Expert Advice
Health Food
Q:
What can I find at Sawall’s deli?
A: You can find a wide selection of salads, risottos, prepared meats, Panini, Tamales, Quesadillas, Lasagne, Hummus and much more at our DELI! All our food is prepared in-house with all natural ingredients. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options.
We also offer authentic Artisanal Italian Gelato & certified vegan Sorbets, Frappe’s and Sorbet Drinks.
Enjoy our Coffee Bar! Indulge in a variety of aromatic and finest quality coffee beverages from authentic Espressos to Lattes, Cappuccinos, Hot Teas, and Ice Teas. All organic freshly brewed coffees!
Deli Hours:
Mon-Sat: 10:30 am - 9:00 pm Sun: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sawall Health Foods
Oakwood Plaza • 2965 Oakland Dr. at Whites Rd. • 343-3619 • www.sawallhf.com
Financial Services
Chuck Henrich President & Owner
Q: How long should I keep my investment statements?
A: It’s recommended that you keep these statements up to 7 years.
Several reasons include:
• Tax Audits
• Capital Gains and Losses on buy/sell transactions
• Tracking returns over time
• Fair market value on inherited investments
• Dispute resolution
Do you have to keep ALL the statements you receive? Once you receive the end-of-year statements, you can get rid of all the monthly and quarterly statements.
Another consideration is to go with “paperless” statements and let the custodian of your investments keep all the necessary records for you allowing you to clear out your file cabinet and reclaim some precious storage space at home.
Southwest Michigan Financial, LLC
The Atriums • 4341 S. Westnedge #1201 269-323-7964
Counseling
Kim Powers,
Owner, Licensed Professional Counselor
Q: Why would I set a boundary in my relationship?
A: Boundary setting creates a framework for how you can simultaneously love others and love yourself in a healthy way while communicating your wants and needs, without compromising yourself. Without safety and parameters, the relationship may become dysfunctional, leading to bitterness and resentment, even abuse. Boundaries can enhance the quality of a relationship, end a toxic relationship, or create better balance and improve the dynamics, helping you to honor yourself and your worth.
Heart Soul Mind Strength LLC
Faith. Acceptance. Empowerment. Purpose. Www.HeartSoulMindStrengthLLC.com 510-827-1305
Transitions
Foot Health
Q: Why Is Foot Health Important & How Is It Connected to Diabetes?
A: Taking care of your feet is important for everyone, but it’s even more important if you have diabetes. Diabetes can cause nerve damage and poor blood flow, which can lead to serious problems like infections or even losing a limb. The good news is that you can lower these risks by keeping your blood sugar under control and caring for your feet. No matter who you are, paying attention to your feet can help you stay healthy and keep moving.
Tips for Healthy Feet:
• Wash your feet daily
• Check your feet often
• Trim your toe nails properly
• Wear properly fitted shoes
If you are experiencing foot problems—especially if you have diabetes—don’t wait to call your doctor. Diabetes increases the risk of serious foot issues, so early treatment is key to staying healthy.
Bronson Wound Center & Hyperbaric Medicine
bronsonhealth.com/wound
Roofing
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
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
Mark Sawall Owner
Diana Duncan Director of Sales and Marketing
Troy Pascoe, MD
Funny How Time Slips Away
I heard this great Willie Nelson song on the radio the other day and it made me pause and think about many things.
As we all get older, (I am 68), we start to spend more time thinking about the past, and realize that we are getting older and will not live forever.
I remember when I was fifteen and thinking, I have only lived a 5th or 6th of my life and I have a whole lifetime ahead of me.
I no longer like that calculation process, because I’m now approaching the other end of the calculation.
When we were kids, each day, month and year seemed to last forever. As we get older, every year seems to fly by.
My advice to this is to truly appreciate each day. Do the small things and big ones you have always wanted to do.
Don’t wait until it is warmer or sunnier, or the countless other reasons for waiting until later.
When we were kids, somebody would say, “Let’s build a treehouse” or “Let’s ride our bikes to the old railroad bridge,” or “Let’s build a rope swing at the pond.”
We did not sit around and think, “I need a better bike, we need stronger rope or we need better nails.” We just did it.
We still can and we should!
Willie Nelson is the perfect example of this.
It is hard to believe, Wilie wrote “Funny How Time Slips Away” at the very young age of 27. The song was first recorded by Billy Walker in 1961 and by Willie in 1962. Elvis Presley and countless others later recorded it. Willie Nelson will be 92 in April and will be performing at Pine Knob on June 20. Willie is not letting “Time Slip Away.”
Steve Ellis, SPARK Publisher steve@swmspark.com
Jilisa Williams , Race Director Carrie Drake and Laura Asher.
Photo by Steve Ellis
To our nephew and fiancée on their wedding day
Lee A. Dean screendoor @sbcglobal.net
Dear Nolan and Kaylynn,
Your big day – the day when you officially become husband and wife – is coming soon. What a day it will be! The day will mark the end of one process and the beginning of another.
Parts of the day will sprint by. Other parts will proceed at a crawl. When Kaylynn’s mom walks her down the aisle, you will want to hurry them along. When your Grandma Lyons was walking your aunt down the aisle, I thought they’d never arrive. Here’s a pro tip: try to restrict the urge to give them the “let’s move it along” hand gesture. This is not the best way to get off to a good start with your soon-tobe mother-in-law.
