From the Editor
I never get tired of hearing about people and their passions, which you might guess by the stories in this issue. What fascinates me is what people accomplish with all this passion they feel.
Take our cover story about Northfield Mandolins. While its founder, Adrian Bagale, grew up playing the mandolin, he was more obsessed with how it was made and learned a whole lot about it throughout his career. Now he owns a company that handcrafts these exquisite instruments in two countries — in the U.S., with production facilities in Marshall, and in China. The folks that work for him are just as mandolin-crazy as he is and as determined to craft instruments as beautiful to look at as they sound.
We also meet Lucy Dilley and learn how her brainchild, the Can-Do Kitchen, a food incubator she created in 2007, has been so successful it has become Can-Do Kalamazoo, an incubator for small businesses of all types. From the day the Can-Do Kitchen was started in a small trailer, Dilley has been passionate about helping people become entrepreneurs, especially those who face barriers to entering the business world.
And our Back Story profile features Jenny Doezema, executive director of the Kalamazoo Climate Crisis Coalition, an organization dedicated to reducing greenhouse gases and adopting renewable energy in the Kalamazoo area. Playing outside as a child growing up in the north part of Kalamazoo ignited Doezema's passion for protecting the environment. After a career of teaching youth to do so, she is now helping an entire community do the same.
The stories on Can-Do Kalamazoo and Jenny Doezema are also part of the Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative's reporting project on equitable community development. The SWMJC is a group of local news and community organizations who are passionate about lifting up local journalism to make our community stronger.
And finally, we have the very passionate arborists of Arborist Services providing us with their best pruning tips in our Five Faves feature. They believe in pruning to help the health of trees and shrubs, and their tips will allow local homeowners to do so too.
I hope you not only enjoy reading about these passionate folks but feel inspired to get out there and engage in a few passions of your own.
Left to right: Morgan Rogalke-Scime, Charles S. Ofstein, Tyler J. Stewart, Olivia A. Kurajian, William B. Millard
Jordan Bradley
When Jordan began working on the cover story on Northfield Mandolins for this issue, it was apparent quickly that something impressive was happening in quaint Marshall. “The amount of knowledge and genuine passion that the crew at Northfield have for handcrafting these beautiful instruments is palpable as soon as you come into contact with anything they’ve touched,” Jordan says.
“There’s so much that I didn’t get to include about these incredible artists, but I hope this gets readers curious to learn more.” Jordan is a freelance contributor to Encore. In her free time, she enjoys listening to live tunes at the best local dives, music halls and concert venues around.
Katie Houston
Katie wrote the Enterprise story on Can-Do Kalamazoo and the Back Story on Jenny Doezema of the Kalamazoo Climate Coalition for this issue. "Meeting and learning from nonprofit leaders in our area is one of the best parts about writing for Encore," she says. “Both Can-Do Kalamazoo and the Kalamazoo Climate Crisis Coalition are doing incredible work and deserve a spotlight." Katie is a writer and communications consultant specializing in nonprofit marketing.
Publisher encore publications, inc
Editor marie lee
Art Director alexis stubelt
Photographers brian k powers
Contributing Writers jordan bradley, katie houston, dominic fulton, marie lee , breilen maybe , lou mitchell , ryan plunkett, matt stemple
Copy Editor/Poetry Editor margaret deritter
Advertising Sales janis clark kimberly juwong
Distribution ron kilian robert zedeck
Office Coordinator kelly burcroff
Proofreader hope smith
Encore Magazine is published 12 times yearly. Copyright 2025, 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
Email: Publisher@encorekalamazoo.com
The staff at Encore welcomes written comments from readers, and articles and poems for submission with no obligation to print or return them. To learn more about us or to comment, visit 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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Northfield Mandolins Making Musical Magic in Marshall
Proud Member of
First Things
Something Entertaining Patinkin to perform at Miller
Emmy- and Tony-winning singer, actor and storyteller Mandy Patinkin will perform his favorite Broadway and classic American tunes at 7:30 p.m. May 10 at Miller Auditorium.
Patinkin has had success on the Broadway stage as well as in film and television, and he'll bring those experiences to this show, titled "Mandy Patinkin in Concert: Being Alive."
Tickets are $57.46–$118.56 and available at the Miller Auditorium box office or at millerauditorium.com.
Something Natural Show features rocks, gems and more
With more than 50 booths, plus speakers, demonstrations and activities, the Rock, Gem, Fossil and Mineral Show at the Kalamazoo County Expo Center will give rockhounds plenty to see and do.
The event runs from May 2–4 and is hosted by the Kalamazoo Geological & Mineral Society. It will feature rocks and gems for sale; demonstrations on subjects such as silverwork, wire wrapping, faceting and slate carving; and educational activities for kids. Plus, KGMS members will display some of their favorite finds.
The show's hours are 2–8 p.m. May 2, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. May 3, and 10 a.m.–5 p.m. May 4. Admission is $5 for those 12 and older. For more information, visit kalamazoorockclub.org.
Something Rolling Week of events bolsters biking
With events, tune-up clinics and rides that celebrate and encourage bicycle riding, Kalamazoo Area Bike Week will be held from May 10–17 at various locations around the area.
The week will feature dozens of bicycling-focused activities, including group rides and organized trail riding as well as workshops on riding gravel and mountain bikes, bicycle maintenance, and bicycling safety for kids. In addition, information about local bicycle clubs, riding groups and shops will be available.
For more information, visit kalamazoobikeweek.org or the Kalamazoo Bike Week page on Facebook.
Something Fresh
Farmers Markets start new season
With these outdoor farmers markets opening this month around the area, you can get your fill of fresh produce, artisan wares and locally produced foods:
• Kalamazoo Farmers Market, 1204 Bank St., will open May 3 and be held from 7 a.m.–2 p.m. each Saturday through October. The location's Night Market, held from 5–10 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month, will begin in June and run through September. For more information, visit pfcmarkets.com.
• Portage Farmers Market, 7900 S. Westnedge Ave., will open May 4 and be held from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 12 outside Portage City Hall. For more information, visit portagemi.gov/607/farmers-market.
• Texas Township Farmers Market, 7110 West Q Ave., will open for the season on May 10 and be open from 8 a.m.–noon Saturdays through Oct. 18. Its Tuesday night market will begin on June 3 and be held from 4–7 p.m. until Aug. 26. More information can be found at texastownship.org/168/farmers-market.
• Vicksburg Farmers Market, 300 N. Richardson St., will be held from 2–6 p.m. Fridays from May 16–Sept. 26. For more information, visit vicksburgfarmersmarket.com.
Something Good Pull invasive species in Portage
If the current economic, global or national situation, or all of the above, have you feeling like you need to tear something out, Portage has the event for you: its month-long Garlic Mustard Pull Contest.
Beginning May 1, pullers of this invasive species can bring bags of the garlic mustard booty they've pulled from Portage parks to the city's Parks and Recreation Building at 320 Library Lane, for weighing. At the end of the month, the individual who has pulled the most garlic mustard will win a grand prize, while runners-up and participants who collect at least 50 pounds of garlic mustard will be eligible for a gift.
For more information, visit portagemi.gov/ calendar.
How do I leave money to a disabled child?
e best solution for planning for a disabled bene ciary is establishing a Special Needs Trust (SNT). ese trusts are essential for supporting children with disabilities. A special needs trust in Michigan is o en called a supplemental needs trust. SNTs allow disabled bene ciaries to receive an inheritance without impacting their eligibility for government programs, such as Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income.
ere are three main types of SNTs:
1. First party special needs trust: Also known as a self-settled special needs trust, this type is created using assets already owned by the individual with special needs.
2. ird party special needs trust: is trust is established by someone other than the person with special needs, typically a parent, grandparent, guardian, or court.
3. Pooled trust: is trust is managed and established by a charity and includes the assets of multiple bene ciaries.
By utilizing these trusts, families may ensure that their loved ones with disabilities are nancially supported while maintaining necessary bene ts. If you are considering implementing an SNT, it would be wise to discuss the same with your estate planning attorneys in more detail.
Five Faves
Arborists give pruning tips for trees and shrubs
BY Arborist Services of Kalamazoo
It's spring and we are all looking at our trees and shrubs and wondering if we ought to give them a good trim. And while using trees and shrubs in landscaping brings many benefits, these benefits can often be affected by problems such as overgrown branches, poor flowering and concerning trunk cavities. That's where strategic pruning comes in, because it can not only give property owners peace of mind but also improve the longevity and benefit of trees and shrubs. As you prepare to whip out your nippers and loppers, here are five favorite tree and shrub pruning objectives from our International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)certified arborists to keep in mind:
Mitigate risks of large trees
MattStemple
The cooling shade, calming aesthetic and habitat for wildlife provided by large, mature trees contributes greatly to the value and enjoyment of a property. As trees slowly reach their mature size, their growth reacts to natural influences like wind, sun and ice, and the tree can form structural defects, including cracks, cavities, dead or over-extended branches, and leaning that can result in partial- or whole-tree failure. Managing structural defects of large trees involves strategic pruning, regular inspections, supplemental support systems or whole-tree removal.
