Health FoodQ: Will Sawalls be holding drawings this summer? I recall last year there was a drawing for a washer and dryer.

A: Yes! Stop in soon to register for our monthly fun drawing or register online for June’s large wagon and then for July’s large portable ice chest! New drawing begins the first of each month... see our website for each month’s winner!

Mon.-Sat. 9-8, Sun. 10-6

Sawall Health FoodOakwood Plaza • 2965 Oakland Dr. at

Whites Rd. • 343-3619 • www.sawallhf.com

Linda SawallOwner

Funeral ServicesQ: How long does a pre-arrangement meeting usually last?A: We don’t try to influ-ence that, but often it can take about an hour, to an hour and a half. At any rate, we think it’s a good idea to set aside a couple

of hours for this meeting.Sometimes people like to come by to get acquainted, ask questions and get some basic information. Then they’ll take that home and think about it, and fol-low up with a meeting to start putting their plans down on paper.Whether you’re planning ahead for yourself or for someone else, when you pre-arrange you have the luxury of time to consider what you really want.

LaurieVanderBerg

TransitionsQ: I traveled across the state to move mom into a senior community where she could enjoy activities with her friends, but she still calls constantly to say she misses me. What can I do?

A: Call her back! Some busy adult children see senior communities as an instant “fix” for a lonely parent. They move them in, and then abdicate further emotional responsibil-ity. But the best of friends, planned activities and caring professionals cannot replace the need to connect with children and grand-children. Age renders even the most chal-lenging family relationships more precious. Make a habit of calling, skyping and visiting mom on a regular basis. Building this bond will benefit you both.

Madeleine Socia

Friendship VillageSenior Living Community1400 North Drake, Kalamazoo

(269) 381-0560www.friendshipvillagemi.com

Expert AdviceFinances

Q: How can I get an estimate of my Social Security benefits?

Douglas Drenth

A: One way to get an estimate of your future Social Security benefits is to use the benefit calculators available on the Social Security Administration’s website, www.ssa.

gov. You can estimate your retirement benefit based on your actual earnings record using the Retirement Estimator calculator, then create different scenarios based on current law that will illustrate how differ-ent earnings amounts and retirement ages will affect the benefit you receive. Other benefit calculators are also available that can help you estimate disability and survivor’s benefits. You can also sign up for a mySocial Security account so that you can view your online Social Security Statement. Your statement contains a detailed record of your earnings, as well as estimates of retirement, survivor’s, and disability benefits. It also includes other information about Social Security that will be very useful when planning for retirement.

Drenth Financial Services5659 W. Michigan, Kalamazoo

269-978-0250 • ddrenth@fscadvisor.comSecurities offered through FSC Securities Corporation, member FINRA/SIPC. Insurance services offered through Drenth Fi-nancial Services and is not affiliated with FSC. HFG Financial Group is not affiliated with FSC or registered as a broker-deal-er or a registered investment advisor. Individual situations will vary. Please contact a professional for specific advice. Entities listed here do not offer mortgage services. Prepared by Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. Copyright 2013.

RoofingQ: I hear that Sherriff Goslin Roofing uses their own unique shingle. Can you tell me more about this shingle?A: The Art Loc shingle is Sherriff-Goslin’s original patented shingle. It can be used as a re-roofing shingle

over another layer of existing shingles, or as a prima-ry 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-Butadiene-Styrene) polymer, which is used to alter the properties of asphalt, making the asphalt tougher and more flex-ible. This polymer dramatically slows down the aging process of the asphalt, providing superior waterproof-ing, 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.

Justin Reynolds Manager

Sherriff-Goslin Roofing Co.Since 1906

342-0153 800-950-1906Member Home Builders Association of Greater Kalamazoo

PharmacyQ: 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 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 Pharmacy7916 Oakland Dr at Centre St

269 324-1100 • FREE DELIVERYadvancedhealthpharmacymi.com

Arun TandonR.Ph

Langeland FamilyFuneral Homes

“Quiet dignity with compassion” has meantso much for many people... for many years.

6 locations to serve you269-343-1508 • www.langelands.com

JULY 2014 3 spark

All current and past issues can be read at swmspark.com Like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/swmspark

You are reading the 28th issue of Spark.

This publication has become very popular and I appreciate all of you support. Not a day goes by that I do not receive a call or an email telling me about an interesting person or place that may be worthy of a story.

This is what keeps me motivated.

My backbone behind the scenes has been my girlfriend, Jackie Merriam. She has been with me on most of the travel trips I write about and we spend lots of time sharing ideas.

Well, one of these ideas has recently come to fruition. Jackie has been in the newspaper business almost as long as I have and felt that it was time to give it a shot with her own publication.

Her Good News Paper hit the streets at the beginning of June and has been very well received. Each issue of the Good News Paper is meant to inspire you by highlighting the great people and places that our community has to offer.

In her initial column, she writes, “Inspiration comes in all sizes; my parents inspire me to believe in myself, my children inspire me to be fearless, my grandchildren inspire me to live in the moment, my boyfriend inspires me to reach outside of my comfort zone, my friends inspire me to be the best that I can be, and my cat inspires me to be persistent, as he is, with his relentless nudging to fill the cat dish when it gets a little low.

Pick up a copy at over 500 locations throughout the area. You wont be disap-pointed.

Sincerely,

Steve Ellis, SPARK Publisher steve@swmspark.com

from the EdITOR

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

Lee Dean: Flying the (Sometimes) Friendly Skies ... 4History: An Inspiring Visitor ...................................... 6Movie Reviews ......................................................... 7Spark Recipe: E-Z Pulled Pork ................................. 8Artist Profile: Carolyn Fink ...................................... 9Healthy Living: Healthy Grilling ..............................10History: The Fountain of Pioneers ......................... 11Spark Book Reviews ............................................... 12Amazing Tales: Play Ball! ........................................ 13Cover Story: Up a Creek with a Paddle! ............... 14

Tuesday Toolmen: Planning a Home Ramp ......... 16Volunteering: Anita Lawson ....................................17Business Profile: Papa’s Italian Sausage .................18The Blues are Back! Kalamazoo Blues Fest .......... 19Nature: Identifying Butterflies ................................20Michigan Pickers: Martin Gerber .......................... 21Sage Advice: Enjoy Summer Weather Safely ...... 22Golf: Practice with Purpose .................................. 23Tales from the Road: Saugatuck/Douglas ............. 24Pickleball is Here! ....................................................25Community Calendar ............................................ 26

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.

Editor and Publisher: Steve EllisGraphic Design: Jay Newmarch at CRE8 Design, LLC

Creativity/Photography: Lauren Ellis

Writers and Contributors Include: Area Agency on Aging, Steve Ellis, Lee Dean, Laura Kurella, Dave Person,

Kalamazoo Nature Center, Kalamazoo Parks and Recreation, Kalamazoo Public Library, Kalamazoo Valley Museum, Portage Public Library, Senior Services of Southwest Michigan , YMCA

InsIde | JULY 2014

Carolyn tolliver kayaking the Galien river.

Photo by Gary Tolliver

oN the CoVer:

Above: Front Cover of the new Good News Paper. Right: Jackie and I in one of the canyons in the

Starved Rock State Park in Illinois.

spark 4 JULY 2014

Lee A. Deanscreendoor@sbcglobal.net

Before taking the job I have now, I had not flown since before 9/11. Some things about flying

remain the same (plane ascends, plane descends) and other parts of

the experience are quite different (vastly increased security).

Some things about flying now are far better than they were,

especially the absence of smoking. Other parts are not so pleasant, such

as fewer and fuller flights.

The one constant is human behavior. Stepping onto an airliner is like opening Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates. You never know what you’ll get.

If you fly enough, you will eventually find yourself seated next to someone who would rather be in a pit of starving cobras than on an airplane. On one flight, from Min-nesota to San Diego, I had a window seat, which for me is usually an enjoyable spot. Enjoyable, that is, unless the guy seated next to you is: a) petrified of flying; b) soothing his nerves by downing as many of those little bottles of whiskey as he could procure; and c) tipping the scales at 400 pounds. When the wheels finally touched down, that big guy was the second happiest person on the plane.

Computer booking has made flying easier, with one major exception: the alleged ability to select your seats online. Put quotation marks around “select your seat,” because the good intentions of the airlines are too often

thwarted by rude passengers.

There was the time I was forced to move from my select-ed aisle seat because the woman sitting in the window seat said she needed that space to spread out her meal. There, placed on my selected seat, was what looked like a bag of grease, condiments and napkins. I could have pressed the issue, but my “victory” would have meant sitting next to a large, angry hungry person. So across the aisle I went to her original seat: a middle seat.

Then there was a recent flight from San Diego to Dallas, where my seat was taken by a three-year old. “We have to sit together,” said the mother, looking at the child and at her male companion. It wasn’t a request. It was a demand.

For the entire flight back, stuffed in (of course) a middle seat and trying to stifle my claustrophobia, I was treated to the moppet alternately screaming and talking to the male half of the couple, calling him “daddy.” This guy was 60 if he was a day, and had his gray hair tied into a very long ponytail. The mom was all of 22. The way they were talking, I could tell they weren’t father and daughter. I barely resisted the urge to ask if her name was Lolita.

This couple challenged the flight attendants at every turn, as if they were “Occupy” protestors and anyone working for the airlines represented “the 1 percent.” The attendants were patient until the mom fetched a squirm-ing chihuahua from a bag and placed it on her lap.

Still, I figure my chances of getting from Point A to Point B are better online ahead of time than trying to fly standby. With all the flights so full, standby seems like a very risky proposition. I imagine this conversation with a ticket agent:

ME: Can I get from here to Los Angeles?

AGENT (after three minutes of peering into her screen and tapping onto a keyboard): Yes, we can do that with a combination of local commuter flights. We’ll do our best to keep the number of layovers into the single digits.

ME: How long will it take to get there?

AGENT: That depends on which of our two special pack-ages you purchase, the “Oregon Trail” or the “Lewis and Clark.”

It is wise to remember that in any given situation, things could be worse. I was reminded of that on a layover in Dallas. I thought it would be wise to make one more visit to the rest room before takeoff. Then I stepped inside and heard one of the most dreadful sounds imaginable: a man throwing up everything but his dreams.

At that point, pure selfishness took over. My first thought was: what flight is he on and what seat does he have?

My second thought was: maybe I’d better do a Google search for “Greyhound.”

