Expert Advice
Counseling
Powers, Owner, Licensed Professional Counselor
Breast Health
Financial Services
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
Transitions
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
Jill
Dunham, NP
Q: How do I know if I’m at an increased risk for breast cancer, and what support is available?
A: Several factors may increase your risk: dense breast tissue, age and lifestyle (i.e. drinking alcohol, lack of exercise, obesity). Family history is also a major factor, especially if you or a close relative carries the BRCA1/ BRCA2 gene, if a male relative had breast cancer, or if multiple relatives have been diagnosed. Another key factor is having a history of abnormal cells on breast biopsies, like lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS), atypical lobular hyperplasia (ALH) or atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH). Bronson’s High Risk Breast Clinic, available in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek, offers risk assessments, genetic counseling, annual monitoring and risk reducing strategies. Early detection saves lives, and Bronson is here for you every step of the way.
Bronson Cancer Center
bronsonhealth.com/HighRiskBreast
Roofing
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
Owner
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.
Southwest Michigan Financial, LLC
The Atriums • 4341 S. Westnedge #1201 Kalamazoo, MI 269-323-7964
Health Food
Q: What type of produce does Sawall’s carry?
A: Sawall’s has always carried local and certified organic produce. Its the very best quality that can be found. We receive produce orders almost every day! We also carry as much local produce that we can find seasonally. We are always looking for quality produce from local farmers. Come in soon and enjoy the areas largest selection of fresh CERTIFIED ORGANIC PRODUCE!!
Mon-Sat. 8am-9pm, Sun. 10am-6pm
Sawall Health Foods
Oakwood Plaza • 2965 Oakland Dr. at Whites Rd. • 343-3619 • www.sawallhf.com
Justin Reynolds Manager
Mark Sawall Owner
Diana Duncan Director of Sales and Marketing
Chuck Henrich President &
Kim
Baseball’s “ins” and “outs”
I have played and coached baseball for most of my life. I began my baseball career as a member of the Giants, a Little League team in Union Lake, north of Detroit in the summer of 1967. Fast forward 58 years, and I am now coaching Jackie’s grandsons during the past couple of summers.
I can honestly say that not much has changed in all these years. The boys love playing and hanging out with their friends, just as they did when I was a kid.
It still warms my heart when the newer players get a hit or scores a run and the whole team rallies around them.
This popular American pastime has many unspoken rules, especially when playing in the yard or a vacant lot, with limited players. I still hear kids call out, “Right field is out and ghost man on first.” Kids still play the game 500, where a batter hits balls to a group of players. A fly ball is caught for 100 points, a bouncer, 75 points and a grounder is 50 points. The first player to reach 500, gets to be the next batter. A couple weeks ago, Jackie and I visited “The Biggest Little Baseball Museum” that is located on the second floor of the classic Three Oaks Library Building. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the exhibit is chocked full of old bats, gloves, pictures and memorabilia.
along the walls.
Pickle: When a runner gets caught between two bases. it has roots in early 20th-century American slang, where it referred to being in a “difficult or awkward position.
Texas Leaguer: A fly in baseball that falls too far out to be caught by an infielder and too close in to be caught by an outfielder.
Shoestring catch: A running catch made near a fielder’s feet.
At the entrance is a 1960’s Schwinn bicycle with a baseball glove hanging from the handlebars, a baseball wedged into the frame, a bat held across the handlebars and a baseball card held with a clothespin in the spokes to make it sound like a motorcycle – oh such memories
On the walls are definitions and origins of phrases heard at baseball games
Here are a few fun ones:
Can of Corn: a fly ball that is very easy for a fielder to catch. The term is thought to have originated from the way grocery clerks would use a stick to knock cans of corn off high shelves and then catch them in their aprons.
Bullpen: The place where pitchers warm up during the game. The term is thought to have evolved from the Bull Durham tobacco advertising
Southpaw: A left-handed pitcher.
Ducks on the Pond: When two or three players are on base.
Walk-off: A hit that ends a game.
Whiff: Strikeout.
Worm burner: A scorching ground ball.
Shoestring catch: A running catch made near a fielder’s feet.
Southpaw: A left-handed pitcher.
Infield fly rule: when a fly ball is hit in fair territory, within the infield and runners are on first and second, or first, second, and third bases before two outs, the batter is out whether the ball is caught or dropped. This rule prevents the defense from easily turning a double or triple play by allowing the ball to drop.
This is a difficult rule to understand. It came up at one of our little league games last year and our batter was called out. The batter and all of the other boys were asking us coaches what happened. I told them, “it’s the Infield Fly rule.” I had to keep coaching at third, so told the boys, “ask the guy behind the fence with the goatee what its means. One boy immediately asked,”What’s a goatee?”
A few lessons learned on one play.
Most of these phrases have been around for more than a hundred years and I’m sure will one around for a hundred more.
