Southwest Michigan Spark-December 2024

RIDE THE HOLLY JOLLY TROLLEY! ~ PG. 10

Expert Advice

Transitions Q: May I still

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”

Health Food

Roofing

Q: Should we be

Q: Does Santa shop at Sawall Health Foods?

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.

A: YES! We know Santa

Mark Sawall Owner

definitely does shop at Sawall Health Foods – for he knows everyone on his list wants to be healthy... Sawall’s has great ideas for gift baskets & unique stocking stuffers:

• Local MI. Products • Teas • Coffees • Beers • Candies • Bulk Foods • Deli • Cheese • Wine • Gift Cards • Vitamins • Soap • Plants

Give the gift of health with a Sawall Health Foods Gift Card.

It is the perfect stocking stuffer!

Thank you for shopping locally!

We appreciate your business (also Santa’s)

Mon-­Sat. 8am-9pm, Sun. 10am-6pm

Sawall Health Foods

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

Member Home Builders Association of Greater Kalamazoo

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

Counseling

Immediate Care

Financial Services

Since 1906 342-0153 800-950-1906

A: Right now is the

best time to engage in

Kim Powers, Owner, Licensed mental health counProfessional seling. Each day is an Counselor

opportunity to pursue your best life. When you improve your mental health, other aspects of your life start to improve as well.

Physical, financial, emotional, spiritual, and environmental health encompass holistic wellbeing. As we begin this new year, are you ready to challenge yourself to grow?

Matthew Brindley, MD Emergency Medicine

A: Whether it’s you, a family member or friends from out of town, Bronson is here with immediate care options should an unexpected illness or injury arise over the holidays.

Bronson FastCare® – 5623 Gull Road & 6220 West Main, Kalamazoo. No appointment, walk-in care for patients 18 months and older.

Bronson Urgent Care - 940 John St., Kalamazoo & 2151 W. Columbia Ave., Battle Creek. No appointment, walk-in care for patients three months and older.

Video Visits – Available within the state of Michigan.

On demand video visits for patients 18 months and older. Visit bronsonhealth.com/videovisit.

Emergency Room – Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Paw Paw and South Haven. For serious or life-threatening emergencies call 911 or go to the ED right away.

Heart Soul Mind Strength LLC

Our Need Care Now page can help you find care by walking you through all of the in-person and virtual care options that are available. Visit bronsonhealth.com/needcarenow for more information.

Www.HeartSoulMindStrengthLLC.com

Bronson Healthcare

Faith. Acceptance. Empowerment. Purpose.

510-827-1305

Q: What should I have on my endof-year financial checklist?

Q: What are my care options if I need immediate care during the holiday season?

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

bronsonhealth.com/needcarenow

A: With your company retirement plan, check to see how much you have contributed YTD to see how much more room you have to max out your annual contribution. Do the same if you have a Health Savings Account (HSA).

If you have not reached your maximum, consider raising the contribution amount from each paycheck through the end of the year.

Please call us with any questions.

Chuck Henrich President & Owner

Southwest Michigan Financial, LLC

The Atriums • 4341 S. Westnedge #1201

269-323-7964

DECEMBER 2024

A few weeks ago, Jackie and I were in Denver visiting her son and his family. We decided to watch TV one night after the others went to bed.

Her son, Ryan, showed us the TV basics earlier, but after 10 minutes of pushing buttons and not having any luck, we gave up and went to bed.

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Each Sunday, we would get the TV guide and pore through it, reading the one-line descriptions of the upcoming episodes: Bonanza – Hoss meets a girl, or Andy Griffith – Andy buys a car.

The next morning, Ryan explained that we needed to use the Roku remote and then click a Roku box on the bottom of the screen, which would direct us to the various channels.

This got me thinking that although we have hundreds of channel choices and movies at our disposal with the click of a button (if you can figure it out), I’m not sure it’s better than what we had when I was a kid.

In our home, we had only one black and white TV that had three main channels (ABC, NBC and CBS).

I can still recall 60 years later, what shows were on, the days they were on and what time they started.

We had to agree as a family what shows we would watch. There was no taping or streaming them later. If we missed it, tough luck!

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say he slipped on the ice and broke the television. We had no TV for a week or more, before he gave in and bought a new one.

There were many great television shows in the 1960’s, including: The Addams Family, The Flying Nun, The Munsters, Flipper, Mr. Ed, Green Acres, My Favorite Martian, Hogans Heroes and so many more gems!

Many of these shows were so popular that they inspired, lunch boxes, trading cards and comic books. I still have my Bonanza lunch box to this day.

To turn the channel, you had to walk across the room and twist the knobs. If the picture was blurry, you could try adjusting the rabbit ears antenna or even add some tin foil for better reception.

TV’s were also repaired instead of replaced. I remember my dad hauling our huge, heavy TV set to the repairman’s home to have it fixed. It was wintertime and he had to carry it up some steps and along a long walkway – needless to

It is handy being able to enjoy a great movie at a moment’s notice and watch it in color on a large screen TV. However, this still doesn’t compare to the simpler times with our family gathered together in our small living room. Dad sitting in the old recliner, mom on the couch and all of us kids sitting on the floor in our pajamas laughing as a family to Red Skeleton and his crazy characters.

