Spark-Southwest Michigan-June 2024

JIM GARRISON LOVES CHECKERS! ~ PG. 10

Expert Advice

Transitions

Roofing

Health Food

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

Counseling

Powers, Owner, Licensed Professional Counselor

Q: When is the best time to participate in therapy?

A: Right now is the best time to engage in mental health counseling. Each day is an opportunity to pursue your best life. When you improve your mental health, other aspects of your life start to improve as well. Physical, financial, emotional, spiritual, and environmental health encompass holistic wellbeing. As we begin this new year, are you ready to challenge yourself to grow?

Heart Soul Mind Strength LLC

Faith. Acceptance. Empowerment. Purpose. Www.HeartSoulMindStrengthLLC.com 510-827-1305

Justin Reynolds Manager

Q: I had my roof replaced 12 years ago with a 30 year shingle. It already needs to be replaced. What happened? Roofs used to last 20-25 years.

A: Asphalt is the main waterproofing ingredient in shingles giving strength and longevity. Due to improvements in the ability to refine a barrel of crude oil, less asphalt is available for roofing and road projects. And what is left for roofing lacks the quality that we received 20-25 years ago.

We have found that by blending polymers with the asphalt, we can make shingles tougher and more durable. Our shingles will last 25-30 years.

For a free roof inspection, please give us a call at 269 342-0153 or visit us at worryfreeroof.com.

Sherriff-Goslin Roofing Co. Since 1906 342-0153 800-950-1906

Member Home Builders Association of Greater Kalamazoo

Sports Physicals

Q: I am new to the area and was wondering if Sawall Health Foods carries bulk foods?

A: Whether you need a teaspoon of Cinnamon or a 25 lb. bag of organic whole wheat flour, Sawall’s carries over 400 of your favorite all natural and organic bulk selections. You will find West Michigan’s largest selection of bulk products including spices, whole grains, dried fruits, legumes, rice, flours, coffee, tea, soup mixes, fresh roasted or raw nuts, all natural and organic candy and a wide selection of granolas, gluten free granolas and trail mixes.  We receive weekly deliveries to ensure that our bulk is fresh.

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

Sood, MD Bronson Primary Care Partners

Q: My child needs a sports physical to participate in athletics. Is a sports physical enough?

A: It’s important to know that not all sports physicals are the same. There is a better option. You can complete your child’s sports physical requirement along with their annual well-child visit. A well-child check-up is a much more comprehensive exam than a sports physical. It addresses your child’s overall growth and development in addition to their readiness for the upcoming sports season. Whether your child participates in their school’s sports program or not, an annual well-child exam is an important way to proactively track your child’s overall health and well-being.  Schedule their appointment now. Learn more about sports physicals and well-child visits by visiting bronsonhealth.com/sportsphysicals.

Q: What types of investment bonds are there?

A: There are several different types of bonds thatcan be utilized within an investment portfolio. The 3 most common ones are:

• Corporate bonds issued by companies like AT&T orMcDonalds

• Municipal bonds issued by states and municipalities

• Government bonds such as those issued by theU.S. Treasury Bonds are considered a “conservative” investment as they do not have the big swings invalue like the stock market. You can buy bondsindividually or via mutual funds or ETFs.

Give us a call to see what might be right for yourinvestment portfolio.

The Atriums • 4341 S. Westnedge #1201 269-323-7964

Mark Sawall Owner

Diana Duncan Director of Sales and Marketing

Sandhya

Chuck Henrich President & Owner

Kim

In 1967, when I was ten years old, I started playing Little League baseball in Union Lake, north of Detroit. I recently found an old photo from that time. I am wearing rust colored socks and Kmart tennis shoes on the far right in the picture. Our games always involved a station wagon filled with kids and on a good night, ice cream on the way home.

I was not a great player, but I lived and breathed the game. All summer long, we played baseball all over the neighborhood on makeshift fields, with only one bat, a worn out ball and if we were lucky, a hand-me-down baseball mitt. For entertainment, we listened to the Detroit Tigers on the radio.

Fast forward thirty years, when I coached my son Sam’s teams for several years in Vicksburg and helped out with my daughter Lauren’s teams. These were great times and many of the boys (now grown men) still reminisce fondly to this day. The biggest challenge back in the day (before cell phones and the Internet), was getting the word out about game cancellations and who was in charge of bringing snacks.

One of the traditions I started, was pitching water balloons to the kids after home games. As you can imagine, a huge water balloon fight ensued against our rival team. Around the 4th inning, several parents began bringing big coolers filled with water balloons towards the dugouts. I think the kids were more excited about the water balloon fight than the game. I once got a call from the league president saying that he knew we were having fun, but could we try to tone it down a bit next year.

Fast forward another 20 years and I am now coaching Lucas and Emmett, Jackie’s grandson’s, Major’s Baseball (11-12 year old) team in Richland. When I was asked to

do this several months ago, I was not very excited at the prospect of such a commitment. The thought of meetings, evaluations, drafts, practices, etc., didn’t seem very appealing to me. However, I begrudgingly agreed, and couldn’t be happier that I did! Boys this age are fun, eager to learn and screwballs.

