Encore April 2015

Stulberg’s String of Success

April 2015

Life Story Network

Meet Sharon Ferraro

The Birth of Borgess

Southwest Michigan’s Magazine

READY TO

ROLL

Advice from local bike gurus

w w w.encorekalamazoo.com | 1

Love where you live.

There are many reasons to love Kalamazoo County.

But the truth is, our community still has needs.

We believe, by working together, we can make Kalamazoo County a place where every person is cared for, encouraged, educated and empowered.

A place where every person can reach full potential.

A place where every person matters.

2 | ENCORE APRIL 2015

269.381.4416 | www.kalfound.org

“Four months ago, I had anterior hip replacement surgery at Bronson Methodist Hospital. And it was the best thing I ever did. I put off the surgery for three years — until I could hardly walk at all.

Thanks to Bronson, I started feeling better before anything was even scheduled. My doctor did a great job of explaining what to expect and what would be done. My pain was minimal and I could move around better than I ever expected. In just four weeks, I was back doing the things I used to do — camping, walking the dog, golfing with my buddies and so on. The best testament to my outcome: forgetting that I ever had a hip problem. And for that, I’m so thankful.”

Don Osterhout, Portage, Michigan, May 17, 2014

When one person shares their positivity, we all share in it.

To share how Bronson Positivity has impacted your life, or to watch a video of Don’s story, visit bronsonpositivity.com.

share

bronsonpositivity.com

w w w.encorekalamazoo.com | 3

Stulberg’s String of Success

Life Story Network

Meet Sharon Ferraro

April 2015

The Birth of Borgess

Southwest Michigan’s Magazine

READY TO

ROLL

Advice from local bike gurus

w w w.encorekalamazoo.com | 1

Publisher

encore publications, inc.

Editor

marie lee

Designer

alexis stubelt

Staff Writer

tiffany fitzgerald

Copy Editor/Poetry Editor margaret deritter

Contributing Writers

olga bonfiglio, andrew domino, lisa mackinder, larry massie

Photographers

junfu han, john lacko, brian powers

Advertising Sales krieg lee celeste statler

BUSINESS COVERAGE Commercial Property Commercial General Liability Workers Compensation Business Automobile Commercial Umbrella

Office Coordinator hope smith

Distribution Manager kama mitchell

Encore Magazine is published 12 times yearly. Copyright 2015, Encore Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Editorial, circulation and advertising correspondence should be sent to:

www.encorekalamazoo.com 117 W. Cedar St. Suite A Kalamazoo, MI 49007 Telephone: (269) 383-4433 Fax: (269) 383-9767 Email: Publisher@encorekalamazoo.com

The staff at Encore welcomes written comment from readers, and articles and poems for submission with no obligation to print or return them. To learn more about us or to comment, you may visit www.encorekalamazoo. com. Encore subscription rates: one year $36, two years $70. Current single issue and newsstand $4, $10 by mail.

Back issues $6, $12 by mail. Advertising rates on request.

Closing date for space is 28 days prior to publication date.

Final date for print-ready copy is 21 days prior to publication date.

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CONTENTS

April

2015

FEATURES Ready to Roll

24

The Birth of Borgess

19

DEPARTMENTS

Stulberg’s String of Success

34

Local bike gurus get folks ready to hit the road

Historian Larry Massie tells us how Kalamazoo’s first hospital came to be

The big competition with the low profile celebrates 40 years

6 Contributors 8

Up Front

First Things — What’s hip and happening in SW Michigan

10

Holding on to History — Park Club’s campaign to maintain, renovate its historic structure

12

Good Works

Canine Storytime — Volunteer dogs are helping kids’ literacy and confidence

14 Enterprise

Life Story Network — Creating personal, customized funeral experiences

16 Savor

Homemade Goodness — Local restaurants create their own syrups, jams and pickled foods

46 Back Story

Meet Sharon Ferraro — She’s never met an old building she didn’t like

ARTS

30 Rekindling Recollections

Therapy uses art, music and movement to stimulate

memories

32 Crafted by Fate

Serendipity at work in woodworker’s success 38 Events of Note 43 Poetry Cover photo: Brian Powers

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CONTRIBUTORS

ENCORE

Olga Bonfiglio

Animals have been a constant fascination for Olga, and Bailey, the therapy dog, is no exception.

As the dog’s neighbor for the past several years, she has seen Bailey grow into maturity as a serious but fun-loving dog with a mission to help kids read. Olga has previously written for the Huffington Post, U.S. Catholic, Planning (the trade journal for urban planners), America, and the Kalamazoo Gazette.

Andrew Domino

Andrew Domino got to know a lot about the world of classical music for this issue’s story on the Stulberg International String Competition. He talked with some of the nation’s best violinists and discovered new enthusiasm for a long-running Kalamazoo event. He claims he’s still better at listening to music than playing it, though. You can find more of his writing at www.dominowriting.com.

Tiffany Fitzgerald

Last summer Tiffany’s husband painstakingly rebuilt a 1972 Raleigh Sprite bicycle for her birthday, and since then she’s been slowly easing into the Kalamazoo bike community. For this month’s feature, “Hit the Road,” she got to dive in even deeper. “It’s amazing how much you can learn from Kalamazoo’s bike shop owners,” says Encore’s staff writer.

“And it’s relieving to know that I’m not the only person who’s been massacred by a pothole.”

Lisa Mackinder

Lisa’s work has previously appeared in various Chicken Soup for the Soul books, Animal Wellness, Dog World, Michigan Meetings and Events Magazine, MiBiz, and other publications. Though having covered a wide-range of topics, Lisa most enjoys composing people-centric pieces, as well as those featuring nature and animals. She lives in Portage with her husband, and when not at her Mac, participates in outdoor activities, including fly fishing, gardening and hiking.

Larry Massie

Larry B. Massie, who has written more than 100 articles for Encore under three editorial regimes, contributed this month’s article “The Birth of Borgess,” based, in part, on his 22nd Michigan history book, Health Care Anew: The First 125 years of Borgess Health, to be published soon. He and his partner, culinary historian Priscilla Massie (pictured with him above), reside in the Allegan Forest amidst their private library of 45,000 volumes. In 2011 the Historical Society of Michigan awarded Larry Massie its first Lifetime Achievement Award.

With the right plan, everyone benefits.

We’re pleased to announce that Ben Cohen, CEBS, has joined Rose Street Advisors as employee benefits relationship manager for key clients. Ben has 18 years of experience, and will help clients utilize benefits as a key component in recruiting and retaining the talent necessary for the organization’s success.

Previously, Ben was with Kushner & Company. He holds a degree in Human Resources from Central Michigan University.

Ben Cohen Employee Benefits Relationship Manager Ben Cohen Encore.indd 1 6 | ROSE ENCORE APRILAd 2015

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Dave, Teri and Stephanie all needed a change. When they first came to Borgess Run Camp, none of them could run more than a couple blocks without getting winded. But by connecting with new friends and expert trainers, a passion for running grew inside of them, and with it, their overall well-being. Now they are living healthier, happier lives. Just another way Borgess is making our community a healthier place to be.

Watch their incredible stories or share your own at ThatsWhere.com

A member of Ascension Health速 w w w.encorekalamazoo.com | 7

UP FRONT ENCORE

First Things Something Good

Something Delicious

Have a gas for a good cause The Heritage Community of Kalamazoo celebrates its 70th anniversary in style May 1, with a 1940s-themed May Day Gala at the Upper Loft (at Loft 310, 310 E. Michigan Ave.) The event, which starts at 6 p.m., will feature a four-course meal, a Purple Poppy awards presentation, costume and hair prizes, dancing and music provided by the Dave Bennett Quartet.

The Heritage Community of Kalamazoo, a senior living community, presents Purple Poppy awards to individuals and organizations that serve, support and advocate for older adults.

Tickets for the event cost $70. Proceeds from the gala, including a portion of the ticket price, will support the Heritage Legacy Fund, which ensures continued residency to Heritage Community residents who, due to unforeseeable circumstances, can no longer cover their own living costs.

Reserve tickets by April 17 by calling Kelley Fast-Kucharczyk or Kim Loftus at (269) 382-1255.

Authentic Mexican, specialty quesadillas Quekas,

which opened at 826 Cork St. late last month, offers authentic casual Mexican fare. The restaurant’s name is a common nickname for quesadillas, which the restaurant specializes in, creating 17-inch specialty quesadillas custom-filled with anything from cheese to chicken to veggies to beef.

Aside from quesadillas, Quekas also serves typical Mexican restaurant fare — tacos, enchiladas, burritos and more.

Quekas is open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday— Thursday and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, call (269) 547-1123.

Something Green Run wild for Earth Day

What better way to show the Earth you

love it than to get out in nature to celebrate Earth Day? The Kalamazoo Nature Center offers the perfect escape location — its 1,100-acre preserve at 7000 N. Westnedge Ave. — and at the right price too: free.

The Nature Center’s Earth Day celebration, which comes four days before the official date of Earth Day, kicks off at 9 a.m. April 18 with a stroller-friendly 1K Raccoon Run for

8 | ENCORE APRIL 2015

children 8 and under, followed by an Earth Day 5K run/walk at 10 a.m. Community activity tables, children’s crafts, Nature’s Playground, Ask the Naturalist, hiking trails and an art exhibit (Nature Seen Through the Eyes of Artist Charley Harper) will be featured until 4 p.m.

Register online at NatureCenter.org for the Raccoon Run ($10 per child) and the Earth Day 5K ($25 per runner).

Something Weird Primus goes Wonky

Primus brings its Primus & the Chocolate Factory tour to the State Theatre April 11. The rock band’s latest album and this tour reimagine the soundtrack of the 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory as a visual and sound showcase extravaganza.

Les Claypool, the band’s frontman, explains in a Rolling Stone article that the album and tour culminate from his childhood obsession with the movie. After playing a Willy Wonka-themed New Year’s Eve show in 2013, the band was hooked.

“Our project is an homage to Gene Wilder and David L. Wolper (the film’s producer) and the effect it had on me in my youth,” Claypool says. “Now we get to sell Primus bars and hang out with demented Oompa Loompas. Plus, to top it off, it gives me an excuse to wear a purple velvet waistcoat and brown top hat for the next 18 months.”

The show begins at 8 p.m.; doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are for sale at KaZooState.com.

Lewis Reed & Allen P. C. attorneys

(left to right): Stephen M. Denenfeld, James M. Marquardt, Nicholas J. Daly, Robert C. Engels, Thomas C. Richardson, Richard D. Reed, Gregory G. St. Arnauld, William A. Redmond, Michael B. Ortega, Sheralee S. Hurwitz, David A. Lewis, Michael A. Dombos, Michael A. Shields, Vernon Bennett III, Ronald W. Ryan, Owen D. Ramey.

| kalamazoo | michigan | 49007-3947 | fax: 269.349.3831 | postmaster@lewisreedallen.com www.lewisreedallen.com

136 east michigan avenue suite 800 phone: 269.388.7600

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UP FRONT ENCORE

Holding on to History

Park Club initiates campaign to renovate its iconic building

The Lawrence Mansion, which houses the Park Club in downtown

Kalamazoo, stands as a testament to the city’s iconic turn-ofthe-20th-century architecture, and club members are hoping the community appreciates this historic building.

