Encore October 21012

october 2012 | $4

southwest michigan’s magazine

Small town newspaper keeps rolling

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when work is really a zoo

therapy farm effort growing guide book inside

t r u e s t o ry

Doctor’s orders: lower stress, higher returns.

The medical practice had the familiar hallmarks of an investment quandary. Its physicians were highly educated, respected, successful and accustomed to calling the shots. Including where and how to invest wealth—their own, as well as their practice’s 401(k). But being a first rate doctor (or any other high level professional) doesn’t always translate into being a first rate wealth manager. So unconfident were some about the wisdom of their investments that they were checking their stocks between surgeries.

Talk about short-term positions.

Someone had a sensible idea: call Greenleaf Trust. We met with the doctors, introduced them to our client-centric team model, and described in detail our holistic approach to wealth management. Within days, many had become clients and we were asked to manage the practice’s 401(k). Over time, we repositioned their investments so as to properly diversify and better position their portfolios for growth potential. All’s well that ends well, you might say, but there’s another chapter to this story.

Among the physicians, one’s spouse had aging parents whose investments were being handled by a national brokerage firm. The account was reasonably well managed by the father, but upon his death the widowed wife was ill-equipped to assume a financial decision-making role. The broker showed little empathy, and seemed uninterested in meeting with her grown children.

Again, the sensible idea arose: call Greenleaf Trust. From that day forward, what became apparent was that our interest in the well being of the family was equal to our interest in the well being of their assets.

At the family’s request, we carefully transferred their investments from the brokerage firm to Greenleaf Trust, shielding them from unwarranted fees, maddening bureaucracy and further duress. We adjusted their holdings and overall plan, so that generational trusts could be established for the future benefit of third and fourth generations. Every decision we made was focused on their well being, and they apparently agreed.

The entire family ended up moving their respective assets to Greenleaf Trust.

We’re the first to say not every investment strategy needs a second opinion. But with client satisfaction rates approaching 100%, and our unwavering focus on integrity and trust, it is safe to say our clients feel better about their financial health. Call us if you’d like to learn more.

We’ll gladly make a house call.

Financial Security from Generation to Generation

2 1 1 s o u t h r o s e s t r e e t k a l a m a z o o , m i 4 9 0 0 7 2 6 9. 3 8 8 . 9 8 0 0 8 0 0 . 4 1 6 . 4 5 5 5

WHEN I STARTED FEELING DIZZY

AND LIGHT-HEADED,

I SHOULD’VE LISTENED

TO MY HEART. Something wasn’t right. But like many women, I downplayed my symptoms and assumed the stress of my job was getting to me. Or maybe I wasn’t getting enough sleep. Turns out, I had a bad heart valve. And it was only a matter of time before it would give out. That’s when I turned to Bronson. Their cardiac services are rated best in the region, according to HealthGrades® (2012).

After being a patient, I can see why. I was able to go home a few days after having major heart surgery. And in no time, I was back at work and back to my self again. Although now, when my body tries to tell me something, I listen.

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october 2012 | $4

southwest michigan’s magazine

Small town newspaper keeps rolling

bonus!

when work is really a zoo

therapy farm effort growing guide book inside

Financial Advice for You on Your Road Through Life

publisher encore publications, inc. editor

marie lee copy editor

margaret deritter a part of

SM

designer

Anything but Common®

Jeff K. Ross

157 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Suite 300, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 • 269.385.0001 • www.jeffkrossfinancial.com Securities and Advisory Services Offered Through Commonwealth Financial Network • Member FINRA/SIPC, A Registered Investment Adviser

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Encore Magazine is published 9 times yearly, September through May. Copyright 2012, Encore Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Editorial, circulation and advertising correspondence should be sent to: www.encorekalamazoo.com 350 S. Burdick, Suite 214, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 Telephone: (269) 383-4433 Fax number: (269) 383-9767 E-mail: Publisher@encorekalamazoo.com

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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 $27, two years $53, three years $78. 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.

o c t o b e r 2012

features Climax Crescent A small-town newspaper thrives despite an uncertain media landscape.

22

Talk to the Animals Critters great and small keep Binder Park zookeepers hopping.

18

Sound Career WMU audio engineer John Campos is at home in the studio.

28

Up Front

6

Unlikely Pair Skin care conference blends holistic and medical approaches.

8

Good Works New organization cultivates therapy farm for autistic adults.

10

Update Catch up with George Hebben, former owner of the Athena Bookstore.

12

Photo Challenge You know you’ve seen it but where?

Solve our picture puzzler and win a gift certificate for the Nature Connection.

14

Savor Chef ’s table allows diners to be part of the culinary show.

SPecIAL Fall Parade of Homes Guide

41

Arts

32

Powerful Pastels Regional artists showcase works using “dry paint.”

33

Groundbreaking Spring WMU students take on touchy topics in performance of Broadway musical.

34 35

Poetry Events of Note

Departments

17 61 66 On the cover: Crystal and Bruce Rolfe on the porch of their home and business, the Climax Crescent. Photo by Erik Holladay.

First Glance Images by local photographers.

Massie’s Michigan Many a travel trailer rolled out

by Michigan manufacturers.

The Last Word It took 38 years, but a promise is kept.

up front encore

opposites Attract

by

Marie Lee

Skin care conference brings together medical and holistic approaches Natural products, such as those being applied here, as well as the science behind skin care will be the focus of the Holistic Skin Care Practitioners Conference in Kalamazoo.

t

hink of it as a bridge between two worlds.

When several hundred skin-care practitioners and aestheticians from around the U.S. converge on Kalamazoo Oct. 21 and 22 for the annual Association of Holistic Skin Care Practitioners Conference at the Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites, among the presenters and lecturers will be a well-known Grand Rapids plastic surgeon and New York dermatologist, Dr. Alan Dattner.

The words ‘plastic surgeon’ and ‘holistic’ don’t seem to belong in the same sentence, but as Elina Fedotova, CEO of Elina Organics and the association’s president, says, the conference is about “bringing together the best of both worlds.”

“Wise practitioners — medical and holistic — understand that you have to know about the science and practice on both sides,” she explains. “It’s about education.”

6 | EncorE october 2012

For example, Dr. Brad Bengtson, voted “Best Plastic Surgeon” by Grand Rapids Magazine readers, will focus on the newest non-surgical and natural corrective procedures that are being used in plastic surgery. Fedotova says that skin-care professionals need to know what the medical world is doing in order to respond to questions from their clients. “A client might come to you and say, ‘I’m considering Botox,’ and you have to be able to talk to them knowledgeably about that procedure as well as other options there may be,” she says.

Dermatologist Dattner is “the star of the conference,” says Fedotova. Dattner has employed holistic methods in his dermatology practice for more than 30 years and is considered a pioneer in the field. He will discuss his methods of treating inflammatory skin conditions with natural therapies.

Fedotova says she searched for many years to find someone of Dr. Dattner’s caliber and expertise to be a part of the conference.

“Dermatologists and holistic aestheticians tend to work in opposite ways. Some might say we’re considered enemies,” says Fedotova. “It was really important to find a dermatologist to speak at our conference, someone who shares our holistic beliefs and uses them successfully in his treatment of patients. It’s the perfect unity of medical and holistic practices.”

This is the conference’s fifth year, its fourth in Kalamazoo. Each year, the number of participants has grown, rising from 20 the first year to the more than 120 expected this year.

Fedotova credits the conference’s growth with a growing demand by consumers for natural and organic treatments for their ailments. A 2007 National Health Interview Survey showed that approximately 38 percent of adults use alternative therapies. A 2011 survey by the Organic Trade Association revealed that the growth in the natural and organic food industry grew from $1 billion in 1990 to $26.7 billion in 2010.

“Consumers are asking for more natural and safe options in everything from their food to their health care,” Fedotova says, noting that this especially true for skin care, where the negative side effects of popular acne-fighting drugs, such as Accutane, have been widely publicized.

That’s why, she says, the conference’s goal of “reaching across the aisle” to unite medical and holistic skin-care professionals is critically important.

“I think of those parents who have been told nothing except drugs and antibiotics are available to treat their children’s skin problems,” she says, “and how much comfort it would bring to them to hear a renowned dermatologist tell them that are other options. Holistic, safe options.“ And it’s Fedotova’s hope that in time, synergies between the medical and holistic worlds such as these will simply become natural.

encore up front

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See her incredible story or share your own at ThatsWhere.com.

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good works up front

by

Margaret Deritter

Goodbye, city life

Farm would offer peace, productivity to adults with autism

Margaret DeRitter

t

Tom Pinto takes a young goat from Liz Farner, a pediatrician who does farm therapy with three young men with autism.

he first time Tom Pinto met the cows on a local farm something strange happened.

“He did this thing where he walked a little bit like a cow, and all the cows turned and walked toward him,” says his mother, Cathy Pinto.

A woman who works at the farm had never seen anything like it. “I call him the Cow Whisperer,” says Dr. Liz Farner, a pediatrician who has done farm therapy with children and adults.

Pinto is one of three young men with autism who visit the Lake Village Homestead Farm Cooperative regularly to help Farner and others feed and water the animals, clean the chicken coops, tend the crops and sweep the barn.

“We all work together, and that’s usually something people with autism don’t do very well,” says Farner. But the peacefulness of the farm setting, the chance to interact with animals and the opportunity to learn new tasks and take responsibility for them have boosted the young men’s self-confidence and their ability to interact with others, she says.

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up front good works “Tom is like the poster child for farm therapy,” says Farner. “He’s nonverbal (which is not the case for everyone with autism), but he understands most things, and he has all the different chores down.

He’s part of the farm community, and you can tell that he gets that.

He’ll come up and shake people’s hands and say hi, and he really doesn’t do that in general.”

Cathy Pinto also attests to the changes in her son’s life: “When a person finds a profession and you just know it’s right, you say, ‘This is where I belong.’ That is the sense I have of Tom on the farm. If I could find a farm for him to live on tomorrow, I would do it.”

But the few residential farms in the U.S. for people with autism have long waiting lists, she says. “People come to these farms and never leave. They’re too happy to leave.”

That’s why Pinto, Farner and others have formed a nonprofit organization, AACORN Farm, to establish such a farm in Kalamazoo County.

(The acronym stands for Autism Agricultural Community Option for Residential Needs.)

The seed for AACORN Farm was planted about two years ago when Cindy Semark, another parent of a man with autism, put a blurb in the local Autism Society newsletter saying she was interested in having an agricultural community for adults with autism.

Pinto saw the blurb and called her. “We met at the McDonald’s in Schoolcraft,” says Pinto, “and we clicked. We said, ‘Let’s go with this and see what happens.’ We put the word out and had a meeting at a local church, and we filled the room.”

After that meeting, a group formed that became the AACORN Farm board. Pinto, Semark and Farner are among the seven board members, and so is Farner’s brother, Matthew, an attorney who has applied to the IRS for tax-exempt status for the group.

Although they can’t do much fundraising until this status is granted, they have begun looking at farm properties and educating

themselves on land and building costs, says Pinto. They hope to model their endeavor after Bittersweet Farms, near Whitehouse, Ohio, an 80-acre farm that offers both a residential program and day programs for adults with autism. It was established about 30 years ago, says Pinto, and was the first of its kind in the U.S., according to its website.

“I’ve been there,” says Pinto, “and Cindy went for a training there about a year ago. Liz and I and other board members plan to go and have the same training.”

The AACORN board also has joined a consortium of groups from around the country that already have or want to create similar farms in their communities. It’s called Agricultural Communities for Adults with Autism (ACAA). “We share best practices in the development of (these) communities,” says Pinto.

She says she is sometimes asked why AACORN Farm would be only for people with autism, and she explains that these individuals have unique needs because of their sensory difficulties with noise, bright lights and other strong stimuli.

Both Pinto and the ACAA website also emphasize that farms for adults with autism help weave these individuals into the fabric of their community as they contribute to community-supported agriculture and farmers’ markets and interact with volunteers who work on the farms.

Pinto says she plans for AACORN Farm “to really launch” in the next year and that the organization can definitely use volunteers, particularly someone who could help develop a business plan for the farm.

In the meantime, she continues to provide her son Tom with opportunities to work with the animals he loves: horses, pigs, chickens, goats and, of course, cows. “He loves the cows, and I don’t know what it is, but they love him back.”

www.encorekalamazoo.com | 9

updatE up front In celebration of its 40th year, Encore is taking a second look at some of those who have been featured within this magazine’s pages in the past. This month we catch up with George Hebben, former owner of the Athena Book Shop, who was profiled in Encore in 2002. by

Margaret Deritter

Erik Holladay

It’s ‘grandpa time’ for longtime bookseller

s

ix years ago George Hebben decided to close the Athena Book Shop, which he owned and operated in downtown Kalamazoo for 18 years. That decision was tough, but nothing in comparison to a tragedy that struck soon afterward.

“My wife Helen’s younger girl was killed in a car accident at the end of September that year. While I was sitting in my office composing the press release announcing the closing of the store is when I got the phone call about Emily.” She was 23.

10 | EncorE october 2012

Hebben says his Quaker faith helped him through that difficult period. And lately fellow Friends have helped him through another tough time, bringing him meals after his open heart surgery on June 25. “I went in to the doctor on the 21st, and they said, ‘Not only do you need surgery, but we’re not going to let you go home until you have the surgery.’”

Hebben, 71, says he’s doing well now and enjoying time with his grandchildren. In fact, they’re the main focus of his post-Athena life.

Historically active on stage, he hasn’t acted at the Kalamazoo Civic in “quite awhile,” although he did tech work for White Christmas last year. ”Most of my time anymore is grandpa time,” he says. The latest addition to the family, Piper Emily, was born in July to Helen’s other daughter, Sarah, 36, of Oregon.

“We got to see her and hold her and play with her when we were all in Richmond, Ind., (in late August) for a music fest,” says Hebben.

“Sarah’s husband was there to perform in his reggae band Everyday Prophets.”

Hebben’s daughter Jennifer, 34, and her sons, Salvador, 11, and Griffin, 7, live right next door to George and Helen in Cooper Township, in the house where Hebben lived for 40 years and Jennifer grew up. “Helen and I moved into a grandma and grandpa house next door last year,” says Hebben. On most Friday nights the boys stay overnight with George and Helen.

up front updatE For the past two years, Hebben has been living with his wife. That might not seem unusual, but George and Helen lived in separate states for 23 years of their married life. She retired two years ago from her job as a nutrition education supervisor for the Cornell Cooperative Extension Service, in New York State. “We’re learning to talk to each other.

