincoln, and Gen. John A. McLernand at Antietam Creek, September 1862
C. Union spy, British-Born Timothy Webster
Talking to Your Kids About Human Trafficking
I recently came across some important information regarding human trafficking that I think everyone should be aware of. Human trafficking affects numerous lives by depriving individuals of their freedom and inflicting trauma on both the victims and their families. According to the US Department of State 2023 report, approximately 27.6 million people have fallen victim to human trafficking.
Contrary to popular belief, human trafficking doesn‘t always involve physically transporting individuals from one place to another. It encompasses various forms of exploitation, including labor and sex trafficking. The perpetrators often use manipulation, coercion, and violence to control vulnerable individuals.
It‘s important to note that human trafficking can impact people of all ages, races, genders, sexual orientations, ethnicities, and socioeconomic statuses. Many victims do not seek help due to factors such as lack of awareness of their situation, language barriers, fear of law enforcement, and overall vulnerability.
Regarding online safety, it‘s crucial to protect our children from potential human trafficking threats. Statistics show that up to 90% of human trafficking recruitment happens through social media platforms and apps. To safeguard our children, we should monitor their online activities, educate them about online safety, and encourage open communication about uncomfortable subjects.
Moreover, it‘s alarming to learn that a significant number of human trafficking victims go unnoticed, even in healthcare settings. Health-
care professionals and individuals in public-facing roles should be vigilant for signs of trafficking. Keeping your kids safe is your biggest concern as a parent. Websites like protect young eyes can assist with apps and websites and teach you how to keep your child safe online. The internet can be a vulnerable area for kids and up to 90% of human trafficking recruitment is done through social media platforms and apps (Perdue, 2021). Ways to keep your child safe online: Monitor their web history, phones usage, who they are talking to
Teach them to be aware of their surroundings.
Talk to them about difficult and uncomfortable subjects.
Actively listen to them and effectively communicate.
Dig deeper into conversations, not everything is at face value.
Pay attention to your instincts.
Teach your child to keep their information private such as (where you live, work, go to school and details about your personal life).
Have discussion on internet safety.
If your child is feeling threated make sure you have safe adults they can talk to if they don’t want to share things with you.
Do research on job offers (is the company legit)
If they are older and are meeting someone for the first time talk to them about meeting in public well-lit areas
Teach them to trust their instincts.
How to call for help
Who is on their emergency contact list if you can’t be reached.
If you suspect human traffick-
ing, it’s essential to report it to the relevant authorities or contact the Human Trafficking Hotline immediately. Always remember that human traffickers can be dangerous, so it’s crucial to seek help from the proper authorities rather than intervening personally. Many human trafficking victims are treated in emergency rooms, clinics or doctor offices for physical injury, prenatal care, mental health, addiction, or routine follow up care (Withers, 2023). However, studies have indicated half of the victims are unrecognized (Withers, 2023). Healthcare professionals, school personnel and anyone working with the public can look for symptoms such as, but not limited to:
• Acute medical concerns
• Malnutrition
• Lack of sleep
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Headaches,
• Mental health complaints
• Pain
• Trauma
• Sexual assault
• Physical abuse.
• Dirty clothing
• Unkept appearance
• Withdrawn
• Answer appeared scripted or rehearsed
• Lack of communication
• Tattoos, branding It is required for mandated professionals to report any suspicion of abuse. However, if you are not a mandated reporter you can also contact 911 or the Human Trafficking Hotline number if you suspect human trafficking at 1-888-3737888 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Remember human traffickers are
dangerous an you should never approach them by yourself leave that to the authorities but making a call could save a life.
Lastly, if you or someone you know has been affected by human trafficking, seeking support from local counselors can greatly assist in processing the trauma and beginning the healing process.
Dr. Julie Sorenson, DMFT, MA, LPC Resources
Enrile, A, 2022, The Role of Trauma in Human Trafficking. Is sex work really a choice that should be supported?
Psychology Today
Blue Campaign, 2023 https:// www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/ publications/blue_campaign_youth_ guide_508_1.pdf
National Human Trafficking Hotline https://humantraffickinghotline. org/en
Withers, M, 2016, Psychological Tactics Used by Human Traffickers, A look at seven common manipulation tactics used by traffickers. Psychology Today
Withers, M, 2021, Protect Your Children from Human Traffickers, Psychology Today
Withers, M, 2023, Identifying Human Trafficking Victims in Healthcare Settings. Physicians can avoid another wasted opportunity to identify victims. Psychology Today US Department of State https:// www.state.gov/national-humantrafficking-prevention-month2023/#:~:text=Human%20 trafficking%20is%20a%20 crime,right%20in%20front%20of%20 us.
parenting Good Night
Good nights start with good habits. And good habits start in childhood. It is far easier to start with good habits than to correct poor habits, and easier to form a new habit in youth than in age. Would you like your children to have good nights? Hunger, thirst, pain/fear and tired, these are our most basic experiences or reflexes, they are core to being a human and what we share with other animals. Maybe you learned about Pavolv’s dogs? Pavlov was studying digestion and he discovered that he could get the dogs to salivate in response to bell not in the presence of food. This is a type of learning called “classical conditioning” or “respondent conditioning.” It applies to learning that relates to reflexes. Most of our learning is called “operant conditioning” like learning to identify letters, do math and sing a song.
The important thing about respondent conditioning is that this type of learning is very susceptible to environmental factors. For example, the person who gets stuck in a stuffy elevator for 25 minutes may now avoid elevators and may even feel anxious near an elevator. The child who has a painful poop may not want to poop again and may develop constipation. The smell of Mr. Clean was in the air when a middle school boy started vomiting from the flu. He reacts with nausea and vomiting to the smell of Mr. Clean.