I always loved the ending line, which unfortunately meant bedtime for us – Good night and may God bless.

Steve Ellis, SPARK Publisher steve@swmspark.com

FROM THE

EDITOR ON THE COVER:

The Holly Jolly Trolley.

Photo courtesy of Discover Kalamazoo.

To advertise in upcoming SPARK publications, contact: Steve Ellis, 269.720.8157, steve@swmspark.com Editor and Publisher: Steve Ellis Graphic & Page Development: CRE8 Design, Kalamazoo Content/Photography: Lauren Ellis

INDEX DECEMBER 2024 Lee Dean: Lost in Translation .......................... 4

Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy ....13

Kalamazoo & Grand Rapids Road ................6

Spark Healthy Living.........................................14

Business: Bilbo’s Pizza..........................................7

Nature: Winter Bird Survey .............................15

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

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

Volunteer: Becky and Mark Blazek..................9

Senior Care........................................................17

Cover Story: Holly Jolly Trolley.........................10

Wild Ones...........................................................17

Spark Recipe: Rugelach Razzmatazz...........12

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

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

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

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Trying not to be lost in translation Lee A. Dean screendoor @sbcglobal.net

Experts say that we’re never too old to learn something new. I am testing this theory because, at age 69, I am beginning to learn to speak Spanish.

My motivation is partly professional. One of the companies I serve as a chaplain has Spanish-speaking employees. My job is to connect with them, which is nearly impossible if I cannot speak their language.

This obstacle hit home when one of the employees was killed and another badly injured in an auto accident. I was called in but couldn’t say anything except lo siento I(I’m sorry).

My motivation is also personal. I have always wanted to learn Spanish because it’s a beautiful language and because I have enjoyed in learning three other nonEnglish languages.

My grandmother and father both took two years of German in high school, so I carried on the family tradition. Dad taught me the German alphabet at the same time as the English ABCs, and we spoke bits and pieces of the language at home.

On the first day of German class the

DECEMBER 2024

company will be patient with me. Other chaplains say they’ll probably get a kick out of my fumbling attempts. At least they will know they’re being seen and heard, one that didn’t require Greek or Hebrew. teacher met us all at the door, opened it, No one who was struggling with addiction and that’s a plus. I can imagine them nodand said, “Gehen sie durch die tur und ding in my direction and saying, Gringo setzen sie sich.” I walked in the classroom or a troubled marriage was going to ask me to identify the difference between the loco.” If that happens, I will be able to and found a desk while most of the other respond by saying, “Dime algo que no aorist and pluperfect tenses of a verb. students were frozen in place. One stusepa,” which means “Tell me something I dent quizzically stared at the teacher and German and French were relatively easy don’t know.” said, “Okay lady, I’m hip.” to learn. Spanish will be tougher. Learning a new language requires a great deal of My new learning experience is a month She had just told us to walk through the door and sit down. Thanks to my in-home memorization, and the rust-covered age 69 old, and I plan to stick with it. The geek in version of my memorizer does not work as me wants to be so fluent that I can read German practice, I knew what she was Carlos Fuentes or Cervantes in the origiwell as my 16-year-old shiny new model. saying. The only German the other kids nal language. That will never happen. My knew was picked up from watching “HoFortunately, there are plenty of learning goal is more modest: to be better than the gan’s Heroes.” aids available. I am using a free smartfruit grower who simply added a vowel to phone app called DuoLingo and consultI was anticipating taking four years of English words. ing a Spanish phrase book in case I ever German but those plans came to naught I received some encouragement recently need to ask someone vitally important when the teacher left after two years. from a friend who works in the mental Then I took French in my senior year. Why questions, such as the location of a bathhealth profession. room. My go-to resource is one with the French? Because it sounds beautiful rolling off the tongue, and I thought it would perfect title for where I am in the journey: “That’s a good thing to do,” he said of my “Spanish for Dummies.” help me with the ladies. Mais aucune new learning experience. “Studies show chance (But no chance). that learning a new language uses new My objective is to learn at a nice, easy While living in Texas for a couple of years, pace. I will not say a word unless I am per- parts of the brain and can be a factor in fectly certain of its meaning. I do not want preventing dementia. I started learning a I asked a friend from Mexico to teach me to be like the State Department translator new language six years ago.” some Spanish words. However, as often who bungled a phrase when President happens, the words he taught me were “Really?” I replied. “Which one?”

Carter visited Poland. Carter expressed the ones that would get me stabbed, his desire to have better relations with the “Husband,” he deadpanned, with exquishot, or slapped. He proved to be a good Polish people, but the translator rendered site comedic timing. teacher because I still remember those this as, “I desire the Poles carnally.” words.

I have been married to my wife, the Oops. Jimmy couldn’t catch a break.

The next attempt at learning a new Viking Goddess, for 25 years. Let’s hope language came 25 years later in seminary. my Spanish becomes as fluent as my I do hope that the employees at this After one semester, I changed major to “husband.”

