Spark-March 2025

PAM SHEBEST LOVES HOCKEY! ~ PG. 10

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MARCH 2025

The Danger of Isolation Winter is not the best time for those who suffer from loneliness or depression.

The days are shorter and colder and many folks don’t get out as much.

Even in the warmer months, there is much less human contact than when I was growing up.

My parents and grandparents visited the bank and post office almost every week, chatting with regular tellers and clerks that knew them on a first name basis.

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after work. It now seems like half the population works from home, in sweat pants, not even worrying about shaving or showering on some days.

Sadly, many of these contacts with others have gone away. A large percentage of our shopping is now done on Amazon or other online stores.

Purchasing a cup of coffee and a donut, picking up prescriptions and even banking are done primarily through drive-in windows, removing many opportunities for encounters with friends or clerks.

They bought gas at a locally owned station, where the attendant talked with them as he pumped their gas and cleaned their windows.

We shopped at a small grocery store, butcher, baker and dairy and knew many many of the workers by name.

My brother and I rode our bikes to the local party store for comic books and baseball cards where the owner would sometimes hold back popular comics for us.

We got together with family regularly for birthdays, holiday parties and summer picnics. We also got together with friends for dinner and card parties.

My parents were in bowling and golf leagues, went to church and belonged to Eagles and the Elks clubs like just about all the other families we knew.

My dad and grandfather got up very early, showered and dressed, and drove to work, going out to lunch with co-workers and maybe a drink

As I was working on this column, I was listening to NPR and a discussion about an article in a recent Atlantic magazine, titled “The Anti-Social Century,” was being aired. The article explained how much time we spend on our phones. It is now our entertainment and our main contact with others, looking and commenting on their Facebook posts and messaging and texting memes and short videos.

For many, this feels like they are staying connected with others, but it is not like an in-person

conversation or phone call.

The article also mentioned that not long ago, going out to dinner or a movie was a regular pastime. Most people, now watch movies at home on Netflix and according to a recent study, 74% of all food bought at restaurants is now take-out.

Some of this started with COVID, with the need for Door Dash and Uber Eats, but the phenomenon has continued.

The study mentioned that due to technological advancements, the average person now has seven more hours of free time per week, or about 300 hours per year. Unfortunately, it also showed that most of that time was spent watching TV. This is all quite shocking to me.

I would hope that most people feel like I do and still enjoy human contact. Let’s reverse this devastating trend by stopping by a friend’s home, a plan to meet them for breakfast or just making an old-fashioned phone call.

FROM THE

EDITOR ON THE COVER:

You will both feel much better after sharing a human connection!.

Steve Ellis, SPARK Publisher steve@swmspark.com

Pam Shebest and K-Wings Head Coach, Joel Martin.

Photo by Steve Ellis

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

INDEX MARCH 2025

Spark Recipe.....................................................12

Lee Dean: Center of the Universe ................ 4

Spark Healthy Living.........................................13

Volunteer: Bill Toepper........................................5

20th Fretboard Festival....................................14

Nature: Maple Sugar Fest ................................6

History: Carriage Springs to Car Bumpers....15

Business: Alibi........................................................7

Spark Movie Reviews.......................................16

Spark Book Reviews............................................8

Upcoming Travel Talks......................................17

Kalamazoo Parks Beautification......................9

Spark Road Trip.................................................18

Pam Shebest - Covering the K-Wings ..........10

23rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade...........19

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.

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MARCH 2025

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The center of the universe fits in your pocket Lee A. Dean screendoor @sbcglobal.net

ranges from mild annoyance to outright panic at the level of losing a child in a crowded public square.

Since the beginning of time, human beings have sought the center of the universe through mythology, religion, and tradition.

I do not like driving without my phone.

What if I encountered an emergency, such as running into a herd of yaks, and needed to call for help?

I am here to proclaim that the search is over. Based on observation of my fellow homo sapiens (and of myself), it has become clear that the center of the universe today is a new kind of totem. This object is a rectangle and goes by many names, the most common being iPhone and Android.

All bow down to the almighty smartphone! It doesn’t slice and dice like a K-tel Veg-o-Matic, but it can perform an astounding variety of other tasks.

My phone plays movies, tells time, does math, and stores mountains of data. I can even make and receive phone calls with it.

Our smartphones are technological marvels, but there’s one problem: the attitudes we take toward our phones has bordered on the idolatrous. We have allowed them to control our lives.

Don’t believe me? Remember how you felt the last time you couldn’t locate your phone? When this happens, our reaction

Just as the Hebrew people needed commandments, we also need guardrails and boundaries to help us put our smartphones in their proper place.

• Thou shalt not talk to anyone who is looking at their phone. If a person doesn’t want to pay attention to a conversation, who am I to interrupt? If they really want meaningful interaction, they would — wait for it, wait for it — put the phone down and make eye contact.

• Thou shalt not be a human pop-up window. Person A is watching TV, reading a book, looking at their own phone, or otherwise concentrating on something. Person B feels the need to share what they’re viewing on their phone and, without asking, shoves their phone in Person A’s face. Person A may be blissfully enjoying a Mozart symphony only to be jolted out of their reverie by someone insisting they look at a video of some poor schmuck stepping on a rake. For me, the only

exception to this rule is a music video.