Two key pruning objectives to mitigate this risk are dead-branch pruning and reduction pruning. Dead-branch pruning removes medium- to large-diameter branches and can reduce damage from average wind and ice events. It also sets a baseline of tree health for future inspections. Reduction pruning (shortening the length of a branch) involves making small-diameter cuts to the ends of large branches of a tree to reduce branch length and weight. The small cuts are much less invasive than large-diameter cuts and can mitigate weak branch attachments, cracks in branches and decaying cavities in trunks and buttress roots.
Promote flowering of ornamentals
BreilenMaybee
Ornamental trees and shrubs provide natural beauty, diverse shapes and sizes, and habitat for pollinators and wild birds. Pruning these to promote flowering requires proper timing and method. Late winter or early spring — prior to bud break — is the ideal time to prune species that flower on current season wood, such as butterfly bush, panicle hydrangea and spirea. Late spring or early summer — after flowering — is the time to prune species that flower on last season’s wood, such as lilac, flowering dogwood and rhododendron.
Proper pruning is essential to maintain productive airflow and light penetration through the canopy of the plant. Start by removing dead, diseased, errant or crossing branches. Then, thin the interior of the plant by removing a few select branches back to the soil or a main stem. Next, shorten branches that are overextended or encroaching on windows, sidewalks or other features. Last, gently shape the plant by making small interior reduction cuts to allow consistency in the exterior canopy.
Provide clearance from structures
Lou Mitchell
Trees and shrubs around a home's perimeter provide important benefits such as shade, wind protection, privacy screening, noise filtering and beauty. Natural and excessive branch growth, however, can result in encroachment of these plants on the various structures of a property, which can cause deterioration to roofs, eaves and siding as well as provide easy access for nuisance animals or insects, reduce sidewalk and driveway accessibility and impair visibility through windows.
Directional pruning is the key method to create clearance between a tree or shrub and structures. This method selects the branches that are growing away from the structure to be retained and branches growing towards the structure to be shortened in length or removed if a branch is of a small diameter. Making small-diameter cuts is critical to help avoid decay cavities associated with large-diameter cuts (larger than 4 inches).
Rejuvenate an old shrub
RyanPlunkett
Rejuvenating old or overgrown shrubs can breathe new life into a landscape. Over time, shrubs can become leggy, diseased and insect-infested, losing their ability to flower.
Rejuvenation pruning strategically and drastically cuts back a shrub to restore its health, vigor and aesthetic.
Rejuvenation pruning is best done in the late winter or early spring, before growth begins. Start by removing any dead, diseased or broken stems and clean out old leaves and debris trapped at the base of the plant. Using reduction cuts, prune back the remaining stems 6 to 12 inches from the ground, depending on the shrub species. Reduction pruning will stimulate new, vigorous stem growth from the base of the plant that will mature within a few years to form the shrub's new natural shape and produce abundant flowers. The final step in shrub rejuvenation uses thinning cuts (removing a stem completely at its base or origin) to remove 25 to 33 percent of the remaining stems to allow for good air and sunlight penetration.
Rejuvenating an old shrub will be most productive if done within the first year the plant does not experience summer drought stress and receives light fertilization in the fall.
Help a young tree's shape and health
Dominic Fulton
Each tree species has its own natural shape, which can be impacted by such things as sidewalks, overhead power lines, structures, line-of-site requirements, traffic and lighting. Correcting a tree's poor branch structure or modifying its branch structure to accommodate these factors and with their small stature, plentiful energy and quick wound-closing ability, young and semi-mature trees are best suited to branch structure modifications.
There are three steps to improve or modify the structure of a young tree. First, establish a single highest vertical stem at the tree’s apex; second, select the lowest permanent branches; and third, consider the vertical spacing of lateral branches for good architecture. The basic concept of all three steps is to select branches for long-term retention and then shorten or remove branches that are not well suited for a species’ natural shape or growing environment. Other aspects to consider include maintaining an even distribution of sunlight through the tree canopy and reducing or removing branches with defects such as narrow attachments with the trunk, crossing branches and branches growing towards the center of the tree.
About the Authors
Matt Stemple, Ryan Plunkett, Lou Mitchell, Dominic Fulton and Breilen Maybee are ISA-certified arborists of Arborist Services of Kalamazoo. For more information, visit arboristserviceskzoo.com.
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The Magic of
Making Mandolins
BY JORDAN BRADLEY
Manufacturer in the heart of Marshall builds carefully crafted instruments
For the uninitiated, Northfield Mandolins in Marshall may seem to be a modest manufacturer of handcrafted mandolins, small stringed instruments in the lute family played like a guitar but tuned more like a violin. But for those in the bluegrass and country music scenes, Northfield’s instruments are stunning works of functional art crafted with innovation and musicianship in mind.
According to Northfield’s product manager, Derek Smith, every piece of each instrument is made by hand in two workshops: one in Marshall and another in Qingdao, a city of 266,000 in China’s Shandong Province. And each piece is hand-selected with intention and care — from the lumber yard all the way to the finished product.
That careful selection starts with the wood, in most cases a specific type of lumber cut from maple trees, Smith says. Polished and completed, the grain of the wood on Northfield instruments glows gold, a bit like a tiger’s eye stone.
“This isn't the kind of wood you can just go to Home Depot and buy,” Smith explains. “We go to specialty mills that are cutting what's called
curly maple. See all these little wisps and curls? That’s called figuring. And the tree is — you can see on the bark edge — it's wavy, and that little tree is literally doing this as it grows. It's a genetic thing, or it will respond to its environment.”
While most of Northfield’s instruments are made from curly maple, the company sometimes uses spruce for an instrument's soundboard or the top of the mandolin, because it can withstand the pressure of the metal strings and amplifies the sound when the instrument is played. Spruce, says Smith, “has the best strengthto-weight ratio, so it can really produce a lot of volume but still be strong enough to hold the tension.”
Although the Northfield production process involves batches of instruments, Smith estimates that the length of time it takes to complete a single mandolin is anywhere from three to four weeks, depending on the body style.
A finished mandolin from Northfield can cost anywhere from $1,000 for a standard model to $10,000 for a more ornate
originally located in the basement of the home Bagale shares with his wife and two children in his wife’s hometown of Marshall.
instrument, like the Northfield F5S Limited, which stands out due its decorative curl at the top of the body.
Northfield's Marshall production shop, which is housed in two nondescript buildings next to each other, focuses primarily on crafting mandolas (a slightly larger instrument in the mandolin family), a variety of different-octave mandolins, and innovative instruments like mandolins with solid bodies that resemble electric guitars.
“I think what separates us from some other (mandolin) companies is that we're always pushing the envelope of what a mandolin can do,” Smith says.
Founder has musical roots
Northfield was established by President and CEO Adrian Bagale, 50, in 2009 and was
so I was in and around all that. That made a gigantic impression.”
Bagale’s mother, Moire, was an artist, hat maker, gourmet chef and caterer. His family's home included a ground level that his grandfather had converted into a commercial kitchen for Bagale’s mother and a third level that was a recording studio for Bagale’s dad, with the family living space sandwiched in between.
Bagale — who plays the drums, guitar and mandolin — is the oldest of three brothers, all of whom work in music, he says. His brother Peter lives a couple of streets away in Marshall and works for Northfield as its director of sales and marketing.
Growing up, Bagale was less interested in playing music and more “obsessed with how things are made,” he says. In an effort to carve his own way, Bagale left Rochester to attend Central Michigan University, in Mount Pleasant, where he majored in political science.
Bagale, originally from Rochester, New York, says he’s “from a very musical family.”
“We were a household with a lot of records,” he says.
Bagale describes his father, John, as primarily a jazz musician, “but he’s sort of a musician’s musician,” meaning that “he listens to everything and can play nearly everything,” Bagale explains.
“I have very young parents by certain standards,” Bagale says. “I was a little toddler when my dad was doing his undergrad (at the Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford, in Connecticut) and playing in folk bands all over the East Coast and around New England and putting out albums. And then later, when he was doing his grad work, we were, like, down the street from the Eastman School of Music (in Rochester) and
Northfield Mandolins Open House
What: An open house to see and hear mandolins produced by Northfield Mandolins.
The event will conclude May 3 with a Bluegrass Night concert featuring Full Cord, a Michigan-based bluegrass band, at the Franke Center for the Arts, 214 E. Mansion St., Marshall, with a preshow performance by 3LB Cut, featuring Northfield Mandolins' Adrian Bagale, Derek Smith and Kjell Croce. When: 10 a.m.–5 p.m., May 2 & 3; pre-show 7 p.m., show 8 p.m. May 3
Where: Northfield Mandolins Showroom, 130 W. Michigan Ave., Marshall
Cost: Open house is free, tickets for the Full Cord performance are $27–$32.
