Spark-Feb 2025

LAUREL LOVES BIRDS OF PREY! ~ PG. 10

Expert Advice

Health Food

Counseling

Q: What type of

A: Sawall’s has al-

Mon-­Sat. 8am-9pm, Sun. 10am-6pm

Q: Why would I

Q: How do I know

A: Boundary setting

A: Risk Factors for Heart Disease • Family history of heart disease • High blood pressure or high cholesterol • Diabetes (especially over the age of 30) • History of smoking • Prior heart attacks

if I’m at risk for heart disease?

set a boundary in my relationship?

produce does Sawall’s carry?

Mark Sawall ways carried local Owner 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!!

Heart

creates a framework for

Kim Powers, how you can simultaneOwner, Licensed ously love others and love Professional yourself in a healthy way Counselor

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

Atanas Iliev, DO

Warning Signs of Heart Disease • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing • Persistent dry cough or coughing up mucus or blood • Fatigue • Swelling in the feet, ankles or legs Numbers You Should Monitor • Cholesterol: Less than 200 mg/dL • Blood pressure: Below 120/80 mmHg • Fasting blood sugar: Between 70-100mg/dL • A1C level: Below 5.7% • Triglycerides: Less than 150 mg/dL Learn more about heart health and your heart care options at bronsonhealth.com/heart.

Oakwood Plaza • 2965 Oakland Dr. at Whites Rd. • 343-3619 • www.sawallhf.com

Www.HeartSoulMindStrengthLLC.com

Bronson Advanced Cardiac Healthcare

510-827-1305

Bronsonhealth.com/heart (269) 371-1222

Financial Services

Transitions

Roofing

Sawall Health Foods

Q: What is this new

Faith. Acceptance. Empowerment. Purpose.

Q: May I still

“Super Catch-up” contribution with 401k plans?

A: In the past, most 401(k) plans permitted catch-up contributions that were equally available to all plan participants aged 50 and above.

Chuck Henrich President & Owner

Starting in 2025, eligible participants who are ages 60 to 63 can make “super catch-up” contributions of up to the greater of: $10,000, up to 150% of the regular catch-up limit equaling $11,250.

To see if this is appropriate for you, please call our office to schedule an appointment.

Southwest Michigan Financial, LLC

The Atriums • 4341 S. Westnedge #1201

269-323-7964

Diana Duncan Director of Sales and Marketing

travel if I live in an independent living community?

A: Many residents

continue to travel after moving into senior living. In fact, some communities provide discounts on monthly service fees if you intend on traveling for a month or more. Contact your community’s resident liaison or other staff member to understand your community’s policies on travel.

Friendship Village

“Where Connections Matter”

1400 North Drake, Kalamazoo 269-381-0560 www.friendshipvillagemi.com

Q: Should we be

concerned about the amount of snow and ice accumulating on our roof?

Justin Reynolds A: Since the first week of January, our total amount of snowfall Manager has been significant. Since the weight of snow and ice is substantial, we recommend removing as much of the snow and ice as possible. However, safety should be your foremost concern. Emergency room personnel can tell you many stories of unfortunate homeowners injured while climbing a ladder or getting onto their roofs to remove snow and ice. Therefore, we recommend purchasing a ‘snow rake’, a long handled shoveling device, designed to pull snow and ice off the roof while you stand safely on the ground. Please be aware, however, since a snow rake is made from aluminum, you must kept it away from any electrical power lines on your roof.

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

Member Home Builders Association of Greater Kalamazoo

FEBRUARY 2025

3

Capturing the Moments

large a few of the best ones to frame.

I took lots of pictures over the years. I was always worried about a fire or flood at home ruining my pictures, so I kept pictures in photo books at home and took all of my negatives to work, figuring I would at least have one or the other.

While on a recent walk in the woods, I pulled out my phone and took a handful of pictures and a short video.

Later, I sat in my car and brightened and cropped a few pictures.

I still have some of my mother and dad’s pictures they took in the 1950’s with their Brownie camera, a very popular camera at the time. It wasn’t long before similar, small plastic, colorful cameras were given away if you test drove a new car or opened a new a bank account.

Today’s cell phones have made photography so easy. You can take great pictures and store thousands of high resolution photos and videos on your phone. They can easily be texted anywhere at the push of a button.

I have dozens of folders in my phone from the last ten years from various trips, events etc. I can search by year, month, individual, etc and find any picture that I’m looking for.

Before digital cameras, taking pictures and getting them developed was quite a process.

First, you had to purchase rolls of film that took 24 and 36 pictures. You always had to load up before going on trips, and then not lose them along the way. There was always the added worry that the Xray machines at the airport would damage them.

I would return from my trips and rush to a local pharmacy to get them developed. You had the option of 3” x 5” or 4” x 6” sizes. It would take about a week to get them back unless you paid double for 2- hour rush

SPARK

delivery. Sometimes for $1 extra, you would get a duplicate of each photo.

Going way back, most families, did not own cameras, so having pictures taken involved dressing up and going to a local photographer studio. Originally, pictures were taken with large box cameras and people had to sit and not move for several seconds. The photos were printed on thick card stock and called cabinet photographs.

A week later you would go back and pay handsomely, before receiving an envelope with your pictures and the negatives. Usually only about half the pictures turned out well.

I love taking pictures and cannot imagine going back to the not so “the good old days” of photography.

Sometimes we would return with negatives to order reprints of some good ones or en-

Steve Ellis, SPARK Publisher steve@swmspark.com

FROM THE

EDITOR ON THE COVER:

Laurel Ridgway and Tukey the turkey vulture at the Kalamazoo Nature Center.