It’s working out, I think,” Hebben joked.

Hebben’s first wife, Liz, whom he met while pursuing a library science degree at Western Michigan University, died in 1985. It was through her influence, he says, that he came to Quakerism. Hebben has attended the Kalamazoo Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends for 40 years and currently serves as treasurer.

One of the books he’s been reading lately is Enlivened by the Mystery: Quakers and God, a collection of essays, fiction and poetry. But he also has science and science fiction on the brain. Two of his other recent reads are the essay collection This Will Make You Smarter: New Scientific Concepts to Improve Your

Thinking and the new Walter Mosley book, Gift of Fire/On the Head of a Pin, two sci-fi tales. “A lot of people don’t know that Walter Moseley writes science fiction,” says Hebben, who also reads sci-fi magazines.

Hebben says he’s done a lot more reading since Athena closed than he did before. He was so busy running the store that it was hard to find time.

One thing he’s still proud of, he says, is how the Athena staff had the “ability to come up with an Uncle Charlie book. Someone would come into the story and say, ‘I need a book for my Uncle Charlie,’ and we would be able to recommend something that would be just the right thing.”

He is also happy that the store was able to provide a place for local authors to present readings of their works. “We had readings pretty much all the time,” he says. “That was an ongoing high point.”

Although his shop wasn’t able to survive a devastating time for independent bookstores, Hebben says he read recently that about as

many new ones are opening each year as old ones are closing. “The big closeout is over,” and it looks like independent bookstores will survive, albeit at lower numbers than in their heyday, he says. “Schuller’s is doing well in Grand Rapids. There’s a great independent bookstore in Traverse City, and I just stumbled into a nice one over in St. Joe. It reminded me very much of our store. It was very nice.”

By far, what he misses most about Athena is the people, he says. He sometimes sees old customers around town and every now and then sees former employee Susan Ramsey, who has a new poetry book out this month.

John Niessink, who also worked at Athena, is still in the Kalamazoo area too, as is Barb Vitt, who teaches at the Specialized Language Development Center, Hebben says.

“I’m real proud of what we did (at Athena).

And I say ‘we’ because it wasn’t just me.

Everyone made it happen.”

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up front pHoto cHaLLEngE

Where is this?

Tell us for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Nature Connection!

photo winner

1) Go to www.encorekalamazoo.com, and click on the Photo Challenge tab at the top.

Fill out the form and submit your answer; or 2) E-mail your answer to editor@encorekalamazoo.com. Type “Where is this” in the subject line. Include your name, address and telephone number; or 3) Mail your answer to Encore, 350 S. Burdick St. Ste. 214, Kalamazoo, MI 49007; include your contact information.

One entry per person. The winner will be chosen in a random drawing of correct entries.

Entries must be received by Oct. 15, 2012. The correct answer will be printed in our November issue and on Encore’s website beginning Nov. 1.

Erik Holladay

Congratulations to Kurt Todas of Kalamazoo, who correctly identified last month’s photo as the bike parking sign at the South Street parking ramp in downtown Kalmazoo.

He won a $25 gift certificate to Victorian Bakery!

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savor up front

by

Brian LaM

Courtesy / Zazios

Zazios’ chef’s table a feast for the senses

Chef John Korycki , left, is assisted at his chef’s table by special guest Green Bay wide receiver Greg Jennings.

chef John Korycki is a writer, director and choreographer and the star of his own cooking show. You won’t find him on cable, however.

Most nights, Korycki, executive chef at Zazios, an Italian restaurant in downtown Kalamazoo, can be found standing in front of a 14-seat dining enclave in the middle of the restaurant known as the chef’s table.

Patrons who reserve a seat at Zazios’ chef’s table get an up-close look at the preparation of a five-course, prix fixe (fixed price) meal made specifically for them.

Three remote-controlled cameras mounted on the ceiling look down at Korycki and the small cooking island he works from, which includes a grill, cutting board and prep table. In addition to cutting, cooking and sautéing, Korycki also controls the cameras above, pushing buttons under the prep table to zoom and switch angles based on what he’s preparing. At any time, diners can glance up at the screen for a top-down view of what is being made, but for most of the meal all eyes are on Korycki.

With his voice amplified by a lapel microphone, Korycki provides more than just a narrative of cooking instructions, he also tells the story of the meal.

“There are always stories behind the recipes,” he says. “There are Italian traditions, customs and history behind the regional Italian menu I select.

And, of course, I share my own personal stories almost every night.”

Korycki’s own culinary story begins with a bicycle. “The bike got me out of my neighborhood,” he says of his south Chicago upbringing. “It made 14 | EncorE october 2012

me realize that Chicago wasn’t as big as I had thought. Before my bike, heading to the beach seemed like a special summer vacation trip. After the bike, I realized I could get there whenever I wanted in just a half an hour.”

Trips to the lakefront turned into trips across the state and then to various parts of the U.S. He became a competitive cyclist, winning an Illinois State Championship and earning a spot in the 1987 National Championships. It was cycling that spurred his strong interest in food and nutrition. “My mom’s home cooking gave me a love of food,” he says, “but I never really understood the science of it until I began cycling competitively.”

Despite growing up on traditional Polish fare, Korycki was attracted to pasta because of its high-carbohydrate and low-fat qualities, which he needed for racing. In order to control his nutritional intake, the cyclist committed to preparing his own meals.

“I was working mornings to support my cycling and training evenings. During my downtime, or over lunch, I would watch cooking shows,” he says.

These led him to a new passion, and he enrolled at the Kendall College School of Culinary Arts, in Chicago. While at Kendall, he landed a job at Chicago’s esteemed Spiaggia, and from then on it was all about Italy.

up front savor “The cuisine of Italy blew me away,” says Korycki. “I started tasting real olive oils and authentic balsamic. I decided to make a focused study of Italian cuisine.”

Korycki made several extended trips to Italy to work guest stints in Italian restaurants.

In his past 20 years as a chef, he has opened four Italian restaurants as the executive chef, including Zazios in 2004.

“I was at an Italian restaurant in Kansas City when I got a call about a restaurant in Kalamazoo that was going to feature a chef’s table,” recalls Korycki. “This was an exciting prospect, and I was also drawn to the fact that they wanted to focus on authentic Italian. No red-checkered tablecloths.”

The other big incentive for the move was his in-laws, who live in Alma, Mich. Stacy, John’s wife since his time at Spiaggia and a Michigan native, was elated by the idea that her parents wouldn’t have to board a plane to see their grandchildren anymore.

Korycki sent some footage of his apperances on cooking shows and morning shows, then

headed to Kalamazoo to see the restaurant.

He was immediately taken with its layout and the possibilities of the chef’s table.

“I had seen a lot of chef’s tables in Chicago,” he says, “and usually they’re literally a table that sits back in the kitchen. The chef may make a special item for the table, but they mostly just watch the kitchen run its course.

Zazios’ method is much more engaging.

“I get to engage with the people at the chef’s table. Unlike traditional chef’s tables, they get to ask questions and be a part of the experience. There’s a lot of great banter with the guests.”

Many of those guests have become chef’s table regulars with whom Korycki has developed relationships that involve culinary expeditions to Italy. Each year for the last several years, he has led groups he calls “Friends of Zazios” to different areas of Italy for cuisine-focused vacations. Participants have to reserve their spot almost a year in advance; the openings for this year’s trip are already filled.

The other relationships the culinary veteran fosters are with local growers. Korycki is adamant about using local meats and produce and knows the farmer and the farm of every locally grown tomato and blueberry and lamb he serves. “The cuisine is Italian,” he says, “but the ingredients are Michigan.”

Well, mostly. Each month Korycki focuses on one of the 20 regions of Italy. Many of the cheeses and oils he uses for his dishes come specifically from that region. “Real ParmigianoReggiano must come from a specific area in Italy by law,” he explains. He also offers wine pairings using wines made by the grape growers of the featured region.

Even after eight years at Zazios, Korycki is still a little surprised by how easy it is to converse with Zazios’ patrons.

“I’m just a shy Polish guy from Chicago,” he says, “but when I get in that kitchen and start talking about Italy and Italian cuisine, I can go on all day.”

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See page 37 to learn more about this image and the photgrapher.

native to Argentina, is the fourth largest rodent in the world, she explains. “Some people say it looks like a kangaroo, others say it looks like a rabbit, and some say it looks like a deer.”

Pushie is one of 18 keepers at Binder Park Zoo. She and one other keeper care for the maras and macaws, iguana and tamarins, plus a pair of snow leopards, all of the animals used in educational programs and the Burmese pythons, frogs, turtles, salamanders and toads in the Conservation Discovery Center.

“Chris (Gertiser), the other zookeeper, knows a lot about ‘herps,’” says Pushie, using zookeeper lingo for amphibians and reptiles. “I’m learning more and more from him.”

This is 25-year-old Pushie’s second year as a keeper at the Battle Creek zoo. A graduate of Loy Norrix High school, she studied mammals at Michigan State University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in zoology, with a concentration in zoo and aquarium science. She grew up going to Binder Park Zoo, so, when it was time to do an internship, she applied there and was thrilled to be accepted. The internship led to a full-time position in April 2011.

Pushie says she’s always loved animals but didn’t want to become a vet — Caring for mainly because of all the schooling increatures is volved. “I wanted to go right into the field labor of love and have a lot of contact with animals.” Of for zoo staff all the animals she tends, snow leopards and “herps” are her favorites.

by Margaret Deritter In a glass case two Burmese pythons lie wrapped around each other. The bright yellow one is a female named Sierra who’s 8 or 9 feet long and weighs about 80 pounds. The tan one, Neinder Park zookeeper Megan Pushie’s starts her workday vada, who’s about 10 feet long, weighs in at 100 pounds. Sierra at 7 a.m., meeting with other zookeepers, doling out breakfast is sometimes taken out for educational programs. “She’s a lot easier to handle, but it still takes a couple of people because of and putting animals on exhibit.

As she walks briskly from the zoo office to the Conservation how much she weighs,” says Pushie.

After feeding crickets to six blue poison frogs — “They get Discovery Center, a kookaburra makes a racket, like a small plane taking off. It’s just after 9 a.m., and red pandas are hanging about 20 to 30 each,” she says, shaking the crickets loose — and quietly in tree branches. No visitors are in sight, and only one a Panamanian golden frog, Pushie moves on to the glass case prairie dog pops up from a giant mound of dirt. “We really have of the Colorado River Toads, the largest native toad in the U.S. She grabs their water bowl and refills it as the three toads hide no idea how many there are under there,” says Pushie.

Along the same path are creatures that look like small kanga- under greenery. Three days a week they get a special treat: the roos. “Those are the Patagonian maras,” says Pushie. The mara, larvae of beetles.

B

Keeper Megan Pushie holds an African gray parrot used for education programs at Binder Park Zoo.

18 | EncorE october 2012

Mike Lanka

At the back of the room are two walls where visitors arrived from Alaska in mid-July; and three black and can push buttons to hear birdcalls and frog sounds. The white ruffed lemur babies born in late April. bird wall turns out to be a “magic door” leading to a stor“The first weekend the black bears went on exhibit age room. Pushie opens it and gives cleaning and feeding 4,500 people came,” says Pushie. “That is definitely busier instructions to intern Melissa Erickson, a 20-something than a typical weekend.” graduate of Northland College in Wisconsin.

Even though it’s only her second year as a zookeeper, Petting a kinkajou Pushie is already helping to teach interns what keepers On this day it’s a balmy 70 to 75, and a short walk takes need to know. “A lot of us are pretty new here,” Pushie says.

Pushie and Erickson to their next stop: the Animal Care A long tenure is 15 years, she says.

Center, where animals used in educational programs live.

In the summer the zoo has about 10 interns, who get Inside the ACC, Pushie takes a kinkajou named Julie out a chance to cycle through all areas of the zoo instead of of her cage. Julie is about the size of a cat, likes to be working just with primates, petted and holds herself on for example, as they might Pushie’s arm much like a cat at a larger zoo. would. Her fur is soft but a Pushie tries to give Erickbit coarser than cat hair, and son plenty of responsibility her face looks like a cross beand share the grunt work. tween a dog, a squirrel and “Megan’s a good teacher,” those big-eyed kids in 1960s says Erickson. “I’m getting paintings. Kinkajous, related to raccoons, are native to lots of experience.”

In the summer Pushie South American rain forests. works four 10-hour days Julie, who’s estimated to be and some 12-hour Saturdays. in her mid-20s, would be reAfter work, the zookeepers ally old for a cat, but she’s sometimes gather at The middle-aged for her species.

Moonraker restaurant and Kinkajous can live to about bar, a few miles down the 40 years in captivity. road.

In a side room, Pushie looks e use species that are pretty This summer provided in on a smooth-sided toad docile (for the education more need than normal for with a small scratch on her programs),” says Pushie. “They’re the keepers to unwind. Excornea. “She has to get eyetreme heat made it challengdrops every couple of hours,” used to being handled because ing to keep the animals cool.

Pushie says. The injury was the education staff works with The keepers gave the big discovered because the toad them a lot.” animals blocks of ice and the was keeping one eye closed small animals ice cubes with the previous week. “The vet treats like grapes inside. stained her eye and could see They also ran misters in evthere was a small cut on it.” ery exhibit and provided a “cooling rock” for the snow The other animals who live in the building include parleopards, a cement slab with cool water running through rots, doves, chinchillas, snakes, tortoises, a two-toed sloth, it. “The leopards have really thick fur,” says Pushie. hedgehog, screech owl, kookaburra, iguana, opossum, “They’re not made for this climate.” domestic rabbit and fennec fox, a small desert species Sometimes the keepers felt they weren’t either. “We that makes a barking sound like that of a small dog. The would take breaks in air-conditioned and walk through owl, which has only one eye, was rescued after being hit the misters and try to stay hdrated,” says Pushie. “I’m by a car and can’t be released back into the wild. surprised at how many people come to the zoo even when “We use species that are pretty docile (for the educait’s 100 degrees.” tion programs),” says Pushie. “They’re used to being hanThe zoo has several new babies to help draw crowds: a dled because the education staff works with them a lot.” giraffe born in mid-May; three orphaned bear cubs who In the summer the zoo has four full-time educators and

“W

Mike Lanka

10 seasonal ones. Even after the zoo closes for the season which involves scrubbing cages, takes Pushie up to two-and(the last day this year is Oct. 7), the full-timers bring the a-half hours a day. “Usually it’s a two-person job,” she says. animals to schools, libraries and other outreach programs When the cleaning is done, Pushie feeds the animals that and use them for on-site programs and birthday parties. get lunch. Cooper, the fennec fox, gets breakfast, lunch and Two of these educators are Amanda McFarlin and dinner. So does Bruno, the opossum. Potter, the rabbit, gets Amanda Bailiff. Bailiff, who grew up in Lansing, has been only one meal a day, around noon, but the kinkajous, hedgeworking at Binder Park for four years and says her job is a hog and sloth get only dinner. “Kinkajous are nocturnal so I dream come true. “I was a Zoo Teen (volunteer) here back feed them just before I leave for the day, and they eat when in the day and was always hoping I’d get a job here.” they wake up,” says Pushie. Although opossums are nocturMcFarlin, of Augusta, is an animal trainer who has nal too, “Bruno is young and still growing so that’s why he worked with dolphins and sea lions at Florida’s Gulfarium. gets three meals a day.”

