SERVING UP TASTY BAKED GOODS SINCE 1960! ~ 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”
Roofing
Health Food
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.
Mark Sawall Owner
A: YES! We know Santa 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
Hearing
Financial Services
Q: How do I
stop feeling so down in the dumps?
A: Depression often
Kim Powers, Owner, Licensed subtly makes its way Professional into one’s mental health, Counselor
impacting relationships and behaviors. Others may express their concern for you. Interventions such as mental health therapy, medications, and implementing healthy coping skills may be necessary to improve your well-being. Make today the day to create positive change and reach out for help.
Heart Soul Mind Strength LLC
Faith. Acceptance. Empowerment. Purpose.
Www.HeartSoulMindStrengthLLC.com
510-827-1305
Since 1906 342-0153 800-950-1906
Q: Is there a certain
Q: What are the signs it’s time to check your hearing aids? A: It’s easy to overlook
signs that your hearing aid may need adjustment or Samantha King, Au.D replacement. If you notice muffled sounds, frequent feedback or your device isn’t working as well as it used to, it’s time to see an audiologist. Talk to your primary care doctor to be referred to Bronson Constance Brown Hearing Center for a thorough evaluation. Our licensed audiologists are trained in the latest technologies to ensure your hearing aid is fine-tuned to your exact needs. If a replacement is needed, we will guide you through the fitting and customization of new hearing aids. For more information call (269) 343-2601 or visit bronsonhealth.com/hearing.
Bronson Constance Brown Hearing Center bronsonhealth.com/hearing (269) 343-2601
amount of money I need for retirement in my retirement nest egg?
Chuck Henrich President & Owner
A: Everybody has different
lifestyles that have different income requirements. To put a black and white number out there doesn’t cover all the potential volatility one can expect over their lifetime. Retirement planning should emphasize Income Planning. Income planning is how best to combine your income from social security and/or pensions with an additional monthly stream of income created from your nest egg. There are many financial tools and options to consider when creating this stream of income. If you would like to discuss these options, give us a call.
Southwest Michigan Financial, LLC
The Atriums • 4341 S. Westnedge #1201
269-323-7964
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Give Things a Chance As we get older, it’s easy to get set in our ways. We tend to follow the same routines, drive the same routes and if we dine out, go to the same restaurants.
FROM THE
EDITOR
It is easy to go to our favorite places. We know their hours, their menu, where to park, where to sit and what to order. There is comfort in this, but why not take a risk and consider trying something new. Our old haunts are not always perfect; the food may be too cold or overdone, they may be out of soap in the bathroom, the parking may be a hassle, etc., but it is a comfortable and familiar place with no risk involved. If you decide to try something new, ask your close friends their opinion and Google reviews are also a good resource. When you try a new place, if it’s not perfect, consider giving it another chance before you write it off for life. When I worked at the Kalamazoo Gazette, reviewers typically tried a new place three times to give it a fair chance. Very rarely is a place given a 100% in all categories.
ON THE COVER:
In fact, I have an old friend, who had a “Secret Shopper” business and would send individuals out to eat or shop at a particular business. He would have them fill out a long form of questions and answers about the service, selection, prices, cleanliness, etc. Some business owners wanted to know what customers were experiencing and were willing to pay to find out. By trying something new, you just might find a new favorite place! Be brave and take some advice from Robert Frost and “take the road less traveled!” Steve Ellis, SPARK Publisher steve@swmspark.com
Doug and Kathy Knibbe serving up tasty donuts at their Renzema’s Bakery. Photo by Steve Ellis
To advertise in upcoming SPARK publications, contact: Steve Ellis, 269.720.8157, steve@swmspark.com
INDEX DECEMBER 2023
Healthy Living....................................................12
Lee Dean: Over the river
For the Love of Fruitcake.................................13
and through the drifts ...................................... 4
History: Humphrey Manufacturing.................15
Wednesday Warriors..........................................6
Spark Book Reviews..........................................16
Business Profile: Sew Fabulous .........................7
Volunteer: Susan Boele....................................17
Spark Movie Reviews.........................................8
Tales from the Road.........................................18
Nature: Creature Comfort................................9
Signature Artists Holiday Exhibit .....................19
Cover Story........................................................10
Langeland Honors Hospice Caregivers ......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.