A wedding day takes plenty of planning, and it should. It’s a pivotal day. But it’s only one day, followed by a lifetime. We hope you’ve been spending plenty of time thinking, talking, and planning about what comes after all the wedding guests go home.
How much have you thought about the road that got you to this point? Nolan, in your case, the journey has been tougher than for most kids. Losing your mom
to cancer when you were 7 was not in anyone’s plans. But your Dad has done a superb job showing you the way. And while we don’t know Kaylynn so well yet, we like her a lot. Her good character is evidence of a good upbringing. We’ve been at the marriage game for 26 years now. Here are some principles that we hope will help you along the way. Your home should be an oasis, a calm in the storm. You two are career-minded, with leadership roles already coming your way. Work can get hectic – heck, the pace of life outside the job can be dizzying. Inside the walls of your home, however, peace should reign supreme. Learn to solve problems in a collaborative, rather than a combative, spirit. You are a team, and your home is the most important playing field.
Be each other’s best friend and champion. The number one member of Nolan’s fan club should be Kaylynn, and vice versa. Be each other’s major source of encouragement, comfort, strength, and wisdom. Avoid at all costs, what someone has called “gorilla humor,” which consists of throwing your spouse under the bus in public with comments such as, “Wait until I tell you what he/she did this time!”
Shared values are far more important than shared interests. If you both like the
same hobbies, follow the same sports teams, and watch the same kinds of TV, all well and good. But these kinds of shared values aren’t what builds a marriage. Shared values are far more important. Are you in synch in matters of the spirit? Do you have different philosophies about money and work? Those are the two areas that can dash your ship on the rocks faster than any others.
Date night is very important. If your lives are so busy that you need to put date night on the calendar, don’t feel strange about it. That’s what calendars are for. Carve out that space and keep it sacred.
Don’t sweat the small stuff. Two people living in close proximity are inevitably going to do things that drive the other person a little mad. You will request your spouse alter that behavior, but after 50 requests, you will see no change. At that point, quit requesting and roll with it. The exact definition of “small stuff” will be up to you, but here’s an example. When someone takes a dirty towel away to be washed and doesn’t replace it – when, with dripping hands you reach for a towel and it isn’t there – that’s small stuff. Just laugh at yourself and go get a clean towel.
Manage your expectations – and make sure they’re YOUR expectation. Establish realistic goals for your marriage. Aim
high, but not too high. Accomplishing achievable goals adds fuel to the motivational fire and builds momentum. Small victories can turn into big ones. But make sure these goals are yours and not imposed from the outside – even from those in your extended family. Run your own race.
Practice the principle of no-blame. When things go wrong, follow a simple three-step process. 1. Figure out what happened, without assigning blame. 2. Fix it. 3. Look toward what’s next. “What’s next” is a far more helpful question than “what if.”
Be ready for life to throw you curveballs, sometimes sharp ones. Ideally, you both want to be pulling the wagon together. Two sets of hands are better than one. But be ready for those times when one of you won’t be able to pull as before. Sickness is the most common time when this happens. Then the other one will have to most, if not all, of the pulling. Do it with the joy that comes from serving someone you love.
We’re counting down the days along with you.
Love and blessings, Uncle Lee and Aunt Viking Goddess
GET OUTSIDE AND FIND MICHIGAN’S SPRING, YOUR BODY, MIND AND SOUL WILL THANK YOU!
Early spring is southwest Michigan’s “homely” season. The romantic winter snow that sparkled with holiday cheer has melted, revealing mud and flattened grass like deflated party balloons. Everything outside is kind of drab . . . or is it?
If you’re feeling a little stir crazy and itching for spring, the very best cure is to go outside and find it! Early spring’s treasures may be harder to find than summer’s, but that just makes the discoveries even sweeter. And spending time in nature – in any season – is good for body, mind, and soul. Try walking slowly in a natural area, looking at stuff with the eyes of a child, as if you’ve never seen it before. Tap into your curiosity and wonder about what you find. Maybe the dead leaves
have been churned up by squirrels . . . what were they searching for? Shelf fungus cascades down a dead tree trunk . . . why is it growing there? A bird is singing from high branches, even though it’s gray and cold . . . can you find it? Ice crystals on a puddle’s edge . . . skunk cabbage sprigs bravely poking out of the mud . . . these are gifts. No matter who we are, our ancestors were well tuned to nature’s subtle turns and lived closer to the earth than most of us do now. If they lived in a cold or dry climate, the first stirrings of spring gave them courage, knowing that easier days were ahead. For us to notice seasonal changes is a small act that honors what was so important to the people who came before us – and also acknowledges the soft voice inside us that craves these
quiet signs of hope.
The post-winter world may look like it has a hangover but it’s just waking up slowly to begin the cycle once again. Go outside and give it a hug!
Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy has 18 public nature preserves that are perfect places to celebrate seasonal changes. As a local non-profit land trust, we can offer these places of respite to the community because of all the huge-hearted folks that support our work through membership donations. Together, we’re protecting, restoring, and caring for southwest Michigan’s vital lands and waters for everyone – now and for generations to come. Learn more on our website: www.swmlc.org.