She has a bachelor’s degree in biology and has worked After lunch, Pushie fills out feed charts documenting what at Binder Park about three the animals have eaten. “Not all years. zoos do this,” she says, “but it’s a When asked which of the good way to keep track of the anieducation animals are most mals’ health, and it’s helpful in popular, McFarlin says par communicating with the other rots. “They’re a big hit keepers.” because they can talk.”

In the room next door to the Bailiff says the sloth is animals, commissary keeper Kelly also popular “because it’s a Reynolds is preparing food. She bigger animal and it’s got a came to the zoo three years ago really big ‘wow’ factor.” But with a lot of restaurant and foodthe animals can be a lot like prep experience. So how does her children who throw tancurrent job compare to the othtrums, Bailiff adds. “If they ers? “I love it,” she says. “The anidon’t want to do somemals don’t talk back.” thing, they don’t do it.”

Of course, there are a lot more It’s McFarlin’s job to get species to serve at a zoo than a restaurant, so Reynolds had a the animals used to being ut the animals can be a lot steep learning curve. A loose-leaf held and shown in front of like children who throw tantrums, diet book helped her learn the large crowds. “It’s all postive Bailiff says. “If they don’t want to animals’ needs. Monkeys, for exreinforcement,” she says. do something, they don’t do it.” ample, can eat kale, but it’s toxic “We break it into tiny little for turtles and tortoises. Giraffes steps and reward them get pellets of grain and hay that (with treats) before moving on to another goal.” are high in fiber and enriched with vitamins. They also love Romaine First, the trainer tries to lettuce, which the public gets to build a one-on-one relafeed them. Their long, purple tongues reach out eagerly for tionship with an animal so that animal and human begin to trust each other. Then the trainer gets the animal comthe lettuce and will even wrap around a finger to let a person fortable moving onto a gloved hand or a perch. Next the know they want more. animal is introduced to one or two other people, and over Most of the produce the animals eat is raw, but for two time to bigger groups. “We judge how comfortable they “very old” gibbons — 40 and 41 years old — “I steam their are by their behavior and body language,” says McFarlin. hard veggies,” says Reynolds.

She says a lot of people are under the misconception that the zoo feeds leftover produce to the animals. “We don’t ever not as glamorous do that. I don’t want to take a chance of the animals getting The trainers’ jobs seem much more glamorous than sick,” says Reynolds. But she is happy to accept donations the keepers. Much of what a zookeeper does is cleaning of fresh produce from the staff. “I get a lot of zucchini in and feeding. Cleaning the Animal Care Center by herself,

B

(continued on page 26)

www.encorekalamazoo.com | 21

ClimaxCrescent keeps on rolling I 100 years in print

by

Kaye Bennett

n its 100 years, the Climax Crescent weekly newspaper has been owned, published, edited and produced by just three couples. Despite fire, balky equipment, technological revolutions, the vagaries of the economy and, most recently, a totally changed media climate, the Crescent, to the best of everyone’s memory, has never missed a week of publication in that century.

And in an age when an electronic world declares the death of print, there’s more than a history lesson in how those six people, along with a battalion of their children, grandchildren, parents, assorted other relatives and visitors, have managed to continue the flow of local news to tiny Climax (pop. 791).

Starting with nothing (not even electricity, which was still four years in the future for Climax), a 21-year-old aspiring newspaperman named Herbert Smith bought a print shop in Climax sight unseen in 1912. When he did see it, he found that anything in the shop that wasn’t broken was obsolete.

But he worked hard, and the Crescent debuted on Oct. 18, 1912. Three years later, Herb married Mary Wolcott, and they spent the next 40 years putting out the paper. Herb and Mary’s son Ray had grown up helping with the Crescent, and, after getting out of the Navy, Ray joined the business in 1946.

In 1957 Ray and his wife, Kate, purchased the paper from Herb and Mary. Ray and Kate ran the Crescent until 1990, when they sold it to current owners Bruce and Crystal Rolfe.

Since Ray grew up in a newspaper family, one of his childhood chores was to sweep up metal shavings from the floor, then put them together with odd pieces of metal from the

22 | EncorE october 2012

linotype machine into a big pot in the basement. The metal (a combination of lead, tin and antimony) was melted, and Ray skimmed off the impurities that floated to the top. Then the metal was molded into bars, called “pigs,” to be used for typesetting of the next week’s paper. Smith remembers that sometimes his parents would wrap up some of the heavy pigs in Christmas paper and put them under the Yule tree, in an effort to convince their children not to shake their presents to try to figure out what was inside.

Smith, who is 93 now (Kate died in 2003), came back to Climax after World War II. Having served on a destroyer that saw more than its share of action before being attacked and destroyed by kamikazes in Okinawa in 1945, and having earned a chestful of medals, including a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star, Smith was looking for some quiet. “I was pretty content to come back to little old Climax,” he says.

He and Kate moved into a house just a block from the Crescent office, where his folks lived. For the next few years, the younger Smiths helped the older Smiths with the paper, and then, in 1953, they switched places — literally. They traded homes, with Ray and Kate moving into the big house and taking over primary responsibility for the paper, and Herb and Mary moving into the smaller house and transitioning into retirement. Heart problems in 1985, Ray says, “took away the desire and the ability to work the late nights

Erik Holladay

Climax Crescent owners Bruce and Crystal Rolfe have worked together to put out the weekly newspaper since 1990. Opposite page, the first issue of the Crescent from Oct. 18, 1912.

and long hours.” So Ray began looking for a successor. “When Bruce and Crystal showed a desire,” Smith says, “it answered a prayer.” Then he laughs and says, “I think Crystal fell in love with the house.”

One of the first lessons the Rolfes learned about owning a weekly newspaper was the challenge of working with historic equipment.

The Smiths had purchased a Royal Zenith press in 1969; this was what Bruce Rolfe learned to print the paper on, but he says it was never easy. Many of the Crescent’s readers, he believes, got to know their new editor by walking past the newspaper office on Thursday afternoons and hearing him yelling at the uncooperative press. “That press ... ,” Bruce says ruefully. “I never cursed so much in my life.”

(Ray Smith knew that Bruce would struggle with the Zenith: “I told him I’d help him for one year on press day for nothing.”) When the repairman, a regular at the Crescent office for years, could no longer find parts to fix the old Zenith, the Rolfes knew it was time to seek an alternative..

The printing process and, in turn, the Rolfes’ time schedule changed dramatically in 2003, when they began sending the paper to J-Ad Graphics in Hastings to be printed. In the old days, says Bruce, he and Crystal and any family members they could lure with the promise of dinner would work Wednesdays and Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., printing, folding and labeling the papers and getting them ready to go out in the mail on Friday morning. These days it takes five minutes on the computer to upload the paper to the J-Ad site; then it takes the printer a half hour to complete the run. Bruce and Crystal take turns driving to Hastings to pick up the finished product each week.

In addition to the newsprint version of the Crescent, which the Rolfes believe the core of their readership prefers, the Crescent has a website, www.theclimaxcrescent.com. The Rolfes are experimenting with a new strategy on the site. Instead of referring readers of the hard copy to the website for more details, the Crescent’s website prints story leads and photos, then a suggestion that, to read the complete story, readers should buy the newspaper. Bruce says that the jury’s still out on whether or not they might pick up a few new subscribers this way.

A huge part of the Crescent’s story is tied to its building. For the first 14 years of its publication, the Crescent office was in the Ide building, on the main four corners of Climax. Then, in 1926, the Smiths purchased the old Hotel Northern, built in 1879. The Herbert

24 | EncorE october 2012

Smiths, then the Ray Smiths, and now the Rolfes use part of the 4,200 square feet of the house as a newspaper office, with the rest serving as the family home. All the Smith children — both generations — grew up in the house (the Rolfes have saved the door trim where children’s growth was measured and recorded each year), and Ray and Kate Smith were married there in 1942.

Soon after moving in, Bruce and Crystal began renovating the residential side of the building. They wanted to make it more modern and comfortable but also wanted to honor the building’s history. As they tore out walls, the Rolfes could see evidence of a fire, which had severely damaged the building in 1936. Today the house combines modern conveniences with such touches as unrestored doors from the old hotel rooms.

But the Rolfes never thought they’d remodel the business side of the building. Until, that is, the antique safe on the first floor began to jeopardize the whole structure. The 1,200-pound safe was causing the foundation in the Michigan basement to crumble. The Rolfes were warned that if the weight-bearing pole were to fall, the whole building would collapse. They quickly hired a mover to relocate the safe from the house to the garage, and renovations began, coinciding nicely with the paper’s centennial. Today the Crescent office is a brighter, more comfortable work area, with historic artifacts and photos giving a glimpse into its past, and it is in no danger of collapse.

Bruce and Crystal Rolfe say that having their home and their business in the same building, with a shared phone number, has its plusses and minuses. “You can work in your pajamas,” says Bruce, but people are always coming to the door with newspaper-related questions.

The Rolfes have a fairly clear division of duties at the newspaper, which averages 24 pages a week, is printed in color a few times a year and has about 1,000 subscribers. Crystal is the secretary and treasurer, sending out bills and making payments. She also designs the ads and does the layout but occasionally writes a story, and it’s her job to put in the weekly recipes.

Bruce is the paper’s writer and editor, often referred to around town as “Scoop.” (Crystal is occasionally called “Mrs. Scoop.”) Bruce covers every school board, township and village council meeting, and he attends all of the school district’s home athletic events. He says he used to attend all away sports events, too, but has had to scale back.

Like the two generations of Smiths before them, Bruce and Crystal

Rolfe have discovered the ups and downs of working so closely with a spouse. “You learn to accept and depend on each other more,” Bruce says, “mostly because there is no one else to blame if something isn’t done right. And when you do argue, you learn to make up faster, especially if it is a paper night.”

Bruce, 52, graduated from Vicksburg High School in 1979 and from Western Michigan University in 1984, with a degree in communication.

Crystal, 51, graduated from Colon High School in 1979 (when she was Crystal Inman) and from Spring Arbor College in 1983, with a degree in art and music. Both had worked in newspapers from the time they were children, in jobs ranging from carrier to sports writer.

They met in 1985, while both were working at the Three Rivers Commercial-News. They married in 1987 and bought the Crescent and in 1990 moved to Climax. Though neither had grown up in Climax, they did have ties to the village. Bruce’s paternal grandparents and greatgrandparents were both from Climax. As a child, his dad, Larry Rolfe, who now lives in Vicksburg, was paid a penny a story by the Smiths to go door to door asking people if they had any news for the Crescent.

Putting out a newspaper may be the job of a couple, but doing it successfully over a long period of time requires a lot of help. Bruce and Crystal Rolfe say that, through the years, they have received tremendous support from subscribers and advertisers in the Climax community and surrounding area. They’ve also had help from other newspaper people, including their predecessors at the Crescent, Ray and Kate Smith, and their own families.

The Rolfes appreciate the benefits of modern technology. With laptops, they’re able to spend time at their lake home in Brimley, six hours away from Climax, without missing a beat or a deadline. But some changes are more melancholy. The Rolfes “don’t know everybody in town anymore,” Crystal says. They hope that newcomers and youngsters develop the same loyalty previous generations have had, both to the town and to the Crescent., “If you don’t support local businesses and the local newspaper, someday they’ll be gone,” Crystal observes.

What the future will bring for newspapers is of equal interest to the Michigan Press Association. According to Mike MacLaren, the MPA’s executive director, there are about 250 hard-copy weekly newspapers in Michigan today, with others available only online. MacLaren says that local weeklies are where the “sweet spot” is in print news today.

Daily papers and broadcast media are “not weathering the Internet web storm so well. Everybody’s trying to reinvent themselves.”

However, hyper-local community papers like the Climax Crescent are filling a need. “People want to know what’s going on,” MacLaren says, “and traditionally nobody has covered that like the local weeklies.”

MacLaren is also optimistic about the future of print media but acknowledges that things are changing rapidly in the news business.

“It’s the wild, wild West right now,” he says. “The Internet has put it on its head.”

Nevertheless, he says that there is and will continue to be a need for local news providers.

Sue Moore, 74, of Vicksburg is more aware than most people of the role of local weekly newspapers and the problems that can arise when a village paper disappears.

Vicksburg’s local paper, the Commercial-Express, was started by John Pennfield in 1879. Pennfield and, after his death, his widow Vera ran the paper until Moore’s parents, Meredith and Bernice Clark, bought it in 1947. Moore grew up helping with the paper, then majored in journalism at Michigan State University. The Clarks owned the Commercial-Express until 1977, after which it went through a number of owners, including Moore herself. In 2007, the Commercial-Express was sold to the Kalamazoo Gazette, which ceased publishing it earlier this year.

Moore has seen firsthand how the lack of a local paper has affected the community this year. Ticket sales for local shows such as Rotary’s annual Showboat have dropped off, and the Lions Club struggled to publicize its annual Summer Festival.

“It’s hard to put on any kind of event and have it succeed,” says Moore. “Everybody is trying to figure out how to connect with the public.”

When the Gazette ceased publication of the Vicksburg paper in February, the Vicksburg Historical Society purchased the CommercialExpress name from the Gazette parent company. Moore says the Historical Society is assessing whether or not the community feels the need for a local paper, as she does.

“I believe that a community isn’t really a community without a newspaper,” says Moore.

Bruce and Crystal Rolfe would agree completely.

Scenes from 100 years, from far left: Herb and Mary Smith started the Crescent in 1912; equipment from the early days is still in the Crescent office; Ray Smith on the troublesome Royal Zenith press; Crystal and Bruce visit with Climax resident Shannon Dennis; and Ray, left, and Herb on the Linotype machine.