What does this have to do with a good night? Sleep is a basic reflex. For this reason, sleep is easily affected or “paired” with sleeplessness; psychological research provides keys to the sleep environment. Cell phones, tablets, iPads, televisions, gaming systems and other electronics do not belong in the room where peo-
ple sleep. If one cannot comply with this guideline, consider using electronics or talking on the phone out of bed. It doesn’t seem that the bed versus a chair are much different but they are in protecting a good night of sleep. The bed is for sleeping only (and sex if you are a consenting adult). This is the most important factor in a good night of sleep.
The next most important lesson is if you or your child cannot sleep, get out of bed and do something quiet until you feel sleepy. Then, try to go back to sleep and repeat this process as many times as needed. Do not tell a child to lay in bed tossing and turning. This is not the same as the toddler learning to self-soothe, or the young child who continues to get up to stay up. Allowing yourself or your child to leave bed to become sleepy before returning to bed facilitates a good night sleep. Staying in bed when you are not sleeping longer than 15 minutes easily leads to hyperarousal and frustration not sleepiness associated with the bed.
Other factors that are less critical but help with sleep include:
A consistent nighttime routine; Reduced liquid intake about an hour before bedtime (sips of water are okay);
Exercise during the daytime (a person can’t sleep if they are not physically tired);
Keep pets out of the bed; Keep the room temperature cool; Limit sounds and lights.
The body knows how to sleep when it is tired. Nurture this in yourself and your children. Stay out of your body’s way.
Resources:
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/ children-and-sleep/sleep-strategieskids
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/31029183/
Sheryl Lozowski-Sullivan, MPH, PhD Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Recipes Amazing Ribs!
Nick-named “Meathead” by his father, a term that denotes a stupid or bungling person, it might seem odd that anyone would insist on being associated with such an insulting nickname, but alas, there is one man that does.
Preferring to be known solely as, “Meathead,” he explained simply that it was due to it being his father who (lovingly) tagged him with the name.
“Dad loved watching ‘All in the Family’ (in the 1970s),” Meathead offered with a laugh, “and he had fun mimicking the Archie character, so that’s how I ended up getting the name.”
While strange, Meathead’s odd moniker has proven to be quite contrary for him, a man who is part artist, part detective, part scientist, part cook. Combining his strengths with his deep desire to make a positive difference, Meathead has, despite the name, ascended to the top as a writer and researcher of all things barbecue, and gives credit for his success to his outstanding website, which helped him give birth to a heavily awarded cookbook by the same name.
Collecting more appropriate monikers, like “The Barbecue Whisperer” and a “Grilling Guru,” Meathead explained that it was also his dad who sparked his interest in barbecue.
“Dad loved to grill, and flank steaks were his specialty. I fell in love with the smell of his grill and the taste of those steaks. In fact, it remains a favorite cut of mine to this day.”
Armed with elemental grill skills given to him by his dad, Meathead made good use of them while he was away at school.
“My college apartment had one of those built-in, aluminum clam-shell grills out back, so I would use it often to cook for myself and my roommates.”
Studying journalism and photography, and earning a Masters at the Chicago Art Institute, Meathead landed a career as a well-respected wine critic with a syndicated column in both the Washington Post and the Chicago Tribune.
Named one of the 10 most influential wine writers of the time, and founding the Beverage Testing Institute, Meathead found success, but he didn’t feel satisfied.
Still finding comfort in grilling in his own backyard, little did Meathead
know that Kismet would pivot his life from wine critic to King of BBQ.
“A neighbor (who was a butcher) had bragged about his ribs,” Meathead moaned, “and I thought, ‘Well, my ribs are good too,’ so I accepted his challenge for a rib throw down.”
Wanting to bone up on cooking ribs, Meathead basted his way through the library only to find it bare-boned on the subject of barbecue. “There were hardly any books on barbecue in 2005, so I checked the internet, and there wasn’t much there, either. I realized there was a huge unmet need at that moment, so I decided to step in.”
With the internet in its infancy stage in the early 2000s, Meathead decided that building a website was where he should begin.
“My website was going to be ‘Ribs,’ but I wanted it to begin with an ‘A’ so that it would appear at the top of search lists. That’s how it ended up as “Amazingribs.com.”
With nearly two decades of loading information onto his website now past, Amazingribs.com is thick with thousands of pages of information, recipes, myth-busting, videos, tricks, techniques, reviews, and more.
“We’ve assembled a good team, so the site can help people of any skill level learn to grill better food. Plus, we have food scientist Greg Blonder, PhD., of Boston University. Together we’ve figured out many grilling mysteries, and conceived new concepts, all of which are searchable assets available at amazingribs.com.”
Well-cataloged, and very easy to search, Meathead is proud to have an “open door” policy on over 2000 FREE pages for anyone to peruse; and for those seeking a deeper, prolevel dive into all-things-cue, there is a “Pitmaster Club” which, for a $35 annual fee, gains you access to well
Win a copy of “MEATHEAD: The Science of Great Barbecue and Grilling”
over 120 high-quality instructional videos, a half a dozen different ebooks, a special Pitmaster magazine, and access to their online Pitmaster community.
“The Pitmaster Club has about 15,000 members currently,” Meathead sighed proudly, “and it has a 89% renewal rate, which shows you what a great community of pitmasters it is.”
Finding fame in the world of flame, Meathead has not only elevated the art and science of barbecue, but also elevated himself to a royal in the realm there, too.
Crowned “King of BBQ Science” and inducted into the BBQ Hall of Fame (in 2021), Meathead’s 2016 cookbook
“The Science of Great Barbecue and Grilling” (which reads like a textbook), has won countless awards and has been named a “must have” cookbook that every kitchen should have.
Noting that his first cookbook is still performing well, Meathead happily revealed that he’s working on a second one too, “The Art of Great Barbecue” (Harper/Collins).