The Park Club Historic Foundation, a nonprofit associated with the club, is spearheading a campaign to raise the funds necessary to “maintain the building as a landmark and bring the building into the 21st century,” says Michael Schlack, the foundation’s president. The mansion’s Queen Anne architectural style has become a landmark of downtown Kalamazoo, he says.

The building, located at 219 W. South St., began its life in 1889 as the private residence of William S. Lawrence, owner of the Lawrence and Chapin Foundry. In 1911 it became a private men’s club, and in 1926 the Park Club, a private dining and social club established in 1904, moved in.

The city block on which the Park Club sits used to be the site of many mansions overlooking Bronson Park. The Park Club building is

10 | ENCORE APRIL 2015

Many of the rooms inside the Park Club, like the side porch above, haven’t been renovated in 30 years. The inset shows the mansion housing the Park Club as it was in the early 1900s.

now the only structure that remains of those original homes, according to the foundation.

The Park Club features several large dining rooms, from casual to formal, a reading room, a ballroom and a dining porch. The mansion is beautiful, Schlack says, but members are noticing the sagging turret roofs and front steps, an outdated, facade-obscuring fire escape and cracks in the plastered ceilings. Many of the interior rooms haven’t been updated since the building’s centennial celebration in the late 1980s. Aside from the cosmetic and structural issues, there’s something else the building needs.

“We need to reconfigure the use of the spaces within the building to match the new, growing membership,” Schlack says. “Clubs live and die with their membership — ours is aging. We need more casual-use spaces, Wi-Fi compatibility and something to offer new members too.”

ns Ser ving Ka l am eratio n e G az e e oo Thr The Park Club “Restore and Renew” campaign has a $2.5 million goal, which includes $1.4 million for improvements to the building and $1 million to begin an endowment fund to finance annual repairs of the building. The Park Club estimates that its expenses for building repairs average $75,000 a year.

“We don’t want to keep asking the membership for upkeep costs in the future,” Schlack says. “We want this campaign to be a successful one-time push that can sustain itself in the future.”

The Park Club Historic Foundation Board plans to fund much of the campaign with donations from club members, but the board is also reaching out to the community and

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to organizations and individuals with ties to the club.

“If you look back at the history of the club, this has been a facility that’s hosted important community events and meetings,” Schlack says. “It’s a hub downtown and just one more aspect of a thriving metropolitan community.

There have been a lot of membership-only clubs shut down over the years. I think it says something about Kalamazoo that we’re still here.”

For more information about the Park Club and its campaign, visit ParkClub.net.

269.343.5750 Toll-Free 877.995.5750 | www.parkwayps.com

Active minds inspire curiosity We offer non-credit, short term courses designed for mature adults to explore old and new ideas. Indulge your curiosity. Learn more at wmich.edu/olli or Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (269) 387-4200.

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GOOD WORKS ENCORE

Canine Storytime

Reading to dogs helps improve kids’ literacy and confidence by

OLGA BONFIGLIO

Brian Powers

At left, Mackenzie McClintock, center, reads a book with Bailey, right, and her sister Macie. Below, Jacob and Hannah Preston read with Darby.

Dogs

have been “man’s best friend” for ages, serving as hunters, transporters, herders, rescuers, drug-sniffing detectors and, of course, pets. Now canines are educators, taking on the job of helping young children read.

Therapy dogs Bailey and Darby, accompanied by their handler, Anita Lawson, do just that at the Kalamazoo Public Library.

The children read books to the dogs, and Bailey and Darby provide affection and unconditional acceptance — qualities that encourage young children who may lack the confidence or desire to read.

“Children gain confidence in reading because the dog makes no judgments,” says Lawson, who worked as a librarian at Otsego High School for 37 years.

12 | ENCORE APRIL 2015

When Lawson started the Read with Bailey program at KPL in the summer of 2009, her mission was twofold: As a retired librarian, she wanted to make sure children got a good start in a skill that would last a lifetime, and, as an avid dog lover, she wanted children to like dogs.

The Read with Bailey program is offered at various times in the children’s departments at all four of the library’s branches. Children come in for private 15-minute sessions with Bailey or Darby and read to the dogs from a book they have picked out at the library or brought with them. The child sits on one side of the dog while Lawson sits on the other side. As a child reads, he or she often pets the dog and shows him pictures in the book and sometimes makes comments about the story.

Lawson says one mother told her that her daughter wouldn’t read out loud at home or at school until she met Bailey.

If a child can’t read yet, Lawson encourages him or her to explain the book’s pictures to the dog. On his first visit with Bailey, a boy sat quietly beside his sister while she read a story to the dog. On the second visit, the boy explained the pictures to Bailey.

Lawson says reading out loud is important because many jobs require oral presentations.

She says that reading to therapy dogs gives kids both practice and confidence, especially if they are too shy to stand in front of a group.

A 2014 study by Tufts University Veterinary

Medical School bears out this claim, with researchers finding that read to the dog for 30 minutes. A librarian reported that it was the therapy dogs can improve children’s reading abilities because they first time she saw the boy quiet in the library. build the youngsters’ confidence.

“Sitting still is hard, especially for autistic kids,” Lawson says, “but Some children, however, are afraid of dogs, especially bigger Bailey was the boy’s connection.” dogs. But Lawson says that hasn’t been Lawson also takes Darby to Sarah a problem in her program. Bailey, a Powell’s third-grade class at Edison Schnoodle (schnauzer and poodle mix) Elementary School for weekly 90-minute who is 24 inches high, and Darby, a toy visits. It was Lawson’s friend and neighbor poodle who stands at 12 inches, are curly, Jeanne Church who got the trio started in fluffy dogs. “To children, they look like visiting schools. Church has been taking stuffed dogs come to life,” Lawson says. her dogs, Corky and Brandy, to schools for In addition, she says, children tend to the past four years. Brandy also serves as read softly to the dogs, reinforcing the a therapy dog at Parchment Community calm environment the dogs help create.

Library, Bronson Children’s Hospital and Darby, 3, is in his second year as Borgess Medical Center. a therapy dog, and usually lies on a Bailey and Darby look forward to going child’s lap and often falls asleep. Lawson “to work,” Lawson says. She signals it’s reassures the child that this is the way that time by brushing their teeth and coat Anita Lawson with therapy dogs, Darby, left, and Bailey.

Darby shows he likes the story and is and putting a special “work collar” and listening. Bailey, 12, a six-year therapy dog, is so attentive that the bandanna on each of them. They respond by prancing and dancing. children think he actually listens and understands the story, Lawson says.

“Dogs have to have a purpose,” says Lawson. “My goal is to help the “Dogs know words,” she says, noting that she talks to her dogs kids love reading and like dogs. It’s cool to push my love of reading throughout the day. “When they hear certain words in a story, they with my love of dogs. I will continue doing this because it’s a pretty often react by cocking their heads. So they are paying attention to nifty retirement job.” the reader.”

For more information on the Read With Bailey schedule, visit KPL.gov.

Therapy dogs are also known to help autistic children. One autistic boy at an elementary school held Bailey’s leash while two other kids Porcelain Veneers

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ENTERPRISE ENCORE

Telling Life Stories

Company creates customized funeral experiences “O

Brian Powers

nce upon a time, there was a beautiful young princess who blessed the lives of many in remarkable ways. Known far and wide for her feisty and fighting spirit, [she] was loving beyond her years….”

What might sound like the beginning of a fairy tale is actually the start of a life story about a young Kalamazoo girl who died at age 10 that was created by the staff of Life Story Network. The young girl had always wanted to be a princess, so the Life Story Network writer assigned to write her story made sure to make her a princess.

Personalized narratives such as this life story are just one of the customized funeral services provided by Life Story Network, a funeral-services business based in Kalamazoo. The company, started in 1997, also provides videos, memory books, eulogies, obituaries and visual boards that create a personalized funeral experience for grieving families.

“The traditional obituary is what we’re trying so hard to get away from,” says Jim Bauschke, who, with partner Herb Ayres, runs Life Story Network. “They’re kind of boring, ingenuine. Funerals too — a lot of them are all the same, all about death.”

It’s a successful business philosophy, and the partners attribute its success to the fact that more and more people want a different type of funeral experience than the traditional “centered on death” ritual.

Instead, people want to celebrate life. Both Ayres and Bauschke are

14 | ENCORE APRIL 2015

quick to point out that funeral home directors want to provide that unique experience too.

To create those custom, celebratory experiences for grieving families and friends, the Life Story Network provides meaningful, in-depth services such as its Life Panel, a chronological collage of the person being remembered; Life Story, a personally written biographical narrative; Life Story Memory Folder, handed out to all who attend a service, complete with photos and Life Story; Life Story Book, a hardcover book that includes a story and photos; Life Story Digital Film, an individualized video combining the digital and written work of Life Story; and a digital Memory Page, an end-of-service film and personalized thank-you cards, complete with the Life Panel, Life Story and images provided by the family.

“We’re trying to keep it real and authentic,” Bauschke says. “We want to really tell who this person was. We’re not afraid of going through the difficult times of a life either — it’s all in there. It’s all a part of what makes up a life.”

Life Story Network is not a funeral home, although both Ayres and Bauschke were once funeral home directors and the Life Story The Life Story staff includes, from left, back row, Brandon Willard, Jim Bauschke and Andrew Whiting; front row, Jason Meyle, Greg Copin, Sue Colleran (holding Oliver) Brendan Howard, Nate Bond, Herb Ayres (with Trixie), and Amy Sours (and Buster).

Great flavor comes from deep roots. since 1985 © Bell's Brewery, Inc., Comstock, MI

concept was born in a funeral home. The idea came from a funeral that Ayres and partner Jon Durham, a co-founder of Life Story Network, coordinated in 1996 while running a funeral home in Vicksburg.

A couple who owned a print company died tragically, and their staff put together a folder of photos, stories and memories for the funeral. It happened at a time when Durham and Ayres were already struggling with death-centered, expensive, impersonal services, Ayres says, so they decided to start incorporating the concepts the printing company’s employees used into funeral services for other clients.

It was an idea that resonated within the industry. The company has grown from an in-house operation to a company that employs 14 people and serves more than 55 funeral homes in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and New York.

The network serves only one funeral home in each local market, providing that home with access to the Life Story Network’s inhouse graphic, web and writing services as well as training on how to interview friends and family to gather the personal information needed for the materials. Some funeral homes choose to use the Life Story trademark in their names, such as Betzler Life Story Funeral Home in Kalamazoo and Clock Life Story Funeral Home in Fruitport, Grand Haven and Muskegon, but some don’t.

And the Life Story Network materials serve as more than just remembrances for the visitation and funeral; they become heirlooms that can be handed down to grandchildren and great-grandchildren. That chance to pass down the materials is one of the benefits of Life Story that Ayres and Bauschke feel particularly connected to.