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the summer, let me just say that.” And OCTOBER 2012 the public can donate nuts, whole-grain pasta, raisins and dried cranberries. “The animals love that stuff,” says Reynolds.

Reynolds prepares special treats for the animals once a week or so. For the carnivores, she’ll make chili with blood instead of tomato juice. The colobus monkeys enjoy garlic and onions. All of the primates like pasta and mashed potatoes.

training the leoPards It’s now 1 p.m. and time for Pushie to do a snow leopard training demonstration.

Pushie gets some raw meatballs and heads over to the snow leopard exhibit, which features a female named Lotus and a male named Tankh. At the back entrance to the exhibit, she pushes up a little flap of wood to peek in and make sure the leopards have not gotten into the area she will enter.

“The snow leopards are the most dangerous animals in the zoo. I never have full contact with them. The closest I get is one layer of fencing between me and them. There’s a series of guillotine doors and chutes out to the exhibit.”

Out in the public area, a docent is telling visitors about the leopards. “In the wild, they can bring down a 200-pound mountain sheep and drag it back to their lair,” he says.

Pushie appears and tries to coax Lotus into the pen by opening and closing a guillotine door a few times — a signal that food is available. The two leopards have been lying in the shade and don’t seem eager to move. For a while it seems as if the day’s demonstration will be a bust.

But then, as Pushie walks outside a fence at the back of the exhibit, Lotus begins to stroll toward the pen.

Tankh is new at the zoo and not used to working with people, say Erickson, but “Lotus is more food-motivated.”

Pushie uses a tennis ball on a stick to get Lotus’ attention and move her around — a process called targeting. When the leopard does what she wants, Pushie uses a clicker to indicate “well done.” Then Pushie gets out the meatballs. With a gloved right hand, she moves her fingers

away from her thumb in a gesture meaning, “Open wide.” Lotus bares her teeth and gets her treat.

The training exercises are aimed at making it easier to observe and treat the leopards. When the animals come into the pen, the staff can take blood and do vaccinations through the fence. When they put their paws on the fence, the keepers can make sure their pads are in good shape and clip their nails. And if they can be trained to open their mouths on command, then a vet wouldn’t have to anesthetize them to examine their teeth.

PrePPing for winter When the zoo closes for all but special events this month, the zookeepers have the challenge of prepping the animals for winter. While snow leopards and the red pandas will welcome the colder weather, other animals require special care. The giraffes, for example, will spend the winter indoors. They can be outside only when it’s 50 degrees and above. Wallabies and kangaroos have open holding areas, but the zookeepers use heat lamps and hay bales to keep them warm. “They don’t need heating 24 hours a day like the giraffes,” says Pushie.

All in all, it doesn’t take much work to get ready for winter, Pushie says. It’s mainly moving domestic animals into the barn, one species at a time. When it comes to moving the birds from an aviary to a barn, however, “it’s pretty comical,” says zookeeper Kaylee Kernstock. “We lure some at night with food, and then we have to catch the rest with nets.”

Once winter settles in, the zoo will fade from the public’s consciousness, but the keepers will keep on doing what they always do: cleaning, feeding, training and talking to the animals.

When the zoo reopens next spring, the baby giraffe who’s about 7 feet tall now will likely be a foot or two taller, which will be about half of his adult height, says Jenny Barnett, director of wildlife management. Those bear cubs that came to the zoo at about 30 pounds could be as large as 100 pounds. And who knows? Maybe Tankh will have made his way into the leopard training pen and Lotus will open her mouth wide for meatballs.

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up front encore

by

Kaye Bennett

J

ohn Campos has seen massive changes in the recording industry and its technology during his 25 years as director of Western Michigan University’s sound studio.

“Things the Beatles could only have dreamed of,” he says, “are now available for free to anybody with a laptop computer.”

But while there’s a definite role for it, that laptop will never produce the sound that Campos and other professional sound engineers can. The reason is not just the equipment, but the education and experience and, yes, the instinct. Here’s how John Campos developed all of the above.

As a result of the Spanish civil war, his parents, José Luis Campos and Margarita Costero, emigrated from Spain to Mexico, where they met and married. In Mexico, José Luis trained to be a physician, then came to the United States to specialize in radiation-oncology. He and Margarita moved to Ann Arbor in 1962, and that’s where their son John, their third child, was born and would spend the first 11 years of his life.

In 1974, Dr. Campos came to Kalamazoo to go into private practice, and his wife became a Spanish teacher, first at Hackett Catholic Central High School, then at WMU, and finally at Kalamazoo College. Both are retired now.

The Campos family was a busy one. All six of the Campos children were musical. John’s instrument was the violin, and his family found a superb instructor for him: Barry Ross, at that time professor of music at Kalamazoo College and concertmaster of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. Campos says that Ross “... was kind enough to take a not particularly dedicated student at the time.”

28 | EncorE october 2012

Though he loved to play music, Campos didn’t want to make that his career. “I knew I didn’t want to travel and play for a living,” he says. “As a kid, all I wanted to do was listen to records.”

A self-admitted underachiever as a youngster, Campos was passionate about vinyl records. “As a kid, all I wanted to do was listen to records. I have a soft spot in my heart for all the kids who didn’t perform well in high school.”

When Campos discovered that he could learn how to make records for a living and major in the subject closest to his heart, his academic career turned around.

After graduating from Loy Norrix High School in 1980, Campos attended WMU for two years, then started searching for a school where he could get a degree in audio engineering.

encore ARTS

joHn campos arts At the time, there were only a handful of schools in the country that offered such programs. Campos chose Berklee College of Music, in Boston. His bachelor’s degree would be in music, with a concentration in violin, but his major was music production and engineering.

“Berklee was a great place for me,” says Campos.

He had excellent teachers and “dove deep into audio.”

The underperforming kid had found his niche: In 1986, Campos graduated from Berklee summa cum laude.

Campos’ first job after Berklee was in Chicago. He applied for a staff position at Streeterville Studios, which had more than 500 resumes on file and was not hiring.

But Campos met with Streeterville’s chief engineer, chatted for hours and was offered a job — a job that turned out to be, says Campos, “great training, but unsatisfying musically.”

For the next year he spent at least 80 hours a week recording mostly television and radio jingles, but not much music.

“I had no desire to spend my life making Montgomery Ward spots,” he says.

Enter, once again, Barry Ross.

WMU’s School of Music needed a sound engineer, Ross told Campos’ mother.

Why didn’t John apply for the job?

Campos did, immediately. He interviewed, was hired and found himself the sole employee of a department that didn’t yet exist. The sound studio had only been open for two years, then had been closed for two years. It didn’t have much equipment — a real deficit in a sound studio. “It needed to be built from the ground up,” says Campos.

And, oh yes, as part of the job, WMU would also need Campos to teach classes in audio engineering and production. That was a surprise, as Campos had never seen himself as a teacher. “It’s not what I came here to do,” he says, “but it’s my favorite part.”

He teaches a sequence of four classes and has had the opportunity to develop the audio-production program and “work with passionate people who feel the same way I do about records.” Campos also reports that many of his closest friends today are former students and that people he’s met through the classes he teaches are employed in all phases of music, from bands to studios to film companies.

The department that has developed since Campos was hired back in 1987 — which now includes office manager and staff engineer Bryan Heany (“a treasure,” says Campos) and a handful of student workers — is self-sustaining.

30 | EncorE october 2012

With no university funding, the unit covers its annual operating budget of about $35,000 by charging the performers it records.

In addition to such WMU-based performers as the University Symphonic Band, Chorale, marching band, Gold Company, faculty members and students, the department provides its services to local bands and local venues.

Recording musicians can be challenging. For one thing, says Campos, “the hours are crazy.” Most musicians don’t want to work in the morning, so the audio engineer’s days often start late and may not end until 3 a.m. Another challenge is the outrageous requests performers may make — ranging from what they want to wear to what they want to drink — while they are being recorded.

Among the hardest to deal with, says violin major Campos, are the string players.

“Violinists are notoriously cranky if they have to wear headsets,” he says.

However, the engineer’s job is to put performers at ease. “The studio is intimidating,” says Campos, “and most performers don’t get that many chances to be in a studio.”

Campos says that some performers thrive in the recording studio while others never take to it. To be a good studio musician, an artist needs a lot of practice there. The stress for many of them, says Campos, is that the recording doesn’t disappear.

Anything that happens on the concert stage — good or bad — is over in an instant; the permanence of a recording is intimidating for many musicians.

That permanence and the retrievability of recordings have been profoundly enhanced by the changes in sound-engineering technology that John Campos has seen over the past decades.

“In the late ’80s,” says Campos, “it was nearly impossible to record yourself. Now, high-quality recording gear is available for a few hundred dollars.”

That, he warns, can be a good thing or a bad thing. Campos says he advises musicians to invest those few hundred dollars and record themselves because it’s important that they hear what they sound like.

But, on the downside, he says, “it’s wiping out sound studios.” And it’s the trained and experienced sound recordists, working on studio equipment, that provide the top-quality recordings that good musicians want and listeners deserve.

“I tell my students that if they want to do (sound recording) professionally, they need to provide sound and service better than the clients can do themselves. There is no way around the study and the hours that go into developing that skill,” Campos says.

Part of the skill is knowing just when to use the magic of digital technology and when to back off. People have so many options, Campos says, that they’re likely to make poor choices, such as using too much instrumentation or over-editing. He tells students, “Just because you have a roomful of tools, you shouldn’t brush your teeth

with a power drill.” When amateur engineers try to fix problems with a computer, “it can end up sounding like a machine.”

In the old days of analog recording, people tried to perfect their recordings by getting the best musicians available. “What made Motown sound fantastic was, in large part, the magical rhythm section,” Campos says.

The ideal recording, he says, is a blend of appropriate technology and the best musicians. What makes a string section in an orchestra sound full and rich is not perfection in that every instrument sounds just alike, but “the micro differences in intonation.”

“That’s what makes it sound great,” says Campos.

Campos’ own musicianship has not been limited to the violin. He started playing mandolin when high school friends wanted to start a bluegrass band. It was an easy transition for a kid who’d long studied violin and the beginning of a relationship with the instrument that Campos plays today in the popular local acoustic group The Corn Fed Girls (see below).

After college, Campos says, he was so busy with his production career that he didn’t play a note for 12 years. He was devoting himself to getting the WMU sound studio up and rolling, but “it was a shame for my music.”

At long last, however, Campos returned to the strings, working with friends to start first the Sun Dog band, then King Strang. Campos describes his return to per-

forming as “super-satisfying” and says that fellow band members were patient with him as he got back into the swing of making music rather than recording it. He found still another creative outlet in writing songs.

“Once I started playing again , I realized how important itwas to me.”

These days, Campos’ home on Short Road is filled with music. His three children are all musical: Elena, 23, studied drums, and Mary, 21, piano, and 7-year-old Rafael plays guitar. In addition, Campos’ musician friends often join in for house concerts and music-playing parties. Campos says the parties were the brainchild of his ex-wife, Mechele Peters. They were a magnificent idea, he says, because “if you want to be among a creative community of people, you need to foster it.”

There is no shortage of talent in the local creative community, says Campos. Best of all, he says, is the lack of competitiveness among musicians.

“Everyone wants to help each other out with projects.”

By shunning television and video games, Campos manages to find time to do some gardening and canning the produce that results. “The woods and my garden are a source of endless inspiration.”

But most of Campos’ life still revolves around music — making it, writing it and recording it. He describes his goal in life: “I want to play music I believe in with people I believe in at places where I want to play.” He’s content that he’s found and helped build a community of musicians who share that dream.

CornFedGirls: A band with a bluegrass pedigree

W

hen John Campos joined the Corn Fed Girls, the group had already been around for five years. With a name that comes from a line in a Doc Watson song, the group was started in 1997 by Darcy Sahlgren Wilkin, Ira Cohen, Sarah Halsey Fuerst, Phil Barry and Rob Cookman.

Its roots are deep in bluegrass: Wilkin’s dad, Mark Sahlgren, and Fuerst’s dad, Bill Halsey, were members of the longtime local group Sweetcorn String Band. Darcy and Sarah grew up together hearing their dads play and absorbing the sound.

Today, the band consists of Wilkin (guitar and banjo), Fuerst (bass), Campos (mandolin and violin), Barry (guitar) and Mike Fuerst (violin).

All of them write songs and about 90 percent of what the group plays are original songs.

According to Wilkin, the Corn Fed Girls’ music is not easily categorized but is best described as “Americana, mostly singer/songwriter with bluegrass instrumentation.”

All band members have day jobs ranging from teaching to business to nursing, and, among them, they have nine children, many of whom accompany the group to music festivals.

To date, the group has released two CDs: Cornstar (2008) and Papercuts (2011). To learn more about the Corn Fed Girls, visit their website www.thecornfedgirls.com.

arts encore Summer Explosion by Vickie Lietzall of Paw Paw.

Pastels brighter than ever

by

MarGaret Deritter

Show highlights artists’ works using ‘the dry paint’

m

ichigan has become a hot spot for pastel artists, thanks at least in part to an organization that has been spreading the word about pastels since 1993.

The Great Lakes Pastel Society was founded that year by several prominent pastel artists from West Michigan who wanted to promote pastel painting and has grown over the years to about 200 member artists, says Dennis O’Mara, of Hastings, who has served as exhibitions chair of the GLPS board for 10 years.

“The vast majority” of members are from Michigan, although the organization is also open to artists in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin, says O’Mara.

Every two years the group presents a Members Exhibition, and on alternating years a National Show. This year the National Show will be displayed in Kalamazoo for the first time, at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts.

The Great Lakes Pastel Society National Show opens with a reception Oct. 5 and runs through Jan. 8. About 90 artists (continued on page 38)

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wmu senior madeline acquaviva stars in the role of martha, a victim of incest.

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Erik Holladay

estern Michigan University students will take on some challenging themes when they present the groundbreaking Broadway musical Spring Awakening Oct. 25 to Nov. 4 at Williams Theatre.

The musical about 19th-century German students on the road to adulthood is based on a controversial play written near the end of the Victorian era, when sexual repression was rampant and young people muddled through adolescence in a haze of sexual ignorance.

Despite the story’s 1891 vintage, it deals with issues highly relevant to 21st-century audiences: teen desire, abortion, homosexuality, sexual abuse, suicide.

“The play was so ahead of its time in the 19th century that it was banned,” says director Jay Berkow, associate professor of theater and director of music theater performance at WMU. “It was rediscovered with this musical.”

