MID-MICHIGAN GALAXY OF CLOWNS ~ PAGE 10
Expert Advice Health Food
Insurance Q: It’s that time of year
Q: What type of
produce does Sawall’s carry? A: Sawall’s has always carried local and certified organic Owner produce. Its the very best quality that can be found. We receive produce orders almost every day! We also carry as much local produce that we can find seasonally. We are always looking for quality produce from local farmers. Come in soon and enjoy the areas largest selection of fresh CERTIFIED ORGANIC PRODUCE!! Mark Sawall
and I’m already inundated with mail and telephone calls. How can I decide which Medicare supplement plan is best for me. I Charley Endres don’t even understand all of the stuff I’m reading!
A: Thank you for you note! I truly understand what you are saying. If you read our ad in this month’s Spark, you will see we can help you cut through all the clutter and give you solid information so you can make a decision that’s best for you. Call me a t 269-323-7888 and I can give you information right over the phone or you can schedule an appointment and sit down with me to go over all your questions. We NEVER CHARGE for consultations and we NEVER push you into anything. Give me a call.
Mon-Sat. 8am-8pm, Sun. 10am-5pm
Charley Endres, CPIA
Pharmacy Q: Are you healthy? A: Lack of disease does not mean you are healthy. I talk to my patients all the time who don’t have a particular disease Arun Tandon, R.Ph but they: 1. Have NO energy and feel low mentally. 2. Have erratic sleep. 3. Don’t feel hungry but keep eating. 4. Have constipation and bloated feeling or diarrhea. 5. They just don’t feel good. They go from doctor to specialists and with all the testing, can’t give a diagnosis, but still keep treating (masking) the symptoms. At this point, actually you need to step back and take a closer look at your life and REBOOT your system, physically and mentally. Ask us how.
Mon-Fri 9-6, Sat 9-1
Advanced Health Pharmacy
Sawall Health Foods
Endres Insurance Agency
Oakwood Plaza • 2965 Oakland Dr. at Whites Rd. • 343-3619 • www.sawallhf.com
6660 S. Westnedge Ave., Portage • 269-323-7888 charley@endresins.com
7916 Oakland Dr at Centre St 269 324-1100 • FREE DELIVERY advancedhealthpharmacymi.com
Funeral Services
Transitions
Roofing
Q: How did the
Langeland Family get started? A: Langelands began serving the Kalamazoo Tod community in 1934. Langeland Times were tough then, but Langelands treated everyone like family regardless of the services chosen. Our reputation grew from there, and now moving into our fourth generation, it is still our mission to serve your family with compassion, honor, and respect. This is our life’s work: taking care of you and your family with service second to none.
Langeland Family Funeral Homes “Quiet dignity with compassion” has meant so much for many people... for many years.
6 locations to serve you 269-343-1508 • www.langelands.com
What is the timeframe for move-in for an independent living apartment or cottage in a senior community? Q:
Q: I hear that Sherriff Goslin Roofing uses their own unique shingle. Can you tell me more about this shingle?
Friendship Village
A: The Art Loc shingle is SherriffJustin Reynolds Goslin’s original patented shingle. It Manager can be used as a re-roofing shingle over another layer of existing shingles, or as a primary shingle over roof sheathing. It assures a smooth, windproof and watertight job. The Art Loc shingle provides a unique appearance and lends character with distinction to any home. Today’s Art Loc shingle has been modified to include an ingredient known as an SBS (Styrene-ButadieneStyrene) polymer, which is used to alter the properties of asphalt, making the asphalt tougher and more flexible. This polymer dramatically slows down the aging process of the asphalt, providing superior waterproofing, low temperature flexibility, impact resistance, high wind endurance and extended life expectancy. Call us at (269) 342-0153 or visit us at worryfreeroof. com today to learn more.
Woodside Assisted Living and Memory Care
Sherriff-Goslin Roofing Co.
Diana Duncan Director of Sales and Marketing
A: A move to a community may include a visit to your physician, a medical interview from a qualified health professional, financial qualification and proof of assets, as well as the renovations or building of your new home. This process may take 30 days to a year or more depending on your specific circumstance.
1400 North Drake, Kalamazoo (269) 381-0515 www.friendshipvillagemi.com
Since 1906 342-0153 800-950-1906 Member Home Builders Association of Greater Kalamazoo
OCTOBER 2021
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I love Fall! The cooler weather, football games, apple picking and the gorgeous fall colors make it the perfect time to get out and enjoy the outdoors.
FROM THE
EDITOR
We are blessed to have a couple dozen high school football teams, two local college teams, and U of M , MSU and Notre Dame are nearby. There is nothing like the excitement of a football game to garner excitement, hanging out with friends and reliving fond memories from bygone game days. Apple picking is plentiful in this area - you do not have to drive very far to get to your nearest orchard.
ON THE COVER:
Peak color season is here! Enjoy a drive along the backroads of Southwest Michigan, or for a special treat head to Northern Michigan. You’re sure to also stumble upon some wonderful small towns, old barns, roadside stands and cider mills. Get out and enjoy all that fall in Michigan has to offer!
Steve Ellis, SPARK Publisher steve@swmspark.com
Donna Wiliniski (left) and Sharon Fulkerson (right). Photo provided by Sharon Fulkerson.