Like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/swmspark
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Over the river and through the drifts Lee A. Dean screendoor@sbcglobal.net
“I’ll Be Home for Christmas” is my favorite non-carol holiday song, but it leaves out important details: how do we get there, when do we get there and what’s the weather forecast? Everyone – even the president of the United States – grapples with these details. Jimmy Carter’s White House diary entry for 1980 describes his Christmas Day schedule. • Exchange gifts at home with immediate family. • Travel to his mother’s house for breakfast. • Go to his mother-in-law’s house “to have another Christmas there.” • Head back home for a little quiet time. • Return trip to the MIL’s house for lunch. • Then to brother Billy’s house. (I wonder if the Secret Service scoured his place to pick up the empty beer cans, which could be trip hazards.) Jimmy and Rosalynn had three factors working in their favor. The first is that all this travel happened in and near one small community. The second is that they had Air Force One to get them to
and from the White House. Me, on the other hand, usually had modes of conveyance ranging from a Greyhound bus to a rusty Ford Maverick. And that third factor? Plains, Georgia is in a geographic region that rarely sees snow. Last Christmas, my wife, the Viking Goddess, and I tried twice to visit family in Illinois. Both times we were repelled (in more ways than one) by bad traveling weather. This marked the first time holiday conditions prevented Christmastime travel. One year, while traveling from Grand Rapids to St. Joseph with Wife the First, we endured glare ice for the entire trip. Just before St. Joe, we were tailgated by a supremely ignorant driver, who eventually passed us horn blaring and middle finger upraised. Wife the First then pointed at his car and drew an X over it with her index finger. Ten minutes later, we met that car again, pulled over by a state trooper. We crept by him, honking and waving with more than one finger. The VG and I were returning to Grand Rapids from Illinois in the days when almost no businesses were open on Christmas. After struggling through snow around the big lake, I was famished for a warm meal. The only business open was a gas station where I could at least get a hot dog.
I approached the hot dog roller and found exactly one dog. It had seen better days, and those days began somewhere around the Taft Administration. It was split down the middle. It had purple spots. As it slowly turned on the roller, my stomach was also turning at the prospect of eating this specimen of demonic cuisine. “Let’s get a bag of chips instead,” I told the VG, who was also suspiciously evaluating the condition of the forlorn frankfurter. Why did we navigate treacherous Midwestern weather every year for these gatherings? Memories provide the answer. --The variety of locations. Were we going to the farm in Bloomingdale or at relatives’ homes in Portage, Otsego, Lawton, or Richland? --The juggling act between visiting both sides of the family on the same day. This required the logistical skills of a baseball team’s traveling secretary and the diplomatic skills of a Secretary of State. --The year we gathered at Uncle Richard and Aunt Jean’s house in Kalamazoo when Cousin Nadine played “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” on the organ. --The little kids trying to guess which one
of the uncles or older cousins was wearing the Santa suit. --The food smelled so delectable and tasted even better, even if we couldn’t figure out the ingredients of an exoticlooking fruit salad. --The sounds of our gatherings were a blue-collar symphony. Laughter, the crinkle of wrapping paper, oohs and aahs from a delightful gift, muted gratitude for year another bottle of aftershave, the overall din of conversation, all created a joyful noise. My favorite memory I carry is the playfulness of it all. Often our antics would make the civilized members of our clan (the women and girls) roll their eyes at the juvenile antics of the uncivilized people (the men and boys). Years later, I discovered that the older generation had serious differences, and yet these were set aside so we kids could have a great time. As wonderful as those gatherings were, there was one thing missing: any mention of the origin of Christmas. As I grew older, I realized that filling in this blank spot was my responsibility. This is why every year I make sure to stay with the story – the story of the humble origins of a human baby born into poverty and how that birth makes all the difference in the world. If advancing age robs me of all the other memories, I pray that the memory of this story will endure.
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Wednesday
WARRIORS
Kristi Chapman, volunteer, Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy
Looking Back December is a good time to stop and look back on the year. By the time you read this, the Wednesday Warriors will be wrapping up their 21st year of volunteer work for the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy. I started when I was 12. A lot has happened, and a lot more
is happening, as the Conservancy adds more and more preserves, and plans more and more ambitious restoration work. We’ve sort of grown up together. At least I think I have. I can spot alien invasive plants from a moving car, I can identify ailanthus by its smell (rotten peanut butter). I have met a ton of very interesting people who love the outdoors and
lend their enthusiasm and skills to conservation. Oh yes, and it’s just plain fun! You have to laugh when someone loses a boot in the mud. Or a hat under a rose bush. Or shows up with a jet ski. We never know what will tickle our imagination as we lop and chop and daub our way through a thicket of autumn olive or buckthorn. Of course one of our greatest delights is the appearance of the good native plants that creep out of the underbrush that we have just cleared. We have chosen some areas as
“our” projects, and we get to go back and check on how things are recovering. For example, the fen at Myers Preserve has been our target for years, and this year we – finally – broke through the wall of glossy buckthorn to reveal a splendid view. And of course we will keep coming back for pruning and cleanup. It’s like finding a drinking glass on the counter after you think you’ve finished all the dishes for the day. It really never stops. I could brag about the number of preserves we’ve worked (9), the number of volunteers (30-ish), the number of aliens (11 and counting), but numbers don’t give you the feeling of stepping out of your car on a crisp, clear snowy day, and looking across a prairie or a wetland, and saying, “I am just happy to be here.” If this sounds like your kind of fun, come out any Wednesday your schedule permits. There is also a spin-off group on Mondays. Just check the website www.swmlc. org for details on each week’s workdays. Hope to see you there!