You can interrupt me any time for a video of a Rory Gallagher guitar solo.

• Thou shalt not bring a smartphone to a dinner table. Mealtime conversations are valuable means of communication. Families share the details of their day. Couples have intimate conversation or work to solve a problem. How many times have you gone to a restaurant and seen a couple, obviously dressed to go out, sitting in a booth staring at their phones? I always wonder if they are both conducting a Google search for marriage counselors.

• Thou shalt not look at a phone in a movie theater while the film is running. If you absolutely must check the score on the Tigers game, step into the lobby and do it there. People pay to experience the light and sound from the big screen, not the small one.

• Thou shalt embrace the concept of earbuds and headphones. If Person A is occupying a space, Person B should not waltz into that space and crank up their phone. The principle is “first come, first served.” Everyone wins when either Person A, Person B, or both, uses available technology to keep the noise to themselves.

• Thou shalt reserve the right to be physically separated from your phone.

There is no need to apologize for not answering a text if you’re undergoing an emergency appendectomy.

Most of these commandments are countercultural to the prevailing trend that favors disruption and interruption. Entire technologies are based on the ability to drag you out of what you’re doing and haul you toward what someone else wants you to see or do. Media companies have award categories for this very thing.

I have a four-letter word to describe these practices: R-U-D-E. Here’s a governing principle that has the potential to enrich your life. This principle consists of four words: put the phone away. Master it, or it will master you. If a smartphone or anything else masters you, the word for this is “addiction.”

To that end, I have a dare, maybe even a triple dog dare: see if you can go 24 hours without looking at your smartphone.

Does the mere thought of this send icy fingers of dread down your spine? Are you asking yourself, “But what will I DO?” There’s plenty of other things to do. Go outdoors. Touch grass. Visit a friend. Fix that wobbly chair leg that’s been bugging you for months. Take a long drive – but don’t touch that phone while you’re driving. That’s a violation of common sense and Michigan law.

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“Just Give it a Try” – Bill Toepper

By Jim Coppinger, Milestone Senior Services Volunteer

to sign up, the greatest need was for volunteer Meals on Wheels drivers. Always enjoying driving, Bill jumped at the chance to help fill the gap. Since then, he’s been a dedicated Meals on Wheels volunteer, often contributing three to four days a week.

Bill Toepper is the son of a Kalamazoo police officer and a downtown bank manager. Growing up, Bill got to know many Kalamazooans through his parents’ connections. He and his wife have four grown children and, soon to be, six grandchildren.

“Volunteering is a blessing,” Bill says. “It’s such a fulfilling experience, and I thoroughly enjoy my time with both fellow volunteers and Meals on Wheels clients.” He adds, “We’ve been so blessed, and it takes so little time to help others.”

Bill’s professional career began right after high school at Bronson Hospital, where he worked for twenty years. His primary role was as a certified scrub technician in the operating room, handing sterile instruments, sponges, and other items to surgeons during procedures. He says this experience instilled in him a deep appreciation for teamwork and dedication to the needs of people.

For those considering volunteering, Bill offers this advice: “Before you decide to make a commitment, just give it a try—get out and do it one time.” He believes that once someone experiences the joy of helping others, it becomes addictive in the best way possible.

After leaving Bronson, Bill took a sales position with a statewide medical supply company for five years.

He then ventured out to start his own business, Ameri-Ramp Company, which installed home accessibility ramps and other specialized equipment, and handicap accessories.

Bill’s life has also been shaped by his involvement in sports, both personally and through his children.

Still an avid, lifelong golfer, he also played softball for thirty years. He was deeply involved in AYSO soccer and Little League as a parent and coach. Bill contributed in any way he could—from mowing baseball fields to serving as both president and vice president of Little League for nine years.

After twenty-two years as a business owner, Bill retired. However, he realized he wasn’t the type to sit

back and disengage. Missing the daily interactions with people, he looked for ways to stay active and give back.

Bill was familiar with Milestone Senior Services and its work providing handicap ramps to those in need throughout the community. Naturally, he decided to volunteer there. A Year ago, when he stopped by

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 269-3820515 or apply to volunteer at www.milestoneseniorservices.org.

MARCH 2025

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Maple Sugar Fest: A Sweet Celebration of Spring

By Tom Springer, Vice President of Development, Kalamazoo Nature Center It’s the perfect one-two Spring sensation.

A breakfast of hot pancakes doused with real Michigan maple syrup and sausages on the side. Then, a wagon-ride pulled by draft horses that clop and jingle along in the fresh air. And after that – why not? – a bowl of Plainwell ice cream drizzled with more amber maple syrup.

That’s the recipe for the 60th Annual Maple Sugar Festival at the Kalamazoo Nature Center on Saturday, March 8. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This year, there’s a few new additions to the Festival menu. For one, KNC has partnered with Tillers International, for horse-drawn wagon rides and a special wagon pulled by tractor from SHALOM Farm in Parchment that can accommodate wheelchairs. Another first is a maple sugaring demonstration unlike anything that visitors have likely seen.

