My odds of improving

By Blaine Lam


It’s that time of year that I feel, with 100 percent certainty, I am going to be a better person come January 1. My favorite saying, then, is “I never view January 1st with indifference.” With such high hopes, how could I?

My problem, of course, is that it’s difficult to say just HOW things are going to get better. After all, studies show that somewhere between 9 and 15 percent of new year’s resolutions are kept -- and that, no doubt, includes the numbers of the very committed. Then, there’s the statistical evidence that people are only able to predict the future with 2 percent accuracy. So, if my math is correct -- .02 x .12 (median of 9 to 15) -- I’ve got about 24 chances out of 10,000 of telling you what I’m going to do in 2009.

Whatever the odds, I figure if I’m going to take a serious run at a) changing my future and b) predicting the change, then it makes sense to depart from my informal and merely hopeful ways of the past, and put this matter to more scientific analysis than I have in prior years.

So I called researchers at Michigan State University and Western Michigan University, and they agreed to provide me with an estimate. And then I remembered: I had seen a study somewhere which revealed that 98 percent of all studies are done by, or on behalf of, people who make their living doing studies. Which means they have a conflict of interest.

So, I thought: I’ll do the study myself.

A word about my academic credentials. I was graduated from the University of Colorado with a 2.000 grade point average. I got D’s in statistics, math, accounting and finance, but A’s and B’s in a variety of marketing courses, which means this study may not be that statistically significant, but there’s a chance you’re really going to like it.

Here’s how the study is going to work. Experts, tell us, of course, that writing down our goals increases our chances of achieving them. So, I’m going to write them down. Then, in 12 months -- you’ll still be here, right? -- I’ll report which goals I’ve achieved. And to make the study quantifiable, I’ll just make two resolutions, so that my success rate will be 100 percent, 50 percent or 0.

Simple enough? Fair enough? Here goes, then:

1) Resolved, I will remember (for the first time ever if I am successful) what
this year’s resolutions were; and
2) Resolved, I will report my findings (success rate).

Granted, if the experiences of the last 40 years or so are a guide, life may very well get in the way of my ability to achieve these goals. But at least I’ve raised the bar from a quantifiable point of view. And, although I once saw a study which showed that 65 percent of all studies are challenged by people with superior academic credentials, and that 70 percent of all studies only confirm what we already know (diabetes is linked to obesity; caffeine keeps you awake; teens are trouble) and that the other 30 percent are repeat studies (diabetes is linked to obesity), and that 48 percent of all studies are contradicted by findings in other studies, I could very well be 100 percent successful in 2009.

I’m telling you, there’s a chance.

Resolutions

Every couple years I count down to the New Year with a boisterous group—only to experience an awkward moment at the stroke of midnight. As the room pairs off into couples embracing, ringing in the New Year with a kiss, I find myself alone, staring stiffly at a crack in the ceiling. It’s one of the few moments in life when seconds feel like an eternity. When it seems that enough time has passed to plaster, sand and paint that crack in the ceiling, the music resumes. And so does life.

As I get older, the New Year approaches more quickly than it did the year before. My post-college years have become a complete whirlwind—and time freezes only to celebrate life and mourn loss. I’ve learned to lend the fleeting moments to the people and activities that I truly love—to focus on what I do have instead of…architectural flaws.

I’ve never made a New Years resolution—and it’s not for lack of ambition. I just think that the time to learn, change and grow is now. Not tomorrow, not next week and definitely not next year. Last year, I opted for a personal mantra instead of a resolution: “2008 is going to be great!”

Although I didn’t cross paths with Mr. Right in 2008, it was a really great year. So while the stroke of midnight on January 1st may sound the alarm to my solo status, I’d rather plaster, sand and paint a crack in the ceiling than spend one more New Year’s with Mr. Wrong. Instead, I choose to celebrate another year blessed by family and special friends.

My mantra this year? “2009 is my time to shine!” But I think I’ll start today.

Happy New Year!

Ethics Codes: Bah! Humbug!

The holiday slowdown is a marvelous time to kick back and catch up on trivial reading. And it’s hard to find anything of late much more trivial than the recently passed Ethics Code for Kalamazoo City Commissioners.

Don’t get me wrong. I love this City Commission, and I marvel at its dedication to public service. If commissioners want to take the time to write an ethics code, pass it and make future commissioners sign it, no harm done. And to their credit, they have no intention enforcing it. It is, in their words, “aspirational,” not “punitive.” Besides, the City Attorney said “there’s no need to supplement state law.”

Not violating state law, of course, is the essence of the city’s ethics code, unless someone really was curious about whether commissioners should get in free to New Year’s Fest (the $100 gift threshold probably settled that).

You can bet your boots that Bernard Madoff, architect of the now-famous $50 billion fraud, signed the Ethics Code of the Securities and Exchange Commission. That agency, by the way, expends more than a third of its $900 million budget on enforcement. And Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was arrested on ethics charges last week, personally signed into law last year the eight most recent revisions to the 75-section ethics act of the Illinois state government. I'm sure the other 40 Illinois governors who have been indicted signed whatever ethics codes were put in front of them.

Ethics codes don’t work for a pretty simple reason: people who cheat also lie.

But hey, in sacred places like the Kalamazoo City Hall, how could an ethics code hurt? Other than giving people a false sense of security, probably doesn’t.

Most people have a hard time voting against ethics codes. In my professional association -- if indeed, ‘public relations professional’ is not an oxymoron (with apologies to my colleagues) -- I cast the lone “no” vote against our ethics code on the grounds that it was hypocritical. We came out against plagiarism when we’re begging journalists to steal our stuff. Nothing delights a PR professional more than to have his or her work used word-for-word.

And, nothing against lawyers, but would law be a better profession without an ethics code? Do legal scholars, or ethical scholars, ever wonder about the moral implications of a defendant being “fully candid with his or her lawyer without suffering any consequences.”? A better way to look at the code of ethics for lawyers might be this: it’s a “code” that lay people are not allowed to crack. Try asking to make a case in a court of law.

Believe it or not, computer hackers have a code of ethics that speaks to the duty of “solving problems”. It stops short, as you might imagine, of saying “first, do no harm.”

In truth, it’s wonderful living in a community where public servants are passing ethics codes and glad-handing at New Year’s Fest, regardless of whether they pay to get in. May they keep it up.

KVCC Goes Wind Win

In these days of dwindling energy sources, communities are beginning to take a closer look at new potential sources for energy. Wind power is a popular candidate in Southwestern Michigan, where strong winds blow ashore year 'round.

Researchers at universities and colleges seem to agree that the energy harnessed by wind turbines from Michigan’s ‘lake effect’ could provide clean, lasting, and safe energy. According to Michigan State University study, Michigan could produce more than 10 times the amount of electricity needed during a peak-use period if 10,000 offshore wind turbines operated along the Great Lakes.

Kalamazoo Valley Community College is leading the wind energy movement in the region, erecting the first of four fully operational, 120-foot tall, wind turbines in the Kalamazoo area. KVCC received its special-use permit and approval of a site plan from the Texas Township Planning Commission in early December, and could have the first wind turbine producing energy as early as January.

In addition to the energy benefits, KVCC is using the turbine as a learning resource. Wind energy will be incorporated into the college's technical programs, and there are plans to establish a Wind Energy Center in the near future.

“An educational institution leading by example is the way I see it,” said James DeHaven, vice president for economic and business development. DeHaven believes the KVCC Wind Energy Center will have educational, job-training, employment, entrepreneurial, and research-and-development ramifications for this part of the state.

Currently, wind power represents only one percent of the nation’s total energy output. With the free winds that come across Lake Michigan, Michigan may be geographically situated to head the movement toward wind power as a significant source of energy. With energy resources diminishing, and Michigan’s economy in trouble, advancing this industry may be a shot in the arm that southwest Michigan could use. These turbines and the educational programs attached to them at KVCC are a big step in making this a reality. It may be interesting to note that Kalamazoo was once known as “The Windmill City.” It was home to several manufacturers that, at their peak, made 4,000 windmills annually and sold to 1,500 overseas markets in the early 20^th Century. So, in a sense, it's "back to the future."