DECEMBER 2024

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The Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids Plank Road

tended to warp and rot in the soggy soil and required constant maintenance. Still, the resulting roadways were seen as a significant improvement over the muddy old wagon trails.

In April 1852, Detroit contractor Titus Doan called for 500 laborers to begin work on the road while

by Keith Howard, Kalamazoo Public Library

But the plank roads were not without their perils.

The wooden portion of the roadway was often not wide enough for opposing travelers to pass.

This meant the teamster with the lighter load had to pull over so the oncoming traffic could continue by. Sometimes one would get stuck, and occasionally the entire load would tip over.

This happened to members of the Kalamazoo Band one afternoon in October 1854 when their bandwagon overturned on the plank road four miles north of Kalamazoo. Bruised and broken, the bandmembers skipped their performance in Allegan that day and returned home to mend.

Wooden highways? Michigan had only been in statehood for a dozen years when community leaders from Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids formed a stock company and began making plans to build a wooden plank road between the two cities. Much of the mitten was still forest-covered wetland at the time. Such a road would not only make transporting goods easier but would shorten the driving time between the two cities from days to hours.

The 48-mile route was surveyed in November 1849 and work soon began to secure private funding. The road would be paid for by tolls collected at stops along the line.

Lumber at the time was cheap and abundant, so plank roads were relatively inexpensive to build. Foot-wide oak and elm planks were cut 3 or 4 inches thick and placed side by side across fourinch square “stringers” laid lengthwise along the route. Drainage was poor so the wooden planks

from the corner of North and West streets (now North Westnedge) to a toll house on what’s now Douglas Avenue. Once the toll had been paid (a penny per horse per mile), the road continued northward along the Douglas Avenue route (including the part known as “Old Douglas Road”) through Cooper Township to a toll gate at the Allegan County line. From there, it followed the “Old US-131” route through Plainwell Junction and on to stagecoach stops like Bradley (then known as Whitley Corners) and Wayland before reaching Division Street in Grand Rapids.

millwrights along the way prepared more than 7 million board feet of lumber. By summer’s end, the road was complete and ready to use.

The plank road ran westward out of Kalamazoo

By 1868 the Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids plank road had become too difficult and costly to maintain so it was discontinued. Daughters of the American Revolution later placed a historical marker along the west side of Douglas Avenue near the Allegan/Kalamazoo county line to mark the location of the old plank road toll gate.

More at kpl.gov

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Bilbo’s Pizza

By Richard Martinovich

“You have to checked out this pizza! It is the best pizza! A wheat crust!” exclaimed Keith Howard’s WMU roommate as he came back to the dorm.

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sandwich selections, grinders, salads (Grab a bottle of Bilbo’s own salad dressing to go!).

has been a mainstay in the community for nearly 50 years.

Not in the mood for pizza?

The year was 1976, the Bicentennial, and Bilbo’s Pizza had moved into the Campus Theater Complex off Western’s campus.

Keith Howard, who writes the wonderful local history columns for Spark magazine, became a fan and took his own kids often to Bilbo’s.

Named after the J.R.R. Tolkien character Bilbo, a “Welcome to Middle Earth” sign greets you inside the restaurant. Known for their “pizza in a pan,” Bilbo’s Pizza and Brewery Company

There are many outstanding menu choices. Great appetizers -- Cheezy Stix, smoked wings -- pastas, eighteen

Pizza is a popular comfort food during fall and winter. When temperatures drop – or inclement weather hits -pizza sales spike! Spark publisher Steve Ellis was a WMU student working at Bilbo’s when the 1978 blizzard struck. Pizza orders stormed in and Steve went out delivering in his 1969 Buick Skylark until it got stuck in the

3307 Stadium Drive • Kalamazoo • 382-5544

snow! He had to abandon the car and when a plow came by, it took Steve a week to dig out his Buick!

As we duck inside to warm up, there is nothing like a hot pizza to bring people together -gathering around a Bilbo’s Stuffed Pizza; two layers of dough stuffed with cheese and toppings, or a Wizard Large Pan pizza with ham, sausage, green pepper, mushroom, pepperoni.

Sit along the long polished wooden bar at Bilbo’s and enjoy one of their excellent draft beers: Bilbo’s Red Dragon, Wizard Wheat, Raspberry Wheat, and the unique Bilbo’s Pumpkin Lager!

Check out Bilbo’s Pizza and Brewery Daily Deals” – Thursday night pizza is half-off after 9pm. (dine in).

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Movie Reviews Ted Lasso (2020-) In 2013, NBC Sports created a five-minute promo to advertise their coverage of the English Premier Soccer League featuring Jason Sudeikis (Saturday Night Live, Horrible Bosses) as an American football coach named Ted Lasso, called up to coach professional soccer in England despite not knowing the first thing about it. Seven years later, Apple TV announced that the arguably ridiculous premise was being turned into a proper show. A show that would rack up 13 Primetime Emmys over three seasons and become one of the premium streaming platform’s strongest draws. Sudeikis is pitch perfect in the American fish out of water role, and Hannah Waddingham is brilliant as AFC Richmond club owner Rebecca Welton, who has brought Ted to London in a secret effort to tank Richmond’s performance as revenge against her cheating exhusband who loves the club dearly.