Noting that it will offer an even greater emphasis on his awardwinning artistic photography skills, he said, “I cranked up the photography in this one because I wanted to do something creative to strike the book’s more specific art theme.”
Using a method that he referred to as ‘light painting’ Meathead said it requires shooting with a long exposure in complete darkness and illuminating the subject with just a small penlight.
“This technique renders a dark stillness,” he said, “reminiscent of the old Dutch Masters look. It is quite striking.”
Set to feature sections on sous vide cue, reverse searing, Kogi (Korean barbecue), and much more, Meathead
For your chance to win Meathead’s famous book, call or text 269-625-5817 and leave a message that includes your contact information, and what you cook on the 4th of July. Good luck!
is excited to be offering a new book to explore.
Now in his seventh decade of trips around the sun, Meathead likes to relax in his home in the Chicago suburbs and says that it’s time for him to start winding down. “I’ve got a good team around me, and I enjoy working from home.”
Coming up on his fiftieth year of marriage to his microbiologist/food scientist wife, Lou, Meathead said he is looking forward to some vacation time with his wife, then reflected, “When I was young, I made some really good grades and thought, ‘I’m going to be somebody important. Somebody that changes the world.’ Then I got out of school and discovered that there were a lot of smart people, and I was just an average Joe, so my dreams of making big waves in the world began to fade. I landed a good job, I spent twenty years making small waves in the world of wine, but it wasn’t very satisfying. It wasn’t until I startedamazingribs.com that my dreams finally started coming true. Because of that website, there’s not a single day that I don’t get an email from someone telling me how I helped change their lives, and it’s gratifying. To change the world by teaching people to cook, and eat better. That means a lot to me.”
With his serendipitous start in the world of barbecue, it seems only fitting that grilling would be what made Meathead’s boyhood dreams finally come true.
“Dad said to figure out what you love to do, then figure out how to make a living at it. I think I did.”
Offering up a taste of what his amazingribs.com website provides, here now is a special Fourth of July sampling from Meathead. Look for lots more at Amazingribs.com, which also offers a 30-day free trial (no credit card needed) to check out his Pitmaster Club, too. Enjoy and Happy 4th of July!
Laura Kurella
Laura Kurella is an award-winning home cook who loves to share recipes from her Michigan kitchen. She welcomes comments at laurakurella@yahoo. com.
Meathead’s Slow CookeR (or Instant Pot) Ribs
Prep time: 10 minutes; Cook time: 25 minutes. Servings: 4 8 (golf ball-sized) baby red potatoes
2 ears of corn, shucked
1-pound smoked sausage
1 lemon
1 1/2 pounds jumbo shell-on EZ peel shrimp
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 3/4 tablespoons Old Bay seasoning
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup lager beer
1/2 cup water
1. Fire up: Prepare a grill for high heat cooking, approximately 400°F.
2. Prep: Cut the potatoes in half. Cut each ear of corn crosswise into 8 even sections. Cut the smoked sausage into ½-inch slices. Remove the ends from the lemon and cut into ½-inch slices.
Courtesy of Amazingribs.com
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Cook Time: 8 hours. Servings: 2
1 slab St. Louis cut (or spare) ribs
2 teaspoons Morton coarse Kosher salt (or 1 teaspoon table)
1 large onion4 carrots
2 medium potatoes (or sweet potatoes)
1 crunchy apple
1 cup Kansas City style tomato-based barbecue sauce or teriyaki sauce
1 teaspoon liquid smoke
1. Prep. Remove the leathery membrane from the back of the ribs* then remove any excess fat. Slice into 2 to 3 rib sections then sprinkle with salt.
2. Remove the ends and the outer skin of the onion. Cut it in half then into slivers.
3. Peel the carrots and cut into bitesize pieces.
4. Peel the potatoes (optional), then cut into bite-size pieces.
5. Peel the apple, quarter it, remove the core, and cut into bite-size pieces.
6. Mix the liquid smoke* with the barbecue sauce.
7. Cook: If you have a broiler, place the meat about 6 inches under the broiler for about 15 minutes per side until brown, or brown them in a pan with a little oil. [In an instant pot you can brown the meat in the pot.]
8. Line the bottom of the crockpot with onion slices, carrots, apples, and
potatoes. Place a layer of ribs on top, meaty side up. Pour the sauce over the ribs, coating them, then place another layer of ribs on top of them. Add more sauce, and repeat until all ribs are in. Pour in remaining sauce on top.
9. Place the cover on the slow cooker and cook on “LOW” (about 200°F) for 6 to 7 hours; or “HIGH” for 3 to 4 hours. [In an Instant pot on “pressure Cook” cook for about 45 minutes.]
10. Once cooked, sauce may be thickened, if desired, by boiling it (separately) on the stove until it reaches desired thickness
NOTES*
RE: Ribs- One slab of baby backs will feed two people. You can sub spares, rib tips, country ribs, and even chops, using about 1.5 pounds per person of boney cuts (spares, tips), or 1 pounds per person of meatier cuts (country ribs and chops).
RE: Sauce- Doctor sauce. Hot pepper sauce adds spicy-heat; honey/ molasses adds sweetness.
RE: Salt- Kosher salt is half the concentration of table salt. If using table salt, use half as much.
RE: Liquid Smoke- Many commercial barbecue sauces already have liquid smoke added, so taste sauce and if present, omit it.
Courtesy of Amazingribs.com
Prep Time: 45 minutes Cook Time:
3 hours; Total Time: 3 hours, 45 minutes. Servings: 4
1 slab trimmed St. Louis spare ribs
1 pound bacon (center cut works well)
2 tablespoons Texas Select Seasoning Jalapeño Dusted (or favorite seasoning)
2 tablespoons Texas Select Seasoning Juicy Pig (or favorite seasoning)
4. Place the seasoned ingredients in a disposable aluminum half pan. Add the lemon slices, butter, beer, and water. Sprinkle the remaining Old Bay over the ingredients, and cover the pan tightly with foil.