Can Kalamazoo keep its youth?

Even John Dunn, president of Western Michigan University, had a few ‘Ah-hah!” moments as he and group of Kalamazoo business and community leaders sat through a student presentation on why Western graduates keep leaving Kalamazoo.  The students were from WMU’s Communications 4800 class, which is run by Mary Cohen, who has worked with them on this project all semester.

Conducting over 500 surveys, seven focus groups, and dozens of one-on-one interviews of young people between the ages of 18 and 24, the Comm students were able to paint a picture of where students come to Western from, where they go after graduation, and why.  While 75 percent of students enrolled at WMU claim to have come from cities and towns the same size as Kalamazoo or smaller, the overwhelming majority plan on heading to bigger cities after graduation, most notably Chicago.   The two top factors for this desire proved to be the perception of jobs and a sense of opportunities, professionally and socially.  In some of their focus groups, participants did indicate a desire to return to Kalamazoo, but only after a shot at what the ‘big city’ had to offer.  Many participants valued safety as an important factor in choosing a place to live and agreed that Kalamazoo might provide a better place to raise a family than the city.

Throughout the presentation, and the discussion that followed, it became clear just how powerful perceptions can be.  In the interviews and focus groups that people conducted, many participants expressed a desire to move to bigger cities because of the job opportunities, having never been to those cities.  Additionally, when participants talked about moving back to the Kalamazoo area when ready to start a family, many noted that they would prefer to move to Portage or Mattawan.  The reason?  They believed the school systems are superior.  Some of the participants saying so had not gone to Kalamazoo area schools.  And all this despite the benefits of the Kalamazoo Promise!

Perceptions have quite an impact on people’s decisions.  As Kalamazoo businesses are crying out for young people to stay, there are businesses in Chicago that are turning applicants away left and right.  They are inundated with resumes from the influx of college grads.  Some local design businesses have been forced to open branches in Chicago as they can not get enough young talent through the door, while the competition in big cities get to be choosy.  It would seem that it could be as easy to find a professional job in Kalamazoo as it would be in any major city. 

This begs the question: what is Kalamazoo doing to change the perception of its job market?  A big portion of the Communications 4800 presentation was about, naturally, communications.  When survey participants were asked where they get information about potential jobs, the top responses were friends and family, BroncoJOBS online, and online networking mediums like facebook.com and myspace.com, which could almost be grouped with friends and family.  However, when the students asked several Kalamazoo businesses how they advertise for jobs, the top responses were their own personal web sites, newspapers, and recruitment sites like monster.com.  There seems to be a bit of a disconnect here.  Traditional mediums for advertising don’t seem to be reaching the Western Grads.  While BroncoJOBS, Western’s online job search engine, is something just about any business could advertise on, the problem may be in breaking in to this online social network.  If graduates are learning about jobs and creating perceptions based on personal relationships, what can Kalamazoo businesses do to form a more personal relationship with Western’s students? 

This seemed to be the closing thought of the attendees of the presentation.  Job fairs and recruiters are certainly one way, and a few students even mentioned business starting their own social networking pages.  Politicians do it to reach the youth.  There may not be a perfect answer, or there may be several answers, but it’s something that Kalamazoo businesses, and the Kalamazoo community need to consider if they want to change perceptions, and stop the out flux of Western graduates.  Michigan currently tops the nation in outbound graduates, and Kalamazoo is playing its part.

Perhaps the clearest ‘Ah-hah!’ moment came right at the end, after the students had finished the presentation of their semester long research on the question of how to keep Western grad students from leaving.  President Dunn asked this group of 15 or so seniors, “How many of you are planning on staying in Kalamazoo after graduation.”  Three raised their hands.

Story Telling Time

By Kristi Buckham


Every year, just before Christmas, the third generation of our family gathers in festive spirit to decorate Christmas cookies. It has been a family tradition for at least twenty years. We’ve grown from a young group of rambunctious cousins to women with degrees and rings on our fingers. Somehow, we coordinate our corporate schedules each December to meet at grandma’s house—to revisit our youth and sing along to Andy Williams.

It has been three years since we lost our grandpa, George Kingsley Buckham. If his old farmhouse was his palace, then his rocking chair near the wood-burning stove was his throne. That is where he read the Kalamazoo Gazette cover to cover; his glasses low on his nose. Every time we came to visit he would toss his paper aside as he emerged from his chair. He expressed his love to us by placing his tough old hand on our cheeks and exclaiming, “you’re such a joy!”

Grandpa loved the holidays and enjoyed the laughter and commotion from the kitchen when we decorated Christmas cookies. One year he came into the kitchen to observe. Grandpa stuttered and was very careful with his words. His kind brown eyes were deep with pride and appreciation as he told us, “This is our culture.”

“This is our culture.” It’s a phrase that emerges in our family each holiday season. As we mix ingredients into a large bowl of sweet batter, I know we all see grandpa’s empty chair in the family room. And we keep baking. It is our culture to honor the love and togetherness that he fostered throughout his lifetime. It is our culture, and such a joy, to preserve the stories and traditions passed along through the generations.

My grandpa was an avid letter writer who called written correspondence a “dying art.” He wrote columns for several national livestock publications, and his Christmas Story was a favorite among his readers. It was also a favorite among his grandchildren.

I remember grandpa reclined in his chair next to the crackling stove; his large, calloused hands entwined in his lap. An old western was muted on the television as we gathered around him while another batch of Christmas cookies baked in the oven. It was Story Telling Time. The story began at the family farm on Kalamazoo’s West Side—it encompasses triumph in tough times and reflects a culture of love that never dies.

Please read and enjoy Story Telling Time, by George K. Buckham:

We’ll go back to 1938, when my twin brother and I were 10 years old. We were just coming out of the Great Depression of the early 1930s. Like everyone else, we were as poor as church mice, but things were finally looking up for us and the rest of the country.

At the time, we didn’t have a tractor. We had eight good workhorses, and we always raised two or three colts a year. My father took great pride in his horses, as he did all of his livestock. He gave them special care, and in return he expected them to always produce, work, and of course, help him make his living as a farmer.

It was about dark, a week before Christmas, when we heard a knock on our door. It was a fellow who owned a fuel truck. He had gotten his truck stuck delivering fuel to one of our neighbors and he wondered if we had a tractor that could pull him out of a very muddy driveway. My father told him that we had no tractor, but he did have a great team of horses that could pull better than most tractors of that time.

The fuel man of course thought that my father was crazy to think a team of horses could accomplish this tough feat. But my dad assured the man that he could pull him out. We quickly went to the barn to get the horses harnessed. Before we left, my dad made sure that the harness was clean and polished, and he brushed the team’s manes and tails. We hooked them onto a hay wagon and drove the mile to where the truck was stuck.

By the time we got there, probably 15 or 20 people were standing around waiting for the big show to start. Of course, not one of them thought that our great team could pull the truck out of the mud. We quickly hooked the team to the back of the truck as my father instructed the fuel man to start the truck and be ready to back up when he started to pull.

But things did not go as planned. The driver killed his truck, and Dad’s team failed to pull like they were supposed to. I could see by the look in my father’s eyes that he knew he was in trouble, and maybe he had bitten off more than he could handle.

My father quickly halted his team to a stop. He seized them by their bridles and just stared into their eyes. He then spoke to them in a very stern voice, as though they were human, and told them his very reputation as a horseman and livestock man was at stake. They could pull the load and were not to let him down. Then, he again shook their bridles and just glared at them.

At this time, I was relieved to see that my dad was in control, and his big team had understood the meaning of his stern words. But the suspense began as he told the driver to start the truck and that he better be able to keep it going. My father had changed his strategy this time. He backed up his big team and was going to give the truck a huge jerk to get it moving.