Photo by Steve Ellis

To advertise in upcoming SPARK publications, contact: Steve Ellis, 269.720.8157, steve@swmspark.com

INDEX FEBRUARY 2025

Spark Healthy Living.........................................12

Lee Dean: Remembering Showstoppers ..... 4

The Gilmore - Alexandre Kasntoro................14

Spark Recipe: Fon-due?....................................5

Spark Road Trip.................................................14

Public Natural Areas..........................................6

Business: Kalako Pizza.......................................15

History: Railroad Velocipede Co......................7

Spark Book Reviews..........................................16

Spark Movie Reviews.........................................8

Lending Hands - 25 Years of Service.............17

Volunteer: David Synwolt..................................9

Tales from the Road.........................................18

Laurel Ridgway - Animal Ambassador.........10

Charley Endres Loves to Bowl........................19

Nature: New Video Series ..............................13

20,000 readers, 650 locations and online at swmspark.com

Editor and Publisher: Steve Ellis Graphic & Page Development: CRE8 Design, Kalamazoo Content/Photography: Lauren Ellis Writers and Contributors Include: Area Agency on Aging, Steve Ellis, Lee Dean, Laura Kurella, Richard Martinovich Dave Person, Kalamazoo Nature Center, Kalamazoo Public Library, Kalamazoo Valley Museum, Portage Public Library, Senior Services of Southwest Michigan, YMCA SPARK accepts advertising to defray the cost of production and distribution, and appreciates the support of its advertisers.

The publication does not specifically endorse advertisers or their products or services. Spark is a publication of Ellis Strategies, LLC. No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

Like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/swmspark

FEBRUARY 2025

4

SPARK

Remembering the showstoppers Lee A. Dean screendoor @sbcglobal.net

to get back up after being knocked down?

What if we could put together a talk show featuring some of the famous people who passed from the scene in 2024? The list of guests would be one of the greatest ever assembled. The ratings would be off the charts.

The focus would then shift to music, where the first guest is the maestro himself, Quincy Jones. Q worked with everybody from Count Basie to Michael Jackson to the superstars singing “We Are the World.” How did he bring the best out of such a wide variety of artists? And who won when there was an argument about how a song should be recorded?

A good talk show needs a master of ceremonies, an Ed McMahon or a Johnny Olson. Who better for this role than The Voice of Voices, one James Earl Jones. He was an accomplished all-around actor, but his deep rumbling speech was his trademark.

Changing genres completely, Kris Kristofferson ambles onto the set. He was a pretty fair actor, but his major skill was as a songwriter. How did he and his bandmates in the Highwaymen work together so well? Did he ever meet a person whose real name was Bobby McGee?

est “five-tool” player ever (hit for average, hit for power, running, fielding, throwing).

He always played so joyfully. Did he ever have a bad day on the field? What did he learn from each of his managers?

Sticking with baseball, Greg is no doubt prepared for his next guest to refer to himself in the third person. Rickey Henderson is the all-time career leader in stolen bases. His combination of speed and power made him the ultimate leadoff hitter. How much money did he think he could make if he were playing today?

There would never be enough time on a talk show to satisfy our curiosity about Pete Rose.

away by security, the last category of guests, the world of TV and movies. The first guest is the perfect combination of funny guy and nice guy, Bob Newhart.

His two sitcoms were brilliant, but for those of a certain vintage, we remember Newhart as a stand-up comedian without peer. How did he come up with the idea of the one-way phone conversations? Which one was his favorite?

No one person could possibly follow Newhart, which means a panel discussion is in order. Richard Lewis, John Amos, and Linda Lavin could discuss what made each of their shows great. No questions would really be needed, just a freewheeling dialogue about “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Good Times,” and “Alice.”

The national broadcast would close with a few poems from the erudite and classy There is no one who did more on an athCharles Osgood before a special regional Jones reads the list of guests, and then Next up is Dickey Betts, one half of what letic field with less physical talent. What 15-minute broadcast focusing on Michiintroduces the host: Phil Donahue. His may have been the best twin lead guitar caused him to risk so much by betting gan personalities. Wayne Kramer and long-running daytime talk show broke duo in history (with Duane Allman in the on baseball? How does he feel now that Dennis “Machine Gun” Thompson tell new ground as a serious topical exploraAllman Brothers). Did the band realize no one can watch a baseball game now stories about the wild days of the MC5. tion of the major issues and personalities they were inventing a subgenre of popular without an invitation to wager on how Detroit Tiger greats Charlie Maxwell, of the day. Phil being Phil, he would have music – Southern rock – as they were start- often the catcher adjusts his cup?

Rocky Colavito, and Ozzie Virgil trade plenty of questions for the guests. ing in the late 1960s?

There is one more sports guest left, stories of Briggs/Tiger Stadium in spring The first guest, as befitting his stature, The next category is sports. We lost so many which prompts Phil to reclaim the mic and summer. Joe Schmidt adds his imwould be President Jimmy Carter, the man major figures in 2024 that Phil need help to back. There is only one real question that pressions of that same venue in autumn. who set the standard by which all other interview them all. So he calls in the genial needs to be asked of O.J. Simpson, and As the final credits roll, Chi Chi Rodriformer presidents will be measured. Where Greg Gumbel to take over for a while.

Phil wastes no time. “C’mon, O.J.,” Donaguez sinks one last putt, brandishes his did he get the strength to recover from the hue prods. “We all know you did it. Why The segment starts with the ultimate in putter with more panache than Zorro devastating defeat in the 1976 elections to not just say so right here?” good vibes as Willie Mays strides onto the with his sword, then looks into the camaccomplish more for good than if he had set.

Some have argued Mays was the greatAfter a seething Simpson is dragged era and says, “Hasta el ano que viene.” won? What insights can he share about how

FEBRUARY 2025

5

I then remembered what a pro chef once told me, that a dash of cream of tartar works well at keeping it smooth, too!

Fon-due?

By Laura Kurella It’s funny how a little fondue pot can suddenly cause your fractured French from high school to come rolling off your tongue. Such was the case as Hubby and I poked through items in the basement in an effort to downsize. Of course he elected that we start with my side of the basement first!

“What about this?” he said as he hoisted up an old, tattered box with the word “Fondue” scribbled carelessly with a Sharpie across it.

Seeing the word instantly caused my brain to suddenly recall all kinds of obscure phrases from a class I was lucky to pass. Recalling that fondue comes from the French word “fondre,” which means to melt, I also remembered that fondue has roots that stretch all the way back to 1800s Switzerland, so it is a bit confusing that it has a French name.