Flying the (sometimes) friendly skies

spark 6 JULY 2014

Kalamazoo has had its share of famous visitors, from presidents to rock stars. One who had escaped our attention is author and activist Helen Keller. Keller trav-eled extensively, giving lectures around the world, and on January 21, 1914, she made a stop in Kalamazoo. She spoke at the Congregational Church that evening, and the Kalamazoo Gazette reported, “Miss Helen Keller, the wonder of the age, entertained and delighted an audience of nearly 2,000 people...” She was accom-panied by her teacher, Anne Sullivan Macy.

While the newspaper reported the visit of pupil and teacher, the personal reminiscences of 18-year-old Claire Wight of Kalamazoo provide a more intimate look at that lecture and Miss Keller. In her diary*, Claire writes:

“This evening I have witnessed the most wonderful thing I have ever seen in my whole life. I heard Helen Keller lecture.

Mother and I didn’t decide to go until the last minute then I

whized [sic] Mother out of the house and down there before she knew it. Of course every seat in the house was sold long ago and we had no tickets but that made no difference, I was determined to see her.

First her teacher Mrs. Macy a wonderful woman lectured on how she had trained and educated Helen. It was a marvelous thing how the child could associate words with objects then of how she learned not only to convey her thoughts by her hands but by her tongue. Of the years of patient practice of feeling the shape of the tongue, throat, and lips in the various words. Of her wonderful preserver-ance [sic] and patience and of her winning a degree from Radcliffe & Harvard College.

[Helen] was dressed beautifully in white and a beauti-ful bunch of roses was handed up to her...Her face is animated and happy and after you become accustomed to her strange voice you grow to love her. She is so sweet and loveble [sic] and yet so intelligent, why she knows five times more than I do with all my senses. It just made me ashamed of my laziness to think that I don’t begin to use my powers.”

Helen made quite an impact on Claire, as she must have on many others in the audience. The next day, Sunday, Claire simply writes,

“This [afternoon] I slept and Helen Keller haunted my dreams.”

museON. Reprinted with permission from the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. The museum is operated by Kalamazoo Valley Community College and is governed by its Board of Trustees. For more informa-tion about the museum visit www.kalamazoomuseum.org.

An Inspiring VisitorHelen Keller,

Most Interesting Woman in World, Coming to Kazoo

Helen Keller was born in Alabama in 1880 and at the age of 19 months

contracted a severe fever that left her blind and deaf. Her parents met the

challenge of raising their daughter by hiring teacher Anne Sullivan, a graduate of Perkins School for the Blind in Mas-sachusetts. Sullivan worked miracles

with the little girl, helping her to com-municate and eventually to speak. At 20, Helen entered Radcliffe College, gradu-

ating cum laude in 1904. She became an activist for people with disabilities, supported the suffragette movement,

and spoke against child labor.

JULY 2014 7 spark

These Birds WalkThese Birds Walk is an un-sanitized, visceral portrait of poverty, despair and the day-to-

day struggles of an ambulance driver who ferries the dead to their final resting places as well as transporting young runaways back to their fami-lies. Set in a Karachi orphanage for unwanted and runaway children, the filmmakers have chosen to chronicle their subjects without contextualizing or grounding the film in exposition. This approach to the subject forces the viewer to become a voyeuristic fly on the wall of the orphanage, observ-ing the young boys as they play, fight, laugh and confess the hopelessness of their lives. Viewers are also taken on a bumpy, chaotic ride through the busy streets of Karachi with an ambulance driver who works for the orphanage and who compassionately communi-cates with the young boys. He’s able to sympathize with their struggles and fears because he too was once in the same situation. It’s easy to under-stand from simply reading the depth of anguish on the faces of these chil-dren, how one living in these kinds of inhumane circumstances could be seduced by criminality or religious extremism. Their options are limited and they are under no illusions about their life’s likely trajectory. As grim a depiction of contemporary poverty as the film is, there are moments, albeit brief, where we glimpse a beautiful sunset and the power of kindness.

The Armstrong LieIn 2009, documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney (Catching Fire, Taxi to

the Darkside) set out to chronicle the comeback of 7-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. Unbeknownst to Gibney, history was about to be re-written in 2013, forcing Gibney to shelve the project as Armstrong’s legal woes grew and the public’s trust in his well-insulated fraud began to erode. The doping al-legations and assertions that Arm-strong and his cycling teams were systematically cheating had dogged Armstrong throughout his career finally forced the face of cycling and cancer fighting philanthropy to publi-cally admit to cheating during his run as Tour champion--doing so last year

on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Gibney scrapped his original plan for the film and re-worked The Armstrong Lie into a fascinating examination of Armstrong’s storybook ascent to icon status and his Shakespearean fall from grace. Cycling fans will love the insider information about the sport’s well documented history of cheating and scandal but the film will also appeal to viewers interested in the psychological deconstruction of a man who had built an empire of phi-lanthropy and unparalleled athletic success, but in doing so, ruined his reputation and tarnished the sport of cycling forever. Armstrong apologists, if any exist, will have a difficult time in justifying the means of trickery that Armstrong implemented in order to obtain his end results. This isn’t just a great piece of schadenfreude but also an engaging study on the power of celebrity, money and the addiction to win at all cost.

BurnBurn is an exhilarat-ing documentary that takes viewers inside the everyday lives of Detroit firefighters, as they con-

front the enormously dangerous task of stamping out the city’s ceaseless torrent of burning buildings, many of which are the result of arson. The film also explores the tensions within city government and how firefight-ing services are impacted by Detroit’s dwindling resources, financial woes and political infighting. It’s a great film that is packed with humor, drama and genuine heroism.

The War70 years ago, one of World War II’s most significant battles was the U.S. led D-Day, the day in which thou-

sands of Allied soldiers crossed the English Channel to invade German occupied France. There’s certainly no shortage of informational resources on this topic but if you’re a WWII buff or simply want to know more about this important day in the fight against Nazi Germany, check out The War by Americana documentarian Ken Burns. This is my favorite film of Burns and his most emotionally resonant. Soldiers who were there, storming the beaches of Normandy, recount with unfiltered descriptions, the horrors, heroism, and blunders that they experienced on that fate-ful day and in doing so, provide an un-romanticized version of their sacrifice. It’s Burn’s most stirring documentary and one that is required viewing for those interested in World War II.

Reviews by Ryan Gage, Kalamazoo Pub-lic Library. These great titles are avail-able from the Kalamazoo Public Library.

MovieReviews

spark 8 JULY 2014

by Laura Kurella

For more on this and other cooking subjects, look for Laura on Facebook at LAURA KURELLA COOKS! Contact Laura at: laurakurella@yahoo.com . For more great recipes, visit laurakurella.com. Laura is host of Radio Recipes- a LIVE show that airs Tues. mornings at 7:15 am (EST) at 99.3 FM - True Oldies radio

E-Z Pulled Pork

Put roast in a roasting pan or Crockpot. Combine remaining ingredients in a medium bowl, stirring well then pour mixture over roast. Cover and bake (or crock) at 325 degrees for 6-8 hours or until meat is fork tender. Remove from heat and let stand, covered for 20 minutes. Remove roast from sauce then remove meat from bone and chop up. Skim fat from sauce and discard. Return chopped meat to sauce. Cover and cook at 325 degrees for 15 minutes or until heated through.

Servings per recipe: 8. Per serving: Calories 566; Fat 37g; Carbohydrate 15g; Fiber 0.8g; Sugars 11g; Protein 41g.

5 pounds pork butt1 large onion, chopped1 1/2 cups water1 cup vinegar1/2 cup ketchup1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce

3 tablespoons brown sugar2 tablespoons dry mustard1 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Surveys say that the 4th of July is our nation’s favorite holiday. We should spend the holiday relaxing, not fretting over food, especially when it’s hot outside! I suggest cooking up something that is not only delightfully delicious but also easy and eco-nomical enough to serve to an entire crowd, like pulled pork!

Some butchers offer shoulders divided into two smaller cuts: the picnic and the butt. Butts have less bone than the picnic but both cuts will weigh about 6 to 8 pounds, with the picnic coming with or without a bone. However, experts say that meat nearest the bone is the sweetest so it’s best to buy it bone-in.

Pork shoulder does need a low temperature at a slow cooking pace to offer up its best flavor and there are many ways to achieve this easily, especially when you have several different cooking methods at your disposal, such as an electric smoker, a low temperature oven or even a Crockpot. All these devices can give pork shoulder it’s time – so you don’t have to!

This Party Pleaser PullsIt’s Own Weight!

JULY 2014 9 spark

Carolyn studied at Kendall College of Art and Design and received her Bach-elor’s in Advertising Design. She has been working ever since in either an agency office or as a freelance graphics designer. As this work is pretty much all done on computer, Carolyn wanted to try out her skills in other hands-on type art media.

In 2004, a tiny Smartshop welding classes ad caught her eye, but she had to wait a year before being able to

start. This class was the beginning of some beautiful friendships. With the encouragement and support from her welding friends and instructor, Caro-lyn learned more and began to show her work in a few local galleries. In 2006 she received the Emerging Artist Grant from the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo and had her first show.

Her creation process of each piece involves spending quite some time selecting exactly which found ob-jects (scrap steel) to use. Scrap pieces of metal do not randomly just “go together”. There is much swapping around till just the right combination is discovered. Working with found objects usually means the art will be one of a kind. A unique experience every time a new sculpture is created, most cannot

be recreated. Carolyn gets inspiration from the world around her: her friends, nature, and research. Growth and skill come with hours worked and she wants to develop a unique style and look that is professional and all her own.

Carolyn loves to make art. There was a brief return to a “real job”. It paid well, there were super benefits and 40-70 hours of consistent but not really art-related work. But when she realized she had only 4 hours of studio time per week (usually less) and that was not even every week… a chunk of her heart died. The cure was to get a part time graphics design job in a small agency and spend 1-2 entire days in the studio and join the Signature Artists group of Kalamazoo. Then, a few years later she started teaching at the Kalamazoo

Institute of Arts, too. With the active support from her dear husband, Ross, she continues to work and exploring this media to find her unique artistic voice.

You can contact Carolyn Fink at

carolynrfink@sbcglobal.netcarolynfink.com

FOund ObjEcTsMake Each of

carolyn Fink’s Art PiecesA unique Experience

spark 10 JULY 2014

HEALTHY LIVING:

Warm weather as the summer continues often means firing up that grill! Here are some healthy tips and foods to try to grill this summer.