Information: thefranke.org/events/ bluegrass-night/
Left: two of the many models of mandolins made by Northfield Mandolins. Above: Northfield Mandolin's product manager, Derek Smith, left, holds a F5 model mandolin, while owner Adrian Bagale holds one of Northfield's octave mandolins. Right: Several models of the company's EleOcto electric mandolin.
Michigan to China and back again
During college, Bagale began working for what was then Cook’s Music in Mount Pleasant. Cook's was a full-line music retailer, “which means you have to know a little something about everything,” he says. He grew up visiting these kinds of stores, he says, having spent so much time with his father shopping for equipment, and knew enough about most instruments, sound engineering and wiring to land the job at Cook’s.
From there, he moved into a position in 1997 with Elderly Instruments in Lansing’s Old Town district, a music retailer with more than 100 employees. Because of their mutual Michigan roots, Elderly worked with, sold and repaired Gibson instruments, which were formerly made in Kalamazoo.
Bagale says Elderly was “folk music Mecca, really.”
“Elderly Instruments is how it sounds. Its (slogan) forever has been ‘the world's most trusted source for vintage and new instruments,’ with a big emphasis on ‘vintage elderly,’” Bagale explains. “They knew everything about every old instrument made in America.”
Bagale eventually talked his way into several different positions with the company, landing between the appraisal and the repair departments. In that space, Bagale fed his appetite for understanding the mechanics of the instruments, handling more “old Gibson instruments” than ever before. It was also where Bagale met Derek Smith and Kjell Croce, now Northfield’s CNC technician.
“That was just a totally amazing experience, and I learned everything from handling those instruments,” Bagale says.
From Elderly, Bagale jumped to San Francisco and another titan of the industry, Saga Musical Instruments, an manufacturer and wholesaler that sources its instruments primarily overseas.
The shift from sourcing instruments from American manufacturers such as Gibson to working with international manufacturers was “very intriguing to me,” Bagale says. “I had been drinking the American historical Kool Aid, like, for a long period and then I was able to see how everything that Saga was making was inspired by the stuff I had studied and knew a lot about.”
Bagale set to work traveling to international instrument workshops to troubleshoot and improve production of the instruments. By 2005, he was so frequently traveling to Qingdao that it made more sense for him, his “very adventurous wife,” Katie, and their 1-year-old daughter to move there, which they did in January 2006.
The family lived for three years in China, where Bagale spent time inspecting “thousands of mandolins that had problems.” This work required him to lean heavily into his creative problem-solving skills, he says. During that time Bagale, in his capacity as a Saga product manager, met Northfield’s nowchief acoustic designer, Kosuke Kyomori, who conducted inspections on Saga instruments, specifically mandolins.
Bagale says that he and Kyomori were able to gather “a vast amount of information on what not to do ever” when it came to manufacturing mandolins.
A couple of years later, Bagale and his wife decided to have a second child, but the idea of having a language barrier between themselves and medical professionals in China was not something they wanted to navigate. At the same time, Saga asked Bagale to return to San Francisco to take on a new role overseeing dozens of new brands. But by then San Francisco’s cost of living had skyrocketed, prompting the family to consider whether it was the right place for them.
“It was daunting,” Bagale recalls. “Unbelievably.”
So the family embarked on a different journey, one that led Bagale to establish a workshop in Qingdao in early 2008 before returning to Marshall to establish a family home. “We started the workshop — the very-first-generation Northfield — on the understanding that we were going to try to do these things the way we wanted to do them,” Bagale says, “the way that we knew we could do well.”
After a couple of years of perfecting the process and the end results, Northfield released its first batch of instruments from the Qingdao workshop in 2009. At the same time, Bagale and Smith, Northfield's current product manager, were working on getting a modest workshop off the ground in Bagale’s
About the Mandolin
The mandolin is a stringed instrument in the lute family, usually plucked with a pick, that evolved in the 18th century in Italy. Mandolins of today are “strongly influenced” by 19th-century Italian luthier Pasquale Vinaccia, who created the version of the instrument using steel wires for strings that has become the dominant way mandolins are now strung.
The mandolin made its way to the U.S. with European immigrants not long after its creation and has since built a humble home in a devoted community of musicians in folk, bluegrass and country.
Northfield Mandolins produces 13 models of the instrument, including octave mandolins, electric mandolins, and its 4th Generation F5, which is an interpretation of the F-5 Master Model that was designed by Lloyd Loar and manufactured in Kalamazoo by Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Manufacturing Co. For more information, visit Northfield Mandolins' website at northfieldinstruments.com.
basement in Marshall, receiving almostfinished mandolins from the workshop in Qingdao, adding the metal fittings to make the instruments sing, and sending the finished products off to their new homes.
“And then something wild happened,” Bagale says.
To promote the burgeoning business, Northfield held its “one and only” giveaway of a mandolin, which was won by a student of Adam Steffey. Steffey is “a superstar in the mandolin community,” Bagale says, and an award-winning mandolinist for Alison Krauss & Union Station. After winning the mandolin, the student went to a lesson with Steffey, and a couple of days later Bagale was on the receiving end of a phone call from the legendary mandolinist, who ended up purchasing a mandolin from one of Northfield’s earliest batches.
By 2013, Northfield had moved out of Bagale's basement and into a space in downtown Marshall, at 130 W. Michigan Ave. There the team continued to finish the instrument bodies delivered from Qingdao and began to make instruments from curly maple lumber. Eventually the operation outgrew that space, so Bagale turned it into a showroom and moved production into a two-building operation a mile away, at 812 Industrial Road. The downtown showroom, with its exposed brick walls and restored wood floors, now hosts buyers interested in mandolins who schedule appointments to test the instruments and make purchases.
The showroom also hosts performances by local musicians.
Bright lights, Music City
When Northfield opened its Industrial Drive workshop, Bagale says, many people assumed that it meant that the company would shut down its Qingdao workshop. Not so. While a half a world away from each other, the workshops produce together, he says. Northfield operates with between 10 and 12 employees at its Qingdao workshop and with seven employees at the Marshall location.
“We’re very happy to have this workshop and this group doing these creative things,” Bagale says, “but it is in tandem with what is going on there (in Qingdao).”
And while the Trump administration's new tariffs on products coming to the U.S. from countries including China could be a serious impediment to any company relying on products produced overseas, Bagale says Northfield Mandolins is in a good place.
China “is going to be the next big audience for this instrument,” Bagale says of the mandolin, “probably the biggest audience to come across this instrument for 100 years. The fact that we are so involved in that world — that marketplace — organically gives us a very unique position for the mandolin’s next takeoff.”
Here in the States, musicians using Northfield’s mandolins are primarily part of bluegrass or new-grass acts, according to Smith, and have included several well-recognized and respected acts such as Don Julin & Billy Strings; Grammynominated Sierra Hull, who played at the 2024 Country Music Awards and has been won multiple awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association; and Adam Steffey, a five-time Grammy winner.
“I'm amazed at how many of our instruments are being recorded with and played with professionally,” Smith says. “I mean it’s thousands at this point. If you go to Nashville, I guarantee you there’s 150 Northfields being played on a regular basis, either on recorded albums or being played on stage live.”
Above: Kosuke Kyomori, chief acoustic designer at Northfield Mandolins, works on the fine detailing of a mandolin in production.
Building Small Business
Can-Do Kalamazoo provides support for budding entrepreneurs
BY KATIE HOUSTON
When the Can-Do Kitchen was created in 2007, it started with “a little kitchen trailer” at the Kalamazoo County Fairgrounds and a strong “can do” spirit. That spirit is still there, as Lucy Dilley’s brainchild for supporting food ventures and entrepreneurship is now a regional small business hub. Rebranded in 2022 as Can-Do Kalamazoo, the nonprofit organization supports entrepreneurs of all stripes.
“When a feasibility study by the City of Kalamazoo showed a demand for a small business incubator, we decided we could lead that effort,” says Dilley, executive director of Can-Do Kalamazoo. “Since then, we’ve helped clothing businesses, landscapers, photographers, handymen and many others.”
The nonprofit, located at 519 S. Park St., offers a range of free information sessions and workshops, along with a three-year kitchen incubator program serving those working toward developing
packaged food, catering, food truck, and cafe businesses. The organization’s cornerstone program is Can-Do Camp, a twice-yearly, 12-week collaborative experience for budding businesses and those that are working to grow. The camp is currently underway with 19 participants, and the next cohort will meet in September. Scholarships are available to help cover the $400 tuition (or $300 for non-food businesses).
“You get an instant community of people who are either starting or growing businesses,” explains Can-Do’s business program manager, Sheena Foster. “We tackle a different subject every week, everything from business ideation to branding, marketing, customer relationships, and financials. We study together, work together, and
Lucy Dilley, Can-Do Kalamazoo's executive director, with the plans for developing the incubator's new space on Park St.
celebrate together at the end, and continue to support them after they finish.”
As Can-Do Kalamazoo’s roster of offerings grows, so do the number of its success stories, with 108 entrepreneurs supported in 2024 for established businesses, and the kitchen incubator sending four businesses on their way to independence last year: Kalamazoo Latino Specialties, Love Muffins, Red Tricycle Ice Cream and Specialty Cheesecake & Desserts. Countless other former clients can be found around town (and beyond).