Born out of the necessity to stretch meals during lean times, fondue is indeed most often associated with Swiss, and cheese, but nowadays we also associate it with oil and chocolate, too.

Recalling how experts advise to stick with smoother cheeses like gruyere, Swiss, or Monterey Jack, my experience taught me that you can use any cheese you like so long as

SPARK

While the fondue pot fad has truly come and gone, they occasionally pop up in resale shops, which makes it both fun and affordable to hunt for one now and again.

Today, mini crockpots (also in resale shops) work just as well and they are multi-purpose, so they serve more needs, but they just are not as cute.

you follow important fondue rules.

Remembering that you must start with a brick cheese and shred it yourself, then coat freshly-grated cheese with cornstarch to help it keep the fondue from separating, I began to silently wonder if I had any brick cheese upstairs.

Reminding myself that it’s important not to overheat after it has melted, just heat it enough to keep it warm, and not to over-stir the cheese because too much stirring encourages stringiness and clumping, I began to wonder if I should dare.

Then I remembered a secret I learned, that wine or lemon juice will help prevent milk proteins from binding together into a glob, which helps keep that precious fondue nice and smooth.

With my mind shifting to dippers, bread truly rules with fondue, but so do meats, raw or lightly steamed vegetables, fruit, berries, and even pretzels, too.

Looking at Hubby I had to say, “Yes, it has been a long time since we’ve used that cute thing. Perhaps we should take it upstairs for a final spin?”

A little while later, Hubby was so delighted by how well fresh pear slices (and onion confit) paired with the flavors of my sharp Cheddar fondue and he voted we should keep it- hah!

Here now is the recipe that changed his mind that is perfect for Valentine’s Day, or any time you feel so inclined. 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.

Sharp Cheddar Fondue Servings: 6 1/4 cup vegetable stock 1/4 cup dry white wine 1 bay leaf 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 teaspoons cornstarch 2 teaspoons cold water 4 ounces sharp Cheddar Pinch grated nutmeg In an enameled or stainlesssteel saucepan, bring stock, wine, garlic, and bay leaves to simmer. Slowly whisk in cheddar and bring back to simmer.

In a small bowl, stir together cornstarch and water.

Whisk the cornstarch mixture into the fondue and continue whisking until simmering and slightly thickened. Add nutmeg and remove bay leaves.

Transfer to a fondue pot. Serve with large cubes of French or Italian bread, slices of fresh apple or pear, or fresh vegetables.

FEBRUARY 2025

6

SPARK

SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN LAND CONSERVANCY

Public Natural Areas If only there was a place where you could shrug off stress, boost your mood, enhance your creativity, make cool discoveries . . . all while getting in your steps.

Luckily, there is - it’s nature! Many studies show that spending time in nature improves all kinds of mental health stuff like mood, sleep quality, attention span, and maybe even road rage. You don’t need to know anything about nature to soak up the goodness, its positive effects are effortless.

An important part of our work at Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy is providing public natural areas where everyone can connect with nature and enjoy its benefits. We’ve got 18 public nature preserves spread across our 9-county service area that are open from dawn to dusk with no admission fee (though we love donations). Most of them have trail systems, some offer wildlife viewing

platforms, and all of them provide goodquality natural habitat for both people and wildlife.

small Lake Michigan beaches at both Pilgrim Haven Natural Area and Wau-KeNa North Tract. And we have more!

Maybe you’re familiar with some of them? With great views of the Kalamazoo River, Armintrout-Milbocker Nature Preserve near Allegan is our newest public natural area. Portman Nature Preserve near Mattawan is one of our most popular, with two miles of trails that wind through wooded hills and past small lakes. Wolf Tree Nature Trails in Oshtemo offers awesome summer wildflowers.

Big and friendly, Chipman Preserve near Galesburg features restored prairie and oak savanna habitats, and 5.5 miles of trails to walk, run, or cross-country ski.

Bow in the Clouds is a gem at the heart of Kalamazoo that protects a large wetland.

Just east of South Haven, hikers love the hills and smorgasbord of habitats at Black River Preserve. Folks can enjoy

From Berrien to Barry and points in between, SWMLC public nature preserves are there to nourish mind, body, and soul. 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 about us and how you can get involved at our website, www.swmlc.org. _____________________________________ Above, left to right: Armintrout-Milbocker Trail, Wau-Ke-Na Preserve, Black River Trail.

FEBRUARY 2025

7

SPARK

Kalamazoo Railroad Velocipede Company Veloci…what? The railroad velocipede was a bicycle-like contraption developed in the 1870s and used primarily by the railroad industry for inspection work. Two of the world’s largest producers of hand powered rail vehicles were located right here in West Michigan: the Sheffield Velocipede Car Company in Three Rivers, and the Kalamazoo Railroad Velocipede Company in the Celery City.

The Kalamazoo Railroad Velocipede Company came about in 1882, when Frances W. Randall of Tekonsha applied for patent protection on his “Railway Velocipede,” which he then assigned to Kalamazoo manufacturers William E. Hill and George W. Miller. Miller and Hill set up shop at the northwest corner of Rose and Eleanor streets and began to manufacture velocipedes based on Randall’s design.

Their diligence paid off and the business grew rapidly. In 1885, the company exhibited its full line of velocipedes and hand cars at the World’s Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition in New Orleans, where it received first place awards for both machines. Within a short time, the company was shipping products to all corners of the United States, as well as Brazil, Greece, Australia, and elsewhere.

by Keith Howard, Kalamazoo Public Library

siderably as it made the move to a new factory complex on Reed Street. During the First World War, the Kalamazoo Railway Supply Company became a pioneer in the production of specialized railroad equipment.

By the end of the Second World War, the name had changed again to the Kalamazoo Manufacturing Company as it made the switch from railroad products to industrial vehicles and machinery. By 1960, the firm had become a world leader in the production of industrial vehicles and plant maintenance equipment.

