Where Civilization Meets the Wilderness by Robert M

tNOVEMBER 2009 www.encorekalamazoo.com

Where Civilization Meets the Wilderness By Robert M. Weir Fklsbovlroeb^a<

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’TIS THE SEASON — the time of year when many of us will ven- The situation was different with the women of ancient clans. ture out to stores we haven’t visited during the past 11 months They were the gatherers. They struck out in search of the fruits and and spend much more money on gifts than we are willing to nuts and whatever else they could find to accompany the meat the admit to. men were after. As these women came upon a bush or tree bear- But wait. Before you go, know that ing some kind of edible fruit, they surveyed what was available and danger lies ahead. Read on to learn why you selected the best. Hence, women evolved into the gender that studies may resist going out on one of these adven- many options closely and selects the items they like best. tures with a member of the opposite sex. I Fast forward to today’s world and imagine the hunter and the am not off my rocker with this information, gatherer heading out together in search of Christmas gifts. The nor am I trying to start a family fight. This man, the hunter, has a specific target in mind, and he will do his advice is based on years of history and evo- utmost to buy the first one he finds. Along side him is a woman, the Rick Briscoe lution that just can’t be changed. Examine gatherer, and she fully intends to inspect and review all available the facts and draw your own conclusion. options to select the very best in quality and value. No wonder the In the days before downtowns, malls, and online shopping, mere suggestion of a shopping trip can be cause for disagreement in people lived much more of a subsistence existence. They thrived many families. or suffered based on their ability to provide directly for their Those are just the facts. They are based on many years of family, and duties were split among family members. When evolution and aren’t about to change any time soon. So my advice to it came to food, the men of the family were the hunters. They men — relax and keep your lip zipped. You know she is the expert embarked on their search for game, seeking animals they could at this modern-day adventure. Go out and enjoy what can be a really slay and bring home for meat, not spending much time compar- good time simply because it is the season. ing, say, one deer to another. If a deer appeared within striking range, the hunter would do his utmost to take his prey and be satisfied, thereby evolving into the gender that ventures out with a specific target in mind, taking his best shot the moment he has Rick Briscoe a chance. Publisher

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CONTENTS MAGAZINE 8 Publisher Richard J. Briscoe MATT

Editor CLYSDALE Penny Briscoe puts himself eyeball Assistant to the Publisher to eyeball with Ronald Dundon creatures Copy Editor Cherri Glowe among us. Volume 37 Issue 3 November 2009 November 3 Issue 37 Volume Poetry Editor Theresa Coty O’Neil

Contributing Writers Jessica English Bonnie Feldkamp Bill Krasean Larry Massie Theresa Coty O’Neil Amber Tiller Photo: Robert M. Weir M. Robert Photo: Robert M. Weir 16 Poetry Elizabeth Kerlikowske To KAY GROSS, SPECIALS Judy Storteboom teaching and learning go hand in hand Designer 5 FROM THE PUBLISHER Brakeman at the Kellogg Biological Station. 10 TRIVIA PURZOOT

Encore magazine is pub- Station Biological Kellogg Photo: 24 EVENTS OF NOTE lished nine times yearly, September through May. 34 Copyright 2009, Encore 26 BUSINESS ON THE For Publishing Group, Inc. All RODGER HOME FRONT rights reserved. Editorial, circulation and advertising STORTEBOOM, Design on a Dime: correspondence should be serving others is Decorating Your Home sent to 350 S. Burdick, Suite 214, Kalamazoo, MI 49007. most important. in a Slow Economy Telephone: (269) 383-4433. Fax number: (269) 383- 27 STAR WATCH

Photo: Rick Briscoe Rick Photo: 9767. E-mail: Publisher@ The Stars — Tellers of Encorekalamazoo.com. The 42 staff at Encore welcomes Dramatic Tales written comment from read- Protecting the public 28 MASSIE’S MICHIGAN ers, and articles and poems from disease has been for submission with no GILLIAN STOLTMAN’S obligation to print or return When Kalamazoo Became them. To learn more about main mission. a City — 125 Years Ago us or to comment, you may visit www.encorekalamazoo. com. Encore subscription

rates: one year $27.00, two Krasean Bill Photo: years $53.00, three years $78.00. Current single is- 48 POETRY sue and newsstand $4.00, For DAVID and $10.00 by mail. Back issues ELIZABETH WRIGHT, 14 $6.00, $12.00 by mail. Ad- In the spirit of vertising rates on request. grief recovery meant scientiﬁc inquiry Closing date for space is climbing a mountain. 28 days prior to publication 40 date. Final date for print- The Symphony of ready copy is 21 days prior the Birds to publication date.

Cover photos: Matt Clysdale (collage at bottom), Robert Weir (Matt Clysdale), Penny Briscoe (lake scene). Cover design: Brakeman WWW.ENCOREKALAMAZOO.COM 7 Photo: Michele Garcia Michele Photo:

A smiling Matt Clysdale peers out of his photography and videography blind, which he uses to capture images of animals of the wild. The center blind portal shows Matt’s Canon 400mm camera lens.

7nGdWZgiB#LZ^g 9dXjbZciVg^VcBVii8anhYVaZiV`Zh]^bhZa[VcYk^ZlZgh[VXZid[VXZ l^i]cVijgZ^c]^h]jci[dgi]ZdkZgadd`ZYVcYjcZmeZXiZY# “ HEN I LOOK into the eyes of an animal, I see the Great Even if the animal turns and runs away, it’s still seeing me and Spirit looking back,” says nature photographer and recognizing me.” videographer Matt Clysdale who views “all creatures as The dramas of nature—between animal and human or manifestations of the Divine.” between animal and animal—is part of Matt’s makeup, a man Sometimes Matt looks into an animal’s eyes through the interested and involved in both environmental drama and hu- high-power 400mm f2.8 lens on his Canon 5D Mark II photo man drama. camera. Sometimes he looks through the 20x lens of his Canon Born, raised, and educated in Kalamazoo, Matt played XL1s or XH A1 video camera. And sometimes he makes that outside as a typical boy, interacting with Oakland Drive neigh- visual connection directly through his naked human eyes. “We borhood children (near WMU’s East Campus) in typical games are all animals,” Matt states. “I see the animal seeing me, and of hide-and-seek, kickball, and building forts and dams in the that consciousness or recognition of me says everything about woods. Yet, he says, he had no idea, at that time, of the wildlife the connection we share as living, breathing, sentient beings. there. The discovery of urban wildlife later in life led to his 8 &/$03&t/07&.#&3 Photo: Michele Garcia Michele Photo: Photo: Michele Garcia Michele Photo: Matt wears a satisﬁed grin at his success in shooting buffalo with his high-power lens in the Lamar Valley, Yellowstone, in September 2009.

fascination and appreciation of creatures he would come to call air at Kalamazoo’s Community Access cable station where he be- “the animals among us.” came familiar with the city’s political and social dramas. He also But ﬁrst, he would leave Michigan for four years to earn a taught videography to high-school students at Education for the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the Rhode Island School of De- Arts in the Epic Center. And he produced shows for Community sign in Providence in 1989. His ﬁrst career position, while still in Access as well as promotional videos for Whole Art. “I always Providence, was at a shelter for young men who were coming out had my feet in video and TV,” he says. of juvenile homes and foster homes. This was Matt’s introduc- Employment at Whole Art also presented opportunities for tion to human drama. him to evaluate his relationship with animals that are consumed

Back in Kalamazoo in the early ’90s, Matt took temporary by people. “We had a director who wanted the real thing in her positionsosates at Bell’s Brewery eweyadoutCoastCaéweeeeaed and Fourth Coast Café where he learned shows,”s ows, Matt att relates. eates In response espo setot to the ed director’s ectosdes desire e for o cows’ about thethe grindgrind ofof minimum-waminimum-wagege jjobsobs and bloodblood for a ggoryory scene, Matt visited a local meat packinpackingg cocom-m observedved tthehe humanhuman species.species. WithWith thatthat pany.pany. He was told that, for liabilityliability reasons, he could not obtainob foundation,ation, Matt’s move into deedeeperper human the blood, but he was givengiven a tour Z dramaa in theatertheater was a relativelyrelatively minor andand ofof the facilitfacility.y. naturalal step.step. “The experience changedchange “StartingStarting in 1991, I worked forfor Whole mmyy life,” he says.says. “I ate meat ata the Art Theatreheatre forfor 10 yearsyears in differentdifferent capaci-capaci- time,time, and the tour didn’t turn mem ties, gettingetting more andand more invoinvolved,”lved,” hhee intointo a vevegetarian,getarian, but the industrindustrial relates,s, adding that his firstfirst task was clean-clean- meat process seemed all wronwrong.g. So,So ing a toilet.toilet. From tthere,here, hhisis ddutiesuties expanexpandedded that’s wwhenhen I made the decision to tatakek re- to rangege ffromrom ststageage desidesign,gn, to marketimarketingng sponsibilitysponsibility for the meat I eat, and I dedecidedc and fundraising,undraising, to actiactingng and directing,directing, to to take up hunting.hunting. I wanted to find out whatw it managingging director responsible fforor all theater waswas like to harvestharvest a deer.” operations.tions. A friend, Tucker Rafferty,Rafferty, who sat on the DuringDuring tthathat same WholeWhole Art board, ggaveave Matt a compound bobow,w period,d, Matt worworkedked and he used it to learn to hunt wwithith as “a videovideo jockey,”jockey,” arrows.arrows. puttingng showsshows on thethe A close up of an osprey nest found in Kalamazoo near King Highway. Photo: Matt Clysdale Clysdale

About the same time, Matt moved an epiphany. “I realized that nature is in-depth involvement with human into an apartment adjacent to Kleinstuck interesting material,” he exclaims, “and I drama, both on the stage and off. He had Preserve, which he used as a practice thought that I might as well try to shoot become hooked on the more sublime and hunting ground—not with projectiles, of footage and make art out of it.” And he sedate drama of nature, which appealed, course, but with his photo camera. “I set did, using shots of wildlife in a music especially at that time, to his somewhat up a tree stand and learned how to be- video and short documentaries. hermetic personality. come a better hunter,” he says. “I learned “The sensation I get when I see an One day, while eschewing both his about scent control and being quiet and animal, particularly a large animal like vehicle and public transportation, Matt trying to understand the movement of a deer or fox or coyote, is exhilarating,” got off the macadamized path on his the deer. And I loved it!” he claims. “My heart starts to race, and way to downtown Kalamazoo. Walking I have to keep my nerves in check some- through a green space near the inter- att’s evolutionary conver- times. That’s what they call ‘buck fever.’” gences continued with his When Matt left the Whole Art growing commitment to vid- Theatre in 2001, he acknowledged that BVii8anhYVaZÉh9 eographyM through which he experienced he had become burned out on too much This collage of Karl Kleinstuck and a buck was created by Matt as a tribute to this Kalamazoo pioneer who once owned what is now known as Kleinstuck Preserve. After his death, Karl’s wife, Caroline, ORKING THROUGH his inde- deeded this 50-acre “little piece of the wild” to the State of Michigan with the stipulation that it be used pendently owned company, for education and research. The buck was tracked by Matt for years, and he named it Karl. HorsePower Pictures, Matt Clysdale has produced three, feature- length, video documentaries. One is “Animals Among Us,” which presents Kalamazoo as Anytown USA, and shows how a small city can, ironically, offer people a diverse and meaning- ful encounter with wildlife (see main story). Matt premiered this program at the Kalamazoo Nature Center in 2006 and it has periodically been broadcast on cable access. Matt’s first documentary was “Questions of Protest,” first screened at The Little Theater in 2003. This program covers the role of protest in society. More specifically, it is the story of a Kalamazoo College student’s arrest for her involvement in the long-running protest against the U.S. Defense Department’s School of Americas and its schooling of Latin American militar- ies who have been accused of abuses, crimes, and actions to influence and Out on a Limb undermine the political structure of many Latin American nations. What was the Kalamazoo location In 2008, Matt and co-director Tom of the quarter-mile plank track used for Ludwig released “A Long Strange Trip,” bicycle racing at the turn of the century which documents The Peers for Well- ness & Recovery (The PoWeR Group). to show off the best of the industry? Commissioned by Lesley Crowell, formerly of Kalamazoo Community Answer on page 54. Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, this powerful piece documents 10 &/$03&t/07&.#&3 Character Counts!C ! With 60 years of combined experience. section of Howard Street and Oakland Small Business Accounting & Taxes Drive, he discovered the nest of an active, Personal Income Tax Services red-tailed hawk. “I found them early in Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) the spring,” he relates. “I saw them mat- QuickBooks Pro Advisors ing, and I knew a story of life in nature New Business Set-up was going to unfold in front of me, and I 3244 S. Westnedge Ave. thought, ‘I should be documenting this.’” Kalamazoo MI 49008 Left to right - Jill Flipse, CPA, CFE “The red-tailed hawks were literally (269) 343-9700 Ralph Meyer, CPA - Mindy Allwardt, CPA within sight of the parking lot of the Ka- lamazoo Public Schools administration building, and nobody knew they were h9dXjbZciVg^Zh We Built That. 79 Years Ago. the PoWeR Groups’ efforts to tell their personal stories to the community with the hope of fighting stigma and sensitiz- ing the community to the plight of the mentally ill. In late September and early October of this year, Matt weighed in with another documentary on issues related to ecology and human relations. This most recent creation is titled “The Colony Farm Orchard, Part 1: Here We Go Again,” a 20-minute program about 54 acres of abandoned orchards, fields, and woods located on the northwest corner of Parkview Avenue and Drake Road by US-131. The video is the first in a series that delves into WMU’s intention to expand the Business, Technology and Civic Auditorium Kalamazoo, Michigan Research Park onto the Orchard. The documentary includes interviews with representatives from WMU, the Asylum Lake Preservation Associa- tion, the Oakland Drive /Winchell Neighborhood Association, and local Michigan legislators. The purpose of General Contractors Construction Managers the video, Matt states, is to “shed light Design/Build Services Self-Performing on the inner workings behind this LEED-Accredited Professionals Building Information Modeling controversial community debate.” It was broadcast on Kalamazoo’s Public Media Network and is available for viewing on the Internet at his blog: 1029 Portage Street | Kalamazoo, MI | 269.345.3561 | miller-davis.com Little Piece of the Wild, http://littlepieceofthewild.blogspot.com, or at his YouTube channel, http://www.youtube. com/user/MatthewClysdale. WWW.ENCOREKALAMAZOO.COM 11 Clysdale

there,” he states. Yet, he had to admit that red-tailed hawks are extremely common, inhabiting every state in the nation. At the same time, the Public Broadcasting System aired a nature show on Pale Male, a red-tailed hawk that had nested in New York City’s Central Park. “That’s as urban as you’re going to get,” Matt says, adding that he then decided to, yes, include the hawks he had discovered but also bring images of other urban animals into his documentary. Even as a boy, Matt liked to explore the wild. That determination led to “Animals Among Us,” Matt’s second, feature- rels, songbirds, spiders (jumping across which represents Anytown USA. On the length, nature documentary, produced water), and other critters of various sizes surface, it’s about urban wildlife, and it by his independently owned company, in numerous community locales. shows the circumstances under which HorsePower Pictures. Narrated by Matt As Matt moved further into the ani- they survive. But on a different level, it’s in a down-to-earth, folksy manner, the mal kingdom, often awakening at three in also autobiographical about how I got video includes footage of the hawk fam- the morning, showering with scent-free interested in wildlife,” he says. ily as well as fox found along the railroad soap, and arriving at his blind an hour be- Through that personal dimension, tracks by Stadium Drive. It also includes fore ﬁrst light, he found himself moving Matt presents himself as Anyperson fox, deer, and coyote in Kleinstuck— into the personal drama of self-discovery. living in Anytown USA. He represents and hawks, screech owls, ﬂying squir- “The documentary is set in Kalamazoo, all citizens who drive by urban green