5. Cook: Place the aluminum pan on the grill and cover the grill.
6. Allow the packet to cook until the shrimp is cooked through and the potatoes are fork tender, approximately 25 minutes.
7. Remove the aluminum pan from the grill and carefully open the foil to allow the steam to escape.
8. Serve immediately in the pan or spread out on sheets of newspaper.
3. Combine the potatoes, corn, sausage, shrimp, olive oil, and 1 ½ tablespoons of the Old Bay seasoning in a large bowl and toss until evenly coated.
1 cup Texas Select Smoked Apple Strawberry Habanero BBQ Glaze (or favorite glaze)
1. Prep. Remove any excess fat from the racks of ribs as well as the backside membrane. Slice into individual ribs.
2. Season each rib with a combination of all the seasonings.
3. Wrap each rib with a slice of bacon. To secure the bacon, wrap it over the starting end of each slice then tuck the trailing end under the closest wrap. Use more bacon for larger ribs if needed.
4. Refrigerate and allow to set up for about an hour while you fire up your cooker.
5. Fire up: Prepare a grill for indirect cooking by placing a chimney full
of pre-heated charcoal briquettes on one side of the grill’s charcoal grate to create direct and indirect cooking zones. Adjust the grill vents to bring the temperature to about 275°F on the indirect side. Add two chunks of apple or cherry wood to the coals. Alternatively, fire up a pellet smoker or offset smoker to 275°F with your favorite cooking pellets or fruitwood.
6. Smoke: until the ribs are tender, take on a good amount of smoke, and reach an internal temperature of 195200°F for about 2 hours. The bacon should begin to crisp up but still be pliable.
7. Glaze: While the ribs cook, prepare, and heat your glazing sauce. Allow to reduce and thicken in the pan. Keep warm until you glaze the ribs.
8. Remove the smoked ribs to a sheet tray and coat all sides with the warm glaze. Return to the cooker, close the lid, and allow the glaze to caramelize and set for approximately 10-15 minutes. The glaze should tack up, but do not let it burn.
9. Remove and let the ribs rest for about 10 minutes. Serve with your favorite sides, and enjoy this delicious pork treat!
Meathead’s Bacon Wrapped Spare Ribs
Meathead’s Easy (on the grill) Shrimp Boil
Vintage Roseville Pottery
Conceptualized as art for the people and by the people, the Arts and Crafts movement flourished in North America and across Europe from circa 1880 to 1920. The movement strove to emphasize the beauty of artisan and utilitarian objects in an affordable manner.
As the Arts and Crafts movement was reaching its zenith in 1890, J.F. Weaver founded Roseville Pottery in Roseville, Ohio. In 1898 Roseville Pottery purchased the Clark Stoneware Company and moved operations to Zanesville, Ohio. The company began its first art pottery line in 1900, combining ‘Roseville’ and ‘Zanesville’ to title the line ‘Rozane’.
The 1904 St. Louis Exhibition saw Roseville’s offering in the Manufacturing Palace take the grand prize for their “Twin Stars of Chelsea” Sangde-Boeuf vases. This victory inspired the Chloron, Egypto, and Mongol lines, among others.
After WWII, cheap imports from Japan undermined Roseville Pottery’s sales. The company limped along until the early 1950s when it sold, first to New England Ceramics and then to Franklin Potteries. In 1954 Roseville Pottery production ceased.
Over the years Roseville employed several noteworthy master designers. First on the list is Ross C. Purdy, who developed Rozane. Also hired in 1900, John Herald created the Mara and Mongol collections.
In 1904, Frederick H. Rhead assumed the position of Art Director for Roseville Pottery. Rhead produced several art pottery collections
including Olympia, Della Robbia, Egypto, and Aztec. From 1906 to 1907, Gazo Fudji contributed his designs, which included Woodland and Fujiyama.
When Frederick Rhead left Roseville in 1908, his brother, Harry, replaced him. Harry added lines such as Carnelian, Donatello, and Pauleo. In 1918 Frank Ferrell took over from Harry Rhead. Ferrell
Prospective collectors will want to peruse internet and book sources to assist in differentiating true Roseville from fakes and reproductions. Inconsistencies with pottery marks can make the identification process confusing. Some pieces feature imprinted marks, some raised. Pieces fashioned between 1927 and 1935 were time.
would remain in the roll until Roseville’s clos ing. Roseville Pottery collections released during Ferrell’s tenure include Dogwood, Zephyr Lily, Peony, and Poppy.
In 1928, Frank Ferrell created the Futura collection, which encompassed an assortment of art deco designs. In 1935, Ferrell designed Roseville’s most popular line, Pinecone. Roseville credited Pinecone with saving the company from bankruptcy during the Great Depression.
pieces without any mark at all.
Forgeries continue to be made today, most from China. These fakes often include misleading marks, including the word “Roseville”. To help distinguish genuine Roseville, look for carefully applied and complete glaze, both inside and out. Glaze should have a soft sheen. Design details should be crisp and clear, and the piece should seem heavy for its
“Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.” –Sam Keen
size. Colors should be soft and rich, but not muddy.
Early Roseville (from 1890 to 1918) will hold the highest value. This is due to age and scarcity, as well as to these pieces being handmade. In 1999, a Roseville Della Robbia vase set a record when it sold for $38,850 at the Ohio Pottery Lovers’ Auction in Zanesville. Perusing the latest auction results is an excellent way to gauge current values. Recent Ebay sales range from $10 for a small Peony bowl to $8,295 for a Della Robbia vase.
These lovely treasures can be found in a range of styles sure to compliment any home. Happy hunting and enjoy!