“Herb and I look at our own families and their connection to our ancestors,” Bauschke says. “My boys know very little about my parents and grandparents. They might see a photo, but they don’t know what they loved or what made them laugh. How are they going to know if we don’t tell them?”

For more information about Life Story Network, visit LifeStoryNet.com

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SAVOR ENCORE

Homemade Goodness

Local venues create their own syrups, jams and pickled foods Once a staple of The Greatest Generation, at-home food preservation is heating up again, along with at-home condiment preparation. Pinterest, cooking magazines and recipe websites such as Bon Appetit, Epicurius, Food Network and Better Homes and Gardens are chock full of recipes for homemade jams, sauces, syrups and pickled foods.

“Preserving food cannot be considered new and trendy,” said New York Times writer Julia Moskin in a 2009 article about the resurgence of canning. “But the recent revival of attention to it fits neatly into the modern renaissance of handcrafted food, heirloom agriculture and using food in its season.”

It’s no accident, say sources such as the Wall Street Journal, Slate, Seattle Magazine and National Public Radio, this revived interested in food preservation through canning and pickling coincided with the Great Recession.

People’s desire to save money, use local produce and food sources, and pull back to slow, home-cooking methods has continued trending ever since purse strings started to tighten in 2008.

Depression-era cooking methods such as canning and pickling can prove tricky to master. Locally, Fair Food Matters and Tillers International offer classes on how to properly make homemade foods and prepare foods for preservation. If you’d rather leave trendy food preps as beautiful pins on Pinterest and nothing more but still desire that homemade taste, many local restaurants offer canned, homemade sauces, jams, syrups and pickled goods. Here’s a small sample of where you can find such foods:

Old Dog Tavern Old Dog, at 402 E. Kalamazoo Ave., dishes up a plethora of throwback foods, from infused simple syrups such as habanero, ginger vanilla, brown sugar cinnamon nutmeg and cherry vanilla flavors, for use in signature cocktails, to pickled vegetables 16 | ENCORE APRIL 2015

Brian Powers

We want it just like Grandma made it.

Old Dog Tavern creates its own simple syrups to be used in drinks, including habanero (in the Drink Me bottle), cherry and maple syrups.

for Bloody Marys. Old Dog even features a homemade mustard made from a recipe that originated on owner Sean Smith’s Irish side of the family, the Dorgans. Hence its name — Dorgan’s Mustard.

“I found the handwritten recipe in Sean’s mom’s house,” says tavern co-owner Amy

Smith. “I made the mustard and copies of the index card it (the recipe) was written on and gave it as a gift to the whole family.

The family used to put it on everything from corned beef to pastrami.”

After resurrecting the recipe, Amy Smith made it a part of Old Dog’s menu, adding

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w w w.encorekalamazoo.com | 17

SAVOR ENCORE the mustard to the tavern’s repertoire of oldfashioned, home-cooked foods. While oldfashioned foods like this are popular now, Old Dog Head Chef Eric Boodt says he’s driven by something other than following a trend.

“Our focus here is food made from scratch, from good ingredients,” says Boodt, who prepares all the foods, including the pickled vegetables and simple syrups for the bar.

Old Dog also boasts one of the most traditional bar foods ever — pickled eggs.

“You can almost spot someone in the pickled egg crowd coming in the door,” jokes Boodt, who says the pickled egg is a favorite snack at the tavern. “It’s one of our biggest sellers.”

Studio Grill Studio Grill owner Daphney Dotson learned to make freezer jams by watching her grandmother.

“She had a large farm and an abundance of blackberries and raspberries, so she would make freezer jams,” Dotson says. “The whole house would smell just amazing.”

Now Dotson uses this skill at Studio Grill (312 W. Michigan Ave.) to create homemade

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seasonal house jams. Making freezer jams is easier than traditional canning, Dotson says, because you use just fruit, pectin and sugar and skip the sterilization, boiling and monitoring that canned jams need.

“It’s so easy,” she says, “and the customers love them. They’ll always say ‘Wow! Really?’ when you tell them we make them in-house.

It’s a moment you wished you had put flour on your face and made it a dramatic reveal, but it only takes about 30 minutes.”

The berries Dotson uses for her jams come from local farms such as VerHage and Brookside because knowing where ingredients come from is very important to her, she says. Jars of the homemade jams are available for sale at the restaurant.

Water Street Coffee Joint Liz Comrie is Water Street’s operations director. “Before we started making our own chocolate sauce,” she says, “we were using” — she hushes her voice and cups her mouth as she finishes her sentence — “Hershey’s syrup.” Then Comrie laughs and adds, “Just kidding. A lot of people love Hershey’s syrup.

It’s a great product. But Mark (Smutek, Water

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Street’s owner) came to us and asked if we could do better.”

After much experimenting with 10 different cocoa powders and thorough testing to make sure the new syrup complemented Water Street’s coffee perfectly, Comrie is confident she and her staff have created something better.

“It’s a darker, richer sauce and a bettertasting product,” she says.

In addition to the chocolate sauce, Water Street also launched six house-made syrup flavors — almond, caramel, coconut, peppermint, hazelnut and vanilla. They’re all made in Water Street’s kitchen, at 6938 Elm Valley Drive, and distributed to the restaurant’s four locations — downtown (315 E. Water St.), Oakland (3037 Oakland Drive), Borgess Medical Center (1521 Gull Road) and Portage (245 W. Centre Ave.).

For canning, pickling and homemade sauce and syrup ideas and recipes, visit Encore’s pinboard at Pinterest.com/EncoreKalamazoo.

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The Birth of

Borgess by

LARRY MASSIE

Courtesy

My right leg is broken, my hip out of joint, My trousers are torn with the splintered bone’s point, My ankle is broken, I’m done up, I fear.

Oh carry me, carry me, where shall they carry me?

There is no hospital here.

“No Hospital,” 1889

S

o wrote Kalamazoo’s eccentric poet Joseph Bert Smiley, whose sarcastic verse sometimes threatened to put him in need of hospital care.

He was right. Kalamazoo didn’t have a hospital. Other Michigan communities boasted of hospitals. Detroit’s St. Mary’s Hospital, the first in the state, opened in 1845. Ann Arbor’s university-affiliated hospital dates back to 1869. Hospitals in Grand Rapids and Port Huron opened their doors in the 1870s. Even the remote Upper

Editor’s note: To commemorate its 125th anniversary, Borgess Medical Center is publishing a book on the hospital’s history, Health Care Anew: The First 125 Years of Borgess Health, written by noted historian Larry Massie. Massie has provided Encore with this abridged version of Borgess’ birth as Kalamazoo’s fist hospital.

Peninsula witnessed the founding of hospitals in Calumet, Ishpeming and Menominee by 1886. Wealthy Kalamazoo sufferers could board the Michigan Central Railroad to travel to the Battle Creek Sanitarium, where Dr. John Harvey Kellogg operated a quasi-hospital and health spa.

But when those of the working class became ill, in an era when factory employees considered themselves lucky to earn $1.50 for a 10-hour workday and health insurance was unheard of, they had w w w.encorekalamazoo.com | 19

recourse to little but nursing by untrained family members. The indigent faced the county poorhouse, which served as a last resort for the elderly, blind, mentally disturbed or orphaned, or, worse yet, they faced the city or county jails, which doubled as lodging for emergency cases.

Kalamazoo in the 1880s was a bustling community of approximately 17,000 citizens and a vibrant industrial mecca from which entrepreneurs sent trainloads of windmills, carriages, railroad velocipedes, paper and sleds across the nation. Its lack of what many Michiganders had come to consider an essential element of urban life was due largely to penny-pinching fiscal policies.

It was a different era, decades before the Borgess Hospital began in a converted mansion on Portage Street, above. At left, private rooms at Borgess Hospital, ca. 1910, made patients feel right at home.

emergence of the noblesse oblige of families such as the Upjohns, Gilmores, Parfets and Strykers. Even in the Gilded Age, it seems, the conservative spending attitudes that won Kalamazoo the title of “Debt-Free City” during the Great Depression of the 1930s were firmly in place.

The initial attempt to improve Kalamazoo’s medical situation came in the winter of 1881-82, when fears of a smallpox epidemic motivated the village council to invest in two large tents to be erected, as needed, in an isolated setting. Fortunately, the epidemic did not materialize, and the primitive tent hospitals were “carefully stored in readiness for future use.”

20 | ENCORE APRIL 2015

It would take a concerted and hard-fought campaign for the city to get a genuine and much-needed hospital. And the person who would lead that effort, Father Francis A. O’Brien, arrived in town in 1883.

O’Brien was born in Monroe in 1851. His deeply religious Irish immigrant parents inspired in the boy a love of the Catholic Church, and O’Brien received his formal education at a school operated by the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Monroe.

When his father died in 1855, the 15-year-old dropped out of school to take a job to help support his mother. During the following four years he worked at various jobs, including a short stint as a Detroit Free Press reporter. But

his real love, the church, beckoned. Through the assistance of Bishop Caspar Borgess of Detroit, who had befriended him, O’Brien began to prepare for the priesthood.

He was ordained as a priest in 1877 and served as a pastor in Monroe and Detroit before Borgess assigned him to Kalamazoo in 1883. Here O’Brien found a parish deeply in debt, with a rundown church. Undaunted, he embraced his new challenges. His strong personality, diplomacy and sense of humor soon won his acceptance in the community.

“Father Frank” began by placing the parish schools on a firm footing, then launched a campaign to restore the crumbling St. Augustine Church.

In 1885 came an unfortunate event that ultimately led to the birth of Kalamazoo’s first hospital. The Michigan State Fair, held annually at various sites across the state at the time, came to Kalamazoo that September.

Among the “carnies” and fairgoers who thronged the city were many who quenched their thirst at the several dozen saloons that lined downtown streets. The city marshal and his force of burly patrolmen kept busy that week escorting over-imbibers to lockup.

In their enthusiasm, they nabbed a young stranger found stumbling along the wooden

sidewalk and threw him in with the other drunks. Several hours later, the turnkey realized the boy was more than intoxicated. He sent for a physician who diagnosed the boy as deathly ill. The boy’s pockets held no identification, only a rosary. The authorities summoned O’Brien, and there, amid the stench, offal and drunken curses of the inmates, he administered the last rites to the dying youth.

Later, the priest learned that the boy had come from respectable parents who had been mortified to learn that their promising son had died in jail. The experience left an indelible imprint on O’Brien, and he determined that Kalamazoo would have a hospital to prevent the recurrence of a similar tragedy.

O’Brien’s first attempt was to create a public hospital funded by taxpayers. In 1887, the Kalamazoo City Council approved the project, and the city charter was so amended. Committees were appointed and a site chosen. But the necessary funding for the hospital, estimated by one council member at $30,000 to $40,000, proved more difficult to obtain.

But O’Brien persevered and proposed to the city council that he could establish a hospital for the bargain prince of $5,000. Then prejudice against the Catholic Church reared its ugly head. A letter to the editor published in the Kalamazoo Telegraph, for example, denounced O’Brien’s offer by saying, “Not one cent of public money, not one cent of Protestant money, should go to swell Rome’s wealth and power.”