MeatsWhen grilling meat, try not to char, or burn, it too much. The char has compounds in it that may contribute to certain cancers. To grill meat safely and healthily, choose lean cuts of beef, pork, lamb and poultry. Lean cuts of meat typically have less fat, no skin, or marbelization (white speckles throughout beef).

Tips:• Trim the fat and remove the skin before you cook• Marinades add flavor and reduce charring• Don’t handle the meat with the same tongs/spatula when the meat is raw or un-dercooked as when it’s done or being removed from the grill

FruitsFruits are great on the grill and can be a perfect substitution for a high-calorie des-sert. Grilling fruits releases their natural sugars and helps create a caramelized crust that is delicious.

Try some of these fruits on the grill this year:

HealthyTips:• Choose fruit that is in season to get the added benefit of freshness and savings• Substitute your grilled fruit for your dessert to reduce calories.

VegetablesVegetables are naturally low in fat and calories and don’t form the same dangerous chemicals as meat when they are grilled. Try a few of these vegetables on your grill this summer.

Try some of these vegetables on the grill this year:

Tips for cooking healthy vegetables:• Drizzle with canola or olive oil• Salt and pepper to taste • Grill until tender (about 5 minutes per side)

Food safety is extremely important when grilling foods. Make sure to cook your meats thoroughly to pro-tect you, your family and friends from illness. Be sure to not leave food out at room temperature for long periods of time.

Safe cooking temperatures:Beef/Lamb/Fish/Pork 145Ground Meats 160Poultry 165

Make sure to use a thermometer – you can’t eyeball a temperature.

By Gregory Stacey RD and Lexie Jackson MS, RDN, CDEwww.kzooymca.org

Grilling

• Pineapple• Peaches• Bananas

• Watermelon• Apples• Avocado

• Bell peppers• Yellow squash• Mushrooms• Red onions

• Asparagus• Romaine lettuce• Eggplant• Beets

JULY 2014 11 spark

In the 1930’s, the Kalamazoo Business and Professional Women’s Club, a civic-minded group of women, with a vision of a more beautiful city, sponsored a contest for a new Bronson Park fountain. The $250 first prize was won by Marcelline Gougler, a University of Illinois art instructor who had studied under well-known sculp-tor Alfonso Iannelli.

When Gougler ‘s design was judged to have mechani-cal problems, Iannelli, a native of Italy and some-times collaborator with Frank Lloyd Wright and other architects, was called in to consult. He designed a completely new fountain. The foun-tain was constructed in 1939 and dedicated on June 6, 1940. The cost was approximately $37,000.

The Fountain of the Pioneers, which occupies much of the east central portion of the park, depicts a west-ward facing settler facing an Indian in full headdress who actually stands outside the fountain. Together the pair forms a “tower” at the west end of the fountain. A decorative parapet to the east of the tower conceals the sprayers, pipes and other equipment.

In a 1940 statement prepared for the Kalamazoo Public Library, Iannelli stated that “the scheme of the fountain conveys the advance of the pioneers and the generations that follow, showing the movement

westward, culminating in the tower-symbol of the pioneer while the Indian is shown in a posture of noble resistance, yet being absorbed as the white man advances; the pattern of the parapet rail indicates the rich vegetation and produce of the land.”

A reflecting pool to the west balances the sculptural elements in the east pool. To celebrate the nation’s bicentennial in 1976, local artist Kirk Newman installed a series of life-size bronze sculptures of local school children in the reflecting pool.

In common with many pieces of public art, the fountain is no stranger to controver-sy. Before it was even formally dedicated, B. L. Gilbert, then City Parks Superintendent, wrote to Iannelli that public opinion was “not generally compli-mentary.

Opponents of the work have deemed it racist,

“horrendous,” “a monument to mistreatment,” even “evil.” The figure of the Indian is sometimes described as “kneeling,” although even a casual examination makes it clear that it is not, but simply standing at a lower level than the pioneer. Supporters have main-tained that erasing the past does not change it, and wish to keep the fountain intact both as a reminder of the less than shining moments in our history, and as an example of the work of a prominent artist.

The Fountain of the Pioneers is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Bronson Park Historic District.

Story courtesy of Kalamazoo Public Library. More local history stories and photos at kpl.gov/local-history

The Fountain of the Pioneers

spark 12 JULY 2014

Keep Calm and Carry a Big drink by Kim Gruenen-felder

The third of a group of novels that started with Mis-ery Loves Cabernet and continued with There’s Cake in My Future, this book is an excellent exemplar of the chick lit genus, bridesmaid angst spe-cies. It begins as Melissa, a perpetually almost-laid-off math teacher, attends the wedding of Seema, one of her two

best friends, and gets back in touch with Seema’s unbelievably hot brother Jay. Since Melissa is now the only one of the three best friends yet unmarried, she feels some pressure to make her time with her college roommate’s broth-er, a long term crush, into a happy-ever-after. Of course, the course of love ne’er did run smooth, and Melissa starts re-evaluating her childhood dreams of where she should be right now versus what is meaningful for the 33 year old Mel. Read this with an accompaniment of tall, fruity rum drinks.

A Fine Romance: Falling in love with the english Countryside by Susan Branch

A Fine Romance is a perfect fit for the armchair traveler. It could almost be described as a cozy graphic novel with Susan’s photos and drawings on almost every page. The book is a journal that Susan Branch kept when she and her husband Joe sailed on the Queen Mary 2 to England to see National Trust houses, gar-dens, churches, pubs, tearooms and even a circus. They travel through the Cotswolds, the Peak District and the Lake District, through hill and dale, through hedgerows and ancient footpaths. A few places they visit include homes of famous writers like Beatrix Potter, William Wordsworth and Jane Austen. They stop at friendly pubs and tearooms along the way, eating gingerbread here and drinking pear cider there. Susan also describes the celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee while they were there, buntings and all. Driving on the other side of the road is one of the only challenges they face. The author scatters little sayings she has gathered

throughout the book that make it charming.

Archetype by M. D. Waters

It is guaranteed that you will not be able to put

this book down. Expert, suspenseful writing entices the reader to figure out what is really happening with Emma. She has everything a woman could want: a loving and attentive hus-band, a private place where she can explore her creativity, and money. So why does she continue to have these disturbing dreams about another woman and her life of war, camps, and a different man? Once you think you have the plot figured out, Waters throws another twist in just to make it interesting. A must read for any fans of suspense, sci-fi, and dystopian themes.

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.

Book Reviews by the Portage District Library staff

Book Reviews

JULY 2014 13 spark

House of David offers Babe $20,000Babe Ruth has been offered $20,000 to finish the season with the House of David baseball team. The barnstorming team is headquartered in Benton Harbor. The offer was confirmed by manager, Tom Baird.

June 5, 1935

Excitement Kills Opening Day Fan Harry Helleston, 65 year old baseball fan from Jersey City came to New York to attend the home opener between the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers at the Polo grounds. Helleston dropped dead in his grandstand seat just as the first ball was about to be pitched. Examining physicians stated that the excitement precipitated a fatal heart attack.

April 15, 1936

Dizzy Dean Expects Big ContractDizzy Dean, star pitcher of the St Louis Cardinals, is expected to talk contract in the six-figure range on Tuesday with his boss, Sam Bre-adon, president of the team. Dizzy was paid only $7000 in 1934 and his brother Paul, only $3,000. Dizzy and Paul got together Monday, for what was billed as a friendly chat. Dizzy is asking for a three year contract for $100,000. The Dean Brothers are just back from a barnstorming tour and plan to head to their home in Florida after the contract talks.

November 6, 1934

World Champs to Visit KalamazooThe Detroit Tigers fresh from winning their first World championship on Monday against the Chicago Cubs, will be sending several of their stars on a barnstorming tour around the state. The Kalamazoo baseball season will come to a glorious close on Thursday when Tommy Bridges, Charley Gehringer and Schoolboy Rowe come to town. The Tiger’s will play for the industrial league champion Southerland Papers in an exhibi-tion match against the Parchment semi-pro club in a game at 4:15pm at Kindleberger Park. Schoolboy Rowe will pitch for the Southerland team against Lefty Brandt of the Parchment team.

October 9, 1934

I am fascinated with quirky old stories, and over the years, working in the newspaper industry,

I have accumulated more than 500 of these little gems. This is the latest installment in a series, with more to come in future issues of Spark.

{ { PLAY BALL!

spark 14 JULY 2014

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

The call of the water is irresistible to Carolyn Tolliver.

“I love the water. I grew up on the water — Long Island — so it’s in my blood,” she says. “My parents moved to South Florida on the ocean so I got to continue my thrill of being on the water.”

For more than a quarter century, she and her husband, Gary, have lived in the Kalamazoo area, where they joined the Kalamazoo Downstreamers Canoe Club so they would have someone with whom to canoe the waterways of Michigan.

Their occasional river trips weren’t enough for Carolyn, however, so about a dozen years ago she started kayaking, which has opened up a whole new world to her.

She is part of two groups who enjoy kayaking on local lakes, so she is out in her boat a couple of times a week in nice weather.

“When most of us worked we went around here, Barton Lake, Long Lake, Austin Lake, Sugarloaf — that’s my favorite,” says Tolliver, 70, who has been retired from her job with Auto-Owners Insurance Co. for four years.

Now they sometimes venture farther away.

Tolliver says lake kayaking doesn’t take as much time as river kayaking.

“A lot of times you don’t have a lot of time and shuttling can be a problem,” the Por-tage resident says. “We just say, ‘Meet you at such and such a lake at 6 o’clock’ and everybody’s there.”

Tolliver first bought a recreational kayak — which she still uses to teach others how to paddle — then a sea kayak, and since then has added two more sea kayaks to her stable of boats.

She also has become a regular at the Ladies of the Lake Sea Kayak Symposium held each August on Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula.

“They get instructors from all over the country,” she says. “You go for four days, camp out, and it’s only for ladies. … It’s terrific.”

There are also many learning opportunities closer to Kalamazoo.

For example, there is the West Michigan Coastal Kayakers Association that has top-notch instructors, she says.

For someone getting into kayaking for the first time, Lee’s Adventure Sports in Por-tage has Demo Days in which people can try out different boats on Long Lake to see

WITH A PADDLE!UP A CREEK...

JULY 2014 15 spark

what works best for them.