By then, the firm had built a new factory on South Pitcher Street where some 45 to 50 “expert mechanics” manufactured 35 different styles of equipment for the railroad industry. By the 1890s, they were shipping carts and velocipedes, specialized wheels, and cattle catchers to customers all over the world.

Around 1900 the name was changed to the Kalamazoo Railway Supply Company to reflect its ever-expanding product line. The company’s ownership and corporate structure changed con-

The Kalamazoo Manufacturing Company sold off the railroad portion of its business in 1968 and continued to focus on its industrial vehicle production. In 1983, the firm celebrated its 100th anniversary as a Kalamazoo-based manufacturer, but the landscape of industrial manufacturing was changing rapidly by then. During the 1990s the company was sold to Taylor-Dunn, a large manufacturer of commercial and industrial utility vehicles, and the Kalamazoo plant was closed. The building on Reed Street stood until at least 2012 but has since been razed.

More at kpl.gov

SPARK

FEBRUARY 2025

8

Movie Reviews Kinds of Kindness (2024) Yorgos Lanthimos is back at it again, fresh from his multiOscar winning Poor Things (2023) with another strange tale, or rather, a set of three tales. Returning for Kinds of Kindness are not only Emma Stone (La La Land, Cruella) and Willem Dafoe (Inside, The Lighthouse), but also Efthimis Filippou, with whom Lanthimos co-wrote The Lobster (2015) and The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017), and it shows. All three vignettes share an amazing cast, with Jessie Plemons (Civil War, Breaking Bad) and Margaret Qualley (Drive-Away Dolls, The Substance) joining Stone and Dafoe to portray multiple characters across three stories loosely based around the theme of the very human preoccupation with control over one’s life. Winding his way through the subject matter of voluntary car accidents, paranoid spouses, bizarre cult leaders, and the search for a messiah, Lanthimos keeps the tone set firmly to ‘unsettling’, and the cast delivers. This one feels every bit as strange to recommend as it is to watch, and yet, I cannot resist. – Submitted by. Patrick J.

Daytime Revolution (2024) “Love, peace, communication, women’s lib, racism, prison conditions, drugs.” These were the topics of interest John Lennon and Yoko Ono wanted to pursue, when asked by TV talk show host Mike Douglas at the beginning of their week-long 1972 appearance on - and appropriation of - his top-rated daytime program. 2024

documentary Daytime Revolution features numerous clips from that week’s Mike Douglas Show episodes, as well as interviews from several participants, all invited by the Lennons and representative of the era’s countercultural leaders.

Douglas may have been perceived by some of the guests - among them Jerry Rubin, George Carlin, and Ralph Nader - as a square, but he never treats them condescendingly, and his questions display a genuine curiosity about them.

An oddity among TV buffs and Beatlemaniacs alike, the Lennons’ and Douglas’s Daytime Revolution was indeed televised, and this film provides the proof. – Submitted by. Karl K.

The Shop Around the Corner (1940) Despite a somewhat peculiar choice to retain the source material’s Hungarian milieu (some characters have an accent, some don’t), the charming film The Shop Around the Corner (1940) is considered today as one of the great romantic comedies.

Directed by celebrated auteur Ernest Lubitsch, and starring Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullavan as leads, the film is set in Budapest in the late 1930s, and centers around a posh leathergoods store and its employees. Driven by a series of misunderstandings and plot twists between Stewart and Sullivan’s obstinate characters, the two snarky antagonists have been unknowingly writing love letters to one another, having met anonymously through a newspaper classified. If this storyline sounds familiar, the 1998 blockbuster You’ve Got Mail draws heavily upon Lubitsch’s film. – Submitted by Ryan G.

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

FEBRUARY 2025

9

SPARK

“Nutrition for the Human Spirit” – David Synwolt

By Jim Coppinger, Milestone Senior Services Volunteer Providing nutritious meals to homebound seniors meets a critical need, but Milestone’s mission extends beyond food. Dave Synwolt, a Senior Companion volunteer, doesn’t deliver meals; he offers something just as essential—spiritual and emotional nourishment. Through companionship and genuine connection, Dave helps combat loneliness, boredom, and the emotional weight of isolation, including anxiety and depression. While food sustains the body, the relationships Dave fosters nourish the soul, fulfilling a universal human need for meaningful connection.

Dave’s upbringing shaped his path. His family moved between Michigan communities as his father pursued a calling as a pastor, eventually retiring from First United Methodist Church in Kalamazoo.

Dave credits his parents as profound influences.

His father’s compassion, exemplified by visits to the sick, showed him that character transcends religious teachings. Basic principles like the Golden Rule hold value regardless of one’s faith.

Dave’s mother, who had a literary degree, sparked his love for writing poetry—a passion he maintains to this day. Some of his poems have been published. But Dave’s creative pursuits don’t end there. He also plays piano and drums, enjoys films, continues to write poetry, and immerses himself in the arts.

His son, John, shares his passion for writing, music, drums, and piano. Dave says, “One of the highlights of my life was a two-week trip with my son to the Swiss Alps, Paris, and Rome in September ‘23. My love for my son, along with my life’s horizons, were substantially broadened.”

Helping others, however, remains central to his life.

Before the COVID pandemic disrupted everything, Dave began his volunteer work with seniors at Heritage Community through the national organization “Senior Companion Program” which is overseen nationally by AmeriCorps Seniors. Post COVID, he continues that service with Milestone’s Senior Companion program and now serves at Park Village Pines senior living community.

When engaging with seniors, Dave emphasizes letting them decide when and how much they want to share.

“Every person has a remarkable story,” he says, and hearing those stories is a privilege.

Dave finds immense fulfillment in his volunteer work, which he says fills him with gratitude and humility.

“Being there for others keeps you grounded,” he reflects.

Dave often tells people he volunteers “to plant a seed.”

He believes there are far more people in need of compassion than there are those willing to offer it. If you feel something is missing in your life, Dave suggests giving to others. “It will fill that void—you just have to ask where you can help.”