To advertise in upcoming SPARK publications, contact: Steve Ellis, 269.720.8157, steve@swmspark.com
INDEX
Editor and Publisher: Steve Ellis Graphic & Page Development: CRE8 Design, Kalamazoo Content/Photography: Lauren Ellis
OCTOBER 2021
Lee Dean: Four wheels and
Volunteer: Gary Stafford ..............................................13
(occasionally) one brain .............................................. 4
History: Chester Z. “Chet” Bronson .............................14
Healthy Living: Go Climb a Mountain! ....................... 6
Spark Recipe: Pear Party!.............................................15
Business Profile: Ty’s Joint ................................................ 7
Looking Back ...................................................................16
Spark Movie Reviews....................................................... 8
Sage Advice....................................................................17
Wednesday Warriors ........................................................ 9
Tales from the Road: Route 66, Illinois ......................18
Cover Story: Clowning Around Town ........................10
Nature: Tagging Monarchs ..........................................19
Spark Book Reviews .......................................................12
All current and past issues can be read 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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Four wheels and (occasionally) one brain Lee A. Dean screendoor@sbcglobal.net
Get a bunch of old boys together for very long, and the conversation will eventually turn to “close calls,” those narrow escapes from mayhem that were embarrassing at the time but are amusing in hindsight. Many of these stories involve the unique combination of youthful indiscretion and old rattletrap cars, trucks, motorcycles and even snowmobiles. Exhibit A: I was riding with a friend in his creaky massive ancient Oldsmobile in Bangor. He slowed to turn a corner and let out a yelp as the brake pedal went all the way to the floorboard. The only thing he could do was gear down and take the straightest course as possible. To accomplish this, we barreled our way through a few lawns. I can only imagine the conversation inside those homes. “Marge, I just saw a car drive right through the front yard.” “Merle! 3 in the afternoon and you’re drinking already!” Older cars would stall in the worst
places, such as the time my sickly blue ’65 Pontiac Bonneville tendered its resignation while making a turn at Drake and West Main. Horns honked, middle fingers pointed heavenward and voices were raised, but no one hit me. Eventually, a couple of good Samaritans pushed my heap to the old Frost’s Standard, where a team of exorcists ministered to the Bonneville. Another series of close calls could be attributed to lack of judgment. These episodes often began with the driver (sometimes me) declaring with youthful hubris, “I think we can make it through there.” “There” included standing water, snowdrifts, sand and mud. Normally, getting stranded in this way was an inconvenience. Getting stuck in a snowbank at night during a blizzard in the middle of nowhere was potentially life-threatening. Yes, it happened to me. Yes, I was the driver. Yes, I didn’t want to bang on the local farmer’s door at 3 a.m. to beg the services of his tractor and a jerk strap. Pride is always capable of overruling common sense. These vignettes of car close calls include another set of actors; law enforcement personnel. I was riding home from work with my boss when he made a detour into
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the Allegan State Game Area. He had identified a solitary picnic table near a dirt road and thought it needed a good home. I’m no legal expert, but snagging a picnic table off a roadside on state land sounded to me like “theft.” I informed him that I wouldn’t lay a cuticle on that table. In a fit of anger, he bulldogged the table into position by himself. Then we started for home, he with a satisfied smirk on his face. That smirk disappeared when we met a green DNR truck coming in the opposite direction, who got the license plate and later arranged for the safe return of the picnic table. My boss will remain unidentified, but he later became a judge in another state. One morning during a summer job, I had to be at work by 6 a.m. to open up the business. The gas gauge on that demonic Bonneville was just a hair above E. The problem was I was in Bloomingdale, the job was in Kalamazoo and (in the summer of 1974) there would be no gas stations open along the way at that time of morning. I asked my brother, a shade tree mechanic without peer, what I should do. “Drive at a steady speed of 40 to 45 mph. If that gas gauge gets too low, you’ll have to jerk the wheel to the left. That will slosh what little gas there is in the fuel
lines to the carburetor,” he advised. I crept out of the driveway and maintained the 40-45 mph range through Gobles, down D Avenue, through Alamo and then onto 131 heading south. By the time I got to the I-84 exit, the gas gauge needle was below E. It was time to start my brother’s gas sloshing maneuver, which worked just fine until I saw the flashing red light behind me. The state trooper asked me what I was driving so strangely. I told him of my brother’s surefire gas-saving tactics. “Where are you headed?” he asked. “I’m on my way to work.” “Where do you work?” “The Hudson gas station on Westnedge.” The trooper’s eye roll told me he was torn between laughing and writing me a ticket for DWBD (driving while being a doofus). Instead, he followed me to work to make sure I arrived safely. State troopers, then and now, are the soul of professionalism. Since then, I have adopted a policy of never letting my gas gauge fall below a quarter-tank. Looking back at that incident and others, I can see the ironclad cause-and-effect relationship between close calls and being a doofus.
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HEALTHYLIVING:
Go Climb a Mountain! Submitted by Vicky Kettner, Marketing Director, YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo If we’ve heard it once, we’ve heard it a thousand times: The way toward better health is to keep our bodies moving. Truth is --- when we start to lean towards a sedentary lifestyle, there are a host of health issues that can arise or exacerbate existing conditions. According to the World Health Organization, “Sedentary lifestyles increase all causes of mortality, double the risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and obesity, and increase the risks of colon cancer, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, lipid disorders, depression and anxiety.” Heavy stuff, right? The good news is that we can make lifestyle choices, incrementally, to work towards daily exercise and purposeful movement! Sure, some might be inspired to pursue training for extreme sports like running a marathon, or climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to challenge themselves. For the rest of us who are not there – it means we are challenged to identify activities that challenge us to move our limbs and bodies to stimulate blood flow, strengthen muscles, and help to keep our brains sharp. The concept of “daily exercise” may turn us off, and one may think this has to be laborious, but “keeping active” means exactly that – moving around. Bending joints. Using muscles throughout our bodies. Getting our heartrate up. It’s that simple. (It doesn’t automatically mean we have to invest in special equipment, buy techy tracking gadgets, or sign up for club memberships!) We have all we need on our persons to be successful. And so, we may not be the mountain-climbing, Marathon types. No worries! It means that we make a promise to ourselves to add something to our day that moves our body just a little bit more. Let’s be good to ourselves, and find safe space where we can add incremental, purposeful movement that simply increases our level of activity from wherever we are on the “active” spectrum. Maybe we incorporate walking up and down a set of stairs a couple times more a day? Can’t do stairs? Maybe it means adding a walk around the block each morning and pushing the pace when it becomes less challenging. Can’t walk right now? Maybe it means sitting in a chair with hand-weights and doing arm and leg lifts? Maybe all you can muster up in strength is to do a small set of arm-circles – that’s okay! Because it’s a start. It’s your challenge to overcome. And you can do this! One movement at a time: It’s your mountain to climb!