Steve
Ellis, SPARK Publisher steve@swmspark.com
Tim Bowers at the Air Zoo
Photo by Steve Ellis
An honor that came from deep left field
Lee A. Dean screendoor @sbcglobal.net
Imagine this extremely unlikely scenario: a guy who never played organized sport beyond 7th grade basketball is inducted into his school’s athletic hall of fame. The White Sox have a better chance of winning the World Series than for this to happen.
Yet it did happen. Here’s the story. As a little kid, I was crazy about sports. However, it soon became apparent I could only hope to achieve the athletic level of Al Kaline’s grandmother, not Al Kaline. Hit a baseball? Not with a lazy left eye. Sprint down the field to catch a pass? Not with these awkward feet. Fire out of a three-point stance and pancake an opposing lineman? Not at a max weight of 150 pounds.
I had to find another avenue to get involved with organized sports. Thanks to a wonderful mentor and coach with the very sporting name of Mickey Noble, that chance came in 8th grade. He told me the Bloomingdale Cardinals varsity football team needed a manager. This was a person who took care of equipment, helped with practices and games and in general did whatever the coaches required. I jumped at the opportunity.
During games, my primary responsibility (later repeated with the basketball and baseball teams) was statistical. Yards gained, tackles made in football, shooting percentage and turnovers in basketball, and keeping the scorebook in baseball all required focus at a high level.
As a manager for the 1968 and 1969 football teams, I got to serve a great group known as “the older guys.” In our little town, the younger kids looked up to them and wanted to emulate them.
One word best describes these teams: champions. The squads of 1965 through 1969 ruled the old Al-Van Conference. Those teams were recently inducted into my school’s athletic hall of fame. Because the hall’s organizers were gracious enough to recognize the managers, I got to be inducted with them.
The statistical experience came in handy later during my years as a sportswriter, but other lessons have had impact in every walk of life.
As a manager, for the first time I experienced teamwork. From athletic director to coaches to players to water boys, we all had our jobs and did our parts in helping the team achieve its goals. I saw individuals, each one placed in a position where they could succeed, meld
together into a cohesive unit. I learned that everyone matters and that no contribution is too small.
The next great takeaway was the value of hard work. No one has fond memories of two-a-day practices in the broiling summer sun. Yet, without them, the players may not have built the stamina to give them that extra energy when a game was on the line.
Listening to the war stories on the night of the induction demonstrated the staying power of the third lesson: the power of positive relationship. “Do you remember when” was followed by nodding heads and laughter. The tree of brotherhood planted more than a halfcentury ago still blooms.
I could have told one memorable story. On Thursdays, we walked down the hill to practice special teams on the playing field. One of the players decided to participate in stocking feet. This attracted the attention – and the ire – of head coach Denny Steele, who barked at the player to put his cleats on.
The player ignored the order, choosing to enjoy the feel of the cool grass. Then Steele noticed four objects nearby: the empty cleats and two sizable dog turds. A doggy loaf was placed in each cleat. Then coach ordered player to put the cleats on or he wouldn’t be playing the
next night.
After doing so, and taking a short jog, the coach asked the player how the shoes felt. “These are really soft,” was the reply.
I made sure to be busy elsewhere when that poor guy took the cleats off after practice.
After the ceremony, I talked with a good friend, Perry Rankin. He was the first-ever member of this hall of fame, a dominant football player on underachieving teams.
“You guys never lost a game. We never won a game,” he said. This remark reinforced the respect I have held about the teams he played on. They knew they were going to get throttled every game, yet they stuck it out. They didn’t get to experience the glory we did, but they are champions in my book.
There is a saying that a person uses when they are part of a group of high achievers: “I got to fly with eagles.”. I got to do something better than that. I got to fly with Cardinals.
My hope is that all the Cardinals yet to come (and Tigers, Maroon Giants, Knights, Mustangs, Huskies, and the rest) will be able to feel the same way. Who knows – you just might end up in a Hall of Fame.
“From Doctor to Tutor: A New Calling in Retirement” – Carol Black
By Jim Coppinger, Milestone Senior Services Volunteer
Carol Black grew up in Dearborn, Michigan, and attended medical school in East Lansing—where she also met her husband. They completed their residencies in Chicago and remained in the city for the next thirty years, both working as physicians.
In 2010, they retired and decided to relocate to Kalamazoo to be closer to family. Carol says, “Day one of retirement, I thought, ‘Now what?’” She knew she needed to stay active and be of service. So, she contacted Milestone Senior Services to explore volunteer opportunities—and was surprised to find a list of over a hundred positions needing help.
One opportunity that caught her eye was with the Kalamazoo Literacy Council (KLC), which provides free literacy education to adults facing reading and language challenges. This provides a great service to our community where one in eight adults struggles to read. Today, KLC serves around 800 adults with the help of 200 volunteers. Although Carol had no background in teaching or a degree in English, she quickly found that wasn’t a barrier. KLC is built around a team approach, with resources and support materials to tailor programs to the unique needs of each “learner.” (At KLC, they’re called “learners” rather than “students” to emphasize the collaborative nature of their progress.)