Spring Awakening ran on Broadway from December 2006 to January 2009 and won eight Tony Awards. A touring version came to WMU’s Miller Auditorium two years ago.

The original play, by Frank Wedekind of Germany, was adapted by Steven Sater, and the music written by Duncan Sheik. They made very few changes in the original text but added rock music with very poetic lyrics, giving it a contemporary edge, says Berkow. (continued on page 39)

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poEtry encore

Reasons I MIght UndeRstand I am familiar with snow. With a wrinkled and skinny infant whose arrival was never a sure thing — which isn’t the same as a child who never arrives, I know.

I know I am clumsy. Should I begin with artificial dusk, the ultrasound’s hum? The room’s chill, the hot gel the sonographer rubs on your belly? Or how I imagined, for months, a small boy throwing his arms around my knees? How that ghost-boy made me ache?

I try not to romanticize death. I’ll never say my parents can hold your lost baby in heaven, anytime they want. In absence, anyone is perfect. I’ve learned that the hard way.

— Kathleen McGookey

Kathleen McGookey’s latest works are October Again (Burnside Review Press), a chapbook, and We’ll See (Parlor Press), her translation of French prose poet Georges Godeau’s 14th book. Her poetry also has appeared in more than 40 journals and 10 anthologies. She lives in Middleville with her husband and two children.

Encore invites area poets to share their work with Southwest Michigan readers. For consideration, submit your poetry and a short personal profile by e-mail to editor@encorekalamazoo.com or by mail addressed to Poetry Editor, Encore Magazine, 350 S. Burdick St, Suite 214, Kalamazoo, MI, 49007.

theRe aRe no acoRns thIs YeaR The oak trees are exhausted from the hard knocks of woodpeckers heat waves, auto exhaust, lawn chemicals.

They’re just sick of the whole thing— Our 401ks fall, squirrel babies cascade from treetop nests, nothing to bury, nothing to do with their paws, except roll earthworms into maple leaf tacos, break into your birdfeeder.

The deer snuffle in the leaf litter, come up empty-mouthed.

They paw and snort, stare in your windows, tap the glass with their horns. Raccoons scrap all night long.

The oaks have had quite enough, from Maine to Kansas to the Carolinas.

Scientists scratch their heads, the squirrels scratch their heads, too — they use their back feet.

— Bonnie Jo Campbell

Bonnie Jo Campbell is the author of the bestselling novel Once Upon a River and was a National Book Award and National Book Critics Circle Award finalist for her story collection American Salvage. She lives with her husband and donkeys just outside of Kalamazoo.

34 | EncorE october 2012

P eRfoRMIng a Rts Plays Fuddy Mears — A comedy about Claire, who suffers from aphasia, an inability to remember the past, 8 p.m. Sept. 27, 28, 29, Oct. 4, 5, 6; 2 p.m.

Oct. 7, York Arena Theatre, WMU. The Woman in Black — A thriller that delves into a terrifying, ghostly world, 8:30 p.m.

Oct. 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27, Nov. 2 & 3, New Vic Theatre, 134 E. Vine St. The Three Musketeers — WMU’s Theatre Department presents this classic tale of honor and friendship, 8 p.m. Oct. 11-13, 18-20; 2 p.m.

Oct. 21, Shaw Theatre, WMU. Musicals & Opera Legally Blonde — Based on the hit movie, this feel-good musical comedy travels from Beverly Hills to Harvard, 8 p.m. Sept. 28, 29, Oct. 5, 6, 12, 13; 7:30 p.m., Oct. 4; 2 p.m. Oct. 7 & 14, Civic Auditorium, 329 S. Park St. The Spitfire Grill — A musical filled with countryflavored tunes, 8 p.m. Oct. 5, 6, 11-13, 18-20; 2 p.m. Oct. 7, 14, 21, Farmers Alley Theatre, 221 Farmers Alley.

The Imaginary Invalid — Moliére’s classic tale retold as a musical comedy, 8 p.m. Oct. 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27; 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18; 2 p.m.

Oct. 21, Parish Theatre, 426 S. Park St. 343-1313.

Vintage Vegas — The Civic’s Senior Class Reader’s Theatre presents a musical revue of classics from the 1950s and ‘60s era of Las Vegas, 2 p.m.

Oct. 26, 28; 7 p.m. Oct. 27, Nov. 2, 3, Carver Center Studio, 426 S. Park St. In the Mood — A musical revue of the 1940s, featuring singers, swing dancers and the String of Pearls big-band orchestra, 3 p.m. Oct. 28, Miller Auditorium, WMU. Dance Renaissance Dances — Early Music Michigan presents a concert of music and dance featuring the EMM Voices and dancers from Farrell Ballet, 8 p.m. Oct. 13, Holy Family Chapel, Nazareth Center, 3427 Gull Road. 349-1045.

Symphony The True Story of the Three Little Pigs — Barry Ross leads the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra for this fully staged production of the classic children’s tale, 3 p.m. Sept. 30, Chenery Auditorium, 714 S. Westnedge Ave.

Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique — Maestro Raymond Harvey leads the KSO as it performs with guest violinist Misha Keylin, 8 p.m. Oct. 12, Miller Auditorium, WMU. University Symphony Orchestra — The Bruce Uchimura-led WMU Orchestra performs with guest cellist Brannon Cho, 3 p.m.

Oct. 14, Miller Auditorium, WMU. 387-4667.

The World of … Copland — The KSO explores the music, life and times of Aaron Copland, 3 p.m.

Oct. 21, Chenery Auditorium, 714 S. Westnedge Ave. Sci-Fi at the Symphony — The KSO, in this Pops Series concert, performs otherworldly music from science-fiction films and TV shows, 8 p.m. Oct. 27, Miller Auditorium, WMU. Chamber, Jazz & Bands Ensõ String Quartet + Boston Brass — These ensembles join forces to present Notes from the Balcony, in this Fontana Chamber Arts concert, 8 p.m. Sept. 28, Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU. Dalton Wed@7:30 — A series of WMU School of Music concerts: Sones de Mexico, Oct. 3; University Jazz Orchestra featuring John Clayton on bass and Kate Reid on piano, Oct. 10; pianist Lori Sims’ CD Release Concert, Oct. 17; Euclid String Quartet, Oct. 24. All concerts at 7:30 p.m,, Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU. Guest Artist Recitals — A free concert series presented by the WMU School of Music: Conor Nelson, flute, 6 p.m. Oct. 4; Desert’s Edge Duo, featuring clarinetist Robert Spring and percussionist J.B. Smith, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15; City of Tomorrow wind quintet, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18; Hilary Herndon, viola, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23; Kari Johnson, piano, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30, Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU. 387-4667.

Distinguished Alumni Series — WMU School of Music alumni perform: Barbara Lieurance, piano, 8 p.m., Oct. 6; Kate Reid Trio, jazz, 8 p.m. Oct. 12, Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU. Magnificent Seven — The Kalamazoo Concert Band presents a free concert of music by seven American composers, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13, Chenery Auditorium, 714 S. Westnedge Ave. Ars Nova — The Fontana Downtown series begins with a concert by the JACK Quartet, a string ensemble, performing original arrangements of 14th-century composer Machaut’s music and 20th century pieces by Glass and Xenakis, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 19, Wellspring Theater, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall.

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EvEnts encore Gilmore Rising Stars Series — Hungarian pianist János Palojtay performs Schumann, Haydn, Chopin and more, 4 p.m. Oct. 21, Wellspring Theater, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall.

Ben Allison Band — The Fontana Jazz series presents the bassist/composer and his group, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.

Oct. 26, Wellspring Theater, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall.

Jazz Masters with New York Voices — The Grammy Award-winning vocal jazz ensemble New York Voices performs with WMU’s vocal jazz ensemble Gold Company and the University Jazz Orchestra, 7:30 p.m., Nov. 1, Miller Auditorium, WMU. Vocal Capitol Steps — Political satire is the hallmark of this singing group that puts the “mock” in democracy, 8 p.m.

Oct. 19, Miller Auditorium, WMU. Choral Showcase — WMU’s University Chorale, Cantus Femina and Collegiate Singers perform, 2 & 5 p.m. Oct. 28, Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU.

Miscellaneous Cirque Chinois — The National Circus of the People’s Republic of China performs feats of balance, juggling, tumbling and contortion, 8 p.m.

Oct. 26, Miller Auditorium, WMU. V IsUal a Rts Richmond Center for Visual Arts, WMU Nayda Collazo-Llorens: An Exercise in Numbness and Other Tales — Drawings, prints, video and installation works, through Oct. 5, Albertine Monroe-Brown Gallery.

Paul Nehring: New Works — An exhibition by painter, sculptor, assembly artist and WMU faculty member, through Oct. 5, Rose Netzorg & James Wilfrid Kerr Permanent Collection Gallery.

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Expressions: International Glass Invitational — Contemporary glass from around the world, through Nov. 4.

Asian Art from the Collection of Dr. Paul and Esther Wang — Paintings, prints and sculpture, through Dec. 9.

ARTbreak — Free presentations on art-related topics: Glass artist Dave Bosler, Oct. 2; David Brose on the history of East Ohio glassmaking, Oct. 16; jeweler and glass bead artist Tracy Bell, Oct. 23; pastel artistt Alec Hall on the resurgence of pastels, Oct. 30. You can bring a lunch to these noon sessions.

Art & All That Jazz — Monthly get-together featuring art, live music, snacks and drinks. Steve Kamerling and Barry Ross, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 19.

Deborah Jack: Shore — Works based in video/sound installation, photography, painting and text, Oct. 18-Nov. 9, Albertine MonroeBrown Gallery.

Miscellaneous Saniwax Gallery — Youth Works, an exhibition sponsored by the Black Arts and Cultural Center, Oct. 5-19, with Art Hop opening 5-9 p.m. Oct. 5.

Midtown Gallery — Lestra Hazel, fiber work; Bev Hundley, mixed media; Rose Maguire, pastels; Ramiro Estrada, jewelry.

Art Hop — View the works of local artists at venues and galleries in downtown Kalamazoo, 5-9 p.m. Oct. 5. l IteRaRY e Vents Kalamazoo Public Library Ghost Towns of Michigan — Dianna Stampfler offers a historic tour of the many ghost towns around the state, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 10, Oshtemo branch.

Meet Author Susan Orlean — A free talk and book signing by Susan Orlean, author of The Orchid Thief, 7 p.m. Oct. 12, Kalamazoo Central High School Auditorium, 2432 N. Drake Road.

Classics Revisited — Join other readers for a lively discussion about the The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway, 7 p.m. Oct. 18, Central library.

Lewis Reed & Allen P. C. attorneys Front Row:

Dean S. Lewis, Richard D. Reed Second Row:

Thomas C. Richardson, James M. Marquardt, Whitney A. Kermerling, Robert C. Engels, Sheralee S. Hurwitz, Stephen M. Denenfeld, Owen D. Ramey, William A. Redmond Third Row:

Gregory G. St. Arnauld, Ronald W. Ryan, Nicholas J. Daly, Michael B. Ortega, David A. Lewis, Michael A. Shields, Michael A. Dombos

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encore EvEnts Portage District Library Book Art Exhibit — Illustrations from books written by Sarah Stewart and illustrated by David Small, through Nov. 30. The duo will discuss their efforts in a program, The Collaboration Tango: Creating a Picture Book, 2 p.m. Oct. 28.

Open for Discussion: A Drop-in Book Discussion — A group discussion of The Paris Wife, by Paula McLain, 10:30 a.m. Oct. 23.

Meet the Chef: The Magic of Risotto — Chef and farmer Kim Sanwald demonstrates varied ways to prepare risotto, 2 & 5:30 p.m.

Oct. 30.

Miscellaneous Cross Sections: The Graphic Novels of Nate Powell — Kalamazoo Book Arts Center presents an exhibition of works by the author of Swallow Me Whole and other books, Oct. 5-26, with Art Hop opening, 6-9 p.m. Oct. 5, Park Trades Center, 326 W. Kalamazoo Ave., Suite 103A. Friends of Poetry — A Town and Gown Reading featuring writers Bill Olsen, Andrea England, Jonathan Rice, Conrad Hilberry, Elizabeth Kerlikowske and Nina Feirer, special appearance by Gail Griffin, 7 p.m.

Oct. 9, Van Duesen Room, Kalamazoo Public Library, 315 S. Rose St.

First Glance Artist sam ZomEr

Sam Zomer finds amazing ways to look at ordinary things, such as the WMU Business & Research Center featured in his photo on page 17.

Zomer has been a photographer since the late 1970s, working as a freelancer. In 2001, he began shooting for the Kalamazoo Gazette and continues to freelance for the publication today. Zomer describes his work photographing the people that live and work in Kalamazoo and Southwest Michigan as “a privilege and a joy.”

“Every assignment is special and I do not take my lot in life for granted.

I wish every one had the same good fortune,” he says. pHotos wantEd!

Do you have an image that captures the essence of living in Southwest Michigan? We invite photographers of all ages and abilities to submit their photos to Encore for consideration to be featured on our First Glance photo page. Send photos to editor@encorekalamazoo.com.

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from 15 states submitted 203 pieces, which were judged by nationally recognized pastel artist Sally Strand, of California.

Strand chose 52 works for the show by 44 artists. Thirty-eight of the artists are from Michigan; the others are from Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and New York.

In addition to O’Mara, Southwest Michigan artists in the show are Melody Allen, Eleanor Dominek and Sy Ellens, all of Kalamazoo, Laurel Kuehl of Portage, Helen Kleczynski and Susan Heath of Vicksburg, Vickie Lietzall of Paw Paw, Alec Hall of Allegan, Debra Elswald of Constantine, and Bev Tippman and Susan Miller of Coldwater.

O’Mara says workshops by the Pastel Society’s founders and other pastel artists have introduced pastels to a broader audience and boosted interest in the medium.

The improved quality of pastel sticks has also made the medium more appealing to artists, he says. “You can get richer colors than you used to. As I told my friend, they’re not so ‘pastelly’ anymore. When I first started (doing pastel works), you struggled to get a dark color.

Now the colors available are dark and rich.”

O’Mara has been doing pastels for about 10 years. “I was a sculptor and a printmaker, and I decided to experiment with painting. I was teaching full time and coaching, and the nice thing about pastels is you can set them down and come back and work on them. I had a limited amount of time and could do a little work each day.”

They’re a good medium for beginners too, he says. “Sometimes that mixing thing (that paint involves) is a big issue for beginners.

With pastels, you’re picking up a pure color.