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Whatever the origin, chicken and waffles is a huge hit with eaters! Ty’s Joint on Portage Road in Kalamazoo may have a valid claim to the most delicious chicken and waffles in the country! Ty’s Joint chicken and waffles include chicken wings topped with strawberry shortcake, peach cobbler or chocolate/strawberry for a most unique, and mouth-watering, experience! The chicken and waffles are popular any time of day at Ty’s Joint, but so is the rest of the menu with offerings like Southern Fried Jumbo Catfish, Whole Wing and Colossal Shrimp, and a fried chicken breast, thigh and wing dinner. All entrees include a cornbread muffin.
Ty’s Joint By Richard Martinovich Some claim the popularity of chicken and waffles began in the supper clubs and jazz clubs of Harlem in the 1930’s. There are also accounts of the combination recipe first appearing in Pennsylvania Dutch country in the 1600’s when a plain waffle was topped with pulled stewed chicken and gravy!
for its macaroni and cheese -- the best I have ever tasted! There are chicken sandwiches, an Angus burger and a turkey burger, and a Catfish Po Boy! Ty’s Joint has anything a seafood lover could want and for group get-togethers, there are shrimp and crab “boils” that include shrimp or crab, red potatoes, corn on the cob, egg, sausage links, and a grill lemon.
Started in April in the Washington Square area of Kalamazoo, Ty’s Joint is “soul food with a twist,” and it is delicious! There are plenty of sides to compliment entrees like collard greens with turkey, fried okra, corn, candied yams, chicken with dressing, coleslaw, green beans, onion rings and fries. Ty’s Joint has already become well-known
Ty’s Joint • 1301 Portage Street • Kalamazoo
There are terrific daily specials at Ty’s Joint, a kids menu and desserts like pound cake with ice cream, and banana pudding with ice cream!
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Movie Reviews Swallow Young, pretty, newlywed “Hunter” (Haley Bennett) has carried a deeply traumatic secret that she believes she has “dealt with” until she gets pregnant and develops a psychological condition called “Pica.” This illness causes her to begin swallowing small, odd and even dangerous household objects, putting herself and her unborn baby in serious jeopardy. (Not to mention her marriage to her uptight executive husband, “Richie” and his stern, wealthy parents.) She is constantly reminded how “lucky she is” to have met him. (Austin Stowell) And pretty much that she’d be *nothing* without him. But Hunter does not feel lucky --or even remotely happy --despite the security and obvious advantages of her privileged situation and controlling mother-in-law’s advice and suggestions. Isolation and denial quickly take their toll. Chaos ensues as she spirals out of control like a drug addict who *cannot stop* regardless of the consequences. She does not know why she feels compelled to eat these dangerous objects until a forced therapy session reveals a shocking event that has shaped her entire young identity. Eventually she will bravely tear down her milquetoast facade and sacrifice her shallow marriage to face the deeply rooted guilt and shame in her past. This film has a kick- ass retro soundtrack and an intense, rather unique confrontation scene that had me riveted. Transformation comes looking for answers. Though disturbing and quite sad, I liked this film and found myself deeply caring and rooting for Hunter. Her hellish condition was relatable and hauntingly familiar.
Several interesting and well-placed characters were used as reflections to Hunter’s internal struggle. – Submitted by Angelina R.
After Life If one were to press me to name my five favorite directors presently working, I’d likely list Wes Anderson, Paul Thomas Anderson, Lee Chang-Dong, Wong Kar-Wai, and lastly, but by no means least, Hirokazu Kore-eda. The Japanese director of such masterpieces as Shoplifters and Still Walking, Koreeda’s humanistic dramas are some of the most deeply moving and sympathetic, often probing what it means to be part of the social fabric of Japan or that of a family unit. His themes may sound weighty, but Kore-eda’s masterly touch approaches the human experience with a subtle poise that always positions curiosity, humor and moral complexity at the center of these richly conceived stories. His film After Life (1998) perfectly epitomizes this vision, for it extends this empathetic approach to that of the dead. In it, the film sees recently deceased persons, caught up in limbo realm, being asked by a group of interviewers to pick a cherished moment from their life that will then be made into a film that they can take with them to the afterlife. From these interviews, we see the young and old alike, grappling with the bittersweet nature of memory, regret and pleasure. – Submitted by Ryan G. Reviews submitted by Ryan Gage. These great titles and others are available at the Kalamazoo Public Library.
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Privateers and the Pluggers. All this thanks to Stan, a retired professor from Kalamazoo College and all-around Renaissance man. He has merged his other interests by making beautiful ceramic teapots with handles of twisty bittersweet vines cleared out by the Warriors. A glaze made of buckthorn ashes, notecards with pressed autumn leaves, potluck hosting, a poem or two, Stan always leaves us wondering what he’ll come up with next. And when he shows up, he works!