KNC Earth to Feature Guided Hikes, Garlic Mustard Games
By Tom Springer, Vice President of Development, Kalamazoo Nature Center
It’s hard to imagine a better place for an Earth Day celebration than a nature center. Specifically, the Kalamazoo Nature Center on Saturday, April 26. During peak Spring, the woods come alive with a dozen shades of vibrant green. Overhead, an emerald haze of new leaves glimmers on 100-foot tulip poplars. Underfoot, a carpet of gleaming white trilliums, yellow trout lilies and pink spring beauties roll across the forest floor.
Admission is free, which makes it a great day to bring friends or family who’ve never visited KNC. (Or were last there on a long-ago school field trip.) While the trails
are the main attraction, the renovated Visitor Center with its new Forest Mosaic exhibit offers a fascinating journey into the hidden life of forests. For those who love the sight and smell of fresh-tooled wood, the Woodworkers and Woodturners of Southwest Michigan will host a woodturning exhibit in the Glen Vista Gallery. Several of their finished works are on display and available for purchase.
Outside, visitors can join guided hikes to learn about spring wildflowers, tree identification and wild foraging. For civilized foraging, a food truck that serves barbecue will offer hearty fixings for a picnic lunch.
As an Earth Day celebration, there’s also an activity that allows humans to help Mother Nature. It’s called the Garlic Mustard Challenge, and it combines friendly competition with invasive species control. It enlists people of all ages to pull a troublesome weed that threatens forest ecosystems.
“Garlic mustard grows in dense stands in shady, mature forests,” said Jessica Simons, KNC’s vice president of Conservation Stewardship. “It forms a monoculture that outcompetes native plants and pulling the plants is the best way to get rid of them.”
Garlic mustard grows on a tall stalk, which makes it easy to spot and remove with a slight tug. And there’s a lot to tug.
In 2024, KNC’s Ecological Services crew worked all spring to remove over 1,500 pounds of garlic mustard and dame’s rocket (another invasive species) on KNC property. This year, Simons said KNC wants to beat this total with two days of intensive weed pulling. Yet to do so, they
need help from volunteers.
“On Friday, April 25 we welcome group volunteers and on April 26, we’re open to public volunteers,” Simons said. “We’ll have prizes and serious bragging rights for individuals and teams that pull and bag the highest totals of these pesky plants.”
KNC seeks volunteer groups of all sizes and can accommodate groups of up to 100. A KNC staff member will accompany each group to help with plant identification and plant disposal. The teams will work two-hour shifts and will clear areas on the Habitat Haven and Fern Valley Trails, which are both near the Visitor Center.
For more information and to reserve a spot, contact Joy Penney, KNC’s volunteer coordinator at jpenney@naturecenter.org Tom Springer is vice president for Development at the Kalamazoo Nature Center and the author “Looking for Hickories,” and “The Star in the Sycamore.”
Celebrate Garlic!
By Laura Kurella
April is National Garlic Month, so I couldn’t let this month slip past without wading into a topic on garlic that I am being asked a lot about lately: Black garlic.
While it is unique and very new to many of us, black garlic is anything but. In fact, it’s as old as the hills and has been in use as both a food and a medicine for centuries.
The result of cooking any run-of-the-mill whole garlic bulbs, and turning black as a result of its super-long cooking process that transforms it into a more potent cooking and health-promoting property.
Yielding a unique flavor far sweeter than any raw garlic could ever be, black garlic offers a texture that is softer and more jelly-like, and seems as though this special cooking process compounds the amazing flavors we appreciate in roasted garlic. Pressing the garlic flavor pedal to the metal, it pushes garlic’s flavor potential as far as it can go, by using the Maillard reaction. Sounding foreign, but used often in cooking, Maillard is done by simply exposing sugars and amino acids to sustained heat, which is what helps make those onions caramelize.
Coaxing garlic to push its sugar pedal all the way to the metal without burning does
call for extra-gentle cooking, low and very slow, that is optimal at 160 degrees (F) for a full forty (40) days’ time.
Garlic must also be sealed or wrapped well to prevent moisture loss, and while it may seem like a daunting task, it can be done in a dehydrator, or a crockpot on a“hold warm” setting. Both vessels are large enough to make plenty for family and friends, making it worth the bother.
For those who’d like to try this, simply place the desired amount of whole, unpeeled garlic bulbs in a well-sealed food grade bag. Remove as much air as possible. Vacuumsealing will cut down on garlic odor while cooking, too.
If you don’t want plastic to be in direct contact with the garlic, wrap each bulb in parchment paper then foil before placing it in the food grade plastic bag (s).
Place the well-sealed bag(s) in a dehydrator set to 160 degrees then flip bag(s) weekly
until the forty days pass. If you don’t want plastic to be in direct contact with the garlic, wrap each bulb in parchment paper then foil before placing it in the food grade plastic bag (s).
Place the well-sealed bag(s) in a dehydrator set to 160 degrees then flip bag(s) weekly until the forty days pass.