“You have to know what kind of water you’re planning to paddle; that determines what kind of boat you’re going to get,” Tolliver says.

Once in Lake Superior, for example, she took the wrong kayak out for the high-wave conditions on the lake.

“I wasn’t used to my new boat and I found out my boat was too squirrelly,” she says. “I went back to shore, got the other one and went right back out.”

She says people need to overcome a fear of tipping over and being stuck underwa-ter. If a kayak tips and the kayaker can’t turn it upright, he or she can easily get out.

But it’s important for kayakers to know their limits, too, and not try to paddle in water that is too challenging for their ability level, she says.

Tolliver says women have a natural advantage when it comes to kayaking.

“Women have a lower center of gravity and that makes you more stable in the boat,” she says.

There also are other advan-tages.

“Ladies like kayaking because they (kayaks) are so much lighter (than canoes) and you can handle them so much bet-ter by yourself. … I use a lot less energy and the neat thing about kayaking is you can go in a lot more wind and waves.

“I like the fact you are inside the boat and you’ve got a spray skirt that keeps the water from getting on you. … I like the security of it.”

That’s not to say Tolliver hasn’t had challenges, such as last November when she became entangled in a “strainer” — tree branches hanging in the river’s current.

“I was on the Kalamazoo River and got caught in one and tipped over,” she says. “I thought I was going to get around it but I didn’t.”

“I was lucky that I wasn’t submerged. … They are dangerous because it’s deep water and there’s fast water underneath.”

“I was with experienced paddlers who calmly helped me right the boat and pull it and me over the mess to safety,” she says. “Paddling with one or two buddies is very important, especially in cold, fast-moving water.”

The Tollivers have two daughters, one in California and the other in Pennsylvania, and two grandchildren that Carolyn introduced to kayaking a couple of years ago.

“My youngest just loved it. She was about 5 and she was just tooling around in it,” Tolliver says.

Love for the water is a legacy that Tolliver hopes to pass on to them.

“There’s just that wonderful smell and feel of the water and the way it moves under you,” she says. “That’s what I love about it.”

Photos by Gary Tolliver

“There’s just that wonderful smell and feel of the water and the way it moves under you, that’s what I love about it.”

Carolyn Tolliver

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spark 16 JULY 2014

Planning a Home Ramp Ramps are a very practical solution for accessing a home should the need arise. This applies to individuals in wheelchairs and anyone having difficulty climbing stairs such as people with severe arthritis, knee prob-lems and those who use walkers or canes. To be safe and most effective, ramps should be considered with a few guidelines in mind. Although there are many factors and regulations to consider when having a ramp built, this article is intended to serve as “food for thought” or an introduction on basic ramp knowledge. Always check with your local building inspector for code compliance in your area.

Is a ramp the best solution? There may be alternative options that will meet the needs better for all involved. Sometimes a new set of long-tread low-rise steps could be built for individuals using walkers, crutches or canes. Maybe a lifting device or elevator system can be used in place of building a ramp. Consider the length of time an accessible solution is needed. If it is for a short period of time, consider renting an aluminum ramp system or it may be more cost effective to consider alter-nate living arrangements.

Consideration Points:• Who will be the primary user? What are their needs and limitations?• What type of assistive device does that person use? Wheelchair, scooter, walker etc.• Will their abilities change? Is their health expected to decline or rehabilitate.• Will they use the ramp independently or with help? • Which entry way is best for the ramp? Consider the inside as well. Narrow doors,

hallways or steps can prevent access. • Swing of door and door handle positioning. A 36 inch doorway that swings away

from the approach is ideal.• Is there an attached garage the ramp could be placed in?• How will the ramp affect available yard space?• Are there barriers such as trees, shrubs, fencing etc?• What are local zoning requirements for lot lines and set-backs? Are you in a Historic

District?• What will the cost be? Is there help available for financial assistance?

Slope: Slope is the term used when describing how steep a ramp is. The slope is extremely important because it will affect the difficulty of traveling up and down the ramp. If the slope is too steep, not only will the ramp be difficult to use it will also be unsafe. A gentle slope will have less resistance for wheeling or walking on the ramp. The 1 to 12 slope should be viewed as the steepest angle built on a ramp and is the maximum slope recommended by A.D.A. standards (American Disability Act.) The most restrictive dimension of a properly built ramp is almost always the overall length. To plan for a 1 inch drop per foot of ramp (1:12 slope) first measure the height from ground level up to the doorway’s threshold. For every inch of height, you will require at least a foot of sloped ramp. For instance, if the measurement from the ground to the door’s threshold reads 36 inches high; you will need 36 Feet of sloping ramp, not taking into account the ground grade where the ramp will end (Could be higher or lower.) Also, you may require level landings or rest points along the ramp depending on length and layout design. A ramp can only continue to slope up to 30 feet, at which point a level landing or resting point is required. If the ramp turns 45 degrees or 180 degrees, you will also require a level landing. As you can see, a properly built ramp which adheres to A.D.A. standards can be a rather large investment and a substantially sized structure. Given the available space required, sometimes a ramp can be configured straight, with turns or may not be a practical application at all due to space constraints. Whatever your needs may be, I would recommend consulting with a professional to get additional information and weigh your options. Now that you have a little knowledge about accessible ramps, it is an excellent start!

Brian Penny is the Program Manager for the Home Repair Dept. at Senior Services of Southwest Michigan and the volunteer coordinator for the Tuesday Toolmen

toolmen tuesday

By Brian Penny

JULY 2014 17 spark

New Residents Welcome!Crosstown Parkway Senior Apartments

550 W. Crosstown Pkwy. Kalamazoo 344-3968Professionally Managed by Medallion Management, Inc.

TTY 800-649-3777

Apartments- Immediate Occupancy- 1 Bedroom Apartments for 62 years and up. - Gas and electric included. - New countertops and oak cabinets, plus new appliances.- Rent based on 30% of income.- In-house medical alert system. Community Health Directions services on site. - Small Pets welcome with deposit.- Free heat

RENT BASEDON INCOME

“Just imagine,” says Anita Lawson, a retired Otsego High School librarian, “being able to retire and continue with your love of books and your love of dogs.” No imagination neces-sary. That’s the delightful reality of life after retirement for Anita, who spends time every week taking her beloved dogs Bailey and Darby to the Kalamazoo Public Library and other places where she invites kids to read to her book-loving pets.

“Bailey and Darby are the volunteers. I’m the facilitator,” said Anita, 62. Bailey is the veteran, well known for the Reading with Bailey Program at the Kalamazoo Public Library downtown branch. Darby, about 11 years Bai-ley’s junior, is an up-and-comer beloved for his calm disposition and love of affection. Although she has been doing the reading project for six years, in 2012 Anita joined RSVP – Your Invitation to Volunteer, a national service program of Senior Servic-es of Southwest Michigan that connects volunteers with area organizations. The decision allowed her to expand the reading program to sites that now includes the Oakwood Neighbor-hood Association, Communities in Schools of Kalamazoo as well as Edison Elementary and KPL branches. She and her dogs also help with the annual RSVP pet food drive.

Bailey has the canine equivalent of a bachelor’s degree -- a certificate from Ther-apy Dogs International -- while Darby is a Canine Good Citizen. “I love taking the dogs and having children read to them,” Anita said. “Darby is especially non-threatening. He sits quietly in their laps while the kids read to him. The reading program gave Bailey a purpose. When we go to read they wear a work collar and when I get out the work collar, they both get so excited. Most time, however, I just

take one dog.” Anita and her neighbor and friend Jeanne Church, who is also an RSVP Volunteer, often serve together with their dogs. Jeanne’s two pets are also therapy dogs.

“It’s really cool once you get the kids to

start reading to the dogs,” she said. “After a while they don’t care if I’m there or not. At the Oshtemo library branch one time a little girl came and read two books to Bailey. Afterwards, the mother asked me if her daughter had read out loud. I said yes. She was amazed. The little girl never had read out loud at home.”

“Some of the kids practice reading a book at home so they can read to the dogs. One girl even wrote a story just to read to Bailey.” The rewards are multiple, Anita said. Not only does she get to see kids enjoying books but is delighted when a child asks if they can take a book home with them. “Of course they can take the book home,” she said. “It’s a library. What better reward is there than seeing a child learn to love books.” Information about RSVP and volunteer opportunities is available from RSVP Director Tracie Wheeler at Senior Services of Southwest Michigan, 269-382-0515.

Volunteering: By Bill Krasean RSVP Advisory Council Volunteer

Reading to Dogs Brings Joy to Kids and this Volunteer

spark 18 JULY 2014

Carl Rizzuto spent many years driving a truck for the old Redwood and Ross Clothing Compa-ny. This gave him a lot of time to think about his dreams and what he really wanted to do.

His father had a great sausage recipe and they be-came very popular at weddings and other events around town

In the summers of 1981 and 1982, Carl took father’s sausage recipe and took several dozen sausages to the Art Fair at Milham Park. They completely sold out in 3-4 hours

In 1984, he opened his first retail lo-cation in Parchment on Riverview Drive and a second in 1987 on Por-tage Rd where Summer Thyme Café is now located.

He closed these locations and opened his present location on King Highway in 1993.

Carl is a very busy man. He

runs the concessions at the Versluis/Dickenson Softball Complex, the indoor farmers market and Bingo Hall on Bank St and can be seen at the Bank Street Farmers Market every Saturday.

Some of his favorite menu items include his Pa-pa’s Italian Beef Sandwich, The Bella Supreme and Uncle Vito’s Platter. He also has great subs, hot dogs and pasta dishes.

Carl says that the best part of his job is all of the people he meets. If you have never met Carl or tried one of his great sausages, you don’t know what you are missing.

Above: Carl Rizzuto on location behind the grill

at the Bank St. Farmers Market!

1219 King Highway, Kalamazoo • 269 373-5707 • papasitaliansausage.comMonday-Friday 10am-4pm

{ Business Profile }Papa’s Italian Sausage

JULY 2014 19 spark

by Laura Kurella

Mark your calendars now…the 21st Annual Kalamazoo Blues Festival is coming to the Arcadia Festival Site on July 10, 11 & 12, 2014!

Once again there will be three days filled with 23 acts taking place on two stages so the music will virtually never end!

What’s remarkable is that this fest contin-ues to keep their ticket prices rock-bottom. With kids admission free and adult daily admission at $5 for Thursday, $10 for Friday and just $12 for Saturday, there is virtually n where else you can go for such great enter-tainment at such a low price!