O’Brien came to realize that his vision of opening Kalamazoo’s first hospital could only come about through alternative funding.

He told his close friend and mentor Bishop Borgess of Detroit about his experience with the youth dying in jail, and it deeply moved the bishop. Then, almost miraculously, a few days before Christmas of 1888, came a letter from Borgess containing a check for $5,000, which the bishop had inherited from his mother’s estate.

O’Brien announced the joyful news from the pulpit on Christmas morning, and he soon proceeded to make his long-cherished dream a reality. The $5,000 went toward a down payment on an Italian Revival mansion situated on a full block of land stretching from Portage to Lovell streets (which were not connected then as they are now.) The ceremonial laying of the cornerstone of an addition to the structure was held on June 30, 1889. Fittingly, the hospital was named Borgess.

In the meantime, O’Brien had begun another hard-fought campaign to convince a group of nuns to provide nursing staff for the planned hospital. He specially sought out members of the Sisters of St. Joseph because of their labors in numerous fields in the service of humanity.

He traveled to the Sisters’ original American mission, Carondelet, near St. Louis, and appealed to various dioceses in the East and Canada, but none had Sisters they could spare. He then learned of a mission at Watertown, N.Y., that might have available Sisters, and, after considerable negotiation, their bishop agreed to spare 11 Sisters for Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo.

Clad in stiff and stifling black and white habits, the 11 Sisters arrived at the newly constructed Michigan Central depot on July 6, 1889. With a flourish, they set about remodeling the old mansion on Portage Street into a 20-bed hospital. They converted a little cottage on the grounds into a dormitory for themselves and tackled the laborious task of cleaning and painting the rundown house.

The pioneer Sisters of St. Joseph who would singlehandedly manage the facility had received no training in nursing. Yet, as one remembered, “we were ready to go to the battlefield if required.”

The Sisters simply made up in dedication and enthusiasm what they lacked in experience.

In October, a medical staff composed of eight local physicians conducted a thorough inspection of the hospital. It met with their unanimous approval. On Nov. 30, eight days before Borgess Hospital

At left, numerous additions had made the original mansion in which Borgess began unrecognizable by 1910. Above, the maternity ward at Borgess, ca. 1910.

was to officially open, the Sisters admitted their first patient, a 15-year-old girl who the city marshal had discovered sick and starving in a dingy hotel room. Rather than deliver her to the usual facility, the city jail, he took her to the Sisters, who nursed her back to health.

The second patient arrived on the official opening day, Dec. 8, 1889. But Borgess Hospital faced an uphill battle to win community acceptance. The year 1890 brought

w w w.encorekalamazoo.com | 21

only 59 patients, and during the hospital’s first five full years of operation a mere 397 patients checked in, many of them charity cases. Father O’Brien’s own sister, Sister Mary Raphael O’Brien, M.D., joined her brother in 1893 and headed up the newly formed St. Camillus School of Nursing.

Borgess survived the tough decade of the 1890s with the assistance of various donations and fundraising bazaars, lawn socials and raffles. By 1900, the hospital managed to make a small profit, which was applied toward its $8,000 indebtedness. The following year, Borgess broke ground for a major four-story addition fronting Portage Street. Additional improvements followed in 1903 and 1907. The mansion that had served as the first hospital, which was by this time hidden from view by the additions, was converted into an “Old People’s Home,” a tradition of care for the elderly that the Sisters continue to this day.

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Despite the various additions that brought the number of beds to 100, overcrowding and obsolescence at Borgess Hospital had reached serious proportions by World War I. Work began on a “new” Borgess Hospital on a tract of land on Gull Road in 1916, and on Sept. 19, 1917, the first patient arrived at the four-story red-brick structure.

The original hospital on Portage Avenue, referred to as Old Borgess, remained in use as an emergency hospital until it closed its doors in 1929. It lay vacant until 1933, when the Upjohn Co. purchased and razed it. Fittingly, the original site of Kalamazoo’s first hospital now houses the new Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine.

Monsignor Francis O’Brien would be proud.

The hospital was named for Bishop Casper E. Borgess, who donated $5,000 of his own inheritance to start Kalamazoo’s first hospital.

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Ready to

Roll

24 | ENCORE APRIL 2015

Local bike gurus

are getting folks ready to hit the road

by

TIFFANY FITZGERALD

photography by

BRIAN POWERS

Every year across the United States, more people switch to bicycles for exercise and commuting, according to the American Journal of Public Health. Who can blame them?

Bicycling is a low-impact, economical form of exercise and a green transportation option. In addition, it is an accessible and affordable way to explore local open spaces, parks and trails.

Kalamazoo has its fair share of biking enthusiasts, with activities for every type of cyclist, from the leisure biker to the daily commuter to the triathlete. In anticipation of warm weather bringing those bikes out of sheds, garages and basements, Encore visited the local bike shops Pedal, KZoo Swift, Zoo City Cycle & Sport and Alfred E Bike to see what they have to offer cyclists readying for a new warm weather season and what services, bikes and accessories they have to offer. While each shop has its own special niche, the one thing each store has in common is that it wants to be a shop that is welcoming to every bicyclist, regardless of type, age or skill level.

“It is challenging to have a retail establishment that is both welcoming to a neophyte and yet has something to offer someone at the highest end of the sport,” says Pedal owner Tim Krone. “People come in and see a $2,000 bike and think, ‘Well, I don’t have $2,000.’ You know what? That’s OK. You don’t need $2,000 to have a good time.”

Here’s what you do need to have a good time: an operational bike (if you own your own, be sure to tune it up every year — shop owners recommend getting bikes into service departments in late winter to avoid waits), a helmet, a headlight and taillight (yes, even during the daytime, these experts say), basic bike knowledge such as how to fix a tire and how to obey the rules of the road, and a good place to get all these things.

“Go meet the employees at the bike shop you want to work with,” advises Alfred E. Bike owner Doug Stevenson.

“If you aren’t having a great experience when you’re buying something at the store and they’re trying to get you to spend money, then it’s probably going to be worse when you come back and need some work done.”

From selling bikes and accessories to fixing a bent rim, a bike shop becomes a go-to place for bicyclists during the warm-weather days and beyond. Whether you’re in need of a helmet, a more-comfortable bike seat, a GPS system for longer trips or even a new bike, each shop offers different products, support and events throughout the season.

w w w.encorekalamazoo.com | 25

‘More to come’ Pedal

A modern, fresh aesthetic complements Pedal’s downtown shop space. (Pedal recently purchased Breakaway Bicycles in Portage, but the transition was still in progress at press time.) Pedal boasts a small but diverse selection of bikes, clothing, gear, electronics and parts as well as a service shop for tune-ups, repairs and more — all to keep up with the broad range of customers who come through the door.

Tim Krone says he’s most proud of the store’s commitment to local cyclists and its connection to the local cycling community, which, he’s excited to say, is growing every year.

“There’s a whole infrastructure in place here and more to come,” he says, referring to the new Kalamazoo Valley River Trail expansion. “Cycling is happening here — the community is working toward a healthier, cycling-friendly attitude.”

What to check out at Pedal: • The Kona Cyclocross model — “Cyclocross is a sport, a great sport that usually takes place in a park, and you bike on grass, sand, dirt, pavement,” Krone says.

“It’s got fat mountain-bike tires, but on a road-bike-like frame, so it has a lot of versatility.”

• The smaller cargo bike for urban commuters • The selection of geeky cycling GPS and monitoring gadgets

26 | ENCORE APRIL 2015

Clockwise from left: Ryan MaGuire checks on a customer’s order; Matt Adkins works on a wheel; and owner Tim Krone, center, amidst customers and Pedal staff members.

Where: 611 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, and 185 Romence Road, Portage (formerly Breakway Bicycles)

Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m Monday and Wednesday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Saturday, closed Sunday

Website: PedalBicycle.com Specialty services: Repairs, tune-ups and overhauls; bike sizings and fittings

Upcoming events: Kalamazoo Bike Week, May 10-17

‘We can fix that’ KZoo Swift

Tucked around the corner from Retro on South Westnedge Avenue, KZoo Swift buys, sells, trades and repairs vintage bicycles, mainly models from the 1960s through 1990s.

The shop, which opened in August 2013, has a startup feel, and customers often comment that Ryan Barber, who co-owns the shop with Justin Schoenfelder, is always at the shop, fixing up bikes and greeting customers.

Aside from beautiful, shined-up vintage bikes adorning the walls and a back room full of old bikes and parts, the shop is bare bones and being built from the ground up.

“We’re the bike shop that when other bike shops turn people away and say, ‘Uh, throw it in the garbage,’ we say, ‘Yes, we can fix that,’” says Schoenfelder.

Bikes average around $200 to $400 at KZoo Swift, says Barber, and the vintage selection makes it a great option for college students, commuters or collectors.

What to check out at KZoo Swift: •

The KZoo Swift Bike Wind Chime, made of recycled bike parts

•

The 1979 Schwinn Suburban, with only 9 miles on it and in mint condition

•

Barber’s pedicab (Kalamazoo’s only pedicab), which is used at local events

Clockwise from top: Vintage bikes hang in the window at Kzoo Swift; a 1979 Schwinn Suburban; a windchime made of bike parts; and Ryan Barber’s pedicab.

Where: 445 Forest St., Kalamazoo Hours: Noon-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday

Website: KZooSwift.com; Facebook.com/ Kzooswiftshop

Specialty services: Repairs, tune-ups and parts; purchases of old bikes

Upcoming events: Group rides at which everyone is welcome, including those who ride cruisers. (Check facebook.com/Kzooswiftshop for more info.)

w w w.encorekalamazoo.com | 27

‘Something for every interest’ Zoo City Cycle & Sport

“Bicycling is a very active sport right now, from the amount of people doing it to the effort communities are putting out to support the activity of the sport,” says Zoo City owner Rick Lee. “There’s something for every interest.”

“Something for every interest” is also an apt way to describe Zoo City Cycle & Sport. The shop carries everything from high-end Cannondale models to Schwinn cruisers, from adult-sized unicycles to skateboards. Its storefront is a big, welcoming space, and Lee has made sure to have room for kids to test-drive bikes as well.

“We’re like a car dealership for kids,” he says, pointing to a long line of children’s bikes. Zoo City offers a program for the kids’ bikes it sells that allows parents to bring the bikes back in good condition every two years and trade up for the next size while earning money toward a new purchase.

Clockwise from top: Seats in a row of Schwinn bicycles; helmet options include animal faces; and the Cannondale line is the latest addition to Zoo City’s products.

What to check out at Zoo City: • The wall of helmets, which includes the weirder variety with animal prints and faces • Monkey Lights — LED lights that are placed on spokes and light up and make colorful designs while riding● • The brand-new addition to the shop’s lineup: Cannondale bikes

Where: 4328 S. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday Website: ZooCityCycle.com

Specialty services: Repairs and tune-ups Upcoming events: Look for information on an upcoming paddle-and-bike event co-hosted by Lee’s Adventure Sports, as well as on group rides.