Featuring strong performances from Juno Temple (Fargo Season 5) and a wonderfully international supporting cast (it’s soccer after all), Ted Lasso is heartfelt, hilarious, and engaging.

With fourth season rumors swirling, the show has made the jump from streaming to DVD & Blu-ray, so now is a great time to catch up! – Submitted by. Patrick J.

Curb Your Enthusiasm – Final Season (2024) Larry David’s sense of humor became widely known to television audiences thanks to his writing and cocreation of the breakthrough hit series Seinfeld. On that show, George Costanza (as played by Jason Alexander) stood in for the real David, exhibiting all manner of personality flaws and neuroses to great comic effect. Those who embraced the show’s outlook and characters were later treated to uncut Larry David, playing a slightly fictional, and more caustic, version of himself on follow-up series Curb Your Enthusiasm. In its 12th and final season, David inadvertently finds himself in legal trouble over a misunderstanding (always misunderstandings!) involving an offer of water to someone waiting in line to vote during a visit to Atlanta, raising his profile for good.

David exploits this new fortune throughout the arc of the season’s episodes, which culminates in a finale reflecting (and correcting) the narrative of Seinfeld’s infamous final airing. Though David’s brand of comedy may not be for everyone, Curb Your Enthusiasm’s displays of the absurdities of life ring truer as the years roll along. – 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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“A Team Effort” – Becky and Mark Blazek

By Jim Coppinger, Milestone Senior Services Volunteer Becky and Mark Blazek have called Kalamazoo home for many years. Mark, originally from Cleveland, retired as a pediatrician in 2018. Becky, originally from Louisville, Kentucky, dedicated many years to education, specializing in working with special needs students. The couple met at St. Louis University, where they were both student volunteers on the campus film committee. Later, while Mark was in medical school, Becky was studying child psychology.

After they married, Mark completed his medical residency in Grand Rapids, while Becky taught in Northview Public Schools in the Grand Rapids area. Eventually, they settled in Kalamazoo, where they raised four children (three sons and a daughter), all of whom have established careers of their own. In Kalamazoo, Becky continued working in the Montessori school system, retiring in 2018.

Through contact with a nurse in Mark’s office, Becky and Mark began volunteering with Kalamazoo’s Ministry with Community lunch program. They found great satisfaction in actively contributing to their community and helping to address issues stemming from poverty, homelessness, and addiction. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic halted the lunch program, and the organization has since shifted its approach to fulfilling its mission.

Still eager to help serve people and our community, on the recommendation from a friend, Becky and Mark contacted Milestone. They quickly found a role with Meals on Wheels–a commitment they maintain to this day.

Every Thursday, Mark serves as the driver, and Becky as the “hopper,” delivering meals along their designated route. They have grown deeply attached to the individuals they serve, often finding themselves thinking about their well-being throughout the week.

As many Meals on Wheels volunteers often say, delivering a meal is only part of what makes this work meaningful. Each delivery provides an opportunity to check in on people, assess their well-being, and, perhaps most importantly, share a moment of personal connection. That simple question, “How are you doing?” can mean a great deal.

Becky and Mark say their time with Meals on Wheels, along with their interactions with meal recipients, other volunteers, and Milestone staff, has been incredibly rewarding. They’re humbled by the knowledge that this simple act of service plays such a significant role in strengthening community bonds. They are both impressed by the positive dynamic of the interactions of multiple agencies and organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life for everyone.

“Volunteering keeps us grounded and provides a much broader understanding of the needs in our community,” Becky says. Mark adds, “It also constantly reminds us of all there is to be truly grateful for.”

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.

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THE HOLLY JOLLY TROLLEY

ADDING THE JOLLY INTO

THE HOLIDAY SEASON!

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

All aboard the Holly Jolly Trolley!

Kalamazoo’s downtown holiday tradition is once again ready to hit the streets.

The free trolley, which circles the downtown, making stops at City Hall, Mall Plaza, Epic Center, Bates Alley, Bell’s Brewery, North Kalamazoo Mall and Kalamazoo Valley Museum, will be ready to roll on Nov. 29, the day after Thanksgiving.

Passengers will be able to ride what has been called a motorized San Francisco-style trolley that is decorated for the holidays on Thursdays and Fridays, 5-9 p.m.; Saturdays, noon to 8 p.m.; and Sundays, noon to 4 p.m., through Dec. 22.

The trolley also will have special hours on Dec. 23 and 24, and will be running during Kalamazoo’s New Year’s Fest on Dec. 31.

“The trolley really is one of the highlights of the holiday season and has been since it started,” says Deb Droppers, founder and executive director of the Kalamazoo Experiential Learning Center (KELC), which manages the Holly Jolly Trolley for the city of Kalamazoo.

The trolley comes from Affordable Limousine of Wyoming, near Grand Rapids, which also provides the driver.

When the first pair of Holly Jolly Trolleys hit the streets of Kalamazoo around 2005 or 2006, they were leased from the city of Grand Haven as a collaborative project involving the Downtown Development Authority and Downtown Kalamazoo Inc., according to Vicky Kettner, who was DKI’s community relations and marketing director at the time.