It will be led by Chris Chosa, KNC grants manager. Chosa grew up around maple sugaring as a member of the Keweenaw

Bay Indian Community in L’Anse. His exhibit will feature an experimental archaeological demonstration that explores the earliest maple sugar-making techniques. It will showcase the vital role that maple sugar played in Native American cultures and the fur trade era. Visitors will discover how the introduction of metal pots through trade transformed the process and how environmental changes— such as logging and disease—contributed to the decline of this cultural practice.

This immersive experience, Chosa says, will provide a deeper understanding of Indigenous ecological knowledge and the enduring resilience of maple sugaring traditions.

Inside the refurbished Visitor Center guests can tour the new Forest Mosaic exhibit. Geared for adults and children, it explores the vital role of forests in our world. Visitors will learn about the complex web of plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms that comprise the forests of Southwest Michigan. They will see and

learn how forests recycle nutrients, regulate water, and influence climate. And, better understand the impact of human actions, such as the spread of invasive species and conservation efforts to control them across Southwest Michigan.

Interactive displays include a touchsensitive map to locate different forest biomes on KNC’s trails. Visitors can use View-Masters (remember those?) whose stereoscopic discs will show how forests change over time. _____________________________________ Here’s an overview of the Maple Sugar Festival schedule and activities:

KNC Visitor Center • Pancake breakfast, 9 a,m. – 3 p.m.

• Plainwell Ice Cream with real maple syrup, 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

• Magic Show with Alan Kazam, 11:30 - Noon and Noon - 1 pm • Creature Feature Presentations, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

• Kids activities in the Skylight Classroom, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

• Forest Mosaic exhibit, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Outdoor Activities • Maple sugaring demonstration, Arboretum, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.

• Horse drawn wagon rides, Arboretum, see info table in parking lot • Self-directed Sugar Bush Tours, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Advance tickets on sale until March 6 at NatureCenter.org/Maple Day-of tickets can be purchased on-site

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Alibi

By Richard Martinovich To novelist Agatha Christie, “No innocent person needed an Alibi.” But would the “Queen of Mystery” attempt to thwart a guilty diner from enjoying a memorable eating experience at Alibi?

With its low lighting, well-appointed tables and booths, Alibi is an elegant, cozy and inviting setting – perhaps a bit mysterious, too!

“Alibi” opened in June of 2023 in the Portage Centre Plaza, and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Brunch runs from 9am-3pm, and popular items include the Avocado Benny (Benedict) -- fresh avocado, saffron hollandaise, soft poached egg, winter-greens pesto, English muffin.

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vineyards in Michigan, California, Argentina and New Zealand. Cocktails: Blueberry Lemon Drop Martini, Mai Tai, Smoked Negroni; bottled beer, draft beer, “Mocktails” – alcohol-free libations.

The menu features Wagyu beef -- a specialized Japanese beef. ‘Wa’ means “Japanese,” “gyu” cow. For beef lovers, the marbled texture of Wagyu gives it a buttery taste that melts in your mouth -- an unrivaled sensory sensation! Try the Wagyu Meatballs, with black garlic, peanut ginger sauce, and basmati rice!

The menu offers exquisite fare like Lobster Carbonara with Bucatini, Pecorino, and Prosciutto; and the Charcuterie – cured meats, fruits, cheese, fruits, nuts, jams, mustards, olive, pickled vegetables, and crackers! The Halibut, pan-seared with lemon white wine caper sauce, is a favorite with seafood aficionados. You can also enjoy French toast for breakfast, or a juicy 6-ounce cheeseburger with cheddar cheese at lunch! Whatever you choose, the quality of the food at Alibi is par excellence!

“The best part is the customers. They come from all different backgrounds,” remarked our waitress.

Alibi has a fully stocked bar, with red and white wines from notable

153 W. Centre Avenue • Portage • 269-888-2000

There is a soup of the day, crafted by the chef using seasonal ingredients.

Treat yourself with Lemon Tart Pudding for dessert, or Creme Brulee –fresh vanilla bean baked custard, caramelized sugar crust!

When warm weather arrives, the front patio will make for a very pleasant dining gathering experience. So “Think spring!”

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Book Reviews Book Reviews by the Portage District Library staff

The Sinners All Bow: Two Authors, One Murder, and the Real Hester Prynne Kate Winkler Dawson A fantastic nonfiction read. On the morning of December 21, 1832, a Fall River, Rhode Island, man discovered the body of a 30-year-old mill worker, Sarah Cornell, hung from a pole near a haystack. Word spread quickly through the New England town, the tragedy amplified by the revelations that the unwed Sarah had been pregnant at the time of her death and that she had recently accused a local Methodist minister Ephraim Avery of raping her. The shocking details caught the attention of Nathaniel Hawthorne, whom scholars surmise may have immortalized Sarah in the character of Hester Prynne in his novel The Scarlet Letter and Catharine Williams, who traveled to Fall River for the minister’s trial and, in 1833, wrote what scholars believe was the first true crime narrative in the United States. The Sinners All Bow is a worthy tribute to the

genre’s inception, where true crime texts were both narratives of compassion and rallying cries against injustice.