12 &/$03&t/07&.#&3 At the same time, Matt observed the continual intertwining of animal and human drama. This past summer, he learned of osprey nesting atop a telephone pole within the conﬁnes of a former industrial site near King Highway. Naturally, he went there with his camera and 400mm lens, and, along with the

Matt Clysdale captured this image of a doe on a crumbling driveway in 54-acre Colony Farm Orchard, a osprey, he found people sitting on the plot of land subject to controversy regarding its use as a Business, Technology and Research Park. hoods of their cars, outside the tall, barbed, chain-link fence that provided spaces, focused on traffic lights and cell Self-observing, Matt noted that some protective distance between raptors phones—until they slow down, go for when he was hooked on human dramas, and spectators. a silent walk, sit down in a field or for- he found nature’s tamer dramas to be Even so, Matt expressed concern est, and become aware of the drama of uninteresting. “They aren’t as dramatic that people might be too close for the nature among the trees and grasses and as a hospital emergency room on TV, and comfort level of the osprey. “They have ponds near where they live and work. we don’t live in Africa where we might chicks so they’re committed to that nest Sitting in his tree stand, Matt saw the witness lions stalking zebras and killing and are not going to abandon it now,” he drama of a spider unfold. “Building its web, them in front of our eyes,” he says. “But notes, “but there is so much traffic on it is industrious,” he observes. “When he when I turned off the TV and completely a daily basis that they might not come finishes, he becomes keeper of a lair. Then disconnected from the human dramas, I back next year.” a fly comes in, and the spider becomes a had a greater appreciation for the subtler, Matt finds himself struggling murderer. That’s nature’s mini drama.” yet fascinating, dramas of nature.” with an internal debate over such a

WWW.ENCOREKALAMAZOO.COM 13 Clysdale

situation—that of mixed land use, by environment, and industry” and “one of And he sees it as the epitome of animals and people and their ability to the reasons I moved into my house.” He mixed environmental usage, rife with so- interact and coexist. He is fascinated explains, “Schippers Crossing has been ciological components. “People walk their with the opportunity of living in his abused and damaged, and there’s a pond dogs there. Motocross guys ride their four new home on Nazareth Road, adjacent that is full of old tires and trash. But wheelers and dirt bikes. I go there with to Schippers Crossing, a former waste- there are portions that weren’t polluted my camera. The animals are there. And sludge dump site owned by the City of that are beautiful, with a spring-fed lake, here we are, all using the same place.” Kalamazoo and across the road from mature oak, and celery ﬂats that are now Because of this mixed interaction, the large open pit formed by Consumers marshland.” Matt cites other local artists Matt admits that he is re-evaluating his Concrete’s mining operations. who, like him, visit their muse among environmental values, re-evaluating his Matt describes the property as the beauty of this 230-acre tract that he views about the relationship of human “a profound intersection of ecology, views as his backyard. drama and nature’s drama. “What is acceptable in terms of how we use the environment?” he poses. “Should there In the spirit of scientiﬁc inquiry be a battle between environmentalists and people who love off-road vehicles? Is Woke up at 2 a.m. there a place for all of us?” Thought about the meteor shower Is Matt becoming more temperate? but would have had to put on shoes and long pants, “Yes,” he states. And, as if on cue, a deer Thought about taking an Ambien. emerges out of the woods, walks his Went back to sleep driveway, considers crossing Nazareth Road toward the Consumers property, Woke up at 3 a.m. and then turns and disappears back into Really should look at the meteor shower the woods. but the door would wake Tom up. He recalls the story of Terry and Don’t have to put on long pants — Dawn Stewart, two viewers at the osprey could wrap myself in a blanket. site who told of watching the male Thought about taking an Ambien. osprey swoop down from the nest, catch Went back to sleep. a mouse, and then sit atop another pole and consume it. And the Stewarts, as Woke up at 4 a.m. humans, sat there, watching the entire Hate myself for missing the meteor shower. drama. “Every night, they’re doing some- Cat jumps on the bed. thing different. The chicks bopping and We look out the window but eating and stretching their wings,” Dawn only she sees a meteor. had told Matt, adding that neighborhood Too late to take Ambien. children have found the show fascinating Went back to sleep. and that she would be there, watching, all day long if she could. Woke up at 7:30 groggy from a night of indecision. n an effort to dramatize the counter- More meteor showers tonight. point of human drama and nature Station shoes by back door, drama, Matt has expanded his blanket, bug repellent. Icreativity to include electronic collages Just out of sight, the cat through which he blends images of . coughs up a meteor. people and their totem animals He intends to create a body of work to display By Elizabeth Kerlikowske at art galleries. The internal drama that Matt faces Elizabeth Kerlikowske is working on a chapbook (a collection of poems) and today is whether to carry his camera or a transcription of her family’s cabin journals while on sabbatical from Kellogg not. He asks, “Am I going to have a face- Community College. Fall and winter are the best writing seasons. to-face encounter with an animal that is entirely for me—and private—with no 14 &/$03&t/07&.#&3 lens, no piece of glass as a barrier, between us? Or do I go out and capture the image and then take it back to the editing studio where I can view it, sometimes over and over? Which is more esoteric? Is it better to interact with the animal or the image of the animal?” He relates an exemplary story from a birding tour to Alaska with his father in 2005. “We took a whaling boat to Seward to see the fjords. There were about 50 people on the boat, and we had an incredible encounter with a hump-

back. Even the captain said he had never Mason Jacque Photo: had such an experience before.” Matt Clysdale (right) plays the role of Giovanni in “We Won’t Pay! We Won’t Pay!” by Nobel Prize- winning playwright Dario Fo, performed at Kalamazoo’s Whole Art Theater. To Matt’s left is actor Kevin Normally, a whale will breach about Feldt, playing the part of Luigi. 50 or more yards from a vessel, Matt explains, but one whale came up right up on a map of public parks, but there’s ever seen,” Liga compliments. “The ﬂy- next to the boat. “I was on the deck and tons of wildlife in there,” Matt states, ing squirrels, for example; he worked so I could look right down into the water as wishing that more people would convert hard to capture those secretive animals it went back down and under the boat. their grass yards to natural vegetation that come out only at night.” I had my video camera, and I ran to the that would create corridor links between It is from these special encounters other side to capture it coming back up these pockets of green. “A little piece with nature and human interactions with again. I got in the perfect spot and was of the wild could be your back yard; it persons such as Liga as well as the rave about to shoot when a little message could be the square yard outside your reviews he has received from showings at appeared in my viewﬁnder that said ‘end bedroom window, or a 10-acre plot, or 50 Kalamazoo Nature Center, Binder Park of tape.’ Right as it was surfacing. Right acres like Kleinstuck,” Matt continues. Zoo, Kalamazoo Valley Museum, librar- there in front of my face.” “In that little piece of the wild, we can ies, and churches that Matt realizes he is Crediting himself for not being a connect and get a taste of wilderness.” making a difference. Through his eye, his fool and realizing there was nothing he And create stories. Realizing that camera, and his lens, Matt is giving view- could do to capture the shot, Matt pulled people feel and generate touching stories ers of his documentary the opportunity the camera down and watched the drama when they commune with nature, Matt to encounter and experience the Divine unfold. “Running out of tape forced me has a blog, http://littlepieceofthewild. through the eyes of animals, captured on to get the camera out of the way, and the blogspot.com, where he journals his own video, looking back at them. wildlife encounters and plans to publish experience became phenomenal. Not Always at home in the out of doors, Matt having the lens between us was a bless- those of other people, including, he Clysdale enjoys a serene paddle on the Platte ing. It was powerful, and I could feel it.” hopes, “really cool video footage.” River in Sleeping Bear Dunes. Matt notes that urban deer, fox, and Speaking as an artist, Matt hopes his coyote are “a barometer for the health work will make a difference and inspire of the city.” He says that a good wildlife others to make a difference as well. “If population indicates a good amount of I reach one person, I have succeeded,” green space. And he compliments Kala- Matt states. Then he pauses before telling mazoo and its residents for its patches of of one notable person he has reached: undeveloped area such as along Bronson Liga Dindonis who, Matt explains, lives Boulevard, the Long/Short/High/Low adjacent to Kleinstuck Preserve and told roads area east of Oakland Drive, Whites him that “Animals Among Us” was a Lake, the Blanche Hull Preserve and cor- catalyst for her decision to form Stewards ridor, Portage River to Reed Street, old pa- of Kleinstuck, a volunteer group working per mill sites, the state hospital, Asylum to restore the diverse ecology and create Lake, Bass Woods Preserves, Kalsec spice a culture of that preserve where Matt’s farms, Northside nurseries, and others. documentary was crafted. “He captured

“These properties wouldn’t show animals on video that none of us had Garcia Michele Photo: WWW.ENCOREKALAMAZOO.COM 15 N 1974, KAY WAS at Iowa State University completing her biology degree with the intention of applying for medical school. She had a plant systematics course requirement and heard it was very boring. Then Kay learned of an alternative five-week field course at Iowa Lakeside Laboratory in the northwestern part of the state on Lake Okoboji. She was intrigued. Kay chuckles as she recalls what an environmental leap that was for her to Kay Gross enjoys some time in the field at the Kellogg Biological Station. enroll in the field course. “The closest thing to field work I’d ever done was discuss their data and debate science in 1975. as a Girl Scout growing up in Park Ridge, over a few beers,” Kay says. “I found my- After graduation, the couple en- Ill., a suburb of Chicago, where we self asking the question: ‘Who do I want countered a challenge. Gary was offered walked paved pathways and called it to spend my life working with?’” a post-doctorate opportunity back in hiking.” She shakes her head and She had worked in hospitals doing Iowa while Kay was offered a tenure- emphasizes: “S’mores were what we clerical work and done an internship in a track professor position in the botany considered rustic.” psychiatric ward in Chicago but had not department of Ohio State University. However far-fetched the course seen the passion that these graduate stu- She interviewed for the position a few was, she went—and it not only changed dents and faculty had shown for ecologi- months before defending her dissertation her career path but it set the stage for cal research. Not that the medical field and got the job. This was at a time when her adult life. It was at Iowa Lakeside doesn’t have passion, it was just not in academic jobs were scarce and highly where she met and began dating Gary the form that spoke to Kay. Her answer competitive. Mittelbach, another student trying was in the field, not in the hospital. Gary supported Kay’s decision something new before heading off to Kay applied for graduate school at to take the position and accepted an medical school. Michigan State University (MSU) as did adjunct assistant professor position in Kay says she remembers seeing the Gary. Both steered their career aspira- the zoology department of Ohio State passion of graduate students working as tions away from medicine and obtained University. field scientists. “They would work in the their doctorates in zoology in 1980. It was in Ohio that Kay and Gary field all day; then at night they would They also were married along the way— started their family. Kay remembers the 16 &/$03&t/07&.#&3 with. She followed up that answer with a second question: “Could I live with myself when faced with that result?” Kay’s answer was, “yes.” What she wouldn’t be able to live with was missing the chance to have children. With this disclosure Kay smiles and adds, “Some things you can’t wait for.” Her husband, Gary, recalled Kay’s strength during her maternal pursuit when he wrote a brief biography about her for the Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America. Gary wrote, “I still

remember the look on people’s faces Sometimes work at KBS has been a family af- when Kay stepped into a student’s com- fair. Here son Mark gives his mother a mittee meeting to tell me that she was hand with the research. walking across the street to the Univer- sity Hospital because her contractions was offered an opportunity to return to were getting closer. Our two sons were MSU as a professor at the Kellogg Bio- decision vividly. “I was in the green- born in that hospital, about 100 yards logical Station and the Zoology Depart- house working one day and thinking from her office.” ment. It was his turn to land the job he about how angry some of the profession- Kay took sick leave as her mater- wanted. “We switched,” says Kay. “He al women I knew were because they had nity leave at Ohio State, and as a faculty was the one with a full-time path, and I waited too long and now realized that member she was able to balance home took a position as an adjunct associate they were not going to have children.” and work life because she had the then professor at KBS.” In academia it was considered rare opportunity to work from home. She As their two boys grew up in south- unwise to have children before obtain- and Gary bought their first computer so west Michigan, Kay and Gary continued ing tenure status as a professor, and Kay would be able to work from home to practice that delicate balance between even though Kay was in a “tenure-track” after their first son, John, was born. family and career. “I couldn’t be at every position, she had not yet received that Kay said one of the main things that assembly or school Halloween party,” comfortable guarantee. Her department helped her thrive as a career mom was Kay says. “I had to pick and choose was male-dominated and women who the ability to compartmentalize. “When around travel and other obligations that had children were not thought to be ca- I was at the office, I was at the office. come with having a career.” pable of the same productivity to handle I didn’t bring my home life with me. She laughs and then adds, “I did, research. Neither could they possibly be Though I am not as successful at leaving however, go to every student-teacher serious scientists. She was the only fe- the office at the office!” She also said that conference for our boys. Gary said I had male faculty member in her department when she left the office she brought work that covered, so I was delegated that and was one of only five female profes- home with her just in case. “You never responsibility.” sors in her College of Biological Sciences knew what might come up that would Not surprisingly, the fine balance at Ohio State University. prevent you from going to the office the between career and family ultimately Kay thought about how angry and next day, so I was always prepared.” paid off as Kay expected. Both sons are bitter those women were as she mea- She had more flex time than the typi- now in the beginnings of successful sured plants in the greenhouse and cal career mom, thanks to her academic professional lives themselves. Mark, 22, asked herself the question: “What is the position, and she “didn’t do it alone.” Kay is in his last year at the University of To- worst thing that could happen if I started says, “I had a lot of help from Gary.” ronto, where he is completing a master’s my family now?” Kay and Gary returned to Michigan degree in political science. John, 26, just The fact that she wouldn’t make in the summer during the seven years finished a clerkship with a federal circuit tenure was the worst she could come up they were at Ohio State. In 1987 Gary judge in Montgomery, Ala., after com- WWW.ENCOREKALAMAZOO.COM 17 Gross

pleting a law degree at the top of his class at Emory Law School in Atlanta, Ga.

hile the boys grew, Kay’s EXPERIENCE career continued to develop. In 1995 she was offered a tenured position at Michigan State W Kellogg Biological Station director Kay Gross University and became a professor in the (right) is assisted at the ribbon cutting of the department of plant biology and KBS. grand opening of the new robotic pasture-based CHEF’S TABLE There her sons were able to work part dairy facility on August 19, 2009, by (l to r) Dr. Michael Hamm, Dr. Richard Foster, Dr. Karen time with her as they grew older. Plaut, and Dr. Stephen Lovejoy. “The kids worked as research assistants, performing duties such as KBS is and does? sampling plants and soils, cleaning “I think more and more they do,” glassware and weighing fertilizer.” Kay responds, “but I think the majority However, Kay always had them report of the local community doesn’t.” Most to a research technician or student and often what people know of the Kellogg not to Mom. Biological Station, according to Kay, is However after 17 years at KBS as a what they experience. What they don’t faculty member, Kay craved a new chal- understand is what’s behind it,” she says. lenge. Gary, however, wanted to stay in On the surface, the general public knows Michigan. At that time, the director posi- that weddings and special events take tion opened up at KBS and Kay decided place at the Manor House; they know to apply. about the bird sanctuary and maybe the In 2005 she was not only offered the dairy farm. Kay would, however, like to position but she also received three hon- increase the greater understanding of the ors from MSU: University Distinguished important research that has been part of Professor, University Distinguished the legacy of KBS. mondays - thursdays 6:30 Faculty Award, and Distinguished Fac- For example, the legacy of the Kel- fridays 5:30 & 8:30 ulty Award from the College of Natural logg Bird Sanctuary goes all the way Science. With this great support from the back to Mr. Kellogg. A habitat was cre- saturdays & sundays 5:30 University, Kay began the next challenge ated from abandoned farm land. It was in her career as director of the Kellogg there that scientists worked to restore SPACE IS LIMITED! Biological Station. the then threatened species, the Canada Now, as the director of KBS with goose. To their credit, the Canada goose a professional history of over 20 years is now a thriving—perhaps too much there, Kay is qualiﬁed to answer the so—species in North America. Kay question: Do people really know what smiles at this fact and facetiously states,

The grand opening of the new dairy facility at KBS was attended by over 1,200 visitors.