“Can-Do gave me mentors to guide me along the road to success,” says Meka Phillips, a 2015 Can-Do Camp graduate who left a career in banking to open Desserts First in downtown Kalamazoo last year. “They taught me the importance of building a strong network, that connections are the lifeblood of a small business.”
A byproduct of Can-Do supporting entrepreneurial dreams is boosting the local economy, as Can-Do's graduates become employers, property owners, taxpayers and consumers. Can-Do’s website notes that 68% of every $1 spent at a local business circulates in the local economy, and local businesses spend money as they grow.
“When people graduate from our kitchen, they’ve already started working with local printers, buying local ingredients, perhaps from local farmers,” says Dilley. “They have local bookkeepers. They work with local web designers. They’re renting from local landlords or even purchasing a building.”
With Can-Do's name and mission change in 2022 came an awareness that the nonprofit was outgrowing its own space. The organization moved to its fifth location last September, a building owned by KPEP (the Kalamazoo Probation Enhancement Program), which already had commercial kitchen space. Now Can-Do offers eight
Top: Selena Salazar of Bonita Conchitas makes sprinkle cookies in the test kitchen at Can-Do Kalamazoo. Bottom: Can-Do Kalamazoo staff members include, from left, Ken Quayle, program and partnership director; Bianca Gomez, kitchen manager; Dilley; Delon Dyson, operations director; and Jarrett Blackmon, marketing director.
stations for cooking, prepping or finishing, available 24 hours a day for current and former clients to rent by the hour.
With 11,000 square feet of space — roughly half of it yet unfinished — the organization’s big ideas have ample space to grow.
“We’re planning an open-format co-working area with about a dozen workstations, a second conference room, a classroom, event space, dedicated staff offices, and a flexible space that could be a small event or pop-up retail space. We also plan to lease office space to other small businesses,” says Dilley.
Reducing barriers to success
Part of Can-Do’s mission is to provide an accessible path toward business success, especially for communities facing added barriers.
“There are certain communities that have not had equitable access to resources — people of color, LGBTQ communities, people who don’t speak English as their first language,” says Foster. “We recognize that and work to lower those barriers.”
This story is part of the Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative’s coverage of equitable community development. SWMJC is a group of 12 regional organizations dedicated to strengthening local journalism. Visit swmichjournalism.com to learn more.
One way Can-Do does that is by offering free translation services to clients for whom English is a second language, who currently comprise about 30% of Can-Do's clientele.
Alex and Iryna Severyn, of Ukrainian Homemade Foods, are among the 18 food entrepreneurs who currently rent space at Can-Do's kitchen to prepare their wares. The couple arrived in Kalamazoo in 2023 after escaping the war in their homeland.
“Can-Do has been much more than just a space for us — they’ve become our guiding light, and their support has been invaluable,"
the couple wrote in an email. "With their assistance, we navigated food safety training, prepared the necessary documentation for our food license, and even secured an interest-free loan.”
The pair will return this month to the Kalamazoo Farmers Market, offering Ukrainian borscht, a variety of boiled and fried pierogi, sunflower seed candies, cookies, pastries and their popular honey cake.
“Our first season at the market was like joining a big, welcoming family, and the warm reception has only fueled our passion,” report the Severyns, who are applying for permanent U.S. residency and citizenship. “We are determined to create a business that not only thrives but also supports and uplifts the community that welcomed us with open arms.”
Extending its reach
As one of 27 small-business hubs in the state and supported by significant funding from the Michigan Economic Development Corp., Can-Do Kalamazoo is in a position to help smaller organizations in the field. In 2024, it shared more than $350,000 with Black Wall Street Kalamazoo, Startup Zoo, Room 35, and the South Haven Regional Business Hub.
Can-Do’s work to help clients improve their quality of life and the lives of their families and workers reaches beyond Kalamazoo, drawing participants from neighboring counties and even Indiana. As the nonprofit continues to grow, it will take time and money to fulfill the team’s own dreams.
“We are in the quiet phase of our $1.4 million capital campaign,” says Dilley. "We hope to raise 70% of that this year, but it will take a few years to complete all of our plans."
When asked if there’s a typical type of entrepreneur that comes to Can-Do, she says, “Not really.”
“We’ve had a 15-year-old exploring a hot dog cart business and someone who’s been in business for 25 years,” says Dilley. “We have people who want something to pass along to their family to build generational wealth or just something to do in retirement.”
Foster adds, “We are here to show that they don’t have to do it alone. A lot of our people stay in touch with each other. Knowing others on the same small business roller coaster helps a lot.”
Breilen Maybee MI 4763A
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TheArts
TheBookofSilence
May
9–25
WMU Theatre
This adaptation of the Roman de Silence, about a 13th-century transgender knight who goes on a quest to find himself, is being produced in collaboration with the Mostly Medieval Theatre Festival as part of the International Congress on Medieval Studies at Western Michigan University.
The production, to be staged in WMU's Gilmore Theatre Complex, will open during the annual congress, which runs from May 8–10, and continue its run until May 25. Show times are 7:30 p.m. May 9, 16–17 and 23–24 and 2 p.m. May 11, 18 and 25. Tickets are $12–$22 and available at wmich.edu/theatre or by calling 387-6222.
Wally’sGarage: TheHexaDronePilots
May 10
All Ears Theatre
Lifelong buddies and retirees Wally and Jimbo are off on another adventure in this all-audio production written by Mark Savage.
The production, which is free, is a sequel to Wally's Garage, also penned by Savage, and performed by All Ears in 2017. Show time is 6 p.m. at the Kalamazoo Nonprofit Advocacy Coalition, 315 W. Michigan Ave. For more information, visit allearstheatre.org.
Other New Productions
TheWeddingSinger, May 2–18, Kalamazoo Civic Theatre, kazoocivic.com. RidetheCyclone, May 29–June 15, Farmers Alley Theatre, farmersalleytheatre.com.
Continuing Productions
Rhinoceros, May 2, Dormouse Theatre, dormousetheatre.com
The Seussification of a Midsummer Night’s Dream, May 1–4, Civic Youth Theatre, kazoocivic.com
LittleShopofHorrors
May 15–18
Festival Playhouse
This fun musical that follows a meek floral assistant’s dealings with a blood-thirsty, foul-mouthed carnivorous plant bent on world domination will be staged at Kalamazoo College's Balch Playhouse.
Show times are 7:30 p.m. Ma y 15–17 and 2 p.m. May 18. Tickets are $5–$25 and available at festivalplayhouse.kzoo.edu or by calling 337-7333.
Turnover:ANewLeaf
May 16–18
Queer Theatre Kalamazoo
Coming-of-age, family dynamics and the duality between nature versus nurture are explored in this musical that's centered on two neighboring businesses: a queer nightclub and a family-owned beauty salon.
The production will be staged at the Jolliffe Theatre, in the Epic Center, and show times are 7:30 p.m. May 16 and 17 (this show has ASL interpretation) and 2 p.m. May 18. Ticket prices are on a nameyour-price basis and available at queertk.org.
Comedy Performances
May 10 & 11
Dormouse Theatre
For those looking for a little levity, Dormouse Theatre will be the place to be this month as it presents two comedy performances.
On May 10, the Detroit-based comedy troupe Ants in the Hall will present its semi-improvised comedy TheOdyssey of Homer , about an acting troupe's struggle to follow up the success of their smash hit, The Iliad.
Married comedians Mary Mack and Tim Harmston will present their Mother’s Day Stand Up Comedy Show May 11. Both Mack and Harmston have successful solo careers, including performing on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Marc Maron's WTF podcast, Comedy Central and The Late Show with David Letterman
Both shows begin at 7 p.m., and tickets are $20. For tickets or more information, visit dormousetheatre.com.
Emergence
May 2
Art Hop
Artistic perspectives that reflect renewal and transformation will be the focus of the May Art Hop in downtown Kalamazoo.
This free event, organized by the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo, runs from 5–8 p.m. and features a variety of artists’ works as well as live music and the chance to visit downtown businesses.
For a brochure showing Art Hop sites and information about participating artists, visit kalamazooarts.org.
2025HighSchool AreaShow
Through May 25
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
This annual exhibition spotlights the artistic talents of the region's high school students.
The juried exhibition, open to high school students residing in Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren counties, provides participants with opportunities to win prizes and college scholarships.
ARTS
Northside Art Experience
May 10 NACD
This monthly open mic event showcases hip hop and poetry with social justice awareness, featuring local musicians and artists. Hosted by rapper and activist by Ed Genesis, the event runs from 7:30–9:30 p.m. at the Northside Association for Community Development (NACD) building, 612 N. Park St.
Held on the second Saturday of each month, the free event will also spotlight a featured artist and art vendors. For more information, visit nacdkzoo.com.