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Holly Jolly Trolley,” she says.

“It became such a hit; we had 14,000 riders that first Christmas season.”

By the time construction was completed downtown and another parking facility replaced the Gilmore ramp, the trolley had become such a beloved tradition it was kept in place.

“It was one of the most fun projects to work on, and I spent a lot of time riding it,” Kettner says. “It’s just a joyful experience to see grandparents with their grandkids, and families; it’s just a joyful, joyful thing and that always fills your heart.”

Over time, “it became a destination experience,” she says, “much like … the Candy Cane Lane experience in Bronson Park.”

Last year, the trolley, which has room for 25 passengers, provided 4,384 rides in its 19 days of operation, which Droppers says is about the average for recent years.

Three years ago the city of Kalamazoo took over the operation of holiday programming downtown, including the Holly Jolly Trolley, and contracted with Droppers’ KELC to manage that programming, she says.

Photos courtesy of Discover Kalamazoo

B&W Charters of Kalamazoo secured the trolleys from Grand Haven and furnished the drivers.

Eventually, says Kettner, currently director of marketing, community relations and member engagement at the YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo, B&W purchased its own trolleys and leased them to the city.

B&W stopped participating after the Covid epidemic

halted the holiday tradition in 2020, resulting in the need for a new provider, according to Droppers.

Kettner says the trolley has its roots in a major construction project downtown that involved the demolition of the Gilmore parking ramp, which was an important parking area for retail employees and holiday shoppers.

“There were a lot of things put into place to mitigate the impact of that construction and one of them was the

The trolley is funded by a grant from the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation and sponsorships by various organizations, she says.

“We receive so many positive comments from people who absolutely love making a ride on the Holly Jolly Trolley a part of their tradition for the holidays,” Droppers says.

“From little kids to big kids to seniors, they all smile when they get on the Holly Jolly Trolley. … They say, “This is so much fun; we look forward to this every year.’”

DECEMBER 2024

Rugelach Razzmatazz!

By Laura Kurella Mom had a small, but special menu of pastries she focused on and many were the time-honored, traditional Christmas cookies that have risen to sacred heights in many households.

Gaining that special status makes these types of cookies both a treasure and a treat. Being as traditional as I am curious, in addition to making our own family’s cherished cookie recipe, I also like to test out other old Christmas cookie recipes, too.

This practice is how I arrived at rolling out some rugelach, a recipe I thought I had never had

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before. However, upon tasting it (and sifting through this cookie’s history) I concluded that this rolled up cookie sure does look and taste a lot like another Christmas cookie I have made, and quite likely you have, too!

Rugelach, is a Yiddish word that literally means, “little twists” and has ties to other cultures and their cookies, too. Cookies like the Austro-Hungarian kipfel, Croatia’s roski, which is the name Mom called her cookies, and the Czech’s kolache, which is the name my friends called Mom’s cookies!

The list of cultures and versions goes on and on, and the variances for both rolling and twisting this cookie does, too. However, the basics for the cookie’s dough, no matter what its name, seem to all be quite similar, except for one distinguishing factor that opened my eyes to something new.

Noticing that rugelach recipes do have one main variance among them- with or without yeast -I discovered that cream cheese came to replace the yeast in many recipes when modern refrigeration and commercial production of cream cheese came into popular use around the 1930s.

Considered to be quite modern, using cream cheese instead of yeast eliminated countless hours of rising and endless need to knead, plus it yielded better texture and flavor.

Mom’s roski recipe does use cream cheese, which initially made me feel sad to realize it wasn’t as “old country” as I thought, but then I realized that it’s not a cookie’s provenance that makes it important, it’s the loving memories. Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

Laura Kurella is an award-winning home cook who loves to share recipes from her Michigan kitchen. She welcomes your questions and comments at laurakurella@yahoo.com. If you

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are reading this during the month of December 2024, and would like a chance to win a copy of her awardwinning culinary memoir/cookbook,

“MIDWEST MORSELS,” simply email Laura the name of your favorite Christmas cookie. One winner will be randomly drawn.

Real Easy Rugelach Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour, 5 minutes active time + chill time; Yield: 40.

1 cup butter, room temperature 8 ounces Neufchatel cheese 1/2 cup cane sugar 1/2 teaspoon unrefined mineral salt 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup apricot, raspberry, or favorite preserve

1 cup golden raisins (optional) 1 cup chopped walnuts Cinnamon Sugar (2 tablespoons granulated sugar + 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon) 2 tablespoons milk 1/3 cup turbinado or sparkling sugar

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, combine butter and cream cheese together until smooth and creamy. Add sugar and salt and mix for 1 minute, then turn the mixer to low and add flour, mixing until it cleans the bowl. On a large piece of plastic wrap hand shape dough into a rectangle shape approximately 1- inch thick. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and chill for at least 6 hours, or overnight. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Divide chilled dough into four equal weight pieces then, working with one piece at a time, place dough on a lightly floured - or sugared – surface. Roll out the dough into a 12 x 8- inch rectangle then spread 1/4 cup of the preserves evenly onto the dough. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of the raisins and 1/4 cup walnuts evenly on top.