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Sew Fabulous By Richard Martinovich
After World War I, soldiers recuperating from battlefield trauma were introduced to the craft of fine needlework. Focusing on an intricate, pleasant task was known to promote a positive mental state. Sewing enthusiasts and quilt makers just know how enjoyable and rewarding it is to create something of your own! Sew Fabulous in Portage has everything you need to start and finish your sewing projects. Top–name new, and used, sewing machines; books and patterns, embroidery supplies, fabric, kits, and sewing accessories. Owner Heidi Degenkolb has had a passion for sewing and quilt making since grade school, and realized her dream of owning a sewing business when she opened Sew Fabulous in March 2021. Heidi has made Sew Fabulous a one-stop destination for fun and creativity! You’ll get lost in exploring the extensive collection of assorted sewing materials; hundreds of stylish 100-percent cotton fabrics to choose from, ideal for quilting; 423 different colors of
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embroidery thread, fluorescent glow-in-the-dark thread, and high-quality serger thread. There is always something happening at the Sew Fabulous store. Weekly “Sit ‘N Sew” sessions are popular, and attract large groups. Every year, Sew Fabulous plans a Destination Retreat; a sewing excursion! Last May, it was a journey to Drummond Island in the UP. Each person brought their own project to work on, and Heidi also gave them a small project. In 2024, there will be a “Mystery Destination Retreat” that will include clues along the road to a final “mystery” destination! There is a full schedule of sewing classes offered at Sew Fabulous, like the Jump for Joy Quilt-a-Long, and the “Let’s Ditto” class that created a cuddly keepsake teddy bear! Sew Fabulous is a Bernina, Janome, and Pffaf certified maintenance and repair shop. Their qualified technicians perform a detailed maintenance service; cleaning and making any necessary adjustments! Step inside their Romence Road location and you’ll quickly discover why Sew Fabulous is so…amazing!
Sew Fabulous • 600 Romence Road, Hillside Center, Portage • 459-1725
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Movie Reviews The Lost King (2022) Fought in 1485, the Battle of Bosworth Field marked the end of the Wars of the Roses and the reign of Richard III, the last Plantagenet king of England. Tradition held that after he was struck down, his body was unceremoniously dumped in the River Soar by the victorious Tudor forces who considered him a usurper. 500 years later, doubts fueled by incongruous historical sources concerning that event and the reputation of Richard III in general remained. The Lost King is the mostly true story of the correction of that narrative. Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water) stars as Phillipa Langley, an unassuming Englishwoman who falls in with The Richard III Society, a group of enthusiastic amateur historians dedicated to setting the record straight. Phillipa swiftly demonstrates a talent for research and as she becomes increasingly invested in the life and humanity of King Richard, she begins to see and even converse with his ghostly apparition (Harry Lloyd). Balancing family and her newfound obsession, she navigates the worlds of dismissive academics and eccentric enthusiasts as she methodically zeroes in on the site which she believes to be the final resting place of Richard III: a parking lot on the former grounds of a Franciscan Priory. Charming, optimistic, and broadly appealing, The Lost King is a wonderful reminder of the value of self-determination and the challenging of assumptions. – Submitted by Patrick J.
Elemental (2023) On the surface, Elemental shares similar concepts with several previous Pixar films. Like Inside Out’s emotions, the film’s elements are personified characters. As with Turning Red’s lead character Mei, its central protagonist Ember (nimbly voiced by Leah Lewis), a fire element, creates family drama with her temper flares. What’s more, Ember’s budding interest in water element Wade (hilariously voiced by Mamoudou Athie) opens her up to family rejection and societal judgment, as explored in Luca. What adds new depth is director Peter Sohn’s personal history growing up as the son of immigrants. Serving other fire elements, Ember’s family’s business struggles for survival, as other elements are disdainful. During his inspection of business damage caused by an Ember-induced accident, Wade’s presence stirs up prejudices among her own family. As these unlike elements come together to save the business (and beyond), a romance grows, providing unexpected answers to the question of whether or not fire and water can mix. All this plays out against backdrops featuring some of the most colorful and intricate animation Pixar has yet produced. With the studio’s magic chemistry intact, Elemental’s unique properties make for a fresh feature among the compound of Pixar classics. – 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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important to the regulation of the temperature where Massasauga’s are hibernating,” says Ryan Koziatek, the Stewardship Field Director at KNC. “They need to be close enough to the water but not close enough that they’ll drown.” The snakes hibernate individually or in a small group of two or three to keep warm. Another reptile worth mentioning is the Eastern Box Turtle which burrows into mud or leaf litter to stay warm and camouflaged. While these turtles prefer mud, many animals like to dwell in the Subnivean Zone. It is a tunnel system beneath the snow down to the snowpack underneath where animals can easily access food. The next time you see kids on a winter day digging forts and tunnels in the snow, think of the mice, voles, and shrews that are doing the same.