Alternately, using a crock pot, place a bamboo steamer or similar into the crockpot so that the plastic bag does not touch the bottom or sides of the hot crock.
Set the crock to the “Hold Warm” setting, then place the bag in the crockpot,flipping and rotating weekly, until forty days pass. Be mindful that some crockpots have a 24-hour auto shut-off. If yours does,simply restart the crockpot daily until it’s done. You can also try running a small sample batch in a mini, dip-size crock pot, too. Simply snap/cut some wooden kabob sticks to fit in the bottom and sides of the crock to separate the garlic bag from the crock bottom and walls, then cover and let her cook!
It will emit a strong garlic odor for the first few days, so you may want to set this up in the garage.
While there are many differing opinions on time and temperature, I found a study done by a group of researchers that concluded that when garlic was held at 160 degrees (F) for about 40 days, it scored the highest in the sensory evaluation.
Laura Kurella is an award-winning home cook who loves to share recipes from her Michigan kitchen. She welcomes comments at laurakurella@yahoo.com.
Cheesy Garlic Smashed Sweet Taters
4 small sweet potatoes
1/4 cup unsalted butter, divided
4 cloves garlic, pressed
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary
1/2 teaspoon unrefined (colored) sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut potatoes into 1 1/2-inch-thick rounds thenplace on a large sheet pan covered with foil or parchment. Cover the pantightly with foil or another baking pan, and roast for about 20 minutes, untilsoft when pierced with a paring knife. Remove the pan from the oven, and setthe oven on broil. Use a fork to flatten each slice to about a 3/4-inch-thickround. Melt the butter in a small pan; add garlic and rosemary, and stir for a fewseconds. Use a spoon to drizzle a little bit of the butter mixture over thesweet potato rounds. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and Parmesan cheese, and placeunder the broiler for 2 minutes or so, until crispy and browned. Serve hot.
Night (2024)
Less of a dramatization of real events than mythology, writer-director Jason Reitman’s Saturday Night is a fast-paced cinematic fever dream. Capturing the 90 minutes before the first live episode of NBC’s Saturday Night (no “Live” in the title yet), the movie shows the cast and crew, under a young Lorne Michaels’s supervision, working at breakneck speed to get the show together in 1975 NYC. Camera work is dizzying as tracking shots weave in and out of nowfamiliar areas of Studio 8H, following the original cast members, writers, and bountiful production crew as they navigate crises often of their own making. Fans of SNL lore will appreciate the film the most, as the seeds of future sketch ideas, and celebrity career trajectories, are planted in supposedly real-life scenarios. – Submitted by Karl K.
Anora (2024)
Sean Baker (The Florida Project, Tangerine) set a record this year by taking home Academy Awards for writing, directing, and editing this year’s Best Picture winner. Mikey Madison (Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood) scored the film’s fifth for her star-making performance as Anora. Anora is a sex worker – officially a dancer, but also for hire outside of the club. Thrust by linguistic coincidence into the life of Ivan, the ultra-privileged and insufficiently supervised son of a Russian billionaire, she
Movie Reviews
existence. Swiftly married, the couple is set upon by an unforgettable trio of hired goons in league with Ivan’s parents who are furious over the match. What follows is every bit as charming as it is sleazy, and as comical as it is objectively horrifying as the film chaotically builds to one of the greatest emotional climaxes in modern cinema history. – Submitted by. Patrick J.
Evil Does Not Exist (2023)
Set in a rural, mountainous village in Japan, the townspeople prepare for the coming of a “glamping” resort that has the potential to threaten their livelihoods and the surrounding ecosystem they depend upon. Described as an “eco-fable”, director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi’s pensive film contains stunning cinematography, a haunting score by composer Eiko Ishibashi, and a startling final scene that will beg the question, ‘what just happened?’ The film brilliantly explores the dramatic tensions between powerful commercial interests butting heads with a strongwilled citizenry averse to corporate avarice, who in their expression of opposition to the project, cite the need for thoughtful balance when impacting the natural order. Shocked by the negative response to their ‘everyone wins’ spin, the two company representatives head back to Tokyo. As the town frantically searches for the young girl, nature, both its external and internal forms, expresses its own logic with shocking results. Submitted by Ryan G.
Reviews submitted by Ryan Gage. These great titles and others are available at the Kalamazoo Public Library.
Kalamazoo Motor Company
Automobile sales were booming in 1910. By then, more than 25 different models of those newfangled horseless carriages were being offered for sale in and around Kalamazoo, including several electrics. That’s when a group of local entrepreneurs started the Kalamazoo Motor Company, and began selling Oldsmobile, Detroit Electric, Mitchell, K-R-I-T, and Brush automobiles out of its garage and showroom on West Water Street.
Right from the beginning, the Kalamazoo Motor Company tried to sidestep the competition by specializing in electric vehicles. Company representatives were quick to emphasize the reliability and affordability of the electrics, especially the Brush Runabout, which was advertised as “everyman’s car” at $485. (Pictured here is company owner William Orrell behind the wheel of his 1910 Brush Runabout.)
by Keith Howard, Kalamazoo Public Library
In April 1910, the Kalamazoo Motor Company got the chance to show off three of the latest electrics – the Detroit Electric, the K-RI-T, and the Brush Runabout – at Kalamazoo’s first ever automobile show. In its frequent local advertisements, the Kalamazoo Motor Company emphasized that Brush automobiles could “be maintained for less money than it costs to keep a horse,” that it could “be run for more miles for
less money than any other car in the world,” and that it would “do the work” of any gas-powered car on the market.