Milestone Senior Services (previously known as Senior Services of Southwest Michigan) is an AmeriCorps Seniors grantee. AmeriCorps Seniors empowers people age 55 and older to serve their communities. RSVP helps people find a volunteer opportunity that fits their passion. There are currently opportunities in Kalamazoo County and a few in Calhoun County. Volunteers are needed with Meals on Wheels, Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes, Telephone Reassurance for Seniors, Milestone Home Repair, and more. Regular, flexible schedules available. Contact RSVP at 269-382-0515 or apply to volunteer at www.milestoneseniorservices.org.

SPARK

10

FEBRUARY 2025

LAUREL RIDGWAY KALAMAZOO NATURE CENTER ANIMAL AMBASSADOR MANAGER

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

Laurel Ridgway supervises a unique group of individuals.

They fly, crawl, hop and slither, and they don’t speak her language.

But she speaks theirs, or at least tries to.

Ridgway is the animal ambassador manager at the Kalamazoo Nature Center.

While the Nature Center ambassadors she manages include seven turtles, three snakes, two frogs, a Madagascar hissing cockroach, a tarantula and two rabbits, most near and dear to her heart are the four birds of prey.

They include a barred owl named Barred, the elder statesman of the group who is over 20 years old; a 4-year-old turkey vulture named Tukey; a broadwinged hawk, Chester, who also is 4 years old; and Garage, or Gary, for short, an American kestrel soon to observe his first birthday, who got his name from the structure in which he spent the first part of his life.

All birds of prey housed at the Nature Center are there because they would not be able to survive in the wild. Barred and Chester have injured wings, while Tukey and Gary are imprints, meaning they have come to rely on humans for survival.

Tukey is trained to perch on Ridgway’s falconry gauntlet, a glove used in working with birds of prey.

Chester and Gary are being trained to do so also.

Ridgway says she loves spending time with birds, especially owls, and the winged ambassadors at the Nature Center are a big part of the reason she took the job there last year.

“I have to be working with birds; that is my favorite part of the job,” she says.

So much so, in fact, that Ridgway tries to imitate their calls.

“I practice sometimes in the car,” she admits.

She and others will be able to use either natural or electronic calls to communicate with owls in the wild during the Nature Center’s Owl Prowl program in March.

Other programs put Nature Center visitors in touch with the birds and other animals that live there in captivity, primarily because they would not survive on their own.

One of those programs, Creature Features, is offered by request to school groups and for birthday parties, weddings, corporate events and the like, according to Ridgway and Amber Hejl, the Nature Center’s engagement program director.

FEBRUARY 2025

11

People think owls are tame, for example, because they often will not flee from humans, she says. But the truth is when they are scared they freeze in place.

“It’s really important to me to work with body language … with these animals,” she says.

“Owls hold a very special place in my life,” Ridgway stresses.

A native of Seward, Neb., she earned her bachelor’s degree in Spanish at Indiana University in Bloomington, but when it came to finding a job, she took a position as a wildlife education fellow at the Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center in Sandstone, Minn.

“It just changed my world,” she says. “I really love animals and nature.”

While at Osprey Wilds she met Athena, a 26-yearold barred owl, and she was smitten.

In the spring, summer and fall the Nature Center also has monthly Bird of Prey Public Training sessions.

“During the roughly one-hour session we feed the birds and do training with them, if they’re up for it,” Ridgway says. “The public watches and asks questions.”

“Our hope is to always acquire animals that are willing and able to help us with our education program,” Hejl says.

Ridgway says the Nature Center is respectful of the birds and other animal participants, and if they are not in the mood to do a program, they are exempted.

“These animals are individuals and they can say no,” she says. “They are not objects. They are our coworkers.”

Her next position was as education specialist at Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford, Mass., where she bonded with the small eastern screech owls, whose trill she began to imitate.

Desiring to return to the Midwest, Ridgway took the job at the Kalamazoo Nature Center last year.

To prepare herself for her work with birds and other wildlife, Ridgway has completed an online workshop on “Care and Management of Captive Raptors,” offered by the University of Minnesota’s Raptor Center.

She also is a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Advancing Conservation through Empathy for Wildlife, and the International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators.

SPARK

FEBRUARY 2025

12

HEALTHY LIVING

week, or 30 minutes a day, three days a week. Always check with your doctor for the right routine for you.

Be Kind to Your Heart. t’s the time of year for candied hearts and chocolate kisses. It’s also the time of year, February being American Heart Month, to raise awareness of heart disease and how to work toward preventing it. And since we all have a heart…

Here are 10 lifestyle tips for staying heart healthy, taken from PrimaCare.com, which has listed the things we can be doing to care for ourselves:

MONITOR YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE Make sure to have your cholesterol and blood pressure checked at least once a year, or more often if your doctor recommends it.

EAT A HEART-HEALTHY DIET Eating right is one of the best ways to reduce heart disease. Fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, beans, nuts, and seeds can help keep your arteries healthy.

EXERCISE The CDC recommends adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate to intense aerobic activity each

MANAGE YOUR DIABETES: Prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes all carry an increased risk of developing heart disease. This is because diabetes can cause high blood sugar, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, all of which contribute to the development of heart disease. By keeping your diabetes under control, you can reduce your risk of developing heart disease and other serious health conditions.

MANAGE YOUR WEIGHT: Your body weight also plays a huge role in your heart health, often because it comes hand-in-hand with many other issues (mentioned above.)

Losing just 5% - 10% of your body weight can help you improve blood pressure, lower blood sugar, and reduce cholesterol levels, ultimately decreasing your risk of heart disease.

QUIT SMOKING Cigarette smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, and many of them are toxic. Not only do these toxins have a huge effect on your heart and blood vessels—causing an increased risk of heart disease and stroke—but they can also damage other parts of the body, like your lungs.

SPARK

TAKE TIME TO DESTRESS: Another important part of living a heart-healthy lifestyle is taking some me-time. Stress can take a toll on your heart health in several ways. Taking a few minutes each day to relax in a quiet place, focus on yourself, practice yoga poses, or read a book can work wonders to reduce stress levels and protect your heart.