Ongoing Exhibitions
• JennyPope:Woodcuts , through May 23, Kalamazoo Book Arts Center
• Sourced from the 'Zoo , through May 25, KIA and other downtown locations
• An Infinite Constellation of Love , through June 15, KIA
Author Hop 2025!
May 2
Portage District Library
Local authors writing in various genres — from nonfiction to youth literature to history to poetry — will be on hand with their books at this annual event, which runs from 5–8 p.m.
The KIA is open 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Thursday; and noon–4 p.m. Sunday. For more KalamazooArts.org
In addition to meeting the authors, attendees can peruse and purchase books. For more information, visit portagelibrary.info.
JUNE 7 • 12 - 8 PM JUNE 8 • 9 - 5 PM
Save the date for this outdoor artistic extravaganza featuring local and regional artists showcasing original paintings, jewelry, garden art, pottery, art demonstrations, and live music on the Metro Toyota entertainment stage!
Sprawling along on the downtown Kalamazoo Mall, this free, two-day arts-filled adventure is supported by the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation and Southern Michigan Bank and Trust.
20th Century Skater, by Reynaldo Jeronimo-Cabrera, from the 2024 High School Area Show
TheArts
Carmen&Bolero
May 3
Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
Tenor Ben Gulley and mezzo-soprano Rihab Chaieb will join the KSO at Miller Auditorium for a production full of Spanish rhythms, folk songs and dances as imagined through the eyes of the French.
Singers from Kalamazoo Choral Arts and dancers from the Kalamazoo Ballet Arts Ensemble will be part of the program, which will offer highlights from Debussy's Ibéria in addition to Ravel’s Boléro and Bizet’s Carmen Show time is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5–$68 and available at kalamazoosymphony.com.
FantasticLandscapes
May 4
Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra
The KJSO will perform a program evoking the fictional terrains of movies such as Aladdin, Star Wars and Lord of the Rings — from waterways and deserts to Middle Earth — at 3 p.m. in Chenery Auditorium.
Tickets for the performance are $5–$15 and available at kjso.org.
Stulberg International String Competition
May 17
Dalton Center Recital Hall
This annual competition, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, draws young string musicians from around the world to Western Michigan University's Dalton Center Recital Hall to vie for the competition's top prizes.
Twelve finalists, selected from more than 200 applicants, will compete in two performances. The semifinals will be held at 9 and 10:30 a.m. and 1 and 2:30 p.m. The six artists chosen as finalists will perform at 7:30 p.m.
Admission to the semifinals is free, and tickets for the finals are $10–$30. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit stulberg.org.
Daniela Liebman
May 11
The Gilmore
This Mexican pianist, named among the “100 Most Creative and Powerful Women” by Forbes Mexico, will perform at 4 p.m. in the Cori Terry Theatre, at the Epic Center, as part of the Gilmore International Piano Festival's Rising Stars Series.
Liebman, born in Guadalajara, has performed with more than 30 orchestras on four continents, made her Lincoln Center debut performing the music of Philip Glass in 2023, and currently studies at The Juilliard School.
Tickets are $10–$28 and available at thegilmore.org.
Spring Concert
May 17
Kalamazoo
Ringers
The oldest continuously operating bronze-level community handbell choir in the USA, the Kalamazoo Ringers, will perform at 3 & 7 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 212 S. Park St.
The group members perform on seven octaves of handbells and six octaves of hand chimes.
Admission is free, but offerings will be accepted. For more information, visit kalamazooringers.org.
CoplandatK
May 31
Kalamazoo
Philharmonia
Celebrating the visit of the esteemed composer Aaron Copland to Kalamazoo College in 1965, this concert will feature selections of Copland's work and pieces by other American composers as well.
The Philharmonia's performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. in K-College's Dalton Theatre, in the Light Fine Arts Building.
Among the works to be played are An Outdoor Adventure and Billy the Kid Suite, by Copland; Concertino for Bassoon by local composer Philip Rugel; and compositions by Mary Watkins, Viet Cuong, and Steven Holochwost.
Tickets are $3–$7 and available at the door. For more information, visit music.kzoo.edu/ events.
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PERFORMING ARTS
THEATER Plays
Rhinoceros — As residents of a small town transform into rhinoceroses, one man resists, 7 p.m. May 2, Dormouse Theatre, 1030 Portage St., dormousetheatre.com.
The Book of Silence — A 13th-century transgender knight goes on a quest to find himself, 7:30 p.m. May 9, 16, 17, 23 & 24, 2 p.m. May 11, 18 & 25, Gilmore Theatre Complex, WMU, 387-6222, wmich.edu/theatre.
Little Shop of Horrors — A meek floral assistant & his blood-thirsty carnivorous plant, May 15–18, Kalamazoo College's Balch Playhouse, 129 Thompson St., festivalplayhouse.kzoo.edu.
Musicals
The Seussification of a Midsummer Night’s Dream — A Civic Youth Theatre presentation, 7:30 p.m. May 2, 2 p.m. May 3 & 4, 10 a.m. May 1, Parish Theatre, 405 S. Lovell St., 343-1313, kazoocivic.com.
The Wedding Singer — A wedding band singer finds his own wedding plans go awry, 7:30 p.m. May 2, 3, 9, 10, 16 & 17, 2 p.m. May 4, 11 & 18, Civic Auditorium, 329 S. Park St., 343-1313, kazoocivic.com.
Ain’t Too Proud: The Life & Times of the Temptations— The journey of the Motown group, 7:30 p.m. May 13–15, Miller Auditorium, millerauditorium.com.
Turnover: A New Leaf— A musical about a queer nightclub & its neighboring immigrant familyowned beauty salon, Queer Theatre Kalamazoo, 7:30 p.m. May 16 & 17, 2 p.m. May 18, Jolliffe Theatre, Epic Center, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, queertk.org.
Girls Night: The Musical — Female friends & '80s and '90s music, 7:30 p.m. May 17, Miller Auditorium, millerauditorium.com.
Ride the Cyclone — Six teens' encounters with a mechanical fortune teller, May 29–June 15, Farmers Alley Theatre, 221 Farmers Alley, 343–2727, farmersalleytheatre.com.
Other
Wally’s Garage: The HexaDrone Pilots — An all-audio theater production, 6 p.m. May 10, Kalamazoo Nonprofit Advocacy Coalition, 315 W. Michigan Ave., allearstheatre.org.
Mandy Patinkin in Concert: Being Alive — The actor/singer/storyteller performs, 7:30 p.m. May 10, Miller Auditorium, millerauditorium.com.
Sesame Street Live! Say Hello — Sesame Street characters sing, dance & play games, 2 p.m. May 11, Miller Auditorium, millerauditorium.com.
MUSIC
Bands & Solo Artists
Bell’s Eccentric Cafe Concerts — All shows at 8 p.m.: Electric Six w/Messer Chups, May 1; Dehd with Sweat FM & Merlin Brando, May 2; The Arcadian Wild w/River & Rail, May 4; Jon Hayes & The Company w/Deerfield Run & Writer’s Round w/ Jack Droppers, Pete & Bergie and Carrie McFerrin, 7 p.m. May 10; Bob Mould w/Winged Wheel, May 11; Bronson Arm w/Brother Wolf & Lucius Fox, May 15; Jon Spencer, May 22; Kanin Wren: The Ultimate Taylor Swift Experience, May 23; Hot Like Mars with The All American Funk Parade, May 24; Florist with Allegra Krieger, May 27; 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave., 382-2332, bellsbeer.com.
Bluegrass Night — Performance by Full Cord, 8 p.m. May 3, Franke Center for the Arts, 214 E. Mansion St., Marshall, thefranke.org.
Ten Peso Version, Vanity Plates, Kennedy Perez — Indie rock, funk & blues, 8 p.m. May 16, Dormouse Theatre, 1030 Portage St., dormousetheatre.com.
The Mystical Hot Chocolate Endeavors — Progressive shoegaze music, 7:30 p.m. May 17, Dormouse Theatre, dormousetheatre.com.
Night of 1,000 Rihannas — Singing & dance featuring music by Rihanna, 8 p.m. May 24, Dormouse Theatre, dormousetheatre.com.
Orchestra, Chamber, Jazz, Vocal & More Carmen & Boléro — Kalamazoo Choral Arts, Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra & Ballet Arts Ensemble, 7:30 p.m. May 3, Miller Auditorium, kalamazoochoralarts.org.
Kalamazoo Recorder Players — 2 p.m. May 4, Portage United Church of Christ, 2731 W. Milham Ave., soundecologies.org.
Fantastic Landscapes — Kalamazoo Junior Symphony performs, 3 p.m. May 4, Chenery Auditorium, 714 S. Westnedge Ave., 349–7557, kjso.org.
Jonathan Moody, Asphalt — Jazz fusion, 7:30 p.m. May 9, Dormouse Theatre, 1030 Portage St., dormousetheatre.com.
Daniela Liebman — Mexican pianist, 4 p.m. May 11, Cori Terry Theatre, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, 342–1166, thegilmore.org.