I can still see it and have thought about it a million times. My father had backed his team up. The reins looked like shoelaces intertwined with his huge hands. He held the lines so tightly; you could almost hear them crack under the pressure. He was calling out their names, very slowly at the start, his voice getting louder with each second. When he thought his team was together and ready to pull, he let out a war whoop to PULL! When the force of the pull hit the horses, it picked their front ends off the ground as though they were dangling in the air. They were breathing so hard it looked as though fire and smoke were streaming from their nostrils in the cold night.

When my father’s powerful team came down, they were together, pulling like the champions that they were. My father was calling out their names, commanding them to stop. He had let the lines almost drop and was towering over them as the horses were almost up to their knees in the soft, muddy ground. But every step got easier. When they reached the road, my dad even put a flare of showmanship into his great pull. He turned his horses sharply in the road to pull the truck around and straighten it out.

The look on his face was one my brother and I had seldom seen during the hard years of the 1930s. He was almost laughing, his eyes dancing like big brown diamonds. What he did next I will never forget. He took the horses by the bridles, looked them deep in the eyes, and thanked them for not letting him down. The horses, still breathing almost fire and smoke, with slobber all over their mouths, rubbed their damp heads all over his shoulders, knocking his hat off. It was like three kids bragging and laughing about a great victory, a truly joyous moment. Everybody was shaking hands with my dad, confirming what a great team of horses he had. You can be sure that he was enjoying that special moment as much as we were.

We quickly hooked the horses up to the wagon, and I got to drive them home. The Christmas trees were lit in the neighbor’s homes. The sounds of the horses’ hooves on the pavement were like a Christmas carol as I let them trot home.

Maybe you had to be there to appreciate this special event. Or maybe one had to live at that time to appreciate the special emotion that my brother, father and I had felt that cold night. To me, it will always be the greatest livestock event that I have ever seen. The ribbons and trophies weren’t there, but there was no doubt that my father was a master livestock man.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Holidays at the Homestead

Spend your Holidays at the Homestead! The Kalamazoo Nature Center is hosting the season’s most wholesome holiday party at the DeLano Homestead. Built in 1858, this 150-year-old farmhouse is filled with holiday fun and traditions for the entire family.

Decorate trees, make gingerbread cookies and listen to acoustic holiday music in the homestead’s parlor. Enjoy demonstrations by spinners, weavers and blacksmiths. Venture outdoors to tour the 1830’s log cabin replica and imagine a Michigan winter in the wilderness. Weather permitting, horse-drawn sleigh rides will be available, followed by hot cider and refreshments for only $1.

Don’t miss Holidays at the Homestead on Sunday, December 7 and Sunday, December 14 from 1-4 p.m. The Delano Homestead is located at 555 West E Avenue. For more information, visit www.NatureCenter.org.

Ring in the New Year with the One One Run!

Ring in the New Year the healthy way with the John Daley Memorial One One Run. Held on New Year’s Day, this non-competitive event celebrates the New Year by emphasizing fun, community and support of Kalamazoo youth.

For the past 25 years, as many as 1,300 people have arrived to participate in the One One Run’s festivities of friendship, family, and fitness. Whether the New Year commitment is to personal health, community wellness or a wonderful youth organization, the One One Run is a positive way to begin 2009.

John Daley, long-time Borgess Medical Center Development Director and avid supporter of the Boys & Girls Club, was instrumental in the early years of the One One Run. After his passing, the event was renamed in his honor and proceeds were given to the Boys & Girls Club per his wishes. Last year, this event raised more than $25,000 to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kalamazoo.

The One One Run kicks off on Thursday, January 1, 2009 at 1:00 pm at Spring Valley Park in Kalamazoo. Runners, walkers, families, sports teams, dogs, and strollers are all welcome! For more information, please contact Greta Faworski at 269-349-4485 x109 or gretaf@bgckzoo.org. To register online, visit www.active.com and search for One One Run.

"Thanks" "Giving"

I recently shared a small feast with my aunt, uncle and their two children. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes—a savory Sunday evening spread. Within one bite, my heaping plate of food was suddenly my only company. My family and conversation faded into the background as the flavors triggered a heartwarming nostalgia for traditional values.

My aunt offered me a second helping. Twice. As I snapped back to reality and thoughtfully considered whether I could eat more, I realized I was enjoying the best meal in…and I started to count. Weeks. Months. A year?! As a young professional, I have hardly taken the time to appreciate a simple meal. My work ethic deprived my palate as I multi-tasked my way through nearly every bite—I ate while driving, walking, typing, you name it.

This year, more than ever, I anticipate Thanksgiving. As every holiday becomes more commercialized, the simplicity of Thanksgiving has remained a reliable constant. In the face of economic turmoil, war and illness, it is important to recognize and celebrate our abundant blessings: friends and family.

I look forward to sharing a meal with my family instead of hastily eating on the run this Thanksgiving. However, I remember there are people in our community who are challenged daily to find even the hastiest meal. That’s why it is important to share our blessings and resources with those who are not as fortunate this holiday season.

To learn how you can donate food or volunteer for those in need, visit The Kalamazoo Gospel Mission, Ministry with Community, Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes and the Kalamazoo Deacon’s Conference.

“Thanks” is easy. Consider “Giving” this Thanksgiving.

I've Got a Winery in Kalamazoo

The other day I was sitting at the tasting bar in Tempo Vino, a downtown Kalamazoo winery on E. Michigan, tasting through a flight of wines.  The Pinot Grigio was bright, fresh, and surprisingly aromatic.  The Amarone’s deep, rich color was matched by the blackberry, plum, and tobacco notes on the palate.  As a wine enthusiast, I was skeptical about tasting the fruit flavored Black Currant Merlot, but found it to be delicious, and with a balanced sweetness. 

 

However, it wasn’t until I began listening in on a conversation between a customer and the woman behind the bar that it hit me what really made these wines special.  “It’s for our friends in Wisconsin,” the customer, purchasing a wine bottle, explained.  “They moved away a number of years ago, and we wanted to send them something ‘Kalamazoo’.”  And how Kalamazoo it is.

 

The woman behind the bar is owner and proprietor Irene Kokkinos, a Kalamazoo area native who opened the winery in 2005.  At the time it was part of the Vintner’s Cellar Winery franchise, but she has recently bought it out, making it completely locally owned and operated.  Additionally, sole ownership gives her more freedom to find local sources for grapes.  Irene wants to give her Kalamazoo winery even more of a local touch.

 

Currently, the wines are made in-house with juice sourced from different regions in California, as well as northern Italy and the Chianti region. Winemaker Alex Mantakounis, a Western Michigan University grad, has compiled a handful of awards for their finished product, including an award in Winemaker Magazine for the Amarone I tasted.  

 

The winery is cozy and quaint, and they’ve put all of their fermenting vessels on display so you can watch the winemaking process happen.  Interestingly, not all of these vessels are making the wine that they sell over the bar.  Much of the wine produced is for special orders.  At Tempo Vino, one of the aspects that sets them apart from other Kalamazoo area wineries is that they allow people to make their own wine. Customers can come in, taste through a series of completed wine, then discuss what characteristics they want in their own wine.  Tempo Vino tailors each wine to the customers wishes, making it sweeter or dryer, lighter or heavier, or even adding oak aging, depending on the customer’s individual tastes.  Then, you can choose or design your own label.

 

Irene mentioned that people make their own wines for everything from holiday gifts to weddings or just personalized bottles to break out when friends are over.  Some of them even try making it on their own after a few batches, and Tempo Vino sells the wine-making kits to do so.  Irene is excited about the enthusiasm for wine in Kalamazoo right now, and her success, along with success of some of the wine themed restaurants that have opened up in town, is encouraging.

Tempo Vino is located at 260 E. Michigan in downtown Kalamazoo.  Call Irene during business hours at (269) 342-WINE or get more information at www.vintnerscellarwinery.com.

