Expert Advice
Roofing
Justin Reynolds Manager
Q: I hear that Sherriff Goslin Roofing uses their own unique shingle. Can you tell me more about this shingle?
A: The Art Loc shingle is SherriffGoslin’s original patented shingle. It can be used as a re-roofing shingle over another layer of existing shingles, or as a primary shingle over roof sheathing. It assures a smooth, windproof and watertight job. The Art Loc shingle provides a unique appearance and lends character with distinction to any home.
Today’s Art Loc shingle has been modified to include an ingredient known as an SBS (Styrene-ButadieneStyrene) polymer, which is used to alter the properties of asphalt, making the asphalt tougher and more flexible. This polymer dramatically slows down the aging process of the asphalt, providing superior waterproofing, low temperature flexibility, impact resistance, high wind endurance and extended life expectancy. Call us at (269) 342-0153 or visit us at worryfreeroof. com today to learn more.
Sherriff-Goslin Roofing Co. Since 1906 342-0153 800-950-1906
Member Home Builders Association of Greater Kalamazoo
Kidney Cancer
Health Food
Mark Sawall Owner
Q: What type of produce does Sawall’s carry?
A: Sawall’s has always carried local and certified organic produce. Its the very best quality that can be found. We receive produce orders almost every day! We also carry as much local produce that we can find seasonally. We are always looking for quality produce from local farmers. Come in soon and enjoy the areas largest selection of fresh CERTIFIED ORGANIC PRODUCE!!
Mon-Sat. 8am-9pm, Sun. 10am-6pm Sawall Health Foods
Oakwood Plaza • 2965 Oakland Dr. at Whites Rd. • 343-3619 • www.sawallhf.com
Financial Services
Kim Powers, Owner, Licensed Professional Counselor
Q: What should I do to lift the weight of my hidden addiction?
A: It is a brave choice to admit you have developed behavior that has become a stronghold. The next step is to choose a safe space, person, or professional to learn skills to overcome and manage the behaviors and hold yourself accountable to your goals. You can find the victory, strength, and encouragement to overcome! There is freedom in the light.
Transitions
Kidney function is important to your overall health and wellbeing. The kidneys are responsible for filtering waste from your blood and producing urine.
Signs and Symptoms
Kidney cancer does not often display symptoms in the early stages. However, as the tumor grows and spreads, you may experience symptoms such as blood in the urine, persistent lower back pain, fatigue, or unintentional weightless.
Treatment Options
Depending on the cancer type, stage and overall health, your provider may suggest one of more types of treatments. Common treatment options could include surgery, targeted therapy, immunotherapy or chemotherapy.
If you receive a cancer diagnosis, turn to the Bronson Cancer Center. Learn more at bronsonhealth.com/cancer.
Chuck Henrich President & Owner
Q: Do I really need to own life insurance?
A: If people rely on you to provide income in order to pay the bills or live a certain lifestyle, then life insurance is a great way to provide for them in case of an untimely death. If you are a parent with school aged kids with future college expenses, or someone who still has a mortgage or car payments, life insurance should strongly be considered. If you are over age 65 or an empty nester, life insurance can provide many benefits for retirement.
To learn more about the numerous ways life insurance can strengthen your financial position, please feel free to reach out to our office.
The Atriums • 4341 S. Westnedge #1201 269-323-7964
Q: How much time should I allow for an appointment with a senior living community Sales Counselor?
A: Allowing up to 90 minutes for a personized appointment will give you a great start in understanding what options work best for your health age and finances as well as timing your move.
Friendship Village “Where Connections Matter” 1400 North Drake, Kalamazoo 269-381-0560 www.friendshipvillagemi.com
Diana Duncan Director of Sales and Marketing
Hari Nair, MD
Bronson Cancer Center
I have always loved Ripley’s Believe it or Not books. My siblings and I once talked our parents into taking us to the Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum in St Augustine, Florida where we saw mummies, shrunken heads and all kinds of other cool stuff.
My grandfather gave me many copies of Fate magazine and Frank Edwards, Stranger Than Science books. They were filled with stories of The Loch Ness Monster, Flying Saucers and Big Foot. In the early 1970’s, while reading one of Edwards books, I stumbled up a story of a Pontiac man, near where we lived. He apparently died in 1959 of “Spontaneous Combustion.” I begged my mom to take me to the Pontiac Press to dig through the old newspaper archives to learn more. We found the story which stated that, “A man burned to death in his garage in his car under somewhat mysterious circumstances.” There was no mention of “Spontaneous Combus tion” which may not have been a known phenomena back then.
Here are a few examples:
About 25 years ago, while working at the Kalamazoo Gazette, I would regularly head to the bound volume archives of old newspapers to search for customer’s old ads. While thumbing through the pages of the large, old yellowed books, I would get distracted and start reading stories; finding many interesting and fascinating Ripley’s Believe it or Not type stories from right here in town. Eventually over a few years, by bringing home the books at night, I read through all of the 1930’s newspapers, taking photos of about 500 strange and quirky stories. I later arranged them into about 90 categories such as: robbery, cows, thrill seekers, petty thieves, etc.
Family on Walnut Street leaves radio on while on vacation to ward off thieves. Neighbors hear old radio shows of gun shots and screams and assume murder. They call the police who come and kick the door in.
Boy on Pearl Street and his bike sucked up by giant street sweeper/vacuum. Boy not badly hurt but bike destroyed.
Police set up roadblock on old 131 to catch poachers and find car with a dozen chickens and one sheep in trunk.
Hastings hunter shot in tree-mistaken for bear.
74 and 60 year old Kalamazoo couple with little money, hitchhike to California and back and sleep in fields along the way.
Kalamazoo man hit by train, hurled 120 feet, picks up hat and continues to work.
Two full grown ducks found in stomach of snake
Don’t these headlines grab your attention?
I love reading these type of stories and hope to publish a book someday of Amazing Tales of Southwest Michigan!
Steve Ellis, SPARK Publisher steve@swmspark.com
FROM THE EDITOR
Ben Brown at his Tiny Giant Farm.