But the electrics never really caught on. The business was reorganized in 1911 as the Kalamazoo Auto Sales Company and the dealership was moved to North Edwards Street, where the focus
was then shifted to the sale of Hudson automobiles. At the 2nd annual Kalamazoo Automobile Show in April 1911, the company featured a sporty $1,255 Hudson “33” Touring Car and a $1,325 “Mile-a-Minute” Hudson “33” Pony Tonneau.
The business grew quickly after yet another move to the corner of West Main and West streets (Michigan Avenue and South Westnedge). By 1915, the company was selling 1,200 cars a year and would eventually go on to become one of Kalamazoo’s leading automobile dealerships.
But the times, how they did change. The automobile brands represented by the Kalamazoo Motor Company and its successors have all since come and gone. The Detroit-based Brush Motor Car Company went out of business in 1913, and the K-R-I-T (or Krit) Motor Car Company, also based in Detroit, folded at the onset of the First World War. Detroit Electric saw its sales peak after a few years and ultimately ceased production in 1939. The last Hudson rolled off the line in 1957, and the final holdout, Oldsmobile, survived as a division of General Motors until it, too, was dissolved in 2004.
More at kpl.gov
RUN KALMAZOO RUN CAMP PREPS RUNNERS WITH SUPPORT AND FUN
By Dave Person david.r.person@gmail.com
When Jilisa Williams looks out her window at the first snow of the winter it’s a reminder to get out her running shoes.
She knows it will soon be time for the Run Kalamazoo Run Camp.
The Run Camp, formerly the Borgess Run Camp, has been around since the early 2000s. It helps area runners prepare for the spring Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon (26.2 miles), Half-Marathon (13.1 miles), 10k (6.2 miles) and 5k (3.1 miles), which will take place on May 4.
Campers have a choice between the 21-week Run Camp, which began Dec. 7 and is geared toward longer-distance runners, or the 13-week camp, which began Feb. 1.
Both groups gather at a pre-determined spot each Saturday morning to train with their assigned teams.
This year all runners were invited to “Get Your Move On” at the longer camp, or “Get Your Walk On” at the shorter camp, allowing for shorter-distance runners to get the experience of the longer camp, and new and returning runners and walkers to fit comfortably into
the shorter camp.
“This is the first year I’ve done the December camp,” says Williams, 62, of Richland, who has been attending Run Camp since 2012.
She is training, as usual, for the 10k, but when race day comes along she will probably opt to run only half that far.
“The 5k is my sweet spot,” she says.
Running earlier in the winter this year presented some
challenges for Williams.
“We had to wear Yaktrax (traction cleats) from December to mid-February; it was icy all the time,” she says.
Before her first encounter with Run Camp, Williams spent a lot of time outdoors during the warm-weather months but wasn’t active during the winter.
“I’m a hiker, a biker and a kayaker and would spend the winter inside,” she says. “I wanted something (during the winter) that would challenge me.”
She was sold when she attended her first Run Camp meeting and saw a thousand or so runners all gaily attired with loud music blaring in the background.
“It was so much fun to meet people from all over the county, of all shapes, sizes and abilities,” she says.
“I’ve never seen a community event so welcoming and supportive.”
That first year she was on a team called the Pink Gazelles, where she met Laura Asher, also a first-timer in 2012. They have been running together at Run Camp ever since.
“We count on each other, we love each other, we support each other,” Williams says of Asher, 60.
While the Run Kalamazoo Run Camp organizers intentionally reduced the number of campers after Covid and the transition from Borgess Run Camp, they are now in a rebuilding mode.
Carrie Drake, who has been race director since 2022, says there are 332 participants in Run Camp this year, up from 257 last year.
The addition of the “Get Your Move On” and “Get Your Walk On” aspects this year are motivators for people to be out and about even when the weather is a deterrent.
“It’s about staying active and being social during the winter,” Drake says.
“The thing I love the most about Run Camp is the most supportive, energetic and enthusiastic people,” says Williams, who is the executive director of the Richland Area Community Center.
“It is so nonjudgmental,” she adds. ”It doesn’t matter how fit you are, how old you are.”
Plus, getting out and running in the fresh winter air is energizing.
“I just love the way I feel; I feel so healthy,” she says.
Williams puts her running shoes away after race day and continues her other outdoor activities with her husband, Mark, except for September, when she and Asher run the annual Mackinac 8 Mile Road Race around the perimeter of Mackinac Island.
While Mark Williams doesn’t participate in Run Camp, he is one of his wife’s biggest fans.
“He’s incredibly supportive; he’s out there (on the sidelines) cheering me on,” she says.
Williams encourages other people to check out Run Camp.
“Don’t be afraid to try it,” she tells them. “It seems overwhelming (at first), but there’s people of all abilities.”
She looks forward to spending Saturday morning with Asher in the elements, whatever they may be.