KNOW YOUR FAMILY HISTORY The choices you make in your day-to-day life aren’t the only factors that affect your heart health.

Your genes also play a huge role, so it’s important to take time to learn your family history. Various types of heart disease and heart-related conditions are known to run in families, like coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart attacks, and even heart failure. Collect your family history. Know your risks.

GO TO YOUR ANNUAL CHECK-UPS It’s recommended that adults see their doctor at least once every year for a check-up. During this appointment, your doctor will review any current health concerns and check for potential signs of heart disease.

[SOURCE: https://www.prima-care.com/blog/american-heartmonth-10-lifestyle-tips-for-staying-heart-healthy]

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.

FEBRUARY 2025

13

of Trout Run.

New Video Series Captures KNC Trails as Never Before

“Our favorite shots were on Habitat Haven trail,” Courtney said. “It was full summer and there were bumble bees and butterflies everywhere. It was so beautiful and perfect.”

By Tom Springer, Vice President of Development, Kalamazoo Nature Center as meditative as they are informative.

They’re full of rare moments culled from golden days spent afield by two artists who took the year’s measure.

Even if their first inspiration came from a humble trail sign.

“During Covid, when everyone was getting stir crazy, we started walking every day,” said Courtney. “That’s when we discovered and became members of the Nature Center. But Chad’s creative wheels are always spinning, so we thought it would be great to shoot some footage.”

When you watch the videos that Chad and Courtney Campbell made to showcase the Kalamazoo Nature Center’s hiking trails, it’s hard to describe their singular appeal. Yes, they offer a visual way to explore KNC’s trails in advance of a visit. Yet their cinematic beauty, stunning aerial views and original soundtrack far exceed any pedestrian purpose. They’re

As new hikers do, the Campbells studied the big trail sign by the Visitor Center to plan their hike. But as Chad looked at the squiggly, color-coded lines that depict each trail, he knew something was missing. “I saw a technology gap,” he said. “For many people, if something’s not on their phone or tablet, then it doesn’t exist. They won’t visit a trail unless they can see it first. That’s when I knew we needed videos.”

SPARK

The Campbells created 10 videos, one minute each, that close this gap and then some. The finished product reflects the shared expertise of two storytelling professionals. Courtney worked for five years as a news producer at WWMT in Kalamazoo. Chad has produced nine documentaries and is co-owner of The Alamo Studio in Kalamazoo.

The videos use drone footage for overhead views and a GoPro, GH-4 Panasonic video camera and Sony Camcorder for ground footage. Variously, the point of view soars like a hawk above the Kalamazoo River or bounds up the Bluebird trail with deer-like agility. Then, from this whirl of motion, comes luminous full stop moments. A lone golden leaf descends with zig-zag grace in a maple forest under a cerulean autumn sky. A fluted burble of water music ascends from a tiny waterfall on the clear reaches

As much as the images, it’s the soundtrack that makes the videos so entrancing. “All the music is original,” Chad said. “It was written by musicians who know the Nature Center and visited here as kids.” Their intimacy with the landscape shows. Much as the band Bon Iver captures the mood of a Wisconsin winter, these one-minute soliloquies fit each video like a well-worn hiking boot.

The use of acoustic guitar, harmonica, percussion and steel guitar makes each video its own meditation.

The Campbells have produced a CD of the original music. The 23 cuts set the mood for a good night’s sleep or a nature-vibe background in home or office.

By late February, the CDs should be available in KNC’s Trailhead gift shop. To watch the videos, use the QR code above or visit the Kalamazoo Nature Center’s YouTube channel.

Tom Springer is vthe author of “The Star in the Sycamore,” and “Looking for Hickories.”

FEBRUARY 2025

14

SPARK

The Gilmore

Alexandre Kasntoro with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra Wednesday, February 5, 7:30pm Chenery Auditorium, Kalamazoo Named a Gilmore Artist in 2024, French pianist Alexandre Kantorow has been enjoying a career of meteoric acceleration.

He returns to Kalamazoo to perform what has been called the “Mount Everest of concertos” – Brahms’ Second Piano Concerto.

The evening begins with Kantorow tackling Rachmaninoff’s rarely performed First Piano Sonata. He was the first French pianist to win the Gold Medal at the Tchaikovsky Competition along with the Grand Prix – awarded together only three times in competition history.

Portland

West of Hopkins

Athens

Union City

Burnips

Ionia

For ticket information: thegilmore.org/concerts-events/ticket-info The Tyler-Little Community Box Office Mon-Fri | 10 AM to 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM to 6 PM 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall Epic Center, downtown Kalamazoo (269) 250-6984

FEBRUARY 2025

Kalako Pizza

By Richard Martinovich

On Super Bowl Sunday, an estimated 12-and-ahalf million pizzas will be devoured by Americans! Kalako Pizza expects to be busy for the Super Bowl, but since they opened in December of last year, plenty of customers have already found their way through the door! “We’ve been selling 200 pizzas a night!” exclaims owner Kody Asakevich.

Kalako Pizza promises “imaginative and passion-driven pizza” and the menu delivers, with unique selections like Potato Bacon Pizza -- thin sliced roasted potatoes, thick cut bacon, rosemary, olive oil and parmesan. If you like meat on your pizza, you’ll love the Meat-o-Rama -- Red sauce with pepperoni, sausage, meatballs, bacon, and ham.

15

SPARK

Appetizers include crispy-baked bread stuffed with cheese and juicy Smoked Chicken Wings.

Pizza comes in all sizes, from 10-inch to 16-inch, and all crusts -- thin, hand-tossed, pan, deep dish and double-crust stuffed (My cheese pan pizza was fabulous!).

Pizza has been attracting a big audience, but there are sandwiches, too. The Muffaletta is packed with salami, ham, mortadella (Italian sausage delicacy), provolone cheese, olive tapenade, garlic aioli on Kalako homemade focaccia bread.

Choose a Garden Salad or Caesar Salad to go with your pizza. Top off dinner with Tiramisu or Strawberry shortcake for dessert.