Photo by Steve Ellis
Laughing at the march of time
Lee
A. Dean screendoor@sbcglobal.net
When we were much younger, we kids would occasionally wonder why older people moved at a much slower speed than we did. My Grandma Dean would respond to such sentiments by pointing a finger at us and saying three prophetic words: “You’ll find out.” She added no details, only those three words.
She lived to be 98 and found out plenty about aging. She found out more than I care to learn about the subject. One thing I know for sure: Her prophecy is coming true, minute by minute.
Yes, Gram, I’m finding out.
As this new era of discovery unwinds, I am navigating the intricacies of physical decline. I also have discovered the key to thriving in this process: a combination of acceptance, adjustment and especially a robust sense of humor.
My mother-in-law, the Original Viking Goddess, has modeled the way to avoid engaging in a litany of aches and pains with other people. She calls it “an organ recital.” This exercise often turns into a game of “can you top this?” where a
hangnail can turn into bubonic plague. “Skin tag? That’s nothing! I have a mole the shape of New Jersey – and just about as big!”
Instead of the organ recital, I choose to focus on what I can still say…and hear… and see...and do…and think. If we do this through the lens of humor, the journey is much easier. A smidgen of healthy defiance comes in handy, too. The movies have given us great examples of this.
--Robert Duvall teaching a group of young punks how to handle a knife in “Secondhand Lions,” and then thrashing the lot of them.
--Tommy Lee Jones in “Lonesome Dove,” preventing an unfair governmental confiscation of a horse by a troop of overzealous cavalry troops. He does it with a line I have appropriated: “I hate rude behavior in a man. I won’t tolerate it.”
--In “Fried Green Tomatoes,” Kathy Bates waits for a parking spot but is beaten to it by two young women in a Volkswagen Beetle convertible. Bates protests, but the young driver sneeringly replies, “Face it, lady, we’re younger and faster.” Bates uses her large sedan to batter the VW out of the way, then tells the young women, “Face it, girls. I’m older and I have more insurance.”
My wife, the Viking Goddess, and I play a game called “Fun with Eyesight.” One day we were pulling into a strip mall parking lot when I saw a store marquee that I thought said “Jesus Pools.” I wondered out loud if that store specialized in baptismal fonts. After the VG got done laughing, she informed me the sign said, “Leslie’s Pools.”
A related game is called “Fun with Hearing.” Comedy can break out when we’re driving. The combination of hearing loss, road noise, and sloppy enunciation (i.e., “old guy mumbling”) can lead to epic misunderstanding.
We were on a road trip, and the VG had just opened a box of Cheese Nips crackers. I asked, “Can you pass me the Cheese Nips?” No response. I asked again with the same result. Then I reached over, grabbed the box, and said, “Didn’t you hear me asking for the crackers?” The VG said, “All I heard was ‘Nips! Nips!’ I was wondering why you were saying such a thing.” From that day forward, every time we have a mix-up in communication, one of us will declare, “Nips! Nips!”
Another version of “fun with hearing” involves the simple act of standing up from a chair without making a sound. This is next to impossible with arthritic joints. My knees make a sound like
crackling firewood, accompanied by low groans and an occasional “oof.”
Hearing loss is responsible for the ultimate act of passive aggressive behavior, courtesy of my father. We would be sitting in the living room and Mom would be in the kitchen. She would yell at him to get his attention. He would then wink at me, grin mischievously, and stuff his hearing aids into the cushion of his easy chair. I couldn’t rat him out --- it was a little secret for the guys only.
We need to learn new skills as we get older. The most routine physical movements require forethought and adjustment. Striding purposefully across a room becomes a slow walk and then a shuffle.
Here’s another useful skill. Don’t bend over to pick up a small item. Grab it with your toes and pass it up to yourself. Of course, this is much easier when you can hang on to a counter, handrail, or an older grandchild.
I am not yet to the point where people complain about my speed. When they do, my response is locked and loaded: “I only have one other speed. You wouldn’t like it.”
You may be tempted to show this column to someone younger as a warning. Please don’t spoil their fun. Let the insolent whelps find out for themselves.
Pacific Rim Foods
By Richard Martinovich
Chicken Tikka Masala is Britain’s national dish! The spicy Indian curry is the country’s most popular ethnic food, owing to the colonial heritage of the British Empire.
At Pacific Rim Foods, you can learn how to make Chicken Tikka Masala through classes with an expert chef! Or learn to make Chinese Street Kabobs, Thai Basil Beef, and Japanese Takoyaki!
Everything you need to whip up an authentic Asian-oriented meal, without travelling the many countries along the Pacific Ocean Rim, is on Kilgore Road. The aisles of Pacific Rim Foods are stacked with a massive selection of Asian foods! Fresh produce and herbs from Thailand, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Philippines, India. All kinds of spices; cardamom, Star Anise seeds, paprika, sweet and regular cinnamons, Szechuan peppercorns, turmeric, galangal, cumin!
There are cooking soy sauces, multiple Sriracha choices, sweet chili sauce, rice varieties, canned vegetables, dried mushrooms, fruits and teas!
The frozen section at Pacific Rim Foods includes dumplings, buns, noodle dishes, and dozens of ready to eat meals!
Pacific Rim Foods also has cooking utensils: woks, rice cookers, slicers, ramen pans and bowls, chopsticks, sushi knives, cleavers, steam baskets.
And don’t leave without eating at the Cravings Deli!
For takeout or dining in, there are fabulous appetizers and dinner plates on the Cravings Deli menu. Mala Fried Chicken Wings, potstickers, Vietnamese egg rolls, vegan red bean pancakes. Delicious entrees: BBQ Pork Ramen, Chicken Paitan Ramen, Sichuan Beef Brisket Ramen, Spicy Miso Ramen; Shrimp Tempura Udon, Curry with Shrimp, Beef Pho, Banh Mi – French baguette filled with meat, pickled vegetables -- Cumin Lamb, Lemongrass Pork Chops, and Galbi – beef short ribs in a special sauce.
Beverages include tapioca pearl “Boba” drinks, a long list of mixed teas, imported beers, Sapporo and Asahi -Japan’s number one selling beer -- sake, and wines.