“I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather be on a cold, snowy Saturday morning than running with my friend,” she says.
“I want to keep doing this as long as I can; it brings me so much joy.”
HEALTHY LIVING
Parkinson’s Awareness
April shines a light on Parkinson’s Awareness, a time to extend our hearts and hands to those within our community navigating this journey. While medical advancements continue to progress, it’s the warmth of community and the understanding of loved ones that truly make a difference.
For those living with Parkinson’s, the days can vary greatly. Some moments may be filled with familiar routines, while others bring unexpected tremors, stiffness, or changes in balance. It’s a journey that requires patience, adaptability, and above all, compassion. As friends, family, and neighbors, how can we best support those on this path?
First and foremost, listen. Truly listen. Not just to the words spoken, but to the emotions and unspoken needs that may lie beneath. Offer a safe space for open communication, free from judgment or unsolicited advice. Sometimes, simply knowing someone is there to hear you is the greatest comfort.
Remember that Parkinson’s affects everyone differently. What works for one person may not work for another. Be mindful of individual needs and preferences. Offer practical assistance but always respect the desire for independence. A gentle offer to help with grocery shopping, transportation to appointments. A friendly phone call can
make a world of difference.
Embrace flexibility. Plans may need to change at a moment’s notice, and that’s perfectly alright. Instead of focusing on what can’t be done, celebrate the small victories. A walk in one of our beautiful local parks, a shared cup of coffee at a favorite café, or simply enjoying a quiet afternoon together can create lasting memories.
Encourage participation in local support groups and activities. Southwest Michigan boasts a wealth of resources, from exercise classes tailored for those with Parkinson’s* to social gatherings that foster connection and camaraderie. These groups offer invaluable opportunities to maintain strength and balance, share experiences, learn coping strategies, and build a strong support network.
Remember, laughter is a powerful medicine. Sharing lighthearted moments and finding joy in everyday experiences can lift spirits and create a sense of normalcy. Don’t be afraid to laugh together, to reminisce about cherished memories, and to create new ones.
In our community, we value connection and support. Let’s use this Parkinson’s Awareness Month to deepen our understanding, extend our compassion, and create a welcoming environment for everyone. By holding space with open hearts and understanding minds, we can help those living with Parkinson’s feel seen, supported, and valued. Together, we can make a difference, one shared moment, one kind gesture, at a time.
Submitted by Vicky Kettner, Association Director of Marketing, Community Relations, and Member Engagement at YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo. As with any new exercise or diet, please consult with your doctor or dietician to determine the right regimen for your personal health situation.
*See the YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo’s ad for programming details.
“An Abundance of Goodwill”– Ruth Lucinda Fountain
By Jim Coppinger, Milestone Senior Services Volunteer
Ruth Fountain grew up in Benton Harbor. She says that’s where she learned life’s most important lessons—honesty, the value of hard work, and the responsibility of caring for one another. From a young age, she babysat and, throughout the many growing seasons as she grew up, worked harvesting fruits and vegetables with her family.
Some of her fondest memories are of being immersed in the vibrant atmosphere of Benton Harbor’s famous open-air agricultural market. Established in the 1860s, it was once recognized as “the largest cash-to-growers outlet in the world.” To this day, Ruth is proud of her and her family’s ties to that historic place.
Before completing high school (as a straight A student), Ruth became a young mother, giving birth to twin girls along with two additional sons and a daughter. All five of her children have gone on to lead successful lives, with the twins each earning full college scholarships.
Despite the challenges of young motherhood, Ruth never lost sight of her dream of finishing high school and becoming a nurse. Years later, she made that dream a reality.
Ruth moved to Flint, Michigan, to live with family. There, while working full-time and raising her children, she attended Mott High School in her early 20s and earned her GED and then high school diploma. During that time, she also worked as a teacher’s aide for Mott’s GED program.
After nine years in Flint, Ruth moved to Kalamazoo with aspirations of becoming a nurse and helping others. She attended Davenport University, where she earned a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) diploma— part of the school’s very first CNA class. She later pursued further education at Glen Oaks Community College, earning her Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) certification.
Throughout Ruth’s college studies, her mother became progressively ill and passed during Ruth’s last semester at Glen Oaks. She later mourned the loss of her big brother, Tyrone, during the COVID pandemics. Both Tyrone and her mother had been cornerstones in
Ruth’s life, and she credits them for always being there for her.
In 1990, Ruth stepped into her nursing career at Borgess Hospital, where she worked in both the NeuroPulmonary and Neuro-Ortho departments.
Her lifelong commitment to serving others extends beyond her nursing career. Today, Ruth is a dedicated volunteer with Milestone as a Senior Companion. With her warm personality and love for conversation, she visits seniors at Villa at Borgess Place, providing comfort and companionship—often over a game of cards. One of her greatest joys is reading true-life novels, such as James Herriot’s “All Creatures Great and Small”, to the residents.
Ruth says she is fulfilling the legacy of faith and service instilled in her by her mother and grandmother. To her, life’s greatest reward has been a journey rooted in family, friendship, homegrown and homemade food, purpose, respect, and abiding faith.
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.
Upcoming Travel Talk!