WednesdayWARRIORS Salute to Stan If the photos look a little blurry it’s because Stan is always in motion. Our most energetic Wednesday Warrior continues to inspire us with his dedication and wide-ranging talents. Stan Rajnak was involved very early with the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy, a land trust committed to preserving the natural landscapes of this region. As the number of preserves grew, the monthly Saturday workdays just weren’t keeping up. Stan came up with the idea of a volunteer workday mid-week. Appealing to retirees (and one doctor who didn’t golf) the Wednesday Warriors were formed to perform various tasks of restoration, trail work, boundary posting, seed collection, actually anything that a bunch of enthusiastic individuals could pull off in a morning. After 19 years, the Warriors are still going strong, including younger people who work flexible hours, college students, and now two spin-off groups: the
He’s also a consummate recruiter. A steady stream of houseguests, friends, relatives, and colleagues have tumbled out of his car, lured by the expectation of seeing something interesting and gaining the satisfaction of doing some good work. He’s even brought his two wives (sequentially). To quote Stan, “at 85 one can still be active and do good work, even if a bit more slowly!” If you want to join our merry band and be inspired by the likes of Stan, aka Energizer Bunny, email the Conservancy at conserveland@swmlc.org and ask to get on their email list. Their website www.swmlc.org is also kept up-to-date with details of each week’s workdays. Attendance is week-by-week as your time allows. But, once you start, you may find yourself blocking out Wednesdays on your calendar! Kristi Chapman, volunteer, Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy
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OCTOBER 2021
CLOWNING AROUND TOWN By Dave Person david.r.person@gmail.com
Their ranks may be thinning, but there are still clowns around ready to clown around. You’ll find them at festivals, in parades, at corporate picnics and at children’s birthday parties. “Anytime we’re invited out into the community we just go,” says Donna Wilinski, also known as M.T. Pockets. “It’s a high, it’s a joy, it’s a joyful thing to do,” says Wilinski, who has been clowning for 31 years and is an officer of The Grand and Glorious Mid-Michigan Galaxy of Clowns Alley 44, to which Kalamazoo clowns belong.
“Jerry got me started over 50 years ago,” VanderBeek says. “Jerry did so much for everybody,” says Sharon Fulkerson, 65, a 37-year veteran of clowning whose alter ego is Jingle the Clown. “He participated in everything. Whenever you would have events he would go. He was funny. He was friendly to everybody. “He would reach out if you needed help. … Jerry was very good at helping with anything. He always had time.”
Jack VanderBeek, also an officer with Alley 44, had quite a following as he walked his invisible dog, Doggone, through Kindleberger Park during Parchment’s annual Kindleberger Summer Festival in July. VanderBeek, known as R.T. Arty when he’s clowning, holds a leash attached to a seemingly empty harness. When the children — and adults — gather round, his unseen dog performs for them, lying down, sitting and rolling over. VanderBeek, 74, says he owes a debt of gratitude to Jerry Campbell, known as Jerry the Clown, who was a regular at the Kalamazoo County Fair for many years, as well as many other local events.
So when Fulkerson, a former Alley 44 officer, heard that Campbell was in hospice care last spring, she gathered several Covid-weary Kalamazoo area clowns and paid him and his wife, Sally, a visit outside their Plainwell home. Campbell, 85, wearing his red clown nose, was thrilled, as were his family, friends and neighbors who turned out for the event.
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“I trained Donna and her daughter, Anna,” Fulkerson says.
He also was certified by McDonald’s to perform as Ronald McDonald for 18 years.
Anna Wilinski-Massano, who now lives in Argentina, was about 10 years old then, and her desire to be a clown at that tender age was what drew her mother into the fold as well.
There are about 25 clowns in Alley 44, covering all of Mid-Michigan, with about eight of them in Kalamazoo, according to VanderBeek.
Wilinski says M.T. Pockets has found herself in some unusual circumstances, for a clown. “I’ve done funeral visitations, on request of the family; I performed at a wedding — I didn’t officiate, but I did play the handbells,” she says.
Campbell died a week later. After their visit with Campbell, the clowns went to the Kalamazoo retirement village of another of their former members, Larry Loofboro, who was known as Loofy the Clown. They paraded down his street to the amusement of his neighbors. “People dressed up that hadn’t dressed up in years … but they did it for Jerry and Larry,” says Wilinski, 69, who hadn’t been in costume and makeup since before Covid started. “Those two men taught us so much,” she says. “They were our mentors, so we are indebted to them.” Mentorship is a way of life for clowns. Fulkerson says she used to camp near Decatur, where Loofboro and VanderBeek and their families also camped, and they got her interested. She ended up going to clown camp in Wisconsin to hone her skills.
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Wilinski kept the chain of recruiting new clowns going by starting a clown school through Kalamazoo Community Education in 2002. It continued for about 10 years. “Everybody in the Alley helped,” she says. “We usually had 10 or 12 folks in a class. … We ended up with six or seven really lifelong, committed clowns.” People were still reeling from the 9-11 attacks the year before, which was a big part of the reason Wilinski started the class. “The reason I did it is that we need a reason to laugh, and we don’t have enough clowns,” she says. Local clowns also formed the Alley 44 Clown Care Unit about that time with one branch entertaining patients and visitors at the West Michigan Cancer Center a couple times a month and another making monthly visits to different nursing homes in the area. VanderBeek, as R.T. Arty, has been a staple on the clown circuit for the past half century. He worked the Wine & Harvest Festival in Paw Paw for 45 years and has performed at different venues across the Midwest..