Browse the Pacific Rim Foods cookbook racks, and their Manga collection! One stop shopping for all your Asian adventures!!
Pacific Rim Foods • 229 W. Kilgore Road • Portage
Oh, Cherry!
By Laura Kurella
With Michigan’s cherry season upon us, we should all have plenty of Michigan cherries in our kitchens this summer. If not, then we should be high-tailing it out to our nearest cherry purveyor and grabbing them while we can because cherries don’t get any fresher or amazing than this. There is also another reason to get out and buy more Michigan-made cherries and products this year, because Michigan growers need your support.
According to multiple news reports, Michigan cherry losses in both 2020 and 2021 were most alarming because it is historical to have poor growing seasons back-to-back, especially in the state where most of our nation’s tart cherries are grown. Michigan’s tart cherry industry, which produces 70% of the nation’s crop, has many challenges ahead. “Markets need a boost, and at this time, it is costing growers way more to produce cherries than they are receiving for them— not a healthy economic situation,” Rothwell says.
Beginning in July and running barely to August, our northern Michigan cherry season is just a few oh-so-precious weeks. We need to support our growers, so they are here in future years for us, too.
Growing exclusively on the 45th parallel north, which is strategically situated halfway between the North Pole and the equator, this special, God-given spot in Michigan is known as the Traverse Bay Farms region.
This location is very special indeed because it boasts a Goldilocks (not too hot, not too cold) climate, which enables northern Michigan to grow some of the best fruits and vegetables on the planet!
Offering us two types of fresh cherries, Michigan provides us with a choice of sweet or tart cherries. Sweet cherries are dark, and sometimes almost purple and consumed raw most often, while tart cherries are lighter red in color and
most often used in baking because they contain less sugar, which enables more cherry flavor to burst forth. Likewise, their potent flavor makes them the preferred choice for cherry juice, dried cherries, and our other cherry products. For the best cherries you will ever taste, get your hands on some of Michigan’s finest before this oh-so-short cherry season fades.
Whether eaten fresh, canned, dried, jammed or frozen, fresh-picked cherries are always well worth taking the time out to seek.
Offering a boost in health (and mood), here now are some delicious ways to indulge in this God-given gem. Enjoy!
Microwave Cherry Cobbler
Cook Time: 2 minutes; Total Time: 2 minutes; Servings: 1 mug dessert
12-18 cherries pitted
1 tbsp flour
1 tbsp quick oats
1 tbsp butter cubed
1 tsp brown sugar packed (optional) 1 tsp vanilla extract
Arrange cherries in a microwave safe coffee mug, leaving at least 1/2 inch of empty space at the top of the mug. Top with remaining ingredients. Cover with a paper towel. Microwave for 2 minutes. Stir. Enjoy.
Whipped Cherry Goat Cheese
12 oz whipped goat cheese 1 lb. cherries pitted and diced
Pit cherries using a cherry pitter. Dice cherries. In a large bowl, stir cherries in whipped goat cheese. Enjoy immediately or refrigerate until serving.
Laura Kurella is an award-winning home cook who loves sharing recipes from her Great Lakes region kitchen. She welcomes comments at laurakurella@yahoo.com, and she invites you to check out her new (free) cooking series that can be viewed on YouTube. Look for direct links to it on Laura’s FB page and website.
New Enclosures Make for Happier Turtles
By Tom Springer, Vice President of Development, Kalamazoo Nature Center
YThe next time you visit Kalamazoo Nature Center, expect to see more turtles – and expect the turtles to see more of you. Two new enclosures in the Visitor Center’s exhibit area have made these popular Michigan reptiles more visible than ever.
“We’re now able to display our large painted turtle, musk turtle and future animal ambassadors in an improved space,” said Laurel Ridgway, animal ambassador manager. “We’ve mounted the displays at eye-level so that young guests can easily see them. There’s also room for people to sit and observe our animals in their new home. And we’ve located our turtles next to the snake enclosures, so it’s a great place to see our animals in one location.”
The turtles were formerly housed in the Visitor Center’s lower level. They lived in wading pools inside the animal care room until the new enclosures were built. Now, Ridgway said, the turtles can enjoy more “enrichment” in terms of their activity level and sensory stimulation. It seems that curious turtles like to eyeball people as much as people do them.
“The new tanks give the animals more room to explore and interact with guests,” Ridgway said.
“Giving turtles a 360-degree view from their tanks provides a more enriching experience. There is more movement, more colors, more faces for them to engage with. They can also see other animals nearby in their respective habitats.”
The exhibit area enclosures have a swim tank and ramp that leads to a platform where turtles can bask under a heat lamp. KNC guests can see
Eastern box turtles in dry enclosures on the Visitor Center’s lower level. Box turtles don’t require a water tank for swimming since they prefer upland habitat such as forests, old fields and pastures.
KNC animal care staff say that turtles keep attuned to changes in weather, even when housed away from external windows. This could be because they sense fluctuations in barometric pressure. During snowstorms, box turtles have been known to burrow in the mulch layer that lines the floor of their enclosure. (It hasn’t snowed inside yet, but they’re not taking any chances.)
knows firsthand about adapting to new surroundings.
“I began my training in animal care at Osprey Wilds ELC in Sandstone, Minnesota, as the wildlife education fellow,” Ridgway said. “I quickly fell in love with caring for, training, and working with wildlife ambassadors. My specialty is working with birds of prey, especially owls! Then, after a move to Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford, Massachusetts, I gained more experience and knowledge as an education specialist.
“But I realized that East Coast living wasn’t for me, so I looked to my Midwest roots. That’s when I discovered KNC. I’m excited by all KNC has to offer from wildlife to educational programming to conservation services and more. Everyone here is so passionate about what they do, and I’m proud to join the team.”
Tom Springer is vice president of development at the Kalamazoo Nature Center and author of Looking for Hickories and The Star in the Sycamore.