Creature Comfort: How KNC’s Critters Stay Cozy in the Chilly Season By Emily Tieman, Kalamazoo Nature Center The temperature is dropping, and snow has already arrived in Southwest Michigan. As the cold weather comes upon us, we put on our coat and boots to stay warm and dry. But while the flora goes dormant, what happens to the fauna during winter? Many animals, amphibians, reptiles, and insects call the Kalamazoo Nature Center home,
even during the colder months. The federally threatened Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake hibernates between the months of November and Mid-April. Massasaugas like to hibernate in wetlands and fens below the frost line and close to groundwater level. “Groundwater is very
KNC has had a lot of beaver activity lately, so we would be remised to not mention how they spend the winter months! Beavers have a thick fur coat with an oily coating to keep them warm and dry. These semiaquatic rodents do not hibernate, instead they live inside their warm lodges with a food pantry stocked with leaves, tree bark, and roots. Ryan Koziatek says, “They can also store some of that food under the ice. The more water flooded areas that are around the beavers, the more potential to store food in the winter” While you may only see tracks in the snow, now you know where some of KNC’s critters are cozied up for the winter. We hope you’ll come out hiking in the colder months to enjoy the beauty KNC trails in winter! Emily Tieman runs the social media channels for the Kalamazoo Nature Center.
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THE BEST OF TWO HISTORIC BAKERIES MAKES RENZEMA’S A SWEET CLASSIC By Dave Person david.r.person@gmail.com
oatmeal raisin cookies. He also makes Malnight’s popular clown cookies, which continue to be a hot seller. He uses Malnight’s buttercream icing on both cakes and cookies.
Doug and Cathy Knibbe are carrying on the tradition of not one, but two popular Kalamazoo area bakeries at Renzema’s Bakery in Parchment.
All of those products, in addition to pies during the holidays, are available either wholesale or at the Renzema’s location,
In 2001, Doug Knibbe , who had been a baker at Malnight’s Bakery in downtown Kalamazoo for 17 years, bought both Malnight’s and Renzema’s, consolidating the baking for both operations at the Parchment location, 214 Link Lane.
tion baker when he opened Renzema’s in Parchment. His grandfather was the first to open a bakery, in 1878 in the Netherlands, according to a 1978 Kalamazoo Gazette story. Three of Renzema’s children became bakers, Knibbe says, and Knibbe purchased the bakery from son Pete, who
“I can remember coming in here as a kid,” he says. His mother would stock up on bread for her family, which included Knibbe and his five siblings.
He kept both bakeries open until 2005, when he closed Malnight’s, which had been in business since 1919. Although the Malnight’s name ceases to exist as a bakery, Knibbe has continued to sell its popular products at Renzema’s.
Both Malnight’s and Renzema’s had been in their respective families for generations.
“It was kind of a merger of the two businesses,” Knibbe says of his purchase of the bakeries.
Both bakeries made cookies, and Knibbe has continued making the best of both bakeries.
Malnight’s was known for its cakes, wholesale breads, including burger buns, and puff pastries. Renzema’s sold bread and doughnuts.
“We both had chocolate chip; we both had oatmeal raisin,” he says, adding that he continues to make Malnight’s chocolate chip cookies and Renzema’s
Robert Malnight, from whom Knibbe bought Malnight’s, took over that bakery from his parents and maternal grandparents, who founded it. His children and some of his grandchildren worked in the bakery as well. William Renzema was a third-genera-
PHOTO BY DEREK KETCHUM
“This store has done really well over the years,” Knibbe, 58, says of Renzema’s.
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says Knibbe, noting that most traditional Dutch food is now available at Meijer and other large stores. He continues to make and sell bankets, a sweet Dutch pastry filled with almond paste, however, and he adds raisins to some of the doughnuts and the nutty Persians.
had continued to operate the Parchment location.
“Dutch people always like raisins,” says Knibbe, who also is of Dutch descent, as is his wife.
The Knibbes also have made Renzema’s a generational business, with all three of their children having worked there, and the oldest of their three grandchildren, Ana Sturdy, 10, currently there on Saturdays with her mother, Kate Sturdy, who is the Knibbes’ daughter.
She also runs the sales portion of the business while he is in charge of the baking, coming in around 7:30 each evening and working until the wee hours of the next morning, after which he makes deliveries of baked goods to coffee shops, restaurants and the like.
All the education he received was what he learned on the job.
“I think it’s so good for kids to work,” he says.
“I like learning with my hands,” he says. Knibbe says as soon as he bought the two bakeries he and Cathy went to Sam’s Club to buy a computer and a bookkeeping program and Cathy taught herself how to handle the financial part of the businesses.
All the better for Cathy. “When it’s busy, it’s fun,” she says. “Cathy is really good at making this a positive place,” Doug Knibbe says of his wife of 34 years.
The Knibbes have 11 employees, most of whom are part time, split between sales and baking.
His sisters were working at Malnight’s and they informed Knibbe of an opening there for a baker. He applied for the job with Robert Malnight, who hired him.
Knibbe says it was important for his children to work there, and now for his granddaughter to take an interest.
“This was … (one of the only places) you could get a lot of that Dutch food,”
taken,” Doug Knibbe says. “She just did the books pretty much right from the start,” Knibbe says.
Knibbe says his father was a mason, and he always expected to be a builder, but when he graduated from Kalamazoo Christian High School in 1984 there weren’t many construction jobs available.
“She waits on people,” and also takes phone orders, Knibbe says of Ana, who has been helping there since she was 7.
Knibbe recalls that when he was young, Renzema’s was a popular destination for the Kalamazoo area’s Dutch population.
