4 4 Summer 2008

tSUMMER 2008 Qebi^qbpqjôhbqfkaf`^qlo+ >kvlkbtelpmb^hptfqe^_plirqb`boq^fkqv ìfbkqp)tbj^hbpqo^qbdf`^ppbqîil`^qflkp) ^_lrqqebpeloq*qbojafob`qflklcqebjôhbq pq^vfkd_olâivafsbopfÛba^òlpp^pbib`qflk fpcriilc_rii)lo_bô+Kllkbhkltp7klq lc ^ppbq ì^ppbp tfqe sôvfkd `loobi^qflkp TîiPqobbq)klqj^fkpqobbq+Te^q_b`ljbp ql b^è lqebo+ FqÒp klq pfjmiv ^ j^qqbo lc bsbojlobfjmloq^kq)qebobclob)fp^kfkqbi* qovfkdqlmolÛqcoljqeb_riiplo_bmolqb`qba ifdbkq^kaelifpqf`fksbpqjbkqmloqcliflaofsbk coljqeb_bôp+FqÒp^j^qqbolcòb^qfkd^ka _vpqo^qbdfìlkd*qbojl_gb`qfsbp)vbqÜbuf_ib prpq^fkfkdtbîqe+Tb`^kalqebp^jbclo bklrdeqlobpmlkaql`fo`rjpq^k`bp+Clolro vlr+@îirp+ Cfk^k`fîPb`rofqvcoljDbkbo^qflkqlDbkbo^qflk /..plrqeolpbpqobbqhî^j^wll)jf16--4ttt+dobbkib^cqorpq+`lj/36+055+65--5--+1.3+1222 FROM THE PUBLISHER MEMORIAL DAY is another one of those wonderful Monday holidays experiences as a draftee and think back to those days during the Vietnam that gives many of us a three-day weekend in which to relax. War when the threat was so real for so many of my generation. I think of Hopefully, we will also take some time to reflect on the hardship myself as being blessed in that I never left the country during my service and sacrifices of those we honor on that day. in the armed forces. Yet, I experienced the anxiety of worrying — because This most somber of holidays began in the potential was there that I could have been sent to war at any time. I Waterloo, N.Y., on May 30, 1866, and was had friends who served and friends who died, so this worry was very real. originally called Decoration Day as the custom I also spent many months communicating with my wife and was to decorate the tombs of fallen Union year-old son via cassette tapes in a pre-Internet world when long soldiers from the Civil War. Interestingly, the distance telephone was outrageously expensive. We would record idea came from observing how the South took conversations to mail back and forth as often as we found the time time to honor its war dead. This day has been and could afford. That was, after all, much warmer than reading and observed in Waterloo every year since its origin writing letters. I actually got to hear my son’s babbles and cries a Rick Briscoe and gradually spread throughout the nation. couple of times a week. But it still hurt to know that when he went Later in the 19th century the term Memorial to bed at night, he kissed my picture and said good night to my Day began to be used in some areas but wasn’t in common use until image rather than having me there for him. after World War II. Congress finally adopted May 30 as Memorial I was one of the lucky ones — I came home unharmed. In our Day in 1967, for the first time making it a legal, national holiday, and history there have been many who have not been so fortunate. They the next year changed the observance to the last Monday in May to have made the ultimate sacrifice for the rest of us; and there are many give federal employees the now-cherished, three-day weekend. children who have grown up without a father, or a mother, as a result. Unfortunately, it seems that many people have forgotten the So, this year, stop and think about what Memorial Day means, true reason for this observance. Perhaps part of the reason is that and then decide how you want to remember these fallen heroes. war and its deadly consequences are something many of us don’t wish to think about. And maybe we just can’t relate because so few of us have ever been in a situation where our lives were truly on the line, fighting for the freedom of so many others. Rick Briscoe The closest I can come as a non-combat veteran is to reflect on my Publisher Life & Long Term Care Insurance (pronounced shh-may) Financial Representative 445 W. Michigan 349-9115 05-2182 © 2002 The05-2182 © 2002 Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co, Milwaukee, WI. Care InsuranceTerm Northwestern Long WI Co.,Milwaukee J. Schma Peter .":t&/$03& 5 SEARCH FOR THOSE WHO VALUE WITH. WE DID. A.G. Edwards and Wachovia Securities are joining under the name of Wachovia Securities. That’s what happens when you’re both fully invested in your clients’ success. 