As KNC’s new animal care manager, Ridgway also
CENTER STAGE THEATRE PRESENTS
The Center Stage Theatre continues to celebrate its 50th season with Lionel Bart’s classic musical, Oliver!, at Comstock Community Auditorium. Packed with crowd-pleasing songs and unforgettable characters, Oliver! has been delighting crowds since its West End opening in 1960, and its Broadway run of a record-breaking 774 performances. From high energy numbers like “Consider Yourself” and “Food, Glorious Food,” to the heartfelt ballads “Where Is Love?” and “As Long As He Needs Me,” Oliver!’s lavish music earned the 1964 Tony Award for Best Original Score, while the motion picture adaptation won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
Center Stage’s inclusive and diverse cast will transport audiences to Dickensian London with evening shows on July 12, 13, and 19 at 7 p.m., and matinees on July 14 and 21. In keeping with Center Stage Theatre’s commitment to inclusion and theater for all, a special sensory-friendly matinee is offered at 2 p.m. on July 20, as well as an ASL interpreted performance at 7 p.m. that same evening.
The Comstock Community Auditorium is located at 2107 N 26th St in Kalamazoo.
For further information and to purchase tickets, visit kzoocst.com. Oliver! Is presented through special arrangement with Cameron Macintosh.
Book Reviews
Book Reviews by the Portage District Library staff
The Fury
Alex Michaelide Michaelides returns with his third psychological thriller, loosely tied to his first two books. As with his second novel, this can be read as a standalone. He once again deftly harnesses his past experience in psychotherapy to craft a meandering tale of murder on a Greek island with a narrator who may or may not be reliable. Much of the cast of characters are actors, former actors, or aspiring actors, meaning that it isn’t always obvious who is being sincere and who is putting on a show. This book is ideal for fans of dramatic plot twists and exotic locales.
Faebound
Saara El-Arifi Yeeran, is an Elven warrior who has known nothing but war her whole life. Yeeran’s sister Lettle is training to be a Diviner seeking prophecies. After a fatal mistake, Yeeran is exiled, and Lettle follows her to bring her back to safety from the terrifying lands beyond their borders. It is here that they both encounter the Fae court. The Fae haven’t been seen for a millen-
nium, but Lettle and Yeeran are taken to their world as prisoners, and here they have to figure out how to escape back to their lands. This unique story allows the reader to become invested in the characters, with lots of different twists throughout—a mustread for lovers of fantasy and Fae worlds.
A Daughter of Fair Verona
Christina Dodd
“My name is Rosie, Rosaline, if I’m in trouble, and I’m the daughter of Romeo and Juliet. Yes, that Romeo and Juliet. No, they didn’t die in the tomb…” This is the beginning line of the latest murder mystery from Christina Dodd. Rosie is an absolutely delightful main character. She’s independent, smart, feisty, logical, and not at all what you’d expect of a daughter of Romeo and Juliet. Just when she finds the love of her life, she is forcibly betrothed to an unlikable character who is murdered at their engagement party. Soon, a second character is poisoned, and suspicion falls on Rosie. It is up to her and her intrepid, protective nurse to prove her innocence. This historical novel has a snappy, contemporary feel to it.
All these titles are available at the Portage District Library. For more information about programs and services available at PDL, go to www.portagelibrary.info
Burrell Brothers: Pioneer Wagon & Carriage Manufacturers
The wagon makers, wheelwrights, cartwrights, and blacksmiths who worked for Warren, George, David, and Edwin Burrell were among Kalamazoo’s earliest craftsmen manufacturers. For nearly 60 years, the Burrell companies made and repaired horse-drawn wagons, carriages, and sleighs. Their award-winning work received statewide recognition.
After a time in New York learning the carriage manufacturing trade, George Burrell moved to Kalamazoo in 1837, where his father, Warren Burrell, worked as a wheelwright. George was just 19 years of age when the two set up a
shop near their home on Academy Street and established the first carriage repair and wagon manufacturing business in the village. In 1843, the Burrells formed a partnership with New York blacksmith Barent Hogeboom. Hogeboom & Burrell purchased a pair of lots on the northwest corner of Main (Michigan Avenue) and Park streets, where they built a substantial new workshop and expanded their
by Keith Howard, Kalamazoo Public Library
trade as full-scale manufacturers of carriages, buggies, and wagons. It wasn’t long before Hogeboom & Burrell began to receive awards for their work at the Kalamazoo County Agricultural Fair. Burrell’s democrat (farm) wagons and lumber wagons became especially well-known throughout southern Michigan.
George Burrell and Barent Hogeboom continued as partners off and on for more than two decades. After Hogeboom’s death in 1867, George entered a business partnership with his brother, David Burrell, and continued the firm as the Burrell Brothers. When George retired from the business a decade later, David Burrell brought a third generation into the firm by partnering with his son, Edwin Burrell.
By 1888, D. Burrell & Son employed 25 workers and occupied four large two-story buildings, along with several lumber yards and warehouses. The firm’s annual production by that time wasn’t staggering—400 hand-built wagons, 150 sleighs, and 75 buggies—but the quality of their work remained exceptional.
As the prestigious homes known as Mansion Row began to line West Main Street during the 1890s, some residents came to see the old Burrell wagon shops as a neighborhood eyesore. One writer said it had been “long a disgrace to West Main street.” Still, the Burrell
brothers were held in high regard, not only for their place among Kalamazoo’s earliest settlers, but for the high quality of their work as longstanding pioneer manufacturers.
Despite the rapidly changing times, David Burrell continued in the wagon-making business with his son Edwin until his retirement in 1898. After closing their shop, Edwin worked for several years as a clerk for the Michigan Buggy Company. The Burrell factory complex was among the oldest manufacturing structures in the city when it was demolished in 1902 to make way for new commercial development. The former post office (Federal Building) occupies the corner today.
More at kpl.gov
FARMING SUSTAINABLY & RESPONSIBLY IS A MUST FOR TINY GIANT FARM
By Dave Person david.r.person@gmail.com
When Ben and Julia Brown look out over the back yard of their Kalamazoo Township home they see a giant salad.
The urban farmers grow arugula, beets, carrots, chard, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, radishes, spinach, scallions and turnips on a third of an acre behind the home they moved into in 2018, then sell it at local farmer’s markets.