The process starts with an assessment of each learner’s reading and writing abilities. This information helps match the learner with the right volunteer and identifies the best type of instruction—whether that’s oneon-one Reading tutoring, English as a Second Lan-
guage (ESL) classroom learning, or virtual sessions for those facing transportation or scheduling challenges. Carol began tutoring and quickly realized just how rewarding—and fascinating—the work could be. Carol chose to start as a Reading tutor and began working with a local man who hadn’t completed high school and struggled with reading at a basic level, which held him back from meaningful work. He loved history, so Carol used history books to help keep him motivated. In time, he earned his GED and, even more importantly, rebuilt his self-esteem.
After a few years she changed to being an ESL Tutor. Her longest ESL learner was a young woman from Peru. Already having some college education from her
home country, this learner went on to earn a master’s degree in counseling here in the U.S.—with Carol helping her along the way. Carol describes it as both challenging and deeply energizing to be part of such personal growth.
Carol says, “What I love most about tutoring is that every pairing is unique—and it all starts with finding a good match through that first assessment.” Over twelve years of volunteering, Carol has learned that these victories aren’t just personal achievements—they strengthen the whole community. Literacy skills open doors to better jobs, stronger civic engagement, and improved physical and mental health.
And to anyone hesitant about getting involved, she offers this simple encouragement:
You don’t need a degree in English or Education—just a willingness to show up and make a difference. In a few words, Carol says that working as a volunteer at Kalamazoo Literacy Council is: Interesting, Creative, Enjoyable and Rewarding!
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.
Summer Grilling
By Laura Kurella
At last, summer has come along, and with it another sizzling grilling season!
Taking a looking back at our relationship with grilling, I discovered that it was a cooking technique that was predominantly reserved for use at campsites or picnics all the way up and until World War II.
The soldiers returning from war ignited the desire for a backyard barbecue, causing it to become the rage throughout the better part of the 1950s.
Our country’s new-found interest in grilling managed to ignite the imagination of a Chicago area man, George Stephen Sr., who at the time was a part-owner of the Weber Brothers, a metal spinning company that manufactured harbor (water) buoys.
Stephen loved to grill, but hated the grills on the market, so he took a buoy home from work and cut it in half, added some legs, a grate, and some air vents to create what he dubbed, “George’s Barbecue Kettle” and the rest came to know as the Weber Kettle Grill!
Taking barbecue seriously is something many will be doing on this summer, which reminded me of my friend, Steve Barczak of Centreville, MI., who inherited more than the Barczak name from
his bloodline.
“I learned to cook on the char broiler in my dad and grandfather’s restaurant when I was just a teen,” Steve said with a grin, “and I’ve been cooking ever since!”
Barczak’s restaurant opened in Mottville, MI., in 1972, and in its heyday was wellknown for its chicken and steaks.
Following the family philosophy of making everything from scratch, Steve said
Grilling Tips
1. Clean the grill entirely: Clean grill and grease trap. Check fuel supply. Have fire extinguisher.
2. Great grate care: Heat grill closed for 5 minutes. Scrape away debris on grate, wipe clean with wet cloth, and coat with non-stick lubricant just before use.
3. Open vents to heat grill: Oxygen speeds up heating. Close vents when grilling.
4. Know temperatures: Have an instant read thermometer to check for doneness.
5. Let food develop a seared crust before flipping: This stops sticking and food falling apart.
6. Don’t press down on burgers: Makes them tough, dry, and stick to grill.
7. Keep water in a spray bottle handy: Helps tame wild flames.
8. Be food safe: Use a clean serving platter for cooked food.
that it is more flavorful and affordable when you do.
“Summer get-togethers can get large,” he said, “so I like to keep it simple, fun, and affordable, which is why I turn to chicken legs and thighs. They offer loads of moist meat at the lowest price. Letting them rest overnight in a marinade not only adds great flavor, but it also frees you up on the day of the event.”
Steve’s got a great hack for keeping large amounts of food warm and fly-free, too.
“I line a clean cooler with clean newspaper or new paper bags then line it with heavy foil. As the chicken comes off the grill it goes right into that tightly-closed. It keeps foods warm, at-the-ready and bug free, too!”
Steve’s top tip for summer grilling is this: “Have the guests supply all the sides!”
Here now is Steve’s finger-lickin’ grilled chicken recipe, and for all you grillers (and those who just love to eat it), I want to share that I have been invited to be a celebrity judge at the 6th annual MAGIC CITY GRILL FEST in Colon, MI on June 21, 2025. This event is held for the benefit of the American Legion and invites all skill levels to compete and eat at this most delicious BBQ competition and fest. Look for more information on it at magiccitygrillfest.com Enjoy!
Laura Kurella is an award-winning home cook who loves to share recipes from her Michigan kitchen. She welcomes comments at laurakurella@yahoo.com.
Barczak’s Grilled Italian Chicken
4 thighs with leg, whole 1/2 cup zesty Italian salad dressing 2 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons vinegar
Place chicken in plastic bag. Mix all other ingredients together then pour in bag over chicken. Let stand in refrigerator overnight, flipping bag occasionally.