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18 &/$03&t/07&.#&3 “I think we fixed that problem!” Other more recent restorative successes of the sanctuary include the successful re-establishment of the Trum- peter Swan. “W.K. Kellogg was a great Malacca conservationist,” Kay said and added, Bed “Many people don’t understand his legacy in this place.” KBS was a gift from Mr. Kellogg to Michigan State College. Though they have received some grant funds from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, there is no formal affiliation between KBS and the Kellogg Foundation or Company beyond its name to honor Mr. Kellogg’s environmental legacy. KBS is, in fact, the largest off-site educational complex for the university. Another fact of which many are Harbour Bay Furniture Co. unaware is that KBS is home to 13 Stuart, FL and Holland, MI research faculty members who are world renowned in their field. The faculty Downtown Holland · 212 S. River Ave., Holland · (616) 395-5554 Open Mon.–Sat. 10:00–5:30 www.harbourbayfurniture.com includes: plant ecologists, aquatic ecologists, microbial ecologists, and more. KBS scientists are studying the algae in our lakes, comparing the ecology of na- tive and invasive species, analyzing the effect of global climate change on plants, and even studying how to revitalize rural communities by doing research on pasture-based dairy systems and robotic milking.

n August of this year, KBS presented to the community their Pasture Dairy Research and Educational ICenter. The barn at this facility was constructed with an emphasis on ener-

Director Kay Gross meets brieﬂy with Mat Haan, Cathleen Huling KBS Pasture-Dairy Project Coordinator. with the Artistic Director

Featuring American Ballet Theatre Dr. Barry Ross Guest Professional Dancers Conductor Kalamazoo Children’s Chorus Saturday, December 12 Reserved Seats $10 to $18 2 pm and 7 pm Tickets available at Miller Auditorium Sunday, December 13 box ofﬁce (269.387.2300) or 2 pm online at . Special ticket rates for groups of Chenery AuditoriumsKalamazoo MI 20 or more are available.

Fresh ﬂower bouquets by Seivert’s Floral available at the door.

WWW.ENCOREKALAMAZOO.COM 19 Gross

gy savings and reduced environmental dairy farm may not meet the needs of how they use their time because they impact and will be the first agricultural the corporate model for dairy produc- are not tied to a daily milking schedule building in North America to seek the tion, but “there needs to be an opportu- 365 days a year. “This is an important Leadership in Energy and Environ- nity for individuals who want to run a factor for farmers with children as they mental Design (LEED) Certification smaller operation to be successful dairy now have more time to be involved as defined by the U.S. Green Builders farmers,” says Kay. She further explains in family and community activities” Council. To receive this certification, that the pasture dairy concept of graz- says Kay. the barn had to be designed, construct- ing cattle is not new, but coupling this As director, Kay wants to bring the ed and now operated in a way that de- with the new, robotic, milking technol- research efforts and advances of KBS to creases its impact on the environment. ogy is. The robots allow cows to decide the forefront. Kay continues her life’s The new pasture dairy will help how often they will be milked, which work as a researcher and is passionate evaluative questions and concerns that may increase milk production and about connecting the community with directly affect small-to-medium-sized enhance animal health. Robotic milking professionals and students who are do- dairy farmers in this area. The pasture gives dairy farmers more flexibility in ing amazing work here in their commu-

HAT IS KNOWN as the Kellogg Even with this amount of attention and more than 3,000 men filtered through Biological Station’s “Manor given to the design and construction the cottage in the first 12 months. House” was affectionately of the cottage, Kellogg didn’t hold on After the Coast Guard vacated in called “the cottage” by the Cereal King to ownership for long. His intent for 1944, the cottage became a rehabilita- W. K. Kellogg. Built as Mr. Kellogg’s his home was to offer a resource to the tion unit of Percy Jones Hospital of Battle summer estate on the highest point over- community. In May of 1926, Kellogg and Creek. In 1950 the military no longer looking Gull Lake, it was aptly known as his wife deeded their new cottage and had a need for the cottage and returned “Eagle Heights.” The cottage offered Mr. estate to the City of Battle Creek with the ownership to the Kellogg Foundation. In Kellogg and his family a summer retreat contingency that they be permitted a life- Mr. Kellogg’s final years of life, he lost his while keeping him in close proxim- time lease to occupy the property. This eyesight and did not live in the cottage. ity to his business in Battle Creek. The began his public legacy on private land. After his death on October 6, 1951, the construction of the cottage was com- The cottage changed ownership Kellogg Foundation deeded the cottage pleted in 1926 with no expense spared several times over the next 30 or so years to Michigan State University. Mr. Kellogg for elegance and detail, according to Mr. of Mr. Kellogg’s life. After establishing the had already donated much of his property Kellogg’s specification. Kellogg Foundation, Mr. Kellogg thought to the university, including the bird sanc- the estate could be tuary, farm, dairy and biological station. The Manor House has filled many needs throughout the years. an asset to children The cottage, or Manor House, as we know as a summer camp, it now, completed the package. and the deed was Through the various changes transferred from in ownership, the Manor House was the city to his renovated to suit the use of the time. foundation. When The military enclosed the porches, the the military sought Rookwood tile was painted, and tubs facilities for induc- were replaced with showers. In 1998 tion and training MSU received a grant from the Kellogg during World War Foundation to restore the manor house II, Eagle Heights to it’s original condition. The restoration was deeded to the was completed in 2000, and today the U.S. Government Manor House is once again available for for this purpose. public use through MSU and for private- The Coast Guard ly held special events in Mr. Kellogg’s inducted 150 men original vision of elegance and retreat for on Kellogg’s estate, his home. 20 &/$03&t/07&.#&3 guests representing a cross-section of the community at the Manor House, expertly prepared by the KBS chef and many times including produce from the KBS garden. Assigned seating ensures that community leaders sit with students and research faculty. Each table has networking opportunities for learning about KBS projects and connecting them with the community members they affect. After dinner, there is a public lecture in the auditorium, given by a MSU scientist, where dessert is served. The

Kay is visited in the ﬁeld by her husband, Dr. Gary Mittelbach, MSU Department of lecture and ensuing discussion provide Zoology Professor, and Dr. Heather Reynolds, Indiana University Associate Professor. the public the opportunity to learn about a topic or issue and interact with nity. She wants to see information and statewide and beyond. scientists, students and their neighbors. education “spiral out and spiral in.” Kay Kay intends to do this with strate- Dessert With Discussion sessions are wants to see better access to expertise gic public outreach efforts. One of the free and open to the general public. with KBS as a viable hub for network- programs she has implemented is the The Dessert With Discussion pro- ing with the collective goal to address “Dessert With Discussion” series. The gram and other programs at the Kellogg challenges that affect the community evening begins with dinner for invited Manor House provide the opportunity

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WWW.ENCOREKALAMAZOO.COM 21 Gross :YUhif]b[aUbmcZ gcih\kYghA]W\][Ubºg Z]bYghUfh]ghg" to share the history of Mr. Kellogg and Blue how KBS and MSU are honoring his ,,*$B"'&bXGhfYYh F]W\ÙbX legacy and interest in education, con- Water &*-*&-!)-+) servation and sustainability. Kay hopes HiYgXUmµGUhifXUm%%U"a"hc*d"a" GALLERY that the community recognizes how the kkk"VìYkUhYf[U``Yfm"Wca Manor House fits in at KBS. Whether kkk"W`cW_hckYf[fYYb"Wca visiting for a wedding, public forum or intimate dinner, the beauty of Mr. @cWUhYXUhF]W\ÙbXºg7`cW_hckYf;fYYb"5jU]ÙV`YZcfdf]jUhYYjYbhg" Kellogg’s summer home and gardens can inspire learning the history behind it and motivating visitors to learn more about how they can promote and share conservation and sustainable practices in their community. Kay truly means conservancy in every aspect of the word and leads KBS in connecting with every aspect of the community. With over 3,000 acres of land to manage for the purpose of research and education, controlling the local deer population is a challenge. KBS employees who are also avid hunters are relied on for their “sharp shooting” abilities to help curb the damaging deer population. KBS uses this opportunity to again reach out to the community. “All of the meat recovered is donated to local food banks and needy families,” Kay says. Generous processors donate or steeply discount the fee for processing the

Part of Kay’s job as director of the Kellogg Biological Station is addressing the public about programs and facilities.

www.kpl.gov

22 &/$03&t/07&.#&3 2009.10 Season Electric Don Quixote 11.14.09, 8 pm meat. Most years there is also a public Dalton Center bow hunt, with hunters selected by lottery, and a hunt for disabled hunt- Recital Hall, WMU ers. This hunting opportunity provides In Collaboration with Opus 21 community hunters who have complet- - a “prog-rock” playlist of Frank ed the necessary training the opportu- Zappa’s inventive, irreverent and subversive work. nity to hunt on the KBS property. tickets: While KBS is increasing awareness (269) 387-2300 | miller box office www.fontanachamberarts.org of conservation in the general public, online: www.millerauditorium.com they are also reaching out to students and educators from kindergarten to research scholars. “My goal is to have an effective partnership with every department at MSU,” Kay says. KBS provides many opportunities for students to gain research and work GROWTH experience and has in the past and currently offers internships in marketing, LIFE CHANGES. GROWTH IS OPTIONAL. CHOOSE WISELY. graphic design, and museum studies, as well as research fellowships. KBS also It is never too early—or too late—to start on the works with elementary and secondary road to your desired financial future. educators to help them better understand ecological research done at KBS. Whether you need retirement or estate planning, wealth School-year workshops and a sum- management or financial advice, the combined experience of mer science institute provide teachers one of southwest Michigan’s oldest and largest financial services in-depth exposure to research topics organizations is a benefit we feel you will not find anywhere else. in environmental science and training We call it The Wiser Advantage.™ to teach inquiry-based science at the elementary and secondary levels. CFP®/CPA What began with an enthusiastic spark from a field class during that in- famous summer of 1974 has culminated into the life’s work of an accomplished research scientist, wife, and mother who now leads the Kellogg Biological Station with the same determination – Rob Campbell, Partner and passion. Each one of Kay’s accom- Investment Advisor plishments took honesty and courage Representative as she examined what was important Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) in her life and acted accordingly. She Certified Public Accountant (CPA) makes life decisions on her own terms and not according to a “standard” that Try The Wiser Way™ others may have created. It’s a life les- to financial freedom. son that she passes on to her students Your initial consultation is when she sees them struggling to make complimentary. an important decision. “I always ask them: ‘What’s the 6100 Stadium Dr. Kalamazoo, MI 49009 (269) 372.1430 / (800) 292.1472 worst thing that can happen?’” Kay thewisergroup.com/rob says. Then she follows that question Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through Transamerica with: “Can you live with that result?” Financial Advisors, Inc. (TFA) member FINRA, SIPC and a Registered Investment Advisor. The next step always lies in the answer Non-Securities products and services are not offered through TFA. to those very important questions. LD33783-09/09 WWW.ENCOREKALAMAZOO.COM 23 “It’s a Wonderful Life, The Musical”— Vocal Performing Arts The classic American holiday film is now a delightful musical. Nov. 27, 28, Dec. 4, Sweet Honey In The Rock — Six African- Plays 5, 11 & 12, 8 p.m., Nov. 29, Dec. 6 & 13, 2 American women will lift you up with p.m., Dec. 3, 7:30 p.m. Civic Auditorium, amazing voices, also featuring the NAEA “Rhinoceros” — Ionesco’s classic absurd- 329 S. Park St. 343-1313. GospelFest Choir as part of the Michigan ist comedy is presented. Nov. 12, 7:30 p.m., Festival of Sacred Music. Nov. 13, 8 p.m. Nov. 13 & 14, 8 p.m., Nov. 15, 2 p.m. Balch Dance Miller Auditorium, WMU. 387-2300. Theater, K-College. 337-7130. An Evening with Lauren Kennedy — A “Uncle Jeff and His New Girlfriend”— Fall Concert of Dance — This Wellspring/ star on both the Broadway and London Don’t judge her by the back tattoo and Def Cori Terry & Dancers concert will feature stages, Ms. Kennedy’s song stylings will please. Nov. 13 & 14, 8 p.m. Farmers Alley Leopard t-shirt. After all, he still lives with new works and favorites from the reper- Theatre, 221 Farmers Alley. 343-2727. grandma and can’t keep a job. Crawlspace toire. Nov. 13, 14, 19–21, 8 p.m., Nov. 15, Collegium Musicum — Hear early music Eviction. Nov. 20 & 21, 8 p.m. Whole Art 2 p.m. Wellspring Theatre, 359 S. Kalama- zoo Mall. 342-4354. performed by this WMU vocal ensemble. Theater Studio. 599-7390. Nov. 17, 8:15 p.m. Dalton Center Recital “A Christmas Carol” — Packed with Hall, WMU. 387-4667. pageantry, laughter and gorgeous costumes, Symphony Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway — A this Nebraska Theatre Caravan production tribute to Broadway musicals featuring five “Sacred Seasons” — Four talented violin- will be a treasured holiday event. Dec. 5, dazzling vocalists performing all your fa- ists join the KSO for a tour of the seasons 8 p.m. Miller Auditorium, WMU. 387-2300. vorites. Nov. 21, 8 p.m. Miller Auditorium, in collaboration with the Michigan Festival WMU. 387-2300. of Sacred Music. Nov. 20, 8 p.m. Miller “Christmas at Nazareth” — The Kala- Auditorium, WMU. 349-7759. Musicals & mazoo Singers present their Christmas Opera concert in this beautiful setting. Dec. 1, Chamber, Jazz, Orchestra 7:30 p.m. Holy Family Chapel on the “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, & Bands former Nazareth College campus off Gull No Good, Very Bad Day” — Civic Youth Rd. 373-1769. Theatre presents a really great musical Bullock Series — A series of concerts about a boy who has a performed by guests of the WMU School Miscellaneous really bad day. Nov. 6 & Happiness of Music; Tenor John Duykers and Birds on 13, 7 p.m., Nov 7 & 14, is nothing more a Wire, Nov. 13, 8:15 p.m. Dalton Center Celtic Woman — This acclaimed group 1 p.m. & 4 p.m., Nov. 8, of women present their new “Isle of Hope” than good Recital Hall, WMU. 387-2300. 2 p.m., Nov. 10, 11 & 12, “Electric Don Quixote” — Fontana tour, a magical musical experience. Nov. 7, health and a bad 9:30 a.m., Nov. 11 & 12, Chamber Arts presents Opus 21 perform- 8 p.m. Miller Audit., WMU. 387-2300. memory. 12 p.m. Parish Theatre, ing works by Frank Zappa. Nov. 14, 8 American Girl Fashion Show — Local 429 S. Park St. 343-1313. p.m. Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU. talent models fashions from the historic Albert “Carousel” — A classic 382-7774. doll collection and modern designs. KSO Schweitzer American musical from Bronco Marching Band — You’ve seen Orchestra League benefit for the KSO Rodgers and Hammer- them at Waldo Stadium, now hear them in Youth Education programs. Nov. 13, 7 stein. Nov. 12–14, 19–21, concert. Nov. 15, 3 p.m. Miller Auditorium, p.m.; Nov. 14 & 15, 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. 8 p.m., Nov. 15, 2 p.m. Shaw Theatre, WMU. 387-2300. Fetzer Center, WMU. 349-7759. WMU. 387-6222. Band Concert — WMU’s University Sym- Michigan Festival of Sacred Music — The “Hooray for Hollywood” — The Senior phonic Band and University Concert Band fifth biennial festival will present music Class Reader’s Theatre cast will “wow” you perform. Nov. 22, 3 p.m. Dalton Center of many faiths at various sites. For more with this musical tribute. Nov. 13, 14 & 15, Recital Hall, WMU. 387-4667. information and a complete schedule of 2 p.m., Nov. 13 & 14, 7 p.m. Carver Center Holiday 2009 Concert — The Kalama- events from Nov. 12–24, visit www.mfsm. Studio, 429 S. Park St. 343-1313. zoo Concert Band presents their holiday us or call 382-2910. “A Christmas Carol” — The 30th anniver- concert with special guests, the Chenille The Christmas Music of Mannheim sary production of this seasonal favorite. Sisters. Dec. 4, 8 p.m. Miller Auditorium, Steamroller by Chip Davis — The unique Nov, 20, 21, 27, 28, Dec. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, WMU. 806-6597. sound of this popular group will help you 8:30 p.m. New Vic Theatre, 134 E. Vine St. kick off your holiday season. Nov. 28, 381-3328. 8 p.m. Miller Auditorium, WMU. 387-2300.