His children were involved in clowning at one time, as were Campbell’s, in addition to Wilinski’s daughter and the children of other clowns, but few of the younger generation are continuing the art of clowning. However, those who have been at it for a while show no signs of slowing down. “We’re in it for the giggles and grins and fun, and what we can do for the community,” VanderBeek says. “People have given me so much joy in my lifetime, it’s the least I can do,” Wilinski says. “It’s just another way to serve. “I’m 69, one of my best clown partners is 79, and we’re not done yet.”
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Book Reviews Book Reviews by the Portage District Library staff
How the Penguins Saved Veronica Hazel Prior Veronica McCreedy is a wealthy, crotchety and lonely octogenarian in Scotland. When she discovers that she has a long-lost grandson, Patrick, she goes to meet him. Unfortunately, the meeting goes horribly wrong. Veronica leaves thinking Patrick is lazy bum, and Patrick that his grandmother is a cold, judgmental prig. So, when Veronica decides to leave her fortune to the penguins in Antarctica and travels down there to meet the scientists studying them, Patrick figures it’s none of his business, while the scientists try to do all they can to get her to leave. However, there is more to Veronica than meets the eye, and after Patrick learns more of her history he goes to Antarctica as well. It’s possible that Patrick and Granny V might connect after all. This is a charming novel with unique, likeable characters and a lovely story of how loss, grief, hope and healing can come at any age.
Broken (in the best possible way) Jenny Lawson If you enjoy vulnerable memoirs and could use a laugh, Jenny Lawson is your girl. In her latest book, Broken (in the best possible way), Lawson delves into the challenges of chronic illness as well as the side-splitting embarrassment that results when you lose your shoe on an elevator—more than once. Cheeky and irreverent, you will find yourself nodding along as Lawson shares her stories because her brutal honesty reveals the challenges we all face. Her relatable topics include struggling to make small talk, battling insurance companies for better health care, and what to do during a rat infestation. The audiobook is read by the author who recorded it in her closet during the early days of the pandemic. You will not want to miss this one.
From Blood and Ash Jennifer L. Armentrout From Blood and Ash was the surprise GoodReads Choice 2020 winner for Best Romance. After being featured on BookTok, Jennifer Armentrout’s paranormal fantasy took off with readers around the world. The story follows Poppy, who is the Maiden—a warrior destined by the gods to live a life of solitude and never be touched. But when she gains a new personal guard named Hawke, the dueling motivations of duty and forbidden passion collide. When people start unexpectedly dying at court, Poppy realizes there may be deeper problems in her country. This novel is pure escapism. It starts slow, but the twists begin about a quarter of the way into the book and never stop. First of a series, this book is highly recommended for readers who enjoyed A Court of Thorns and Roses or Twilight.
The Duke Undone Joanna Lowell When Lucy Coover literally steps on a naked man lying unconscious in a Shoreditch alley, all she can do is find him some help before moving on—but the majestic Adonis refuses to leave her mind’s eye, and before she knows it she’s rendered his striking form on her canvas. Five months later, Anthony Philby, seventh Duke of Weston, is surprised by his own slumbering countenance looking back at him from a painting. Lowell’s prose is vivid and evocative, and issues such as class inequity, women’s rights, and alcohol addiction complement the intense on-page evolution of the love story. Some elements may be too neatly resolved, but those looking for a happy-ever-after for complex and passionate characters will be very satisfied here. A new voice in historical romance that will keep readers riveted.
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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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Showing People that Someone Cares By Bill Krasean, Senior Services, RSVP Advisory Council Volunteer When Gary Stafford was a youngster living in Morocco where his father was stationed with the United States Navy, one of his early tasks was to take out the trash. On one particular morning, he had put the trash in the bin and as he was going back inside noticed shadows in the background. “I peeked from the stairs and saw six or seven children and their family going through the trash,” he said. “I told my mom and she explained to me about people living in poverty.” Later, he started sneaking out cans of soup and other items with the trash for the children. “When mom found out, she said: ‘Keep it up.’ That memory has never left me.” Many years later he is still keeping it up. These days he volunteers with Meals on Wheels at Milestone Senior Services (previously known as Senior Services of Southwest Michigan). He uses one of his master’s degrees — this one in theology — to serve as a chaplain at Bronson Methodist Hospital, Ascension Borgess and Bronson Battle Creek. A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Gary has a second master’s degree, this one in industrial organizational psychology. He has applied his skills with a number of companies in cities around the country. In 1999, he was offered jobs in Seattle and in Kalamazoo. “My wife Christin and I went to
Seattle first and found it did not agree with our Midwestern values,” he said. “Instead, we said yes to Kalamazoo and never looked back.” He did take another job in Dallas while Christin stayed in Kalamazoo. “She really likes it here,” he said, “And I do, too.” Gary retired in 2019 and returned to Kalamazoo where, he said, “Soon, I got bored and decided to volunteer.” He quickly joined AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP – a national service program at Milestone Senior Services that connects volunteers with area organizations – and started delivering for Meals on Wheels. And he still holds fast to his memories from Morocco, sneaking pieces of candy into the meal bags. “There are places on my route where people have very little,” he said. “I hope a little chocolate will give them a reason to smile.” “My family has always had a strong faith,” he said. “We have an innate desire to serve, and it has always been important to give back.” His role as a hospital chaplain (he is also a deacon in the Catholic Church) has been especially touching during the pandemic, where there are times he cannot be at the patients’ bedsides. There have been times when he has been the last person the patient sees before they die. In one recent encounter, he was in the room with the family of a woman nearing her final hours. “I asked them to tell stories about their mother and the whole atmosphere in the room changed,” he said. “As they told stories about her life the ten-
sion in the room eased and we honored her life with our laughter.” Gary provides spiritual assistance not just to patients and their families but hospital staff as well. “Staff care is also absolutely critical during the pandemic,” he said. “Hospitals are losing staff and the work can be exhausting and emotionally draining.” “If there is any theme in my life it is to show people that someone cares.” Milestone Senior Services (previously known as Senior Services of Southwest Michigan) is an AmeriCorps Seniors grantee. AmeriCorps Seniors empowers people age 55 and older to serve their communities. RSVP helps people find a volunteer opportunity that fits their passion. There are currently opportunities in Kalamazoo County and a few in Calhoun County. Volunteers are needed with Meals on Wheels, Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes, Telephone Reassurance for Seniors, Milestone Home Repair, and more. Regular, flexible schedules available. Contact RSVP at 269-3820515 or apply to volunteer at www.milestoneseniorservices.org.