At the player and parent meeting, I mentioned how much I love baseball and asked if anyone knew what happened in 1968. When I got no response, I asked if any parent was born then -still no response. I then mentioned 1984 and the Tigers winning the World Series and asked if any parent was born then. The answer was still no. I found that hard to believe - I must be getting old!

After a half dozen practices, we lost our first game, 6-5, in five, cold, windy, rain soaked innings. soaked 5-innings. As we were batting in the top of the 5th, hoping to tie it up before darkness and the 8pm curfew, the other team brought in a very big, strong 50mph+, somewhat wild, pitcher. As he clanged a couple of pitches off of the backstop while warming up, a hush went over our dugout. It was very overcast and drizzly at that point. The first boy said to me as we stood near home plate waiting, “I’m scared, Coach Steve.” I did not want to tell him I would have been scared at his age, and maybe even a bit now. I said, “Hang in there.” The smaller boy backed up about 3-4 feet off the plate as each fastball whizzed by. The fireballer struck out our team with barely a dozen pitches and I was just relieved that he didn’t hit anyone.

While so many things have changed over time, I am happy to report that Little League baseball has stayed much the same. The pure joy of watching a kid get a hit, or steal a base, is just as exciting today as it was fifty years ago.

Steve Ellis, SPARK Publisher steve@swmspark.com

FROM THE EDITOR

Jim Garrison at the Gilmore Car Museum.

Photo by Steve Ellis

Do you know the difference?

Lee

A. Dean screendoor@sbcglobal.net

In the 1979 comedy movie “The Jerk,” Steve Martin plays Navin Johnson, a young man who is about to leave home for the first time. Navin’s father imparts one last piece of useful advice to his son.

“Now that you’re going out into the world, there’s something you should know,” the father says, pointing to the ground. “Do you see that? That’s (organic fecal matter). And this? (removing a small can from his pocket). That’s Shinola.”

Navin points at each substance, correctly identifying them both.

His father smiles. “Son, you gonna be all right.” As they walk away, Navin steps right into the pile of the substance that is not Shinola.

That scene captures our inability to tell the difference between two types of behaviors or beliefs. (Note: This is not an exercise in finger-pointing here — I have stepped in quite a few piles myself.)

Shared interests vs. shared values. Knowing this difference is supremely important when picking a life partner. Imagine

a couple planning to tie the knot. They watch the same kinds of TV, read the same kinds of books, enjoy the same styles of music and cheer for the same sports teams. This should be a match made in heaven, except that their values about work, money, and spirituality are diametrically opposed. The match is a mismatch, with dire consequences.

My wife, the Viking Goddess, and I agree on only a few musical genres. I try not to expose her to hard rock that sounds like weasels being tortured. Likewise, she will not subject me to TV shows about buying wedding dresses. I am an avid sports fan, while she could not care less about any athletic endeavor. But we both have a work ethic, worship the same God, and share a vision for money. The values far outweigh the interests, and the result is we’re at 25 years and counting.

Can’t vs. won’t. If a person can’t do something, this can be a signal that they need our help or they are simply physically and mentally unable to perform a certain task. This is no sin. But there are too many times when someone says, “I can’t do that,” when they have the ability but not the will.

Opponents vs. enemies. Have you ever wondered why two people in a boxing match can pound on each other for 12 rounds and then embrace after the fight?

The two combatants are opponents who respect one another. But labeling someone as an “enemy” raises the stakes. Enemies are to be silenced or even eliminated. This poisonous mindset divides friendships, families, and societies.

Smart vs. wise. I went to high school with a guy who was a mathematical genius, who could correct teachers who were working out mind-numbing equations on the blackboard. This same kid wore loafers for a reason—he couldn’t tie his shoes. He would have been the perfect candidate for a snipe hunt. On the other hand, some of the wisest people I know have very little book learning but tons of common sense.

Childlike vs. childish. If someone is childlike, the results can be delightful. This quality in adults produces people who are inquisitive, playful, and joyful as little kids often are. But childish is a different behavior altogether. These are the adults who act out, throw temper tantrums, and make unreasonable demands. Why? Because they didn’t get their own way.

Management vs. leadership. The comic strip “Dilbert” features a villainous character known as “the Pointy-Haired Boss.” Often the PHB will issue mindless directives and then brag that he is engaging in “management.” Yes, he’s a

manager, but he’s not a leader. Managers get people to do things because they must. Leaders convince people to do things because they want to. They lead by example. Managers say, “you take that hill,” but leaders say, “follow me and we’ll take that hill.”

What if vs. what next. When life deals us a setback, we often ask ourselves, “What if?” If the motivation for this question is an honest assessment and not an attempt to avoid accountability, the question has value. The problem comes when “what if” becomes the default for a victim mentality. “What’s next” looks forward, searches for solutions, and is positive. It is based on the possibility rather than the problem.