Next day, place chicken on hot grill- charcoal or wood - (450 degrees). Flip chicken once after 15 minutes, approximately halfway through cooking time.
Remove chicken from grill when it is no longer pink inside. Hold warm until serving. Approximate servings: 4.
I have a special place in my heart for films that take a truly ridiculous premise and then proceed to nail the execution.
Ditto for films that manage to occupy the intersection of comedy and gratuitous violence with some modicum of grace. Death of a Unicorn is such a film. Elliot (Paul Rudd) is a corporate attorney hoping to be named to the board of a powerful pharmaceutical firm by providing end-of-life counsel to its CEO, Odell (Richard Grant), at his palatial estate in the northern Rockies. Reluctantly accompanying him is his college-age daughter Ridley (Jenna Ortega). As they make their way to the house through the grounds of the surrounding nature preserve, they strike what is very clearly a unicorn which Elliot proceeds to finish off with a tire iron before loading it into the back of the rental car to deal with later. Awaiting them at the estate are an absolute cavalcade of ultra-wealthy caricatures (the casting is amazing) including Odell, his wife (Téa Leoni), their son (Will Poulter) and their staff. One thing leads to another and when it’s discovered that unicorn blood has powerful medicinal properties, corporate greed takes hold and paves the way for a violent bloodbath à la Jurassic Park as the unicorn’s next of kin come looking for revenge. – Submitted by Patrick J.
Movie Reviews
Choice (2024)
When the National Film Preservation Board was founded in 1988 (in support of the newly established National Film Registry), film restoration was a painstaking process. Original elements of films were often difficult to locate, negatives having been shortsightedly scrapped, destroyed in vault fires, or even floating around “lost” among collectors and unsuspecting family heirs. Film print duplications, intended for inclusion in TV syndication packages, compromised these works’ presentations; alterations of aspect ratios, clumsy edits, or removal and replacement of original opening and closing credits were common. Thanks to preservationists’ ongoing research, combined with 21st century technology advances, many films are now appearing on disc in their best quality since original screenings. The Looney Tunes Collectors’ Choice Blu-ray series is one such release, the first featuring fully restored cartoon classics from the Warner archives. While no National Film Registry titles are among the series entries, shorts featuring big stars (Bugs Bunny; Daffy Duck; Porky Pig) and lesser lights (Ralph and Sam; Wacky Worm; the Three Bears) may be future contenders. Collectors or not, fans marveling anew at the vibrancy of these Looney Tunes’ colors and gags have reason to hope “that’s not all, folks!”. Submitted by Karl K.
Reviews submitted by Ryan Gage. These great titles and others are available at the Kalamazoo Public Library.
ARE YOU A NATURE LOVER?
Do your spirits lift when you’re outdoors? Do you feel a little bit lighter at the sound of birdsong or a water splashing in a brook? Do amazing clouds or twinkling fireflies make you smile? Do you delight in tiny finds, like acorn caps and colorful pebbles? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might just be a nature lover!
There are all kinds of ways to love nature. You can have a picnic potluck with pals. Or examine mysterious moss and mushrooms with kids. Or just sit still in a beloved spot, soaking it all in.
Loving nature can be putting more native plants in your yard (if you have one), knowing they might get eaten by bugs – but understanding that’s a good thing because insects are an important food for baby songbirds.
Loving nature could look like getting more involved in your community . . . you could pitch in to pick up trash, help plant and care for native trees in your neighborhood, learn some-
thing new at a nature-themed presentation, or meet other like-minded folks on a free guided nature hike.
For Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy (SWMLC), loving nature means protecting it from pollution and development, restoring habitats so a wider variety of wildlife and plants can thrive, working to keep water clean, and striving to make our region strong in the face of climate challenges. We’re a local non-profit organization that depends on donor support to do all this important conservation work (and more) in the nine counties of southwest Michigan.
If your love for nature and the environment has started to look more like worry, you will feel better by putting your concerns into action – whether that’s hands-on volunteering, spreading sound sciencebased information, or donating your hard-earned cash to conservation groups like SWMLC. Working together, we can help heal nature and make sure it will still be healthy for generations of people (and wildlife) to come.
Learn more about us at our website, www.swmlc.org.
RESTORING U.S. AVIATION HISTORY RIGHT HERE IN KALAMAZOO
By Dave Person david.r.person@gmail.com
Restoring World War II fighter planes was never on Tim Bowers’ radar.
The Portage resident and Pfizer retiree’s sweet spot is riding, racing and repairing motorcycles, and has been since he was 7 years old.
“My mom brought home my first minibike in her van,” says Bowers, who grew up in Alamo Township and attended school in Otsego. “I raced starting when I was 20 … until I was 40 years old. I raced all over the state of Michigan.”