 

On that note, here is this week’s wine tip: get sparkling wine off of that pedestal.  The American trend is to only drink sparkling wine on celebrations or holidays, especially New Year’s.  Sparkling wine actually makes a wonderful aperitif and is a great way to get your taste buds ready at the start of any meal.  A glass of Prosecco, Cava, Champagne, or even just a California sparkling white will liven up your palate and enhance your ensuing meal.  Given this, and its fun effervescent nature, sparkling wine is a ‘must have’ starter anytime you have guests for dinner.  

 

Experience Wine in Kalamazoo

Winter is here, and with it comes more than just cold weather. With each season comes a mindset. Suddenly the refreshment that comes with a cold beer on a hot summer day is replaced by the coziness of nice glass of wine at the holiday table.  Yes, it is wine season, and Kalamazoo offers some great ways to experience it.

New to Kalamazoo is The Wine Loft at 161 E. Michigan.  This downtown wine bar has more than 30 different wines available by the glass.  Another wine focused restaurant is the Epic Bistro at 359 S. Burdick. For the casual wine consumer, wine can be a scary thing.  There is a certain mystique, and a touch of snobbery, that surrounds it.  Demystify it by trying a glass of something you have never had, or heard of, before.  Take note of what you like about it, and why?  Talk to the bartender or manager about the wines you like, and get some information about the wine, like where it’s from and what food it pairs with.  You might be surprised at what you find out about your taste in wine, and you may save yourself a little time the next time you’re picking up a bottle.

One of the most rewarding and fun ways to learn about wine is to buy it at wine focused bottle shops.  Introduce yourself to the proprietors and staff and ask them what they like.  They are in the business of helping you discover your palate.  Let them know what styles you’re familiar with, and why you like them.  They can take that information and suggest wines you may never have considered.  After drinking it, go back and let them know if you liked it, and why.  With this information, they can hone in even more on what you like.  This is how you discover your palate.  Ask for Saad over at Tiffany’s on West Main, or Sam and Jerre at Salut on Gull Road, or Brian at Bacchus on Oakland.

If you would like to develop your wine knowledge or your palette even more, Kalamazoo has some great wine tasting clubs and events for all levels of wine experience. 

The Tasters Guild has a chapter in Kalamazoo that brings together lovers of fine wine and food.  The Guild hosts food pairing events, wine judging competitions, and casual tastings.  For more information, check go to www.tastersguild.com or call locally at (269) 649-0616.

Food Dance and the Park Club offer regular wine tastings.  The next pairings at Food Dance include a Thanksgiving Wine Tasting on November 10^th, and an Italian Solstice Wine Tasting on December 17^th.  Go to www.fooddance.net for more information, or call locally at (269) 382-1888.

For those that would like to see the inner workings of how wine is transformed from grapes, the Kalamazoo area has some great wineries.  In fact, in the Orbitz Food & Wine Index, which tracks travel for food and wine related excursions, Kalamazoo was noted as one of the top 10 fastest growing wine regions in America. 

The St. Julian Winery, at 716 S. Kalamazoo St. in Paw Paw, offers regular winery tours, and a tasting room open seven days a week.  Touring the facility give you a real appreciation for the time and care that it takes to produce that bottle of wine sitting on your dinner table.

Tempo Vino Winery, at 260 E. Michigan downtown, offers a tasting bar for a sampling of their wines.  But what makes Tempo Vino really special is that they allow customers to create their own wine, and wine labels.  Work with the winemaker on a recipe that fits your tastes, and 6-8 weeks later you can enjoy the finished product of your creation.  Visit www.vintnerscellarwinery.com for details, or call locally at (269) 342-9463.

There are all kinds of ways to increase your wine knowledge and enhance your wine experience in Kalamazoo, regardless of your experience with it.  There is a saying in the wine world: “The more you know, the less you know.”  You could devote your life to the study of wine, and still learn something new everyday.  The important thing is that wine drinking should be fun, social, and enjoyably.  Kalamazoo has some great places to make your wine experience just that.

Here’s a winter wine tip for the coming holidays: the perfect wine pairing for turkey and ham is Riesling.  The slight sweetness in Riesling acts almost like a honey glaze when consumed just after a bite of succulent meat.  Additionally, while the sweetness masks it, the acidity levels in Rieslings can actually be quite high.  This acidity is what makes your mouth salivate, and enhances the flavor of the food you eat.

Spared From the Storm at KIA

The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts is honored to feature its newest exhibition, “Spared from the Storm: Masterworks from the New Orleans Museum of Art,” from November 8, 2008 until February 8, 2009.

This rare ticketed exhibit features nearly 100 priceless works from the New Orleans Museum of Art that were spared from Hurricane Katrina and its devastating aftereffects. The KIA will host 17th through mid-20th century paintings and sculptures by Mary Cassatt, Edgar Degas, Paul Gauguin, Wassily Kandinsky, Joan Miró, Claude Monet, Georgia O’Keeffe, Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Pierre Auguste Renoir, Auguste Rodin, John Singer Sargent and Giambattista Tiepolo.

The KIA will commemorate the exhibits opening with a free mini-concert of spirituals and French Christmas carols performed by the Kalamazoo Bach Festival Choir on Saturday, November 8 at 1:30 p.m. Tickets for this family-friendly exhibit are $10 for general admission; $8 for seniors and students and groups of 15 or more people; $5 for KIA members. For more information, call (269) 349-7775, or visit http://www.kiarts.org.

“Spared From the Storm” Exhibit Schedule:
November 8, 2008 -February 8, 2009
Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.;
Thursday, Friday: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.;
Sunday: noon-6 p.m.

2008 Jingle Bell Run/Walk

Celebrate the start of the holiday season by giving at the 2008 Jingle Bell Run/Walk. This annual event raises money and awareness for the Arthritis Foundation. Participants tie jingle bells to their shoes and may wear a festive holiday costume for the running or walking route. Conclude this great event by watching the 47th Annual Holiday Parade in Downtown Kalamazoo.

The Jingle Bell Run/Walk begins at 9 a.m. on November 8th on Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s Arcadia Campus, 202 N. Rose Street. Registration is $35. To learn more or to register, visit the Jingle Bell Run/Walk on-line.

Be there…with bells on!

Kalamazoo's 47th Annual Holiday Parade

Don’t miss the 47th Annual Kalamazoo Holiday Parade on Saturday, November 8th at 11 a.m. This popular parade kicks off an exciting day in Downtown Kalamazoo! Witness festive floats, three-story-tall helium balloons of your favorite holiday characters, jolly music from area high-school bands and a special visit from Old St. Nick.

The parade route begins on Lovell Street near Pfizer and continues west on Lovell to Park; north on Park to Michigan Ave.; east on Michigan Ave. to Pitcher; south on Pitcher, concluding on Lovell St.

Promise Week III: November 7-15

Don’t miss Promise Week III, the annual recognition and discussion of progress in making the Kalamazoo Promise a reality for many. Throughout the week of November 7 through 15, community members and leaders will highlight continuing efforts to build the Kalamazoo Promise, plans for future community building efforts and economic development potential, opportunities to revitalize the urban core, provide support for young people throughout the community and improve the quality of life in the Greater Kalamazoo area.

Promise Week III is supported by a broad coalition of interests who seek to engage the community in providing outstanding education and a path to success for all students, to revive the area and to create a “region of choice” for economic development. This year, Promise Week will address these important questions:

• What has happened since the Kalamazoo Promise scholarship program was announced three years ago?

• What does it mean to me, regardless of whether I am not among those who send their children to Kalamazoo Public Schools?

• How can I get involved in the “Promise of a Greater Kalamazoo,” an effort to build on the gift of the Kalamazoo Promise and stimulate the vitality of the region through education and quality-of-life initiatives?