The Heart of Winter Jonathan Evison We meet Abe Winter as he is turning 90 and figuring this will be the last day he sees some of his friends and family during the party his wonderful wife, Ruth, insisted on throwing. However gruesome that sounds, this novel’s charm lies in the topsy-turvy story of two people falling in love, getting pregnant, marrying, moving to Bainbridge Island, and facing all the quotidian challenges that life throws at a couple. The device of cutting from present-time plot development to past episodes in Abe and Ruth’s life is well done and adds to effective pacing. Jonathan Evison presents his characters with affection and humor. As the decades go by and small triumphs and terrible losses accrue, their relationship waxes and wanes, as all long-term relationships must. But they are left with an unbreakable bond, unbreakable until death.

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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

MARCH 2025

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SHOWCASING THE BEST OF KALAMAZOO:

By Michael Stout, Michigan Waterway Stewards Founder and President

native trees, bushes, and grasses, all to beautify the landscape.

Michigan Waterway Stewards (MWS) is collaborating with the City of Kalamazoo Parks and Recreation Department, Barry-Calhoun-Kalamazoo CISMA, Kalamazoo Area Wild Ones, Kalamazoo Earth Day, and others on a community-wide project to beautify Kalamazoo’s Mayors’ Riverfront and Verburg Parks. The event is scheduled for the weekend of April 12-13.

Patrick McVerry, City of Kalamazoo’s Parks and Recreation director, shares, “By coming together as a community to remove invasive plants we are not only helping our environment, but we are also contributing to the beautification of one of Kalamazoo largest parks and recreation areas.” Noel Ocen, president of Kalamazoo Area Wild Ones, adds, “This project is of interest to us because the beautification will include planting of native trees, shrubs, and grasses to increase biodiversity to encourage the return of an abundance of wildlife.”

Our focus will be on making improvements to Kalamazoo’s flagship Mayors’ Riverfront and Verburg parks. Work will include clearing litter and trash, eradicating invasive trees and bushes, creating generous sightlines and overlooks, and planting

Early pledges of support have been coming in strong with a volunteer count expected to exceed

300. Because interest is so great we may be expanding our project scope to create even greater impact.

Everything needed will be provided for the volunteers, including equipment, food, snacks, and other hospitality. It is encouraged that volunteers bring their own work gloves for comfort and safety.

To learn more and sign up to volunteer, please visit the Michigan Waterway Stewards website at https:// www.miwaterwaysstewards.org/kalamazoo-parksbeautification.html.

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MARCH 2025

NEARLY 40 YEARS OF KALAMAZOO WINGS HISTORY HAS BEEN WRITTEN WHILE PAM SHEBEST WAS ON THE JOB

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

Shebest was in the stands at Wings Stadium as a season ticket holder in the early ‘80s after attending a game and being attracted to one player in particular, Alvin White, whose claim to fame, in addition to his talent on the ice, was his unique appearance.

For nearly 40 of the Kalamazoo Wings’ 50-year history, Pam Shebest has had the same view from the hockey team’s home press box.

“He had this wild hair and a mustache … and I decided, ‘I love this guy.’” Shebest says.

In fact, it’s been a rarity if she hasn’t taken her seat there before game time. She estimates she has only missed about a dozen home games (out of 36 played annually) since she began covering the Wings for the Kalamazoo Gazette in 1985.

She enjoyed games as a spectator until veteran Gazette sports reporter Bob Wagner, who had covered the Wings since their inception, retired in 1985 and she was hired by the Gazette to replace him.

That’s when the Gazette hired her to cover hockey, tennis and automobile racing,

At the time, she was not only the Gazette’s first female sports reporter, but her new job also put her in the company of about 300 females in a male-dominated profession of 10,000 sports scribes in the United States.

“I didn’t think it would ever happen, but when it did, wow,” says Shebest, who grew up going to sporting events with her father in Williamsport, Pa., home of the Little League World Series.

Her father worked at the local newspaper and Shebest set her sights on sports reporting at a young age, even though she realized it was probably a pipe dream.

“Girls weren’t allowed to cover sports back then,” she says.

Still the dream continued while, as an adult, she

found herself in southwestern Michigan teaching French and journalism at White Pigeon High School while writing stories for the Gazette’s regional desk on the side.

Meanwhile, the Wings brought professional hockey to Kalamazoo in the fall of 1974.

Shebest wrote for the Gazette and its online presence, MLive.com, until 2014. Since then, she has been providing feature stories for the Wings website, www. kwings.com, with the exception of 2020-21 when games were suspended because of the pandemic.

She has several fond memories of covering the Wings, who were affiliated with the IHL, UHL and, currently,

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the ECHL over the years and whose moniker has change from the Kalamazoo Wings to the Michigan K-Wings and back to the Kalamazoo Wings.

giant,” she says.

The Wings have won three championships over the years, but Shebest only had the opportunity to cover one of their championship-clinching games, in 2006 in Connecticut against the Danbury Thrashers. (Two Turner Cup championships preceded her time with the Gazette.)

One of those memories was the welcome she received from Steve Doherty, former public relations director for the Wings, when she stepped into the male-dominated arena.