Bridget Klusman
Owner, Retro Estate Sales https://retroestatesales.wixsite.com/retroestatesales
A. Futura Vase
B. Peony Vase
C. Zephyr Lily Vase
D. Poppy Ewer
E. Della Robbia Vase
F. Zephyr Lily Base
Health Let’s Talk About Blood Pressure
For something so critical to our health, it’s surprising how little we understand about blood pressure. For example, do you really understand the numbers in systolic and diastolic. You may know that when numbers are high, that’s not a good sign. But do you know why?
Let’s start with a simple example: the garden hose. When you turn on the spigot, water surges into the hose. If the nozzle remains closed, pressure builds up inside the hose. In the short term, that’s not a problem. However, if you forget to open the nozzle and run errands, the constant pressure may damage the hose.
Your blood vessels are like the garden hose and your heart is the spigot. Each heartbeat thrusts blood into the aorta, the main blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart. As each heartbeat pushes blood through your vessels, it creates a force against your artery walls. This is your systolic pressure. As your heart rests between beats, the pressure inside your arteries momentarily lessens. This is your diastolic pressure.
If pressure inside your blood pressure is too high over months or even years, it can damage your blood vessels which become less elastic. Stiff arteries resist blood flow which makes your heart beat more forcefully. The added force then raises the
pressure even more, creating a vicious and dangerous cycle.
Too much pressure over many years can damage the walls of your arteries, making them thick and inelastic. The medical term for stiff artery walls is arteriosclerosis, or a more commonly used term: hardening of the arteries.
High blood pressure also speeds up the buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries. Large accumulations of these fatty deposits are called plaques. Over time, the plaques harden and reduce blood flow through the arteries, thereby reducing blood supply to
organs and tissues. The lack of blood can damage organs throughout the body, but the brain, eyes, heart, and kidneys are most affected.
When a blood vessel is damaged, part of the wall may bulge outward. This bulge is called an aneurysm. An aneurysm commonly occurs in an artery in the brain or in the lower part of the body’s main artery, called the abdominal aorta. If the aneurysm leaks or bursts, this is a life-threatening situation.
Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to keep your blood pres-
sure within healthy values (systolic less than 120; diastolic less than 80)
Exercise: Get at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise a week.
Move as often as possible. There’s plenty of evidence that too much sitting (TV watching, computer work, or traveling by car) can contribute to many health problems, even if you’re active and fit.
Cut back on sodium. Blood pressure medicines don’t work as effectively on a high sodium diet.
Limit coffee. Caffeine may cause adrenal glands to release more adrenaline, thereby increasing blood pressure.
Don’t smoke. Chemicals in tobacco can damage artery walls.
Reduce stress. Stress can damage your blood vessels, heart, and kidneys.
Limit alcohol. Drinking can damage the heart and other organs over time. If you choose to drink alcohol, moderate drinking is two alcoholic drinks for most men and one for most women.
Remember to be kind and MAKE your day great.
Till next time,
Ken Dettloff ACE Certified Personal and Brain Health Trainer
SIMPLY GIVE
Twelve Baskets Food Pantry will benefit from donation cards at the Shaver Road Meijer store now through Sept. 28.
In addition, Meijer will double match all customer cards on Saturday, August 17 and September 14, effectively tripling contributions made on both days.
Supporting Families in Need through the Meijer Simply Give Hunger Relief Program and Twelve Baskets Food Pantry in Portage, Mich. Campaign set to run June 30 - Sept. 28.
Twelve Baskets Food Pantry is proud to announce a partnership with Meijer to provide much-needed relief to local families facing food insecurity through the retailer’s customerdriven hunger relief program, Simply Give.
“We are currently providing food to more than 350 families at our weekly distributions,” said Robin Tullock, president of the Twelve Baskets Board of directors. “We are so honored to be the recipient organization of the Simply Give program, especially in this time of high and growing need.”
Each Meijer Simply Give campaign feeds hungry families by replenishing the shelves of more than 270 food pantries in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Wisconsin. The program encourages
customers to add a $10 Simply Give donation card to their cart, which is then converted into a Meijer foodonly gift card and given to a local food pantry in the store’s community.
Twelve Baskets Food Pantry will benefit from donation cards at the Shaver Road Meijer store now through Sept. 28. In addition, Meijer will double match all customer cards on Saturday, August 17 and September 14, effectively tripling contributions made on both days. Meijer customers shopping online using Meijer Pickup or Home Delivery can also include Simply Give donation cards as an add-on to their orders.
“Continued hardships have taught us all the importance of community members supporting each other,” said Tullock. “We encourage our community to give and help us feed their
neighbors in need in the Portage/ Vicksburg/Schoolcraft/Three Rivers communities and beyond by adding a Meijer Simply Give food donation card to their cart during their next shopping trip.”
Since 2008, more than $91million has been distributed to food pantries across the Midwest to feed neighbors in need.
“What’s special about the Meijer Simply Give program is each contribution stays local and directly impacts neighborhood food pantries to help feed families in need,” said Melissa Conway, Director of Community Partnerships & Giving at Meijer. “Food insecurity remains a national issue and at Meijer, we’re grateful for our customers and team
members who continue to support this program, now in its 16th year.”
Twelve Baskets is a volunteerrun 501 c3 nonprofit organization founded in June 2014 as a food pantry to serve Portage, Schoolcraft, Vicksburg, Three Rivers and surrounding communities. A Free Store was opened in 2018 to help meet basic clothing, hygiene and household needs. The pantry is now providing perishable and non-perishable groceries to more than 350 families at the four Distribution Days held monthly on alternating Fridays and Saturdays.
For additional information on Meijer philanthropy, please visit www.meijercommunity.com.