Kalako Street Cuisine and Events created a following with a food truck and catering business, but when Chicago Pizza closed on Portage Road after 44 years, they saw an opportunity to set up in a permanent home.

As of this writing, the fate of the Detroit Lions is unknown, but if they are in the Super Bowl?

Kalako Pizza now occupies the same building with the red & white checkered front, next to Great Skate, and located a quarter mile south of Bacon Avenue (and Lake Center Elementary) on Portage Road.

“We’re closed!” chuckles Kody (But check…just in case!).

Leah takes orders at the counter and is extremely welcoming, as is the rest of the Kalako crew making pizzas within view.

10420 Portage Road • Wednesday - Sunday 3-10pm, Closed Monday & Tuesday • 269-216-3304

FEBRUARY 2025

16

SPARK

Book Reviews Book Reviews by the Portage District Library staff

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern Lynda Cohen Loigman In the charming The Love Elixir of August Stern, Loigman introduces us to the independent eightyyear-old heroine Augusta Stern, who is given a second chance at everything that matters. Loigman’s crisp, hilarious, and deeply moving prose moves the story at a perfect pace and introduces the reader to the mystery of love. Written as a dual timeline, the reader is taken back and forth in time in a seamless and easy-to-follow manner. As the timelines draw closer in both Florida and New York, we discover the truth about lost love and family secrets. With the language of elixirs and potions at its center, Loigman brings us the sort of novel we need today, one full of hope, delight, and magic.

The Paradise Problem

ex-wife—a great book to take on vacation to read on the plane or at the beach.

Cue the Sun! Emily Nussbaum Emily Nussbaum unearths the origin story of Reality TV, as told through the lively voices of the people who built the genre that ate the world. Everyone will find this book interesting whether you like Reality TV or not, as evident from page 1. Nussbaum’s writing style is easy to read, and it feels like a conversation. She is utterly meticulous and consistently brings up events that have long been forgotten. She traces the roots of reality TV back to the 1940s and works her way to today.

Ultimately, Nussbaum’s research is so extensive and well-presented that it doesn’t matter what side of the aisle you fall on. A great story is just a great story.

Lovely One: A Memoir

Christina Lauren

Ketanji Brown Jackson

While at UCLA, Anna Green thought she was marrying Liam “West” Weston for access to subsidized family housing and promptly divorced when the graduation caps were tossed. Three years later, Anna is a starving artist, while West is a Stanford professor.

Due to an antiquated clause in his grandfather’s will, Liam won’t see a penny of his inheritance until he’s been happily married for five years which is why Liam never signed the divorce papers. Near the end of the five years, his family puts pressure on Liam to bring his wife, and he has no choice but to turn to the one person he’s afraid to introduce to his one-percenter parents: his unpolished, not-so-

With this unflinching account, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson invites readers into her life and world, tracing her family’s ascent from segregation to her confirmation on America’s highest court within the span of one generation. Justice Jackson pulls back the curtain, marrying the public record of her life with what is less known. She reveals what it takes to advance in the legal profession when you are a minority member and to reconcile a demanding career with the joys and sacrifices of marriage and motherhood. This moving, openhearted tale will spread hope for a more just world for generations to come.

......................................................................................................................................

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

FEBRUARY 2025

17

SPARK

During the past 20 years, the organization has served more than 70,000 clients providing nearly 80,000 pieces of medical equipment. It is estimated that the value of services to clients, health care systems, and social services agency’s is more than $12 million.

LENDING HANDS OF MICHIGAN CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF SERVICE DURING 2025 Lending Hands of Michigan, Inc., is a nonprofit social service organization located in Portage. It provides home durable medical equipment, free for up to seven months, to residents in the Southwest Michigan counties of Allegan, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren.

Kalamazoo resident John Hilliard founded what was to become Lending Hands in 2005. While caring for his mother, Hilliard began collecting discarded medical equipment for

sible. Annually more than 40 volunteers working in 3-hour shifts clean and repair donated equipment, work on data entry and provide client communication and assistance. “As with many non-profit organizations, volunteers are the lifeblood of the organization,” said Board of Directors Chairperson Tracey Hatch. “We are grateful for this exceptional support from community members.”

Lending Hands will celebrate its 20-year anniversary with special programming during 2025 including a facility open house with tours on Saturday, May 3.

A photographic inventory of equipment is C.E.O Founder available on the LendLucinda M. Stinson John Hilliard other friends and faming Hands website. The ily members in need. organization is unable to Repairing the equipment in make deliveries, howAccording to Lending Hands CEO his garage, requests for these servicever, equipment may be reserved Lucinda M. Stinson, “we find that es grew, so did the vision for a new online. many people in our communities organization.

Curbside pickups are available at the are in need of medical equipment, With a generous financial dona10,000 sq. ft. Portage location during and we support community memtion from the Kalamazoo Commuregular business hours. 4570 Combers from all socioeconomic backnity Foundation, Lending Hands of mercial Ave, Suite E (off Sprinkle Rd) grounds.” Examples of equipment Michigan was later incorporated as To get started call 269.567.4381. available include wheelchairs, walka 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization It ers and bath transfer benches.

More information is available continues to be governed by a local Dedicated volunteers make this posat www.leandinghandsmi.org.

Board of Directors.

FEBRUARY 2025

18

Tales

FROM THE

road

Ireland

By Steve Ellis

Jackie and I spent 12 days this past August, exploring England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland.

I chronicled the first three legs of the trip in previous issues.

On the last leg of our trip, we took a bus in Belfast in Northern Ireland and headed south to Dublin to rent a car for the journey west. After few days of driving on the left side of the road with the steering wheel on the right, I felt reasonably confident to take on the third most congested city in Europe.

tures or mention this to anyone.

She agreed and a week later, Michael Jackson and his two children came to her shop. She said at first, the children were not too impressed. It was near Halloween and they were expecting a toy or costume store, but did find things they were interested in. His assistant shuffled the kids onto another

SPARK

and surrounded by water on 3 sides.