You know you’re getting a good color, not a muddy color.”

It’s that pure, rich, luminous color that accounts for much of their appeal to viewers too, says Alec Hall, a KIA pastel instructor.

In connection with the show, Hall will offer an ARTbreak session Oct. 30 at the KIA titled Pastel: The Dry Paint. He’ll talk about the history of pastels, their resurgence in the past 30 years and the new papers that make it possible to build up pastel pigment into multiple layers. He’ll also show images from the show, “to give an idea of the diversity of what pastels can do, anywhere from very loose impressionism to very tight realism.”

(continued from page 33)

“It’s one of the most important recent Broadway musicals,” he says, “because it changed the rules for the musical theater form.” In most musicals, he says, the lyrics substitute for dialogue, moving the plot forward, but in Spring Awakening Sater’s lyrics reveal the moods and mindsets of the characters.

One character, Martha (to be played by Madeline Acquaviva), has been sexually abused by her father. Another young woman, Wendla (Alicia Humphrey), is extremely innocent and overprotected by her parents.

Melchior (Bello Pizzimenti) is a handsome, well-read young man on a journey to open up his mind. His best friend, Moritz (Max Rasmussen), is struggling with his sexual desires and his studies and can’t seem to please his parents so he begins to consider suicide.

“Some of the content is very emotionally difficult” and will present big challenges for the young actors, says Berkow. In the case of Martha, for example, “that’s a very dark place to ask a young actress to go.”

Acquaviva, a 21-year-old senior musicaltheater major from Naperville, Ill., admits she’s not only excited but very scared about playing Martha. “I’m going to need to create some dark thoughts in my mind that I don’t want to think about. Sexual abuse is not anything I’ve ever encountered, but I’m going to have to think about that in order to make this real.”

So why did she try out for the role? “I used to listen to the (Spring Awakening) CD over and over again before ever having seen the show. The music is hauntingly beautiful. The song my character sings is one I’ve wanted to sing all my life. I have the chance, and now I’m going to have to back it up.”

Despite the musical’s dark themes, says Berkow, “there is a lot of humor, especially in the first half.” And the compelling human story, he says, carries an important message: “When young people are not given the knowledge to make intelligent choices, then you get tragedy, then you get conflict.”

Acquaviva says young people will “absolutely” relate to the story. “It’s old, but it’s current,” she says. “I don’t think people will ever say sex is OK for a young person, and young people are always going to rebel.”

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3540 JEFFERSON HWY. • GRAND LEDGE, MI 48837 • 517.627.4078 CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE WWW.KEYSTONEMILLBROOK.COM

october 2012 paradEofHomEsmi.com | 41

SCHEDULE New Homes October 12-20 Fridays 1-8 p.m.

Saturdays 1-8 p.m. *Sunday 1-5 p.m.

Wednesday 4-8 p.m. *Not all homes are open on Sunday; refer to home pages.

Downtown Living Friday, Oct. 12: 1-8 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 13: 1-8 p.m.

•

quartz, granite and solid-surface countertops

•

free estimates

•

installation avaliable

Complete Kitchen & Bath Cabinetry

60% OFF 6313 STADIUM DR • KALAMAZOO MI • 269.375.2212

www.kbunlimited.com

TRUSTED SPECIALISTS

We Listen.

We Deliver.

Let us put our 34 years of professional

•Kitchens & Baths •Room Additions •Lower levels •CUSTOM BUILT-INS •Patios & decks •Exteriors & more!

remodeling work for you.

We are proud to be partners with these fine builders on their Fall Parade homes: American Village Builders Martz Home Builders Glas Associates 269.327.5600 | foxbrothersco.com

expertise to

(269) 343-3757

View our Portfolio at DeHaanRemodeling.com 42 | PARADE GUIDE october 2012

Ticket includes admission to all Parade Homes and a copy of the Official Parade of Homes Guidebook.

Tickets are needed to enter all Parade Homes. A portion of the proceeds will benefit local non-profit organizations.

For more information contact: Home Builders Association 5700 W. Michigan Ave. Kalamazoo, MI 49009 269.375.4225 KalamazooHomePage.com ParadeOfHomesMI.com

Jorden and Branden DeHaan with their father, DRS founder, Robert DeHaan

SINCE 1978

TICKETS Tickets are: $10 in advance at Lake Michigan Credit Union and the HBA Office $12 at all Parade Homes

7475 Sprinkle Road Portage, MI 49002

Cover photo features Buday’s Home Electronics Simplified. They provide home automation, theaters, lighting, shade control and music systems for new and existing homes.

The 2012 Fall Parade of Homes Guidebook is the official publication of the Home Builders Association of Greater Kalamazoo 2012 Fall Parade of Homes. The 2012 Fall Parade of Homes Guidebook is published by Encore Magazine, 269.383.4433, in conjunction with the Home Builders Association of Greater Kalamazoo.

Encore Magazine should not be held responsible for inaccurate information concerning, but not limited to prices, dimensions, materials, services, amenities, ect. All renderings of Fall Parade Homes are artists’ conceptions intended to give a visual representation of the building. Actual finished details of homes may vary from artist rendering.

New Homes

Martz Home Builders, 524 Collins St., Kalamazoo Durwood Custom Homes, 602 Collins St., Kalamazoo Roberts Development Group, 610 Collins St., Kalamazoo Jim Roberts Construction, 512 Collins St., Kalamazoo American Village Builders, 622 Wynding Oaks, Kalamazoo American Village Builders, 5544 S. Red Pine Circle, Portage American Village Builders, 6021 McGillicuddy Lane, Portage Allen Edwin Homes, 5928 Ashland Blvd., Portage American Village Builders, 8858 Oakland Hills, Portage Lutz Construction, 10940 West Higley Circle, Portage T.A. Scott Construction, 10009 Woodlawn, Portage Glas Associates Builders, 639 Marketplace Blvd., Kalamazoo

House No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

46 47 48 49 50 52 53 54 56 57 58 59

D1 D2 D3

59 60 60

Downtown Living - Open October 12 -13 Roberts Development Group, 933 N. Burdick, Kalamazoo Roberts Development Group, 917 N. Rose, Kalamazoo Kenneth J. Klok Builders, 2001 Cameron St., Kalamazoo

Page No.

october 2012 paradEofHomEsmi.com | 43

FALL

Welcome Visitors!

Some people ask why living in Michigan is so dynamic, exciting and enjoyable. Where else can you run or walk across a bridge that is 4.3 miles?

Or build a home in 24 hours? Or visit all the homes in the Parade of Homes while enjoying the fall colors?

My wife Debbie and I traveled to Boyne City on the Saturday before Labor Day to prepare to run for me — and walk for Debbie — the Mackinac Bridge.

The more than two hundred runners began at 6:30 a.m. with the nearly 50,000 walkers to follow. I met up with Jeff Smith, Marty Janssen, Leon Brantman, Diane Hungerford, Maureen and John Shubnell, and my running buddies from Kalamazoo. As we ran, we got a breathtaking view of the sunrise. It truly was fun and exciting to run the bridge on Labor Day, see the governor,

thank all people along the route and watch the walkers cross the finish line.

It was a wonderful day to promote our great state, active living and good fellowship. It is great to be a Michigander!

It’s also great to be a part of the Home Builders Association. We just got done partnering with Habitat for Humanity in building a house in 24 hours.

Local builders Dan Martz and Scott DeLoof were co-chairs of the event and they brought together a great team to remodel the three-bedroom house on Kalamazoo’s east side. Special thanks to all the volunteers who helped with remodeling of the home. One of my favorite parts of Fast Built is getting up early to pick up the coffee and talking with my friend Kyle at Biggby.

Another thing I really enjoy about the HBA is the Fall Parade of Homes.

C Johnson & Son Excavating Co. Commercial/Residential • subdivision development • site preparation • basements • trucking

269.668.2246 | fax 269.668.6041

• sand and gravel • bulldozing • driveways • top soil

22520 E. McGillen Ave., Mattawan

Michael Johnson 616.437.1599

ns Ser ving Ka l am eratio n e G az e e oo Thr

372-3400 44 | PARADE GUIDE october 2012

www.devisserlandscape.com

This will be our second annual Fall Parade of Homes and I’m really excited for the event. We have many homes in the Parade, including a beautiful home on Austin Lake, a gorgeous home overlooking Sugarloaf Lake and several homes at The Marketplace — the new development in the Edison neighborhood. This will be the last opportunity for the community to see the homes down there as the final six homes will be completed for this Parade. The Marketplace has been a great project for our association and partnering with the City of Kalamazoo and the Land Bank has given us good new relationships to build upon.

Over the past few years, I visited more than 200 Parade homes. Each one showed the craftsmanship and quality that our members put into the homes they build. I can’t wait to see what our builders have done for this event. The Parade also offers the people in the area an outstanding opportunity to see not only the building craftsmanship, but also decorating and landscaping ideas from dozens of local designers and retailers. I especially like to see the different artwork in the Parade homes. There are so many great ideas you can gather from the Parade — from the colors of the walls to the artwork placed on them. The Parade is such a great showcase event for this area and I’m proud of all the work our members and staff put into it.

Michigan — and Kalamazoo, in particular — offer so much to enjoy. I’m so glad to be a part of this community and our association.

Enjoy this beautiful fall!

Sincerely, Dale Shugars Executive Vice President Home Builders Association

Cabinetry, inC.

kitchen and bath 1728 South Westnedge | Kalamazoo, MI 49008 269-345-1166 | www.scholtenkitchenandbath.com Our Showroom hours are: Monday - Friday: 8:00am-5:00pm Saturday: 8:30am-Noon Open any evening by appointment

Scholten Kitchen & Bath thanks Kalamazoo County Officials, HBAGK, and our builder partners for supporting Michigan-made products and local family businesses.

r dg

roberts

DEVELOPMENT GROUP

PaRade OF hOMeS SPeciaL

5% OFF Michigan-Made cabinetRy and FRee deSign Review FROM SchOLtenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

october 2012 paradEofHomEsmi.com | 45

Parade Home

1

Open on Sunday

The Mercado

Use your smartphone’s QR scanner app to scan this QR code for directions.

martz home builders, llC 524 Collins Street Kalamazoo, MI 49001

269.544.2180 | www.martzhomebuilders.com School District: Kalamazoo Square Footage: 1,725 Bedrooms: 3 Home Style: Two-Story Craftsman Bathrooms: 2.5 Price: Under $150,000 This Energy Star 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home is loaded with energy features in a beautiful Craftsmandesign home on a large city lot. The furnace is a 95 percent efficient gas, along with a high efficiency A/C unit. This open floor plan is perfect for today’s active families. A master suite with walk-in closet and an upstairs laundry round out the amenities to this beautiful new home. All appliances are included as well as a washer and dryer.

Directions: From I-94 go north on Westnedge toward downtown. Continue north as Westnedge turns into S. Park Street. Follow Park to W. Crosstown to Stockbridge Avenue. East on Stockbridge to Bank Street. North on Bank Street to The Marketplace Neighborhood. East on Collins Street to home.

General Contractor • Green Built Builder • Building Consultant • Light Residential Design

FULL SERVICE GENERAL CONTRACTOR contact us at

Martz Home Builders, L.L.C. is a full service General Contractor and specializes in single family residential new construction. We build on many of our own platted lots as well as customers’ land in Kalamazoo and Portage, Michigan. Our 30 years of experience and open communication with our customers has been a proven formula for successful home building.

46 | paradE guidE october 2012

269.544-2180

or martzhomebuilders.com

Parade Home

2

Open on Sunday

The Rialto

Use your smartphone’s QR scanner app to scan this QR code for directions.

durwood Custom homes, llC 602 Collins Street Kalamazoo, MI 49001

269.998.2888 | www.durwoodhomes.com School District: Kalamazoo Square Footage:1,797 Bedrooms: 3 Home Style: Two-Story Craftsman Bathrooms: 2.5 Price: Under $150,000 This cottage-style two-story residence boasts a 5-Star Plus Energy Star rating. This home was built following the National Green Building Standards. The interior reflects a more lakeshore feel with painted bead-board cabinets package and engineered hardwood flooring. Among the amenities awaiting the future homeowners are a high efficiency mechanical system, security system, barrier-free main floor living and a large two-car garage with attic storage. This home is Kalamazoo Promise qualified.

Directions: From I-94 go north on Westnedge toward downtown. Continue north as Westnedge turns into S. Park Street. Follow Park to W. Crosstown to Stockbridge Avenue. East on Stockbridge to Bank Street. North on Bank Street to The Marketplace Neighborhood. East on Collins Street to home.

Our Sustainable Services Include: • Custom Homes • Complete Home Restorations • Room Additions • Floor Additions

BUILD IT GREEN Contact Jeffrey Smith for more information www.durwoodhomes.com • 269.998.2888 Providing Professional Design/Build Services throughout SW Michigan

october 2012 paradEofHomEsmi.com | 47

Parade Home

3

Open on Sunday

The Mercado

Use your smartphone’s QR scanner app to scan this QR code for directions.

roberts development group, inc.

610 Collins Street Kalamazoo, MI 49001

269.226.3290 | www.robertsdgi.com School District: Kalamazoo Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2.5

Square Footage: 1,672 Home Style: Two-Story Craftsman Price: Under $150,000

This home features a large city lot in The Marketplace; sable brown siding with wicker trim; painted cabinets in an open and inviting kitchen; great built-ins in back entryway and in dining area; large living room with open floor plan; opportunity to expand with unfinished bonus room above the garage; second floor laundry; Energy Star home; close to Downtown activities and the Kalamazoo Farmers Market. This home is Kalamazoo Promise qualified.

Directions: From I-94 go north on Westnedge toward downtown. Continue north as Westnedge turns into S. Park Street. Follow Park to W. Crosstown to Stockbridge Avenue. East on Stockbridge to Bank Street. North on Bank Street to The Marketplace Neighborhood. East on Collins Street to home.

residential

• commercial • excavation • flatwork

locally owned and operated since 1982 experienced • quality • efficient

free estimates

serving greater west michigan

3425 South 6th Street

48 | paradE guidE october 2012

Kalamazoo, Michigan 49009

269.372.0056 phone

269.372.3722 fax

Parade Home

4

Open on Sunday

The Rialto

Use your smartphone’s QR scanner app to scan this QR code for directions.

Jim roberts Construction, inc.