All these choices and more fall under one umbrella: knowing the difference between fantasy vs. reality. There is a reality that exists regardless of what we think. I cannot simply speak into existence the ability to sing like Michael Buble – or look like him. No amount of voice lessons or plastic surgery can make that happen. A happy and welladjusted life hinges on discovering the unchangeable reality of the universe and aligning myself with it.

We all have the choice whether to sign up for Team Fantasy or Team Reality. But if you want to pick the winning side, cast your lot with Team Reality – the team that is undefeated.

Magic City Grill Fest Returns!

By Laura Kurella

The Magic City Grill Fest is returning on June 22, 2024 to downtown Colon, MI for its fifth year. “The Magic City GrillFest is an awesome festival for both those who love to grill and those who love to eat barbecue,” chuckled event chair, Tim Talyor. “And it promises to offer all kinds of barbecue flavor through various barbecue techniques being utilized, such as charcoal briquettes, lump charcoal, and even hardwood over an open flame.”

“The cooking techniques that will be on display at this competition are as varied as the foods they prepare,” Taylor said. “This year the teams will compete in three different unique categories and one with a twist: Ribs, Chicken, and Wagyu beef sliders, or an Open Category, which is Griller’s Choice.”

“Entries will be reviewed by a panel of esteemed culinary judges (that includes Spark’s very own Food Columnist, Laura Kurella), and the highest scoring entries will win prizes, trophies, and bragging rights for the year.”

With this year’s fest promising to be nothing short of magical, Taylor said with a smile, “It’s going to be an unforgettable day of fun, friendship, and food your taste buds won’t soon forget!”

This “adult-geared” fest includes a cooling, tent-covered beer garden, music, a cornhole tournament, specialty vendors, and a special raffle with awesome

prizes all for the benefit of the American Legion, which also serves as host for the fest’s “after” party.

Don’t miss out on this sizzling opportunity! Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 22nd, 2024.

Gates open to the public at 11:00 AM in the OMNI Community Credit Union Parking Lot.

For a full list of details, to sign up your grilling team, a corn hole team, and purchase Tasting tickets, which are $20 preevent and $30 at the gate, visit magiccitygrillfest.com

Spark columnist Laura Kurella will be one of the judges.

“No Greater Gratification”– Jim Nycum

By Jim Coppinger, Milestone Senior Services Volunteer

Jim Nycum (nik-um) was born in Kalamazoo but grew up in Richland. The family moved to the area when he was eight because his parents, both teachers, took up teaching positions there. Jim attended Gull Lake Schools where he excelled in high school sports playing baseball, basketball, wrestling, and football. Jim says he has been a “sports nut” ever since and especially likes to follow college football. He’s a lifelong Michigan fan. As his own children grew up, Jim was active in helping to coach and umpire for their Little League teams.

In high school, Jim participated in a science fair. He chose to build a binary computer for his project from blueprints he found in a library book. Computers were just coming into existence at the time and the term “binary” came from rudimentary fundamentals of computing based on calculating ones and zeros. He says part of his inspiration to build a computer came from his grandfather who was an electrical engineer.

That budding interest in electronics led Jim into a career as an electrician. He began his profession with Allied Paper in Kalamazoo and then on to Post Cereal in Battle Creek for twenty-seven years as a plant electrician. He later started his own handyman business and enjoyed helping people with projects to keep their homes safe and in good repair.

Jim has long been a numismatist—coin collector.

He says when COVID hit, rather than sitting around, he added stamp collecting as a hobby and now collects the new stamp editions the U.S. Postal Service releases each year.

He also enjoys travel and hopes to do more in the future. He looks back with great fondness the summer vacations he and his siblings enjoyed with his parents while they were all off for the summer. Over the years, the family visited locations across to the country.

Jim retired in 2015 and knew two things: one, he

wasn’t going to just sit back and relax; and two, he wanted to help others by continuing to work with his hands.

He found the perfect solution to fulfill his retirement goals by contacting Milestone. He became a volunteer to work on home repair projects. Those projects ceased during the pandemic. So, Jim began volunteering with the Milestone crew that builds and installs handicap ramps for clients throughout the area.

Jim says working with other volunteers, of all backgrounds and skill levels, gives him an immense sense of gratification. In addition to doing needed and valuable service for our community, the comradery that comes from working with others is worth every minute. And seeing the joy on the faces of people getting unincumbered access to their home is priceless.

Jim says anyone who has a heart for helping others and time to share, would not be disappointed in calling Milestone and simply asking, “how can I help?”

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.

Lovett Eames: Pioneer Manufacturer and Inventor

Kalamazoo has a rich history of manufacturing. But long before the stoves, sleds, guitars, and other products came along that made our city famous, the mills and workshops of Lovett Eames helped establish the village of Kalamazoo as a manufacturing center.

Lovett Eames was among the first to arrive in the Kalamazoo area during the land rush of the 1830s, when virgin forests to the north and west of Kalamazoo were rich with hardwood timber. In 1835, Eames built a water-powered sawmill where Ravine Road now crosses the city limits, and a steam-powered mill some two miles up the road near today’s Squires Drive. Both mills ran under various owners until the 1870s, when they were razed to make way for the Kalamazoo & South Haven Railroad line (today’s Kal-Haven Trail).