Spark Magazine publisher Steve Ellis, has spent the last 50 years traveling all over Michigan, the U.S and now Europe, searching for interesting and out of the ordinary destinations. His lively photographic presentation will give you some great ideas for future trips.
12 Days in the U.K.
England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland by Planes, Trains & Automobiles.
Tuesday, April 15, 2-3:30 pm
Portage Zhang Senior Center
203 E. Centre Ave, Portage
$3 Members/$5 Non-Members
To register, please call (269) 329-4555
The Michiganders Windycity Dawghouse
By Richard Martinovich
Chicagoans brag that their Chicago-style hotdog is the best hot dog in the world! Well, Will Rogers said, “It ain’t bragging if it’s true!”
The Michiganders WindyCity Dawghouse Chicago Vienna Beef Hotdog just might be the best dawg! A Vienna beef hot dog in a steamed poppy-seed bun, yellow mustard (ketchup is verboten!), neon green sweet relish, dill pickle, sport pepper, tomatoes, white onions and dash of celery salt!
Chicago food favorites feature prominently on the Michiganders WindyCity Dawghouse menu.
Owners Andra Lee and granddaughter manager Leila lived in the Chicagoland area until they moved to Michigan in 2021, and realized how much they missed the food from the Windy City.
Most associate Chicago, the Windy City, with its gusty winds off Lake Michigan, but the initial moniker was often attributed to the boastful “windy” city politicians who were said to be “full of hot air!”
Plenty of reviewers who grew up in Chicago have boasted about the authenticity of the Michiganders WindyCity Dawghouse menu!
There is the Maxwell Street Polish Vienna beef hotdog, a nod to the famous Maxwell Street open-air market, birthplace of Chicago blues, and home of the Maxwell Polish sausage sandwich. The Maxwell Street Pork Chop Sandwich is a grilled in-bone pork chop, heaped with grilled onions on a mustard bun, and side of sport peppers!
Chicago Famous Breaded Steak Sandwich is dipped in red gravy with a choice of hot giardiniera, a Chicago staple of pickled vegetables.
Chicken Vesuvio is another Chicago classic. The Breaded Chicken Vesuvio Sandwich is a pounded breaded chicken breast bathed in garlic butter!
The Pizza Puff was invented in Chicago, and Michiganders WindyCity Dawghouse Home Made Pizza Puff is a meaty cheesy, deep fried tortilla pocket filled with spicy Italian sausage, mozzarella, provolone and red gravy.
Don’t leave without indulging in the desert “Destined to be Famous –the Dawghouse Chocolate Cake.” A super moist cake with buttercream chocolate frosting!
8712 Portage Road - Portage • 11am-7pm, Closed Monday
Book Reviews
Book
Reviews by
the Portage District Library staff
The City and its Uncertain Walls
Haruki Murakami
A lyrical story that wafts between our world and a fantastical world far away. This novel tells the story of a young boy that falls in love with a girl. However, this girl has a mysterious past and tells of a city far away where her true self resides, and that he will have to find it. Then she disappears. What follows is the boy’s search for both the girl and an understanding of what really matters in life. The writing is lush and the characters are interesting. The themes explored are permanence and impermanence, reality and fantasy, and loss and hope. They resonate through the story.
Tartufo
Kira Jane Buxton
Lazzarini Boscarino is a rural village in Tuscany that is entering its sunset years. Businesses are closing, tourism as all but stopped, and the residents spend their time submerged in generations-old quibbles. But as they squabble away, a local truffle hunter, Giovanni Scarpazza, has just unearthed a massive truffle – a
tartufo – just miles away. This will be transformative for the village… either in a positive way or a horrible way (the psychic was unclear on that matter). This delightful romp through the Italian countryside is full of humor and reflects on how trying to hold onto peace while enduring hardship can help to grow something lovely beneath the surface.
True Gretch: What I’ve Learned About Life, Leadership, and Everything in Between Gretchen Whitmer
A fantastic non-fiction read. On the morning of December 21, 1832, a Fall River, Rhode Island, This memoir by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is candid and intimate, focusing more on her personal life experiences than on her political policies. While Whitmer does touch on pivotal political moments in her life, the true meat of the book is how she ties them to her family and her values. Her memoir offers inspiration and encouragement toward being a more resilient person and guidelines for how someone can make a difference in their community using perseverance and compassion even when times have gotten difficult. As an added bonus, it’s peppered with “extras” like photos, playlists, and recipes.
A CELEBRATION OF KALAMAZOO AND ITS PEOPLE MARCH 8 TO MAY 25
Sourced from the ‘Zoo is a communitywide exhibition celebrating the vibrancy and diversity of Kalamazoo and its residents. This dynamic, crowdsourced exhibition is a platform for everyone in Kalamazoo to participate, creating a shared space for commemoration, celebration, and meaningful connections.
The Sourced from the ‘Zoo exhibition is on view at the following venues:
• Kalamazoo Institute of Arts: March 8–May 25
• KVCC Center for New Media: March 6–April 25
• Glass Art Kalamazoo: March 6–April 21
• Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo: March 7–April 25
• Black Arts and Cultural Center: April 4–25
Go to kiaarts.org/sftz for more information
While driving between Lansing and Grand Rapids with extra time on my hands, I decided to swing north on M-66 to check out Ionia. I had heard of the Ionia Free Fair but not much else.