24 &/$03&tNOVEMBER 2009 STEPPING BACK Visual Arts WITH THE ARTS

In the Middle Ages, musical instruments WMU Richmond Center for were very important, especially in the Visual Arts (RCVA) royal courts. Knights could joust, but 387-2455: they were also expected to play an instru- ment — with one of the favorites being Video Art — An exhibition by Louise the harp. Harps of the day were small Noguchi entitled “Rope Tricks” will be and held on the player’s lap. Strung with shown. Nov. 16 –Dec. 2, Atrium Gallery. wire, gut, hair or plant material, they had between seven and 25 strings. In Wales, a Kalamazoo Institute of Arts law was passed stating the harp was one fact, possession of a harp seems to have 349-7775: of three necessities to being considered been limited to the king, his musicians, a gentleman. None could claim that title or other gentlemen. To that end, maybe Embracing Diverse Voices: African- unless he possessed a harp and was able requiring harp playing instead of video American Art in the Collection of the to play it. The law also stated that slaves games would improve the disagreeable Kalamazoo Institute of Arts — An were not allowed to play a harp, and behaviors we sometimes see in our youth exhibition to mark and celebrate the KIA’s a harp could not be seized for debt. In of today. impressive collection. Through Nov. 29. Speed Bump by Dave Coverly — The wit and whimsy of original daily and Sunday and glass. Guest artists: Seth Green, ceram- Taking Tea Russian Style — Robert cartoons are on view, along with illustra- ics; Mary Land, photography; Garrylee Alexander will discuss his books on the tions from Sue MacDonald Had a Book. McCormick, collage. 356 S. Kala. Mall. Romanov empire over tea. Nov. 20, 12–1:30 Runs through Jan. 10. p.m. Stuart Manor. Call 329-4522. ARTbreak — Enjoy informal free lectures on art-related topics. The Life and Works Miscellaneous of Gordon Parks (part 1), Nov. 10; The Life Literary Events and Works of Gordon Parks (part2), Nov. Gwen Frostic Reading Series—Visiting 17; The Art of Romare Bearden, Nov. 24. author Stuart Dybek reads from his works. Bring a lunch to these 12:15 p.m. sessions. Kalamazoo Public Library Nov. 19, 8 p.m. Bernhard Center, Rm 208. Art Against Hunger — Bring a non- 553-7809: perishable food item to the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts and receive free admission Southern Straight Singers in Concert— Museums to Art & All That Jazz Pow wow music and dancers in regalia Art and All That Jazz — An evening of representing sacred and social traditions of art, music and socializing. Alberto Rojo the People of the Three Fires. Nov. 21, 2:30 Trio, Nov. 20, 5–7 p.m. p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Central Library. Kalamazoo Valley Museum Classics Revisited — What makes a book 373-7990: a classic? Discussion of Lolita by Vladimir Park Trades Center Nabokov. Nov. 19, 7 p.m. Central Library. Genome — The Secret of How Life Works 345-3311 Best of 2009 — KPL librarians share their — Experience the world of human genes favorite adult novels and nonﬁction, teen through interactive displays and family- Open Studios — Visit with artists and see and children’s books, DVDs and CDs of friendly activities. Through Jan. 10. various demonstrations during Art Hop. 2009. Dec. 3, 6:30 p.m. Central Library. Nov. 6 & Dec. 4, 5–9 p.m. (continued on page 54) Miscellaneous Portage District Library 329-4544 Please send notiﬁcation of activities to: Art Hop — View the works of area artists Encore “Events of Note” at local venues/galleries in downtown Ka- Meet the Chef — Channon Mondoux of 350 South Burdick St., Suite 214 lamazoo. Nov. 6 & Dec. 4, 5 p.m. 342-5059. Renaissance Cuisine demonstrates her 1IPOFt'BY Midtown Gallery—Featured exhibitors: culinary skills. Nov. 11, 2–3:30 p.m. & E-mail: [email protected] Karen Katson, paintings; Jan Kimball, clay 6:30–8 p.m. 329-4542 ext. 600.

WWW.ENCOREKALAMAZOO.COM 25 Design on a Dime: Decorating Your Home in a Slow Economy

DO YOU FIND YOURSELF THINKING, “I need to do a little some- ideas are endless! thing in this room or I need to do a major renovation in that Another low-cost, customary idea is to add color to your room, but I don’t have the big budget or time to do so?” I would walls with a fresh coat of paint. Painting the walls is the easi- like to offer a few strategies on how to decorate your home est way to bring warmth and character to your home. Besides without break- painting, you can also add color by bringing in accessories such ing the bank. as pillows, throws, lamp shades, curtains and fresh flowers. Often, little Lastly, creating a focal point in a room can add just the things can right design element. Whether it is uniquely accessorizing a impact the fireplace mantel, dressing a dramatic window with lush draper- interior look ies, or creating a family photo-gallery wall, a stunning room can of your home, be accomplished by accentuating certain focal points. while you con- Sometimes it takes another creative eye to make your home serve funds for a well-decorated haven. My approach through “Designed In- bigger renova- side” is to incorporate original drawing and watercolor sketches tions. so home owners are able to get a true feel for the room’s poten- First, tial character. One client stated: “It struck me that these attractive watercolor paintings would be lovely to mat and frame as a Photo: Kiley Tiller Kiley Photo: I challenge Amber Tiller you to think piece of art in the room that has been designed.” Designed Inside www.designedinside.vpweb.com in terms of My affordable design rate starts by scheduling an initial recycle, reuse, consultation in the home. This includes listening to a client’s repurpose. This is not only good for the earth but good for needs, taking measurements and photographs, and following up your pocketbook as well! Why not take some of those things with a presentation containing individualized drawings, fabric you already have and give them a facelift. For example, some swatches and other samples to bring the personal design vision accessories can be painted. Paint a red vase black, or change to life. Selecting furniture, fixtures, and other design accesso- your picture frames to gold, silver or white. Like antiques? ries is another service I can provide. Travel to an antique market and look for an old, detailed My passion for design and décor was inspired by a personal door, or a series of arched window casings, maybe from an journey of decorating my first home. I learned that it’s not diffi- old cathedral, to mount on the wall as a headboard. Here’s cult and doesn’t have to be expensive to provide a new, up-to- one more inspiration: Repurpose a nursery changing table date look in a room or home. All it takes is a little imagination into a bookshelf or storage tower for a new playroom. The and a vision.

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26 &/$03&t/07&.#&3 The Stars — Tellers of Dramatic Tales By Theresa Coty O’Neil

MORE STABLE THAN WEATHER, our changing night sky tells inspired constellations, Richard advises, choose a moon and the season. It also tells stories. Ancient peoples from around cloud-free night, and first look for the Great Square, a square of the world have used the night star grid to weave stories and bright stars in the southern sky. “Three stars of the square form prophesies, and at no time of the year are these stories more part of Pegasus,” Richard said. “The northeast star of the Great complete as they are in fall, when the constellations tell a Square is the head of Andromeda.” dramatic tale. On The tale, a Greek myth, is rooted in vanity that in turn Androm- inspires jealousy, then revenge, and ultimately, redemption eda’s right through love. Consider Queen Cassiopeia, who is so taken with hip is the her own image that she boasts her beauty exceeds that of the great spiral lovely Nereids, sea nymphs known for their alluring charms. galaxy M31, If you were a Nereid, wouldn’t you be upset? The Nereids, visible to favorites of Poseidon, the sea god, appealed to him to teach the the naked arrogant Cassiopeia and her weak husband King Cepheus a eye on clear lesson. Always eager to exact his godly powers, Poseidon sent nights. It is a monster to ravage the coast near their Ethiopian kingdom. a whirlpool of stars similar to our own Milky Way. Following Cepheus then appealed for help to the Oracle of Ammon, who behind Andromeda, is Cassiopeia, a large “W” of stars which counseled him to sacrifice their daughter Andromeda. is easy to spot. Overhead is Cepheus, a three-dimensional tent- Poor Andromeda! What had she done to deserve such a shaped galaxy, and just below the Queen is Perseus, our hero, fate? Deaf to her mother’s pleas, Cepheus chains Andromeda to whose shape is not easy to define, but is reminiscent of a dog a rock, while Cassiopeia watches, remorseful, from the shore. howling at the moon. All seems to be lost, when suddenly, along comes handsome If you’d like help locating these constellations, consider Perseus, who fresh from a battle, carries Medusa’s head under attending a KAS observation at the Owl Observatory near the his arms. The sea monster, seeing the writhing snake-filled butterfly house at the Kalamazoo Nature Center. And if you’re head of Medusa, turns to stone. Perseus, on his winged horse hungry for more astronomical knowledge, the KAS hosts special Pegasus, spots Andromeda and falls madly in love. Their tale is guest Terry Mann, president of the Astronomical League, at immortalized in the sky. their November 6 meeting. Terry will talk about Women in As- The Andromeda tale contains six constellations, more than tronomy, those who have studied it and those, like Andromeda, any other night-sky myth, said Richard Bell, media director who are part of its stories. More information on these events with the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society. To find the myth- can be found on the KAS website at kasonline.org.

WWW.ENCOREKALAMAZOO.COM 27 When Kalamazoo Became a City — 125 Years Ago By Larry Massie

Founders of the City of Kalamazoo convened their ﬁrst ofﬁcial meeting on April 14, 1884. That momentous date was one to be remembered.

Main Street (now Michigan Avenue) looking east, ca. 1890. “ O BE OR NOT TO BE a city,” intoned Kalamazoo’s village porate as a city came reluctantly. The edi- became the city’s first mayor. president, Edwin W. DeYoe, in his tor of the Republican-oriented Kalamazoo The village trustees met for the last best Shakespearean rhetoric during his Telegraph campaigned against the incorpo- time on April 14. The city clerk’s minutes inaugural oration on April 16, 1883: ration claiming that it would “only double state that the trustees “ … addressed “Whether to remain for the next two taxes and add more offices to the public Mayor Potter, bidding him welcome to years under the ‘nome de plume’ of that account.” But there were advantages to the chair as the first mayor of the city, title which has brought the fair name be gained by adopting a city charter, and, and wished him a prosperous voyage on and fame of Kalamazoo to every hamlet consequently, on July 8, 1883, the Michi- the Ship of State, ‘The City of Kalama- in America and even countries beyond gan legislature approved the incorporation zoo’.” the seas, or substitute therefore the of the City of Kalamazoo. Before he relinquished office, DeYoe ‘Little City’ is a very questionable matter April 7, 1884, witnessed Kala- chronicled the village’s progress from in the minds of many of our people ...” mazoo’s first city election. Male voters humble birth as a frontier settlement The “nome de plume” to which DeYoe elected two aldermen from each of the called Bronson to thriving metropolis referred was that of the “Big Village.” community’s five newly created wards. with its “goods, wares and merchandise In fact, Kalamazoo had gained a Businessmen prevailed, especially manu- found in the markets of every clime reputation as the “biggest village” in the facturers, including windmill maker and country.” Then, wagging a pointed United States. Although Kalamazoo had C.H. Bird, book maker Otto Ihling, finger, he cautioned the new municipal prospered since its founding over 50 years paint and roofing material manufacturer officials against the enticements of big earlier, having reached a population of Albert Lakey, and George Winslow, pro- city spending. “Pay as you go” and “from nearly 14,000 in 1884 (of which 300 were prietor of the Kalamazoo Steam Marble bonded indebtedness, Good Lord, de- African-American), the decision to incor- Works. Wealthy banker Allen Potter liver us,” he pleaded. In fact, Kalamazoo 28 &/$03&t/07&.#&3 assumed its new city status completely debt free, a feat it would repeat amidst the Great Depression 50 years later. The village had maintained its envi- able financial standing largely because municipal services were very modest by modern standards. Outgoing City Marshall John Blaney reported keeping the peace with an “efficient corps of police” numbering three officers, along with handcuffs, rubber coats and other supplies, with a total value of $33. Of the 284 people arrested during the preced- The Lawrence Iron Works on S. Rose Street ca. 1890. The renovated structure still stands. ing year, 244 were drunk and disorderly, one insulted a lady, and two drove their on people’s windows and did other lighters who visited the 138 gas and 108 teams too fast. Indigent wanderers “mean things.” oil lamps each evening, as well as for sometimes posed a burden on taxpayers, Fire Chief Hugh Beggs reported sprinkling wagons that wet down the however. The editor of the Kalamazoo answering 37 fire alarms during the city’s 80 miles of dusty roads. In honor Telegraph groused that on January 4, year — including 11 burning chimneys. of its newly acquired status, the City 1884, “six tramps were given lodging in The entire fire department consisted of Street Department began paving Rose the jail last night.” Eureka Hose Company No. 1, Hook and and Main streets with white cedar blocks And the new city’s juvenile de- Ladder Company No. 1, and Vigilant in 1884. By April of 1885, Kalamazoo linquency problem needed attention, Hose Company No. 3. While Chief Beggs could boast almost an entire mile of the according to William Shakespeare, appreciated the fancy new $1,600 hook- Nicholson cedar pavement. editor of the Kalamazoo Gazette. He and-ladder truck, he thought Kalamazoo Main Street (now Michigan Avenue) reported on April 24 that “a lot of young was prosperous enough to afford a horse presented a “rather demoralizing ap- hoodlums, who style themselves the for members of the Vigilant Hose Com- pearance” during the spring of 1884, as ‘cowboys,’ get under the (raised wooden) pany, which had “been drawing their two gangs of workmen tore up the area sidewalks … and make insulting re- hose cart by hand for many years.” between Rose and Portage streets. While marks to those who are passing along.” The city incurred incidental street teamsters cursed the inconvenience, one Apparently, the hoodlums also rapped expenses, such as wages for lamp- crew laid a new gas main and another