Sprinkle about 1 1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon sugar all over the top. Starting with the long side, roll dough tightly into a log. Place log, seam side down, onto prepared baking sheet then repeat with the process with the remaining doughs, placing the logs 2-inches apart on the baking sheet. Brush each log with milk then sprinkle with turbinado or sparkling sugar. Using a very sharp knife, cut logs 3/4 through (not all the way) into 1-inch slices or diagonal pieces, if desired. Bake for 40 minutes, or until golden. Allow to cool on the baking sheet for 30 minutes, then transfer to a cutting board to finish slicing all the way through. Store airtight at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze airtight for up to a month.

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Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy (SWMLC) Weekly Volunteer Stewardship Groups Recipients of Community Impact Award Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy (SWMLC) is SO proud of our dear friends, the folks that make up our Weekly Volunteer Stewardship groups (the Privateers, Wednesday Warriors, Seed Collectors, and Pluggers), for receiving the Community Impact Award, placing them among the winners of the 2024 Governor’s Service Award!

Since SWMLC’s beginnings in 1991, we’ve protected and restored habitat on more than 19,000 acres - and the Weekly Stewardship Volunteer Groups have played a key role almost from the very start, completing dozens of habitat restoration projects in SWMLC preserves throughout our nine-county service area. Twelve months a year, in all kinds of weather, these loyal, energetic, knowledgeable folks donate their time and sweat equity to nature. In 2023 alone, they logged an astounding 2,881 hours, roughly the equivalent of two staff people (one full- and one part-time) working for an entire year!

Mitch Lettow, SWMLC Conservation & Stewardship Director, told the group, “These preserves would not receive the attention they deserve, and the work would simply not get done without you.” Noting that their model is a bit unusual, he added, “The difference is that you created the Weekly Volunteer Stewardship groups yourselves - with your

own ideas and initiatives, with staff guiding along the way.

It’s organic, it’s effective, and it comes from you.”

Mike Larson, SWMLC’s President & Executive Director exclaimed, “You all deserve much more than this recognition for everything you’ve done for SWMLC and our preserves!”

“Their positive attitudes, can-do spirit, and passionate commitment to the environment are genuinely inspiring!” added SWMLC Media Specialist Amelia Hansen.

Though the faces may change from week to week, these loosely organized groups are bound together by their love for nature and commitment to helping it be its best self. We’re so grateful to them!

Are you concerned about the environment but not sure how to help? Got a few hours to spare for a meaningful cause on Monday or Wednesday mornings? Do you enjoy working outdoors? Maybe SWMLC’s weekly volunteer-driven stewardship workdays would be a good fit. No special tools, strengths, or skills needed - just a willing attitude. There aren’t any commitments - come when you can or feel like it, you will always be welcome! Learn more on our website: www.swmlc.org/weekly-outdoor-stewardship

HEALTHY LIVING

which I’m prone to do!) And we can work on drinking the recommended amount of water. (I wrote about that last month.)

Let’s work on our trunks! Let’s build on our strength and endurance to face the heavy winds and rains, in such a way that as we age, we can stand firmly on the ground and move confidently.

We can do this stepping up our steps each day. Take small walks. Then longer walks. Start lifting small weights. Then heavier weights. Get our heart rates up a little. And then a little more.

DO IT NOW.

There is an ancient Chinese proverb that asks the question: When is the best time to plant a tree?

Answer: 20 years ago.

When is the next best time?

Answer: Today.

We see that having planted the tree a long, long time ago would today (to the degree that it was cared for) give us its full benefits (there are so many!): environmental, soil and erosion control, water conservation, energy conservation, economic, wildlife, and human health.

What if we were to consider ourselves the mighty tree? A strong Oak, maybe.

A beautiful Maple, perhaps? Or a tall, majestic Pine? (I like the triple-trunked Birch, myself thank you—Robert Frost!)

Here’s where the tie-in is: When is the best time to start working on aging healthfully? Answer: 20 years ago.

When is the next best time?

Answer: Now. Today!

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Today is the day to for us to make changes in our habits that can lead to healthier Body, Mind, and Spirit as we take on the forces of Nature so that we can have strong bones, muscles, heart; so that we can keep our brains agile; so that we can lean towards Joy, Contentment, and Love.

Let’s work on our roots! The foundation of a good healthy tree depends on its environment, soil composition, and access to water. We are what we eat, right?

And we know how important hydration is. Starting today, let’s better watch what we are consuming. Let’s turn our habits to healthy choices. We can look for ways to replace processed foods with cleaner cooking. Grab a fruit or two instead of the bag of chips (or can of Pringles,

Let’s work on our leaves! (Or, if you’re thinking Evergreens, let’s work on our boughs.) Let’s look for ways to provide shade and comfort and protection to our family, our neighbors, and the stranger passing by. Let’s make a call, today, to the loved one we’ve parked for a while. Let’s write a note to the friend we haven’t connected with. Let’s invite someone over to share a bowl of fruit (and maybe just a few Pringles!)