“We focus on salads; that’s our main thing,” Ben says.
While Ben oversees Tiny Giant Farm, as they have named it, Julia uses her artistic skills to fashion ceramic plates, cups and mugs.
Regulars at the farmer’s markets in Richland on Wednesdays and Kalamazoo and Texas Township on Saturdays, the Browns tout their booth as a place where you not only can get what you need for a salad, but also the tableware to put it on.
“Each bed will be planted two or three times (in a season),” he says.
“I rotate all the crops. This row was turnips on Monday,” he says on a recent Thursday, pointing to beet
high price per pound,” he adds.
There is an abundance of lettuce mix rows in the garden, each with four varieties, and for good reason.
“The lettuce mix is our best seller,” Ben says.
Back home at their Certified Naturally Grown farm, Ben and two part-time workers (a third part-timer helps at the farmer’s markets) tend 56 garden beds, each 30 inches wide and 50 feet long.
seedlings pushing up through the soil. “That’s all planned out on spreadsheets.”
“Everything has to be a quick turnover and yield a
After it is harvested, washed and packaged, he sells it for $4 for a quarter-pound bag.
He is pleased with the response he has gotten, especially at the Kalamazoo Farmers Market.
“By noon, we’re down to three or four things and have only a few bags of them,” he says.
The last planting of the season on Tiny Giant Farm occurs in September.
“We’re actively growing until Thanksgiving,” he says.
After that, he continues to sell root vegetables.
“We go until Christmas,” he explains.
Then he and Julia switch roles for several months.
“Julia makes most of the pottery in the winter while i watch the kids,” he says.
The Browns, both 37, whose home businesses are their full-time jobs, have two children, Naomi, 3, and
Basil, 2 months.
Like any other backyard gardeners, the Browns have their share of pests, such as groundhogs, rabbits and squirrels, but their dog, Jebi, patrols the grounds and dispatches the critters whenever they come around.
As does any good farmer, Ben has a regular routine. He does paperwork on Mondays, plants on Tuesdays, weeds on Wednesdays, harvests on Thursdays, washes and packs the produce on Fridays and sells at the farmer’s markets on Saturdays.
Ben grew up in Midland and Julia in Alton, Ill. They met in Vermont, where Ben earned a degree in sustainable agriculture from Sterling College before working on organic vegetable farms there and in Maine, and Julia, who has degrees in art and education from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, Ill,, worked with a ceramic artist.
From there, they went to Nashville, Tenn., where Ben managed an organic mixed vegetable farm for four
years, according to the Browns’ website, tinygiantfarm.com.
Ben says they wanted to live in Michigan, so in October 2018 they purchased their house on an acre in Kalamazoo Township.
“This is a really good growing climate,” he says of southwestern Michigan, plus their research told them that Kalamazoo’s farmer’s market is one of the best attended per capita in the state.
Ben says his first year was spent putting up fences and hedges and building a pair of greenhouses, in addition to starting the gardens.
The Tiny Giant Farm moniker is not only a description of their property, but also a nod to garden gnomes.
“We use a lot of gnomes in our marketing,” Ben says. The farm’s website explains the Browns’ philosophy with regard to urban farming.
“We choose to farm small because it forces us to farm well, to farm sustainably, and to farm responsibly,” it states.
“It allows us to pay attention to detail. To stay connected. To invest the best of ourselves in the small amount of land that we have to provide the best possible produce to you, our community. …
“Staying small allows us to grow you better, fresher, more nutritious veggies, so that we can help grow a happier, healthier community here in Kalamazoo.”
Historic WWII Era Plane Restored by the Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Center
After 68 years under water and 50,000 hours of work, the restoration of the FM-2 Wildcat 57039 is complete. The airplane was used to train Navy pilots in the Great Lakes region during WWII. During a training flight, piloted by Ensign William E. Forbes on December 18, 1944, this Wildcat rolled off the deck of the USS Sable and was cut in two as the fuselage was struck by one of the ship’s paddle wheels. Forbes was not injured during the incident, but tragically the plane sank 200 feet to the bottom of Lake Michigan where it rested for 68 years, and was retrieved on December 7, 2012, by A and T Recovery on behalf of the National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM) and the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation (NAMF). The aircraft was in extremely poor condition when it arrived at the Air Zoo’s
Restoration Center, one of the premiere aircraft restoration facilities in the country, on August 5, 2013.
I stopped at the Restoration Center to see the aircraft and Ed Kelley and Dan Brant were very helpful in answering questions about the aircraft and restoration.
Between 1943 and 1945, two U.S. Navy aircraft carriers stationed at Navy Pier in Chicago functioned as training platform for about 17,000 pilots. Former U.S. President George H. W. Bush was among the pilots who learned to take off and land on the 500-foot long carrier decks.
The carriers, the USS Sable (IX-81) and USS Wolverine (IX-64), were converted Great Lakes paddle steamers.
They had shorter flights decks, no hangar bays, and required enough lake wind for operations. Lake Michigan was chosen for the secret training because it’s the largest body of water within the contiguous United States.
Approximately 140 aircraft were lost in Lake Michigan during training and about 40 have been brought up. Many at the bottom of the lake are in bad shape and the zebra mussels are a major problem.
Now, after a decade of research and labor, this beautifully restored aircraft will remain on exhibit at the Air Zoo’s Flight Discovery Center for a brief time before departing for its permanent home at the American Heritage Museum in Hudson, Massachusetts.
Alone and Lost Until this Kalamazoo Agency Helped Older Couple Thrive Again
Cindy and Keith Rayman’s love of the outdoors stretched from their time owning a lawn care business to their hobbies of hunting, fishing and kayaking.
They were, as Cindy says, “always outside and on the move.”
At least that’s how the Kalamazoo couple lived until 2018 when a massive stroke nearly killed 58-year-old Keith, changing the trajectory of their future but not affecting their love and devotion to each other.
“For about two years, I was alone (taking care of him),” Cindy said. “It was very hard to go through the trauma of something like this happening to our family and not knowing what to do or where to turn for help.”
“I was a tearful mess, alone and lost.”