WWW.ENCOREKALAMAZOO.COM 29 Massie

constructed a set of trolley tracks up the center of the street. In September, the Kalamazoo Street Railway Company celebrated its opening with a gala parade featuring 22 horse-drawn streetcars and a brass band. Other streetcar lines soon radiated from downtown Kalamazoo, making it possible for workers to live beyond walking distance of their jobs. As a result, suburban developments sprang up around the city’s periphery.

alamazoo was a city on the move in 1884, and the downtown area reflected its mood. In March, This rainy day view of Rose Street south from Michigan Avenue in 1889 pictures two street cars that, aK crowd of sidewalk superintendents gath- when operating, were powered by horses. ered to watch as a Mr. Small from Allegan County’s Salem Township and his crew rest, little houses out back and Saturday Throughout 1884, a raging diphtheria jacked up the old wooden courthouse and night baths in a galvanized 20-gallon epidemic claimed the lives of 67 Kalama- wheeled it to the southwest corner of the tub with water heated atop the kitchen zoo children. Many might have survived courtyard. While the massive new brick range sufficed. Yet the steam engine at had better medical facilities existed, but and stone courthouse took shape, county the waterworks consumed 1,514 cords of it was not until 1889 that Father Francis officials continued their business in the wood to pump over 365 million gallons O’Brien and the sisters of St. Joseph courthouse on wheels. Meanwhile, just of water through the city’s 19 miles of established Borgess Hospital — the city’s down the street, the Presbyterians erected pipe to “city water” users during the year first health institution. a new brick church at the northeast cor- ending in April 1884. Epidemic diseases brought an un- ner of Rose and South streets, funded, in Homeowners hired “scavengers” to fortunate boom for Oscar Allen’s Globe part, through the congregation’s “maple hand dip the contents out of their out- Casket Company (his burial site in sugar supper” on April 12 of that year, houses, but many downtown business Mountain Home Cemetery is topped by which netted $30. sewers emptied directly into Arcadia a big marble globe). And the “medicine When the state census taker came Creek. Householders also dug shal- makers of Kalamazoo” — The Upjohn through the bustling city in June of 1884, low wells perilously close to the 3,000 Company — would not make their debut he counted 13,909 Kalamazoo residents privies that graced the city’s backyards. until the following year when Dr. W.E. living in 2,690 dwellings. In those “good Polluted water and dried horse manure Upjohn and three of his brothers moved old days,” few homes had telephones, mingled with the dust on the street, from Hastings to begin manufacturing and but one in four had running water. and fly-infested, unrefrigerated meat their famous “friable pills.” Only 208 residences boasted indoor toi- markets contributed to the epidemics The city’s other major industries lets and a mere 18 had bathtubs. For the that periodically struck Kalamazoo. were quite different from those we know today. In 1884 the Michigan Buggy Com- pany, the Kalamazoo Wagon Company, and four other vehicle makers employed a good share of the city’s workers. Other factories turned out agricultural imple- ments, overalls, cigars, and windmills. Still others manufactured railroad ve- locipedes, buggy springs, fanning mills, leather trunks and other articles whose need has passed into oblivion. An agricultural industry still in its infancy in 1884 had already brought Kalamazoo fame as “the Celery City.” That year, local celery growers culti- 30 &/$03&t/07&.#&3 vated 250 acres of the city’s muckland. in area factories who averaged $1.82 for a Charles W. Garfield, secretary of the ten-hour day. Unskilled laborers earned State Horticultural Society, noted that: $1.33 per day. Sunday was the only day “By rapid growth and successful opera- off, and paid vacations, sick leave and tions the (Kalamazoo) celery business insurance were rare. has reached a prominence not attained Women, who comprised but 11 in any other town in this country. Ka- percent of the workforce, received an av- lamazoo celery is known from St. Paul erage of only 7.8 cents per hour for their to New Orleans.” By the next decade, labor. About half the women workers Dutch immigrants planted 4,000 acres found employment as domestic servants. of the crunchy white vegetable. Others worked as teachers, store clerks, Perhaps in honor of celery’s con- musicians, laundresses or dressmakers. tribution to the state’s economy, the Some waited on tables in restaurants, but Michigan Board of Agriculture designat- only one kind of woman passed through ed Kalamazoo as the site of the state fair the swinging doors of saloons in 1884. in September 1884. The fair’s president Few women labored in factories then, reported the event “fairly a success … but as Kalamazoo’s corset, petticoat and the location was singularly fine.” Two paper industries proliferated during the hundred and fourteen closely packed 1890s, women entered the labor force railroad cars carried exhibits to Kalama- in larger numbers. Yet, even in 1884, zoo from across the state. The only “fly long-overdue change beckoned on the in the ointment” was that the Agricul- horizon. That year Michigan Senator tural Society handed out so many cash Thomas W. Palmer delivered the first prizes that the fair ended up in the red. speech in the U.S. Senate in support of Kalamazoo’s nonagricultural econ- women’s suffrage. omy relied on skilled artisans employed Kalamazoo consumers spent their Kalamazoo’s city scavengers, Bill Nye, Link wages on goods advertised in local Norman and Hemmo Kroon, hand emptied the newspapers at remarkably cheap prices contents of outhouse vaults. by modern standards. Flour cost 3 cents a pound, sugar 8 cents and butter 19 cents But the seemingly low food prices in 1884 take on a different perspective when compared to prevailing wages. The average woman worker had to labor two hours to bring home a pound of ham at 14 1/2 cents a pound. Despite those food prices, most people seemed to eat well during the late Victorian era. On April 11, 1884, 150 Kalamazooans attended a Knights Templar banquet at the American Hotel. They sat down to a multicourse meal that consisted of such delicacies as raw and stewed oysters, Saratoga chips (potato chips), stuffed mangos, pickled tongue and potato salad. For dessert, they tackled plates piled high with queen fritters, rum glace and watermelon cake. At home, cherry-cheeked housewives clad in mutton-chop sleeves labored over ornate kitchen ranges to prepare rich and calorie-laden dishes. A contempo- WWW.ENCOREKALAMAZOO.COM 31 Massie

rary cookbook published by the ladies by the state superintendent of public of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church contains instruction that year were pleased to re- recipes such as the following for “Larded port: “The school is in fact a large happy Sweetbreads,” the thymus gland of a calf Christian family, where each is working or other young beast. for the good of all.” “Lard four sweetbreads with strips At Kalamazoo’s other institution on of salt pork, put them on the fire with a hill, then called “The Michigan Asylum ! half a pint of water; let them stew slowly for the Insane,” the big news was the half an hour; then put in a small drip- retirement of long-time Chaplin Daniel ping pan with butter, sprinkle flour, Putnam. The following year he published G brown them slightly, season with pepper; his autobiography, “Twenty-five Years heat a half pint of cream and stir in the with the Insane.” Business was brisk GGGGGGGGGGƔ& G". MG±GG GGGGGGGGGGƔ" G4!--!.2MG±GG gravy. Have peas boiled and seasoned, up on the hill. Medical Superintendent GGGGGGGGGGƔ G0 MGMG±GGG and place them around the sweetbreads George C. Palmer reported 798 patients GGGGGGGGGGƔ& 2G .$ - MG'±MG±G G on a platter.” under his care on October 1, 1884. Inter- ,,,[". !.!.-"(![ 2GGGG Small wonder that John Harvey Kel- estingly, at a time when counties across &,/(#-( ( -( )(($,/0$(( 10',%($**+',//(( logg’s Battle Creek Sanitarium prospered the state where patients had formerly ( ( (( !( ! ( ( )(-( as a retreat for victims of the various resided contributed about $4.50 each !" ( . (Ɣ( ( (( gastric disorders the Victorians termed week for their room and board, Allegan “dyspepsia.” County, despite its relatively low population, was surpassed only by Kent and n addition to massive meals, Kala- Kalamazoo in the amount spent on its mazooans found ample opportunity mentally troubled citizens. for other entertainment in 1884. The city spread out below the state IThe literary minded might check out hospital hilltop, which in 1903 would Mark Twain’s popular new title, “The also become the site of the new Western Voted Reader's Choice Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” Normal (WMU), and enjoyed diverse Favorite Florist Henry James’s collection, “Tales of Three social happenings throughout 1884. One Cities,” or William Dean Howell’s “A hundred and fifty Civil War veterans Traveler From Altruria,” all published in 1884, or any other of the 10,000 volumes An advertisement for Kalamazoo Wagon Co. housed in the public library at City Hall. Three thousand other books resided in the magnificent Ladies Library Building TheHome of constructed five years before. Younger Fine Flowers readers traveled vicariously to the Swiss From our home to yours. Alps via Johanna Spyri’s “Heidi,” first published in America that year. Visit our greenhouse Students from Kalamazoo and showroom today to experience across the state studied at the city’s two the pride that has made institutions of higher learning. The old- VanderSalm’s-Flipse the Kalamazoo est, Kalamazoo College, had opened its area’s leading florist since 1910. doors in 1836 as a Baptist seminary. In 1884, the college proper had an enroll- ment of 57, while another 147 students worked toward that goal in the prepara- 343-2671 tory department. The Michigan Female 1120 S. Burdick St. t Kalamazoo Seminary opened in 1867 at a wooded campus on a hilltop on the east side of the Kalamazoo River. Its principal, Miss M.H. Sprague, dispensed discipline to 53 students in 1884. Yet, inspectors sent 32 &/$03&t/07&.#&3 You need a strong supporting cast to deliver a Command Performance

Jansen Valk Thompson & Reahm PC is dedicated to providing innovative solutions to our business and personal clients through sound, expert accounting, The Female Department of the Michigan tax, and ﬁ nancial advice. Asylum for the Insane, pictured here, Call today and learn how we can help ca. 1890, opened in 1859. maximize your performance.

555 WEST CROSSTOWN PARKWAY, SUITE 101 | KALAMAZOO, MI 49008 | 269.381.7600 | WWW.JVTR.COM came together on April 9 to celebrate the anniversary of Lee’s surrender and to further embellish their own role in the “rebellion.” A large crowd gathered at Ranney’s Farmers’ Sheds on April 24 for the Annual Sheep Shearing Festival. The more genteel sat on the plush cushions of the Academy of Music, across from the courthouse square on Rose Street, for a performance of the temperance classic “Ten Nights in a Barroom.” Local newspapers carried real-life descriptions of barroom tragedies enacted at the city’s 23 taverns, as well as exciting news of runaway teams and train wrecks. They also related stories about !"# $!%" &! unfortunate visiting farmers who, unfa- ' miliar with the new-fangled gas lighting ﬁxtures, accidentally gassed themselves ( to death at the Kalamazoo House. ) Most front-page articles in 1884 concerned the presidential campaign. The battle between Republican candidate James G. Blaine and Democratic hopeful Grover Cleveland had erupted into one of the most scurrilous contests in history. The Republican-oriented Kalamazoo Tele- graph offered one view of the campaign, while the Kalamazoo Gazette printed an entirely different Democratic version. In April 1884, Kalamazoo Gazette editor Shakespeare reported sighting a few swallows competing with the ﬂocks of English sparrows. The passing 125 % * years have wrought incredible changes ( in Kalamazoo’s landscape, transportation, entertainment, schools, industries, wages, cost-of-living, medical care, and philosophy of government. But some things never seem to change — the Republicans and Democrats continue to wage often scurrilous battles every four years, and the swallows still return to ! "" Kalamazoo each spring. WWW.ENCOREKALAMAZOO.COM 33 By Theresa Coty O’Neil Briscoe Rick Photo: Rodger and Judy Storteboom work closely together at Douglas & Son Inc. paint store.