By the summer of 1841, Eames had moved his family to the west side of the village where he was manufacturing water pumps and wooden water pipes, then the norm for carrying potable water. Known as the Eames Mill, his factory stood beside Arcadia Creek where the Genesee Prairie Road (Oakland Drive) met the old Territorial Road (Michigan Avenue), just north of today’s Waldo Stadium.

Eames manufactured many types of products over

by Keith Howard, Kalamazoo Public Library

the years: from pumps and water pipes to carriage and wagon wheel hubs, machinery, steam engines, and portable sawmills. “He was a genius,” his daughter Ellen later recalled, “he never failed to accomplish what he set out to do.” Eames held patents for several of his

inventions.

An expert in hydraulics, Eames was responsible for some of Kalamazoo’s first water systems, including a hydraulic system (said to be the first of its kind in this part of the country), which provided running water for the fairgrounds on Portage Street. Eames and his wife Lucy were strong supporters of education, especially for women. In 1851, Eames purchased a 6-acre lot near the west end of South Street, where he built a modest home for his family. “We had a large orchard and garden,” recalled his daughter, Ellen, “and a wonderful barn with every possible mechanical device.” In response to the community’s desire to establish a separate “Female Department” at Kalamazoo College, Eames donated the west half of their South Street lot to the school, where Kalamazoo Hall (later known as Lower Hall) was built. The building opened in 1859 and stood for more than a half-century.

Tragically, Lovett Eames was killed in September 1863 when a boiler inside his factory exploded as he was leaving the building. The old Eames Mill was purchased in 1916 by Western Michigan University (WMU) and used for manual arts classes and as a practice space by its arts department. The building was eventually condemned due to safety concerns, and in 1942 it was demolished to make way for a new manual arts building, which now houses WMU’s physical plant and transportation services. Many at the school viewed the century-old structure’s passing “with regret and a feeling that a real friend (had) gone.”

More at kpl.gov

Hidden Beauty? It was Right Beneath our Feet.

By Tom Springer, Vice President of Development, Kalamazoo Nature Center

You may have seen the gorgeous frescoes that were recently unearthed by archeologists in Pompeii, Italy. They’d been buried there since the catastrophic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in AD 79. Well, KNC recently uncovered a lost treasure of its own in the Visitor Center. It’s been right beneath our feet since KNC was built in 1963.

We didn’t have to remove centuries of rubble and volcanic ash to find it. But we did hire Burgess Concrete in Kalamazoo to uncover it. They used a cement grinder with a diamond-faced wheel to remove the top 1/8 inch or so of innocuous grey cement. It took 10 working days, as dust and vibration filled the air and slurry from the machine ran outside in a large hose. Yet the final product has earned high marks for its beauty and durability. By removing the top layer of cement, the grinder exposed the stunning aggregate below. These pieces of native stone resemble something a rock hound would find on a Lake Superior beach. They are black, red, white, umber, ochre, green, topaz and more. They vary in size, and came from a nearby gravel pit in the early 1960s. They beautifully reflect the same glacial moraine landscape found on KNC’s property, which includes an old gravel mine. (Like this look? There’s a wonderful jigsaw puzzle of Lake Superior beach stones for sale in our Trail’s End gift shop.)

When KNC was built, the floor was carpeted. During Covid, when “deep cleaning” protocols reigned, KNC removed the tired carpet and opted

for the polished concrete look. Unfortunately, the floor was pitted an uneven, so the polish job didn’t much improve its appearance. KNC staff debated what to use next: more carpet, tile, linoleum, hardwood, sisal, bamboo?

For help, we contacted Valerie Wright from Diekema/Hamman, a Kalamazoo architecture firm. As she pointed out, it’s not the flooring type itself but the usage that determines what’s best for any given location.

The Nature Center’s staff uses heavy carts to change out exhibits, a move that may damage a wooden floor. We also welcome thousands of visitors, many of whom come straight to the Visitor Center after a hike on our 14-mile trail network. Hiking boots tend to track in dirt clods; like spilled popcorn on the floor of a high school basketball game, it’s all part of the ambience. Still, these par-

ticulars convinced us that refinished concrete was the most affordable, low-maintenance solution. And, one that’s been hiding in plain sight all along. Pending a volcanic eruption (and Michigan hasn’t seen one since the Precambrian era 3.5 billion years ago) the refinished floor should last well into the next century.

Tom Springer is vice president of development at the Kalamazoo Nature Center and author of Looking for Hickories and The Star in the Sycamore.

DURABLE, BOXY AND ENDEARING CHECKER CABS FIND RENEWED INTEREST

By Dave Person david.r.person@gmail.com

As memories of the Checker Cab era grow fainter, Jim Garrison is determined to keep the glory days of the iconic Kalamazoo creation alive.

Garrison, 73, worked as a tool-and-die maker at Checker Motors Corp. on Pitcher Street for 32 years, from 1977 to 2009, and while Checker automobiles ceased production in 1982, five years after he went to work there, he became enamored of their legend and lore.