Promise Week III is a continuation of the ongoing effort to build on the promise of a Greater Kalamazoo! Don’t miss any of the exciting events listed below. For more information, please visit: www.promiseweek.com or call the Special Events Line at (269) 345-1913.


Promise Week III: Leadership by Example
Events Calendar, November 7-15, 2008


Art Hop
Friday, November 7th, 2008
Downtown Kalmazoo | 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm (times may vary)

This month's Art Hop features several exhibits with educational themes, including the work of Kalamazoo Public Schools students, alumni, and teachers at Kalamazoo Communities In Schools/Kalamazoo Promise (125 W. Exchange Place); K/Resa - Education for the Arts Teaching Artists Showcase at the Epic Center (359 S. Kalamazoo Mall), and performances by youth from the ACT OUT program at the City of Kalamazoo Youth Development Center (230 E. Crosstown Parkway). To download a map, visit the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.


Marketing Kalamazoo and its Promise
Tuesday, November 11th, 2008
Radisson Hotel - Kalamazoo | 7:30 am - 9:00 am

A panel discussion of how area business and organizations can leverage the Kalamazoo Promise to support their mission or goals. Will include speakers from Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo County Chamber of Commerce, Southwest Michigan First, and Allen Edwin Home; Blaine Lam (moderator).


Arts Education and Community Success
Wednesday, November 12th, 2008
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts | 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Organizations that are aligning their activities with the broader goals of the Kalamazoo Promise will be featured. Speakers include area arts students as well as representatives of the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, the Civic Theater, and Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers.


Business/Education Roundtable
Thursday, November 13th, 2008
Radisson Hotel - Kalamazoo | 7:30 am - 9:00 am

A community conversation around what businesses are doing to connect with education. Will include speakers from Monroe-Brown internship program, Pfizer's Partners in Education, BASIC, Eaton Corp's Big Brothers Big Sisters in Business program, and small business rep. Ron Kitchens (moderator).


What the Promise Means to You
Thursday, November 13th, 2008
Ecumenical Senior Center, 702 N. Burdick (at North Street) | 12:00 - 3:00 pm

Join members of the Kalamazoo Junior Girls Organization and Ecumenical Senior Center in a celebration of Promise Week. The afternoon event will include youth entertainment, refreshments, networking, an open discussion of the Kalamazoo Promise, and display of the Kalamazoo Promise Traveling Exhibit. For more information, call 344-2330.


Meet Author/Illustrator Kadir Nelson
Thursday, November 13th, 2008
Kalamazoo Public Library - Eastwood Branch | 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Hear from this year's featured children's author about his stunning illustrated history, We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball. Books for sale and signing. Refreshments served.


31st Annual Mary Caletto Rife Children's Literature Seminar
Friday, November 14th, 2008
Fetzer Center, Western Michigan University | 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Kadir Nelson, author of picture books about Harriet Tubman, W.E.B. DuBois, Duke Ellington, Michael Jordan, and Henry Brown, the slave who literally mailed himself to freedom, is the featured author at this annual celebration of great books for children. Registration required; $35 fee includes lunch | students $5 without lunch, $15 with lunch. Call 553-7804 or register online, here.

Leadership Kalamazoo Breakfast features Celebrated Speaker

Leadership Kalamazoo will host a breakfast featuring Bill Strickland on Thursday, November 6, from 7:15 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Radisson Plaza Hotel.

Bill Strickland is a nationally renowned speaker and social innovator. His captivating story involves personal and community transformation from poverty and defeat to strength and success. For more than 30 years, Strickland has inspired thousands through his powerful words, ideas, and the creation of a job training center and community arts program in his hometown. According to Strickland, “success is the point where your most authentic talents, passion, values, and experiences intersect with the chance to contribute to some greater good.” To learn more about Bill Strickland, visit http://www.bill-strickland.org/.

Tickets are $40 for the general public and $30 for Leadership Kalamazoo members. Click on the link to reserve your seat today!

Everything Autumn

I woke up this morning to the remnants of a huge party in my back yard. Mother Nature must have hosted a welcoming celebration for autumn during the night. And as I drove to work, it appears that all of Kalamazoo was invited. Fluorescent leaves are scattered like confetti across the county, and a few trees are displaying the season’s most vibrant hues of red and orange.

For me, waking up to fall in Michigan invokes a child-like excitement similar to waking up to snow and Santa Claus on Christmas. I wondered how my obsession with this season began, so I journeyed through the autumns of my youth and a few images came to mind:

Fall is the sweet smell of the final cut of hay. It is a Harvest Moon grinning low in the sky like a giant jack-o-lantern. It is rows of golden corn crackling beneath the groan of a dusty combine.

Fall is a hayride and a bonfire. It is children running through an orchard for cider and donuts. It is a herd of ewes retreating from the pasture—their bellies bulging as they prepare to have their lambs.

Fall is the smell of a wood-burning stove. It is catching leaves as they float from the trees. It is a swinging rope hanging from the rafters—or burlap sacks of wool piled to the ceiling of our old barn.

Fall is the screams of a haunted house and the stomachache from candy corn. It is the laughter from a game of football in my grandma’s front yard. It is the memory of my grandfather’s charming face, blackened by the soot of his harvest.

Fall is the heralded “trick or treat!” The beauty of autumn arrives quickly, almost unexpectedly. And like an awe-inspiring display of fireworks, its celebration is brief. I believe Michigan may host the nation’s most beautiful finale to nature, so I always make a point to enjoy the “treat.”

Winter Heating Tips

With the winter fast approaching, and energy costs still on the rise, Kalamazoo area residents are looking for ways to stay warm this winter without breaking the bank. Finding ways to scale back your heating not only saves money, but it is better for the environment as using less heat is less of a draw on our energy resources.

So, this winter, how exactly do you use less heat, but stay just as warm? Here are a few tips:

Don’t Use Unnecessary Heat
Don’t unnecessarily heat rooms that you don’t use often, such as guest rooms. If possible, turn back thermostats in those rooms, or keep the door closed to prevent heat drifting in.
Additionally, if you tend to be gone for long stretches during the day, scale your thermostat back a little before you leave. Then return it to normal as soon as you get home. Be sure not to turn your thermostat higher than your desired temperature in an effort to heat the house faster when you return. This doesn’t heat your home any faster, but makes your furnace work harder, and possibly use more energy than needed.

Wash Clothes in Cold Water When Possible
Not all clothes need to be washed in warm or hot water, but it’s easy to leave the dial set as such. Check clothing tags for clothes that can be machine washed cold, and change your dial accordingly.

Keep Your Chimney Flue Closed When Not In Use
An open flue is like leaving a window open. The hot air escapes right out the chimney. Be sure to keep this closed when you are not using your fireplace.

Take Advantage of the Sun’s Natural Warmth
Open the shades and blinds of south facing windows on sunny days. Additionally, close them at night to reduce the chill from cold or frosty windows.

Check Your House for Energy Leaks
Look and feel around doors and windows for drafts, leaks or holes. Use weather stripping, caulk, or door sweeps to prevent heat loss this winter.

Cut Your Shower Time
Hot water can be a major influence on your energy expenditures, especially in big families. Ask everyone in your family to cut back on their hot shower time by a few minutes. Shorter hot showers can save up to 33% of your hot water heating costs.

At-Home at Homecoming?

Two years ago I sat along a curb in East Lansing, waving to Kermit the Frog as he rolled by in a white convertible. Moments later, massive draft horses with green manes and hooves pounded the pavement as they trotted down Grand River Avenue. Another Homecoming parade was passing before me as quickly as the year had passed since I graduated.

Each fall I drive into Michigan State’s campus and read the imaginary banner above Spartan Stadium that screams, “Welcome to the Happiest Place in Michigan!” Sure, I admit I’m biased toward my alma mater—but every time I step foot on campus toting a grill and wearing a signature hooded sweatshirt, I feel like I’ve been welcomed to the largest extended-family reunion known to man. It’s a celebration I have most appropriately termed “Tailgation Nation.”