N 1970 WHEN Rodger Storteboom returned from serving in the Vietnam War to his hometown of Kalamazoo, there was a lot he wanted to say. But Rodger couldn’t say very much of it. What he managed to convey came out in a “raspy, choking whisper,” he said. “It hurt to talk. I could speak two or three words at a time, and then I had to stop to breathe.” Due to a hand grenade attack in the middle of the night, Rodger, at the age of 24, suffered shrapnel wounds that caused paralysis in his throat and shoulder. One fellow soldier died in the attack, and another lost both legs. Rodger said he was air-lifted to the army hospital. “When I was injured, I was lying in the hospital bed ready to die. I was mad at God. Then, in came my command- ing officer. He said, ‘It was a horrible attack last night, but you got a million dollar wound!’” Too infirm for the army, but not bad enough to die, Rodger’s million-dollar wound meant he was free to go home. During his hospital stay, Rodger had lost 60 pounds, so when he stepped off the plane in Kalamazoo, even his mother didn’t recognize him. He was then “duty-stationed” for a year at his in-laws, where he and his wife, Gloria, took over the parents’ bedroom. And, slowly, he began the process of rebuilding his life. When well enough, Rodger began to search for a job. He interviewed with an insurance company and a clothing company, but no one was quite interested in taking on an employee who would face challenges communicating with customers. “I was somewhat deformed and defective,” he said. Those “defects” didn’t stop his old boss and neighbor, Jerry Douglas, from rehir- ing Rodger to work in his paint store, Douglas & Son Inc., as a sales representative, a 34 &/$03&t/07&.#&3 position that required both moving and himself to the business. So it was natural so many are known by name. talking. Often Rodger had to strain to that when Clark died in 1958, Jerry pur- “The big box stores are so imperson- speak over the paint shakers, stopping chased the business from his mother. al,” Rodger said. “They have not figured several times to breathe, and struggling Still in the mostly residential Vine out how to serve the customer in a way with his words. But he persisted, and his neighborhood, Douglas & Son Inc. is that a store like ours can.” customers, who trusted his warm,rm, steadsteadyy manner despite the “raspy whisper,”sper,” kekeptpt n the languagelan of trees, Rodger’s coming back. KalamazooKalamaz roots go pretty deep. He So Rodger tidily put away hishis isis not a wweakly rooted poplar, but a long-term dream of utilizing hiss Imimightyghty oak wwhose tap root is trunk-sol- marketing degree at a large paintnt id andand whosewhos side roots spread beneath distributor like Pratt & Lambert.rt. the cicityty strestreets. Instead, he resumed working inn An “af“aftert the war” baby, Roger a store that had been a second waswas introducedintrodu to Kalamazoo and the home to him since he was 18 world in 194619 at his grandparents’ years old. house on RRoyce Avenue. Soon after his After two years of being onn birth,birth, his parents,pa Robert and Eleanore, the sales floor every day, Rodger’sr’s builtbuilt a house on Kingston Avenue, just voice returned. ”By the grace off God, twotwo blocks aaway,w where Rodger lived everything has slowly come back,”ck,” he untilunu til he marmarriedr at age 22. said. The only reminder of his injuriesnjuries is MilwoodMilwood was in the process of be- the loss of hearing in his left ear.r. inging developed,developed and so the neighborhood “Working in the store was the besbestt grewgrew as RodgerRodg grew. One of the benefits physical and mental therapy I couldould have ofof this grgrowthowth was that Rodger and his received,” said Rodger, who recentlyently cel-celebrated his 44th year with the Kalama- a centrally located landmark. The When Koopsen’s closed in 2003, Rodger was thrilled that zoo hallmark that he has owned for 23 cheerful, mural-sided storefront Douglas & Son would acquire the rights to sell Benjamin Moore Paint. years. “My shoulder, my whole body was beckons passersby and is an weak because I had lost so much weight. unpretentious jewel of the city. Working here, I had to be on my feet While services have expanded every day. I had to lift paint, climb stairs. over the years to include a com- “I just built myself up.” plete and well-staffed wallpaper And in the process of building him- section, as well as at one time, self up, he built up the business, too. window treatments, the basic Many people probably don’t know business has remained the same, that Douglas & Son Inc. is owned, not by cheerfully and efficiently serv- a Douglas or a son of Douglas anymore, ing commercial, industrial and but by a Storteboom. residential customers. The store was opened by Clark When asked about the store’s Douglas and a partner in 1943, estab- niche, Rodger described it as “an lished as a Pratt & Lambert dealer old-fashioned and locally owned loated just south of the State Theatre. In paint store with premium prod- 1957 Clark decided to build a new store ucts and professional service.” around the family’s 1860s-era Cedar With 250 combined years Street home, which is the present loca- of experience in his 14 employ- tion of the business. For years, Clark’s ees, customer service is highly widow continued to live upstairs while valued. The store’s employees the paint store thrived below, and Rod- know many of their customers ger’s office is currently situated in the well, a fair number of whom home’s former kitchen. are local contractors. Some During the early ’50s, Clark’s son, customers even call the store

Jerry, home from the Korean War, devoted Kalamazoo’s “Cheers,” because Briscoe Rick Photo: 35 Storteboom

younger brother, Rick, attended all new schools—Greenwood Elementary, then Milwood Elementary and Milwood Junior High, and ﬁnally Loy Norrix High School, where he was a member of the ﬁrst gradu- ating class. Retail, Rodger will tell you, is in his blood, but not necessarily his genes. His father was a local blower manufacturer who ran a press and later repaired equip- ment for the former Brundage Company. “I learned my work ethic from my dad and grandpa. My father was a hard- working man and he felt his sons should be hard working, too,” explained Rodger.

Rodger found his niche early, Doris Douglas, widow of the store’s founder, Clark Douglas, celebrated her 90th birthday in the paint working an unpaid job in the Milwood section of Douglas & Son Inc. with son Jerry (left) and Rodger Storteboom. Junior High School store. While it didn’t provide money, it was “good training.” ing one of his best friends, Dave DeWitt, making deliveries for a couple of hours Under the tutelage of his teacher, Marcus who shared his college experience and after school and on Saturday mornings. Freeman, Rodger learned to calculate continues to be an important person in It was 1965. percents, handle customers, and orga- Rodger’s life. “I was very excited,” said Rodger, nize stock, all skills that are indispen- When not at school, Rodger worked who soon gave up mowing lawns. He sible in the retail world. hard at a lawn-mowing business he had never been to the paint store, and Marcus recommended him for started by advertising in the Kalamazoo Jerry had to draw him a map to get there. a paid position at Loy Norrix, where Shopper. At the height of his business, Rodger said Jerry was “always fair,” Rodger ran the school store during his he mowed 22 lawns and did odd jobs, and he enjoyed working there. “He was junior and senior years, starting out at 50 including some gardening. an honest business owner who was re- cents an hour and doubling his salary to Across the street from Rodger’s $1 an hour by the end of his tenure. That home lived Jerry Douglas, who watched The 1965 Loy Norrix High School bookstore staff included Tom Brenner, Bob Braun, Dave job, he said, taught him how to handle the comings and goings of his young De Witt and Rodger Storteboom. De Witt and money and how to order supplies. neighbor. Jerry’s wife, Eleanor, played Storteboom developed a life-long friendship from working in the store and then attending But most of all “it gave me a social cards with Rodger’s mother, and the college together. life at Loy Norrix,” said Rodger. subject of employment arose. “I was not good at sports, not in Rodger was invited to an interview music or drama, but I was well-known that took place at the Douglas kitchen for working in the school store.” He table one evening, and he was offered made some very good friends, includ- a job at the store, stocking shelves and

36 &/$03&t/07&.#&3 Face your future spected in the industry,” Rodger said. Your facial future should be flawless. At Great Lakes The job involved 20 to 30 hours a Plastic & Hand Surgery we can help ensure this. week during the school year and 40 to 50 Using our Reveal Imager™ computerized complexion hours a week in the summer, and, even- analysis system, we can identify damage beneath the surface of your skin before it becomes visible to the naked tually, the earnings put Rodger through eye. Based upon this analysis, our Board Certified Plastic college at Western Michigan University. Surgeons, Drs. Scott Holley and Raghu Elluru, will develop While high school was a rich and a custom skincare regimen to keep your skin looking young and beautiful. social experience for Rodger, college proved to be stressful. “I’m not schol- Call today for your personal Reveal Imager™ consultation. arly,” he said, and like most males of his generation who were aware of what lay at the end of a college deferment, there wasn’t s a lot of room to socialize or Body Contouring Laser Skin Tightening Botox & Fillers “make mistakes.” Still, he managed to earn his degree in marketing, studying Facial Rejuvenation Breast Enhancement with his friend, Dave, while the two used a hand-crank calculator to figure business statistics. One highlight of those years, however, happened when, as a junior, he fell “head Battle Creek Kalamazoo/Portage 269.979.0900 269.329.2900 over heels in love” with Gloria Price. They 800.321.1165 800.273.3990 married in December of 1968, and six 3600 Capital Ave. SW, Suite 205 3200 W. Centre Ave, Suite 201 Battle Creek, MI 49015 Portage, MI 49024 months following, Rodger was drafted into the Army and served in Vietnam. Following his military experience and Rodger’s first year of recovery from his injuries, the couple moved out of Gloria’s parents’ bedroom and into their Over 25 Years of Caring for Our Community first house on Oakhurst Avenue, which soon had its rooms filled by their growing family that included two sons, Greg and Jeremy. Another change in Rodger’s life

“We wouldn’t give up those days having Mom home with us for anything. We couldn’t have done it without you.”

Talk to us. (269) 345-0273 Photo: Loy Norrix H.S. Yearbook H.S. Norrix Loy Photo:

888&/$03&,"-".";00$0. 37 Storteboom

came after eight years as a salesman for Over time Jerry and Eleanor began Your copying and the company. Rodger was promoted to spending their winters in Mexico, leav- printing costs are store manager. ing Rodger in charge. “Jerry would call “Jerry could see I liked paperwork,” once a month to check on the business,” Rodger said. said Rodger. “The ﬁrst year he did that, I about to F A L L! 7jnAdXVa@VaVbVodd

S A LOCAL BUSINESSMAN, Rod- Buy Local Kalamazoo, founded Find out how you can ger Storteboom knows ﬁrst-hand last year by Gloria Tiller, who, with the importance of buying local. her husband, Jim, owns Kazoo Books, save up to 50% on all His paint and wallpaper store, Douglas is currently over 70 members strong & Son, Inc., has had to compete with and expects additional members by your printing costs the “big box stores” for business. And, Christmas. Gloria’s original goal was 12 while a local business’s advantage is members, but interest has surpassed her with Cornerstone often in its customer service, not many expectations. people understand how dramatically “Globalization is great, but it doesn’t Print Services (CPS). buying from locally owned merchants help your local neighborhood,” Gloria said. affects the community. “These buy local groups (which are bloom- Give us a call. So when Rodger was approached ing all over the United States) are bringing about joining a local initiative to sup- the economy back home where it belongs. We can help!! port local businesses, he was immedi- As chairman of the board, Gloria has ately interested. taken inspiration from Grand Rapids’ Lo- “When people spend dollars in cal First, an organization that is ﬁve years the community, the amount of money old and 500 members strong. Local First that in turn goes back toward commu- recently did a study to track money spent nity improvements, local hiring, and in local businesses and found that $78 out www.cornerstoneos.com sustaining the local economy is much of every $100 is returned in some form 269.321.9442 higher,” Rodger explained. “Money is to the community. Compare that with a recycled, and a full circle is created study done by the American Independent when you buy local.” Business Alliance that found only $48 of

Douglas & Son Inc. paint store is one of more than 70 locally owned businesses that belong to Buy Local Kalamazoo.

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fax Photo: Theresa Coty O’Neil Coty Theresa Photo:

38 &/$03&t/07&.#&3 KEYSTONE COMMUNITY BANK HAS MONEY TO LEND. thought, ‘Oh my Gosh!’ “I even had to hire new employees, but I did the best I could. Jerry was a eystone Community Bank has wonderful mentor for me.” Kmoney to lend. We are a healthy And then Rodger’s dream job Michigan bank that is committed to Michigan and will continue to follow the fundamentals of responsible banking. So whether you wish to every $100 spent at a chain store re- deposit money or borrow money, our turns to the community. “The rest goes business principles are summed up in away forever,” Gloria said. our guiding line: We’re all about you. “This new study has shown people that simply creating the presence of a Thomas Schlueter buy-local organization increases the President/CEO economic stability of that neighborhood,” said Gloria. “Local businesses do not have to pay fees out of state. Their CEOs are not living in Atlanta.” 269.553.9100 Instead, local dollars go to local hiring, local spending, local charities, We’re all about you. and local improvements. They also Member FDIC launch new businesses. “Indies,” as independent business owners like to call themselves, donate more than twice as much as chain stores per sales profit to local non-profits, community events, and teams. Take the Lead! For the Christmas shopping season, Buy Local Kalamazoo is launching a new drive called the “Ten Percent Shift,” to encourage consumers to spend 10 percent of their allotted holiday spending dollars at local businesses. “This, in turn, helps Kalama- zoo grow,” said Gloria. As a major force behind Buy Local, Gloria’s workload has increased. “I’m Unlocking Value. Achieve Leading Performance. to-the-wall busy,” she said. But she’s Driving Growth. seeing new businesses opening up in Enhancing Success. At Global Equity Consulting, LCC we focus on unlocking value Kalamazoo and has appreciated the en- Strategic Planning and driving profi table growth for small and mid-size businesses ergy and enthusiasm of the owners she Marketing & and their owners, as well as private equity fi rms who may have a Sales Programs has met. “What I love about Buy Local stake in these businesses. We also serve corporate clients looking Profit Improvement is I’m finding out I’m not alone. Programs to achieve industry-leading performance. Business Valuations “If you’re an owner of a business, Call us at 269.385.5186 or visit you know how important your busi- Investment Banking Support GlobalEquityConsulting.net for more information. ness is to you,” she said. “When you get around a lot of people who feel the same way you do, it’s very, very comforting.” Of the future for initiatives like Global Equity Consulting, LLC Buy Local, Gloria says, “It’s Big. Biggie. 303 North Rose Street, Suite 218, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007 Biggie.” 888&/$03&,"-".";00$0. 39 The Symphony of the Birds

The symphony of the birds I hear, The caress of the winds I feel. opened up. A retiring representative boys were growing up, and the family Your love comes to me in gentle ways, for Pratt & Lambert told Rodger he was part of a thriving community and My soul proclaims You are real! was putting Rodger’s name in for the church life. position that Rodger had long coveted. In April of 1991, Rodger and Gloria Food for our bodies, care for our home, But, to his surprise, Rodger found he were attending a paint convention in Driving for treatments—when will it no longer wanted it. He had two young Florida when a searing headache sent all end? sons at home and didn’t want to do the Gloria to the hospital where an emer- Your love cannot be exhausted, O Lord, extensive travel the job required. gency cat scan revealed a mass on the You’ve blessed us through family and Rodger continued working for Jerry right side of her brain. The mass turned friends. until he had the op- out to be an inoperable cancerous portunity to buy the tumor, and for the next few months, Angels wait at each bend in the path, business, and then in Gloria bravely endured increasing Attending in every need. December of 1986, limitations while a bevy of women from Words of encouragement, prayers after eight years Southridge Reformed Church organized and peace as store manager, in shifts to bring food and sit with her, Come from You, O Lord, indeed. Rodger signed the and Rodger came home at lunch to give papers to make the her the needed medication. A body You prepared for me, purchase. His 40th But her condition slowly worsened, Home, husband and sons. birthday took place and four months later, Gloria died while All was in place at creation time a few days later, and under the loving care of family, friends Gloria Storteboom When this song of mine was sung. Gloria threw him and Hospice. a surprise birthday party that he said “It was a horrendous experience for Is this death or is this life? “kind of blew me away.” me,” Rodger said. Only this I know is real: Gloria’s best friend, Judy Morris, The lines between the two are gone, he ’80s were a time of growth wrote a book about Gloria’s life and suf- The division begins to heal. for the Storteboom family. fering and called it “Gloria’s Song.” It was They moved from Oakhurst to compiled to honor Gloria’s request to A holy timing is taking place, TBanbury Road, and then to a house on share her experience and resulting spiri- And I give myself to You, Bronson Boulevard so they “could get tual journey about the difficulties of brain To joyfully share the reality, out from underneath the airport.” The injuries and illness and “about living with That You, O Lord, are true. limitations and dying with grace,” as Judy Standing in a memorabilia-filled corner of his lovingly wrote. Six hundred copies were You never falter, You never fail, office, Rodger Storteboom holds his military medical retirement certificate and the Purple And I’ll never be the same; Heart he was awarded as a result of the injuries Spec. 4 Rodger Storteboom was a For in the symphony of the birds I hear he suffered in Vietnam. radiotelephone operator in Vietnam. Your voice singing out my name.