28 | ENCORE APRIL 2015

Are there considerations for buying a bike in Michigan that are different than elsewhere?

Alfred E Bike The oldest bike shop of the four, Alfred E Bike opened in Kalamazoo in 1972.

Located downtown, the shop is housed in a space with high ceilings and wood floors and ample room for its bikes, parts, clothing, car racks and even kayaks. Owner Doug Stevenson says that even though the shop has been in business for decades, it still focuses on locals.

“I’ve always felt Kalamazoo’s market is an enlightened market compared to other mid-sized Michigan cities,” he says.

“It’s a little more upscale, and a healthier lifestyle. It’s less important here what type of bike you ride and more important to just embrace outdoor activities.”

Stevenson started the shop with his wife, Bernadine Baisch, and their son Cullen Stevenson runs the operations of the store. Doug Stevenson says it’s more important for this family-owned business to be a nice place for customers than a big operation.

What to check out at Alfred E Bike • The Giant brand Liv series, an affordable bike specifically designed for women cyclists • The Alfred E Bike-branded biking clothing • The antique bikes hung on the walls

Jason Schoenfelder, KZoo Swift: Thinking about winter — the salt in the winter, for sure, and winter storage, which is really important. We can sell you a beautiful bike that’s been redone and if you leave it outside in the winter and it gets salt sprayed from the road or if it’s snowed on all winter, all the new grease won’t matter — the cold and salt will get into every crack. Unfortunately, that will ruin a bike in one season. Bring bikes inside in the winter, or put them in a locked garage or shed.

Ryan Barber, KZoo Swift: Another thing that makes Michigan different is the versatility — we have a lot of mountain-biking trails, light-packed limestone trails and city riding. There’s a lot of different types of riding you can do, and you can do it all on one bike mostly. You just have to change out the tires.

What’s been trending in the last year?

Tim Krone, Pedal: Fat bikes (all-terrain, fat tired biked invented for winter trail riding and racing in sub-arctic Alaska). It’s happening. I didn’t think it would happen, but it is, and it is so much more fun than I thought it would be. I’ve been out with my friends this winter, in the woods, on the road and riding around, and it’s been great.

Now there’s a whole infrastructure coming around it with groomed trails so you can get out, and it’s also not a sport where you’re just beating yourself to death. For the winter, it’s a great workout — you get out and ride.

You’re not in the basement on a trainer watching some stupid movie; you’re outside in nature. I worried these were just for that guy, that this was his seventh bicycle, but these are becoming very accessible and we’re seeing more people interested in it.

What kind of cyclists are Southwest Michiganders?

Where: 320 E. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Wednesday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Saturday, closed Sunday

Website: AEBike.com Specialty services: Repairs, tune-ups, bike fittings

Upcoming events: Open group rides at

Clockwise from top: The exposed brick walls in Alfred E Bike provide a backdrop for vintage and new bikes; cycling garb with the store’s logo; and the Liv series of bikes for women cyclists.

6 p.m. Tuesdays. These rides start again when the weather warms up. Although two speeds are offered, the rides are too fast for cruisers; check website for details.

Rick Lee, Zoo City Cycle & Sport: You find a little bit of everybody. We’re not lying when we say our customer base runs the age range from 1-and-a-half-year-old children to people in their 90s. There’s the downtownies, people who ride the older, retro bikes to and from different entertainment spots. You don’t have to go very far downtown to realize how important bikes are to those businesses because they have bike racks.

There are people who are training cyclists, people who commute to and from work, families who ride together and there are the cruisers too, people who just want to ride around the neighborhood on a beautiful bike, like kind of a fashion statement.

When’s the best time to get a tune-up for your bike?

Doug Stevenson, Alfred E Bike: It’s peak service time in April and May, when the weather starts getting nice. During that time, our backlog gets so great in the service department that people get frustrated because it’s perfect riding conditions and their bikes are in our shop for weeks. We’ve started offering incentives to get bikes in earlier so we’re not getting slammed and customers aren’t missing riding time. The best time to get your bike in is November through February, during the off-peak season. w w w.encorekalamazoo.com | 29

ARTS ENCORE

Rekindling Recollections

Therapy uses art, music and movement to stimulate memories LISA MACKINDER

JunFu Han

by

As the resident of a long-term care facility looks through a notebook of paintings, a scene of a white fence with red geraniums catches her eye. This is the picture she will paint today.

Her therapist, Patricia Hinckley, puts shades of blue and purple acrylic paint onto a canvas to produce the background. Hinckley then asks the woman to move her paintbrush from left to right, and the colors merge as the woman slowly drags the brush across the canvas.

Vertical brush strokes with white paint create the fence. Light dabs of a sponge sprout the red geraniums and emerald green leaves.

This is not a typical art lesson. The elderly woman suffers from memory loss, and this session aims to help rekindle her memories.

For 30 minutes, Hinckley leads her client in MnemeTherapy (the first part pronounced “Nemma”), which assists people with cognitive impairments resulting from such conditions as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, stroke and autism spectrum disorder. Named for the Greek muse of memory, MnemeTherapy utilizes singing, movement, “directed painting,” storytelling and praise to stimulate the brain 30 | ENCORE APRIL 2015

Mneme therapist Patricia Hinckley works with client Sharon Shindledecker at Fountain View in Portage.

and encourage neuroplasticity, the nervous system’s capacity for developing new neuronal connections.

“I give them a good day,” Hinckley says of her clients. “In that half hour we connect and I can see the person that they were.”

With her painting complete, the client lights up with unmistakable joy. Just as important, though, each brushstroke and sponge dab has helped trigger the woman’s memories. A recollection of a barn.

A remembrance of a fence with red geraniums planted near pink peonies that separated the woman’s yard from the neighbors’.

“It’s like rebuilding a bridge,” Hinckley says. “After painting, the goal towards the end is to get them storytelling. We try and engage them in something that connects in their brain.”

MnemeTherapy was created by Noell Hammer, founder of the Art Without Boundaries Association in Florida, which trains MnemeTherapists. Hinckley, who has a master’s degree in counseling

psychology and counseling education from Western Michigan University, had been trained in utilizing intuitive art in her therapy. Responding to an advertisement for MnemeTherapy, she enrolled in the self-paced online course. In September, she became Michigan’s first certified MnemeTherapist.

“We study all types of brain injury and dysfunctions as well as just general anatomy and function,” Hinckley says of the training.

“It truly is a multifaceted curriculum that is broad in scope but specific in topic.”

Hinckley begins each client’s session with singing and movement. Sitting face-to-face, they sing and hold hands, swinging arms left to right. Then comes a game of patty-cake, in which Hinckley has the client say “left” and “right” as the corresponding hand touches her own. Next, Hinckley has the client cross right hand to left leg, and vice versa. All of this has a purpose. “Both sides of the brain react to movement,” she explains.

Recently Hinckley worked with a client at Reflections Memory Care, in Battle Creek, who appeared to have mid- to latestage Alzheimer’s. (Medical confidentiality restrictions prohibit Hinckley from knowing her clients’ impairments. However, her training allows her to makes some observations.) When Hinckley arrived for the session, she found the woman stressed and aggravated. After gentle movement and singing, the woman unexpectedly reached out and hugged Hinckley. Looking directly

into Hinckley’s eyes, the woman said, “I am alive.”

“Her whole countenance changed,” Hinckley recalls. “She was calm. She focused

SEE THE WORK Art Hop, April 3 — An exhibit of paintings by Patricia Hinckley’s clients will be on display from 5-8 p.m. at OptiMed Pharmacy, 154 S. Kalamazoo Mall.

Spring Expo & Craft Show, April 18 — See a demonstration of Hinckley’s techniques from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 2900 Lake St. For $5, Hinckley will lead participants in directed painting and they can take home their artwork. on the painting. It just grounded her again.”

Some of Hinckley’s clients no longer speak.

As Hinckley looks at pictures with them, she

watches intently for a sign — a spark in their eyes, a flicker of recognition on their faces — to gain a sense of what they might want to paint. Recently Hinckley worked with a woman who had developed deafness and hadn’t spoken in months.

“By the end of the session she was talking in sentences,” Hinckley says. “The art director later told me that my client was telling her family all about painting.”

Hinckley provides therapy for clients at many facilities around the area, including Fountain View and Tendercare, in Portage, and Park Village Pines, in Kalamazoo.

Every Tuesday she works with residents at Reflections. Diana Duncan, a certified dementia practitioner at Reflections, says she thinks MnemeTherapy is “an amazing program” and that each of the facility’s 31 residents has responded to it to varying degrees.

“They are very receptive to it,” Duncan says.

“We’ve had 100 percent participation. Every single resident has done MnemeTherapy at least once. The program works because it is set up for success. We have some very low-functioning residents who are able to participate.”

Hinckley says MnemeTherapy provides invaluable benefits not only to clients, but to their loved ones as well. “The family has a painting that was a positive memory,” she says, “and that’s priceless.”

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ARTS ENCORE

Crafted by Fate

JunFu Han

Woodworker sees serendipity’s hand in his success

32 | ENCORE APRIL 2015

same space working with furniture 100 years later, doing something very similar.”

There’s also a wood bench in his shop that originated from an old carriage maker’s shop on East Main Street. The bench ended up at the Heritage Co., back on the same city block from which it originated, after decades of being passed around Kalamazoo from basement to basement, with no permanent home. Chamberlin’s friend Jeff Weisman called him to tell him about it.

“He kept harassing me about it, actually,” Chamberlin says. “I wasn’t sure I wanted it originally — it was in pretty bad shape.”

Above, Rob Chamberlin at work on a lathe in his Water Street studio. Opposite page, tiered tables created by Chamberlin.

But eventually he felt called to restore it and put it back into use doing what it was always meant to do.

Chamberlin has countless stories like that one: A friend told him him someone ought to write a story about him, and he was contacted the next day by a local magazine. In his 20s, Chamberlin picked up a coffee table book on the work of nationally renowned woodworker Sam Maloof, and he was forever influenced by it. The day before his wedding

Brian Powers

K

alamazoo woodworker Rob Chamberlin believes strongly in serendipity.

His entire shop, located in the basement of a warehouse at 309 Water St., is equipped with tools and benches collected piece by piece over 20 years. There’s a story to every piece and to the space itself, and each story is an affirmation for Chamberlin that he is where he should be.

“This space used to be a furniture storage company, and I’ve been told that this actual space, where my studio is, is where they would do their furniture repairs,” he says.

“That’s interesting to me, that I’m back in the

in California, Chamberlin was able to meet and thank Maloof; Maloof died four months later.

Even when Chamberlin went back to thank Mark Bond, his wood shop teacher at Paw Paw High School, for his inspiration, Chamberlin walked into yet another moment of serendipitous affirmation.

“I came to the school with a portfolio of my work to show him, just to say ‘hi and thank you,’ and it turned out it was his very last day of teaching. He told me he had always wondered two things in life: if Lee Harvey Oswald really shot Kennedy and what happened to the thousands of kids who came through the doors of his shop. I guess I helped with one of those mysteries.”