We were able to walk all of the way around. The castle was built in 1520 by the O’Hynes clan on the picturesque shores of Galway Bay and was used in a Disney movie.

In town, we enjoyed some delicious soup and bread to warm up at The Pier Head Bar and Restaurant, which overlooking the walled harbor, full of large fishing boats at low tide, lying on their sides on the sea bottom.

We wound our way south in the rain along the narrow road through Carnamadra, Bealaclugga, Ballyvaughan, Killmoon and around Corkscrew Hill, to the Cliffs of Mohr.

We were greeted with freezing cold

We headed west across the heart of Ireland on M6 for an hour and a half drive to the city of Athlone.

Our next stop was Kildare, with a great old downtown and buildings which we would have loved to stay, but no rooms. However, a friendly woman in a coffee shop found us a room in Naas, the next town east, at the fancy Lawler Hotel with elegant dining, bar and ballrooms.

We got out on The River Liffey and walked many miles in this bustling city.

It just happened to be the ESPN College GameDay football game between FSU and Georgia, which brought another 60,000 people to Dublin. Many roads were blocked with throngs of fans dressed in school colors. We talked to a few Georgia Tech players at the airport the next day, who had won the game in an upset.

The next morning, we walked down the narrow winding streets and over the wide River Shannon for breakfast.

Our traditional Irish breakfast consisted of: sausage, bacon, tomato, fried egg, black pudding and white pudding-dark patties that resemble sausage. I asked what was in them and was told, “You don’t want to know.”

They are made of pork innards.

The caller said she would like to bring a friend and his children to the store but she would need to close the store for a few hours and not take any pic-

We drove to Miltown Malbay and then took a mountainous narrow road to the pretty town of Ennis and then the busy city of Limerick.

We headed to Dublin to drop off bags and car and grabbed an Airbus to downtown Dublin.

Sitting on the bar was an odd looking contraption that is used to open and pour, cans of the non-alcoholic version Guinness. The young man mentioned that it takes about 4 minutes for the process and at the many funeral wakes that are held there, it might take 20 minutes or more to serve one group.

I noticed picture of Michael Jackson on the wall by the door and asked owner, Katie McCay about it. She smiled and told us of a call she received back in 2006.

We had a great breakfast in the morning with the home owner and some folks from Wales who were there for a wedding in Waterbury. More black and white pudding.

We enjoyed a pizza down the street at the busy 132 Club and breakfast at the Soda Bread Shop in the morning. It was a bakery and restaurant and they had delicious pancakes and sconesdefinitely the best breakfast on our trip.

The Shamrock Inn had a large bar restaurant and when I mentioned to the young bartender as we walked by, that Jackie had never had a Guinness. He poured her a glass and said, “Here’s one on the house,” which she enjoyed.

Athlone’s Left Bank area is full of unique shops and Jackie spotted a sweater in the window of The Bastion Gallery. We stopped in and found a treasure trove of hand-woven scarves and throws, photography, original tapestries, hand-blown glass and pottery.

named because two ships of the Spanish Armada foundered offshore in 1588. Rumor has it, the survivors that climbed up the steep cliffs in the storm were later executed by the mayor. The town was abandoned during the potato famine in the 1800’s and is slowly coming back.

We wandered all over the packed streets and eventually headed to the Guinness Plant where we found out we needed advance tickets. So we stopped down the street at a corner pub. It was a sunny day and we sat outside and people watched. activity, while Jackson spent two hours and thousands of euros in the store. The long receipt is still hanging on the wall.

Another shop owner we met said this narrow street was once the main road from Dublin to Galway. He mentioned that before and after big football (soccer) games, traffic was backed up for miles through town.

We left Athlone and headed southwest, taking narrow winding, rock lined roads to Kinvarra. Rounding a bend, we stumbled upon the huge Dungare Castle, complete with a moat

temperatures and a hard rain, but the parking lot was packed and we walked to the visitors center and up to a lookout tower. A pretty view, even in the pouring rain.

We dried off in the car and drove to Lahinch and the Cornerstone Pub for wonderful fish and chips and a much deserved Guinness. Every bar and restaurant was absolutely packed on a rainy weekday evening. Large waves crashed against the stone seawall at the back of the old buildings.

We continued south along the coast to our Airbnb in Spanish Point, so

After grabbing a few tasty coconut balls at the famous Manning’s Bakery on Thomas Street, we peaked into the underground Brazen Head, the oldest pub in Dublin, which opened in 1198.

Our dinner was at a fun corner pub, just off the river. A talented singer/ guitar player sat in the front window near us. We ordered cottage pie, a tasty crust filled with beef and vegetables and enjoyed one last Guinness.

We only spent the afternoon in Dublin, but got a real feel for this historic city and its popularity and hope to visit again in the future.

FEBRUARY 2025

19

Charley Endres Loves to Bowl!

I have worked with Dorothy Endres at the Endres Insurance Agency for several years. A few years back, her son Charley joined the agency.

I stopped by Charley’s office a few months ago and noticed his impressive collection of vintage pinball game boards, hanging on the wall. Colorful 1930’s, games played with marbles or small ball bearings.

Charley told me the he received his first one at age eight and has collected them ever since and now has over 100.

I later talked to Dorothy and she said I should have asked Charley about his bowling exploits.

Here is what I learned: Charley Endres bowled has first game at age three.

While growing up,

his dad would take him bowling for a couple hours after church on Sundays.

Fast forward a few years and Charley bowled his first 300 game at the young age of 18 years and 5 days.

Charley, now 54, just bowled his 45th sanctioned, 300 game! A sanctioned game must occur during league play or a tournament.

Charley bowls in about 3 leagues each week at Continental Lanes and participates in two large tournaments each year.

Charley also enjoys golf and has two, hole in ones. Like the 300 game in bowling, it is the holy grail of golf.

His first was on the par 3, 4th hole at Milham Park Golf Club. He was 14 at the time and after he bowled his 300 game a few years later, Charley may still be the youngest area individual to have a hole in one and to have bowled a 300 game.

I am impressed!

SPARK