By Judy Storteboom

After her best friend, Gloria Storteboom, died of cancer, Judy wrote a book called “Gloria’s Song” to honor her and to fulﬁll a last request by her. “Gloria wanted to share with others what she, her family and her caregivers have learned on this journey about living with limitations and dying with grace,” Judy wrote. Accord- ing to Judy, Gloria spent her last days in rest and prayer, occasionally sitting on the patio with her eyes closed, listening to what she described as the “symphony of birds.” Photo: Rick Briscoe Rick Photo:

40 &/$03&t/07&.#&3 Quiet, Comfortable, Affordable

Choice Reservations printed, and many were distributed to Aged Steaks Appreciated people dealing with illness and loss. 375-3650 Judy, who also did some bookkeep- Fresh Fish ing for Douglas & Son long-distance Dinner from from her Ohio home, had known Gloria Slow Roasted 5:00pm daily since childhood. Following a divorce, she Prime Rib RESTAURANT & TAVERN moved back to Kalamazoo, and two-and- Visit our website at www.greatlakesshippingco.com a-half years after Gloria died, Rodger and Conveniently located at 4525 West KL Ave, east of Drake Road Judy were married. “She is my loyal helpmate and best friend,” Rodger said. He says that, together, they keep Gloria’s memory lovingly alive. I am Surrounded by Friends. Between the two of them, Judy and Rodger have six sons, two from Rodger’s first marriage and four from Judy’s. “Judy and I are blessed that all of our sons get along with one another,” said Rodger. “They knew each other growing up, and they all respect us.” In recent years, five grandchildren, including two sets of twins, have been added to their growing family. Over the years, Douglas & Son has undergone changes, including the purchase of a second store on South Westnedge Avenue that was sold a few years after it was opened. A highlight for Rodger was acquiring the Benjamin (ERITAGE#OMMUNITYOF+ALAMAZOO &ORAPERSONALTOUROFOUR Moore brand of paint when the Koopsen’s (#+ OFFERSACONTINUUMOFCARE FACILITIESORTOLEARNMORE Paint Store went out of business in 2003. THATENCOMPASSESEVERYNEEDFROM ABOUTMAKING(#+YOUR And, although Rodger once expected to MAINTENANCE FREESENIORLIVINGTO HOME CALLORVISIT retire at 62, he’s a year past that and still FULL TIMESKILLEDNURSING0LUS (#+IS USONLINE going strong. THEREGIONSONLYPROVIDEROFTHEBest Though Rodger may have once lost Friends™APPROACH ANINTERNATIONALLY his voice, over the years he has become a ACCLAIMEDMODELOFCAREFORPERSONS trusted voice of fair-minded and ethical WITH!LZHEIMERSDISEASEANDRELATED business practices in the Kalamazoo DEMENTIA community. Soft-spoken and steady, APARTMENT LIVING Rodger embodies business practices that s7YNDHAM!PARTMENTS benefit all his contacts. As a member s(ERITAGE(ILLS!PARTMENTS of the Buy Local initiative (see more in ASSISTED LIVING sidebar) and the Kalamazoo Rotary, all s7YNDHAM7EST his decisions are dictated by the question s$IRECTORS(ALL that is part of Rotary’s Four Way Test: $%-%.4)!!,:(%)-%23#!2% Will it be beneficial to all concerned? s!MBER7AY s!LZHEIMERS3PECIAL#ARE#ENTER “Profit is not a dirty word,” he said. 0ORTAGE3TREET “We need to be profitable. I want my cus- SKILLED NURSING +ALAMAZOO -) tomers to get the right product. I want s(AROLD'RACE5PJOHN#OMMUNITY #ARE#ENTER WWWHERITAGECOMMUNITYCOM the contractors to make a profit. I want everyone to walk out of here satisfied, and I want this business to be around Best Friends™ISATRADEMARKOF(EALTH0ROFESSIONALS0RESS )NC after I’m gone.” 888&/$03&,"-".";00$0. 41 “ … there’s always something different; it’s never the same day to day.”

—Gillian Stoltman

Gillian Stoltman A colorized photo that Gillian made some years ago of an adenovirus, which causes the common cold. Protecting the Public’s Health

URING HER many years over- but potentially nasty, childhood diseases. County had one of the lowest childhood seeing the public threat from Working with the community’s pe- immunization records in Michigan. microbes, Gillian Stoltman has diatricians and other medical and public “A bunch of us knew that we had stared down the virus that causes AIDS, health specialists, Gillian and the team to protect these kids from childhood the mosquito-borne West Nile virus, the in the 1980s launched Immunize by 2 in diseases,” she said. “We brought together never-before-seen SARS and annual inva- Kalamazoo, a program that continues to people from different disciplines and we sions of the virus that causes influenza. register all newborns in the county and all pulled together to help. She spent Sept. 11, 2001, in the encourage parents to have their chil- “This community has great pediatri- Michigan State Emergency Operations dren inoculated on schedule to prevent cians and other health professionals, and Center disseminating vital informa- mumps, measles, rubella, whooping the resulting Immunize by 2 had such an tion to the state’s 40-plus county health cough, polio and other diseases that once impact. Pediatricians focus on the indi- departments and other agencies. killed thousands of youngsters every year. vidual, and those of us in public health For years she traveled every weekday “My motivation and the motivation focus on the community. It was a moment the 145-mile round trip from her Com- of others in public health has always been of understanding that we could do this stock area home to Lansing where she was to make people as healthy as possible,” together.” director of the Michigan Division of Com- said Gillian, who currently works as se- Public health, however, was not municable Disease and Immunization. nior principal scientist for Pfizer Animal the career path Gillian had planned for Yet despite the ominous dangers Health Veterinary Medicine Research & herself. inherent in so much of her work, the one Development after having logged many Born in Bexleyheath near London, thing that makes her especially proud years in public health in Michigan. England, in 1950, she studied microbiol- happened well before taking the job in When Immunize by 2 was launched, ogy and virology at University College, Lansing. It was a program in Kalamazoo Gillian was director of the Kalamazoo London, earning a doctorate in 1979. At a County that she helped spearhead to pro- County Human Service’s Bureau of Com- Halloween night party in 1978 she met a tect babies born here from the common, munity Health. At the time, Kalamazoo young geographer from Western Michi- 42 &/$03&t/07&.#&3 Deb Chope Hughes, president of Kalamazoo Rotary, gets inoculated against flu.

Rotary Club of Kalamazoo Rotarians, who meet regularly at the Radisson, had an opportunity to get their ﬂu shots at a recent meeting. Pictured (from left) are Elizabeth Frank, RN, administering a ﬂu shot, and Joyce Alphenaar of Borgess VNA Home Care.

gan University, Joseph Stoltman, who was neat job at St. Thomas’ Hospital Medi- Services officials to put a greater effort on sabbatical and studying cal School in London and I was a little into protecting the community from in London. frustrated that, after we were married, infectious disease outbreaks. Six months later the two were mar- we would be moving to Kalamazoo,” she Gillian was asked to apply for the ried. said. “But the St. Thomas post was just a post as county epidemiologist and was “He said he wouldn’t marry me until three-year fellowship and Joe had a full- hired in 1986. I completed my Ph.D.,” Gillian said. “At 10 time job.” About that time a little-known o’clock the night before we were married I Gillian had known about Kalama- viral infection was spreading across the was in the library working on finishing.” zoo before she met Joe. One of her earlier country and globe, initially infecting the Once she completed the virology research projects included a medication of homosexual community. HIV, as the virus doctorate, the couple came to Kalamazoo The Upjohn Company. was called, caused AIDS and proved a where Joe returned to his faculty position Joe was convinced that Gillian would troublesome and frightening communi- in geography at Western. He currently be able to find a job once they settled cable disease. serves as editor of both “Research in Geo- here, but they subsequently found it was As a specialist in viruses, Gillian had graphic Education” and “International not so easy. “When I applied at Upjohn, insights into HIV and knew it would be a Research in Geography and Environmen- they said I was over qualified for the posi- tough opponent. tal Education.” He also teaches courses tions that they had,” she said. “I did teach “I remember being at a public in undergraduate, master’s and doctoral part-time at WMU and then full-time at meeting in Portage in 1988 or ’89 when programs in geography and science edu- Hope College.” someone asked me about a vaccine for cation and is a dissertation advisor for HIV,” she said. “I said I thought that students in earth science education. He is n the early 1980s, she joined the there wouldn’t be a vaccine until at least also the current president of the National County Health Advisory Board, and after the turn of the century. Everybody Council for Geographic Education. an outbreak of salmonella poisoning scoffed. They thought that no way would “Just before I met Joe I had taken a Iat Jewell grocery stores prompted Human it take that long. 888&/$03&,"-".";00$0. 43 Stoltman

“But I had a gut feeling about this immune response with a vaccine.” virus because of my experience with ret- Her worries proved correct. There roviruses. It was too chameleon-like and is still no effective vaccine, although changed too frequently. remarkable advances in medications have “There was something in HIV that changed AIDS from almost universally just looked odd. We couldn’t get a good fatal to a chronic but treatable disease.

“Flu, in general, worries me …”

1N1, the so-called swine flu, A strain of the H1N1 virus was is getting all the attention the cause of the 1918-20 Spanish flu these days, although to this epidemic that killed some 50 million pointH it hasn’t been all that severe as to 100 million people worldwide. It is influenza epidemics go. estimated that the virus infected 500 “Right now H1N1 has killed some million people, or about one-third of the people but appears to be mild,” said world’s population at the time. Gillian Stoltman, an expert on infec- Gillian said the best way to protect tious diseases. “But does this particular yourself from flu viruses is to be vac- strain of the influenza worry me? Yes. cinated in the fall, before the annual “Flu in general worries me.” invasion of the virus. “The vaccine isn’t H1N1 is a concern because, like perfect,” she said, “but those who are all flu viruses, it could change over the vaccinated will either not get the flu next few months and prove more le- or if they do will have a disease that is MillenniumRestaurants.com thal once the winter flu season arrives much less severe.” in late fall or early winter, she said. And don’t worry, she said, the shot “H1N1 and other influenza does not cause flu. “The injected vac- viruses are made of various change- cine is made from a killed virus so it able components,” she said. “H1N1 can’t cause the disease,” she said. Some has changed recently, but we aren’t people may experience a slight fever sure if it will change again into a more and aches after receiving the flu vac- You Give: virulent form. cine, but this is a reaction to the vaccine The gift of “That’s what worries me because and soon goes away. influenza can be a devastating dis- If someone does get sick after FOOD & ease.” having the inoculation, it likely is the Influenza A, one of two main result of exposure to another of the FRIENDS types of flu viruses that infect people, myriad wintertime viruses that can is a seasonal disease most common cause upper-respiratory diseases that in winter months. Every year in the mimic the flu but that are usually less United States, on average, 5 percent to nasty. It takes about two weeks to build 20 percent of Americans get the flu, up immunity after being vaccinated. So we Give: according to the Centers for Disease if someone was exposed to a flu virus a free 5 Control and Prevention. More than a day or two after being vaccinated, $ 200,000 are hospitalized from flu com- that vaccine will not have had time to Certificate plications — typically pneumonia — develop protection. for each 25 $ and about 36,000 die from flu-related In recent years there have been ef- you spend in causes. forts to inoculate children to reduce the MRG gift cards Older people, young children and incidence of the flu. “Children are very adults with certain health conditions effective transmitters of respiratory dis- MILLENNIUM are at high risk for serious flu compli- ease,” she said. “And by protecting them RESTAURANT GROUP Enjoy! cations, according to the CDC. against the flu, we can hopefully protect 44 &/$03&t/07&.#&3 Other viruses were also on Gillian’s radar. In June 1989, a technician working at the International Research and Devel- Catering to your holiday. opment Center in Mattawan was bitten by a monkey and died of a herpes B virus, commonly called a monkey herpes virus.

others, such as their pregnant teacher or a frail grandparent, as well.” Despite decades of study, the flu virus remains somewhat of a mystery. Its shape-shifting nature makes it an elusive target each year and it’s still not known why some strains, such as the Spanish flu, kill young people more than the elderly. “One theory about the Spanish flu was that older people had been exposed to a milder form of the virus s%6%.437)4(/54"/5.$!2)%3#/- earlier and their bodies had an im- munological memory that protected them,” she said. “But there are lots of unanswered questions about the flu.” Look And Feel Your Best. Despite the remaining mysteries, “We strive to provide a superior care experience by creating a pleasant there’s nothing mysterious about ways personal setting for the finest surgical procedures.” to reduce the likelihood that you will Body Contouring be a victim this winter, Gillian said. Liposuction, Abdominoplasty Breast Surgery No. 1: Get the flu shot. Augmentation, Reduction, Reconstruction Beyond that, follow the CDC Facial Surgery guidelines for avoiding any infectious Facelift, Eyelid Lift, Brow Lift, Rhinoplasty disease: Reconstructive Procedures t5SZUPBWPJEDMPTFDPOUBDUXJUIBOZ- Burns and Burn Scars, Facial Trauma, Congenital Deformities one who is sick. Skin Rejuvenation t8BTIZPVSIBOETGSFRVFOUMZXJUI IPL Treatment of Skin Pigment Abnormalities, soap and water. Alcohol-based hand Small Blood Vessels and Hair Removal, cleaners are also effective. Laser and Chemical Peels t"WPJEUPVDIJOHZPVSFZFT OPTFPS mouth, the surest way to spread an infection. If you do get sick: t$PWFSZPVSOPTFBOENPVUIXJUI a tissue when you cough or sneeze On-site surgical center providing and toss the tissue in the trash when quality, confidential care you are done. 575 W. Crosstown Parkway – Kalamazoo t4UBZBUIPNFGSPNXPSLPSTDIPPM Phone (269) 343-5750 – Toll-Free (877) 995-5750 to reduce the number of people who Steven M. Nitsch, M.D. are exposed to your germs. 888&/$03&,"-".";00$0. 45 Stoltman