Joining the Army of Wise Elders
I think my husband’s brain is an AI. He’s one of those people who can fix anything tech. A tech lover from the time he got his first Atari, he can fix and get us out of snafus for all of our tech - software/apps, cell phones, security systems, tv’s, remotes, sound systems, more. He builds both of our computers when we need them. He and I celebrate milestone birthdays this year, dipping our toes into becoming wise elders. His brain is at the top of his game. I’d like to think mine is too, but I’m not so sure about that! Our dual birthdays made me think about the wise elders (alias senior citizens) who accomplish creative and helpful endeavors well into their 70’s and beyond.
Author Margaret Atwood wrote the best-selling book “The Handmaid’s Tale” leading to the wildly popular TV series. She’s celebrating a milestone birthday this year, 85. She’s got a new book coming out in October.
She has no plans to stop writing and I’m glad. PD James wrote the book made into the memorable prophetic movie “Children of Men.” The movie came out when she was 86 and she continued writing full time until her death at 94. Cormac McCarthy wrote “The Road” at age 73 and it was made into the famous movie. Connie Willis wrote “To Say Nothing of the Dog.” Her latest book “The Road to Roswell” was written in her mid-70’s and she is still writing.
Many artists and entertainers work into their wisdom years. Grandma Moses didn’t start painting until she was 78. The record paid for one of her paintings is $1,360,000. Verde and Straus both wrote some of their greatest music in their 80’s and 90’s.
Leonard Cohen was making music until his death at 82. Bob Dylan still sings at 83. Dick VanDyke is an amazing dancer at 98, but he thankfully no longer does his famous pratfalls. Captain Kirk, I mean Wil-
liam Shatner of Star Trek fame, is making commercials and albums at age 92. He went into space at 90 years old on the space shuttle Blue Origin (instead of the Star Ship Enterprise).
Many humanitarians and social activists in their wisdom years continue to help the world. Jane Goodall turned 90 this year. She studies the wild chimpanzees in Africa. Goodall continues to go on the lecture circuit to urge us to protect the environment and the animals. David Attenborough, 97, informs us of the wonders of nature on his FB page.
Mother Theresa was helping people until she died at 87. Until his death at 95, Nelson Mandella continued to fight for freedom and justice.
As I look around our local community, I see an army of wise elders keeping local non-profits and other organizations going by volunteering their lifetime of skills. I see them serving food to people in need,
driving meals to shut-ins, greeting the public, assisting at blood drives, unloading boxes of canned goods at pantries, walking homeless dogs at rescues, helping visitors at the hospitals, and much more. I sometimes wonder how our local community and the country would function without this army of helpful wise elders. Think about that. We can all find ways to help the world and none of us need to leave our homes to do it thanks to the internet. Sign a petition, donate money, offer suggestions, all from our laptops. I think I’ll head out today to walk a dog at the rescue. Come on, join me! The dogs, cats, and people need you.
Ann Murray is an award-winning commercial illustrator and author. She has illustrated 8 childrens books and her stores have been in 3 published anthologies.
that we’ve had some unusual weather - scorching heat, tornadoes, and windswept thunderstorms; it’s been a banner year for AC repairmen and tree professionals. I’m disappointed, though, to have missed out on one of the true miracles of Mother Nature – the emergence of not one but two populations, called broods, of periodical cicadas! Sure, the April solar eclipse was magical. Still, for bugliking girls like me, the convergence of millions of cicadas simultaneously is a once-in-a-lifetime biological event. The last time the Northern Illinois Brood, which surfaces every 17 years, and the Great Southern Brood, coming above-ground every 13 years, appeared simultaneously was in 1803. The next time these two broods meet up, assuming the changing climate doesn’t interfere with the timing, will be in 2245! No one alive today will be around to witness the next convergence.
Cicadas are part of an order of insects classified as “true bugs.” They have big bodies, bright eyes, six legs, hard exoskeletons, two sets of wings, and mouthparts that can pierce tissue and suck out fluids. Many of the insects we call bugs are not actually “true bugs” but are in other groups - including beetles, flies, bees, and butterflies.
The key to the evolutionary success of cicadas lies in their unique lifestyle. Annual (or dog-day) cicadas and periodical cicadas are two entirely different groups. Annual species can be found every year and are similar in body type, with large black eyes and tannish bodies. They are “dog-day” because they often appear in late June and July when summer temperatures are most intense. Their cousins, the periodical cicadas, are notable for having extremely long lives for insects. Depending on the species, they typically live for thirteen or seventeen years. Red-eyed with shiny black bodies, they appear genuinely formidable. Although we are aware of these giant, bumbling, noisy invaders for only a month or so in the years when they emerge, the rest of their lives are silently spent underground in gigantic zombie-like colonies, using their sucking mouthparts to pierce the roots of trees and shrubs to obtain fluids and nutrients. Our above-ground interactions with them are limited to the big party of their lives, when they surface for mating fun and frolicking, celebrating the X-rated party with a deafening din. The drumming calls (called
environment A Plague of Cicadas?
thrumming) of millions of male cicadas lure females to their treetop bachelor pads where mating occurs. Afterward, females lay eggs in the tender bark of small upper tree branches. Their life’s work is completed with the promise of a new generation; then the entire population faces a swift, unceremonious death.
What is the advantage of this unusual life pattern? It seems like a lot of preparation for such a short aboveground mating season. Since the fossil record shows evidence of cicada existence in the Triassic period, more than 50 million years ago, they must be doing something right. It turns out that entomologists, scientists who study insects, have identified several successful life strategies.
The biggest secret to the success of these red-eyed beauties (?) is their numbers. Simultaneously emerging broods, at a density of about 1.5 million per forested acre of land, mean the sheer volume of insects will overwhelm their many predators. The bugs are an excellent source of protein, making them a valuable food source for many species. It has been found that some kinds of birds have more successful reproductive seasons with healthier and more numerous fledglings due to better nutrition in years when cicada broods are present. Their sheer numbers ensure that even if many fall prey, scores more will escape becoming a meal and go on to reproduce. Of course, after death their bodies decompose, providing valuable nutrients for future tree growth.