Tailgation Nation is more than a parade, high-fives, the smell of hot dogs and the blast of a sportscaster on an AM radio. Exceeding the celebration of a football game, Tailgation Nation is the celebration of community and the sense of family developed during one of life’s greatest periods of transition. My college years taught me astronomy, biology and ethics and communication theories. But the greater education was about myself—about love and friendship, heartache and triumph. I left East Lansing with more than a degree—and each time I return I can’t help but celebrate the place that nurtured me and fostered my growth from a shy farm girl to a confidant woman.

Although I didn’t go to Kalamazoo’s Western Michigan University, I’m guessing it has a group of graduates and enthusiastic fans similar to what I experienced at MSU. In the midst of another exciting season of college football, I am convinced that Tailgation Nation is a universal phenomenon. And if it’s not—it should be. Our community can learn from the universities: perhaps a stable and lifelong sense of community results from providing a supportive environment that evolves and transforms the individual.

No matter where I wind up in life, I have the comfort of knowing my alma mater will always welcome me home. I’m confident that Kalamazoo can do the same.

tax credit copy

Did you know that the federal government has made home ownership more enticing for first-time buyers?

For the remainder of this year and the first half of 2009, the government will give a tax credit of up to $7,500 to eligible couples. The tax credit is worth 10% of the purchase price of the home. The tax credit amounts to an interest-free 15-year loan for first-time homebuyers.

In the words of Kieren Quinn, Chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association: “This is the most important piece of housing-related legislation that we have seen in more than a generation.” The new legislation has helped put many young couples in Allen Edwin Homes.

Because the tax credit is for people who purchase their primary residence, individuals may qualify for the tax credit even if they own a vacation home or rental property as long as those properties were not their primary residence for at least three years preceding the purchase of their new home.

The credit is phased out for individuals with modified adjusted gross income between $75,000 and $95,000. For married couples filing a joint return, the phase out range is $150,000 to $170,000.

The credit is fully refundable, meaning taxpayers will be able to obtain an additional federal tax refund of up to $7,500 even if they have no other tax liabilities. Taxpayers will be able to claim the credit on their 2008 tax return for homes purchased in 2008. For homes purchased in 2009, the IRS will allow the purchasers to file an amended 2008 return to claim the credit.

Then the credit will be repaid as an additional tax on tax returns for the next 15 years. For the maximum $7,500 credit, this works out to annual repayments of $500 per year.

Meet The Young Professionals

Working in education and fund development, Brooke Nobis Buys wasn't bumping into that many young professionals in her daily work. So, like a number of other people not too long out of college, she checked out Kalamazoo Area Young Professionals.

Attending art exhibits, programs and social events, Buys has bought into the "live, learn and grow together" motto of the informal group, organized through the Kalamazoo Regional Chamber of Commerce.

"I work with a lot of people whose networks are established and careers are fixed. It's good to interact with young people who are facing the same issues you are," says Buys.

Among the people she's met is Callie Gaines, a young professional herself who provides some Chamber of Commerce staff support for the volunteer board which sets the direction of the group.

Gaines says the group has a lot of fun, and their monthly events have included presentations from CEOs and college professors, wine tastings, tailgating at WMU football games, and attending new art exhibits. Sometimes, she says, members just get together at a restaurant for lunch, or for an after-work drink. While there are a lot of things to do, in the end it’s really just about getting people together. “We try to emphasize the networking aspect of it,” Gaines said.

“Definitely bring your business cards.”

Despite ‘young’ being in the group’s name, there are no age restrictions when it comes to joining. The majority of the group tends to be in their twenties, thirties, and young forties, and often in the early stages of their careers or looking to start them. Thus the desire for networking. Anyone, however, that is just looking to get out in the community and meet an energetic group of local people is welcome. “We do require that people be at least 21 because there is alcohol served at some events,” Gaines says.

Getting involved is easy, painless, and free. Interested people may sign up for the e-newsletter by contacting Gaines at the Chamber.

There are no dues or initiation fees, although members are expected to cover their own food, drink, and admission at events. The group meets about once or twice a month and the event planners love to get input from the group as to what type of events people are interested in.

More information is available at The Chamber's Web site.

Fit and Fun

The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts presents the season premiere of its Sunday Funday series, a free program designed for families and children. “Active Art” will take place Sunday, September 28, from 2-4 p.m. at the KIA.

Families will enjoy creating their own work of art, taking part in a scavenger hunt, and getting physically fit.

YMCA Instructor Laura Sprague will offer a fun program of Pilates and aerobics for children in the KIA auditorium at 2:30 and 3:15 p.m.

Sunday Funday at the KIA is sponsored by Target and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. It is free of charge and open to the public.

Concerto anyone?

Rachmaninoff, Dvořák, Mendelssohn, and more! Join us to explore the world of the concerto with four special guest presenters: Pianist Rich Ridenour, KSO Assistant Conductor Barry Ross, KSO Principal Cellist David Peshlakai and PPS Music Teacher Marcia Working. From the basics (what is a concerto, anyway?) to the insider perspective on playing and conducting concertos, each session will provide unique insights on this fascinating musical genre. The final session will even give you an opportunity to experience the concerto form first-hand, through a fun, guided, Orff-style workshop. No musical experience is required! Works explored in the class will be performed by the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra throughout the 2008-9 season.
Schedule:
4 Tuesdays, 9/30-10/21
7:00-8:30 PM

Cost: $58
Two KSO ticket vouchers are included.

To Register: Contact Portage Community Education at 323-6700 or www.PPSCommEd.org

How Do I Join?

Looking to get involved in Kalamazoo’s recreational sports leagues? Here is all the information you’ll need:


Youth Hockey: Winter
Kalamazoo Optimist Hockey Association
(269) 349-7825
www.koha.com


Adult Hockey: Winter
Wings Stadium
(269) 349-7825
www.wingsstadium.com


Youth and Adult Indoor Soccer: Fall/Winter/Spring
Soccer Zone
(269) 329-0171
www.soccer-zone.com


Youth Soccer: Spring/Summer/Fall
American Youth Soccer Organization
Sue Copeland – Registration – (269) 344-9563
www.ayso211.com

AYSO is always looking for referees for their youth soccer games. Keep active while helping our area youth stay active. Volunteers must be 11 or older. No experience is required. Training and uniforms are provided. Eat free at the concession stand. It’s o.k. to coach your own child’s game.
Contact Bill @ (269) 744-5556


Adult Soccer: Spring/Fall/Winter
Kalamazoo Men’s Open Soccer League
www.kmosl.com
info@kmosl.com


Little League: Spring/Summer/Fall
Bud Vanderberg – Administrator for Southwest Michigan
(269) 345-3123


Adult Softball: Spring/Summer/Fall
Kalamazoo City Parks and Recreation
(269) 337-8191
www.kalamazoocity.org - Click Departments, then Parks and Recreation, then Adult Sports Leagues
Enrollment for Spring starts in December

Portage Parks and Recreation
www.portagemi.gov
Barry Bacon – (269) 329-4522
Enrollment for Spring starts in December


Bicycling: Spring/Summer/Fall
Mike Boersman – President – (269) 720-1409
www.kalamazoobicycleclub.org
Next meeting is: Tuesday, October 14th, 7:00, 1001 W. Maple St.