Gillian was among those who She and her team began improving investigated the tragic death and worked the way communicable disease informa- closely with public health officials at tion was collected and disseminated the state level. One of them was David throughout the state. The best way to stop Johnson of the Michigan Department of a potential epidemic is to recognize it Community Health. early, before it spreads. Eight years later Gillian resigned Her team not only addressed issues from her job with Human Services and such as food-borne bacterial and viral the next day got a call from Johnson, infections but bioterrorism as well. “That inviting her to come and work for him. was before 9/11,” she said. “We worked Despite the serious nature of her job, In short order Gillian was commuting with the Michigan State Police and the Gillian Stoltman’s life is not “all work and no 76 miles each way every weekday — and FBI to set up the mechanism for improv- play.” Here she is pictured on vacation with her husband, Joseph, in Lhasa, Tibet. some weekend days — as director of the ing a response. Michigan Division of Communicable “We knew that an infectious disease medicines being bought at a Wal-Mart or Disease and Immunization. would start insidiously, a case here and Meijer or Walgreen, clues to what people Johnson had seen and admired the a case there. How do you pick up those were buying to relieve symptoms. work done in Kalamazoo to register and things in the general background? Is there “There were a lot of bright people immunize children and wanted a similar some way to get a handle on things before thinking about these things,” she said. program at the state level. Two years after they are out of control?” “Unfortunately, it took 9/11 to get the she joined Johnson, he asked her to take Instead of relying just on physicians people in charge to really take the on more responsibilities, adding commu- and hospitals to report something such as process seriously. After 9/11 the process nicable diseases to her list of duties. a flu outbreak, they opted to also monitor to prepare for an emergency response “I said fine. That’s what I loved doing.” less obvious factors such as the kinds of started to snowball.” On the day of 9/11, someone at the state health department told Gillian that a plane had hit one of the twin towers and there was panic in New York City. No one could get any more information on the Internet because the Web sites of the major news networks were overload- ed. She checked the BBC Web site and was able to find out what was going on. Gillian spent the rest of the day and well into the night at the State Emergency Operations Center and was so busy that she saw little more of the news coming out of New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. “It wasn’t until 7 or 8 in the evening .;@@85:3 5::;B-@5;: ?5:/1 %$! that I found out that the second tower had been hit and that both had collapsed,” she said. “I knew that something awful had bebellllsbsbeeeer.r cocom.m happened but the horror had not set in.”

n the weeks and months after 9/11, Gillian worked extensively with the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service on Ibioterrorism planning and dealing with the 2002 anthrax scares in Michigan. “They were very good, very professional, working for the best solutions in the most efﬁcient ways,” she said. 46 &/$03&t/07&.#&3 Over the next two years she also had to deal with not just a threat from human- spread anthrax but naturally occurring infections that included West Nile Virus and SARS — not to mention the potential for panic in a population not fully informed. “Here we are dealing with diseases that could and do kill people,” she said. “We, of course, hate that to happen, even to have people sick. But there is also a sense of an intellectual challenge, particularly with something like SARS, a disease that had never been seen before. We had no idea what would happen.” Fortunately, she said, SARS burnt itself out. “The really exciting part about public health is that there’s always something HeilmanNUTSNU & CONFECTIONS’s different; it’s never the same day to day,” she said. “From an academic standpoint, wow, kind of nutty, but in a good way! this was something different. The last 1804 SouSouthth Westnedge Ave 269-383-1188 www.nuts2you.com thing we are is morbid, but we are curious and we had to know how these diseases work because until we understand them we can’t be as effective as we want to keep people from getting sick.” In 2003, with her daughter, Alexan- dra, nearing the end of her years in high school, Gillian resigned her state position and chose to stay close to home and spend more time with her daughter and Joe. “I did some consulting, but with Alexandra in school, I felt I wanted to be here,” she said. “The state job kept me very busy and I decided it was time to make a change.” Alexandra graduated in 2004 and Gillian soon found herself working at Pﬁzer. “I had never really had a 9-to-5 job, but when a door opens you have to look inside,” she said. “It’s a very different world from public health. Yet, as with public health, the goal is to make people healthier, directly or indirectly. It’s a motivation that is so rewarding. “I tell my daughter that it doesn’t matter what you do as long as you get satisfaction from your work and it makes life better for others — that’s so important.” 888&/$03&,"-".";00$0. 47 R=)77-'%K2+0-7,

ROWING UP, Elizabeth Wilder Wright was fix the heartache for her brother and sister, much less always “the fixer” in her family. In a home her brother-in-law and nephews. challenged by divorce and addiction, she was Elizabeth also had to cope with her own despair. the big sister who kept her three siblings entertained She had lost family and friends before, and thought she and out of trouble. knew how to mourn. Elizabeth would dream up elaborate arts and But this grief was different, “incredibly compli- crafts projects to keep them busy, and during the cated,” she says. The grief after her sister’s suicide felt school year, she made sure everyone was up, fed and huge, cold and lonely. Nearly insurmountable … like a ready to learn. mountain. As they grew into adults, her siblings would joke About three months after Chris’s death, Elizabeth that Elizabeth had emerged from the womb an old and her husband, David Wright, were having dinner woman. She would sometimes get Mother’s Day cards with a group of friends. Their friend Scott had recently from her sisters, and she was usually the one they climbed Mt. Rainier in Washington state, and he was called when they were in trouble. They gathered often full of stories about the adventure. Elizabeth remem- as Elizabeth’s brother and sisters had children of bers him raving about how he’d fallen in love with that their own. part of the country. She remembers the friends musing But that calm didn’t last. Like so many children about how great it would to be to climb the mountain of addicts, Elizabeth’s sister Chris began to wrestle together, as a group. with her own drug addiction. That “fixer” role was Elizabeth recalls, “All of a sudden I said, ‘Let’s hard to give up, and Elizabeth spent years enmeshed stop talking about it, and just do it! Let’s go climb Mt. in her sister’s struggles, which included several trips to Rainier.’” rehab. The sisters bounced between intense emotional So that night a group of six friends committed to entanglement and almost complete estrangement. training to climb the mountain. Over eight months, In the fall of 2007, Chris took her own life, leaving the Wrights worked six or seven days a week to behind her husband and two young sons. prepare for the journey. Strength training, intervals, “My world just imploded,” Elizabeth recalls. plyometrics and balance work filled their weeknights. “What do you do with that kind of grief? Where do Through winter weekends, they’d spend hours snow you go?” shoeing or cross-country skiing. When the weather She hadn’t been able to fix her sister’s problems, warmed, they took half-day hikes or drove to Saug- and she certainly couldn’t fix her suicide. She couldn’t atuck to strap on a backpack and spend several hours

48 &/$03&t/07&.#&3 running up and down the 282 steps at started out thinking that I was going on fields of flowers and the glacier-topped Mt. Baldhead. this climb because I wanted to forgive mountain in the background. Elizabeth Injuries and scheduling challenges my sister, Chris. By the end I realized felt like all 14,400 feet of Mt. Rainier surfaced for the other friends who’d that I wanted to climb so I could forgive were calling to her. wanted to tackle Mt. Rainier, and they myself.” “There were no phones, no e-mail,” regretfully cancelled she says. “It was as the climb date just us.” grew closer. That left On Tues- just Elizabeth and day, July 28, David, which felt a the Wrights little daunting. But spent a full day there was no way she in training and was going to give up orientation with on that mountain. their guides. “For eight The weather months of training, I was working walked around com- against them, pletely exhausted,” with record heat Wright says. “I was as high as 95 physically exhausted degrees. Even at from the train- 5,000 feet, tem- ing, and emotion- peratures on the ally exhausted from mountain were grieving for Chris. I in the 80s. was feeling guilt and On Wednes- shame … sadness, day morning, anger. That physical Elizabeth Wright brings up the rear as the team climbs toward the snow fields of Mount Rainier that July 29, Eliza- release of the train- start at about 6,500 feet. beth and David ing is what allowed began their me to go on, day by day.” Through the intensity of the train- ascent toward base camp. She was car- During her training, Elizabeth ing and the grief, husband David was by rying some of Chris’s ashes, along with thought a lot about mountains. She saw her side. Sometimes he listened, other mementos from her nephews and other analogies everywhere. Chris hadn’t times they silently pushed their bodies family members. She intended to release been able to scale her mountain; she’d to the physical limit, side by side. “This them at the summit. chosen to quit. There were large and journey certainly confirmed for me that Despite her months of intense small mountains that we climb all I married the most amazing man,” she training, Elizabeth was already find- the time, she realized—relationship said with a gentle smile. ing the physical challenges harder than mountains, health mountains, financial As the date of the climb grew clos- she’d anticipated. She was the only and professional mountains. And then er, Elizabeth wasn’t sleeping well. She woman in her climbing group, and in there was her grief. Elizabeth’s huge, was restless and emotional. Her fears the stifling heat, she wasn’t able to keep aching, seemingly insurmountable grief weren’t about the physical demands pace. When the group took breaks, she’d certainly felt mountainous. of climbing Mt. Rainier. Instead, she eventually catch up. But that meant her As she slowly increased the weight wondered about her emotional expecta- breaks were significantly shorter than of her training backpack to its full tions. After eight months of exhausting everyone else’s. load of 45 pounds, Elizabeth compared training and reflection, she was expect- By the time they reached base the heaviness of her physical pack to ing some sort of release after the climb. camp at 10,000 feet, she was battling leg the burden of her grief. Why was it so What if that release never came? cramps, and having trouble eating and heavy? How could she lighten it? Feeling restless, Elizabeth and drinking. Would this grief, guilt and shame go David changed their travel plans and “One of the guides suggested that away, ever? headed to Washington several days I not go any further,” she recalls. “I can “I did so much internal work dur- earlier than planned. They spent some be pretty feisty and fierce, but I was re- ing that training,” Elizabeth reflects. “I time hiking, awestruck by the gorgeous ally questioning what I was doing there, 888&/$03&,"-".";00$0. 49 Wright

and why. I felt broken.” “You have to go up as a team, and get been able to eat much. Several of the Another guide suggested that she down as a team. They asked us to take other climbers had already decided to do her best to eat, and get some salt and a few minutes to do an honest physical head back down to base camp. water into her body. She forced down assessment.” But what about Chris? Elizabeth the nutrients, wondering what the next Her legs were rubber, and her en- was still carrying her sister’s ashes, and day would bring. Elizabeth knew she’d ergy was waning. Elizabeth still hadn’t she still had her own letting go to do. be starting the mountain’s upper Those final feet, wasn’t that climb in a physical deficit. She Climbers view Mount Rainier from the Wonderland Trail on a short what she had come for? day hike a few days prior to the actual climb. had trained so hard for this, she Just before 3 a.m., Eliza- wondered, why was she strug- beth made the call. In tears, gling? she decided that she would not Unable to sleep, she rested attempt to summit. David, how- in the dark for about six hours. ever, planned to go on. At 12:30 a.m. a guide called in to Elizabeth chokes up for a the climbers. “Good morning! It’s moment as she remembers David time to attempt to summit!” asking, “Do you want me to Elizabeth walked out into carry Chris the rest of the way?” the dark night, and looked up She handed over that most at the sky, peppered with stars. precious cargo, and watched her “Gorgeous,” she says softly, husband and the other climbers remembering. She fitted her head move off in the dark. Worried lamp, adjusted her ice ax, and about her husband, disappoint- turned her attention to the rope. ed and exhausted, questioning With David and their group, she all her decisions, she turned ascended to the next plateau, at around to climb back down to 12,200 feet. The summit was just base camp. Still, she says, she another 2,200 feet above, but that felt filled with grace. final stretch was the most chal- “I was so humbled,” Eliza- lenging part of the climb. beth reflects. “I have always been “The guides were telling us the strong one; I’m the caretaker. how we really had to commit for I knew at that moment, on this this next section,” Elizabeth says. journey, David was meant to

50 &/$03&t/07&.#&3 offer that gift to me, and I was meant to David did make it to the summit. “He let go of her ashes at sunrise, at receive it.” When he returned to base camp a few exactly the same time I was letting go of Back at camp, Elizabeth settled in to hours later, he told her about the mo- Chris, too,” Elizabeth says. “I know that rest for a few hours and wait for David. ment when he had let go of Chris’s ashes. timing was not a coincidence, just like it Around 6 a.m., her guide, Cal, called to The sun, he said, was just beginning to was no coincidence that part of my les- the climbers that the sun was coming up. rise. son was to be humbled and accept help Elizabeth emerged, and found a from this man I love. It was huge stone to sit on and watch At the summit of Mount Rainier, David Wright sets free some of amazing.” sister-in-law Chris’s ashes. the sun rise. Back in Portage, just a “It was this amazing globe few months after her journey, of orange, so surreal, coming Elizabeth is introspective, and through the clouds,” Elizabeth feeling more at peace with her recalls. “I was certain that David sister’s death. She feels a tremen- was going to make it to the sum- dous sense of relief, and believes mit, and that he had to be close.” “some major healing took place Her thoughts turned to her on the side of that mountain.” sister, and Elizabeth grasped for “Even though I didn’t reach some new beginning with that the top of Mt. Rainier, I do feel sunrise. She spoke to Chris, and like I reached the top of this told her that she missed her, that emotional mountain of grief,” there would always be a void in she says. “Now I’m slowly climb- her heart. She whispered to her ing back down.” sister that she’d always love her. Elizabeth is anxious to share “I just came to peace with the her story with other suicide idea that I was never really going survivors. She’s started speaking to know what she was thinking, with a few local groups about her and I would never understand sister’s life and her own journey why,” Elizabeth says. “I let go of of grief. The journals she’s kept this idea that I somehow should for years might one day be the have, or could have, stopped her basis for a book. from making that choice to end Sometimes the healing pro- her life.” cess comes in surprising forms,

888&/$03&,"-".";00$0. 51 A 2002 photo of Elizabeth Wright, center, Wright with sisters Chris (left) and Sarah (right).

Elizabeth muses. For her, it was daffodils and sunflowers. climbing a mountain. She wants to Elizabeth recently planted 200 empower other survivors to find daffodil bulbs with Chris’s their own unique paths to healing. boys, and she’s been known “Addiction, depression and to send sunflower bouquets to suicide are all such taboo and family members, just because. uncomfortable topics,” she says. “Chris was not a saint, “But I feel like for real healing, you but she was our sister and need to own it, and talk about it. I we’re not going to forget her,” want to show people that it’s OK to Elizabeth says. “She mattered. Photo: Boyce Photography talk about these things, to hold on She was a mother, she was a to each other for support, and just she’s committed to building even stronger nurse, she was a jokester. She feel what you need to feel.” bonds with her family, including her two was so funny, and she could be so warm. She sees sharing her story as part of young nephews. We’re all wrapped up in God’s grace, her own healing process. And certainly, Her sister’s favorite flowers were Chris, too. I love her.”

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888&/$03&,"-".";00$0. 53 A look at Kalamazoo (continued from page 25) Spirit of the Mask — Masks from around Answer! (question on p. 10) the world illustrate the vast diversity and many uses of these fascinating objects. Through Feb. 14. Just northeast of the intersection Planetarium Programs — Programs for of North and Douglas streets, top November include: “Secrets of the Card- amateur riders from around the U.S. board Rocket,” Mon.–Sat., 11 a.m., Sun., 2 kept spectators entertained by testing p.m.; “Stars of the Pharaohs,” daily, 3 p.m.; “A Starry Messenger,” Sat., 2 p.m.; “U2 the limits of state-of-the-art bicycles. Laser Show,” Fri., 8:30 p.m. The racing craze lasted three years in Kalamazoo, with the opening of Recreation Park Plank Bicycle Track Nature on May 20, 1896, resulting in about 2,000 paid admissions. According to a Kalamazoo Gazette article, the opening Audubon Society of Kalamazoo event for the track kicked off with a 345-9211 parade “in which 200 wheel men and Michigan Wetland Restorations — The women, including a dozen tandems and speaker will be Charles Nelson of the a triplet, were at the head of the column.” Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resources Studies at MSU. Nov. 23, 7:30 Information provided by Beth Timmerman of the Kalamazoo Public Library. p.m. People’s Church, 1758 N. 10th St.

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