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By Keith Howard, Kalamazoo Public Library
Chester Z. “Chet” Bronson was at the forefront of American popular entertainment during its most formative years. Though he called Kalamazoo his home, Bronson’s tireless professional career took him on the road with some of the most famous names in the business before returning to Kalamazoo to play a lead role in the formation of several prominent community organizations, including the Kalamazoo Federation of Musicians, the Kalamazoo Concert Band, the Western Normal School (WMU) Orchestra, and the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. Born in Allegan County in 1857, C.Z. Bronson gained valuable musical experience at an early age from his father, a flute player at the prestigious “Old Boston” Theater. Bronson studied music in Boston at the New England Conservatory and later in Baltimore at the Peabody Institute. Chester’s first professional engagement came at the age of 17 when he joined the famous Primrose Minstrels in New York. Soon, Bronson was on the road with the likes of Patrick Gilmore and P.T. Barnum.
Chester Z. Bronson
Kalamazoo’s Beloved Bandleader After extended tours with the minstrels, Bronson joined John Philip Sousa’s band for an extensive series of concerts at the legendary 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The band spent five weeks at the Chicago World’s Fair, playing two and sometimes three concerts each day before crowds that numbered in the thousands. Sousa’s band then played a six-week run at the St. Louis Exposition, where they performed up to four concerts each day. Back in Kalamazoo, Bronson helped organize and train several local bands, including the 1894 Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, the community’s first ever professional sym-
phony. Bronson then returned to the road for several years as the bandleader for some of America’s most popular shows, including the famous Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus, the Norris & Rowe Circus, and the SellsFloto Circus. In 1914, Bronson organized and directed a second albeit brief incarnation of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. Following successful local performances, Bronson took the orchestra on the road for summer concert tours through Illinois and Wisconsin. Bronson retired from circus work in 1920 and formed a theater orchestra in Kalamazoo. A year later, Bronson was leading a series of summer band concerts in Bronson Park when
he was called upon to direct the orchestra at Western Normal School (Western Michigan University) and to direct a newly organized symphony orchestra. Given the shrewd leadership of business manager Leta Snow and Chester Bronson’s musical expertise and tireless dedication, a sustainable Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra was formed, which still thrives to this day. Bronson conducted the KSO through its first two seasons, but early in the third season he was taken ill and forced to retire. C.Z. Bronson passed away in 1926 at the age of 69. Some accounts tend to portray Chester Bronson as an itinerate circus musician; a wandering conductor “who lived in Kalamazoo during the winter and toured with the elephants and acrobats during the summer.” But Bronson’s resume reads like a Who’s Who of early entertainment professionals, and it was through his efforts that some of the organizations we so greatly value today came to be. For many, it was about public recognition, fame, and fortune, but for Chester Bronson, it seems it was always about the music. More at kpl.gov
OCTOBER 2021
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Pear Party! by Laura Kurella
Roasted Pear Muffins Prep: 30 minutes Cook: 20 minutes Total: 50 minutes Yield: 12 ROASTED PEAR PUREE * 3 large Bosc Pears * coconut oil cooking spray * 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon PEAR MUFFIN DRY INGREDIENTS * 1 large Bosc Pear, seeds removed and finely diced (skin on) * 1.5 cups white whole wheat flour * ½ cup coconut sugar * 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/8 teaspoon salt * 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon * 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger PEAR MUFFIN WET INGREDIENTS * 2 large eggs * 1/2 cup maple syrup * 1/2 cups almond milk, unsweetened * 1 teaspoon vanilla extract * 3 tablespoons melted coconut oil * 1 cup pureed roasted pears*
Roasted Pear Puree 1. Slice 3 large Bosc pears in half. Then, place pear halves on a greased baking sheet flat side up. 2. Spray pear halves with coconut oil cooking spray and pierce pears a couple of times with a fork. Then, sprinkle on some ground cinnamon. 3. Roast at 400ºF for 15 minutes flat side facing up. Then, flip pears and roast for another 10-15 minutes or until you can easily pierce them with a fork. 4. Let pears cool for 15 minutes before removing seeds and skin. Place in a high-speed blender and add 1 tablespoon of water. Blend on high until a puree has formed. This should yield around 1 cup of pear puree. Cinnamon Pear Muffins 1. First, preheat oven to 350ºF and spray a nonstick muffin tin with coconut oil cooking spray. 2. Prepare pear chunks by slicing a large pear in half. Remove the seeds and stem and finely dice. Then place into a medium bowl along with all of the other dry ingredients. Mix. 3. Place 1 cup of pear puree* (from above) into a large bowl. Then add all wet ingredients (minus the melted coconut oil) and whisk until combined. 4. Slowly add dry ingredients to wet and mix until combined. 5. Finally, add in melted coconut oil and mix one final time, making sure everything is thoroughly combined. 6. Transfer batter into muffin tin by filling each muffin about 3/4 of the way full or even close to the top. Option to sprinkle on optional nuts or rolled oats for texture. 7. Then, bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until muffins are fully cooked in the middle. For more on this and other cooking subjects, look for Laura on Facebook at LAURA KURELLA COOKS! Contact Laura at: laurakurella@yahoo.com. Check out Laura’s cookbooks, her new children’s book and more great recipes at Laurakurella.com
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Hybels
The Hybels Produce Company building at 257 S. Pitcher near East Michigan in 1986. The building was located behind what is now the Arcus Foundation and was once the Whistle Stop Restaurant. It is now a parking lot.