The fest will offer educational activities for adults all weekend long and activities for children on Saturday and the midway will be filled with all the marvelous eats that fest-goers have come to know and love, and will

include a beer pavilion.

Whether this will be your first or your 21st annual blues festival, you’re in for a treat. With acts as diverse as piano sensation Marcia Ball and seasoned performers like Tinsley Ellis and Coco Montoya, there will also be electrifying singer/songwriter Dana Fuchs and up and comers like Brandon Santini.

The three-day celebration will also feature a lively sampling of local and regional acts, too!

“Our fest is a mix of blues music, culture, and history,” said KVBA member Colleen Barker. “It offers continuous performances on two stages, a variety of free workshops covering topics such as guitar and harmonica techniques, slide guitar secrets and homemade instruments, a large children’s activity area, a great selection of blues-re-lated merchandise, a shade tent for those hot July days and a wide variety of food and drink vendors. Plus, for the second year in a row, the price of an advance weekend pass includes entrance into the very popular post-festival blues jam, held Thursday night at the 411 Club.”

The Kalamazoo Blues Festival is presented by the Kalamazoo Valley Blues Association, which was created more than two de-cades ago by a group of dedicated music lovers for the express purpose of putting on a festival. Staffed entirely by volunteers, the festival is rated highly by performers and attendees alike, and has earned the right to be known as “the best blues festival in the Midwest.”

The cost of an advance weekend pass will be $20, which represents a $12 savings over the total price of daily tickets for all events. Daily festival ticket prices will be $5 for Thursday night, $10 for Friday night, and $12 for Saturday; the Thursday night jam will be $5 at the door.

The Blues are back!

WHAT: 21st Annual Kalamazoo Blues Fest

WHEN: July 10, 11, 12, 2014

WHERE: Arcadia Creek Festival Place, Edwards Ave, Kalamazoo, MI

COST: Adult Advance Weekend Pass $20. Daily admission: Thursday/$5; Friday/$10; Saturday/$12Children are free.

CONTACT: www.KVBA.org

The Kalamazoo Valley Blues Association’s 21st annual Blues Fest will feature headliner, Coco Montoya, an award-winning American Blues guitar and vocal artist with a style described as modern electric blues and soul that is “Icy-hot!”

Photo: Provided by ????

2014 Kalamazoo Blues FestivalOfficial Lineup

Thursday, July 10: gates open at 4:30 p.m.

Friday, July 11: gates open at 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 12: gates open at 11:30 a.m.

5:00 SneakyPete

5:55 Big Trouble

6:50 Big Boss Blues Band

7:45 The Jimmys

9:05 Brandon Santini

10:30 Blues Jam (at the 411 Club)

5:00 Stan Budzynski

6:00 Steve Hilger Band

7:00 Dana Fuchs

8:30 Lionel Young Band

10:00 Marcia Ball

11:35 Crossroads Resurrection

11:40 Too Left Feet

12:15 The Blues Shed

1:10 The Angelo Santelli Band

2:05 SWB

3:00 Fifi & The Dogs

3:55 Gee Daddy’s Big Blues Review

4:50 Out of Favor Boys

5:45 Tweed Funk

7:00 Albert Castiglia

8:25 Tinsley Ellis

10:00 Coco Montoya

11:35 Seventh Son

spark 20 JULY 2014

Many species of butterfly can be seen in the height of summer. Although Michigan boasts a high diversity of species that exist in an array of habitats, many go unnoticed. The reason that so many go unnoticed is the fact that many people are not looking or don’t have a “search image.” The Kalamazoo Nature Center co-ordinates a State-wide butterfly monitoring project called the Michigan Butterfly Network, using everyday

people to take inventory of the butterfly species in natural areas. One of the most common responses we get from new monitors is that they never knew there were so many butterflies. Developing a search image comes with time. After a few trips looking for butterflies, many people are more easily able to spot one, even out of the corner of their eye, just based on the size, shape, or movement of what they see. It may sound easy, but many species of butterfly can be quite small and cryptic.

Identifying butterflies can be quite overwhelming for some, but there are many tricks to make it a lot easier. As experienced bird watchers will tell you, they can tell birds apart with very little information and even if they only see it for a second. Maybe it was just a small flash of a color as the bird flies by, or even just its size, shape, and flight pattern. People that observe nature develop these cues, and once you see them for yourself, they are hard to forget. Picking up on these simple cues can make identifying things like butterflies much easier for people that aren’t as experienced.

One of the best ways to help narrow down what butterfly you are looking at is by using GISSS. This stands for General Impression based on Size, Shape, and

Seasonality. Many identification guides will list the general size for each species- so remembering if it was, say, the size a quarter,

can be quite helpful. Shape can refer to a number of things, but in general, did the butterfly have “tails” off its back

wings? Did the edges of the wings look round or smooth; pointed, or scalloped? These are all useful things to look

for. Finally is seasonality. Some butterflies can only be seen during a short window in the season, called a flight. Depending

on the species, flights can last months or even just weeks, and some species have multiple in one year. Knowing the flight times and habitat range

of a species you think you saw may narrow your list of suspects down quite a bit.

To look for but-terflies with ex-perts and learn some of these identification queues, come to is the second annual North

American Butterfly Association (NABA)/ Michigan Butterfly Network Butterfly Count on Saturday July 12th. Meet at 12 pm in the arboretum picnic area at the Kalamazoo Nature Center.

Learning to identify things in the natural world around you can be very enjoyable; it just takes a little time.

Lisa Panich, Kalamazoo Nature Center, lpanich@naturecenter.org (269) 381-1574 ext. 38, www.naturecenter.org

IdentifyingButterflies

Kyle Bibby, Conservation Education Coordinator, Kalamazoo Nature Center

JULY 2014 21 spark

MICHIGANPICKERS

This Collector has “Can Do” attitudeMarlin Gerber collects a little bit of everything. Some of his more prized collectibles include records, medicine bottles and tins, typewriter ribbon tins, “bullet” pencils and household oil cans.Marlin first started collecting oil cans back in the early 1970’s when a friend was traveling the country and would bring back his “finds.”Marlin now has well over a hundred different cans. He still finds a few he does not have at estate sales and flea markets.

At one time hundreds of companies sold their own small cans of oil. They made for good advertising and everyone from Singer Sewing Machines to Maytag Appliances had their own oil cans.Marlin’s most valuable can is one from Remington that is worth about $60.

Marlin Gerber can be reached at 269 2375-5215 or marling7133@sbcglobal.net

spark 22 JULY 2014

After our long winter and cool spring, everyone is anxious to get outside and enjoy the summer sunshine. Sun is good for our attitude and for the Vitamin D that is essential for strong bones and boosting the immune system. However welcoming the summer weather is, it can be dangerous and we need to be aware of the risks for ourselves and our loved ones, whether we are outside, in a car, or inside a hot and humid house.

As we get older it becomes more difficult for us to regulate our body temperature. Our bodies do not sweat as much and we cannot sense the changes in temperature as quickly or accurately as we used to. Those who may have chronic health condi-tions, such as COPD or heart disease, are at even greater risk as these conditions may warrant limiting fluid intake and taking medications that may make a person more sensitive to the sun and hot weather.

It’s important to be familiar with the symptoms of Heat Exhaustion & Heat Stroke, how to avoid these conditions and when to seek medical attention.

Heat Exhaustion:Symptoms: Heavy Sweating (as we age we do not sweat as much as we used to-this prevents natural cooling of the body).

The skin may be cool and moist and the pulse will be fast and shallow. Paleness, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, dizzi-ness, headache, nausea/vomiting, fainting.

How to Treat:~ Get to a cool, air-conditioned environment; take a cool shower, bath or sponge bath, rest & cool, non-alcoholic beverages.~ Seek medical attention if symptoms are severe and/or the person has heart problems or high blood pressure.

Heat Stroke:Symptoms: High body temperature (above 103°F). Red, hot & dry skin (NO SWEATING). Rapid, strong pulse, throbbing

headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, loss of consciousness. THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCY!

How to Treat:~ Call for immediate medical assistance and begin cooling the victim. ~ Get them into the shade or air-conditioned area. Put into a cool bath, shower or sponge bath. Monitor body temperature

and continue cooling until the body comes down to 101-102°F.~ DO NOT give the person fluids to drink. If they vomit, make sure their airway remains clear by turning them onto their side. And don’t forget about children and pets as they are equally at risk in the hot weather. It’s best not to have them with you in

a car if you need to stop somewhere and can’t take them in.

Enjoy the Summer Weather Safely

Judy Sivak, MSW Director, Area Agency on Aging IIIA, 3299 Gull Rd., Kalamazoo, Phone: 269-373-5173 (Info & Assistance Line)www.Kalcounty.com/aaa

JULY 2014 23 spark

practice withpurpose

As a golf instructor, I am asked for tips on how to improve on a daily basis. I like to ask players how much they work on their

short game. Most players tell me they spend little or no time working on their short game. Yet I see players on the range all the time hitting drivers. Almost every player I know could improve by simply spending more time practicing

around the green. Here are a few tips to give your practice some purpose:

spend at least half of yourtime practicing around the green.• Try to make if fun by practicing with someone else and making it into a game

rather than just chipping and putting.• Pretend like you’re putting or chipping to win a big tournament or even your

money game with your buddies.• Track how many times you get up and down in a round when you miss a green.• Track how many putts you have per round. That’s where the pros really save

strokes compared to ama-teurs.

set up a station on the range to get set up consistently.• Lay down a couple of clubs

or snowplow reflectors to make sure you are setting up square to your target line (see picture of Bob Toski). Most people set up either well right or well left of their target and have to compen-sate for that in their golf swing. If you set up properly, you’re more likely to make a good swing.

Pick a target when you practice.• I can’t tell you how many times I ask a student what his/her target is and they say

“I don’t know.” Line your club up to the target, then line your feet up parallel left of that target line.

If you put these basics into your practice session, you will become much more proficient at practice and play. Always

practice with a purpose!

Paul SimondsHead Golf Professional/ InstructorEastern Hills Golf Coursepsimonds@charter.net

spark 24 JULY 2014

town added appeal.

As we rounded one corner, we spotted a little girl selling lemonade and homemade charm bracelets. As were made our lemonade purchase, we were informed that this was her first sale of the day.