Now 67, he still owns a Harley and other bikes. But when he visited the Kalamazoo Air Zoo in 2019 to take pictures of the Texas Raiders B-17 Flying Fortress and Grumman F6F Hellcat that were in town to give rides to the public, his life took a turn.
Someone asked him if he would be interested in volunteering to help restore military aircraft for the Air Zoo and he decided that with his experience working on motorcycles he would give it a try. Starting out under the tutelage of Ken Kelly, who has been restoring aircraft at the Air Zoo for decades and, at 97, still comes in a couple of days a
week to share his expertise, Bowers quickly took to the inner workings of warbirds.
“He was the guy who trained me on this engine,” Bowers says of Kelly while motioning toward the massive Douglas Dauntless SBD-1 engine that powered the dive bomber that was built in 1940 and which was pulled from Lake Michigan in 1994, 52 years after it went down during a military training exercise.
At the time, it and others like it were assigned to the Naval Reserve Air Base Chicago in Glenview, Ill.
The engine weighs 1,200 pounds and has nine cylinders.
“If you look at that, that’s like four Harleys right there,” he says.
Bowers says he started working at the Air Zoo on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but now is there four days a week for five or six hours a day.
“Basically, I’m an engine man, but I do a whole bunch of different things, too,” says Bowers, who enjoys interacting with visitors to the Air Zoo’s Flight Discovery Center, at 3101 E. Milham Ave., where the restoration center is located.
Bowers says he appreciates the Air Zoo’s president
and CEO Troy Thrash’s encouragement of the public to take a hands-on role in the restoration of aircraft.
“We have almost 70 volunteers here (in restoration),” Bowers says. “The work on this (the Dauntless SBD-1) rarely stops.”
The first aircraft Bowers worked on upon joining the Air Zoo was a Dauntless SBD-2P, which after completion was sent to the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum in Hawaii.
Next up, after the Dauntless SBD-1, which Bowers says will be completed this year, but still has no permanent home scheduled after restoration is completed, will be a PBY-5A Catalina amphibious patrol bomber which has been at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Fla., and will join the SBD-2P at Pearl Harbor after the Air Zoo restoration is complete.
“We’re on the map now,” Bowers says of the Air Zoo’s reputation for restoring aircraft.
The SBD-1, the current project, is particularly significant because it’s the only one in existence from the 57 that were built in the early 1940s for use in World War II.
Bowers says it is one of many planes that were used for practice on the USS Wolverine and USS Sable, former Great Lakes paddle-wheelers with the tops cut off to function as aircraft carriers for the 17,700 pilots who trained over Lake Michigan during World War II.
Unfortunately, their decks were significantly shorter and sat lower in the water than those of typical air-
craft carriers and many pilots overshot their runways and ended up in the lake, he says.
“At one time, there were 140 planes in Lake Michigan,” he says. “A majority of planes we’ve restored from Work War II came up from Lake Michigan.”
Between 1994 and 2021, when it came to the Air Zoo, the SBD-1 was shuttled to a variety of military museums, Bowers says.
On one day recently, Bowers was working on the engine with Laura Tinigin, a pilot with a keen interest in the inner-workings of planes, and Joe Stockoski, who worked for North American Aviation in Downey, Calif., in the late 1960s building command and service modules for NASA’s Apollo program, including Apollo 11, which made the first manned moon landing in 1969.
“I fell into the job of a lifetime working on the Apollo spacecrafts,” says Stockoski, who didn’t know what he was getting into when he left Detroit for California for the job with North American Aviation.
Air Zoo volunteer restorers include machinists, welders, painters and other specialists, Bowers says.
“All summer long we have kids’ camps that come here,” he adds. They teach the youngsters riveting, welding, safety wiring and painting.
Tuesdays and Thursdays are the busiest restoration days at the Flight Discovery Center, with 30 to 40 volunteers working in teams on various aspects of the restoration.
“Everybody in here working on planes is a volunteer,” Bowers says.
“We have amazing people here doing all kinds of work,” he adds. “We all do this because we love it, and we love each other.”
Firefly Hike Will Showcase Summer’s Natural Light Show
By Tom Springer, Vice President for Development
Fireflies and summer evenings go together like beach blankets and tan lines. Like nature’s own party lights, these dainty insects fill the night sky with their blinking green luminescence. And as earthly constellations, they can still fit nicely in a child’s mayonnaise jar.
There are far fewer fireflies (or “lightning bugs” if you prefer) than in decades past. Fireflies don’t like manicured lawns, especially the pesticides and herbicides that keep them that way. Residential and commercial development has also obliterated
untold acres of prime firefly habitat.
Yet you can still see fireflies in all their glittery glory at the Kalamazoo Nature Center. On June 27, from 9-11:30 p.m., KNC will hold its first-ever Firefly Night Hike. From the Camp Barn parking lot, visitors can stroll on mowed paths through the Emma Pitcher Prairie where fireflies abound. To register visit naturecenter.org/firefly.
“We’re seeing more interest in firefly hikes nationwide,” said Darcie Chapman, KNC’s manager of Visitor Services.