Scott and Ted's Excellent Adventure

Like a lot of people who work in restaurants, Ted Vadella and Scott Makohn would shoot pool after their shifts and talk of some day having a restaurant of their own. But, unlike most, they made “some day” happen. They launched Shakespeare’s Pub.
Ted and Scott believed that a customer-focused, hands-on approach would be successful, and they’ve stayed true to that belief. Their dedication paid off when they recently celebrated five years at the Kalamazoo Avenue hangout.
Ted and Scott are young guys who recognized the basic fundamentals of running a successful restaurant and made those fundamentals part of their business. “We want to create a comfortable atmosphere, where people can hang out and not feel rushed,” Ted brought up when describing the tenor of the restaurant. He also attributes a strong owner presence as the key to keeping the restaurant running smoothly. “If you want it to work, you have to be a part of it,” he noted.
Their personal touch, they feel, helps distinguish Shakespeare’s from many competitors. “We need to talk with the customers and feel the pulse of the business,” says Ted. The owners have thrown in free wireless, which draws fantasy footballers on Sundays who can enjoy any of their 31 draft beers in front of the big screens, while keeping tabs on their teams on their laptops all day.
While the atmosphere is fun and inviting, Ted and Scott put a lot of their personal attention to the menu, which ranges from vegetarian sandwiches and salads to nachos and a popular deep-dish pizza.
And why open your own restaurant if you can’t have fun with it? Case in point: St. Patrick’s Day. A few years ago, they decided to open up the doors a little early, serve a little breakfast, and fire up a band. When they opened the doors, there were almost a hundred people waiting to get in. On the most recent St. Patrick’s Day, the line was around the building. It has become THE place to be on the Irish holiday, and the mere mention of it to Ted will get him enthusiastically hyping it up.
Looking back over the first five yeas, Ted and Scott feel good about what they’ve accomplished, and they’re sticking with their hands-on approach as they look to the future.

Celebrate the Harvest!

Celebrate a summer of delicious growth and local "green" initiatives at the 6th Annual Southwest Michigan Harvest Fest. On Sunday, September 21, enjoy a full day of music, dance, exhibits by growers and vendors, local food, a family tent for youth activities and fun opportunities for the entire family. Special presenters include urban farming pioneer Will Allen and local food celebrity Donna McClurkan.

The fest runs from 11:30 AM to 6:30 PM and is hosted by Tillers International in Scotts. Admission is $10 per carload or $1 per person for bus-loads of ten or more. Admission for bicyclists is free. To learn more about the demonstrations, exhibitors and entertainers at this event, visit the Southwest Michigan Harvest Fest online.

Featured Leader: Diether Haenicke

This editor has long said that when it comes to the art of persuasion and the use of the English language, there’s Diether Haenicke and then there’s the rest of us.

Revered by many as the long-serving President of Western Michigan University, Dr. Haenicke may well be better remembered as a writer and a public speaker. Blessed with great intellect, honed through a lifetime of rigorous academic exercise, the German-born scholar reminds us what role communication plays in leadership.

With a mind uncluttered by the cravings of social acquiescence, yet balanced by an understanding of human nature, Diether -- as he is known to so many -- is a master at providing valuable insights on the relevant issues of the day. That Haenicke brings historical perspective to his writings adds a level of persuasiveness that so many can appreciate and so few can match.

What makes Dr. Haenicke’s writing all the more enjoyable is his distinctive approach to syntax -- how he arranges words. Active voice. Passive voice. Doesn’t matter. He structures his sentences in ways that hold your attention, especially when he’s speaking.

He is able to write persuasively and comfortably in first, second or third person, combining a sense of formality with incomplete sentences, framed deliberately to drive home a point or just create a smooth transition in his exquisite writing. The word “remember” might suddenly appear to remind you that you are supposed to be following along with his logic.

Dr. Haenicke has his own web site, where you can learn more about his background, and read some of his writing.

I'll Have the Usual...

I distinctly remember a conversation I had with two peers last summer. We were having dinner in a secluded booth at a restaurant chain. The familiar green lamp hung low between our faces, lighting the familiar menu. Like seemingly every other restaurant in town, old trumpets and sports photos adorned the walls. We were young and single, and after ordering the usual hamburger, we never felt so stuck in Kalamazoo.

Perhaps you’re more apt to complain when you’re hungry, but I think our hunger was for something deeper. We huddled in our booth and dreamed up the ideal restaurant for the young, ambitious and inspired. We imagined the perfect downtown location; described the lighting, the furniture, the menu and the entertainment. We thirsted for innovation and excitement in Kalamazoo and were determined to find it: our monthly dinner date became a mission to explore new venues.

Removing the “chain” from Kalamazoo restaurants led to our discovery of some amazing food and cozy atmospheres. We tried variations of Japanese, Italian and Indian dishes. We sat on the deck while the sun set over Cosmo’s and shared a bottle of wine at Martini’s. Between secret family recipes, Spanish tapas and home-brewed beers, I was elated to have discovered the scrumptious hidden gems of Kalamazoo.

While my friends and I have yet to dine in the atmosphere we dreamed up one year ago, we haven’t lost hope. Two new restaurants, The Wine Loft and Charlie Foster’s, have opened in Downtown Kalamazoo—that makes two new opportunities to refine my palate and appreciate this evolving town.

So, you might be wondering what the perfect restaurant would be in the eyes of the single twenty-something: I want jazz floating through the air. Comfortable, yet contemporary style. An innovative menu with fresh, local ingredients. Engaging conversation and laughter. I want a reason to put on my little black dress and the high heels that I never wear—the ones that are just too amazing to part with.

…I think I want more than just a new restaurant in Kalamazoo.

Support Your Chamber of Commerce

By Blaine Lam

When I went into business a little more than 20 years ago, almost literally the first thing I did was join the Chamber of Commerce. Not exactly sure why, really, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Still does.

Then again, I’m not much more sure now than I was then why I belong.

It’s kind of a protection thing, I suppose, knowing there’s a fear among business people that not everyone fully appreciates our point of view. In all likelihood, that’s the same reason certain employed groups, like unions and guilds, hang together.

As much as anybody -- and more than most -- I’ve had the opportunity to see the inner workings of the Kalamazoo Regional Chamber of Commerce over these past four decades. I maxed out on terms serving on the Board of Directors, co-founded Leadership Kalamazoo, led the first class, and chaired that board; chaired the Transportation Committee for something like 10 years; emceed Percolator Club for at least five; and served as interim chief executive of the Chamber once and then its one-time subsidiary, the Convention & Visitors Bureau.

I’ve seen about every combination of programmatic efforts at the Chamber, ranging from a full spectrum of services to the lineup today, which no longer includes staff support for business attraction, tourist attraction, KAAAP, Jeters Leaders, SCORE, or federal business procurement.

In some ways, the Chamber might be seen as the Rodney Dangerfield of the business community -- no respect -- but in other ways it might be more important than it has ever been.

But first a little history.

Strip away all else from Kalamazoo County history and two giants stand alone: W.E. Upjohn and Homer Stryker. We’ll write about Dr. Stryker another day, but the civic ingeniousness of W.E. Upjohn was just something to behold.

He helped bring us our current form of government and served as our first mayor under it. He founded the Kalamazoo Foundation, built the Civic Theatre and created other cool stuff along the way, notably the Upjohn Company. W.E. founded our Chamber of Commerce.

For all we know, he did it to protect us from people like himself -- business tycoons (a term used affectionately here) who could dominate local politics.

Upjohn, Kindleberger, Parfet, Brown and other big names in business around here didn’t happen to be the kind of people who wanted to impose their will on the town. To the contrary, they did what they could to let others help them serve the public good. In other words, the 800-pound gorillas have been tame.

While fights with 800-pound gorillas weren’t a problem as the business community matured, the Chamber did find itself in the middle of things it had a hard time handling.

Fifty years ago, for instance, businesspeople took note of the schism between the interests of downtown merchants and the rest of the business community, and it was the newly formed Downtown Kalamazoo Association that led the charge to build the nation’s first downtown mall.

Those classic divides have continued to be a problem, as business interests have found themselves at odds over taxes (big business vs. small business), unemployment insurance (positive-based vs. negative-based), incentives (new vs. existing), zoning, planning, urban sprawl and so on.

The issue, of course, is how to represent diverse interests and stay relevant.

The battle for relevance peaked three years ago and had this Chamber looking for a new chief executive and a new mountain to climb. Considering where the political muscle is around these parts, choosing to rally the state behind a part-time legislature was an odd choice. Indeed, they picked one too steep and now appear ready to head off in a new programmatic direction.