What was in the portfolio Chamberlin showed his shop teacher? An image of the 30-foot carved bar top at Bell’s Brewery, to start with, as well as images of the bar top on the second floor of Martini’s restaurant, the custom salon interior at Suzanne’s Organics Salon, custom replication and rebuilding work for local historic homes, a hand-built coffin made from scrap wood collected by the person it was built for, and some custom kitchen and home work.

Despite this variety of what he can create, Chamberlin likes to focus on building custom handcrafted furniture such as tables, chairs, drawer stands and coffee tables made from cherry, poplar, walnut and ash. Some of his recent creations — custom-made threelegged tables — are in use at Water Street Coffee Joint’s new location, at 245 W. Centre Ave. in Portage.

Chamberlin says he started his woodworking career by fixing older furniture and replicating antiques, but wanted to bring his own perspective into his craft and create objects with his own signature.

That drive brought him into the world of custom commission work.

And while he has created several pieces for commercial clients, much of his commission work is for private residential use.

“It gives me a pleasant feeling to know that there’s a little object sitting in someone’s house and sometimes they look at it and think of me,” Chamberlin says. “It’s a beautiful thing. There’s a story for the piece too — they didn’t drive to Chicago and sit in traffic on the way to buy it; they went to lunch with a guy, got to know him, and he built them a table.”

But despite two decades of honing his craft, Chamberlin says he’s still learning.

“I’ll be learning the rest of my life, and not just technique. I’ve spent a lot of time learning how to do what I do and why, and now I’m focused on continuing to develop. I’ve been self-employed for 20 years, but I think there’s still a lot to learn about the business end.”

One thing he has learned is that while he’s not sure where the next project will come from or what he’ll be working on next, he doesn’t have to worry. “Whatever comes my way will come my way. That’s what I’ve experienced throughout my life — in times of doubt and question, I get a little morsel or crumb here and there, and they tell me I’m on the right track.”

For more information on Chamberlin’s work or to see examples of it, visit RChamberlinWoodworking.com.

w w w.encorekalamazoo.com | 33

A String of Success

The big competition with the low profile celebrates 40 years by

ANDREW DOMINO

photography by

2013 Silver Medalist Ariel Horowitz, seen here during her Stulberg competition performance, has gone on to perform around the world.

34 | ENCORE APRIL 2015

JOHN LACKO

ENCORE ARTS ENCORE UP FRONT

T

he Stulberg International String Competition may be Kalamazoo’s best-known event you’ve never heard of, but to musicians it’s a different story.

“If you walk down the halls at Juilliard (School) and say the name ‘Stulberg,’ people will recognize it,” says Margaret Hamilton, executive director of the competition. “A friend of mine says we’re just like the Gilmore (International Keyboard Festival), only shorter and with strings.”

w w w.encorekalamazoo.com | 35

The Stulberg International String Competition, which takes place May 16 at the Dalton Center Recital Hall on Western Michigan University’s campus, is an annual competition of string instrument performance by artists under age 20. The Stulberg celebrates its 40th competition this year, making it approximately two decades or more older than most of its competitors.

Each year the competition draws young performers from around the world to play violin, viola, cello or double bass before a panel of judges and take part in master classes.

It’s a competition that has seen its share of future luminaries such as violinists Joshua Bell and Hal Grossman, bassist Nicholas Santangelo Schwartz and cellists Joel Noyes, Joshua Roman and Tony Ross, a Kalamazoo native.

“It’s for developing skills,” Ross says. “For younger players, it’s a huge notch in your belt.”

Bach and the Big Names

The idea for the Stulberg International String Competition arose in 1975 as a way to memorialize Julius Stulberg, a Western Michigan University music professor who conducted the university’s symphony for nearly three decades before his death in 1974.

“He was so focused on kids succeeding,” says Julius’ daughter Mira Stulberg Halpert.

She helped her siblings and her mother, Esther, get the event off the ground in its early days, and the first competition was held on Feb. 21, 1976. Though she lives in Florida now, Halpert says she still returns to Kalamazoo to attend the competition.

“I have a huge amount of pride in it,” Halpert says. “It’s a living tribute to both my parents.”

For the 2015 competition, a record 140 applicants submitted audition videos online.

From these, 12 semifinalists were chosen to come to Kalamazoo to compete in May. Each semifinalist will play before a panel of three judges, who will narrow the field down to six. Those six perform in the evening portion of the competition, from which the top

36 | ENCORE APRIL 2015

three are named. The gold, silver and bronze medals each come with a cash prize and an opportunity for the winner to play with a local orchestra. First place is a performance with either the Kalamazoo or Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra.

The festival continues the next day, when the judges lead master classes for other young musicians who auditioned for the chance to learn from a professional player.

While they may not be Stulberg competitors, many of these young people are looking for feedback on their playing.

“I let them know what I enjoyed about their playing,” says Rachel Barton Pine, who took home medals in 1986 and 1990 and judged the competition in 2012. “I tell them what they did well so they continue to hone whatever that is.”

The semifinalists chosen to compete in this year’s Stulberg are mostly from the East and West coasts, but there is one semifinalist from British Columbia and another from the suburbs of Chicago. Each competitor is required to play a piece composed by Bach, because his work is often meant to be performed unaccompanied by any other instruments, says Executive Director Hamilton. Competitors also play a standard concerto performance from classical music’s “classical era” such as a work by Mozart, Haydn or Beethoven.

“They’re staples of the repertoire,” Hamilton says. “(Performers) will be playing those pieces the rest of their professional lives.”

Pine, the former competitor and judge, compared these young musicians to figure skaters in competition, saying judges want to see a performance with a minimum of errors as well as one that is “interesting” to listen to.

“You look for a certain base level of proficiency but also

who grabs me, who would I actually buy a ticket to go and hear, not as a judge but just as a music lover,” Pine explains.

‘Rock Stars’

Even though the Stulberg competition is for young musicians, it’s not an event overlooked later in their careers, Hamilton says. Many medal winners have continued playing as adults, in orchestras or as teachers, and include their Stulberg performances on their resumes.

Bell, the violinist who took the bronze medal in 1980 at age 12 and returned for the gold in 1981, released his first CD when he was 18. He remains a touring violinist and music director of the Academy of St Martin

Clockwise from right: Cellist Sasha Scolnik-Brower, a 2013 finalist, is now enrolled at Harvard University and the New England Conservatory; Alex Smith attends a master class with cellist and Stulberg judge Aaron Judge; 2013 Stulberg Gold Medalist Youjin Lee performs during competition.

ENCORE ARTS in the Fields, an orchestra based in London. He also plays on movie soundtracks.

“He’s reached rock star status,” Hamilton says. “People think, ‘If Josh Bell got his start here, maybe I could too.’”

Bell’s mother, Shirley, stayed in touch with Esther Stulberg after Bell moved on to other competitions. She worked with young musicians through Indiana University, where her son is a senior lecturer (when he’s not on tour), and says she recommended that many of her students try out for the Stulberg.

“Josh came back the next year because he had such a good experience,” she says. “To get that kind of acknowledgment as a young performer, I think that really helps build confidence.”

About the Stulberg What: Stulberg International String Competition When: Saturday, May 16, with semifinal performances 9 a.m.–4 p.m. and finalist concert at 8 p.m.

Where: Dalton Center Recital Hall, Western Michigan University How much: Semifinal performances, free; finalist concert, $20, or $5 for students For more info: (269) 343-2776 or www.stulberg.org

Extraordinary in the Ordinary Local YA author explains draw to the fantastical The rise of young adult (YA) literature has been surprising — who could have predicted the celebrity status of present-day YA authors, the fast-selling pace of popular YA series or the world-shattering fact that 55 percent of YA consumers are over 18 years old and in that 55 percent, 28 percent are between the ages of 28 and 40 (according to a 2012 Publisher’s Weekly survey), making YA hardly Y at all?

To others, like local author Stephanie Stamm who has written two YA novels of her own, the draw isn’t surprising at all.

“I think that part of it is these questions YA answers — who you want to be and who you are — are questions that don’t go away,” Stamm says. “I would say that I hit these questions every decade or so. Even as an adult you can relate to this cycle.”

Orginally from Kentucky, Stamm moved to Kalamazoo 14 years ago. She’s worked as a press operator, educator, potter and technical writer, which is what she currently works as her full-time job, a job that pulled Stamm from Kalamazoo to Atlanta in March of 2014.

“I’m so going to miss Kalamazoo,” she says. “But this opportu-

Professional musicians serve as judges each year and lead master classes. The 2015 judges are violinist Sarah Chang; Heidi Castleman, a professor of viola at the Juilliard School; and Eric Kim, professor of cello at Indiana University.

Although students who study with one of the year’s judges are disqualified from entering that year’s competition, many judges are impressed with the competition and recommend to their own students that they audition in later years.

“It’s the experience of participating — seeing your peers, getting to hear them, getting to meet them,” Pine says. “If you’re on a certain track (as a musician), it’s one of the go-to contests.”

Halpert says she likes to stay in touch with past semifinalists, usually by Facebook or email. They send her their concert schedules, thank-you notes and sometimes even wedding announcements.

“The Stulberg is not their first competition, but it’s usually their most memorable,” she says. “We see it as (continued on page 42)

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PERFORMING ARTS THEATER

characters for Downton Abbey, 7:30 p.m., April 28, Miller Auditorium, WMU, 387-2300.

Plays

Musicals

Tony ‘N Tina’s Wedding — Dinner theater production of a comic Italian wedding, 7 p.m. April 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 & 11; 5 p.m. April 12, Cityscape, 125 S. Kalamazoo Mall, 387-6222.

Man of La Mancha — The misadventures and romantic journey of Don Quixote, 7:30 p.m.

April 10, 11, 16, 17 & 18; 2 p.m. April 12 & 19, Williams Theatre, WMU, 387-6222.

Stepping Out — Comedy about a weekly tap-dance class, 7:30 p.m. April 3 & 4, Civic Auditorium, 329 S. Park St., 343-1313.

MUSIC

Ananse’s Return — All Ears Theatre presents the adventures of Ananse, the legendary trickster and original Spider Man, 6 p.m. April 4, First Baptist Church, 315 W. Michigan Ave., 342-5059.

phoffman trio — With Anders Beck and Mike Devol, 9 p.m. April 2, Bell’s Eccentric Cafe, 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave., 382-2332.

Richard III — Shakespeare’s charismatic villain in his homicidal journey to absolute power, 7:30 p.m. April 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 24 & 25; 2 p.m. April 19, Parish Theatre, 426 S. Park St., 343-1313.

Dearly Departed — A beleaguered family proves that living and dying in the South are seldom tidy and always hilarious, 8 p.m. April 10, 11, 17, 18, 24 & 25, New Vic Theatre, 134 E. Vine St., 532-4770.

The Glass Menagerie — Tennessee Williams’ story of the Wingfield family, 8 p.m. April 10, 11, 17, 18, 24 & 25; 2 p.m. April 12, 19 & 26; 7:30 p.m. April 16 & 23; Farmers Alley Theatre, 221 Farmers Alley, 343-2727.