Until then, locker room interviews with players were the norm, but Doherty made sure Shebest had equal time for those interviews outside the locker room.

The series had moved from Kalamazoo to Danbury and she and her husband, Ken Penn, planned to drive there.

“He made it so easy for me to ease into that position,” Shebest recalls.

She says one of her most memorable Wings games occurred in 1982, while she was still a spectator, when Doherty came up with the idea for the first St. Patrick’s Day green-ice game with the Muskegon Mohawks furnishing the opposition.

problem.

Years later, Shebest was covering a game in which 6’2” Wings skater Mel Angelstad, who wasn’t afraid of a fight, was being baited

by Ft. Wayne’s Eric Boguniecki, who stood 5’8”.

Pam receiving the Al Genovy Ambassador award from Kathy Genovy, widow of Al Genovy.

Fans feared the worst as Angelstad approached Boguniecki, but instead of throwing a punch he planted a kiss — right on Boguniecki’s face.

“A Mohawk (skater) got a breakaway and left the puck (in the soft ice) behind him,” Shebest says. “It was hilarious.”

Shebest chuckles when she recalls interviewing 6’5” Wings player Neil Meadmore.

Unfortunately, the food coloring used back then softened the ice, and by the third period it had turned to mush.

Shebest noted that coloring ice has been perfected in the years since then and soft ice is no longer a

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“He got suspended for one game” for unsportsmanlike conduct, Shebest says, but he gave everyone in attendance, at least among Wings’ fans, a good laugh.

“When I interviewed him after a game and he had his skates on, I’m 5 foot 2 inches and he looked like a

The IHL commissioner needed to get the Colonial Cup trophy from Kalamazoo to Danbury, but couldn’t send it with the players because they weren’t supposed to touch it until the championship had been determined.

So he asked Shebest to take it with her.

“I thought, ‘Oh, I don’t want to lose it on my watch,’” so whenever they stopped she had Penn back into a parking place to make sure no one could get into their trunk.

It’s pretty well-accepted in hockey circles that Shebest has done an exceptional job of covering and promoting the Wings over the years.

She received the ECHL’s Outstanding Media Professional Award for 2010-11, and in 2016, she received the prestigious Al Genovy Ambassador Award, named for a former Wings player, which is presented yearly to someone who reflects Genovy’s character and selflessness.

“She was very, very fair,” Doherty recalls of the years his and Shebest’s careers overlapped. “She just did a great job of covering our team.”

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St. Paddy’s Day Delights!

By Laura Kurella March is always an exciting time of year because (to me) it marks the ending of winter, and always has me thinking all things St. Patrick!

While it may come as no surprise that most of us relate corned beef and cabbage to the Irish, especially on St. Paddy’s Day, it may be a surprise to learn that in the olden days the Irish didn’t eat beef, but rather pork because it was a more affordable and less sacred option for them.

Prior to the 12th century, Ireland viewed cows as invaluable sources for helping them work their fields, providing them with milk, and dairy products, too. As such, owning a cow was considered a status symbol of wealth, making them a sacred fixture on Irish farms, and only killed if no longer able to work or produce milk.

It wasn’t until the British conquered Ireland that cows converted into a meat commodity. Under English rule, the Irish were to raise and export herds of cattle so they could be eaten by the English. As a result, Ireland raised tens of thousands of cows, then shipped them off to England.

This practice came to a screeching halt after the passing of the Cattle Acts of 1663 and 1667, which prohibited the export of live cattle to England. However,

with the English appetites still longing for beef, a need for long-term preservation invented a new way for them to enjoy beef.

Coined by the British in the 17th century, the term “corned” gives a nod to the large, corn kernel-sized salt crystals that the Irish used to cure and preserve butchered beef.

The kernels of salt were so large, that it rendered a final flavor far different from what we are familiar with today, leaning more toward salty and far less beefy.

Sadly, those Irish peasants who were busy caring for cattle and curing it could not afford to eat it because of strict English rules. If the Irish could afford any meat, it was usually a very small amount of salted pork or bacon, which is why the Irish depend so heavily on the potato.

Hit hard by the Great Potato Famine (1845–1852), many Irish had to choose between starving or leaving. Those fortunate enough to immigrate to the

United States found themselves blessed to earn enough money to afford to (at long last) indulge in the financially-outof-reach corned beef their ancestors are famously known for developing.

In Ireland, the cut of beef often corned was the silverside cut (a UK/Irish cut located under the rump, equivalent to part of the U.S. Round). In America, corned beef follows Jewish heritage, so it comes from the front (kosher) side of the cow’s front leg (brisket). Since brisket is a tougher cut, both salting and cooking processes are necessary to transform it into the extremely tender and flavorful corned beef we know (and love) to this day.

If you’d like to celebrate this day in an old-fashioned Irish way, get yourself a little pork or bacon and make colcannon. If you are looking to celebrate the traditional Irish-American way then corned beef will make the day, but if you want to step into modern day you can prepare a brisket in a special way (with or without corning).

What’s most important is to celebrate the Irish, and their contribution to the world, by making a hearty, homemade meal your whole family can enjoy.