Ionia is the largest city in Ionia County with a population of 13,378 at the 2020 census. It is named after Ionia, a historic region in Greece.
Ionia was first settled in 1833 by Samuel Dexter, who recruited a group of about 63 people from New York to join him. Aided by the local Ojibwe, they settled in and cleared fields, then built log cabins and soon a sawmill. What is now the Ionia Historic District was at first just a scattering of small houses. In 1839 the United States Land Office was transferred to Ionia, and in 1859 the railroad came through the town. Along with other commercial enterprises, these made Ionia a prosperous settlement, and the rapid growth led to prominent members of the community constructing large brick homes in the district just east of the downtown.
Pulling into town, the large fairgrounds with multiple brick buildings and massive grandstand on the Grand River are hard to miss. I drove around the empty property, imagining what it would be like during fair week.
Every July it hosts what is said to be the world’s largest free-admission fair, the Ionia Free Fair. The Fair was established in 1915 and brings in hundreds of thousands of attendees annually, with an estimated 400,000 guests in 2023.
The fair started as a way to offer something different and spectacular to people nearby, with the notable feature of free admission that still exists to this day. Originally intended to only last a few days, it has turned into a week-and-a-half’s worth of festivities. Over the years, Metallica, Deep Purple, The Monkee’s and other acts have performed here.
The fairgrounds gained some notoriety in 2009 when over 1,000 cars were totaled in a flood there at the B-93 Birthday Bash country music concert. It took over a week before the vehicles – over 1,400 of them – could begin to be removed.
Driving downtown, I was quickly impressed with the dozens of large classic buildings lining the brick main street. Downtown Ionia could easily be the set for a 1920’s era movie. The library, courthouse, post office and many other government and city buildings are very impressive. Although many of the original stores have long since closed, Ionia’s downtown still houses several good restaurants and antique stores.
The main street highlight for me
Tales road FROM THE ionia, michigan
By Steve Ellis
was being given a tour of the Ionia Theatre, built in 1931. After years of deterioration, it was taken over by the city and with fundraising and much volunteer work it has been restored to its original splendor. The smaller theatre comfortably seats 109 people and the main auditorium seats about 700 people.
The inside and design of the theatre were patterned after the New York Roxy Theatre. Art Deco paintings can be found on the large chandelier and ceiling medallion, lobby murals, original wood furnishings, and sidelights. All of these are original to the construction but have been preserved and maintained.
The Ionia Theatre is currently operated and managed by the Ionia Downtown Development Authority and the City of Ionia with a senior manager, manager, and two part-time staff. Regularly scheduled volunteers assist with concession and ticketing for movies. Hopefully something like this can be done with the State Theatre in Kalamazoo
Bluegrass musician Billy Strings grew up in nearby Muir and one of his first performances was at the theatre as a young boy with a school program. In 2021, he and his band came back to Muir and donated over 200 guitars to his old school.
Equally as impressive as the downtown buildings are the countless Victorian area mansions surrounding the business district.
The Ionia Historic District is located to the east of downtown Ionia. It contains 197 structures. All but seven of these were built as residential homes. Three of these houses-the John C. Blanchard House, the Frederick Hall House (now the Hall-Fowler Memorial Library), and the Lovell-Webber House are individually listed on the National Register.
Although some of the early structures in the district are of the mid-nineteenth century Greek Revival style, the most characteristic type is the later Italianate variety, which predominates in the neighborhood, showing the bulk of the district was built up in the later nineteenth century.
On my next visit I would like to walk or bike the Ionia River trail; a nice, three mile mostly shaded flat trail that follows the Grand River. Parking is at the Fairgrounds on the west side of 66 just north of the bridge, to start your trip. The Fred Meijer Grand River Valley Rail Trail ( 17 miles) is just up the road on 66, eventually these two trails will connect.
If you love midwestern cities, chocked full of classic architecture, you will love Ionia!
COBB COMES TO KALAMAZOO!
The beginning of the 1907 baseball season in Kalamazoo brought great excitement and promise as Detroit Tiger star, Ty Cobb’s brother Paul Cobb was signed by the Western League Kalamazoo White Sox. Paul Cobb had been working out along with his brother at the Tiger training camp in Augusta, Georgia. The signing of the 18 year old, 6 foot, 168 pound Cobb, was cause for big expectations for the Kalamazoo team.
When Cobb arrived in mid-April, Kalamazoo manager Maurice Myers and a brass band were on hand at the train station to greet him.
Once the season began, the youngster got off to a fast start. But soon a slump at the plate, quarreling with teammates, and temper tantrums put Cobb in the Kalamazoo doghouse. Batting a disappointing .242 with only four extra-base hits after 34 games, Cobb was released in late June.
Days later, Cob was signed by the Mt. Clemens Bathers, but by July, Cobb was playing outfield for the woeful (29-102) Leavenworth Convicts.
Over the next 10 summers, Cobb played for a dozen or more teams, but never made the major leagues. He enlisted in the Navy in 1918.
J. Paul Cobb, died at the age of age of 75 in Sarasota Florida in 1964.