“The Odyssey of Runyon Jones” — All Ears Theatre presents a fantasy about a young boy searching for his lost dog in purgatory, 6 p.m. April 18, First Baptist Church, 315 W. Michigan Ave., 342-5059.

A Piece of My Heart — Six women relive their memories of serving in Vietnam, 2 p.m. April 24, 26; 7:30 p.m. April 25, Carver Center Studio, 426 S. Park St., 343-1313.

America’s Got Downton — Actor, impressionist and YouTube sensation Luke Kempner creates more than 30 characters in one-man parody that blends celebrity visitors with well-known 38 | ENCORE APRIL 2015

Bands & Solo Artists

Straight No Chaser — 10-man a cappella group, 7:30 p.m. April 9, State Theatre, 404 S. Burdick, 345-6500.

Primus & The Chocolate Factory — American rock band’s tour, 8 p.m. April 11, State Theatre, 345-6500.

The Verve Pipe — Michigan-based alt rock band, 9 p.m. April 11, Bell’s Eccentric Cafe, 382-2332.

Gilmore Piano Masters: Hélène Grimaud — French pianist performs works by Liszt, Ravel, Fauré and Debussy, 8 p.m. April 16, Chenery Auditorium, 714 S. Westnedge Ave., 342-1166.

Air Supply — Pop and adult contemporary music, 8 p.m. April 18, Miller Auditorium, WMU, 387-2300.

Charlie Hunter Trio featuring Curtis Fowlkes & Bobby Previte — Jazz guitarist and composer, 8 p.m. April 18, Bell’s Eccentric Café, 382-2332.

Neutral Milk Hotel — Experimental indie rock band, 8 p.m. April 23, State Theatre, 345-6500.

Chamber, Jazz & Concert Mivos Quartet — String quartet, 7:30 p.m.

April 1, Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU, 382-7774.

University Percussion Ensemble — 3 p.m. April 4, Dalton Center Recital Hall, 387-4667.

University Jazz Lab Band — 7:30 p.m. April 9, Dalton Center Recital Hall, 387-4667.

Kalamazoo Concert Band — 7:30 p.m. April 11, Chenery Auditorium, 714 S. Westnedge Ave., 337-0440.

University Concert Band — 3 p.m. April 12, Miller Auditorium, WMU, 387-4667.

University Symphonic Band — Performs as part of annual Spring Conference on Wind & Percussion Music, 7:30 p.m. April 16, Miller Auditorium, 387-4667.

The Last Southern Gentlemen with Ellis & Delfeayo Marsalis — Fontana presents classic jazz played by master musicians, 8 p.m. April 17, Dalton Center Recital Hall, 382-7774.

Gilmore Rising Stars: Joseph Moog — Awardwinning German pianist, 4 p.m. April 19, Wellspring Theater, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, 342-1166.

Bach Festival Week — Concerts celebrating the legacy of J.S. Bach, April 19-22, locations vary, 337-7407; schedule at kalamazoobachfestival.org.

Symphony Elijah — Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, guest soloists and WMU Grand Chorus, 8 p.m.

April 10, Miller Auditorium, WMU, 349-7759.

Kalamazoo F.O.P. Country Music Spectacular — Featuring Ty Herdon and Rosehill, 7 p.m.

April 24, Chenery Auditorium, 337-0440.

Michael Cavanaugh in Concert: The Songs of Elton John and More! — KSO’s tribute to Elton John, 8 p.m. April 24, Miller Auditorium, 349-7759.

Earth Day with Earthwork Music Collective — Family-friendly outdoor musical showcase, 1 p.m. April 25, Oshtemo Branch Library, 7265 W. Main St., 553-7980.

Concerto Concert — University Symphony Orchestra performs, 3 p.m. April 26, Miller Auditorium, 387-4667.

Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra — 4 p.m. April 26, Chenery Auditorium, 714 S. Westnedge Ave., 337-0440.

Vocal Gold Company II — WMU vocal jazz ensemble, 7:30 p.m. April 7, Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU, 387-4667.

Gold City — Award-winning male gospel quartet, 7 p.m. April 10, Chenery Auditorium, 714 S. Westnedge Ave., 337-0440.

Kalamazoo A Cappella Fest — A showcase of local a cappella groups, 7 p.m. April 10 & 11, Epic Center.

Young Vocalists Competition & Concert — Kalamazoo Bach Festival Award Concert, 3 p.m. April 11, Light Fine Arts Building, Kalamazoo College, 337-7407.

Choral Showcase — Featuring University Chorale, Cantus Femina and Collegiate Singers, 3 p.m. April 19, Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU, 387-4667.

Kalamazoo Children’s Chorus Spring Concert — 3 p.m. April 19, Chenery Auditorium, 337-0440.

DANCE Diavolo: Architecture in Motion — Ballet, contemporary dance, acrobatics, gymnastics, martial arts and hip-hop, 7:30 p.m. April 21, Miller Auditorium, WMU, 387-2300.

April 14; The Missing Gargoyle with Lois Richmond and Denise Lisiecki, April 28; all sessions begin at noon, KIA Auditorium.

In Praise of American Art — Antiques Roadshow appraiser Debra Force discusses past and present market for American art, 7 p.m. April 8.

MISCELLANEOUS

2015 High School Area Show — Works by area high school artists, April 25-May 24

Mythbusters: Jamie & Adam Unleashed — Onstage experiments, audience participation, video and behind-the-scenes stories, 8 p.m.

April 17, Miller Auditorium, WMU, 387-2300.

2015 Young Artists of Kalamazoo County — Works by young artists from kindergarten through eighth grade, through April 15.

VISUAL ARTS

Redefining the Multiple — Exhibition of 13 Japanese artists whose printmaking has transitioned into other media, through April 26.

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts 314 S. Park St., 349-7775 ARTBreak — Free presentations on artrelated topics: Boyhood of Lincoln: A Nation Heals with John Stempien, April 7; The Story of Women & Art, Part 3, video presentation,

Second Sight/Insight II — Works from the KIA permanent collection paired with poetry from local writers, through May 10.

Chinese Folk Pottery: The Art of the Everyday — A glimpse of the diversity and rich tradition in Chinese folk pottery, through June 21.

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Richmond Center for Visual Arts Western Michigan University, 387-2436

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Prints from the University Art Collection — Monroe-Brown Gallery, April 26-June 5.

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Alumni/Regional Artists ­— Alissa Lamarre, Lynn Batchelder, Gabriel Craig, Amy Weiks, Nezorg-Kerr Gallery, April 26-June 5.

Annual Gwen Frostic School of Art Student Exhibition — Through April 16, MonroeBrown Gallery, 387-2455.

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Other Venues Art Hop — Local artists and musicians at venues in downtown Kalamazoo and elsewhere, 5-8 p.m. April 10.

The Great Lakes — Art exhibit, through April 30, Portage District Library, 329-4544.

Illustrations for Grandpa Thor’s Stories by Marianne Mueller — Works by illustrator Jo Peterson, through April 30, Portage District Library, 300 Library Lane, 329-4544.

LIBRARY & LITERARY EVENTS Kalamazoo Public Library A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Walk — Author Loreen Niewenhuis shares her experiences, 7 p.m. April 2, Central Library, 315 S. Rose St., 342-9837.

Community Discussion on Climate Change — Led by WMU faculty and students, 7 p.m.

April 9, Central Library, 342-9837.

Jane and Ellen Knuth — A discussion of their novel Love Will Steer Me True, 6:30 p.m. April 21, Washington Square Branch, 1244 Portage St., 553-7970.

Neighborhood Focus Series: Crane Park — Natalie Patchell examines the history and transformation of this Westnedge Hill park, 7 p.m. April 30, Central Library, 342-9837.

Portage District Library 300 Library Lane, 329-4544

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Poetry by Elizabeth Kerlikowske — A reading from her new collection, Last Hula, 7 p.m.

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Top Shelf Reads — Book group discussion of Daniel Keyes’ Flowers for Algernon, 7 p.m.

April 13, Latitude 42 Brewing Co., 7842 Portage Road.

Poetry by Judith Rypma — A reading from her latest collection, 1 p.m. April 18.

Kellogg Bird Sanctuary 12685 East C Ave., Augusta, 671-2510

p.m. April 4, Homer Stryker Field, 215 Mills St., 337-8191.

Earth Day: How It All Got Started & Why It Is Important — With Robert Weir, author; Bill Rose, Kalamazoo Nature Center; and Mike McMinn, Treecology Nursery, 6:30 p.m. April 22.

Birds of Prey Live — See a red-tailed hawk and great horned owl up close, 1 p.m. April 12.

Tasting on the Town — Great wine and beer for your tasting enjoyment, 6-9 p.m. April 17, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, 314 S. Park St., 341-7811.

Great Books — Reading and discussion of Immigrant Voice: 21st Century Stories, 2 p.m.

April 26.

Nicolette Hahn Niman: Defending Beef — Niman discusses eating a balanced diet while supporting a humane, ecological and sustainable food stream, 6:30 p.m. April 28.

Sustaining the Vision Open House — Enjoy a spring walk at Kellogg Bird Sanctuary in celebration of W.K. Kellogg’s birthday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. April 19.

MISCELLANEOUS

Portage Earth Day Festival — Family-friendly festival with live music, exhibits, games and giveaways, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. April 25, Celery Flats, 7335 Garden Lane, 329-4512.

Easter Egg Hunt — Free egg decorating, face painting and visits with the Easter Bunny, 6

Photo © Mat Hennek / DG

Bad Poetry Night — An evening of bad poetry and poetry read over-dramatically, 7 p.m.

April 30; registration required.

Miscellaneous A Celebration of Community Poets — Local poets read and perform as part of Kalamazoo Poetry Festival, 6:30-8p.m. April 16, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, 314 S. Park St., 349-7775.

MUSEUMS Kalamazoo Valley Museum 230 N. Rose St. 373-7990 Friday Night Highlights Series — The Erlkings and Groove Platter, pop, rock and blues, 7 p.m. April 3; Zeemo the Yo-Yo Man, 6-8 p.m.

April 10; Campus to Community: College Arts & Cultural Organizations Showcase, visual and performing arts from area colleges, 7 p.m. April 17; Boheme Tribal Belly Dance and Wisaal, music and dance, 7 p.m. April 24.

Kalamazoo for the Union — The Civil War through the eyes of Kalamazoo County residents, through May 17.

Evidence Found: Explorations in Archaeology — Learn the real science and methodology of archaeology in this new visual and hands-on exhibit, through Aug. 31.

NATURE Kalamazoo Nature Center 7000 N. Westnedge Ave., 381-1574

SPONSORED BY ANONYMOUS LOCAL DONORS

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 8 PM, CHENERY AUDITORIUM “A display of finger elasticity and strength that would have made the composer’s jaw drop…” —San Jose Mercury News In her first-ever West Michigan appearance, HÉLÈNE GRIMAUD has designed a unique program of short pieces inspired by water that features works by Liszt, Ravel, and Debussy, among others.

ll ll l l ll lll l l lll

l

Earth Day Run — A 1K run for ages 8 and under and a 5K Trail Run, 10 a.m. April 18; registration required.