I’m deeply steeped in Checker,” he says.

Garrison, a past president of the Checker Car Club of America, is not only an authority on Checker automobiles, he owns two of them, a 1980 Marathon that he enjoys taking for rides when the weather is pleasant, and a 1931 Model M he is in the process of restoring.

“They ride like a dream; they’re very nice cars to drive around,” he says of Checkers.

Russian immigrant Morris Markin brought the Checker Cab Manufacturing Co. with him from Chicago to Kalamazoo in 1923, but it wasn’t until 1956

that the iconic taxicab body was created and became recognizable to all of America and beyond. The company was renamed Checker Motors in the 1950s. Checker soon became synonymous with New York City taxicabs.

When the production of those automobiles ceased in

1982, Checker continued with metal stamping and assembly for other manufacturers, such as General Motors Corp. for another 27 years.

When Checker Motors closed its doors in 2009, Garrison was among the last employees.

“I was there for almost the very last part,” he says.

Not only did the job keep him in close contact with the production of automobiles, but it was at Checker that Garrison met his wife, Gwen, who also worked there.

Garrison’s infatuation with cars started at an early age.

“I’ve been working on cars since I was 14,” the Kalamazoo native says.

When he was in college at Grand Valley State University he had the opportunity to drive one of Checker’s more unusual vehicles — the stretched station wagon Aerobus — on a regular basis. It was his job to use the school-owned Aerobus to pick up students from the bus station on Sundays when they returned from a weekend away.

The durable, boxy vehicles produced from 1956 to 1982 — the taxicabs were primarily A11s while the

privately owned passenger vehicles with the same body were the Marathons — went virtually unchanged, Garrison says.

“They didn’t change the body design; a lot of the body panels are interchangeable,” he says. “They’re very easy to work on.”

People loved hailing Checker cabs, especially in New York City, which made them famous.

“They’d pass by the other cabs and wait to get into a Checker,” Garrison says.

New York City’s last Checker cab was retired in 1999.

Now, former cabs are virtually nonexistent, Garrison says, because they were in most cases driven hard for several hundred thousand miles until they no longer had value and were junked.

“That was the fate of almost all Checkers, to be scrapped out,” he says.

As a result, he adds, former Checkers from that period are becoming more scarce, with maybe about 400 of them that are lovingly cared for by private owners.

”They loved them and cherished them and took good care of them,” Garrison says of the reason they are still around.

There are still fewer Checkers produced before 1956, with most in the hands of private collectors or in museums, he says.

The ’31 Model M he is restoring is one of only three known to be in existence. One, in Connecticut, has been restored, while the other, in Pennsylvania, is still “in very rough condition,” he says.

Garrison’s old Checker had

been abandoned in the Upper Peninsula for 40 years before he took possession of it.

“Everything on it was rusted, busted and needed attention,” he says.

So far, he has been restoring it mechanically and is now starting to work on the body of the vehicle that had been converted into a truck for use in World War II, which “was the saving grace of a dozen Checkers,” he says.

Once restored, he will paint it its original amber color. Garrison is pleased with renewed interest in Checker, which is “the last of the independent car manufacturers.”

“They are becoming more popular in collector-car circles,” he says.

I: D’Artagnan

Director Martin Bourboulon and French film studio Pathé took a bit of a gamble in 2023 when they made the decision to split the latest cinematic adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’s famous 1844 novel into two films, but it appears to have paid off. Starring François Civil as d’Artagnan, this fantastic version of the classic epic features all requisite roisterous swashbuckling that fans of the source material will be seeking, and packs a secret weapon in Eva Green (Casino Royale, Penny Dreadful) as Milady, the perpetually pipe-smoking 17th century femme fatale. D’Artagnan, left for dead in a shallow grave, arrives in Paris with hopes of becoming a musketeer and swiftly manages to gravely offend three of his deadliest would-be colleagues, Athos (Vincent Cassel), Aramis (Romain Duris), and Porthos (Pio Marmaï) resulting in three separate duels, set to take place consecutively – not a great first day on the job, but we know where this is going: plots against the French crown and skillfully choreographed swordplay. Film adaptations are often better in their native languages and that is certainly the case this time around. Part II: Milady was just released last month, so now is a great time to check out the whole saga. – Submitted by Patrick J.

Afire

German director Christian Petzold’s nod to the stories of Chekov and the character studies of French filmmaker Eric Rohmer, Afire is a slowburning dramedy of manners as much as it is a spiky takedown of artistic ego. When friends Leon and Felix discover that their summertime cottage has been inadvertently double-booked,

Movie Reviews

himself up artistically and personally, while the perpetually petulant Leon scowls with disdain for the circumstances he now finds himself in. The two young men share the cottage with the lighthearted and beautiful Nadja, who when not being affable and generous, engages in boisterous, romantic activities in her nearby bedroom with a local life guard named Devid, whose presence Leon loathes. Leon, a deliciously unsympathetic killjoy through and through constantly broods and whines about not being able to accomplish “the work” he had set out to do--a sophomore novel that he fears might well be rubbish, a suspicion confirmed later when he allows Nadja to read the manuscript. To make matters worse, an encroaching fire, slowly advancing toward their seaside retreat, contributes to the film’s increasingly ominous tenor. – Submitted by Ryan G.