Cindy explained that she struggled to find assistance and support, and knew that friends and family could only help for a short time before they had to return to work or their daily responsibilities.
And then she discovered the Kalamazoo County Area Agency on Aging, a countywide resource dedicated to helping older adults maintain their dignity and independence by providing in-home and community services, and healthy living programs.
Through the Area Agency on Aging, a grant and senior millage-funded community builder, Cindy attended a caregiving class, joined a support group and utilized the respite opportunities that offered her a breather and gave Keith a chance to experience additional rehabilitation support.
Cindy
and Patti (Social Worker and Caregiver Specialist at the Area Agency on Aging, Kalamazoo).
“Six years later, and I feel like we’re thriving again,” Cindy said while reflecting on how far she and Keith have come since the medical emergency. “I learned to ask for help –that’s hard for people – and I found that there were people just like us. We could see and be seen with compassion and no judgment.”
“And I tell you, it’s been a blessing. These services are essential and without them, I don’t know what we’d do or where we’d be.”
Patti Stratton, a social worker with the Kalamazoo County Area Agency on Aging, notes that research shows that up to 70% of older adults need long-term supportive care to varying degrees. In Kalamazoo County in 2023, more than 9,500
older adults were supported by agency services that include cleaning and transportation assistance, personal care, home-delivered meals, healthy living classes and home repair help among others. More than 500 resident caregivers accessed respite and support services such as community senior centers.
“It’s so important for caregivers to take care of themselves so that they can take the best care of their loved ones,” Stratton said. “It’s all about connections and we do whatever we can to help people.”
The county’s senior millage, which generates $3.7 million annually for supportive services, is up for renewal on August 6.
In addition to community programs, the millage allows the county to offer the free Senior Expo every year and a Caregiver Support Day. More than 1,000 county residents attend the Expo and about 100 vendors attend to inform guests about programs they can access.
Cindy says that since linking up with providers from the Expo, she and Keith have been able to have their home weatherized and a water heater replaced on top of the other assistance received. The Caregiver Day is a moment for her and others to relax and feel celebrated, Cindy said.
“All these things are invaluable,” she said. “(Caregivers) wear all the hats to get things done, and we battle caregiver guilt, which is real and makes you feel bad for doing anything for yourself.
“At the end of the day, I know I have cared for him. I have advocated for him, and I have gotten him everything I could. I know I couldn’t have done that without (the Kalamazoo County Area Agency on Aging), and that’s why I tell everyone about it and how much it (the senior millage) does for people here in our county.”
can Buffalo (2023)
Legendary documentarian Ken Burns returns with this poignant two-part distillation of another quintessentially American subject: the exploitation, near-extinction, and scarcely believable recovery of the American Buffalo. Beginning with accounts of the Lewis and Clark expedition, Burns sets the stage for the calamitous destruction of the Buffalo with images of an American West once home to a population of more than 10 million of the iconic animals. The series makes excellent use of Indigenous scholars and writers to lay bare the legacy of this exceedingly tragic chapter in American history. The species’ deeply multifaceted connection to the Indigenous peoples of the Great Plains and the West was not lost on American trophy hunters and policy makers who sought to hasten their removal through wholesale slaughter of a species once believed virtually inexhaustible. All of Ken Burns’s trademarks are on display here including narration by Peter Coyote and thorough use of primary source materials such as music, photographs, and personal correspondence. An exceptional work on its own, The American Buffalo also serves as an important thematic follow-up to several of Burn’s previous films including The West (1996) and The National Parks: America’s Best Idea (2009). – Submitted by Patrick J.
Movie Reviews
Claw (2023)
As a kid in the 1970s, I discovered the world of “Big Time Wrestling” while idly flipping the TV dial on a lazy Saturday afternoon. That era of smaller, regional wrestling circuits is a long way from the super-charged corporate entertainment wrestling fans experience today. Writer-director Sean Durkin’s The Iron Claw is evocative of the end of that earlier era, as it traces the triumphant and tragic history of the Von Erich wrestling dynasty. Led by their father, a performer of regional renown who runs his own wrestling company, four brothers follow in his footsteps: Kevin (sensitively portrayed by Zac Efron), groomed for the ring; David (Harris Dickerson), a natural showman; Kerry (Jeremy Allen White), an Olympics contender recruited after the US boycott of the 1980 summer games; and Mike (Stanley Simons), a talented musician stepping in as tragedy strikes. Outside of their travels, the world of the Von Erichs is very insular – the siblings’ commitment to the fulfillment of their father’s dreams of success is unwavering, and they never openly defy his directions, even as the physical and emotional damages pile up. However emotionally repressed, the family’s bonds of love are strong; the film poignantly captures that strength, giving The Iron Claw its most forceful power. – Submitted by Karl K.
Reviews submitted by Ryan Gage. These great titles and others are available at the Kalamazoo Public Library.
“Both a lifelong teacher and student”– Lois Hoekstra
By Jim Coppinger, Milestone Senior Services Volunteer
Lois Hoekstra was born in Livingston, Tennessee where both her parents taught school; they relocated to the Detroit area when she was young. Quite a few of her relatives were also teachers.
Lois says she knew from a very young age that she, too, wanted to teach. After graduating from high school, she enrolled at Anderson University in Anderson, Indiana to earn her elementary teaching degree.
She nostalgically recalls discussions with her college roommate about going somewhere special to begin their careers. That led to a trip to Kalamazoo and interviews which resulted in teaching positions for both. For Lois, that first job went on to become a nearly forty-year career—mostly as a kindergarten teacher which she dearly loved. She taught at Indian Prairie for twenty-one years, Lakewood for fifteen, and Northglade, among others. After her brief “retirement” in 2005, Lois resumed her teaching career working with education students at Western Michigan University for another fifteen years. She says it’s heartwarming to encounter past students in a grocery store or on the street who stop to say hello and share fond memories. She met her husband, Tom Hoekstra, in Kalamazoo and they married in 1967. That year was the 100th anniversary of Tom’s family’s historical hardware and appliance store business. Tom was active in the appliance store side of the business. Lois and Tom have three daughters–and yes, all three are teachers today.