512 Collins Street Kalamazoo, MI 49001

269.375.0055 | www.jimrobertsconstruction.com School District: Kalamazoo Square Footage: 1,797 Bedrooms: 3 Home Style: Two-Story Craftsman Bathrooms: 2.5 Price: Under $150,000 The exterior complements the existing neighborhood, but with durability, stainability, and a low maintenance lifestyle as a major goal. The custom kitchen cabinetry was constructed in Michigan by Pioneer. Take note of the large bedrooms and ample closet space. Other features of this 5-Star rated home includes Pella low-E high performance windows, ceramic, laminate and carpeted floors, and a finished two-and-a-half car garage. Exterior amenities include painted craftsman trim, extensive stone accents, oversized concrete patio and a craftsman style overhead garage door.

Directions: From I-94 go north on Westnedge toward downtown. Continue north as Westnedge turns into S. Park Street. Follow Park to W. Crosstown to Stockbridge Avenue. East on Stockbridge to Bank Street. North on Bank Street to The Marketplace Neighborhood. East on Collins Street to home.

Extraordinary Home Sites Exceptional Sunsets Unparalleled Opportunity

Lakefront living Unsurpassed Value • Lakefront sites from $325,000 • Woodland Estate sites from $90,000 • 26 acres • 870 feet of lake frontage • 9 acres of wetland preserve • All sports lake • Texas Township/Mattawan Schools • •

Jim Roberts Construction, Inc. Service • Quality • Value . . . . for over 28 years

A Design-Build Company

sold sold sold sold sold sold

sold sold sold

From Texas Corners: North on 8th Street, 1/2 mile to entrance.

From I-94: take exit 72, travel south around KVCC. Left on 8th Street, 1 1/2 miles south to entrance.

For more information contact Jim Roberts at 269.217.2923 | www.jimrobertscontruction.com october 2012 paradEofHomEsmi.com | 49

Parade Home

5

Open on Sunday

Montrose

Use your smartphone’s QR scanner app to scan this QR code for directions.

american Village builders, llC 622 Wynding Oaks Kalamazoo, MI 49006

269.323.2022 | www.avbhomes.com School District: Kalamazoo Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 3

Square Footage: 2,578 Home Style: Condominium Price: $250,000 - $500,000

Welcome to the Grand Opening of American Village Builders newest community — Walden Woods. This very private enclave of condominiums is set admist 80 acres of woodland and rolling meadows — of which 40 acres will be preserved. This will be an exceptional neighborhood where owners will enjoy floor plans with great living spaces and exceptional privacy along with a host of amenities including the community clubhouse, swimming pool, fitness center, trails, and bike paths.

We are offering seven new floor plans from 1,200-2,000 square feet plus walkout lower levels. We will customize to your hearts’ desires. Investment will start in the $200’s to $400’s. This neighborhood is very conveniently located minutes from WMU and downtown Kalamazoo.

Directions: Drake Road (between Stadium Drive and West Main) to Arboretum Parkway, East on Arboretum Parkway to Wynding Oaks to clubhouse.

BATTLE CREEK JACKSON KALAMAZOO LANSING

e

Kitchen Shop

thekitchenshops.com 50 | paradE guidE october 2012

DESIGN. INSTALL. ENJOY.

GRAND OPENING! I

N

T

R

O

D

U

C

I

N

G

Welcome to our newest community– Walden Woods! Located on Arboretum Parkway, off Drake Road on Kalamazoo’s west side, just 1 mile from WMU and 2 miles from downtown, this enclave of condominiums is set amidst 80 acres of woodlands and rolling meadows– of which 40 acres will be preserved. This is an exceptional neighborhood where families will enjoy floor plans with great living spaces and exceptional privacy along with a host of amenities– including a community clubhouse, swimming pool, fitness center and walking trails. Grand Opening Underway Now! Please call or email for the latest news...

email: waldenwoods@avbinc.com • 269.488.8800

october 2012 paradEofHomEsmi.com | 51

Parade Home

6

Open on Sunday

Gardner

Use your smartphone’s QR scanner app to scan this QR code for directions.

for sale american Village builders, llC 5544 South Red Pine Circle Portage, MI 49009

269.323.2022 | www.avbhomes.com School District: Portage Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2.5

Square Footage: 2,426 Home Style: Cottage Price: $384,900

Grand Colony is a private enclave of 24 wooded home sites featuring a beautiful entry statement, lighted private roads, natural walking trails and dedicated open spaces. This community is conveniently located but secluded. You will enjoy having the exterior maintenance of your home maintained by the association including lawn mowing and snow removal from your driveway and roads.

This is a great new main floor owner’s suite plan that includes a three-car garage. The wonderful open foyer welcomes you. The large family room and open kitchen are great for entertaining. The owner’s suite is very nice with 10’ ceilings, two walk-in closets and a very nice shower. There is also a very nice study. Grand Colony and American Village Builders have teamed up to build this great neighborhood with high architectural and quality standards. There are 14 home sites available.

Directions: US 131 to Centre Avenue, West on Centre Avenue (Q Avenue), South on Grand Colony Drive to home.

52 | paradE guidE october 2012

Parade Home

7

Open on Sunday

The Saybrook

Use your smartphoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s QR scanner app to scan this QR code for directions.

american Village builders, llC 6021 McGillicuddy Lane Portage, MI 49024

269.323.2022 | www.avbhomes.com School District: Portage Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 2.5

Square Footage: 2,612 Home Style: Traditional Price: $335,900

Welcome to The Homestead Community. This is a traditional neighborhood that embodies the pioneer appreciation of home and respect for the land. The home site is partially wooded and sloping, allowing for garden level windows in the lower level. The traditional exterior includes shake siding accents, a great front porch and a three-car garage. The foyer is very spacious and accented with a turned stairway. The kitchen is designed as the central gathering area with a large peninsula overlooking the spacious eating area and family room. There is a very nice den with a French door.

The ownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s suite includes a huge walk-in closet, custom shower and separate vanities. This community has a number of available homes to build your dream home!

Directions: Milham Road west of Oakland Drive to McGillicuddy Lane. South on McGillicuddy Lane to home.

october 2012 paradEofHomEsmi.com | 53

Parade Home

8

Open on Sunday

Applegate Trails

Use your smartphoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s QR scanner app to scan this QR code for directions.

for sale allen edwin homes 5928 Ashland Boulevard Kalamazoo, MI 49009

1.800.637.0167 | www.allenedwin.com School District: Portage Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2.5

Square Footage: 2,340 Home Style: Traditional Price: $259,900

Visit this gorgeous home built with the latest style trends and home-building technology. This home includes a 92% efficient furnace, 2x6 exterior walls, Better Insulation and more. It is also backed by a 10-Year Structural Warranty. Classic colonial floor plan is accentuated by Craftsman style details, including custom built-ins, custom trim and wood work throughout! Enjoy stainless steel appliances, beautiful granite counter tops and stylish brick back splash in the open kitchen.

Living room is filled with details including beam ceilings, a stunning fireplace, and crown molding.

Upstairs features plenty of living space with three bedrooms, two full baths, open loft/computer space with custom wood wall application and a convenient 2nd-floor laundry! Master suite includes a huge walk-in closet and large signature bath. Priced from the $170,000â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

Directions: From Milham Ave. and Oakland Dr., west on Milham Dr to traffic circle. Second exit off of traffic circle, onto Texas Drive. Texas Drive south west to 10th St. Turn left (south) on 10th St. to Ashland Blvd on left.

54 | paradE guidE october 2012

Kalamazoo Guidebook Fall Parade 2012 ad final.pdf 1 9/11/2012 11:20:16 AM

Looking for the Best Construction Loan?

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll Help You Nail Down a Great Rate.

Build your dream home with Lake Michigan Credit Union.

Our 5% down construction loan offers a streamlined approval process and a one-time close, all at a guaranteed low rate.

www.LMCU.org/Mortgage â&#x20AC;˘ (269) 342-5860 Our Low Rate Guarantee: Lake Michigan Home Mortgage will match legitimate competitor offers or credit the borrower $300 off closing costs. Our low rate guarantee cannot be combined with any other offers. PMI requirements may apply. Federally Insured by the NCUA.

october 2012 paradEofHomEsmi.com | 55

Parade Home

9

Open on Sunday

Inverness

Use your smartphone’s QR scanner app to scan this QR code for directions.

american Village builders, l.l.C. 8858 Oakland Hills Circle Portage, MI 49024

269.323.2022 | www.avbhomes.com School District: Portage Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 3

Square Footage: 3,470 Home Style: Condominium Price: $439,900

Welcome to Oakland Hills. This neighborhood is an island of luxurious living set amidst the Gourdneck State Forest, the Portage Creek and surrounded by habitat preservation. This is absolutely one of the prettiest parcels of land in the area! This condominium is one of our great new floor plans, offering fantastic architectural features. This home has an open plan with 10’ ceilings plus coffer reliefs, 8’ tall doors, and columns with beam accents. The side-loaded garage creates a private entry. We offer nine plans from 1,200-2,500 square feet on the main floor. All sites have walkout or garden level style lower levels for additional living area. We invite you to explore the wonderful clubhouse, with exercise and pool facilities overlooking the spectacular views. Investments start in the mid $200’s to the upper $500’s.

Directions: Oakland Drive south of Centre Avenue one mile to the entry of Oakland Hills community. South on Oakland Hills Circle to home.

Serving all of Michigan with offices in Kalamazoo and Jackson

56 | paradE guidE october 2012

Parade Home

10

Open on Sunday

Use your smartphone’s QR scanner app to scan this QR code for directions.

lutz Construction 10940 West Higley Circle Portage, MI 49087

269.998.8515 | School District: Schoolcraft Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 4

Square Footage: 3,400 Home Style: Two Story Price: Consult Builder

Settled in a beautiful setting with views of Sugarloaf Lake, this spacious house is a favorite. Built with extensive woodworking and custom cabinetry throughout the home, the amenities of this home include: custom built-in lockers for the mudroom, exposed aggregate concrete, large kids playroom, large walk-in closets, custom trim and much more. This is a must-see for anyone thinking about building a custom home.

Directions: US-131 to Shaver. Shaver to Sugarloaf. North to Higley, right to home.

southwest michigan’s magazine is excited to partner with the Home Builders Association to bring readers At Home, a special section showcasing the best of local

• Home building

• Home renovation

• Home décor Look for At Home in Encore Magazine’s December, February & May issues!

For advertising information, contact Encore Publications, Inc. at 269.383.4433 or visit www.encorekalamazoo.com

october 2012 paradEofHomEsmi.com | 57

Parade Home

11

Closed on Sunday

Use your smartphone’s QR scanner app to scan this QR code for directions.

T.A. Scott Construction 10009 Woodlawn Portage, MI 49002

269.679.4766 | www.tascottconstruction.com School District: Portage Square Footage: 3,900 Bedrooms: 4 Home Style: Traditional Bathrooms: 4.5 Price: $400,000-$450,000 This Austin Lake custom home was constructed on a lot with more than 100 feet of water frontage.

The beautiful setting contains many mature trees. Designed with fit and finish that you’ve come to expect from T.A. Scott Construction. Hand-scraped birch flooring throughout most of the main floor.

The spacious cook’s kitchen features all Viking appliances. Homeowner’s large master suite boasts a private balcony, walk-in-shower, double vanities and custom-built closet shelving. Also featured is a semi-finished walk-out level filled with windows looking out to the lake. The exterior includes a large three-car garage, two decks, custom patios, rock walls and a stunning front entry.

Directions: From Centre Avenue go south on Portage Road. Follow Portage Road to Wetherbee Avenue.

East on Wetherbee Avenue to Woodlawn Drive. Make a slight left onto Woodlawn and follow to home.

58 | PARADE GUIDE october 2012

Parade Home

12 Open Sunday Marche

glas associates designers/builders 639 Marketplace Boulevard, Kalamazoo 269.353.7737 www.glasassociates.com School District: Bedrooms: Bathrooms: Square Footage: Home Style: Price:

Kalamazoo 3 2.5 1,700 Ranch Under $150,000

This home is a one-story ranch home. Amenities include: Universal Design, 9’ walls and ceilings, cathedral ceiling in living room, trayed ceiling in master bedroom, back hall benches with bead-board, ADA Visibility Standards, and All Energy Star appliances included.

Directions: From I-94 go north on Westnedge toward downtown. Continue north as Westnedge turns into S. Park Street. Follow Park to W. Crosstown to Stockbridge Avenue. East on Stockbridge to Bank Street. North on Bank Street to The Marketplace Neighborhood. East on Marketplace Blvd. to home.

Use your smartphone’s QR scanner app to scan this QR code for directions.

Parade Home

D1

roberts development group, inc.

933 North Burdick, Kalamazoo 269.226.3290 www.robertsdgi.com School District: Bedrooms: Bathrooms: Square Footage: Home Style: Price:

for sale

Kalamazoo 3 2.5 1,559 Two-Story Under $150,000

This new home on North Burdick features the following: hardwood/tile flooring on the main floor, painted cream cabinets with granite countertops, full appliance package, pacific blue siding with wicker/tan trim, professionally landscaped, open front porch, concrete drive, Pella Proline black windows, and qualifies for Kalamazoo Promise.

Directions: Depart on US-131 North Branch/ North Park Street toward west Water Street. Turn right onto West Frank Street. Turn left onto North Burdick Street and arrive at home.

Use your smartphone’s QR scanner app to scan this QR code for directions.

october 2012 paradEofHomEsmi.com | 59

Parade Home

D2

Parade Home

roberts development group, inc.

917 North Rose, Kalamazoo 269.226.3290 www.robertsdgi.com School District: Bedrooms: Bathrooms: Square Footage: Home Style: Price:

for sale

Kalamazoo 3 2 1,661 Ranch Under $150,000

This new home on North Rose features the following: hardwood/tile flooring on the main floor, stained cabinets with granite countertops, full appliance package, suede siding with Desert Tan trim, professionally landscaped, open front porch, concrete drive, Pella Proline brown windows, and qualifies for Kalamazoo Promise.

Directions: Depart on US-131 North Branch/ North Park Street toward West Water Street. Turn right on West Frank Street. Turn Left onto North Rose Street and arrive at home.

D3

kenneth J. klok builders 2001 Cameron Street, Kalamazoo 269.345.2451 www.tolschool.org Square Footage: 4,900 Style: Commercial Price: Under $475,000 Welcome to the Tree of Life: Renewing young minds. Transforming young lives. The school consists of four big classrooms, pre-kindergarten through fifth Grade with 50 potential students for the 2012 school year. The drywall, warm wood trim and beige painted walls add a noninstitutional feel for easy learning. Each classroom is equipped with smart boards, built-in audio systems and Wi-Fi. Bathrooms and classrooms are barrier-free. One room is designated for music and art classes. The playground has a play structure with an open grass field for games and events.