Hoekstra Meat Co at 3016 S. Westnedge at Whites Road in 1979. A Walgreens is located there today.
Hoekstra
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• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan • Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan to Original Medicare *In certain situations, beneficiaries can enroll in or change Medigap/Supplemental policies.
Questions to think about when reviewing your plan Miranda Pearson, LLMSW Regional MMAP Coordinator Area Agency on Aging IIIA, 311 E Alcott St., Kalamazoo Phone: 269-373-5173 www.Kalcounty.com/aaa
Medicare Open Enrollment 2022! It is that time of the year again, when Medicare beneficiaries will be able to review their current Medicare coverage, explore new plans and make certain changes. Every year Medicare makes changes to their Medicare plans, so we highly encourage beneficiaries to review their current plan to ensure that it still meets their healthcare needs. The Open Enrollment Period starts on October 15, 2021 and ends on December 7, 2021. During this time-period, you can make the follow types of changes. • Join a new Medicare Advantage Plan or Part D plan
• Have any of your prescriptions changed? • Can you afford a monthly premium? • Do all of your doctors participate in your plan’s network? • What is your plan’s star rating? • Is your pharmacy in network? • If you have retiree coverage, how will it affect a new Medicare plan? • Have you reviewed any notices that your current plan may have sent you regarding any forthcoming changes that could affect coverage of your medications or medical care? • Have your reviewed your latest “Medicare & You” handbook for the latest updates & plans available in your area?
Protect yourself from deceitful sales tactics I am sure that by now you are probably being inundated with all sorts of Medicare marketing and sales tactics to entice you to switch Medicare plans. However, did you know that there are specific federal laws and rules that regulate how insurance companies are able to market Part C and Part D
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insurance plans? Knowing these rules can help to protect you as well as assist you to make wise plan decisions. Below are some red flags of potentially dishonest behavior from plan agents and scammers. • Calling or visiting in person without expressed prior permission • Asking for your Medicare or Social Security number before providing information on their plan • Representing their plan as Medicare, Social Security, or Medicaid, or stating that Medicare prefers their plan. • Pressuring a beneficiary to enroll in their plan • Offering gifts to enroll in their plan If you experience any of the above-mentioned examples please call 1(800) MEDICARE to report the activity or call your local MMAP office (269) 373-5158 to report.
Call Your Local MMAP Office! Medicare and all of its parts can be extremely overwhelming and confusing. Thankfully, a local program, called the Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP) can help provide you with free, unbiased counseling with a certified MMAP counselor to help you navigate these complexities and to help answer any questions you may have! You can reach your local Kalamazoo County MMAP office at 269-373-5158. Outside of Kalamazoo County, you may reach MMAP by calling 1-800-803-7174.
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FROM THE
road
~ route 66, illinois ~ By Jay Newmarch
What can a Google search get you? Well, in my case, an unexpected mid-summer road trip. Having been curious about the history of Route 66 for some time, I began investigating the origins of the road from its starting point in downtown Chicago. There’s quite a bit to find online and it spurred on a desire to take that road down memory lane. At least through Illinois. We decided to start our trip from the start – a Route 66 road marker in downtown Chicago -- and wind our way down to St. Louis, traversing the entire length of Route 66 in Illinois. Route 66 started to take shape in the late 1920s with a plan to have a highway that ran from Chicago to Los Angeles. The route became increasingly popular in the ‘30s, due to the route it took through the U.S. As the Dust Bowl of the Depression era ruined farmland and farming on the plains, Route 66 became the route of choice for families headed west to California in search of agricultural jobs. With many early roads made of gravel or dirt, Route 66 became the first highway to be completely paved in 1938. The highway really took on a life of its own in the 1950s with the increase in road travel by families. The road, connecting small towns and communities along the length of its nearly 2,500 miles, became a marketer’s heaven as roadside attractions sprang up to lure travelers to stop and spend money. Some of those still remain along the route, and it was my intention to check out those along the way in Illinois. Some portions of Route 66 remain intact. Others have been gobbled up by newer highways or rerouted and abandoned. Part of my homework was to track our travels as closely as possible from our starting point in Chicago to our end point as the road crosses the Mississippi River into St. Louis. The toughest part was winding our way out of Chicago. I had our street route planned out, but it can be difficult to find intersections and make the turns when appropriate. There are signs along the way that designate Route 66, but you cannot count on having a sign to guide you at every turn. Another wildcard is that over the course of its history, Route 66 was realigned a