Kalamazoo Ringers — Spring concert, 3 & 7 p.m. May 17, First United Methodist Church, 212 S. Park St., kalamazooringers.org.
Stulberg International String Competition — Competition of young string musicians, semifinals, 9 & 10:30 a.m., 1 & 2:30 p.m.; finals & awards, 7:30 p.m. May 17, Dalton Center Recital Hall, stulberg.org.
Crescendo Academy of Music Student Recital — 2 p.m. May 17, First Congregational Church, 345 W. Michigan Ave., 345-6664, crescendoacademy.com.
KSO Community Concert — Free tickets available online, 7 p.m. May 20, First Presbyterian Church, 321 W. South St., kalamazoosymphony.com.
Hymnody of Earth: Malcolm Dalglish — Folk & hammered dulcimer music, 7:30 p.m. May 20, Stetson Chapel, Kalamazoo College, music.kzoo. edu/events.
Academy Street Winds — 7:30 p.m. May 21, Dalton Theatre, Light Fine Arts Bldg., Kalamazoo College, music.kzoo.edu/events.
K-College Jazz Band — 7:30 p.m. May 22, Dalton Theatre, Light Fine Arts Bldg., music.kzoo.edu/events.
CoplandatK— Kalamazoo Philharmonia performs music of Aaron Copland & other American composers, 7:30 p.m. May 31, Dalton Theatre, Light Fine Arts Bldg., music.kzoo.edu/events.
COMEDY
The Odyssey of Homer — Presented by Detroit-based Ants in the Hall, 7 p.m. May 10, Dormouse Theatre, 1030 Portage St., dormousetheatre.com.
Mother’s Day Stand-Up Comedy Show — Mary Mack & Tim Harmston, 7 p.m. May 11, Dormouse Theatre, dormousetheatre.com.
VISUAL ARTS
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
314 S. Park St., 349-7775, kiarts.org
Exhibitions
Sourced from the 'Zoo — Art, objects & stories celebrating Kalamazoo, through May 25.
2025 High School Area Show — Works by area high school students, through May 25.
An Infinite Constellation of Love — Videos, sculptures & paintings by JooYoung Choi, through June 15.
Events
Art Bridges Access for All — Free general admission on Thursdays, 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
Wellness in the ‘Zoo —Highlighting pieces relating to self-care, 5:30 p.m. May 1; register online.
Healing Circle: Mental Wellness in Uncertain Times — Led by therapist & artist Alessandra Santos Pye, 5:30 p.m. May 1; register online.
Sunday Drop-In Conversation — Docents discuss artwork, 1:30–2:30 p.m. Sundays.
ARTbreak — Program about art, artists & exhibitions: Precarious Living, talk by art professor Tom Rice, May 7; Mies van der Rohe’s Democratic Vision: A Century of Community Engagement at the KIA, with art history professor Christine Hahn, May 21; sessions begin at noon; registration requested.
World Collage Day — Create a collage inspired by the Sourced from the ‘Zoo exhibition, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. May 10.
Building Community through Art & Music —
Talk by Rev. Millard Southern of Allen Chapel AME Church followed by music by the Bill Cessna Trio, 6 p.m. May 15; register online.
Book Discussion — Discuss Elisa Gabbert’s Any Person is the Only Self, 2 p.m. May 21; register online.
Kalamazoo Trivia Night — Individuals & teams test their knowledge of Kalamazoo, 6 p.m. May 22.
Other Venues
Jenny Pope: Woodcuts — Through May 23, Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, 326 W. Kalamazoo Ave., Suite 103A; reception, 5–8 p.m. May 2 during Art Hop; 373–4938, kalbookarts.org.
Art Hop — Art with the theme “Emergence," 5–8 p.m. May 2, downtown Kalamazoo, 342–5059, kalamazooarts.org.
Into My Blood: John Marin’s Maine Soil and Yankee Folk — Talk by James Denison, 4:15 p.m. May 8, Room 1140, Connable Recital Hall, Kalamazoo College, kiarts.org.
Northside Art Experience — Showcase of local musicians & artists hosted by Ed Genesis, 7:30–9:30 p.m. May 10, Northside Association for Community Development, 612 N. Park St., nacdkzoo.com
LIBRARY & LITERARY EVENTS
Comstock Township Library 6130 King Highway, 345-0136, comstocklibrary.org
CTL Writers — Group writing discussion, 10 a.m. Fridays.
Pride Book Club — Discuss Akemi Dawn Bowman's Summer Bird Blue, 6 p.m. May 21, in person & online; registration required.
Harry Potter Trivia — Play as a team or an individual, 6 p.m. May 28; registration required.
Adult Book Club — Discuss Darcie Little Badger’s Elatsoe, 6 p.m. May 29; registration required.
Kalamazoo Public Library 553-7800, kpl.gov
Virtual Reality — Experience VR in a 20-minute session, 1–2 p.m. May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, Central Library; children 12 & younger must have parent/ guardian signature.
KPL Mobile Library — 2 p.m. May 1 & 29, Leisure Pointe Condominiums, 4814 Weston Ave.; 3 p.m. May 5, Douglass Apartments, 1211 Douglas Ave.; 3 p.m. May 6, Maple Grove Village, 735 Summit Ave.; 4 p.m. May 8 & 3:30 p.m. May 20, Interfaith Homes, 1037 Interfaith Blvd.; 4 p.m. May 13, Oakwood Neighborhood Association, 3320 Laird Ave.; 3:30 p.m. May 19, New Village Park/Heather Gardens, 2400 Albans Way; 10 a.m. May 20, Lodge House, 1211 S. Westnedge Ave.; stops are about 1 hour.
KPL Tech Days — Learn about technology & the internet, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. May 3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27, 31, Central Library; sessions are first-come, first-served.
Petting Zoo — Interact with animals, May 3, Washington Square Branch; May 10, Oshtemo Branch; 10 a.m.–noon, outside.
First Saturday at the Kalamazoo Public Library — Community organizations, crafts & activities, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. May 3, behind Alma Powell Branch, 308 W. North St., weather permitting, or at Northside Association for Community Development, 612 N. Park St.
Kalamazoo Writers Disorganization — Discussion about the Kalamazoo Poetry Festival, 4 p.m. May 6, Central Library.
No Shelf Control: A Graphic Novel Book Club — Discuss Barbara Yelin's Irmina, 6 p.m. May 6, Central Library.
Spring into Flavor: Zero-Proof Elixirs — Angie Jackson creates elixirs with fresh herbs & fruit, 6 p.m. May 6, Oshtemo Branch; registration required.
Dragon Boat Festival — Learn the festival's history & cultural significance, 5:30 p.m. May 12, Central Library.
Page Turners Book Club — Discuss Adam Higginbotham’s Challenger: A True Story of Heroism & Disaster on the Edge of Space, 6:30 p.m. May 12, Oshtemo Branch, register for online access.
Pop-Up Bike Repair — Bicycle maintenance & advice, noon–2 p.m. May 13, Central Library; 1–3 p.m. May 21, Washington Square Branch.
Washington Square Spring Celebration — Food, music & activities, 5:30 p.m. May 14, Washington Square Branch.
Ancestry for Beginners — Using the Ancestry database, 6:30 p.m. May 14, Central Library.
Classics Revisited — Discuss Irène Némirovsky’s Suite Française, 2:30 p.m. May 15, Central Library & online.
Air Zoo Flight for Families — Activities about aviation, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. May 17, Eastwood Branch, outside; registration required.
Music & Memories — How music stirs memories, 11 a.m. May 19, Oshtemo Branch.
Robert Weir: White Man at the Back of the Bus — Weir discusses his travels learning about the Civil Rights Movement, 6 p.m. May 19, Eastwood Branch.
Senior Citizens’ Breakfast — Ask health care questions, 10:30–noon May 23, Eastwood Branch.
Writing Workshop — With author Christine Webb, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. May 24, Oshtemo Branch.
Coffee & Connections — Meet with library staff, 9–11 a.m. May 27, Central Library.
Summer Jumpstart Yoga Session — All experience levels welcome, bring a mat, 3–4 p.m. May 27, Central Library.
Dungeons & Dragons Game Night — Adult beginner to experienced levels, 5:30–7:30 p.m. May 29, Central Library; registration required.
Parchment Community Library
401 S. Riverview Drive, 343-7747, parchmentlibrary.org
Foster Care Information Night — Learn about supporting foster children, 5 p.m. May 5.
Parchment Book Group – Discuss Lynda Rutledge’s West with Giraffes, 6 p.m. May 12.
Silent Book Club Sessions — Read in companionable silence, 10:15 a.m. May 27, 1:15 p.m. May 28.
Mystery Book Club – Discuss Richard Osman’s The Man Who Died Twice, 6:30 p.m. May 27.
Portage District Library 300 Library Lane, 329-4544, portagelibrary.info
Muffins & the Market — Stock market trends & resources, 9 a.m. May 1 & 15.
Author Hop 2025! — Meet local authors, 5–8 p.m. May 2.
Yoga with Apral: A Gentle Approach — 4 p.m. May 5 & 12; registration required.