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Up front, meanwhile, Cathy Knibbe enjoys getting to know Renzema’s customers, many of whom are regulars, especially on Fridays, Renzema’s busiest day. “Fridays pretty much every seat is
Renzema’s, which is open 6 a.m. until noon Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. until noon on Saturday and closed Sunday, hasn’t changed much in appearance since the Knibbes took over, which is just the way the customers seem to like it, Cathy says. “You take a picture off the wall and they all go crazy,” she jokes. But the restaurant has added a new feature recently, thanks to a longtime customer who is divesting himself of his collection of more than 400 cookie jars, bringing a few to the Knibbes during each of his three weekly visits. The cookie jars are now on proud display at the bakery.
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HEALTHYLIVING:
Clear the Table - Make Room for Love My family has known that the dining room table, the kitchen dinette table top — at home or at weekend retreat cabins, for that matter — are not for stacking, storing, or otherwise setting stuff upon. Call it a carry-over standard, it was the way my mom, Theoni, ran her house and it trickled its way to being my way, too. I’ve thought it quirky of us; maybe even slightly idiosyncratic. A clean table top, with often a bowl holding this, that, and the other thing, Theoni always had it ready that way for the next meal. The next cup of coffee. The next visit. Recently, I was introduced to the term Sacred Hospitality and I have been quietly twirling it in my mind with a new sense of awareness. Because when you put a name to something it becomes all the more vivid in its being, in its existence, in its essence, and you suddenly see things as that (this thing that has always been) but now you see it and say, “it” is “THIS!”
in her life. And yet, around her table, it was this. A clean, uncluttered tabletop prepared for the next opportunity for connecting with her girls. Her grandkids. Her friends. And the strangers we all brought to her that always left … filled. I look at my cleared tables and I see so much opportunity to practice this in my own home… Sacred Hospitality. A safe space where one is received in a generous spirit of welcomeness, where there is a curiosity and gentle eagerness for expanding understanding through a different perspective, where there is present, a wish to find commonality, and where shared joy and shared suffering are celebrated and comforted through respect and genuine care. Suddenly, you see through the lens of Sacred Hospitality at every turn — where it is and where it is attempted. And — where it is absent. My mom never heard of this term
… And to create this sacred hospitality through all our interactions... through our tone, the gentleness of our voices, the invitation of our smiles, the gentleness of our touch, to say “you are safe with me, you are welcomed here with me, you are celebrated here with me, you are ’free to be’, to eat, to talk, to share, to care.” And to say to each other: “Come, sit. My table is clear. I am ready for you.” Vicky Kettner is the Association Director of Marketing, Community Relations, and Member Engagement for the YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo.
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For the Love of Fruitcake! With fruitcake considered an essential at Christmas for centuries, I thought it would be fun to revisit Deb Lee of Middlebury, Indiana because she’s one gal who has elevated this specialty dessert to a new millennium level. Contacting her a short while ago to get an update on her fruitcake business, Deb informed me that since we last met (several years ago) she had changed her business model and was now offering her artisan specialty fruitcakes online through a website. Getting into the fruitcake business, because it bothered her that people made fun of them, Deb’s desire to change people’s mind about them created such a large following that it grew into its own business. “I wondered why people didn’t like fruitcake,” she said, smiling, “so I made a much better tasting fruitcake!” Selling out at a small craft bazaar in just 45 minutes, word-ofmouth created a demand that could only be met by the installation of a commercial kitchen. “The business grew so much that it needed a place of its own,” Deb said smiling, which is how the Next Door Neighbor Deli & Bakery in Middlebury, Indiana came into existence. However, the covid crisis helped her make the decision to close the deli and bakery, and scale her operation down to focusing entirely on making fruitcakes from her commercial kitchen. “We happily accept orders online or by phone,” she said, and we welcome customers to visit by appointment only.” While her fruitcake business has seen its share of changes, the one thing that hasn’t changed is her delightful fruitcake selections. Not soaking her fruitcakes in any liquids or liquor, she said she does this to provide flexibility for her customers.
“I let the customer decide,” she said with a grin. “They can soak them if they like in anything they like!” Offering her own signature assortment of flavors including Traditional, Blue Ribbon, Tropical, and Chocolate. Coming in both 1/2 -pound and 2 pound sizes, baked fresh and reasonably-priced, this is a unique and delicious holiday gift that is perfect for all the fruitcake lovers in your life. To find out more, check out fruitcakesbydeb.com or give her a call at: (574) 825-1716. Here now is a fun way to play with the flavor of a fruitcake. Enjoy and Merry Christmas! Laura Kurella is an award-winning recipe developer, food columnist, and author of the new culinary memoir, MIDWEST MORSEL, which celebrates all the classic and favored flavors in the Great Lakes Midwest. She welcomes your comments at laurakurella@ yahoo.com.