Now fully retired, Lois continues a lifelong mission to support education. She is active with P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization) a nonprofit group that provides scholarships for women pursuing degrees–in the U.S. and around the world.
Lois has been an active participant in Kalamazoo’s cultural exchange with its Sister City in Numazu, Japan. She has traveled to Japan twice. There, she struck up a special friendship with a woman in Numazu who has, in turn, visited Kalamazoo many times. They continue to correspond. Her Japanese friend is a spry 93-yearold and the two are working on plans for her to come to Kalamazoo for one more visit.
Lois loves music and has recently begun taking piano lessons. She’s a student of a talented fellow who is also very young. A delightful reversal of roles.
Lois’s life has been an example of “paying it forward;” it’s her motivation for being a volunteer. She volunteers with Meals-on-Wheels. Selecting Meals-on-Wheels for her volunteer endeavors wasn’t a random choice. Lois says her parents, who continued to live in the Detroit area, needed meal delivery when health issues arose. For quite some time, they were on the receiving end of this vital service. She adds, “we all have been given so much; it’s so important that we give something back.”
However, Lois is keenly aware that the rewards of volunteer work extend far beyond mere altruism. She and her fellow volunteers derive immense personal satisfaction and enrichment from every moment they dedicate to volunteering. Milestone Senior Services (previously known as Senior Services of Southwest Michigan) is an AmeriCorps Seniors grantee. AmeriCorps Seniors empowers people age 55 and older to serve their communities. RSVP helps people find a volunteer opportunity that fits their passion. There are currently opportunities in Kalamazoo County and a few in Calhoun County. Volunteers are needed with Meals on Wheels, Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes, Telephone Reassurance for Seniors, Milestone Home Repair, and more. Regular, flexible schedules available. Contact RSVP at 269-382-0515 or apply to volunteer at www.milestoneseniorservices.org.
WARRIORS Wednesday
Savanna the Sequel
Last winter I talked about our work to restore a savanna. As stewardship volunteers for the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy, we have tackled a variety of projects over our twenty-plus years. Well, restoring a seven-acre savanna at Chipman Preserve was a whole new chapter for us. With expert direction from Jesse of the Michigan Natural Features Inventory, we took a deep breath and started
cutting a lot of trees. It felt very different from our early days of pulling garlic mustard. Once we were done, it was time for a burn. The professionals knocked it off in one day last spring. Then the Pluggers volunteers swept through and sowed a special mix of seeds that they had gathered from other healthy places. With good rains, and patience, we are seeing the results.
Chipman Preserve is one of our showcase preserves open to the public. The website includes directions and other information. I call it Dogwalkers Paradise, and I’m sure many of our visitors have been surprised by the changes in the big hillside north of the interpretive circle. From the original scots pines planted over the old grazing field, to the now wideopen savanna of large, stately oak trees with plenty of elbow room, and a lovely mix of grasses and flowers flowing underneath.
You are invited to come visit anytime, and enjoy the preserve in all seasons. If you want to get a first-hand look at how you can help turn the clock back on all our different habitats, come join our volunteer group any Wednesday morning. You can join us as your schedule permits. No experience necessary, just enthusiasm. There is a second group, the Privateers, who work on Mondays. Information on both groups is available on a week-by-week basis at swmlc.org/weekly-outdoor-stewardship. Hope to see you out there.
Kristi Chapman, volunteer, Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy
HEALTHY LIVING WATERMELON. A WONDER FRUIT?
Did you know that watermelon – that favorite summertime go-to refreshment – packs a lot of nutrients which should have any active person reaching for a slice or two every day during the hot summer months for its impressive health benefits? Yes. Watermelon.
We know its low calorie content (46 calories per cup) makes for a great diet food which also happens to satisfy our sweet-tooth, but watermelon actually has a lot going for itself.
A great evidence-based nutrition article from experts at Authority Nutrition at www.healthline.com shares the Top 9 Health Benefits of Eating Watermelon.
• HYDRATES
With watermelon being 92% water, it helps to hydrate our bodies (and helps us to feel full!)
• CONTAINS NUTRIENTS AND BENEFICIAL PLANT COMPOUNDS
One cup of watermelon provides the following recommended daily intake:
• Vitamin C: 21% of the RDI
• Vitamin A: 18% of the RDI
• Potassium: 5% of the RDI
• Magnesium: 4% of the RDI
• Vitamins B1, B5 and B6: 3% of the RDI
• MAY HELP PREVENT CANCER
Some plant compounds in watermelon, including Cucurbitacin E and Lycopene, have been studied for their
potential to prevent cancer.
• MAY IMPROVE HEART HEALTH
Several factors suggest that watermelon may help to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and reduce stiffness and thickness of artery walls.
• MAY LOWER INFLAMATION AND OXIDATIVE STRESS
Watermelon may help lower inflammation and oxidative damage, since it is rich in the anti-inflammatory antioxidants Lycopene and Vitamin C.
• MAY SUPPORT EYE HEALTH
The presence of Lycopene may prevent age-related macular degeneration.
• MAY HELP RELIEVE MUSCLE SORENESS
Watermelon juice has some potential as a recovery beverage after exercise.
• IS GOOD FOR SKIN AND HAIR
Several nutrients in watermelon are good for your hair and skin. Some help keep skin supple while others protect against sunburn.
• CAN HELP IMPROVE DIGESTION
Watermelon contains lots of water and a small amount of fiber — both of which are important for healthy digestion.
That really does make it a wonder fruit.
Submitted by Vicky Kettner, Association Director of Marketing, Community Relations, and Member Engagement at YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo. The information in this article was taken from an online article on www. healthline.com entitled the Top 9 Health Benefits of Eating Watermelon, written by Kerri-Ann Jennings, MS, RD. As with any new exercise or diet, please consult with your doctor or dietician to determine the right regimen for your personal health situation.
By Steve Ellis
A few weeks ago, I had a free day and decided to make a quick stop in Marshall and then explore some small towns south and east of there.