This is how we can start, today.

Now. For a healthier tomorrow.

Ancient, Chinese secret, huh???????????

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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Winter Survey Tracks Birds from the Comfort of Home

By Tom Springer, Vice President of Development, Kalamazoo Nature Center It’s a cold morning in December, hoar frost on the trees, icicles aglitter on the eaves. You’re ensconced in a comfy chair by the window, hot tea in hand. A bird chorale flits around your outdoor feeder.

It’s a perfect time to take part in a Kalamazoo Nature Center research program that relies solely on “citizen scientists” to collect data. It’s called the Winter Feeder Survey, and if you can count and identify birds, you qualify.

It’s as easy as using a paper chart (or the

online version) to track the number and species of birds that visit your feeder.

“All we ask of volunteers is that they observe their feeders once a month, from November to April,” said Jessica Simons, vice president of Conservation Stewardship at the Kalamazoo Nature Center.

“We’ve been doing the program for 47 years running. The survey’s findings help us tell an important story about bird populations in Michigan.”

The rules are simple. Once a month –

ideally, every 30 days – you count birds as many times as possible on that day.

For each observation session, note the species and number of each: four cardinals, three chickadees, two blue jays and so on. At day’s end, count the total number of species and the highest number of those species observed at any one time. For instance, “four chickadees at 10 a.m.” The form also includes entries for outdoor temperature and wind speed.

For last year, here’s how all those feathered data points add up. In 2023, some 216 people submitted a total of 1,053 counts. They reported 119 species and a total of 61,792 birds. The top five bird species reported statewide were, in order of prevalence, White-breasted Nuthatch; Black-capped Chickadee; Downy Woodpecker; Dark-eyed Junco; Blue Jay. The Nature Center’s Kalamazoo Valley Bird Observatory (KVBO) publishes an annual report that includes not only survey data, but context on what they mean. It’s exactly the kind of wonky, insider knowledge that livens a birder’s heart. This, from the 2023 report: “There was plenty of food in Canada for the pine siskins, so many stayed up

north. The redpoll’s food source was predicted to be scarce; that was not the case, so they did not venture south as much as anticipated. Pileated woodpeckers were reported on over half of the feeders, reaching a new high count.

Their increased numbers is due to forest maturation, especially across the southern half of the State. For the last 15 years, the black-capped chickadee has been the most widespread species found at feeders, and it was surprising to see it nudged out of that top spot by the white-breasted nuthatch.”

Yet the Winter Feeder Survey benefits more than its avian subjects. By paying close attention to birds in a scheduled way, armchair observers can deepen their understanding of how birds live, move and have their being. “There’s a high level of engagement that comes with contributing to the survey,” said Simons. “Getting people more involved with birds is a reward in itself.”

To fill out an online survey form, visit www.naturecenter.org/wfc To request a paper form, call KNC’s John Brenneman at 269.447.6280.

Tom Springer is vice president of Development at the Kalamazoo Nature Center.

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Book Reviews Book Reviews by the Portage District Library staff

Love You a Latke Amanda Elliot The Holidays are approaching, and Abby is struggling to keep her cafe afloat.

She’s accepted a position to plan a local Hanukkah celebration to draw customers, but she’s short on resources and support. When she seeks help, she discovers one other Jewish person in town, sunshiny Seth. He’s willing to help her in exchange for her joining Hanukkah with him as his fake girlfriend in New York City. He needs to get his parents off his back, and Abbey can’t afford to turn down his help or contacts. A deal is struck. Fans of the enemies to lovers who also love a well-written romance and engaging storyline will adore this fantastic holiday read.

The Mistletoe Mystery Nita Prose A Molly the Maid mystery. It’s December, and Molly’s Gram always made the Christmas holidays special, beginning with Advent. There was a special gift for Molly every day beginning December 1. Although Molly’s boyfriend, Juan Manual, does everything he

can to make the holidays special, Molly worries that his love for her won’t last.

Juan seems to be putting in extra time at work, and he seems very attentive to some of the guests. Now, Molly worries that there’s something wrong with Juan and their relationship. The Mistletoe Mystery is a short, sweet novella that’s a perfect holiday-themed addition to the Maid series.

The Christmas Cottage Davis Bunn The Christmas Cottage is a story of healing and learning to find faith and purpose in yourself. Dillon and Olivia, once in love with each other, want nothing more than to escape their past of living in Miramar Bay to find success and accomplishment elsewhere. After both fail, one in business and the other in marriage, they return to Miramar Bay as a last resort, only to find the town in total upheaval. A winter storm has destroyed the town and brought chaos to everyone.

As Miramar tries to rebuild, it brings everyone together and gives the two main characters a newfound purpose.

This story centers around the Christmas holiday, and it was an uplifting read to see how a town full of displaced people could come together in a time of hardship and still rejoice in the holiday season.

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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

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Comprehensive Senior Care Corporation recently celebrated its first annual Employee Wellness Fair at the Scotts Community Center. The event included games, prizes, food truck, and local vendors.