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Humphrey Manufacturing by Keith Howard, Kalamazoo Public Library
Three brothers from Kalamazoo made quite an impact on the modern world at the turn of the 20th century with a series of ingenious inventions, including a home hot water heater, a water pump, a ceramic fireplace heater, and a revolutionary gas streetlight called the “Humphrey Light.” In 1896, Alfred, Herbert, and Fred Humphrey set up shop on North Rose Street and began to manufacture their newly patented “automatic instantaneous” hot water heater, a home appliance that quickly heated cold tap water as needed. The new device proved highly successful, so Herbert bought out his brothers and continued the business as Humphrey Manufacturing. By the 1920s, Humphrey gas water heaters were being used in nearly every part of the world. Meanwhile, Fred Humphrey had developed and patented a new form of hydraulic pump he called a water lift. The device allowed homeowners to capture soft rainwater in a cistern and have it available from running faucets throughout the home. Fred formed the F.J. Humphrey Company in 1905 and began manufac-
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Realizing the need to diversify, the company introduced its “Radiantfire” gas heater in 1916. Designed as fireplace inserts, the “Radiantfire” home heaters converted wood burning fireplaces into “odorless, noiseless and safe” gas space heaters with ceramic heating elements replacing the old-fashioned asbestos grates. General Gas Light employed more than 500 workers by the 1920s. Its factory complex by then occupied the entire city block bordered by Park, Eleanor, Church, and Water streets. Annual sales approached 150,000 units.
turing his device in a workshop along Farmer’s Alley. Humphrey later sold the company to his brother-in-law Roland Fairchild, who reorganized the firm as the National Water Lift Company. National Water Lift eventually became a division of Parker Aerospace and is now the Hydraulic Systems Division of Parker. While Fred and Herbert were developing their respective businesses, Alfred Humphrey designed and patented a clever new automatic gas lighting fixture. After months of testing and perfecting his invention, he formed the General Gas Light Company in 1901. With an initial staff of 25 workers, Alfred purchased a factory building at the northwest corner of Water and Church streets and began manufacturing his “Humphrey Light” gas light fixtures. By 1908, some 750,000 of the company’s streetlamps were in use around the world. During the first World War, General Gas Light saw a slump in sales as electricity began to supplant gas as a reliable medium for lighting.
The firm continued to develop new products, including overhead gas heaters, commercial barbecues, and propane lamps. Alfred Humphrey was granted more than 80 patents for his gas lamps, heaters, stoves, water heaters, and valves. Recognizing the changing times, the General Gas Light Company sold off its gas heater business in 1959. The firm was renamed Humphrey Products with a focus on pneumatic valves, control units, and other devices. In 1960, the company moved to a new facility at the corner of Sprinkle Road and Kilgore Road, where it remains a leading producer of pneumatic valves and liquid control components. The original downtown factory complex was razed in 1960 to make way for the 118-room Park West Motel, which operated until 1987. Today, the block is occupied by the West Michigan Cancer Center.
More at kpl.gov
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Book Reviews
Book Reviews by the Portage District Library staff
The Invisible Hour Alice Hoffman In traditional Alice Hoffman form, The Invisible Hour poignantly deals with the love of a child, restrictions, a magical novel, transcendent love, and a brooding writer. Mia finds herself in a cult in which reading is prohibited. A bibliophile, Mia, hides her novel so that “the Community” members do not uncover her literary secrets. After she escapes, she discovers that her favorite book invites her to a world of enchantment. Hoffman, the queen of magical realism, has well-captured how reading can transform you into other dimensions and connections. Full of first-love feelings and persuasive conviction, this book is sure to summon up autumnal timbre and coziness.
The Measure Nikki Erlick One morning, everyone wakes up to find a small box on their front porch. Inside this box is a string. This string shows many more years they have to live. What follows is a world in turmoil. Politicians feed on distrust and suspicion between those with short strings and long strings. Everyone has to decide. Do they look to see how much time they have left? How do you cope if you or a loved one receives a short string? We follow some “short-stringers” Hank, who decides to quit his job, Ben,
whose girlfriend breaks up with him, Maura, and her girlfriend Nina. There’s Nina’s sister Amie, who refuses to look. We watch as their lives intertwine, and as we savor this poignant story, we ask the question: What is the measure of a life? How long it is lived, or what was accomplished during that life?
Georgie All Along Kate Clayborn Georgie All Along is a beautiful story about coming home, finding love, and rediscovering yourself. When Georgie’s famous screenwriter boss decides to step away from the limelight, she finds herself unemployed and without a roof over her head. Unsure of what she wants to do next, Georgie decides to head home. But Georgie’s father conveniently forgot to inform her that they invited the older brother of her teenage crush, Levi Fanning, to crash at their place, too. Levi has a reputation as a troublemaker and loner, but his gruff exterior seems to be hiding something more. To take her mind off Levi, Georgie and her best friend unearth a “friendfic” diary from their high school years, where Georgie had jotted down a wish list of things to do. Georgie decides there is no time like the present to follow through on some of those adventures in an attempt to rediscover herself and what brings her happiness in life. This novel is a true gem for romantic comedy readers who enjoy authors like Emily Henry.
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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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“No One Walks Through Life Alone” – Susan Boele By Jim Coppinger, Milestone Senior Services Volunteer
Susan frequently travels to see her children and their families, that kind of schedule and rigid time commitment wouldn’t work.
Susan Boele (Bow-lee) was born and raised in Chicago. There, she entered the work world as an executive secretary with the Illinois Central Railroad and honed professional and organization skills that would propel her for years to come.