Here now are some inspiring ways to get you into the spirit of St. Paddy’s Day. 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.

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Special Occasion Beef Brisket Total Time 5 hours, 10 minutes. Servings: 8 1 (5 lb.) beef brisket (NOT corned) ¼ cup brown sugar 1 tablespoon unrefined (colored) sea salt 1 tablespoon cracked black pepper 1 tablespoon garlic powder 1 tablespoon onion powder 1 tablespoon sweet paprika 1 tablespoon smoked paprika 1 teaspoon dried mustard 1 teaspoon dried thyme In a bowl, combine brown sugar, sea salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, sweet paprika, smoked paprika, dried mustard, and thyme. Trim away any silver skin or excess fat on the brisket and set aside.

Coat the entire brisket with spice mixture, covering all sides. Wrap brisket in parchment or wax paper then wrap tightly in foil and place in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight. Place fat and skin in a baggie and place in the refrigerator as well.

Remove brisket and fat package from the refrigerator and place at room temperature for one hour before cooking it.

Preheat the oven to 275 degrees. Open foil and carefully insert an oven-safe meat thermometer into the thickest part of the brisket. Close foil to reseal packet then place the foil-wrapped brisket in a baking pan and place in a preheated oven. Slow roast the brisket until the internal temperature reaches 175 degrees.

Remove the brisket from the oven and carefully open the foil to expose the brisket. Continue slow roasting until the internal temperature reaches 195-205 degrees, about 4 to 6 hours.

Remove the brisket from the oven, tent the foil over it and let it rest for one hour so the juices redistribute evenly throughout the brisket, then cut.

When cutting the brisket make sure to go against the grain and slice the meat in pencil width slices.

MARCH 2025

HEALTHY LIVING

Get Your Pom Poms Out Listen up. March is national cheerleading month. And while maybe it’s specifically referencing the Sports Sprites and game-time enthusiasm, let me take this a little bit further into other life experiences.

Every day, we’re given opportunities to cheerlead others.

To boost morale. To advocate. To give a voice to the voiceless. Maybe this month, we pay a little closer attention to the cheerleaders in our circles and give them an “atta girl” or a fist bump. Perhaps we might even look for ways we can be the more active cheerleader, ourselves.

LIFT OTHERS WITH INSPIRING WORDS AND DEEDS This time of year, in the Midwest especially when sunlight is infrequent and the winter blues affect a lot of us, a “shout out” of encouragement that reaches the intended’s ears can go a long way in helping to build emotional strength and a more positive outlook. Know someone who has situational depression suffering from personal loss? Send them a word of encouragement – a text, an email – snail mail, too! Today, it’s easy to send an “I’m thinking of you” message. How about the stranger in the checkout line, a young mother managing the grocery cart, her wallet, and three littles under the age of five?

Cheer her on to the next thing on her list with a supportive smile and “you’re doing a great job!” And how about

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the person at the gas station who asks us for extra change or a cigarette? How can we lift him with a caring word? Or a caring smile? Cheer him on to the next thing. Follow up with an act of kindness.

RAISE A SPIRIT FLAG FOR YOUR FAVORITE CAUSE AND GIVE When we align our values with initiatives for good, we can accomplish great things. Having causes we believe in and ultimately support has an exponential positive impact that can help individuals, groups, communities small and large. The first step can be to share the good news about a program or organization that we know to make a difference by our own experiences or others’.

When we take up the flag for a community initiative, we are rallying for change and communicating to our friends and neighbors that we are behind efforts that are making a positive impact. Be able to speak with conviction for your favorite cause(s). Follow up with your time and treasure.

DO A CARTWHEEL AND REPEAT Okay – maybe that’s a little over-the top. But the point here is that acts of encouragement to those around us and taking up causes we believe in are the cheerleading opportunities in the arena of life. When we speak words of encouragement, or support that favorite cause, don’t stop there. Do it again. And again. And again.

What an awesome routine! So, get your pom-poms out (figuratively speaking, of course.) Let’s make some noise and do good wherever we can.

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.

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MARCH 2025

March 21 & 22, 2025 at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum Downtown Kalamazoo FREE! Get ready to strum, jam and groove at the ultimate celebration of Kalamazoo’s stringed-instrument legacy and musical heritage. Don’t miss a beat — mark your calendar now!

Go to https://kalamazoomuseum.org/events for a complete listing of activities and performances.

MARCH 2025

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Carriage Springs to Car Bumpers Kalamazoo has a long, rich history of manufacturing. Firms like Gibson, Shakespeare, and Checker Motors have gained near-legendary status, while others that were once industry leaders have seemingly vanished into obscurity. One such all but forgotten producer of “Made in Kalamazoo” products was the Kalamazoo Spring & Axle Company.

Kalamazoo Spring & Axle stood as one of Kalamazoo’s leading manufacturing firms for nearly 50 years. The company began as a maker of carriage springs and later branched out into farm implements and later still, parts for the automobile industry. It consistently employed more than 100 workers and earned an impressive reputation nationwide.