“There’s new appreciation for something that many of us who grew up in the Midwest took for granted.” At 9 p.m. and 10 p.m., KNC staff will give a brief introductory talk about bioluminescence and how it helps fireflies to communicate. Visitors are then free to take self-guided walks on the trails.
While fireflies can’t hear sound, human activities – such as light pollution – can harm them. Fireflies flash to attract mates, lure prey and warn other fireflies of predators. Too much artificial light
interferes with that process. To minimize human impact,
KNC will limit the crowd size to 500. Cell phone cameras will not be permitted, as their white lights confuse fireflies. Instead, KNC will issue flashlights with red lenses so that visitors can navigate the trails without bugging the insects that everyone came to see.
Tom Springer is vice president for Development at the Kalamazoo Nature Center and the author “Looking for Hickories,” and “The Star in the Sycamore.”
Kalamazoo Cycle Company
By the spring of 1896, a great bicycle craze was sweeping the nation. Following the introduction of the new “safety” bicycle, so-called “wheels” had taken the country by storm. Dozens of bicycle repairmen, dealers, and manufacturers set up shop around the area, selling and servicing all the latest brands and models. Among the largest of the local dealers during the peak of the 1890s bike boom was the Kalamazoo Cycle Company, which alone boasted “three large stores” on North Rose Street. In addition to its full line of Columbia, Crescent, Waverly, Envoy, and Fleetwing bicycles, the company manufactured its own line of “wheels” called Fortune and Yale.
The Kalamazoo Cycle Company was established in June 1891 by the industrious Blood brothers. Maurice and Clarence Blood held more than a dozen patents for innovative bicycle parts and accessories, including carriers, seats, supports, and other attachments.
The Kalamazoo Gazette identified Maurice Blood as a “practical and scientific mechanic, and inventor” while his brother Clarence was described as “an expert mechanic, an inventor (who) built many expensive machines for special work.”
Dr. Rush McNair, one of Bronson Hospital’s founding physicians, was the company president, Clarence C. Blood was vice president, Heinz H. Everard was treasurer, and Maurice E. Blood was secretary and general manager. A
by Keith Howard, Kalamazoo Public Library
third brother, Charles Blood, was also involved for a time, as was Maurice’s son, Howard. The Blood brothers would later become known for establishing the first automotive dealership in Kalamazoo.
The Kalamazoo Cycle Company gained national attention in January 1893 with its display of
products at the American Cycle Club’s show in Philadelphia. Among the company’s hottest selling accessories were its patented “trouser guards,” which protected one’s pant cuffs from the chain mechanism, and the “Kalamazoo Carrier,” a handlebar-mounted basket for carrying books and other parcels while cycling. The firm also produced a handlebar-mounted passenger seat attachment and a basket-like child’s seat. The company’s line of patented carriers, child seats, and trouser guards was awarded a medal “for excellence” at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. By the end of the century, bicycle fever had subsided, and the Kalamazoo Cycle Company had begun to focus on the production of horseless motorized vehicles. Workers were kept busy for a time with contract work for the firm’s die cutting, plating, brazing, design, and manufacturing services, but the interest in cycling had by then switched to an interest in automobiles. In January 1903, the Kalamazoo Cycle Company discontinued manufacturing and selling bicycles, and instead focused solely on automobile production under the Michigan Automobile Company banner. The Blood brothers manufactured automobiles in Kalamazoo until 1905, then moved to Allegan where they became a major manufacturer of universal joints for the automobile and farm implement industries. (Photo courtesy, Kalamazoo Valley Museum.)
More at kpl.gov
Centre Street
“Centre Street” invites you to journey back to the 1950s and 60s with local author and memory keeper, Sharon Wolbers Pendola. “Centre Street” is a humorous, heartfelt book chronicling family adventures and quirky childhood escapades around the time when Wolbers grocery sat on the corner of Westnedge and Centre Street. The book is available through Amazon, at Kazoo Books and This Is A Bookstore.
Sharon Wolbers Pendola has spent her career in education, teaching students from pre-school to college in Southwest Michigan and Sierra Leone West Africa. Sharon has written for television, radio and government training
You can reach Sharon at skpendola@gmail.com or visit www.sharonwolbers-pendola.com for more information.
Sharon Wolbers Pendola with husband, Michael Pendola.
El Ranchero
By Richard Martinovich
Walking into El Ranchero is like crossing into an exotic foreign land.
Thousands of imported items jam the aisles: seasonings and sauces from Mexico, fruits from Central America… plantains, papayas, green bananas, agave.
In any medium-sized town you will find a Mexican grocery store that caters to the Hispanic community. There are over 4,100 Mexican grocery stores in America. Hispanics are the fastest growing ethnic group, and 22% of the US population.
Mexican grocery stores are great places to find unique spices, special cuts of meat, and fresh produce.
Located on Portage Road near the I-94 exit, the inside of El Ranchero is spacious.