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number of times. We thought that once we reached Joliet we’d be home free. Well, you’ll be cruising down Route 66 and suddenly there’s a marker announcing some of these redirects. If you follow them, suddenly you’re off down a country road which will EVENTUALLY bring you back to the main route. Some of these are pretty darned rugged and narrow. One stretch in southern Illinois was a brick road through farm fields. A little Wizard of Oz-like! These reroutes are fun to see, but a workout for your suspension and my travel companion’s patience. At one point, as dusk arrived and the gas tank was below a quarter, I was banned from taking any more of these rural excursions. We spent our first afternoon in downtown Chicago, enjoying Navy Pier and a trip down the Chicago River. After a good sleep and a hearty breakfast, we were ready to find the mile marker, the official starting point of Route 66. Our route took us southwest out of Chicago through Cicero, Bolingbrook, Romeoville and into Joliet. Once you get down around Braidwood, you’re basically mirroring US-55. Most of the time, you feel like you’re on a third lane of the expressway. However, as you near the small towns, the old route takes you right through town while US-55 skirts around. It’s basically a sad example of why many of these towns have gone from boom to bust. Route 66 connected them and literally drove traffic through the towns, while the modern expressway directs traffic around and away from these towns. Along the way, we stopped to see the Gemini Giant, a large fiberglass astronaut at the entrance of Wilmington, Illinois. The Gemini Giant started life as a muffler man, but was purchased and brought to Wilmington in 1960 and retrofitted into the astronaut. The muffler in his hands was transformed into a spaceship. It became and has remained the mascot for the Launching Pad drive-in restaurant. We also saw a giant Paul Bunyan statue outside Atlanta, Illinois, that was built to hold an ax. His ax has been replaced by a giant hot dog. If you see it, you’ll notice that Paul is holding a hot dog in a manner you’ve never seen a hot dog held. We read on the marker that these “Paul Bunyans” were purchased and placed around the country. In fact, we saw another on our way back through Indiana. That Paul was holding a muffler. What I enjoyed most were the portions of Route 66, the Mother Road, that were original. You can drive on a portion of the original paved Route 66 outside Atlanta. It’s amazing to see and think how revolutionary it was to travel on a paved highway, even if it is incredibly narrow! Another section was dead man’s curve, a stretch of Route 66 that you can drive on and experience the tight corner which led to many a crash. In fact, it mentions a farmhouse that was hit over and over until the stretch of road was rerouted to eliminate the tight curve and the multitude of accidents. If you have some time on your hands and enjoy this type of history, I’d definitely recommend this for a fun, slow-paced trip. Just be open to stopping along the way whenever you see something that interests you.
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Tagging Monarchs: Delicate Work, Big Impact By Tom Springer Since monarch butterflies appear so fragile – they weigh a little less than a thumbtack – attaching anything to their papery wings looks like a bad idea. Extra baggage isn’t good for a winged insect that must fly from its Michigan summer home to its wintering ground in Mexico 2,000 miles away.
ranks of yellow goldenrod. She was joined by KNC’s Jennifer Meilinger, who coordinates the monarch tagging operation. During Thursdays in September, KNC members and residents can sign up to help KNC staff with the citizen scientist project. They learn how to catch butterflies, record their sex (easier than it sounds) and log other key details before they release the black and orange insects unharmed.
loops, dips and whirls, much like a knuckleball pitch in baseball. It takes skill and some luck to catch one on the fly. It’s best to sneak up from behind with a long-handled net as they feed on a flower. “After you catch one hold it wings together so it won’t flop around,” Spinks said. “They struggle at first, but then they calm down.” To determine sex, look for the discal cell on the monarch’s back. It’s a visible bulge that’s found in a black vein on both sides of the lower wing. Only the males have it.
Nonetheless, scientists still need KNC volunteer Ronda Spink Perhaps due to wind, the team migration data on monarchs, whose shows a monarch butterfly that tagged only three monarchs durnumbers have plummeted in recent she captured and later released ing their outing. On the best days, during a tagging operation. decades. There were 384 million east“People can learn to do they’ve tagged 20. Meanwhile, ern U.S. monarchs in 1996, yet their this at KNC, but they Jennifer Meilinger wrote down the population fell to 60 million by 2019. Now, armed with can also tag monarchs on their own,” tag numbers, date and location that a butterfly net and sheets of tiny stickers, volunteers Meilinger said. “The more monarch KNC will submit to Monarch Watch. like Ronda Spink want to help researchers find some data we have, the better.” answers. Whatever their fate, the released KNC’s Jennifer Meilinger (left) The stickers and other supplies can be monarchs will face many hardships and volunteer Ronda Spink log “This won’t hinder their flight in any way,” said Spink, ordered from the Monarch Watch webdata during monarch tagging. on their way south. Yet as nature as she affixed a tiny round tag about the size of a site at monarchwatch.org. Along with would have it, these monarchs are pea to a monarch wing. Each tag has a number and its work with monarchs, KNC also coordinates the sturdier and genetically different than the butterflies website where people can report a tagged monarch Michigan Butterfly Network. The MiBN collects vital that come north. Southern monarchs cannot make should they find one dead on its migratory route. data about butterfly populations and ecology in eight the entire trip, but must stop, feed on milkweed, and “They’ve been testing these tags for decades, so we Michigan cities and northern Indiana. raise the next generation. It can take up to five sucknow they’re safe,” Spink said. “It’s more important During their tagging operation, Spinks identified eight cessive generations before the monarchs reach the that you not have any bug spray or lotion on your other species of butterflies as they feasted on prairie prairies and backyards of Michigan. hands when you touch a butterfly. That will really wildflower nectar. Yet she was after monarchs, and Tom Springer is grants manager at the Kalamazoo harm them.” even with 30 years of experience, it was no easy task. Nature Center and author of “The Star in the SycaOn a sunny, breezy September day, Spink was scoutButterflies rarely move in a straight line; they fly in more” and “Looking for Hickories.” ing for monarchs in a KNC prairie alive with swaying