The roots of the company date back to the 1850s when Dodge, Kimball & Austin began manufacturing farm implements on North Rose Street. The company covered an entire city block and employed some 120 workers. Over time, the product line was expanded to include steam engines, boilers, sawmills, plows, cultivators, tools, and numerous other farm implements.

In 1874, Benjamin Austin, Lorenzo Egleston, and

by Keith Howard, Kalamazoo Public Library

J.K. Wagner formed the Kalamazoo Spring Works, and began making springs for the booming carriage and wagon trade. The firm was one of just two such manufacturers in the country at the time, and its products soon became known throughout the Midwest.

Reorganized as the Kalamazoo Spring & Axle Company in 1878, a new factory building was built on Portage Street. By 1906, the Kalamazoo Spring & Axle Company had become one of the largest

manufacturers of its kind in the United States, with annual output of more than 2,000 tons. The firm later expanded its line and for a time found great success making radiators for steam and hot water heat.

After the First World War, the growing popularity of the automobile spurred new demand for car parts and other metal products. The company was sold in April 1920 and renamed the C.G. Spring Company. The Kalamazoo factory was retooled and began to make leaf springs and aftermarket bumpers for the auto industry.

During a month of record-breaking sales in March 1923, an early morning blaze broke out and destroyed the factory, leaving some 370 employees without work. Production was moved briefly to an existing factory building on Fulford Street, but the firm later closed and consolidated its operations to Chicago and Detroit.

The property on Portage Street was sold to the Consumers Power Company for the expansion of its gas facility. A Consumers Power substation now occupies a portion of the lot where the Kalamazoo Spring & Axle Company factory once stood.

More at kpl.gov

MARCH 2025

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Movie Reviews Nosferatu (2024) Robert Eggers’s latest atmospheric horror project is none other than a fusion of F.W. Murnau’s legendary 1924 film of the same name and the 1932 Tod Browning adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

Fully reimagined and redressed for modern sensibilities, it’s a film that could have easily crashed and burned in the hands of someone other than the director responsible for The Witch (2015) and The Lighthouse (2019). In a way, it feels like the film that Eggers has been building towards for some time now. There are no jump scares here - just pulsing, roiling, persistent dread driven by disembodied camera work and a soundtrack evocative of the raspy breath of an ancient, undead terror. Bill Skarsgård (It, Barbarian) completely disappears into the role of the eponymous vampire lord, Count Orlok, and Lily-Rose Depp (The King, Tusk) is stellar as Ellen Hutter, the object of his desire. Nicholas Hoult (The Great, The Menu) turns in a perfectly serviceable performance as Ellen’s unfortunate husband, caught in the middle and terrified the whole time. The real gem here is Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man, Kinds of Kindness) as a monster-hunting occult scholar who appears with vim and verve near the end of the second act and recognizes the horror grip-

ping the German town of Wisborg for what it is. If recent entries in the genre of gothic horror have left you wanting, this one might just quench your thirst. – Submitted by. Patrick J.

Twin Peaks: From Z to A (2019) The January passing of celebrated filmmaker David Lynch sparked tributes and fresh accolades from cineastes the world over. Though Lynch had established a cult reputation with his 70’s and ‘80’s movies, it was his 1990 TV series Twin Peaks that made him a household name.

The surreal soap opera’s surprise success gripped viewers’ imaginations nationwide, as the murder mystery at its center made media headlines and spurred a cottage industry of books expanding on the Twin Peaks saga. Twin Peaks: From Z to A is an exhaustive Blu-Ray collection encompassing the show’s breakout first season; its less successful second season; 1992’s critical and box office flop Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (since reassessed favorably); the series’ 2017 reboot; and a plethora of interviews, special features, and deleted scenes. Not for the faint of heart, Twin Peaks remains a cultural phenomenon and gets to the heart of Lynch’s creative ideals. – Submitted by. Karl K.

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

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Upcoming Travel Talks!

Spark Magazine publisher Steve Ellis, has spent the last 50 years traveling all over Michigan, the U.S and now Europe, searching for interesting and out of the ordinary destinations. His lively photographic presentation will give you some great ideas for future trips.

All New Weekend Escapes Backroads and small towns throughout Southwest Michigan

Tuesday, March 11, 2-3:30 pm Portage Zhang Senior Center 203 E. Centre Ave, Portage $3 Members/$5 Non-Members To register, please call (269) 329-4555

MARCH 2025

MARCH 2025

Tales

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FROM THE

road

LOWell, michigan

By Steve Ellis

I have not been to Lowell in over 30 years and have been curious as to how the town has been doing. The perfect opportunity came along when I offered to drop Jackie of at the Gerald R. Ford Airport in Grand Rapids, and decided to “Take the long way home” and check it out.

Lowell is situated just north of where the Flat River meets the Grand River.

The city’s downtown area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

North Star Antiques is chocked full of brightly lit, vintage lamps and glass chandeliers.

Red Barn Mercantile is well worth a visit. The walls are lined with signs and artifacts from Lowell’s past including the smokestack from the old Showboat. The Red Barn sells a large selection of Made in Michigan products including: Cherry Republic, Local Honey and Pure Maple Syrup, Stonewall Kitchen and Schuil Coffee The manager said, “You need to see the basement. It has not changed much

The earliest modern residents of the Flat River and Grand River were the Grand River Odawa, who established several villages along the Grand River. The modern city of Lowell was founded in 1831 by Daniel Marsac as a trading post with this existing Odawa village, built on the south bank of the Grand River.