Dream Scenario

Nicolas Cage appeared in six films in 2023, writerdirector Kristoffer Borgli’s Dream Scenario among them. While Cage fanatics have relished the commitment he’s invested in each of his acting roles, big or small, Dream Scenario received more widespread acclaim than most of his recent output. Cage plays a biology professor somewhat full of himself, though he lives a relatively anonymous life with his family. That anonymity disappears when it’s discovered that he’s appearing in strangers’ dreams all over the world. He leans into this peculiar fame, encouraging and enjoying the recognition until his dream personas start taking turns for the worse. Unfolding in a fashion that may remind viewers of films like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Being John Malkovich, Dream Scenario surprises in ways almost as numerous as Cage’s prolific movie releases. – Submitted by Karl K.

Reviews submitted by Ryan Gage. These great titles and others are available at the Kalamazoo Public Library.

Y’OPA Frozen Yogurt

By Richard Martinovich

For Mongol warrior Genghis Khan, the key to instilling bravery on the battlefield was to feed his troops a steady diet of yogurt! Today, the benefits of yogurt are known more for promoting positive digestive health than bravery attributes.

Although yogurt has been around for nearly 10,000 years, and its virtues chronicled in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, frozen yogurt is a relatively new phenomenon, introduced in the 1970’s.

June is National Frozen Yogurt Month! Y’OPA Frozen Yogurt in Portage was named the number one frozen yogurt shop in Michigan!

Like regular yogurt, frozen yogurt contains live and active cultures that support digestive health, and is rich in calcium.

Y’OPA has an amazing selection of delicious “Froyo” flavors, including Pink Lemonade Ice Cream Tart, Red Velvet Cupcake, Fruity Cereal Milk, and favorites like Cookies and Cream. And there are a whopping 80-toppings! Add fresh fruit -- strawberries, cherries, pineapple, raspberries, Kiwi -- syrup, cereals, sprinkles, cookies, candies, baklava pieces! Y’OPA has something for all tastes! Fill up the cup

and pay by the weight!

So many choices, you can’t decide? Y’OPA has taste cups for paying customers!

Y’OPA Frozen Yogurt is not only frozen yogurt. There is gelato, a richer, smoother Italian version of ice cream. Order a smoothie, frappe, custard, Italian ice, or protein-packed “Lifestyle Shake!

Everyone loves frozen yogurt, even dogs! Ask for a YoPup frozen yogurt cup or yogurt drizzled biscuits for Fido! The probiotics will build your dog’s immunity, and aid digestion!

Y’OPA also has frozen yogurt pies!

It is a fun atmosphere inside Y’OPA to enjoy with family and friends, and there is a spacious patio outside to relax on a nice afternoon.

Maybe Genghis Khan was on to something with that bravery claim about yogurt. With its low fat content and calorie count, frozen yogurt might just make it easier to slip into that swimsuit and brave the beach this summer!!

WARRIORS Wednesday

Entangled

I just read a book called Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake. In addition to gorgeous photos, the book describes all the fascinating aspects of mushrooms. Besides lots of interesting tidbits about how our lives intersect with fungi, the main theme was how they connect everything. The author calls it the wood wide web. That immense network of mycelia underground is needed by practically every plant. It made me

think of how we fit into the scheme of nature when we go out in the woods. I know I feel like a part of something immense. I want to thank the trees for all that oxygen, and thank the mushrooms for cleaning up that fallen log.

And on a more personal note, we can thank the fungi for bread, beer, brie. The author goes so far as to suggest that the yeasts domesticated humans,

turning us from hunter gatherers to farmers growing the grains to make bread and beer. Doesn’t that turn you on your head?

We think these lofty thoughts as we chop down invasive multiflora rose in the lowland of Kesling Preserve and marvel at the red trillium that are happily filling in the space. We are all entangled in this wonderful space called southwest Michigan. Some of us are carefully re-entangling pieces of land that have been taken out of circulation by our idea of ownership. Bringing the pieces back together is slow and not very easy work, but it is very very satisfying and we are slowly building our knowledge and appreciation of what this land can be. Who says love is blind: the more we see the more we love.

If you want to immerse yourself more into nature, come join our volunteer groups with Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy. Come join us as your schedule permits, no experience necessary, just bring your enthusiasm. We meet every Wednesday, and a second group, the Privateers, meets every Monday. Details of each week’s workdays are posted on the website swmlc.org/weekly-outdoor-stewardship. Hope to see you out there. And thank a mushroom.

Kristi Chapman, volunteer, Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy

Michigan Wagyu for Dad!