We rode by the Wade house, the oldest known house in Douglas. Frank Wade, first child born to white settlers in Dogulas, was born here in 1853.

The Octogon House, built in 1867, when Douglas was called Dudleyville, is another distinctive looking home. It was built from a New York octogaon house pattern book from the 1850’s touting this “popular new house design”

The main street of town features about two dozen very good restau-

rants, specialty food stores, art galleries and antique shops. In reading the “Walk Douglas – The Village to be Remembered” walking-tour brochure, we found historical information on many of the original tenants of the village buildings, including the McDonald General Store, Ben Weigert’s Model Grocery and Walz Meat Market.

Art galleries in the village include the Kubiak Gallery, Thistle Gallery and Water Street Gallery. The Everyday People Cafe and the Wild Dog Grille were both very busy as walked by. A bright-blue Harbor Duck vehicle (857-Duck) looked like a fun way to get around town, including a ride on the Kalamazoo River.

A great spot for a bite to eat or a beer is the Red Dock Café across the Blue Star Highway at the end of a long dock.

By Steve Ellis

Last summer, my girlfriend and I headed to Saugatuck for the day.

We took a leisurely drive west on D Ave to Gobles, heading north on M-40 to Allegan and then M-89 west through Fennville to the Blue Star Highway. There seemed to be a garage sale on every corner, so the drive included a few extra stops.

Thinking that parking might be at a premium in downtown Saugatuck, we parked in Douglas, plan-ning to spend a few minutes and then heading to our destination.

Well, a few minutes turned into three very enjoyable hours of biking and shop-ping in this great little town. We found that Douglas had most of the things we were looking for in Saugatuck, but at a much slower pace and a lot less traffic.

We parked on the main

street across from a great little park and ball field with a spotless public rest-room. The folks in Douglas have been playing ball on Bery Field for more than a hundred years. The field holds monthly “Olde Tyme” baseball matches with the local Dutchers team playing the likes of the House Of David Echos.

The park was busy with family picnics and kids playing on the playground equipment .

We rode down to the Kalamzoo River, where kayaks were available for rent. Further along, under the Blue Star overpass, a half dozen folks were fiashing in the shade.

Most of the houses in town are well over one hundred years old and have been well taken care of. Each house has its own personality, with blooming flower gardens at every turn. The downtown streets are hilly and winding, giving the

Tales roadFrOMThE

~ saugatuck/douglas, mi ~

JULY 2014 25 spark

pickleballis here!

By Steve Ellis

One of the fastest growing sports that may not be familiar to everyone is pick-leball.

Pickleball is a racket sport in which two to four players use solid paddles made of wood or composite materials to hit a polymer perforated ball over a net. The sport shares features of other racket sports, the dimensions and layout of a Badminton court, and a net and rules similar to tennis with a few modifica-tions. One of the fastest growing sports in North America, Pickleball was in-vented in the mid 1960s as a children’s backyard pastime but quickly became popular among adults as a fun game for players of all skill levels.

The game started during the summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washing-ton, at the home of then State Representative Joel Pritchard who, in 1970, was elected to the U.S. House of Repre-sentatives for the State of Washing-ton. He and two of his friends, Bill Bell and Barney McCal-lum, returned from golf and found their families bored one Saturday afternoon. They at-tempted to set up badminton, but no one could find the shuttlecock. They improvised with a Wiffle ball, lowered the badminton net, and fabricated paddles of plywood from a nearby shed Although some sources claim that the name “Pickleball” was derived from that of the Pritchard family dog, Pickles, other sources state that the claim is false, and that the name came from the term “pickle boat”, referring to the last boat to return with its catch. The pickleball court is similar to a doubles badminton court.

The ball is served underhand from behind the baseline, diagonally to the opponent’s service zone. Points are scored by the serving side only and occur when the opponent faults (fails to return the ball, hits ball out of bounds, steps into the ‘kitchen’ area [the first seven feet from the net, also known as the non-volley zone] in the act of volleying the ball, etc.). A player may enter the

non-volley zone to play a ball that bounces, and may stay there to play balls that bounce The player must exit the non-volley zone before playing a volley. The return of service must be allowed to bounce by the server (the server and partner in doubles play); i.e. cannot be volleyed. Consequently, the server or server and partner usually stay at the baseline until the first return has been hit back and bounced once.

A typical “match” in a tournament lasts 30-40 minutes. It is usually best of three games, game point is 11, must win by two points. You can only score points when it is your team’s serve (much like old volleyball scoring). When played locally at “drop-in” times, usually just individual games are played and those take about 10-15 minutes.

At both the Portage YMCA and the Sherman Lake YMCA, pickleballs are provided and there are extra paddles for beginners to use. Most folks immedi-ately want to purchase their own paddles (it only takes a time or two of playing to get “hooked!”) and paddles can be purchased locally at Lee’s Adventure

Sports in Portage. They are also readily available at many places on the internet.

The local USAPA Pickleball Ambas-sadors are Jim and Yvonne Hacken-berg. They are national champions in many events and were tourna-ment directors for the recent “Fever in the Zoo” tournament at Wings Stadium. Jim explained to me that pickleball began in the area in 2005 when it was included as an event in the Michigan Senior Olympics. This generated much local interest in the sport an the late Bob Northrop and

Melissa Muha championed the sport and became Kalamazoo Ambassadors at various USAPA tournaments around the country.

There is a local Facebook page – www.Facebook.com/kalamazoopickleball administered by Yvonne Hackenberg and Barb Patterson. They are very good at quickly getting back to folks with answers to questions that are left on the Facebook page.

Local places to play and times can be found at https://www.facebook.com/KalamazooPickleball/info

To find out more about this great sport, go to their Facebook page or feel free to email or call Jim Hackenberg at 269-330-0209

Photos from the recent “Fever in the Zoo” Pickleball Tournament at Wings Stadium

spark 26 JULY 2014

special eVeNts concerts in the park-Arts Council of Greater Kalam-

azoo, July 17, 6pm - Mitch Frohman Latin Jazz Quartet

schoolcraft community library, ice cream social

–July 17, 5:30-8pm Benefits children’s programming.

Games, Weenie Kings, Sundae’s and Root Beer Floats,

Magic Show, 50/50 Raffle. $5/person or $20/family.

679-5959 for more info.

transformations spirituality center, July 19 day

program Sister Simone Campbell, SSS is the execu-

tive director of Network and the founder of ‘Nuns on

the Bus’. She will be here to discuss effective dialog.

269.381.6290 Ext. 327 for info

last of the red hot lovers-New Vic through Aug 2,

532-4770

56th annual south haven art Fair, July 5,6

schoolcraft 4th of July parade and celebration, July

4th

wild wednesday, hummingbird hike, Kellogg Bird

Sanctuary, July 9 671-2510

art hop, July 11, Downtown Kalamazoo

art in the Garden and More-Stuart Ave Inns, July 11-12

342-0230

battleship at kik pool, July 12, 337-8295

celery Flats Music Fest, July 13, 329-4522

kalamazoo Farmers Market, Tue, Thur, Sat 7am-2pm

Haunted History of Kalamazoo Tours, Bronson Park,

July 12 8pm $, 216-9727

olde tyme tractor and steam show, Scotts Mill Park,

July 18-20, 746-4628

Movies under the stars, Oshtemo Township Park, July

17, His Girl Friday, Dusk

Movies in the park, Mayors Riverfront Park, July 18,

Dusk, Field of Dreams

black arts Festival, July 24-27, 349-1035

bank st Flea Market, Every Wednesday

33rd annual kindleberger summer Festival of the

performing arts, July 9-14, Parchment

shout, a beatles tribute, Monday July 14, Kindleberg-

er Park, 6:30pm-FREE

blackrock Medieval Fest, July 12-Aug 3, Augusta,

580-1290

kalamazoo bicycle club 2014 season

www.kalamazoobicycleclub.org for details

Fiddler on the roof, Barn Theatre, July 8-20, 731-4121

kalamazoo brewery & history walking tours, Every

Sat, $19, 205-4894 for details

21st annual blues Festival, July 10-12, Arcadia Creek

Festival Site 381-6514

Gazelle sports historic walks, July 11, meet at S.

Westnedge and Vine 8am

Mon, July 1, 3pm Randy Adams Piano Music in the Kiva

(Friendship Village)

Mon, July 14, 2 pm Dynamo Show with Paul in the Kiva

tues, July 15, 2 pm Dr. Jim Munson Presents: The

Grand Canyon in the Kiva

Fri, July 18, 2pm ,Tom Buettner Shares the Grand Ha-

ven Coast Guard Festival in the Kiva

Mon, July 28, 2pm, Carin Code Home School Orches-

tra Concert in the Kiva

tue, July 29, 3pm, Lake Milton Raptor Center Bird of

Prey Program in the Kiva

YMca oF GreaterkalaMaZoo1001 w. Maple st., 269-345-9622blood pressure clinics: Tues, July 1, 3p-5p, Wed, July

16, 11am-1:30pm, Fri, July 11, 10am-12pm, Thu, July 24,

1pm-3pm

Diabetes support Group, Monday, July 21, 1:30p-

2:30p. Learn information about living with diabetes,

exchange recipes, and meet new friends Chapel

“Y” book read Group, Fri, July 18, 1:30-3pm, , “Killing

Lincoln” by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard. Chapel

silversneakers Yoga (formerly Yogastretch), Wed.

9:30am-10:30am. Members free/ $30 Community.

silversneakers classic (formerly Muscular strength

and range of Movement), T/Th 11a-12p. Members

free/ $58 Community.

silversneakers splash (formerly silversplash), M/W/

TH 3p-4p. Members free/ $87 Community, 2 times a

week, $75 Community.

tai chi for arthritis, T/TH 10a-11a, $32 Mbr/$48 Com-

munity. Instr: Glenda Van Stratton. 345-9622 x127.

silversneakers circuit (formerly cardiocircuit), M/W

11a-12p, Members free/$58 Community

silversneakers cardio (formerly cardioFit) New class,

T/Th, 1:30p-2:30p Members free/$58 Community

Drums alive, Wed 3pm-5pm, Member free/$24 Com-

munity

Zumba Gold, is Back Fri 1:30-2:20pm, Members free,

$42 Community

YMca oF GreaterkalaMaZoo portage branch 2900 west centre ave., 269-324-9622blood pressure clinics, July 7, 10:30a-12:30p.

Yogastretch, Friday 11:45a-12:30p Members Free,

Community $23.