My first stop in Lowell was at Keiser’s Kitchen for a tasty omelette. Keiser’s has been in business since 1945. I enjoyed looking at the local memorabilia that adorned their walls.

After breakfast, I parked on Main Street and spent the next two hours exploring local stores and talking with the owners.

I could not resist stopping into Sweet Seasons Bakery and Cafe, deciding on a delicious bran muffin. It is a cozy coffee shop and bakery with many locals working on their laptops. The server told me that on my next visit, I should try their avocado toast or one of their signature breakfast sandwiches.

I peaked in the door of Main Street Inn, noticing some interesting antiques in the lobby. Sally, the inn keeper, greeted me and gave me a tour of the rooms on both floors, tastefully furnished with vintage furniture. Most rooms overlook the Flat River and several include access to an outdoor deck. I will definitely keep the Inn in mind for future trips.

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drew thousands to the area as well as a community gathering place that hosted concerts, Santa visits, and festivals. The summer Showboat Festival featured well-known entertainers such as: Dinah Shore, Milton Berle, Louis Armstrong, The Everly Brothers and Bob Newhart.

The newer Lowell Showboat VI sits on the shores of Flat River. Although there is no longer a Showboat Festival, the boat is available for weddings, parties and other events.

The Lowell Area Historic Museum is home to more than 25,000 photographs and artifacts that have been donated by area residents. It is housed in the historic 1873 Graham Home which is on the National Register of Historic Places. The east side of the Graham home has been refurbished and houses a beautiful Victorian parlor, dining room, porch and garden. It is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 1-4pm.

I found out that William S. Burroughs the inventor of the adding machine and founder of the Burroughs Corporation, lived in Lowell for a while.

Additionally, true crime writer, Ann Rule and Anthony Kiedis, singer for the rock group, the Red Hot Chili Peppers also lived in Lowell.

in 150 years.” I walked down the wooden plank stairs to an old stonewalled basement, full of antiques.

A few doors down, a cool, window display caught my eye, with 1960’s dressed mannequins and a colorful Woodstock era sign. The widow display belonged to Wear Forward Consignment, packed with colorful vintage clothing and displays.

On a main corner of town, there was a large mural promoting the North Country Trail, with a store and office inside. I talked to Alison and found out that Lowell is the U.S. headquarters for the North Country Trail. The hiking trail extends roughly 4,800 miles from Lake Sakakawea State Park in North Dakota to the in Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont, passing through eight states along its route.

King Milling Company was founded in 1890 on the banks of the Flat River.

The company produces the wellknown King Flour and is still family owned. King Milling offers a large variety of hard and soft wheat products for bakers and food processors.

I hiked the gorgeous, 2.23 mile section of the North Country Trail that takes you along the banks of the Flat River.

After my hike, I drove about 15 miles southeast to Saranac, a pretty town, full of old brick buildings. The BostonSaranac Historical Depot Museum and the paved Fred Meijer Grand River Valley Rail Trail, that runs five miles from Saranac to the Kent County line, are a few town highlights.

By now, it was lunch time and I had a hard time deciding between a cheese burger at the American Legion Post, open to the public for breakfast and lunch, and Viki’s Bridge Street Pasty Shop next door.

I decided on the Legion Post and enjoyed a delicious cheeseburger and Coke, while chatting with the locals at the bar. I was still curious about the Pasty Shop, so picked up a frozen chicken pasty for dinner later-it was delicious! The owners brought their recipe from Iron River in the U.P. and once made the cover of Yooper magazine.

It was getting late and time to think about heading home, but I had two more stops up my sleeve. The first was the small village of Clarksville with a population of about 400. Clarksville’s main street is lined with a handful of classic brick buildings and interesting businesses. Clarksville Coffee was closed for the day but Michigan Farmhouse Pizza was open. I could not pass up oner of their chunky chocolate chip cookies, which did not disappoint. I hope to get back someday to try their pizza.

The Lowell office ties together all of the chapters in Michigan as well as across the country. There is an information area as well as a small store, selling NCT shirts, hats, mugs and patches. I bought a sticker to display on my car and Alison told me of a section of the trail just north of Lowell that I checked out later in the day.

The Lowell Showboat (a large wooden paddle boat) was a civic project in Lowell that began in 1932 and was demolished in 2019 due to safety concerns. The showboat was built to attract people to downtown Lowell. It was a very popular annual event that

toric District which includes several 19th-century houses and an 1878 one-room schoolhouse. The village was founded in 1837.

I left town and drove a few miles north to the Fallasburg Covered Bridge-a 100 ft wooden bridge across the Flat River that was built in 1871. The bridge is part of the Fallasburg His-

My last stop was Lake Odessa, to browse the three main antique stores.

They are hard to pass up when already up this way.

MARCH 2025

23rd Annual St. Patricks Day Parade Saturday, March 15 11:00 am Downtown Kalamazoo The Irish American Club of Kalamazoo

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