But all was not lost; Susan loves to drive and is great at navigating. She discovered there is a need for people to take clients to doctor and dentist appointments, grocery stores, or to pick up medication, etc. She was delighted to discover such volunteer work came with great flexibility. So, Susan is now a volunteer driver. Each week she looks at the schedule of needed trips and signs up for those that fit into her schedule and within her geographic area—a winwin for all involved.
She moved to Lansing to work as the personal secretary for Harold Gross, founder and owner of the family-owned radio and television stations—WJIM. Mr. Gross Mr. Gross was a strong personality and could be difficult but Sue and Mr. Gross got along very well.
Susan says people shouldn’t be afraid they won’t be able to volunteer because of a busy calendar; there is plenty of opportunity to give as much or little time as one can spare. She adds, “No one walks through life alone—we all have something to share with others.”
Susan relocated to Three Rivers with her two young children and husband. Not knowing what job opportunities she might have in that small community, Sue found a position with Armstrong International, Inc., a manufacturing company specializing in steam management systems. Armstrong International, too, is a family-owned company and treats its employees like family. Susan began her career in the corporate office but moved up administratively to positions in the marketing, legal, and purchasing departments. She retired after thirty-four years with Armstrong.
Susan is both a longtime avid fitness walker and reader. As for walking, she walks for exercise and clearing her mind. As an avid reader, she always has multiple books she is reading. She is an active book club member with both the Portage Senior Center and Portage Public Library and a volunteer at the Portage Senior Center.
Susan’s volunteer involvement began many years ago. She made sure she was involved in her daughter’s and son’s schools, their sports, and club activities. Sue is grateful for Armstrong’s supportive approach with employees which allowed time for such involvements.
Susan thought her love of reading would be an ideal fit as a volunteer reading to children or helping people learn to read. She called Milestone and there were several such positions. However, for reading programs, they were all for scheduled assignments—e.g. every Tuesday at 2:00 pm. Since
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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baked goods - my weakness is for donuts and I bought a few. The bakeries history began in 2001 in Shipshewana, Indiana. A young Amish couple began baking recipes handed down in the woman’s family for generations. They sold baked goods from their front porch. Over the years, they worked on perfecting the recipes. In 2004, they opened the first Rise’n Roll Bakery in Middlebury. The original bakery did not use any electricity, refrigeration, or modern technology. All of the mixing, sheeting, and prepping was done entirely by hand. In 2009, the Amish owner sold the company to a non-Amish family who modernized the business and set up a franchise - there are now over a dozen locations in Indiana and Illinois.
Tales
road
FROM THE Constantine, White Pigeon and Middlebury By Steve Ellis In early November, I decided to take a spur of the moment drive south on 131 though Constantine, White Pigeon and ended up in Middlebury, Indiana. Constantine is no longer right along 131 because a five mile bypass around downtown Constantine was added after many years of discussion and planning. The purpose of the bypass was to alleviate the problem of large semi trucks driving through the tight downtown area and rattling the store windows of the historic buildings. The bypass alleviated that issue, but significantly reduced the amount of drive by traffic for the downtown businesses.
cans in 1837. The United Stand Land Office located in downtown White Pigeon, is the oldest surviving U.S. Land office in the state of Michigan. After the land rights of Native American were given up by leaders of regional tribes, between 1831 and 1834, the U.S. government sold more than 250,000 acres of land in Michigan for $1.25 an acre to the settlers of Western Michigan. I walked around the small downtown area, which like Constantine, has many empty buildings. I had a nice visit with the folks at the White Pigeon Township Library. They shared their knowledge and photos of historic White Pigeon with me. I learned that White Pigeon is where the Kalamazoo Gazette originally began in 1833.
I took the exit for downtown Constantine, past the old dam and power plant, crossing the St Joseph River before parking on Water Street in front of the Meeks Mill Restaurant. This great little restaurant has been in the same family for over 30 years. I ordered the Farmers Omelette, which was delicious - I would highly recommend this restaurant and plan to visit them again in the future.
Five miles south of Constantine along 131 is White Pigeon, named after the local Potawatomi chief Wahbememe, which means White Pigeon. According to legend, while Wahbememe was at the gathering of the chiefs in Detroit, he heard plans of an attack on the settlement which is now White Pigeon. The chief was a friend to the white settlers and did not want to see harm come to them, so he set out on foot and ran almost 150 miles to the settlement to warn the people. After running that long distance and giving his warning, he collapsed and soon died from exhaustion. He was buried in the town and there is a memorial stone marking his grave. The gravesite is now listed on the National Register of Historical Places. White Pigeon was incorporated by European Ameri-
I was not ready for lunch but walked through the very large two floor restaurant and checked out the $16.99 lunch buffet which looked very appetizing. I was tempted by the large cases of pies, cookies and pastries in their bakery and ended up buying a small loaf of tasty pumpkin bread. I visited the Krider Worlds Fair Garden, a park featuring display and botanic gardens originally conceived for the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair. The Garden includes many exotic tree and plants, as well as several original sculptures for the Worlds Fair.