Rows of selections from Goya, the popular food company with Hispanics, line the shelves. South of the border hot sauces, too -- Mexico Lindo, from Sonora, Mexico, Bufalo hot sauce with guajillo peppers, and Salsa Huichol made in Nayarit, Mexico --a nice compliment
to seafood.
In the back of the store is a butcher area with marinated chicken wings and Arrachera meat -- Mexican skirt steak, ideal for tacos! Scores of cookies, candies, and snacks to explore. Marinela cookies from Mexico, and a favorite -- Choco Rolos. Gamesa cookies, started in Monterrey, Mexico in 1921. Diana Jalapeno tortilla chips, founded in El Salvador in 1951.
Stock up on big bags of rice, black beans and pinto beans.
Against a wall, is a large rack of dried chili peppers to ramp up the flavor of your meal!
Refrigerated cases are loaded with fruit juices, Mexican beverages and specialty cheeses. El Ranchero makes its own salsa for sale!
There are bakery goods, churros and Michoacana -- paletas -- fruit bars.
In the front is a food counter serving tacos, enchiladas, tortas, quesadillas and tamales. Mexican grocery stores have a reputation for delicious authentic dishes, and the food at El Ranchero is some of the best you’ll find anywhere!
For a memorable souvenir of your trip to El Ranchero, check out the premium quality Mendoza straw hats and sombreros!
4315 Portage Road
Book Reviews
Book
Reviews by
the Portage District Library staff
When the Moon Hits Your Eye
John Scalzi
What would happen if the moon turned into cheese? The scientific world is flummoxed when they discover their moon samples have turned to cheese overnight, and more so when they realize the actual moon is now dairy as well. When the rest of the world discovers it, things get crazy. The book follows endearing characters as they all react to this strange reality, including Dayton Bailey, an author who had just written a book about the moon, Annette and Felix, two college students working in a cheese shop, and Jody Bannon, an egotistical billionaire determined to fly to the moon. When it becomes clear that the new moon poses a clear danger to Earth, these characters must accept a cheesy end of the world. This story is funny, it’s heartwarming, it’s unique, and an absolute delight.
The Crazies: The Cattleman, the Wind Prospector, and a War Out West
Amy Gamerman
Gamerman has crafted a narrative nonfiction book that feels as if it were
just a modern Western waiting to happen. The Crazy Mountains in Montana are known for being very windy, and Rick Jarrett decided that he could make a profit from his family land by leasing it out as a wind farm. The trouble with this plan was that his neighbors were very wealthy and connected men who had bought ranches out West to enjoy the mountain views and who took exception to his idea. What follows is a tale of climate change, cowboys, billionaires, and even billionaire cowboys. This narrative is perfect for fans of the TV show Yellowstone or Westerns and features a wide cast of characters who all have a horse in the race.
The Bright Sword
Lev Grossman
Arthur is dead, and the Round Table lies shattered in The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman, author of the bestselling Magicians trilogy. The story of Arthur features minimal side characters, such as Sir Bedivere, Sir Palomides, and even Dagonet the Fool, who receive intricate, deep backstories that erase the mythological buildup around each figure, instead viewing them in a far more human and often more modern light. This is a fun story balanced with sobering moments of realization as the characters face the end of an era. They must reckon with the fall of their hero and king, Arthur, and the uncertainty around what is next for them and their country.
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
HEALTHY LIVING
EPIPHANIES OF TRAVEL, no matter the distance!
The arrival of summer often calls us to step outside our usual rhythms and discover new landscapes and the communities within them. Whether these explorations lead us to a neighboring town or the opposite hemisphere, whatever the degree of our Wanderlust, the experience invariably has the opportunity to be amazingly enriching and spirit-nurturing. The most profound and lasting travel reward, for me, lies in the fresh perspectives that accompany me home – a subtle yet powerful shift in how I perceive the world, in all its concentric circles. This newfound lens seems
to possess a profound ability to unlock life’s hidden potential, prompting a re-evaluation of my own assumptions and opening me up to new ways of thinking and being. It can trigger not just a cognitive shift in understanding, but also a subtle emotional recalibration. Old judgments may soften. (Maybe even obliterated!) Previously held anxieties might lose their grip as new possibilities come into focus. Sudden understandings challenge long-held beliefs. Whether we’re walking the sands of Lake Michigan, or riding horses on the beaches of Portugal, travel has the profound opportunity for internal transformation, affecting both thoughts and feelings, and can have lasting impact on our BODY, MIND, and SPIRIT to cultivate significant benefits like:
• Increased Creativity and Innovation: A fresh perspective fuels creativity. By breaking free from conventional wisdom, we open ourselves up to new ideas and ways of doing things. This can lead to exciting innovations in all areas of life.
• Uncovering New Solutions: When we’re not stuck in old patterns of thinking, we’re more likely to see innovative solutions to problems, whether they’re personal, professional, or even societal. It’s like finding a hidden path we didn’t know existed.