By Laura Kurella

Last fall I was honored to have a recipe win a spot to compete at the 2023 World Food Championships. This pushed me to find ingredients that could bring the most flavor to a recipe in the shortest time, which caused me to stumble upon the incredible flavor I found at hidden at Orchard Hill in Allegan, Michigan. Currently run by Marvin Balgoyen, this old family farm was started more than a century ago by his grandparents, Thomas and Mary Jane Balgoyen.

Well cared for and raised gently, Orchard Hill Wagyu Beef f Allegan, MI., is a bit pricey, but I can personally attest that it’s got an awardwinning texture and flavor that elevates the beef experience.

Extra-special Morel-Smothered Steak

Yield: 4 servings

STEAK

2 tablespoons fat

4 steaks, brought to room temp, if possible

salt and pepper, to taste

SAUCE

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup sliced morels (or shiitake or favorite)

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup low sodium chicken

bone broth

2 tablespoons fat

1 sweet onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

3 tablespoons stout, beer, whiskey, bourbon, or white wine

2 tablespoons good quality balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup heavy cream (or preferred sub)

1 tablespoon finely minced fresh rosemary (or 1 teaspoon dried)

1 tablespoon finely minced thyme (or 1 teaspoon dried)

1 teaspoon cornstarch liquefied in 1/4 cup sour cream

Salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place a plate large enough for both steaks to rest, along with a sheet of foil large enough to cover

them, on the back of the stove to warm. Rub both sides of each of the steaks with some cooking oil. Heat a large ovenproof grill pan over high heat. When very hot, add the steaks. Cook, pressing meat into the grill then, after 2 minutes, shift meat 45 degrees to create a checkered grill pattern on the meat (if desired). Cook for 3 minutes then flip steak and repeat grilled steps. Place pan in preheated oven, place a meat thermometer into thickest part of the steaks and set alarm to sound when steaks are 10 degrees less than desired doneness, which are 115 for Rare, 125 for Medium Rare, 135 for Medium, 140 for Medium Well, and 150 for Well. Alternately, check steaks with an instant read thermometer after 10 minutes in the oven. Once steaks are 10 degrees under desired doneness, remove pan from oven and move steaks to a warm plate tented with foil to relax and keep warm for 10 minutes. While steaks rest, place the pan that the steaks were cooked in on the stove over medium-high heat. Toss mushrooms into flour, coating well, then add butter and slice + coated mushrooms to the skillet. Cook, tossing mushrooms around for 5 minutes, then add chicken broth. Swirl pan around to rinse pan well with the broth. Bring broth to bubbling then scrape pan out into a measuring cup and place it in a warm spot. To the empty, used skillet, add fat and onion, and place over high heat. Cook, stirring until onions begin to caramelize, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for a minute or until the garlic is fragrant. Strain chicken broth over onion mixture, reserving mushrooms in their holding cup. To the onion mixture, add stout/ beer (or whiskey, bourbon, or white wine), balsamic vinegar, and cream (or preferred sub). Transfer mixture to a bowl of a blender or processor then add rosemary, thyme, and cornstarch blended in sour cream. Puree on high speed until smooth then return pureed mixture to used pan and place over medium heat and add morels. Heat then season to taste with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, stirring, for two minutes. Serve sauce over steaks. Garnish with fresh sprigs of rosemary, (if desired). 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.

Marvin Balgoyen of Orchard Hill Wagyu Beef farm in Allegan raising high quality, direct to public, Michigan-made Wagyu. (269) 650-1900.

HEALTHY LIVING BODY, MIND AND SPIRIT

I frequently write about community in this monthly opportunity to share and opine about this, that, and the other thing related to health and wellness for individuals on their personal health journeys. How to exercise. Recommendations on what to eat. How much to sleep. For the MIND, it’s about how to keep it active, sharp, and challenged: Things we can control and do with intentionality to support our BODIES (brain included!) for longevity and independence.

This month, I am particularly moved to marvel at the health and wellness of our collective community in the wake of the tornados that hit Southwest Michigan. I marvel (but am not surprised!) at how community came together immediately, to help, build, provide, and comfort those whose lives were turned upside down.

What did we see among the many things as a response?

• EMS trucks from outside our area, responding immediately to provide critical care;

• Youth, whose schools were closed for several days, volunteering in large groups to clear debris, trees, and such;

• Neighborhoods uniting to do the same, pizza and chicken-wing boxes stacked high on top of each other at lunch times to feed volunteer work-crews;

• Several organizations stepping up to provide their services to facilitate clean-up, , feed, clothe, offer shower facility access, and house displaced persons and families;

• And so very many individuals (who are essentially at the heart of those organizations) making monetary gifts and or contributing every-day household goods to the cause, from baby diapers, to

clothes, to bedsheets, to kitchen utensils, to toys – you name it – as the affected families found themselves in various levels of crisis.

These examples, among all the unseen acts of kindnesses and care, will continue over the next weeks and months, and is how lives and livelihoods will be put back together.

Today, I marvel at the seemingly built-in community SPIRIT that swiftly moved in, just as quickly as the winds of May 7, but with a generous and heart-led way, to lift our neighbors.

It speaks to the wellness of who we are together.