It would be easy to think that since cicadas exist in such large colonies, they would cause damage to the trees on which they feed for such a long time, but quite the opposite occurs. They have another advantage – their long lives. The small branches bearing the larval eggs fall to the ground around the tree where they were laid. Quickly after hatching, the nymphs dig into the soil with specialized shovel-like front legs. Once they are securely buried under several inches of earth, they attach to the tree’s roots. They are parasites, but grow so slowly that they take very little of its vital juices. Even with thousands or tens of thousands of nymphs drawing from the root system, the tree can survive quite well.
On occasions like this year, with two separate populations active simultaneously, how do the broods know which calls to follow for “a good time?” By the male calls, of course. Although variation in the loud din is indistinguishable to us, the females of each brood know which tree is home to their own particular Romeos. At least, that’s what scientists believe. Entomologists from the University of Illinois
Urbana-Champaign campus will be studying the young larvae resulting from this year’s mating frenzy to see if interbreeding between the two species of each brood is widespread and whether those offspring possess any characteristics that differentiate them from their parents.
One central question currently under study deals with the mechanism used by the insects to alert them that it is time to emerge. Not temperature – that communication happens when the soil underground reaches a magical 64° Fahrenheit. How do they “know” that thirteen or seventeen years, depending on the brood, have elapsed? Indeed, there are timing mechanisms in the genetic code of the insect that trigger significant life events. Studies appear to show that the yearly cycling of their birth trees provide signals that are communicated to the underground nymphs as they feed. During the winter, when fluids are stored in the tree’s root systems the cold-blooded insects become quiescent. As the weather warms in the spring, sap flows away from the roots and into the tree branches, heralding the beginning of another growth year. As the larvae warm and become more active, the nutritional composition of their “food” changes, and another growth season is tallied in the biological countdown.
As Midwest weather becomes more unpredictable, variation in cicada appearance has been noted, most recently in 2020, when a brood “jumped the gun” an entire year early. Will climatic events continue to disrupt the cicada cycles? Only time
will tell; but in the meantime, rest assured that this year’s cicada “babies” are happily tucked into their underground beds, silently munching on some tree roots. See you in a decade or so!
Cheryl Hach
Retired Science Teacher
Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center
References:
Periodical cicadas. (2024, July 3). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Periodical_cicadas
The Nature Conservancy (2024, May 12). What You Need to Know about Periodical Cicadas. Animals
We Protect. Retrieved June 16, 2024, from https://www.nature.org/en-us/ get-involved/how-to-help/animalswe-protect/what-to-know-aboutbrood-x-cicadas/
Purdue University (n.d.). Emergence of the 17-Year Cicada. Purdue Entomology Extension. Retrieved July 1, 2024, from https://extension. entm.purdue.edu/cicadas/
Wetli, P. (2024, May 21). Cicadas Have a Clever Way of Counting Years, But Climate Change is Throwing a Wrench in the System. WTTW News. Retrieved July 4, 2024, from https://news.wttw. com/2024/05/21/cicadas-haveclever-way-counting-years-climatechange-throwing-wrench-system
Museum to Host March 6
FREE august Events
virtual
Through Sunday Jan. 19, 2025 Exhibit: Kalamazoo State Hospital: 165 Years of Psychiatric Care, Kalamazoo Valley Museum
Thursdays, Aug. 1,8,15,22,29
Kalamazoo Farmer’s Market
8am-1pm, 1204 Bank St.
Thursday, August 1
Adult Book Club, 9:3010:30am, Vicksburg Library
Thursday, August 1
IPA Day, 11am-11pm Bell’s Eccentric Cafe
Thursdays, Aug. 1,8,15,22,29 Plainwell Farmer’s Market 3-6:30pm, 200 Allegan St.
Thursdays, Aug. 1,8,15,22,29 Triple Threat Trivia, 6:30pm, must Register, Presidential Brewing Co.
Thursdays, Aug. 1,8,15,22,29 Live Music, 6:30- 8:30pm Saugatuck Brewing Company
Thursdays, Aug. 1,8,15,22,29
King Trivia, 7-9pm, Gull Lake Distilling Company
Friday, August 2
Memory Café – for people with Mild dementia and their care Partners, 10:30am – Noon Paw Paw District Library
Fridays, Aug. 2,9,16,23,30 Vicksburg Farmers Market, 2:30-6:30, 200 N. Richardson
Fridays, Aug. 2,9,16,23,30 Quickdraw Trivia, 7-8:30pm Valhalla/Norse Nectar Meadery
Saturdays, Aug. 3,10,17,24,31 Kalamazoo Farmers Market 7am-1pm, 1204 Bank St.
Saturday, August 3
Chief Noonday ChapterKalamazoo ½ Marathon Hiking Challenge, guided hike, meet at Michigan State Dairy Barn, 8am, 39th St., south of Baseline Rd.
Saturdays, Aug. 3,10,17,24,31
Retro Cartoon Brunch, 11am-2pm Free entry, food/drink for purchase Presidential Brewing Company
Sundays, Aug. 4,11,18,25
Portage Farmer’s Market 9am-1pm, Portage City Hall
Sunday, August 4
Oshtemo Music in the Park –The Hired Hands, 6-7:30pm Flesher Field Park Gazebo
Mondays, Aug. 5,12,19,26 Parchment Update Interviews Parchmentlibrary.org
Mondays, August 5,12,19,26
Family Storytime, 10-10:45am Books, songs. Vicksburg Library
Monday, August 5
Lafayette’s Revolutionary Adventures: (Bring Your own)
Lunch & Learn, 12-1pm Parchment Library
Mondays, Aug 5,12,19,26
Cruz in at Dean’s Ice Cream, Plainwell, 4-8pm
Monday, August 5
Lafayette’s Revolutionary Adventures: the Life & Legacy Of the Marquis de Lafayette Traveling Exhibit Open House 4:30-6:30pm, Parchment Library
Tuesdays, Aug. 6,13,20,27
Kalamazoo Farmer’s Market 8am-1pm, 1204 Bank St.