Kalamazoo County Historical Society — Local history speakers & discussion, 7 p.m. May 5.
Compassion & Choices — End-of-life care & choices, 3 p.m. May 6.
Gardening for Wildlife — Discussion on native plants, 6:30 p.m. May 8.
International Mystery Book Club — Discuss Deon Meyer’s Thirteen Hours, 7 p.m. May 8.
Documentary & Donuts — View Unberto Eco: A Library of the World, 10 a.m. May 9.
Privy Presentation — The basics of privy digging, 6 p.m. May 13.
Plant-Based Cooking Demo — With samples provided, 6 p.m. May 14; registration required.
Mindful Meditation — 5:15 p.m. May 15; registration required.
Grown-up Slime Time — Adults-only slime making, 6:30 p.m. May 15; registration required.
Kalamazoo Macintosh Users Group — Help with Macintosh programs & accessories, 9 a.m.–noon May 17.
Saturday Sound Immersion — A relaxation & well-being experience, 10:30 a.m. May 17; registration required.
Light Lunch & Literature — Discuss William Faulkner's A Rose for Emily, noon May 19; registration required.
Kalamazoo Valley Genealogical Society — For those interested in genealogy, 7 p.m. May 19.
Plots and Pages: A Local Writers Group — With author Mark Love, 6 p.m. May 20.
Medicare 101 — 3 p.m. May 21; registration required.
Richland Community Library 8951 Park St., 629-9085, richlandlibrary.org
Bridge Club — Noon–3 p.m. Tuesdays.
Smartphone Photography — Tips taking photos with a phone, 6 p.m. May 7; registration required.
Adult Dungeons & Dragons Bravo Team — 3 p.m. May 8, 5 p.m. May 14; registration required.
Richland Area Writer’s Group — Open to new members, noon May 9 & 23, in person & online.
Cookbook Club — Discuss Bobby Parrish’s 5 Ingredient Meals, 6 p.m. May 13.
Richland Genealogy Group — Open to new members, 10 a.m. May 15, in person & via Zoom.
RCL Book Club — Discuss Brittany Rogers' Good Dress, 6 p.m. May 15.
Speed Friending for Adults — Meet new people, 6 p.m. May 16; registration encouraged.
Hiking 101 — Discussion led by Chief Noonday Chapter of the North Country Trail, 6:30 p.m. May 27.
Plant-Forward Cooking — Cooking for sustainability & health, 6 p.m. May 29; registration required.
Vicksburg District Library 215 S. Michigan Ave., 649-1648, vicksburglibrary.org
Book Club for Adults — 9:30 a.m. May 1.
Bridge Club — 9:30 a.m.–noon Tuesdays. Writer’s Motivational Group — Set goals & report progress, 4 p.m. May 8.
Other Venues
The Art of Publishing — Honing writing skills & making goals, 5–7 p.m. May 3, Black Arts & Cultural Center, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Suite 202, kpl.gov.
Reading Race Group — Discuss Joanne Ramos’ The Farm, 6:30 p.m. May 13, Marlborough Bldg. Garden, 471 W. South St., kpl.gov.
Adult Book Club — 5:30 p.m. May 21, Van Buren District Library's Antwerp Sunshine Branch, 24283 Front St., Mattawan, 668-2534, vbdl.org
MUSEUMS
Air Zoo
6151 Portage Road, Portage, 382-6555, airzoo.org
In Her Footsteps: A Celebration of Inspiring Women — Release of Kalamazoo County Characters by Dianna Stampfler, 10:30 a.m. May 4.
Science Innovation Hall of Fame Awards — 6 p.m. May 17.
Sensory-Friendly Sunday — A quiet environment before opening, 10 a.m. May 18.
Gilmore Car Museum
6865 Hickory Road, Hickory Corners, 671-5089, gilmorecarmuseum.org
Wednesday Night Cruise-Ins — Free outdoor concerts, 5–8 p.m.: Seritas Black Rose, May 7; Elvis impersonator Ron Short, May 14; Two of a Kind, May 21; Gemini Moon, May 28.
US-131 Dust-Off Car Show — Classic muscle cars, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. May 10.
Vintage Boat & Travel Trailer Rally — Vintage boats & RVs, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. May 10.
Corks & Crafts Tasting Event — Beer, wine & spirits tasting, noon–5 p.m. May 10.
Spring Gala — Music & food, 6–10 p.m. May 17.
The Jazz Experience — Classic Car Club of America Museum event, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. May 30–31.
Kalamazoo Valley Museum
230 N. Rose St., 373-7990, kalamazoomuseum.org
Exhibitions
The Art of Advertising — Nostalgic signs & ads from local businesses, through Aug. 31.
ColorfulCollections— Items in a rainbow of hues from the museum's collection, through Aug. 31.
Wallace&GromitandShauntheSheepShear Genius — Inspired by the film & TV characters, May 17–Aug. 31.
Events
Summer Rain Garden Tours 10:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. Saturdays, beginning May 31. NATURE
Kalamazoo Nature Center 7000 N. Westnedge Ave., 381-1574, naturecenter.org
Virtual Butterfly Monitor Training — 11 a.m. May 1; registration required.
Birding with the Stars — Watch returning species, 11 a.m. May 3 & 13; registration required.
Kalamazoo Astronomical Society Public Observing Sessions — The Moon & Spring Star Clusters, May 3; Galaxies of the Great Bear, May 24; 9 p.m.–midnight, kasonline.org.
Birding the Kleinstuck Preserve — Spring bird survey, 8 a.m. May 7 & 14, Kleinstuck Preserve, 1001 W. Maple St.; registration required.
Foraging Local Abundance — Harvest edible plants, 10 a.m. May 17, DeLano Homestead, 555 West E Ave.; registration required.
Clarifoura — Clarinet quartet, 11 a.m. May 17.
Returning & Reskilling Series — Basketmaking, 9 a.m. May 24, DeLano Homestead, 555 West E Ave.; registration required.
Kellogg Bird Sanctuary 12685 East C Ave., Augusta, 671-2510, birdsanctuary@kbs.msu.edu
Mother’s Day — Moms get in free, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. May 11.
Birds & Coffee Chat Online — Learn about bird beaks, 10 a.m. May 14.
Behind the Scenes: Raptors — Caring for raptors, 10 a.m. May 17.
Fishing for the Eagles — Fishing to feed eagles, 9:30 a.m. May 31.
Other Venues
Binder Park Zoo Opening Day — May 1, 7400 Division Drive, Battle Creek, 979-1351, binderparkzoo.org.
Garlic Mustard Pull Contest — Pull the invasive species at Portage parks for prizes, May 1–30, Portage Parks & Recreation Bldg., 7900 S. Westnedge Ave.; portagemi.gov/calendar.
Geo Mystery Tours — Self-guided tours using GPS, May 1–31, portagemi.gov/calendar; registration required.
Kalamazoo Astronomical Society General Meeting & Speaker — Galaxies on the Edge! Using NASA’s JWST to Learn How Galaxies Work,
with Chris Howk, 7 p.m. May 2, Kalamazoo Math & Science Center, 600 W. Vine St., kasonline.org
Beginning Birding Walk — 9 a.m. May 3; Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery's 2nd parking lot, 34270 County Road 652, Mattawan, kalamazooaudubon.org.
Kal-Haven Trail Birding Walk — 9 a.m. Tuesdays, 10th Street trailhead, kalamazooaudubon.org.
World Migratory Bird Day Celebration — Bird walks, crafts & nature art, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. May 10, Upjohn Park, 1000 Walter St., kzooparks.org.
Springtime Activities at Full Circle Farms — Visit the farm & learn about food at the Farmers Market,
5:30 p.m. May 14, Portage Parks & Recreation Bldg., 7900 S. Westnedge Ave., portagemi.gov/calendar.
Ranger Hike: Conservation Quest — Walk through Bishop’s Bog, 5 p.m. May 16, 9920 S. Westnedge Ave., portagemi.gov.
MISCELLANEOUS
Kalamazoo Rock, Gem & Mineral Show — 50+ booths plus demonstrations, 2–8 p.m. May 2, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. May 3, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. May 4, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 2900 Lake St., kalamazoorockclub.org.
Kalamazoo Farmers Market — 7 a.m.–2 p.m., Saturdays, 1204 Bank St.; opening day, May 3; pfcmarkets.com.
Nuway Viking Wars — Wrestling competition, May 3–4, Wings Event Center, 3600 Vanrick Drive, wingseventcenter.com/events.
Zeigler Marathon, 10K, 5K & Kids’ 1K — May 3 & 4, zeiglerkalamazoomarathon.com; registration required.
Portage Farmers Market — 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Sundays, May 4–Oct. 12, Portage City Hall, 7900 S. Westnedge Ave., 329-4522.
60th International Congress on Medieval Studies — Lectures, concerts, plays & vendors, May 8–10, Western Michigan University & online, wmich.edu/medievalcongress/events.