425 West Michigan Avenue Kalamazoo, MI 49007 (269) 349-4600 (800) 876-2345 A.G. Edwards is a division of Wachovia Securities, LLC. ©2008 Wachovia Securities LLC, Member SIPC, is a registered broker-dealer and a separate nonbank affi liate of Wachovia Corporation. [24778-v1-0241] A1250-1208 CONTENTS MAGAZINE 8 Publisher Richard Briscoe Arts shine outdoors Editor Penny Briscoe in summer. The ROSSES Copy Editor Cherri L. Glowe reminisce Assistant to KIA the Publisher 2008 May 9 Issue 35 Volume and the Ronald Dundon provides a Contributing Writers Tom Chmielewski behind-the-scenes Sid Girardin Emily Lennen glimpse. Larry B. Massie Patrice Mindock Photo: Courtesy KIA Theresa Coty O’Neil Chmielewski Photo: Tom Michael Reed 16 Robert M. Weir RICH and BRENDA SPECIALS Poetry Editor KEITH are always 5 FROM THE PUBLISHER Theresa Coty O’Neil for the birds. Contributing Poets 24 MASSIE’S MICHIGAN Arnold Johnston Cheryl Peck Shanty Boys of the Cartoonist North Woods Craig Bishop 36 30 PUT YOURSELF FIRST Featured Photographer SID GIRARDIN John Gilroy Are you protecting your best asset? remembers his Designer WWII Pacific theater 31 READ THE LOCALS Brakeman experience. Laugh-out-loud Reading Encore magazine is pub- lished nine times yearly, 32 GUESS WHO September through May. Photo: Courtesy Sid Girardin Copyright 2008, Encore 42 Publishing Group, Inc. All 34 EVENTS OF NOTE rights reserved. Editorial, MICHAEL NASSANEY circulation and advertis- leads his charges as ing correspondence should POETRY be sent to 350 S. Burdick, they dig up southwest Suite 316, Kalamazoo, MI Michigan. 49007. Telephone: (269) 28 The Poet Takes a Package Tour 383-4433. Fax number: (269) 383-9767. E-mail: 41 Publisher@Encoreka- Leaving Words First lamazoo.com. The staff at 48 Encore welcomes written comment from readers, With roots in Bangor, BOB EMMERT and articles and poems for submission with no obliga- tackles blueberry farming tion to print or return them. To learn more about us or and local history to comment, you may visit preservation. www.encorekalamazoo. com. Encore subscription M. Weir Photo: Robert rates: one year $27.00, two 54 years $53.00, three years $78.00. Current single is- STEPHEN ALLEN sue and newsstand $4.00, $10.00 by mail. Back issues shows people how to manage $6.00, $12.00 by mail. Ad- their landscape as vertising rates on request. environmental stewards. Closing date for space is 28 days prior to publication date. Final date for print- Photo: David J. AupperleePhoto: David J. Photo: Courtesy Michael Nassaney Photo: Theresa Coty O’Neil ready copy is 21 days prior Guess Who photography: John Gilroy. to publication date. Cover flower photo adapted from .":t&/$03& a photo by Mark Cassino. 7 Photo: Tom Chmielewski Tom Photo: Barry Ross and Jane Rooks-Ross shed some light on the summer concerts. Photo: Courtesy KSO By Tom Chmielewski S THE SUMMER gathers steam of the concerts in the park as not just thing that’s been part of the symphony around here, there are nights that of a summer breeze, but of a gentle for a long, long time.” beneath the trees where you greet wind that blows across generations and Jane has been with the KSO admin- old friends and meet new ones, share social barriers for the audiences. istration since 1995. “What does that a picnic on a blanket, and turn an ear to “There are family, friends. You’ll see make it — 13 years? Wow, almost 13 the sound of violins and brass — while little kids who are dancing to the music, years.” keeping an eye on any clouds threaten- spinning in circles — and grandparents,” But her connection with the orches- ing to obscure the setting sun. Jane said. “I love that aspect about it. tras goes back farther. She is married In July of this season, the Kala- You’ll see people of all ages. You also see to Barry Ross, former concertmaster mazoo Symphony Orchestra takes over all economic backgrounds. It’s very com- and current assistant conductor of the the region’s open-air stages and band- munity oriented.” symphony. shells — on the islands of Plainwell, at And as the orchestra takes its per- “This is my 36th year in Kalama- the converging waters in Three Rivers, formances on the road to the six open-air zoo,” Barry said in an interview at the within an oasis of green in Portage, sites, “It becomes a community-building Rosses’ home near Kalamazoo College, along the shores of Augusta’s Sherman event as well. So that diversity in the where he first took the positions of pro- Lake, within the rolling hills of Parch- audience is really delightful to see, in the fessor of music and concertmaster at the ment’s Kindleberger Park, and amidst the sense of creating community.” Kalamazoo Symphony. green patch accented by trees, fountains, Jane could not say how long the The concertmaster is the first chair church spires and imposing buildings of orchestra has performed in the parks in the violins. “I served as a conduit to downtown Kalamazoo. during the summer, but she did read of the musicians, primarily the string play- Jane Rooks Ross, KSO’s develop- one of the first park concerts being given ers ..

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