The 501(c)(3) organization operates as Senior Care Partners PACE and Senior Health Partners It employees over 350 amazing team members who provide care to those living in Kalamazoo County, Calhoun County, eastern Van Buren County, southern Allegan County, and southern Barry County.

Katie Klute, Director of Human Resources, shared, “I was hoping that the Wellness Fair sent a ‘YOU matter’ message to our team members. Every day they take care of our participants, but rarely do they get the time during the workday to take care of themselves.

CEO, Qiana Harrison, added “Being able to see our team members from all locations come together for themselves and each other was a gift to me. I’m extremely grateful for the quality time and I’m confident that we are on a path of whole wellness for our organization.”

PACE (Programs of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly) is an innovative model that provides a range of integrated services to manage the complex health care needs of the elderly. PACE was created to provide participants, caregivers, and professional health care providers the flexibility to meet the participant’s health care needs while continuing to live safely in their homes.

For more information, go to seniorcarepartnersmi.org or call 269 441-9319 (TTY: 711)

DECEMBER 2024

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multiple live performances throughout the month. The performances were outstanding with music, dance, marching, fireworks and more. The impressive Edinburgh Castle adds to the mystique of the Tattoo.

road

Edinburgh, Scotland

By Steve Ellis

After spending three days in London (chronicled in the November issue) Jackie and I got up early and boarded a high speed train to Edinburgh, Scotland. The 4 1/2 hour, 100+ miles per hour train, covered nearly 400 miles.

With its many historical and cultural attractions, Edinburgh is the UK’s second-most visited tourist destination, attracting 4.9 million visits, including 2.4 million from overseas.

We departed the train and found hordes of people everywhere due to the Edinburgh International Festival (the Fringe performing arts festival), and the Royal Edinburg Military Tattoo - talented military bands and cultural performers from around the globe.

The Fringe is held every August (Aug 1-25 in 2025), and is the world’s largest annual international arts festival.

The event features more than 51,446 scheduled performances of 3,317 different shows across 262 venues from 58 different countries. It doubles the population from 500,000 to about a million during the festival.

We quickly jumped on a bus and headed to our hotel on Princess Street, the main road through the heart of Edinburgh.

After grabbing a delicious cheeseburger at the Huxley restaurant with a breathtaking view of the Edinburgh Castle, we headed to the Royal Mile, which is the historic brick road in the heart of Old Town that leads up to the Edinburgh Castle. The streets were packed with thousands of people, enjoying the talented, magicians, jugglers and musicians everywhere.

The winding Victoria Street with its brightly colored store fronts, was quite the highlight. This street was even the inspiration for major parts of the Harry Potter books. J.K Rowling wrote her first book in a coffee shop nearby with many characters name’s coming from a local cemetery that she loved to wander through.

We enjoyed a delicious pizza at Olivari in the picturesque, Grassmarket area, lined with pubs and restaurants.

After dinner we wandered through an ancient cemetery snd the Johnny Walker store, with some exclusive bottles of Scotch whiskey selling for hundreds of pounds.

The next morning, we got up early and stumbled upon a Pret A Manger Cafe’, which was our favorite place in London to grab a quick and hearty oatmeal. The chocolate croissants were delicious too!

We walked a mile or two into the Stockbridge neighborhood, with winding, narrow streets packed with many small bakeries, butcher shops, art galleries and bookstores.

The Leith River passes through the area with an old stone walkway along the sides, which we walked to the picturesque little village of Dean, where we enjoyed a sandwich at an outdoor café and visited the impressive Modern Art Museum with works of art by Picasso, Klee, Munch and many others.

After heading back to downtown Edinburgh, we were thrilled with The National Gallery, one of the best art museums in Europe with pieces by Van Gogh, Cezanne, Gauguin, Rembrandt, Monet, Sergeant and more.

One floor of the Gallery was packed with floor to ceiling sized Victorianera paintings - very impressive.

After dinner, we walked up the Royal Mile to the base of the castle to attend The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo performance. This is an annual event performed by British Armed Forces and international military bands. This event is held each August. The stands are able to accommodate a nightly audience of 8,800, allowing 220,000 to watch the

After the Tattoo, we watched a wonderful guitar player, singing many Van Morrison songs at a classy Brassiere, near our hotel, where we enjoyed the company of some locals.

On our last day in Scotland, we visited the Edinburgh Castle and attended a Fringe festival performance. We also climbed Calton Hill to see the National Monument (reminiscent of ancient Roman Ruins), and the Nelson Monument, in honor of Admiral Lord Nelson’s victory and death at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. In remembrance, a ball was added in 1852 that lowers every day at 1pm, as a gun is fired at the Edinburgh Castle. The gorgeous 365-degree view of the city at the top of Calton Hill is worth the hike.

The Edinburgh Castle was built in 1103 on the volcanic Castle Rock.

The many battles over its 900-year history, made it the most besieged fortress in the United Kingdom and is home to one of the large cannons, thought to be the oldest cannon in existence. The former queen of Scotland, Mary Queen of Scots, lived here in the 1500’s, and the castle was the royal residence until 1633.

With so much to see and do, our trip to Edinburgh was spectacular!

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