Muscular strength and range of Movement, Monday

1p-2p, Members Free, Community $30, Wednesday/

Friday 10:30a-11:30p, Members Free/ $60 Community

soothing Yoga, Friday 9:30a-10:30a, Members $27,

Community $42

coMstockcoMMuNitY ceNter269-345-8556bingo: Every Thursday at 1pm. Bring a $1.00 value

item in a paper sack. Free.

bridge: 2nd & 4th Wednesday of each month, 1pm.

This is a group of experienced players. 324-2404 to

sign up to play. 50 cents to play.

ceramics: Tuesdays, 1-3pm, $5 per week includes sup-

plies

conversation cafe: Every Tues, Wed, Thur. at 11:30am.

Enjoy a home cooked meal. Call by noon the day be-

fore to order. Cost is $5 and includes beverage.

Flex & balance, Tuesday 9:30-10:30am . $2 per class,

can use your punch card.

Foot care clinic: 2nd Monday of the month. Please

call 345-8556 to make an appt. Cost is $25 per visit.

knitting and crocheting: Every Mon and Wed, 1-3pm,

FREE

line Dance: Wednesdays at 9-10:30am. Cost is $2.

Massage: Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s by appoint-

ment only. Cost is $20 for 1/2 hour and $40 for hour.

Mystery lunch: 3rd Wednesday of month, 11am-3pm.

Must be able to walk. Call to register. Cost is $3 and

lunch cost in on your own.

out to breakfast: 8:30am. Meal cost is on your own.

July 1 @, Cracker Barrel on 9th St., July 15 , Sophia’s

on Stadium Dr

out to lunch: 11:30am. Lunch cost is on your own. July

25 @ Red Lobster on S. Westnedge

potluck: 3rd Monday of each month at noon. Bring a

dish to pass and your own tableware. Free .

stay independent-prevent Memory loss: 3rd Mon-

day of each month, 1-2pm. Different memory loss

topic each month $5.

tai chi, Mondays at 5:30pm-6:30pm $5

texas hold ‘em poker: Tuesdays at 12:30 pm. Begin-

ner’s welcome. Free.

therapeutic swim class: Comstock Community Cen-

ter Water Class‚ meets every Tues and Thur from 10-

11am. (269) 552-2358. Cost is $40 for 8 week class.

tops (taking off pounds sensibly): Every Tuesday

5pm-7pm. 383-0312. Membership is $26 annually.

wellness Drumming: Thursday’s, 9:30-10am. $2

Yoga: Thursday’s, 10-10:30am. $2

Zumba: Thursday’s, 6:30-7:30pm. $3

Flea Market event: July 12, 9am-3pm. Lots of trea-

sures! Join us for lunch too. We will be selling hot-

dogs, chips, and baked beans for a small price. All

proceeds benefit the Adult Holiday Program where

seniors get a food and gift basket. Bring a can good

or personal care item and get put into a special draw-

ing. FREE.

hearing clinic: July 9, 2-4pm. Do you need your hear-

ing aids cleaned or adjusted? Do you need a basic

hearing test? Call for an appointment. FREE

senior lifestyles injury prevention class: July 16, 10-

11am. Learn about risks and injuries and you can be

affected. FREE.

casino excursion: July 22, 9am-4pm. Four Winds in

Hartford. Call to register. Cost is $35 and includes $15

slot play from casino. Prizes on the bus.

Detroit tigers vs chicago white sox, Wed. Sept 24,

$75, 1:08 pm game. Stadium seating @ Comerica Park.

Jack Hanna at the Columbus Zoo, Sept 18-20, $499

(dbl)

Mccourtie park excursion: July 14, 11:30am-4pm. This

park has 17 bridges made out of concrete that look like

trees, ropes and other things. Cost is $15.

Navy pier & shedd aquairum excursion: July 11, 7am-

8pm. Cost is $120 and includes, transportation, water

taxi, Shedd premium pass.

out to Dinner: July 19, 5-8pm. Join us for a meal at

Sophia’s on Stadium Drive. Call to register. Cost is $5

and meal cost is on your own.

roller Derby excursion: July 19, 4:30-9pm. Remem-

ber the sport of roller derby and watching it on tv?

Join us for a real game. Call to register. Cost is $18.

true traverse treasures, Sept 4-5, $299 (dbl). Com-

prehensive Traverse City Area Tour.

ecuMeNical seNior ceNter702 N. burdick street, 381-9750Monday - Exercise, Free Blood pressure 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. • Bible Study 1 to 2 p.m.tuesday – Craft (knitting) Ceramic Class Instructor: Tina Krum Cost $4.00 per classtrip to beauty school – 3rd Tuesdays of each monthwednesday– Bible Study 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Medicine Check 12:30 p.m. - Book Readingthursday – Scrapbooking 10:00, Spanish Class, (six week class) and Community Prayer Circle @ 2p.m.Friday – Computer classes @10:00, Bingo @ 10:30 a.m. Lunch 12:00; 1:30 p.m. - Wii Bowling, games, and movies.Grocery bingo- 2nd Friday in each month Monthly Birthday Celebration, bible study Monday - 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Wed. 10:30 to 11:30

plaiNwell coMMuNitY ceNtereuchre Tuesdays 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. singles or couples.eNhaNce FitNess Mon, Wed, Fri, 1-2pm Jazzercise M 6:15-7:15pm & T & Th 6-7pm $Zumba M-W-F 6-7pm $

portaGe seNior ceNter269-329-4555alzheimer’s assoc. support Group, 7-8:30pm 3rd

Tues

art club, 1:00 p.m., Mon, PSC Members only.

bid euchre & other cards, 6:30 p.m. Tues. New players

welcome. PSC members only.

big screen Movie: Monday, July 14, 1:15 p.m. “Back-

roads and Byways of America” View the movie for

free; popcorn 50 cents.

bike club (psc), Wed, 8:30am, May-Oct

billiards – 12:30 – 4:45 p.m., Tue, Thur, Fri. Mem only.

blood pressure clinic, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., 2nd Thur

body rebound, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m., Mon, Wed, & Fri all

month. Non-aerobic exercise class. 8-weeks: $42/$52

non-mem. Register at PSC.

bridge – relaxed pace, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m., Mon and

Wed all month. Relaxed pace, won’t you join our

group? PSC members only.

bridge, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Tues and Fri all month. Expe-

rienced players welcome. PSC Members only.

canasta club, 1:15 p.m., Mon. Exp and beginning play-

ers welcome. Lessons available. PSC Mbrs only.

chair Volleyball Drop-in play: 1:00 – 2:30 p.m., Tues

The PSC offers free, drop-in play come and try it out.

PSC Members only.

choir practice, 9:30 a.m. Thurs, (will resume after La-

bor Day)

community service Van (csV) program transporta-

tion, 8:30 – 1:00 p.m., Mon - Fri. Trans. available for

PSC programs or PSC lunch. Call 329-4555 for apptmt

computer tutoring: Paul S., 12:00 -1:00 p.m., Mon and

Wed and Gordon H., 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon, Mon & Fri

Reg at PSC, members only. Fee $10/hr.

cribbage, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m., Mon, no fee. You’re wel-

come to join our group. PSC Members only.

Dining out club - Dinner, 5:00 p.m. Mon, July 7, TGI

Friday,’s. W. Main at 131 Hosted by Hal & Shirley Ray.

Advance reg PSC 329-4555 by prev bus day is re-

quired. Self-pay.

Dining out club - Breakfast, 8:30 a.m. Tue, July 8,

Yogi’s 2070 VW, West of Vicksburg, Hosted by Hal &

Shirley Ray. Advance reservation at PSC 329-4555 by

prev bus day is required. Self-pay.

Dining out club -Lunch, 11:30 a.m. Thur, July 17, Uni-

versity Roadhouse, 1350 W. Michigan Hosted by Hal &

Shirley Ray. Advance reserv at PSC 329-4555 by previ-

ous bus day is required. Self-pay.

Dominoes, 1:00 p.m. 2nd and 4th Fri. New players

welcome. PSC members only.

enhance Fitness, 8:10 – 9:10 a.m., Mon, Wed, and Fri.

Improve fitness, muscle strength, & balance. 8-week:

$42/$52 non-member, . Register at the PSC.

euchre, 1:45- 4:45 p.m. Wednesdays. New PSC mem-

bers/players welcome.

Foot clinic, 12:15 – 4:00 p.m. Thur by appointment

Garden pals, volunteer to help beautify the Gardens at

PSC. Call 329-4555 for more information.

hearing screenings, Tuesd, July 15, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00

a.m., appointments only 329-4555.

ipad Discussion Group -Thurs, July 17, 10:30 AM, reg at

329-4555.

laptop intro to office, 10:00 – noon, Wed. 7 weeks.

royce bland teaches Microsoft office. $24/Mem only.

Register at PSC.

loaves & Fishes bag recycling – Bring your plastic &

paper bags to the Center the first week of the month.

lunch, 11:45 a.m. (Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Fri) Reserva-

tions required, call Senior Services at 382-0515.

Mah Jongg, 1:00 p.m. Tues. New PSC members wel-

come.

New Member orientation, 1:00 p.m., Thursday, July 17.

Register at 329-4555.

ping-pong, 3:30 – 4:45 p.m., Mon and Thur. Have fun

and exercise at this drop-in event. Equipment pro-

vided. Members only.

pinochle Double Deck, 1:00 p.m., Friday (1st, 3rd, 5th).

PSC Members only.

pinochle single Deck, 1:00 p.m. Thur, PSC mbrs only.

poker Night – Just for Fun, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. on 2nd

Tuesday. Free. Dealer’s choice poker game, call PSC

for more information. PSC Members only.

coMMuNitY caleNDar

JULY 2014 27 spark

portage rotary, Noon on Wed.

potluck, 2nd Tuesday, July 8, 5:30 p.m., Register at

PSC.

psc band practice, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m., Tues. New play-

ers welcome! For schedule or more info call 329-4555.

PSC Members only.

psc social Golf league, Thursdays, 9:00 AM at States

Golf Course – register at 329-4555. Event is self-pay.

psc Needlers, 9:00 a.m. – 12 Noon, Thursdays. Knitting

and crocheting. Items made are donated to charities.