Breaking the Stigma: African American Mental Health Symposium — Hybrid event with speakers & breakout sessions, 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m. May 8, WMU College of Health and Human Services Bldg., 1200 Oakland Dr., synergykzoo.org/blackwellness/ breakingstigma.
Michigan State Numismatic Society Spring Convention & Coin Show — 10 a.m.–6 p.m. May 8, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. May 9, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. May 10, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, michigancoinclub.org.
Kalamazoo Bike Week — Events, activities & rides, May 10–17, locations in greater Kalamazoo area, kalamazoobikeweek.org.
Kalamazoo Indoor Flea Market — 9 a.m.–3 p.m. May 10, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 383-8778.
Bike Rodeo — Biking skills, maintenance & safety for kids, 5 p.m. May 14, Mayors’ Riverfront Park, 251 Mills St., kzooparks.org/events.
Vicksburg Farmers Market — 2–6 p.m. Fridays, May 16–Sept. 26, 300 N. Richardson St., Vicksburg, vicksburgfarmersmarket.com.
Kalamazoo Antique & Collectible Toy Show — 9 a.m.–2 p.m. May 17, Main & North rooms, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 366–1314.
Kalamazoo Reptile & Exotic Pet Expo — 10 a.m.–3 p.m. May 17 & 18, South Room, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, kalamazooreptileexpo.com.
BURG’s 151½ Birthday Party — Food, drinks, shopping & activities, noon–8:30 p.m. May 18, downtown Vicksburg, birthday.vicksburgmi.org.
Vintage in the Zoo — Vintage & handmade goods, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. May 18, Kalamazoo Farmers Market, 1204 Bank St., vintageinthezoo.com.
For the Love of Trains — Talk by Michigan railroad historian Mark Worrall, 2 p.m. May 18, Vicksburg Depot Museum, 300 N. Richardson St., vicksburghistory.org.
Party in the Park — Story hour with costumed characters for children up to 5 years of age, 10 a.m. May 21, Bronson Park; bring a blanket to sit on; kpl.gov/event.
West Michigan Apple Blossom Cluster Dog Show — 8 a.m.–6 p.m. May 22–26, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 616–490–5227.
Friday at the Flats — Food trucks, live music & vendors, 4:30–8:30 p.m. May 23, Celery Flats Pavilion, 7335 Garden Lane, portagemi.gov/ calendar.
Jenny Doezema (continued from page 30)
the environment. My parents instilled an ethic of care, insisting we respect the places where we spent our time. "Leave only footprints" was ingrained in me.
I attended Kalamazoo Public Schools and worked on a community gardens initiative before going to college. I knew I wanted to help facilitate better care for our planet and got a teaching degree in environmental science at Western Michigan University. I taught at Milwood Middle School and was a sustainability curriculum consultant for Woodward Elementary School. I worked at the Adventure Centre at Pretty Lake, running ropes courses and ran the organization's farm-building program, growing food that was then served in the cafeteria.
In 2017, I joined the Kalamazoo Nature Center as director and lead instructor for the Heronwood Conservation Biology Program, which looks at environmental stewardship like a trade, teaching land management and conservation skills. I then became the vice president of learning and engagement, supervising all KNC’s education programs, a job I left to start here.
What had been the focus of the KCCC before this big grant?
We work by networking with local nonprofits, churches, educational institutions, businesses and individuals. We’ve mainly been focused on advocacy, providing input on municipal climate plans and supporting climate emergency
declarations in Kalamazoo County. We run an educational speaker series, Fridays for Future, which is available on our website. We work to build awareness and facilitate discussions about building resilience and adaptation around climate change and how to move faster on climate protection. Our shift to on-the-ground action will continue to expand our network and model what a climate-resilient community driven by grassroots efforts can look like.
Our mission is to mobilize rapid reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and adoption of renewable energy grounded in social, racial, economic and environmental justice. This project does both of those, along with making homes healthier for those living in them. It will also expand two existing workforce training programs in basic construction and electrician skills so enrollees can support the project work and increase skilled trades people in our regional workforce. Last, it makes neighborhood association facilities energy independent and energy efficient and sets them up to become emergency shelters in extreme weather. What keeps you up at night?
I would say the fear of increased injustice against people who are already experiencing such deep injustice in our society. This community has long struggled with racial and socio-economic disparities. Growing up at the heart of it, I saw firsthand how life can look drastically different for different people. I saw how poverty can devastate a family.
I also saw how much we lose as a community when we fail to recognize and value the gifts that each person has to offer. Now climate change, increasing chaotic weather and pollution threaten to further widen those disparities. A healthy environment is essential. Likewise, a safe, stable home should be a fundamental human right.
This work helps me feel like we are addressing these disparities. My hope is that funding comes through and we can do our very best work to address climate change with a thoughtful, community-driven eye on people who will be most impacted by it. What keeps you going every day?
I try to spend time outside every day, and every time I get out in nature, I just fall in love with this world that we live in. And the giant web of people in this community who work their butts off to make this community better. That makes it easier when you have hard days to say, ‘OK, there’s a lot of us working out here.’ My family is a light for me. I am a daughter, sister, mother, and grandmother. I am part of a big-hearted extended family. I am grateful to all of them.
— Interview by Katie Houston, edited for length and clarity
This story is part of the Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative’s coverage of equitable community development. SWMJC is a group of 12 regional organizations dedicated to strengthening local journalism. Visit swmichjournalism.com to learn more.
Jenny Doezema Executive Director, Kalamazoo Climate Crisis Coalition
Although Jenny Doezema is the new executive director of the Kalamazoo Climate Crisis Coalition, she is hardly a newcomer to the organization, having been part of it since its genesis in 2019. The 46-year-old was tapped to lead the nonprofit organization in January, in part to help manage a countywide project to upgrade 300 single-family homes to be more energy-efficient, support 150 participants' completion of pre-employment training focused in basic electric and construction trades and invest in four neighborhood centers. In partnership with Kalamazoo County, the KCCC was awarded nearly $19 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2024.
“The project will prevent the release of an estimated 700 metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, along with increasing home value and extending their longevity, which contributes to generational wealth,” Doezema says.
Additionally, significant funding is allocated to workforce development and job creation and investment in neighborhood community centers to make Kalamazoo safer in light of increases in extreme weather. Unfortunately, the project, designed to accelerate environmental resilience, is now in limbo after the EPA announced in March that it would cancel $1.6 billion dollars in grants.
The organization is also a key partner with the county in developing a Climate Action and Climate Justice Plan to accelerate environmental justice and climate action planning and implementation, supported by a three-year grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE).
How did you get to where you are today?
I was born and raised here and have lived in the same square mile on the north end of Kalamazoo my entire life. I was born at home on North Westnedge Avenue, where I lived until adulthood. At 20, I moved less than a half mile away, where I have been ever since. I was lucky to be part of an outdoor family that camped, fished, canoed and hiked — the best entertainment one could ask for. The outdoors represented joy, safety, freedom and curiosity.
At the end of our road, people dumped piles of trash. Our backyard, by contrast, was a giant garden where my dad harvested green beans and tomatoes. We spent summer days floating down the nearby river, though we knew not to eat the fish — and sometimes wondered if we should touch the water. These experiences ignited my passion for protecting
(continued on page 29)
When a Community Has an Airport...
Those of us that work at the airport are often asked the following questions when we are talking amongst friends or relatives in the community, “Oh, you work at the airport — are you a pilot? Are you an air traffic controller? Do you get to fly for free? " The short answer is "no" to the last two questions. And yes or no to the first one as some of our staff are indeed pilots.
So, what exactly does the airport do? And what don’t we do? To get to this answer, first think of the airport as a small town (in AZO’s case an 800+ acre town). In a small town there are people who take care of the town and there are businesses in the town that depend on the proper upkeep of the town. In the case of AZO’s 20+ employees, we take care of our airport community to ensure that the over 25 businesses and nearly 400 employees here have safe and secure facilities in which to do their jobs.
In fact, most of the functions that a traveler experiences while visiting AZO are done by non-airport employees. Checking in for your flight? Nope. Those are American Airlines or Delta Air Lines employees. Rushing through security? Nope. They are employees of the Transportation Security Administration. Getting some coffee in the restaurant? Nope. That’s operated by Tailwind Airport Concessions. Those folks fueling your airplane? Nope. That’s Duncan Aviation. And the list goes on.
What do AZO employees do? They’re the ones inspecting the runways and taxiways and removing snow and ice to ensure these are safe for aircraft. They’re the ones communicating with government officials and agencies to ensure compliance with safety, security, and environmental regulations. They’re the ones inspecting and repairing buildings.
Each of these professionals play an important part in the travel journey and whether or not they are “official” employees or work for one of the many companies at the airport, they are an important part of the airport team that works to make your trip a pleasant one.
Sandhill Café has returned!
Our expansion is complete and the restaurant you love is now open at Gun Lake Casino Resort with the same relaxed, warm ambience. Indulge in each delicious dish, with a menu serving everything from home-cooked favorites to modern takes on timeless recipes. where you want to be