And we are mighty, EF2 Level Tornado strong.

Vicky Kettner is the Association Director of Marketing, Community Relations, and Member Engagement for the YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo.

Book Reviews

Book Reviews by the Portage District Library staff

Language of Flowers

Vanessa Diffenbaugh

If you like flowers, symbolism, and internally poignant moments, this book is for you. The Language of Flowers, by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, utilizes the Victorian book of the same name to exemplify the meaning of flowers and the feelings associated with them. Victoria Jones has made her rounds through various foster homes since she was born. When she turns eighteen, she is on her own without any support. Mistrustful and having never been the product of unconditional love, she connects better with flowers than people. When someone from her past reappears, will she allow herself to experience love?

The Art Thief

Michael Finkel

Between 1995 and 2001, Stephane Breitviser is said to have stolen over 300 priceless works of art from museums and cathedrals all through Europe. He did it with his girlfriend, Anna-Katherine, who served as a lookout. He was fascinated by art, and the compulsion to steal and possess these extraordinary pieces led him to take one risk after another until it all fell apart on an epic scale. This narrative nonfiction tells the story of Stephane and Anna, how his obsession began and grew, how they accomplished so

many thefts right under the noses of the guards and museum authorities, how he hoarded his art in the attic of the house where he lived with his mother, and how he was eventually apprehended. The author delves into his past as well as some psychological testing to try to explain why he could not stop stealing. It is a well-researched, well-written, fascinating story.

Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted

Suleika Jaouad

When Suleika Jaouad was 22 years old, she was fresh out of college, in love, and starting an exciting journalism internship in Paris. Life had other plans for her, however, as she started to get very, very sick. On returning home, she received the news that she had a rare, aggressive form of leukemia with about a 35% survival rate. This memoir chronicles her journey through her difficult treatment that spanned over three years after she was declared cancer-free. She is brutally honest about how brutal her treatment was, the pain of making friends on the cancer ward and then losing them, and how difficult this was on her family and loved ones. Her writing is vivid and selfaware, and she reminds us that there is a thin line between wellness and illness, and we all travel between those kingdoms. This is a lovely memoir and is highly recommended.

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

By Steve Ellis

This past March, Jackie and I flew to Las Vegas for a visit with her relatives.

We stayed at the Embassy Suites by Hilton. It was a nice place with an outdoor pool, free made-to-order breakfast, happy hour and just a short walk to the Strip.

We enjoyed people watching while walking up and down the Strip and admired the fabulous hotels. We had not been to Vegas for a while and found it interesting to see the changes. It seems like one giant hotel and casino after another is continuously being built, each one larger and more extravagant than the last.

The biggest new attraction is The Sphere, an entertainment venue with exterior lights creating different pictures, which can be seen from just about everywhere in town, especially at night. It looks like a giant multicolored, ever-changing beach ball. It is an 18,000-seat music and entertain-

Tales road FROM THE

~ las vegas, nevada ~

ment arena with immense video and audio capabilities. The arena cost $2.3 billion, making it by far the most expensive entertainment venue built in Las Vegas. It will primarily host award shows and concerts, in addition to other events.

Walking through Caesars Palace, Wynn Las Vegas, The Venetian, Paris Las Vegas and the Bellagio is almost an overload for your senses. The Bellagio, with its huge Chihuly glass sculpture in the ceiling is fabulous. The Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden has a wonderful Alice in Wonderland experience. The Garden theme change five times per year.

One night, we took an Uber downtown to Fremont Street in “old Las Vegas.” I am fascinated with the his-

tory of Las Vegas and this is where it all began.

Fremont Street dates back to 1905 when Las Vegas was founded. Even though the Strip has taken most of the tourists, Fremont Street is still home to the Golden Nugget, Binion’s Horseshoe, the Fremont Hotel and other legendary spots.

Many famous films including Elvis’s, “Viva Las Vegas” and “Diamonds Are Forever” were filmed there. In the late 1990’s, as many of the downtown casinos were struggling, the Fremont Street Experience was built. This is clear roof over a five-block stretch of downtown casinos, features light shows, live bands and dozens of strangely dressed street performers, many of which are not family friendly. High above the street, you can watch

zip-line enthusiasts flying amongst the multi-colored lights.

We had a great burger meal at “Park on Fremont,” a cool, quirky establishment with interesting artwork and a wonderful patio full of fun antiques and lights outdoors in the back.

This area also includes the “Neon Museum.” The 2.25-acre campus includes the outdoor exhibition space known as the Neon Boneyard, which features more than 250 signs, several of which are restored. There is a visitor’s center housed inside the former La Concha Motel lobby, and there are 15 large restored neon signs along Fremont Street.

This area once held hundreds of small motels with brightly lit signs, proclaiming “Free TV” and “Air Conditioning.” Heading east on Fremont, we passed by dozens of these classic old motels with dreamy names like The Hialeah, Sky Ranch and the Blue Angel.

The next time you are in Las Vegas, take the short drive into the downtown area on Las Vegas Boulevard, and experience “old Las Vegas”.