Many of the historic downtown buildings now stand empty, but one can only imagine what this town must have looked like a hundred years ago. It would make a great period piece for a movie set. The village was platted in 1831. It was first named Meeks Mill after Johnathon Meeks, who built the first grain mill. Much later, when using names of classical figures for towns later came into vogue, the village was renamed for the Roman emperor Constantine the Great.
Das Dutchman Essenhaus is the areas biggest attraction. The Amish style restaurant began in 1971 at the site of an old truck stop on US-20. The restaurant has grown from 120 seats to over 1,100 and is considered the largest restaurant in Indiana. In addition to the worldfamous restaurant, Essenhaus also offers a home-style bakery with over 30 varieties of pies, six unique gift shops and stores, a large inn and conference center.
Middlebury, Indiana is 14 miles south of White Pigeon, and a few miles south of the Michigan/Indiana border. It is a busy town that gets even busier during the summer tourist season. The downtown area has nice restaurants, bakeries, upscale clothing, furniture and home decor stores. The Middlebury area is home to over 23,000 Amish residents. The Amish buggies are everywhere and parked all over town, adding to its folksy charm. Just east of Main Street is The Mill, which is a quaint shopping and gathering space featuring three boutique shops and a weekly farmer’s market (during the summer months), along with two large artisan markets each year. It is located within an old grain mill and surrounded by sixteen functioning grain bins. If you like antiques, the Old Creamery Antiques is in a charming old house packed full of small antique items and has two vintage vehicles parked out in front. A visit to Rise and Roll Bakery is a must for delicious
The garden was the brainchild of Vernon Krider, owner of a wholesale and mail-order nursery. Following the end of the Worlds Fair, Krider transported his display to Middlebury, where it has remained for the past 89 years. Krider’s mail order flower business once encompassed over 400 acres and was the largest business in Middlebury. The popular paved Pumpkinvine Nature Trail runs through the park and covers over 18 miles between the towns of Goshen, Middlebury, and Shipshewana. I plan to bring my bike on the next trip to Middlebury. Near the Garden, I stumbled upon Old Hoosier Meats located in the original 1923 Middlebury High School gymnasium. The vine covered building, which opened as a cold storage and meat shop, caught my attention and I stopped in and was given a tour by the new owner, Glen Miller. He showed me the old freezer rooms where local residents rented large metal drawers to store their meat, before home refrigeration was invented. A large rack of drawer keys and matching brass name tags are still hanging in his office. I purchased a 1/2 pound of delicious pepper sausage that I nibbled on, along my way home. If you love history, dining out, or you just enjoy exploring small towns, head south on 131 and experience Constantine, White Pigeon and Middlebury!
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Signature Artists LLC Celebrates the Season With Their 43rd Annual Exhibit This Kalamazoo tradition of locally made works, will take place from December 1 – 27, 2023. An artist’s reception will be held from noon-5 on December 3. The gallery is located in the Carillion Center, South Westnedge, near Qdoba. For more information on this year’s Signature Gallery please visit www.signature-artist. com
Langeland Family Funeral Homes Honors Hospice Caregivers
Left to right: Jeremy, Danielle, Katie and Norm The Langeland Family Funeral Homes began recognizing Hospice Caregivers and the amazing work they do. In 2016 as they began selecting a Hospice Caregiver each month from nominations submitted on behalf of those who want to recognize a special Hospice Caregiver. On October 11, 2023, Langelands continued this tradition by holding a banquet in honor of each of the monthly award winners and selected the Langeland Hospice Caregiver for 2023. This year, Danielle Lucas was chosen as the 2023 Langeland Hospice Caregiver at the banquet. Danielle is a registered nurse for Centrica Rose Arbor Place. She attended the banquet with her husband, Brent, her mother, Becky, and her granddaughter, Rowen. They were very thrilled when Danielle was announced as the Hospice Caregiver of the Year. “I knew you were going to get it!” said Rowen, Danielle’s seven-yearold granddaughter, after she received the award. Danielle has worked for Centrica Care Navigators for three years as a case manager and, most recently, for the inpatient unit at Rose Arbor for the last year. Danielle began working towards her hospice career as a single mom when she went back to school to become a nurse later in life. She overcame many obstacles to achieve her goal to
be an RN in her 40’s. So, this award is especially sweet as it is another indication of the significance of her hard work by knowing the blessing she is to others. She is doubly blessed because her daughter also works at Rose Arbor and is in the process of completing her nursing degree. Danielle lives with her husband, Brent, and two dogs, Diego and Louie, in Battle Creek. She deals with the stress of being a hospice caregiver by spending time with her family and friends. Danielle says, “I have the most amazing family that is there for me for the smiles, laughs, and tears that come along with being a hospice caregiver.” Danielle speaks about the impact working in hospice has had on her. She realizes how short life can be and how life can change in the blink of an eye. She gives us this advice: “Hold your loved ones tight and cherish the time that you have with them. Don’t take life for granted, as tomorrow is never promised.” If you know of a hospice caregiver who is exceptional in their work, you can nominate them for the monthly Hospice Caregiver Award by going to Langelands.com and clicking on Hospice Caregiver Award or by going into any of the Langeland locations and filling out a nomination folder.
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