New needlers welcome.

psc trip office, open for res (324-9239), Tues and Fri,

9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Quilting, 1:00-4:00p.m., Fri all month. Bring quilting

supplies. New quilters welcome.

readers’ theatre, 2nd and 4th Wed , (Resume after

Labors Day)

recycled card project, 10:30 a.m. – noon, Tues. New

PSC participants welcome, members only. Make new

greeting cards from used cards.

red hat society, if you are interested in joining this

group, contact Marie Tucker at 375-2104.

reminiscence writing, 10:30 a.m. Wed Write and

share essays/poems, family history, travels, etc In-

structor: Wilma Kahn, MFA, DA. 7 wks, Fee: $32/$42

non-member, register at PSC.

scrabble, 1:00 to 4:45 p.m. 1st and 3rd Frid. New

members welcome.

silver sneakers splash, 11:00 – 12 noon. Tues and

Thurs. Aquatics based exercise program held at YMCA

Portage, designed to build strength, increase range of

movement. Fee: Pay at YMCA Portage, $60/7 wks.

PSC or “Y” Members only.

sisterhood Group, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., 2nd Fridays.

Sisterhood is a women’s social group that meets the

second Friday of each month. Welcome new “sisters”.

stay independent – prevent Memory loss, 1:00 –

2:30 p.m., 2nd Thursday. Instr: Suzanne Gernaat, fee

$7/$9non-member per ses. A discussion/activity

group

strength & stretch, 9:20 a.m.- 10:20 a.m., Monday and

Wednesday at PSC.$42/$52 (7 weeks) Instructor: Joy

Morris

t’ai Ji, 8:30 – 9:30 a.m., Tuesdays. Instructor, Ed Ke-

hoe, 7-weeks. Fee: $42/$52 non-member. Register at

the PSC.

three c’s: Coffee · Cards · Conversation, 2:00 p.m., 1st

and 3rd Saturday. Bring a snack to pass. Information:

329-4555. Members welcome.

walkers with walkers, 9:30 a.m. Crossroads Mall

Tues. and Thurs. PSC Members only.

walking - Daily, 8:30 a.m., Mon – Sat at Crossroads

Mall, Food Court entrance.

wii bowling, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. Tues. Have fun with

this video game bowling league without spending $$

at an alley. PSC Members only.

woodcarving, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Tues. PSC member’s

free/non-members $3.00/wk.

Yoga, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m., Mon. 8 weeks. Christine Peck-

els, Location: St. Catherine’s of Siena – Stanley Center.

$72/82Non-members.

Zumba Gold, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., Mon, 8 weeks.

Instructor, Gretchen Pouliot, $26/$36 Non-members.

seNior serVices oF southwest MichiGaN269-382-0515lunch M-W at 11:45am. Reservations must be made by

noon, one day in advance. 382-0515.

bingo: Mon. 11:00-Noon

Medicare Medicaid assistance program: Mon-Fri, call

1-800-803-7174 to make an appointment.

“swinging with susan” arthritis Foundation exercise

program, M & W, ALL fitness levels. 10:00am-11:00am.

Susan Iervolina. $30/7wks (14 classes)

tops for seniors. Mon. Lose weight with support and

encouragement ($3 per month) 12:00-2:30pm

ballroom Dance. MON. (basic and intermediate)

$25/8 weeks. 3:15-4:45pm

chair Yoga: With Leslie Neuman Balance your mind

and your body. Tues. 9:30-10:30am Voluntary contri-

bution of $5.00

art painting. Tue. Bring your own supplies and enjoy

the fellowship. No fee. 9:30-11:30am

timesteppers. Senior tap class with Sue Forrester. Be-

ginners welcome. Tues. & Thurs. 9:30-10:30am

helping hands. Tue (July 8 & 22) Knit/crochet items

to distribute to community agencies. 1:00pm-4:00pm

Visually impaired Group. WED (July 2 & 16) Support

for the visually impaired. 10:30am-12:00pm

senior Foot clinic, Wed ($25, & bring bath towel).

344-4410 for appt. 10:30am-4:00pm

Grief support: Counselor available for support. Weds.

10:30 am-11:30 am. Call for dates

tai chi w/instructor ed kehoe. $5/week, 1:30pm-

2:30pm

intermediate/advanced ballroom Dance. W 3:15-

4:45pm Don and Ann Douglass instruct advanced

steps of this popular dance style. $25/8 weeks

project Fresh (Thurs, July 17th) 8:30am-12:00pm Ap-

plications are available at Senior Services Reception

Desk for pickup.

local collaborative Group Meeting: MI Choice Waiver

Program Kalamazoo, Branch, St. Joseph, Calhoun, and

Branch counties. Participants in the program get their

voices heard and enjoy lunch on us! RSVP by July 23rd.

Meeting: Thurs. July 31st 12:00-2:00pm.

bridge experienced players TH 12:30-4:00pm

Friends & Fun Dance ($5.00 per person) Live enter-

tainment. Thurs.(July 10 & 24) 7:00pm - 9:30pm

line Dance Fri 10:00-11:00am . Susan Iervolina leads

this advanced class. $35/7weeks.

prime time players rehearsal. Talented seniors per-

form for the community. –Fri. 1:30pm-3:00pm

blood pressure clinic (Last Wed only-July 30). Free

check and monitoring. 11am-12pm

richlaND area coMMuNitY ceNter629-9430 book club: 3rd Thur., 9:30am

bridge: Mon., 12:30-3:30pm

Drop-in coffee hour: Tue./Thur., 9:30-10:30am

euchre: Wed., 12:30-3:30pm

Foot clinic: Bi-monthly, 4th Tue, call for appt., Kath-

leen Barnum, 671.5427

Gl rotary: Thur., 7:30-8:30am

kindermusik: Fri., 9:30-10:15

hand & Foot (cards): Wed., 1:00-3:30

hip resurfacing seminar: Sep. 24, 6-7pm

knitting for charity: July 20, Aug. 17, 2-5pm

laurels lunch & learn: 2nd Thur., 11:30am-12:30pm

painted lady studios art class: Wed. 9am-Noon, $30

(call first)

paF: 2nd Tue., 5:30pm

senior ballroom Dance: 3rd Sun., 2-5pm

senior Dining coupons: Tue. 9am-1pm, Wed. 9am-

5pm

square Dance: beginning Sept., 3rd Sat., 7:30-10am

“Swingin’ with Susan” Exercise (sponsored by Laurels

of Galesburg): Tue./Thur., 10:30-11:30am, $3 per class

Yoga-Gentle w/cathy tucci: Tue./Thur., 10:15-11:15am,

(sliding fee—age 49 & under, $10/age50-59, $8/age

60-69, $6/Age 70 & above, $3. Buy 10 classes, get

the 11th free.)

Yoga w/sherry king: Mon., Noon-1pm, Wed, 9:45-

10:4am, $10 per session

wiN: 3rd Mon., 5:30-8:00

trash to treasure art camp, July 1-10, 1-3 pm $40

little scientists camp, July 11, 18, 25, Aug. 1, 9 am-

Noon $50

art camp w/Janice Garrett, July 28-31 & Aug. 1, 9 am-

Noon $100

true traverse treasure, Sept. 4-5, $299/pp dbl. occ.

Richland Area Community Center, 629.9430

Jack hanna/columbus Zoo, Sept. 18-20, $499

Richland Area Community Center, 629.9430

canyon country adventure, Sept. 19-26, $2,035+

Richland Area Community Center, 629.9430

south couNtY coMMuNitY serVices weekly Fitness classes, out-to-eat, Matter of bal-ance class, line Dancing class, tai chi, flu shot clinics 649-2901 for info

three riVersseNior ceNterphotography, calligraphy, polymer clay beading, open art studio, bridge club, hooping, arthritis ex-ercise, balance exercise, bingo, bunco, book club, breakfast club, massage, hair cuts, computer classes, wifi, wii. call the coa for dates and times at 269 279-8083.

plan Your tripchicaGo architectural tour, July 16 to Chicago,

Illinois.

chicaGo cubs Vs. coloraDo rockies, July 31 to

Wrigley Field.

a culiNarY walk, August 13 to Saugatuck.

“riNG oF Fire”, Johnny Cash Musical, Aug 21, Corn-

well’s Turkeyville in Marshall.

shoJi tabuchi, August 22, Auditorium Theatre in

Shipshewana, Indiana.

Detroit tiGers Vs. New York YaNkees, August 28

to Comerica Park.

a laNsiNG aDVeNture, September 3 to Lansing.

Detroit tiGers Vs. MiNNesota twiNs, September

28 to Comerica Park.

kalaMaZoo couNtY Meal sitesNutritious hot lunches are served by Senior Services

Inc. to people 60 and older at Kalamazoo County meal

sites. To reserve a lunch, call the Nutrition Center at

269-382-0515 by 1 p.m. the day before you plan to

visit. A cost-sharing donation is suggested for each

lunch. Here are the meal sites, their addresses and the

days they are open:

coover center, 918 Jasper St., 11:45 a.m. Mon-Wed.

crossroads Village, 6600 Constitution Blvd., 11:30 a.m.

Mon-Fri.

Dillon hall, 3299 Gull Rd, 11:30 a.m. Mon-Fri

ecumenical senior center, 702 N. Burdick St., 11:45

a.m. Mon-Fri.

evergreen community room, Evergreen North Com-

plex, 5700 Vintage Lane, noon Mon-Fri.

Northwind place apartments, 1004 Douglas Ave.,

noon Mon-Fri.

portage senior center, 320 Library Lane, 11:45 a.m.

Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

spring Manor Friendship center, Spring Manor Apts,

610 Mall Drive, Portage, noon, Mon-Fri.

spring Valley crossing, 2535 Mount Olivet Road,

Parchment, noon Mondays-Fridays.

washington square Friendship center, Washington

Square Apartments, 710 Collins St., noon. Mon-Fri.

st. Joseph couNtY Meal sitesThe St. Joseph County Commission on Aging helps co-

ordinate lunches for people age 60 and older at three

meal sites and 11 participating restaurants.

Call 800-641-9899 or 269-279-8083 for information

on how to make reservations, which are required by

10 a.m. the day before you plan to visit. A cost-sharing

contribution of $2 at meal sites and $3.50 for restaurant

vouchers is requested for each lunch.

Meal sites, their location and the days they are open are:

kline’s resort Meal site: Fridays Noon-1:00p.m.

sturgis senior center, 304 N. Jefferson St., Monday-

Friday.

three rivers senior center, 103 S. Douglas Ave., Mon-

day-Friday.