HÉLÈNE GRIMAUD, PIANO

TICKETS 269.387.2300 800.228.9858 TheGilmore.org

lll ll

w w w.encorekalamazoo.com | 41

Stulberg (continued from page 37)

Free 2015

Upcoming Shows

APR 4 - Ananse’s Return APR 18 - The Odyssey of Runyon Jones May 2 - Little Red Riding Hood May 16 - The Importance of Being Earnest May 30 - The Bickersons

Back in the ‘Golden Age” of radio, weekly radio programs brought the young and old to their living rooms to listen to adventurous, mysterious and comical tales.

Dedicated to promoting this rich history, All Ears Theatre performs newly scripted radio programs for live audiences, complete with old school sound effects, from January through May. Shows are later broadcast on 102.1 WMUK-FM. Performances are at 6:00 pm at the First Baptist Church and are FREE to the public.

Funding provided by For a complete schedule of shows, visit KalamazooArts.org

WMUK BUSINESS NEWS FIRST !

Marketplace

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BUSINESS

WMUK NEWS

4:00–6:00 Local news every half-hour 6:00 Marketplace 6:30 BBC Business News Sponsor Haworth College of Business

WMUK

102.1

42 | ENCORE APRIL 2015

Naomi Joseph, left, listens to Stulberg master class instructor and judge Victoria Chiang as pianist Mark Portolese looks on.

less of a competition and more of a learning experience.”

Low Profile, High Hopes

Nevertheless the Stulberg may be the international competition with the lowest profile here and elsewhere among the general public. Even though Julius Stulberg’s reputation brought many noteworthy judges and participants to Kalamazoo in the first few years of the competition and it built a reputation as one of the few music competitions aimed at teenage players, it is less well-known outside the music world, says Stulberg’s daughter.

Halpert says there’s been an effort in the past few years to boost the competition’s public presence. Hiring Hamilton as the organization’s executive director in 2013 was a step in that direction. She spent 25 years at WMU, in the School of Music and College of Fine Arts, before taking on her role with the Stulberg. She’s the first full-time employee of the organization and has been building its online presence and connecting with former participants as well as parents and teachers of current music students.

“We’re seeing a resurgence in young people who start playing musical instruments,” Halpert says. “I’d love to have the world take notice.”

ENCORE POETRY

The Short Season Like a dry flat sponge, hair and skin finally fill, white cracks on the hands are gone. Where do they go? Hair expands, annoying to those with too much and welcome to everyone else. Where has hair been? Eyes relax, away from the blast of the car heater, away from the furnace cycling on, on, on. The only shock is not shocking when two hands meet. Lotions are moved aside, needed only once, not on the quarter hour, and some days forgotten, except for the one to block the sun, which we crave despite its power to main and kill. Regrets are for some far-off winter in a dermatologist’s waiting room. Still, summer is controversial. Opinion is split between those who vote yes to heat and those who are angry.

Perhaps they think that if no one enjoyed it, it would go away. The cat adapts. His body stretches from fore to aft in the shade of a chair. He knows how to complain—but doesn’t.

Walk in a garden, if it’s yours, cut five flowers, they will name the month.

— Deborah Gang Gang moved to Kalamazoo to attend grad school and never left — mostly, she says, because of “the freshwater ocean an hour west of town.” After many years as a psychologist and therapist, she resumed writing. Her fiction and poems have been published in Literary Mama, The Michigan Poet, J Journal and Arsenic Lobster.

Seasons of Light

skinny spring sun eases green from the ground sucking deep-down juice from the root of things pulling and rounding into pregnant June sunsets till gravity wins and earth drains the color out of the sky from petals from stems reducing us all to quivering pale stalks rattling through long winter nights — Joe Novara Novara is a freelance writer and retired instructional specialist. His published works include a young adult title, Wa-Tonka (Pelican Publishing, 2006), and a collection of short stories, My Side of the Fence (Syncopated Press, 2000). He also has a blog, “Writing for Homeschooled Boys,” at joenavara.wordpress.com.

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Find out more at hospiceswmi.org, 269.345.0273

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INDEX TO ADVERTISERS All Ears Theatre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 AVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 The Ayers-Rice Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Bell’s Brewery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Borgess . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Bravo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Bronson Health Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Dave’s Glass Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Dement and Marquardt, PLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 DeNooyer Chevrolet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Derby Financial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 DeVisser Landscape Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 FarmNGarden Fence Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 FarmNGarden Garden Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Flipse, Meyer, Allwardt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Food Dance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Four Roses Café . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

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Genesis Fitness & Wellness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 The Gilmore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Gilmore Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

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Great Lakes Shipping Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Greenleaf Hospitality Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Halls, Closets & More . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Hospice Care of SW Michigan . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Kalamazoo Community Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . 2 KNI/Southwest Michigan Imaging . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Landscape Arborist Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Lawton Ridge Winery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Lewis Reed & Allen P.C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 London Grill & Lost Raven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Mercantile Bank of Michigan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Merit Dental/Dr. Bruce Magnuson . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Osher Lifelong Learning Institute . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Parkway Plastic Surgery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Portage Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Professional Clinicians & Consultants Inc. . . . . . . 40 Rose Street Advisors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Varnum Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Weed Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 WMUK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

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1116 W Centre Avenue 323-9333 PortagePrinting.com 44 | ENCORE APRIL 2015

Zooroona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

BACK STORY (continued from page 46)

How did you get where you are today?

Why do you do what you do?

I grew up here, I was one of six kids and my dad (Lance Ferraro) was a photographer. I worked on an undergrad degree at Western (Michigan University) and dropped out, got married and had kids. I went back in 1990 to get a history degree and wondered what I was going to do with it. In my last class, which I took from Peter Schmitt, he revealed to us that there were people who got paid to do histories of old buildings and to preserve them. I thought “This is the perfect job for me.”

I applied to Eastern (Michigan University), which had a really good historic preservation program, got a graduate assistantship and went there for two years. I came back to Kalamazoo and worked as an independent contractor doing projects, including a citywide Reconnaissance Level Historic Resource Survey, which is an inventory of everything in Kalamazoo that’s historic and where it’s located. In 2001, the historic preservation coordinator job came up, I applied for it, got it and that’s where I’ve been ever since.

My job is to open people’s eyes to the fact that history is still all around us. I see the whole culture in the U.S. turning in the direction of having a greater appreciation of history. People love old buildings and are just getting into the idea of inserting the modern day into those old buildings. On television, everyone lives in a Craftsman house or an apartment in an old building, and there’s this whole aesthetic that living in old building is cool.

Which of your projects are you most proud?

Oh, there’s so many of them! There’s the 100 block of Michigan Avenue now the Metropolitan Center. Downtown Tomorrow Inc. owned the buildings and wanted to tear them down. The Historic Preservation Commission was trying to keep them up. We worked together and DTI found investors. The developer MavCon took it on, and it was their first brownfield project.

Also, the state hospital water tower. In 1975-76, the tower was owned by the state, and they wanted to tear it down. People were so upset that they raised $210,000 from donors, grants and kids collecting money on Halloween. At that point, ownership of the tower passed to the state’s Bureau of History. Seven or eight years ago they wanted to know what condition it was in and what they do needed to do for it. I worked with the State Historic Preservation Office and contractors on a grant to do a refurbishment assessment.

The outcome was that if we just keep the tower’s roof in good shape, we probably have another 20 years before we have to worry about anything.

Is there any old building in town you don’t know?

Oh, I am sure there are a few… I frighten people sometimes because I know their houses. I once asked a guy if the attic in his house was still open, and he looked at me like I was weird, so I told him I used to babysit there.

What’s an ideal day for you?

I like advising people and being able to tell them the history of their buildings. You’ve just gotta know what you’re seeing. It’s like being able to walk down the street and identify the trees. I see styles and materials and rooflines and all these other things. Foundations are a dead giveaway every time. I love doing that kind of thing and showing people that.

What do you do when you aren’t looking at old buildings?

I quilt. I figured it out – I like taking lots of little things and putting them together so they make coherent sense, like historical research, jigsaw puzzles and quilting.

I also like long-distance walking. I love walking in the city looking at the houses. My dream is to walk the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Trail, which is 184 miles from Cumberland, Md., to Washington, D.C. You’re walking through history.

Choose one word to describe yourself.

Authentic. I like the real thing. The replica is not good enough. I want the real thing, and I want to keep the real thing.

DeMENT AND MARQUARDT, PLC A law firm focusing on estate planning, estate settlement, and the transfer of wealth.

the Globe Building Charles S. Ofstein • William B. Millard • Michael D. Holmes, Michele C. Marquardt • Daniel L. DeMent • Whitney A. Kemerling

211 East Water Street, Suite 401 Kalamazoo, MI 49007 269.343.2106 w w w.encorekalamazoo.com | 45

BACK STORY ENCORE

Sharon Ferraro

Historic Preservation Coordinator, City of Kalamazoo When Sharon Ferraro was a young girl,

(continued on page 45)

46 | ENCORE APRIL 2015

Brian Powers

she fell in love. Hard.

The object of her affection was the Delos Chappell-Stewart House at 213 Elm St., where her best friend lived.

“I thought it was the coolest thing in the world,” Ferraro says. “It had an attic, a basement, fireplaces and a carriage barn.

It was just cool, cool, cool.”

It wasn’t the last old building she became smitten with. After visiting the Sand Hills Light Station as a teenager, she “found a whole new category of old buildings to fall in love with.”

That love drives Ferraro today as the city of Kalamazoo’s historic preservation coordinator. She works with building owners, homeowners and others to preserve and restore historic structures within the city. She is also helping to coordinate June’s Hidden Kalamazoo event, which is a walking tour of unseen historic spots in downtown Kalamazoo.

building healthy relationships AVB is proud of our long-standing relationship with Borgess Health and we congratulate them on 150 years in our community! Our work with Borgess includes the multi-phase renovation of the main campus facility, the construction of the Stryker Center and many other new and remodeled facilities at multiple locations.

Our relationship with Borgess goes beyond just construction as we share a strong focus on creating a healthy culture for our community. As a founding and continuous sponsor of the Borgess Run for the Health of It and the Kalamazoo Marathon, we urge everyone to make a healthy lifestyle a priority.

From healthcare construction to sponsoring marathons, we are proud of our healthy living culture at AVB. Visit www.avbinc.com to learn more.

4200 w centre ave

|

portage, mi 49024

|

269.323.2022

|

avbinc.com

Keep your options open.

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KNI will continue to introduce area physicians to new developments in breast imaging, cardiac imaging, neuroimaging, orthopedic imaging and functional imaging.

So, when medical imaging is important to you or your family, learn more about your options at www.kniimaging. com.

KNI partners with Borgess to provide the most powerful and versatile medical imaging equipment available in Southwest Michigan. Working with Premier Radiology, KNI has the medical expertise to provide your physician with the test results you need.

KNI • 1700 Gull Road • Kalamazoo, MI 49048 • 269.342.1099 • www.kniimaging.com

48 | ENCORE APRIL 2015