After picking up a few tasty donuts at the legendary Leo’s (since 1959) in Marshall,. I then headed south on the winding Homer Road past the Eaton Proving Grounds and stumbling upon the Widler Creek Conservation Club.
This small park has some great trails along a lake and stream with small waterfalls and a cool castle, complete with moat and drawbridge. The castle
was built by the W.P.A in 1934, using over 100 tons of stone. Over the years, the castle has been a private residence and a haunted castle during the Halloween season.
Heading south through the small village of Eckford, I met a man who had converted an old grain mill and silo into a home,, that he resides in.
My next stop was Homer on Highway 60 , where I chatted with the publisher of the Homer Index newspaper who gave me the lowdown on the town full of great old brick building. The newspaper has been publishing since 1872.
Bernie’s Main Street Tavern is known for great burgers and Cascarelli’s is the place for for great pizza and Italian food.
Tales road FROM THE Southeast Michigan Road Trip
(known as the East Chicago Road).
Jonesville has a vibrant downtown with a great bakery, movie theatre, restaurants and more. I could not pass up a glazed donut at the Jonesville Bakery which has a very large and reasonable priced selection of baked goods. I ate breakfast east of downtown at Spangles. Their “Blue Plate” breakfast was very tasty. Next door is the classic Coney Hut Drive In, which I look forward to stopping in my next time through town.
Moscow is further east on US12 with a few old buildings. I was told later that I should have stopped at Special Ed’s Donuts but I was all “donuted” out by this point
My favorite stop on this trip was at McCourtie Park in Somerset Center. I love Roadside Attractions and this is one of the best.
The park was once the farm and home of Herb McCourtie. In the 1930’s he transformed the land into a rich man’s summer place. He made major additions to the original house and brought in tons of cement from nearby Peninsular Portland Cement Company. McCourtie created two spring-fed ponds, 14 feet deep and 100 foot long by 60 foot wide that were once used as a swimming pool and a stocked trout pond. His greatest
creation was seventeen bridges, all made in the style of Trabajo Rustico, which is the use of cement, sculpted to look like wood. These walk-able bridges are breath taking and were once equipped with lights.
While walking the grounds, I met caretaker., Terry Reister, who gave me a tour of the underground building. Two chimneys sculpted to look like trees stand above an underground apartment built into the side of a hill, hidden from the highway. Rumor has it that it was used as a rathskeller, (an underground speakeasy) during prohibition. Reister gave me the lowdown on McCourtie and the architecture of the building as well as its history. Somerset Center is on the main road between Detroit and Chicago and was rumored to be a great stopping point for mobsters, including Al Capone, traveling between the two cities.
Next, I headed south on 127, to Hudson, about 35 mile south off Jackson. Hudson has a great downtown chocked full of classic brick buildings.
country.
There is a Kalamazoo connection to the streak. The first-ever MHSAA playoffs were played in November 1975, when Hudson defeated Kalamazoo Hackett 24-14 in the Class C state semifinals. This secured their 72nd win and set a new national high school record for consecutive wins. Many former Hackett students and players felt that Hackett should have won the game.
During my visit, I met the publisher of the Hudson Post-Gazete which began in 1858 and is one of oldest newspapers in the state.
I noticed an old abandoned stone railroad bridge crossing the Been Creek and pulled over, behind the movie theatre, to check it out. Across the parking lot was a another section of the old bridge with a few goats playing king-of-the -hill at the top. They appeared to be a part of an outdoor child care area full of small animals.
My last stop before heading back north was in Morenci, about 20 miles south of Hudson on the Ohio border. I previously read about the restoration of the 100 plus year old Rex Theatre and wanted to check it out. It had been closed for over 10 years when a local resident purchased and renovated the theatre and reopened it. It was closed when I was in town, but would love to come back and enjoy a movie there someday.
and lots of traffic through town but not many reasons to stop.
My next stop was Jonesville, a few miles south
Hudson’s claim to fame is it’s Hudson Tigers high school, football team. The Tigers put together a 72-game winning streak from 1968-75. This achievement still stands in the Michigan High School Athletic Association record books 45 years later and stood as a national record for nearly 25 years. The streak began on Sept. 20, 1968, with a 33-0 win over Clinton and didn’t end until Nov. 22nd, 1975 with a 38-22 loss to Ishpeming in the first-ever MHSAA state championship game. The streak was covered by newspapers and magazines across the
My final stop for this feature was to the Dairy Depot, for an ice cream cone. They not only have delicious ice cream, but are well-known for their good food too. The Dairy Depot is located in an interesting old two-story tile building near the river.
I will chronicle the remainder of my my trip heading north to the Irish Hills in a future issue.
A few miles south is Litchfield which has more great classic brick buildings
on the historic US-12
Kalamazoo County Senior Millage Renewal
It has been 6 years since voters overwhelmingly approved a millage to help older adults 60+ stay in their homes with a variety of services that enhance the quality of their lives. The Say Yes to Seniors ballot question committee asks for your support on the August 6th primary ballot to continue the vital services the millage provides.
The senior millage has helped older adults and their caregivers living in every township, city and village in the county. In 2023 more than 10,500 seniors were assisted by services such as home delivered meals, house cleaning, wheelchair ramps, emergency response devices, home repair, healthy living programs, transportation, and more. In total, 45 different services are offered through 27 service providers.
Nearly 1 in 4 Michiganders are informal (unpaid) caregivers, providing over 1 billion hours of voluntary care. The Kalamazoo County Senior Millage support-
ed over 500 caregivers in 2023, through respite services that are in-home and at adult day care facilities, information and resource calls, and an annual Caregiver Support Day.
By 2029 about 25% of Kalamazoo County will be at or over the age of 60. The senior millage benefits the entire community as it addresses the needs of older adults, caregivers, and businesses who rely on working caregivers.
The Kalamazoo County Senior Millage renewal is on the August 6th ballot. It will produce approximately $3.7 million per year, at a rate of .3462 mills. The 2024 annual cost for a taxpayer in a home with an average taxable value of $91,820 would be $31.79 or $2.65 per month.
For more information, please contact: Judy Sivak, Chair Ballot Question Committee 269-303-4234 judysivak@gmail.com