• Enhanced Adaptability and Resilience: Life throws curveballs. When we can approach challenges with a fresh mindset, we’re better
equipped to adapt to change and bounce back from setbacks. We see obstacles not as insurmountable walls, but as opportunities to learn and grow.
• Improved Relationships: Seeing things from other’s point of view – whether it’s from a smaller village from across the county, or completely different continent and culture -- can foster empathy and understanding. This can lead to stronger, more meaningful connections with people all around us. It can reduce conflict and encourages collaboration.
• Greater Personal Growth: Challenging our own assumptions and considering new viewpoints is a powerful catalyst for personal growth. It helps us learn more about ourselves and the world, leading to greater self-awareness and a more nuanced understanding of life.
• (And my personal favorite!) Increased Joy and Appreciation: Sometimes, all it takes is a shift in perspective to see the beauty and wonder in everyday things back home. A fresh outlook can help us appreciate what we have and find more joy in the present moment.
Here’s to our next adventures, and all the feels that follow us home!
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.
Baldwin is located about 120 miles north of Kalamazoo at the junction of US 10 and M 37.
This area, in Lake County is popular with outdoor enthusiasts with its abundance of lakes, rivers, the Manistee National Forest, campsites and ORV trails.
The area was originally known for its white pine.
The great Chicago Fire of 1871 caused a boom in the area for lumber.
The 1886, Lumberman’s Directory of the Northwest” estimated the annual lumber output at Baldwin as 9,000,000 board feet.
The depression of the 1890s and decline in lumbering caused Baldwin’s population to drop to 343 in 1900. Better economic conditions, including the rise of agriculture and tourism, saw the village’s population rise to 502 in 1910.
A major factor was the organization in 1900 of the Pere Marquette Railroad, bringing visitors from Flint, Grand Rapids Chicago and Detroit.
Over the years, I have camped in the area and canoed the gorgeous Pere Marquette River.
The river is named after the French Roman Catholic missionary Jacques Marquette, who explored the Great Lakes areas during the mid-17th century. He died in the vicinity of the river in spring 1675 on his way from Chicago to the French fort at Mackinaw.
The main stream of the river is 64 miles long, running from south of Baldwin into the Pere Marquette Lake, and from there into Lake Michigan at Ludington.
It has been designated a Blue Ribbon Fishery, for its extremely high quality.
This river’s original native fish was the Grayling, but due to deforestation after the great Chicago Fire, they disappeared from the river. It was then stocked with rainbow trout in 1876.
The nearby Baldwin River, a tributary
Tales road FROM THE baldwin, michigan
By Steve Ellis
of the Pere Marquette River, is the site of the first planting of some 5.000 German Brown Trout in the United States in 1884. A Michigan historical marker and the world’s largest trout sculpture marks this historic spot.
and best I have had and large enough save half for dinner later
We then walked across the street to the Jone’s Ice Cream, a staple in Baldwin, since 1942. That’s 83 years! Jone’s makes their own ice cream and homemade waffle cones. My turtle sundae was fabulous!
After heading east out of Baldwin, we noticed the bike trail paralleling us to the south and in looking it up found that it was the Pere Marquette State Trail. It is a bicycle and multi-use trail in running 55 miles through Clare, Lake, and Osceola Counties. We will need to bring our bikes and ride a section next time.
When my kids were little, we visited the great Shrine of the Pines roadside attraction, south of town on M-37.
It was created by Raymond W. Overholzer over the course of nearly 30 years from the early 1920s until his death in 1952. The attraction is a tribute to the eastern white pine, which had been logged to near extinction.
The property, which includes the original log cabin built as a gallery to house the furniture collection, was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1982.
Overholzer wandered the Manistee National Forest, collecting stumps and roots that remained from the logging
activity, initially crafting them into mirror frames and bases for his taxidermy. He continued to work tirelessly on his collection, which numbered 201 pieces at the time of his death. It includes a 700 pound dining table and seating for ten, a buffet and a side tables, beds for guests and a game table with five club chairs. A few weeks ago, on a return trip from up north golfing, a friend and I made our annual stop at Shoey’s Log Bar. The 1930’s era bar, is like stepping back and time and serves great food. My turkey club sandwich was one of the largest
Just east of Baldwin is the historic town of Idlewild. At one time, it was one of the few resorts in the country where African-Americans were allowed to vacation and purchase property, before discrimination was outlawed through the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Called the “Black Eden of Michigan”, from 1912 through the mid-1960s, Idlewild was an active year-round community and was one of the most popular resorts in the Midwest. As many as 25,000 would come to Idlewild in the height of the summer season to enjoy camping, swimming, boating, fishing, hunting and night-time entertainment. Many African American entertainers of the period performed in Idlewild, particularly at the Paradise Club. Della Reese, Aretha Franklin, B.B King, Jackie Wilson, Dina Washington, Cab Calloway and the Four Tops, to name just a few.
Over the years the town has declined, but is seeing a resurgence in popularity as folks are rediscovering this resort town and lake with historical significance.
If you love the outdoors, Baldwin and Lake County are hard to beat.