Directions: North on Portage Road about 3 miles. Right on Bryant to school.

Use your smartphoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s QR scanner app to scan this QR code for directions.

Use your smartphoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s QR scanner app to scan this QR code for directions.

The Way to Invest, Manage Wealth & Retire

Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc. (TFA) member FINRA, SIPC, and a Registered Investment Advisor. Non-Securities products and services are not offered through TFA. The Wiser Group is independent of TFA. LD43065-03/12 60 | paradE guidE october 2012

thewisergroup.com

encore massiE’s micHigan

Larry B. Massie, recipient of the first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award from the Historical Society of Michigan, is a Michigan product and proud of it. Born in Grand Rapids, he grew up in Allegan and has three degrees in history from Western Michigan University. The author of 20 books about Michigan history, he shares his enthusiasm for and knowledge of Michigan’s heritage statewide at conferences, school assemblies, libraries, community-group meetings and festivals. Larry lives with his wife and workmate Priscilla, daughters Maureen and Autumn, and a 35,000-volume reference library in an 1880 schoolhouse in the Allegan State Forest.

Home, Home on the Road by

Larry Massie

D

Above, the Zagelmeyer Auto Camp Co. of Bay City made one of the original pop-up campers, beginning in 1921.

On page 62, a Michigan-made New Moon trailer was featured in the 1954 movie The Long, Long Trailer starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. “Tin can tourists” liked the sleek lines of aluminium-clad trailers, such as the one pictured above.

esi Arnaz brought the cream-colored Mercury convertible to a stop halfway through the busy intersection. Beside him sat his zany, red-headed wife, Lucille Ball, and behind their car stretched a 36-foot, gleaming, yellow and silver “New Moon” travel trailer. As the honeymooners sought directions from a traffic cop played by Keenan Wynn, cars in all directions honked in frustration at the obstruction.

MGM had cast the comedy duo in its 1954 technicolor hit The Long, Long Trailer. While Lucy and Desi had starred since 1951 in I Love Lucy, America’s most popular sitcom of the era, this would be their first movie together. Instead of Fred and Ethel, the additional star in this romantic comedy about newlyweds touring the nation was the trailer. The studio had carefully screened more than 200 different makes and models before selecting “the best looking, best made and best known in the country” — a New Moon trailer made in Alma, Mich.

The mid-1950s was the heyday of the travel trailer, or, as promoters preferred it to be called, the mobile home. Michigan manufacturers were pioneers in the business and continued to lead the nation in construction of these homes on wheels.

Precursors of the travel trailer included Conestoga wagons, in which pioneers loaded their families and possessions and rumbled west in search of a better life, and Gypsy caravans, home of the wandering Romany tribes.

Following World War I, as Henry Ford’s affordable Model T and other Michigan automobile manufacturers forever altered the nation’s popular culture, more and more American families took to the road for vacations. The concept of “auto camping” became fashionable, and motorists rigged up a variety of

www.encorekalamazoo.com | 61

massiE’s micHigan encore canvas-tent-like apparatuses that stretched from their vehicles.

Next came a version of the contemporary pop-up trailer equipped with a canvas tent that unfolded into a home away from home.

In 1921, the entrepreneurial Zagelmeyer family of Bay City began commercial production of one of the earliest of such models, the Universal Auto Camp Trailer. By 1932, the Zagelmeyer Auto Camp Co. promoted its “cozy home for four” as “exceptionally roomy when open – unusually compact when closed.”

In 1926, Detroit bacteriologist Arthur Sherman completed an arduous research project and decided to take his wife and five children on a well-earned travel vacation. He purchased one of the trailer tents, having been assured by the salesman that it was easily set up in less than 10 minutes. The family set out on their trip west, and, when they stopped for the night, Sherman and a couple of the kids attempted to unfold the tent. Thirty minutes later, they were still wrestling with the ungainly contraption. As Detroit Free Press sentimental-poem-a-day writer Edgar A. Guest recorded in his 1938 book about successful Depression-era entrepreneurs, It Can Be Done, Sherman exclaimed to his family in exasperation, “I’m going to put up this tent if it kills me, and when we get back home I’m going to build a real trailer – one that people can live in without being architectural engineers.”

Back in Detroit, Sherman teamed up with a local cabinet maker and constructed the prototype of America’s first genuine travel trailer, a 9-foot-long model whose bottom floor easily dropped down when the users were ready to camp. Sherman’s family named it “The Covered Wagon.” In the summer of 1928, the Shermans hit the highway with their trailer. Other travelers stopped to inspect and admire it, and some asked where they could get one.

Realizing that he had invented a good thing, Sherman left the laboratory and went into production of Covered Wagon trailers. In 1929, he produced 100 of them and sold every one.

Nine years later he had moved his burgeoning enterprise to Mt. Clemens, and his initial $10,000 investment had grown into a $10 million business employing more than 1,400 workers and producing 80 trailers a day. By then The Covered Wagon company had sold approximately 15,000 travel trailers in three sizes, ranging from 16 to 22 feet in length. Fibber McGee and Molly’s 1937 comedy movie, This Way Please, featured a Covered Wagon trailer.

The other Hollywood trailer, the New Moon, constructed by one of the “Original 6” commercial manufacturers, traces its origins to

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encore massiE’s micHigan Alma, where in 1930 Allen Hathaway built a few prototypes for his family and friends. Two years later, William and Harold Redman joined him to form the Alma Trailer Co. Consumers liked their Silver Moon Travel Coach, sold under the motto “Home Wherever You May Roam.” By 1940, a redesigned 19-foot model dubbed New Moon brought continued success to New Moon Homes Inc., one of the area’s foremost industries.

The promotional plum of these products being chosen for the Lucy and Desi movie inspired the firm to produce a special I Love Lucy Model in 1955.

Still another Michigan trailer pioneer, Gurdon Wolfe, built his first coach in 1931.

Not pleased with its diminutive interior, he sold it to a neighbor for $15. He continued to experiment with roomier models and in 1935 opened a small manufacturing plant in the little Sanilac County community of Snover. The Wolfe family, assisted by a few part-time helpers, constructed General trailers. In 1939, nearby Marlette’s village council seduced the Wolfes into moving their plant there by providing a free site.

During World War II, the Marlette trailer plant, like many other manufacturing facilities, converted to production of military materiel. After the war, a series of sales and reorganizations resulted in the 1953 formation of Guerdon Industries, named after Wolfe’s son, Guerdon. Three years later, 500 employees cheered as the 10,000th coach rolled off the line.

Another Marlette manufacturer, General Coach Works, incorporated in 1946. A decade later, annual sales of $300,000 had grown to more than $10 million. A third manufacturer, the Marlette Coach Co., was started in an old wooden box factory in 1945. Its original work force of 15 people had expanded ninefold by 1955. Marlette’s three factories employed approximately 1,000 people by 1956, and the town widely promoted itself as the “Mobile Home Center of the World.”

The Great Depression of the 1930s brought unemployment and suffering to many, but the Michigan travel-trailer in-

dustry defied the general economic slump, thanks in part to the ingenuity of its founders, prices that remained affordable (many trailers sold for $200 to $300) and Americans’ desire to forget economic woes by taking road trips. The use of travel trailers by “tin can tourists” allowed a much cheaper outing than hotels and newfangled motels, and the lure of leading a peripatetic life appealed to many retirees.

Clarence M. Lutes, an employee of Kalamazoo’s Grace Corset Co., built his first primitive travel trailer in 1930. By 1934 his Kozy Coach Co., located in the 1800 block of Reed Street, had gone into full-time production.

Another local manufacturer, the Silver Dome Co., located south of Kalamazoo in what was then largely undeveloped Portage Township, produced Highlander Scot, Scotty, Master Scot and Imperial Scot models, ranging from 20 to 45 feet in length.

After WW II and the Korean War, legions of veterans took advantage of the G.I. Bill and overwhelmed college campuses across the nation. Trailers built by Kozy, Silver Dome and other Michigan manufacturers offered convenient — albeit cramped — living quarters for married students. At Western Michigan College (Western Michigan University after 1957) a trailer village sprang up in 1946 near the current site of Read Fieldhouse.

By 1955, when the industry had begun to split into the building of trailers for the road and mobile homes intended to stay on one site, fully 25 percent of all trailers manufac-

tured in America came from Michigan. Michigan firms comprised 20 of the 71 members of the Mobile Homes Manufacturers Association. In addition to those already mentioned, the roster included plants in Cassopolis, Chesaning, Dryden, Dayton Plains, East Tawas, Flint, Marysville, New Hudson, Pinconning, Saginaw, St. Louis, Union City and West Branch.

1955 also witnessed the start-up of a Michigan firm that would produce some of the finest travel trailers, classic models that continue to be coveted more than a half-century after they were manufactured.

Members of the Cayo family and a pair of building contractors formed the Romany Coach Co. in Benton Harbor to construct sleek trailers covered with an aircraft-type skin of anodized aluminum. As the firm prospered with its quality product, its name soon changed to the Avion Coach Co. Avion produced models ranging originally from 20 to 26 feet and later from 38 to 40 feet. The Benton Harbor company produced its last trailer in 1990.

What happened to the mighty Michigan travel-trailer industry? Well, the story of the company founded at Marlette in 1935

by Gurdon Wolfe offers an answer. By 1955 it had evolved into Guerdon Industries, one of the nation’s largest producers of trailers.

That year the firm built a branch plant in Newton, Kan., and the following year a massive 75,000-square-foot facility in Lake City, Fla. The old saga of industrial flight from heavily unionized regions to places where workers could be paid less than a living wage prevailed.

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encore tHE Last word (continued from page 46)

It did not take long for a response to come. “Leave it to you to say the perfect thing,” she wrote. “All those years I just assumed you had crumpled up the song and left it in the sand along with my memory. That hurt me deeply. You meant a great deal to me, and that song was important to me.

“You know I cried for three days after that night. I stayed awake and cried all night when I heard you were hurt in the service. I had nightmares of you coming home in a flag-draped coffin for all the years you were gone.

“We return to the shore virtually every summer,” she added, “and not that many years ago, while lunching with friends, I saw you piloting your boat out to the big lake. The winds and the cold had ended the season for virtually every other sailor, but you had one more mermaid to chase. ‘Silly boy,’ I said out loud, causing more than one confused look from my tablemates.

“It was that intensity that drew me to you. Knowing that when I was frightened or unsure, I would be safe with you. It was also that intensity that drove me away.

You were always chasing something, reaching for things we couldn’t see, walking into a wind we couldn’t feel. It would have killed me to become your last thing, while watching you run after your next thing, and I saw no other end to you and me. My life after you has proven that decision the right one many times.”

The words that followed made it right for him. “That you kept my song, that you never forgot, and that you reached back out for me has given me a sense of myself that no one else could ever provide. I will always love you for that. You don’t even need to finish the song.”

It was on a cool evening, in the very same spot that the story started, that he penned the final verse. He stared at her memory with a very clear picture of tomorrow, a smile in his newly mended understanding. The words came so easily, with depth and eloquence, as he jotted a perfect final verse, a verse meant to be shared only with one, because, after all, she traded his heart for it.

“Silly boy,” she responded, “I love it. It’s worth every minute of 38 years of waiting.

“Thank you and Godspeed” were the final words of a perfect ending, and a promise made right.”

Alex Lee, a proud U.S. Navy veteran, is the executive director of communications for Kalamazoo Public Schools.

He resides in Kalamazoo, which he refers to as “the small city with the gigantic heart.” Outside of his job, he writes as a hobby, with the goal of getting a couple of pieces published per year.

Have The Last Word Have a story to tell? Non-fiction, personal narratives about life in Southwest Michigan are sought for The Last Word. Stories should be no more than 1,000 words. Submit your story and contact information to editor@encorekalamazoo.com.

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tHE Last word encore

A

Pr

mise

made right

by

t

he two sat high atop a dune overlooking the large body of water that gave its name to the Great Lakes State. He, staring at her and seeing only the moment; she, staring at him and seeing only tomorrow. The breeze carried with it the warning of colder days and whipped the waves into a perfectly tuned metronome counting away the notes of the song they were trying to sing. Both were here for a short summer respite and heading to colleges the very next day with an entire world between them.

She was busy writing a song to celebrate the time they had shared during what was an entire summer to her and six all too short weeks to him. “Remember our first night together?” she asked. “You held me in your arms all night until the sun greeted us in the morning.”

“You’ll be too far away to remember tomorrow,” he replied. “Let’s just spend our last night on the shore.”

“Can’t,” she said. “I have to pack and catch an early flight.”

“Silly boy,” she then whispered, “you would have me stay in your arms forever, and neither of us has enough of now to even recognize tomorrow. But I’m the only one paying attention. You’ll get it soon enough.”

She took in the view for one long moment, then turned to him, handed him a note and said, “I have written us a song, but you must write the last verse and then return it to me.” With that, she disappeared for the next 38 years.

During those 38 years the page was always with him.

It traveled across oceans during military duty, survived countless relocations, marriages and children. It was

66 | EncorE october 2012

G. aLex Lee

opened thousands of times, only to be read and regretted, leaving him to try once again to make some sense of it all.

While visiting the same shore community many years later and hoisting a beer to his youth, fate would again bring the topic to the table. An old friend recognized him and joined him in his long-winded, if somewhat incorrect, recollection of all of his conquests and victories.

The friend brought the revelry to an abrupt halt when he asked, “Do you remember the girl from Chicago?”

“Vaguely,” he lied.

“Well, she sure remembers you,” the friend said as if he were throwing his words to the wind. “She has been in here several times over the last few years, and the first thing she asks is if we have seen you or if we know how to reach you.”

“That’s cool” was all he could say with his heart in his throat and his emotion meter redlining.

“I’ve got her e-mail address at the shop,” his friend said.

“She buys T-shirts from me all the time. Stop by before you leave, and I’ll give it to you.”

Driving home with 38 years of demons and regrets makes for a long trip. He had long ago dismissed her as the love of his life, but finishing the song was still a promise made and inexplicability important to him. He spent the entire trip trying to figure out what words he would use to address a situation such as this, if he were even to pry open a memory that might be better left for dead. “I missed you,” “I never stopped thinking about you” and “I hope you’re well” all posed as potential opening lines, but in the end “I never figured out how to end the song” was all he sent. (continued on page 45)

SePtember 2012 EncorE | 67

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