Tuesday, August 6
West MI Area Show Artist
Highlight, Noon-1pm Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
Tuesday, August 6
Tuesdays on the Road, 5-7:30pm Food trucks, entertainment & Yard games, Parchment Save-A-lot
Tuesdays, Aug. 6,13,20,27
Theme Trivia Tuesdays, 7-9pm, Revel and Roll West
Wednesdays, August 7,14
Mugs & Hugs, stories & more 10-11am, Vicksburg Library
Wednesdays, Aug. 7,14,21,28
Richland Farmers Market, 3-6pm Richland Area Community Center
Wednesdays, Aug. 7,14,21,28
Cruise-In, 5-8pm, Gilmore Car Museum
Wednesdays, Aug. 7,14,21,28
Karaoke Bingo, 7-10pm Presidential Brewing Co.
Thursdays, Aug. 7,14,21,28
Kalamazoo Farmer’s Market 8am-1pm, 1204 Bank St.
Thursdays, Aug. 7,14,21,28
Plainwell Farmer’s Market 3-6:30pm, 200 Allegan St.
Thursday, August 8,22
Teen Break & Bulldog Break 2:45-5:45pm, Vicksburg Library
Thursdays, August 8,22
SPECIAL Teen Trading Card Day, (Pokemon, Magic: the Gathering, Yu-GI-Oh, and more 2:45-5:45 Vicksburg Library
Thursdays, Aug. 7,14,21,28
Triple Threat Trivia, 6:30pm, must Register, Presidential Brewing Co.
Thursdays, Aug. 7,14,21,28
Live Music, 6:30-8:30pm Saugatuck Brewing Co., Kal.
Thursdays, Aug. 7,14,21,28
King Trivia, 7-9pm, Gull Lake Distilling Company
Friday, August 9
Paddle & Pour-Downtown Comstock River Fest, 5-9pm Music by The Hired Hands
Friday, August 9
State on the Street: Celeste Alison, Bar-5:30pm, Music 6pm, State Theatre, Kal.
Saturday, August 10
Internet Users Group, Bring Your smart phones, mobile Devices & questions, 10am12pm, Paw Paw Library
Monday, August 12
Parchment Book Group: We Hope for Better Things by Erin Barteis, 6pm, Parchment Library
Monday, August 12
Robert Weir presents: Australia, 6-7pm, Vicksburg Library
Tuesday, August 13
Tuesdays on the Road, 5-7:30pm Food trucks, entertainment & Yard games, Linden Grove Middle School, Kalamazoo
Wednesday, August 14
Birds & Coffee Chat on Zoom 10-11am - Herons birdsanctuary@kbs.msu.edu
Wednesday, August 14
The First Six Week of Beekeeping with Robert Candido, 6:308:30pm, Schrier Park, Portage
Wednesday August 14
Aussie Didgeridoo & You 7pm, Paw Paw Library
Thursday, August 15
Kalamazoo Night Market 5-10pm, 1204 Bank St.
Thursday, August 15
STEAM, activities & more 6-7pm, Vicksburg Library
Thursday, August 15
Monthly Euchre Tournament 6pm, Crafted Copper, Kal.
Thursday, August 15
The Heartbreak Book Club: When in Rome, by Sarah Adams 6:30-7:30pm, Paw Paw Library
Thursday, August 15
Slaptian Nation: Slap Your Tail Comedy -Open Mic, 7:30-9:30pm Dormouse Theatre, Kalamazoo
Saturday, August 17
Aviation Steam Day, 10am2pm, Kalamazoo Air Zoo
Saturday, August 17
Festival Latinx Kzoo, 12-10pm Arcadia Creek Festival PLace
Monday, August 19
STEAM, activities & more, 11am12pm, Vicksburg Library
Monday, August 19
Adult Movie Club: Featuring The Classics – 1941 Mystery classic, 3:30pm, Vicksburg Library
Tuesday, August 20
ArtBreak:Gun Lake Tribal Historic Preservation and Curation, Noon – 1pm Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
Tuesday, August 20
Tuesdays on the Road, 5-7:30 Plainwell Fannie Pell Park
Tuesday, August 20
Lego club, 1-2pm & 5:306:30pm, Vicksburg Library
Tuesday, August 20
Mystery Book club-Sherlock Holmes Series, 6:30pm Parchment Library
Wednesday, August 21
Book Discussion: The Lonely City: Adventures in the Art Of Being Alone, 2-3pm Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
Thursday, August 22
ArtBridges: Access for All FREE, 11am-8pm Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
Thursday, August 22
Writer’s Motivational Group 4:30-5:30pm, Vicksburg Library
Friday, August 23
Friday at the Flats (now at Ramona Park), 4:30-8:30pm Food Trucks, live music, fun!
Friday, August 23
Festival Fridays at Arcadia Creek Festival Place, 5-10pm Food trucks, music & more!
Saturday, August 24
Grief Circle, 10am-Noon Rootead Kalamazoo
Saturday, August 24
Kalamazoo Business Black Expo, 1-6pm, Kalamazoo County Expo Center
Monday, August 26
Silent Book Club, 5:15pm Parchment Library
Tuesday, August 27
Tuesdays on the Road, 5-7:30pm Food trucks, entertainment & Yard games, Midtown Fresh, Kal.
Wednesday, August 28
Silent Book Club, 1:15pm Parchment Library
Thursday, August 29
Between the Lines Book Club: Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine, 6:30-7:30pm, Paw Paw Library
Friday, August 30
Vicksburg Library at the Vicksburg Farmer’s Market, 2-6pm