Workforce development would be good guess, tried and true as it is, but the infrastructure of do-goodism on the employee-development front is pretty solid, so don’t look for any major breakthroughs.

So, what’s a Chamber to do?

Well, the danger of an 800-pound, ill-mannered gorilla is always out there. So are the threats of elements in the society that think profit is a four-letter word.

It may sound obvious that a membership organization, first and foremost, should be looking for ways to bring its members together. That hits you like a ton of bricks when you play in the Chamber golf outing. Business networking is no minor feat and the Chamber has the license.

You gotta love the Young Professionals group growing up out of the Chamber, and Leadership Kalamazoo, 20 years later, is one of the strongest networks going. It makes sense, too, to build more activity around a broad-based “business friendly” agenda that includes education, transportation, taxation and public policy, regulation and the environment. Professional development might make sense as well.

In any event, when a Chamber is healthy it is the glue that holds the business community together. When a Chamber is humming, so to speak, it is the voice of the business community.

To its credit, with an outstanding board, this Chamber has been working to get healthy, and hopes to hum.

So, support your local Chamber of Commerce. Visit their Web site and find ways to become involved.

Put Yourself in Kristi's Shoes

Editor's Note: Kristi Buckham, whose regular column addresses single life in Kalamazoo (in contrast with her counterparts who drifted to the big city) had a revelation cleaning out her closet recently. Enjoy.

By Kristi Buckham
ShareKalamazoo Columnist

Several weeks ago I was elated to have received a coupon from Macy’s shoe department…until I read the fine print. In very small letters I was informed that the discount was a reward for having purchased five pairs of shoes within the past 12 months. My excitement turned to shame. Macy’s confirmed it: my fascination with footwear was officially excessive.

I opened my closet door to verify Macy’s claim. And there they were, strewn across the floor: strappy sandals, wedges, patent-leather pumps, red mary janes and a pair of winter boots. I think I heard the devil on my left shoulder, complimenting my exceptional taste—until the angel on my right shoulder interrupted to say, “you’re out of control.”

If was a rock star or Hollywood diva, I wouldn’t think twice about owning more than 30 pairs of shoes. Instead, I’m a young professional who cringes every time I swipe my debit card for a tank of gas or bag of groceries. From an economic, big-picture standpoint, there are many needs within our community that do not involve Steve Madden’s straps or buckles. I have become very aware that the resources that go into unnecessary purchases, like three or four extra pairs of shoes, could easily go towards a purchase that is less disposable and more fulfilling.

According to Kalamazoo Communities in Schools (KCIS), 60 percent of Kalamazoo Public Schools students come from families who live at or below poverty level. KCIS connects thousands of KPS students with community resources, including in-school health clinics, dental exams, eye exams, eyeglasses, programs that provide food and clothing, tutoring, mentoring and mental and behavioral health services. By providing these resources, KCIS enables educators to focus on teaching and students to concentrate on learning and making the Kalamazoo Promise a reality.

Last year, KCIS provided more than 1,700 pairs of shoes and items of clothing to students in Kalamazoo. Instead of counting my shoes I should be counting my blessings. I have several pairs of nice athletic shoes that have a lot of miles left in them to run the halls of a high school. As for the heels, they’ll go to the Goodwill Industries where they’ll bring good luck to a budding professional. And that is why I’m cleaning out my closet.

If you can think of ways to contribute to Kalamazoo Public Schools students or would like to make a donation, visit Kalamazoo Communities in Schools. To learn how to donate new or gently used clothing, visit Goodwill Industries.

Featured Leader: Ken Miller

Beauty pageants have given a runner-up meaning to the word "congeniality" but Ken Miller's congenial manner has winner written all over it.

This successful and much-beloved businessman, who makes community work fun, creative and interesting, is at the hub of a lot of the wheels that are turning the greater Kalamazoo area into an even better place to live and work. As chair of WMU's Board of Trustees, Miller has spearheaded a new spirit of cooperation with downtown interests, and he's a staunch supporter of the arts and just about anything else that helps improve the quality of life in the region.

Principal partner of Millennium Restaurant Group, Miller is a bridge-builder in the community. He and his wife, Julie, make the serious work of community building pleasant. And Julie may be the only person around more well-liked than Ken.

Miller's self-effacing style is part and parcel to a strong belief in team-building, as managers in his businesses will attest. He likes to "make sure the corners of the box are square;" he give his teams resources to work with; and then he "gets out of the way."

When honored recently by Rotary with their Red Rose citation, he modestly said, "I'm fortunate to be surrounded by good people." A lawyer by training, Miller has put his talents to work in a variety of business interests, success being the common ingredient.

On civic projects, Mr. Congeniality has a way of stepping in and keeping the ball moving. He emphasizes the positive and offers creative solutions along the way.

Put Your Pedal to the Metal...

Back in my college days, I always got a thrill from riding my bike to lectures. I was a speed demon on my blue five-speed, weaving in and out of the walkers, roller-bladers and fellow bikers. Riding a bike was the quickest, most efficient way to get to class---if you had the guts to do it.

Pedaling to class cut 20 minutes from my walking commute. I had more time to sleep, finish a homework assignment or stand in front of a full closet to complain, “there’s nothing to wear.”

Back then, I envisioned myself in my “adult life” wearing a power suit and owning the streets as I drove a shiny new truck to work in a big city. But after I graduated I took advantage of a career opportunity in Kalamazoo and my commute to work was only 10 minutes each way by small, but very cute car.

In other words, I’ve cheated the national average commute time of 24.3 minutes, and sometimes I wonder what my “big city” friends are doing during those 100 hours a year they spend in their cars. Amazingly, though, as I navigate the streets of my “10 minute town” in a car so small it has a bug’s name, I’m finding myself spending more than $200 a month on gas.

Every time I fill up my gas tank I wonder what happened to my blue five-speed. I could use it right now. What’s really great is that biking to work is suddenly very fashionable, even on days “there’s nothing to wear.”

The Kalamazoo Chamber of Commerce and state Sen. Tom George (a physician who regularly bikes to work) recently hosted the “Bike to Work Event” and the movement is gaining traction.

Saving gas is just one benefit to biking to work—think of the environmental and health benefits. It’s more than a commute to work; it’s a workout! If biking to work simply isn’t an option, consider taking the bike for a “scenic drive” or to run an errand. Another beauty of our “10 minute town” is the growing trail system, not to mention the special lanes designed for cyclists.

I’m ready to hang up my car keys and hold on to the handlebars. It’s time to give new meaning to the expression “pedal” to the metal.

A sign of our times. Is this necessary?

Take the 3.1 mile route from my Winchell neighborhood home to my downtown business. Along that route there are no less than 356 individual markers. That's 114 signs a mile. The signs point out where you are, where you are going, whether you should yield, where you can park, where you can't park, where you can park on Sundays and holidays, where you can park for 90 minutes, where you can park from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., where you can turn, where you should turn, where you must turn, where you must stop, where you must not stop, where the bus stops, where trucks can't go, where thru traffic is prohibited and where the road ends.

Words, pictures, symbols, numbers, lights, arrows and the infamous Bar-Through Circle P (the No Parking brand) provide us with reminders and warnings about speed limits, center lanes, traffic lanes, turn lanes, one-way streets, T-intersections, pedestrian crosswalks, bicycle lanes, railroad crossings, fire hydrants, detours and road projects. And my favorites: signs telling us that other signs are ahead.Of the hundred-and-some signs within a frisbee throw of Michikal and W. Main, roughly 35 are meant to be instructive to the northbound traveler who approaches that intersection near the Downtowner Motel. At the intersection, you're faced with 11 arrows pointing five different directions (down and left, down and right, up and right, right, and up). If the light is green, about the only way anyone but an Evelyn Wood speed reading graduate can safely "wayfind" is ignore all 35 signs. Besides, there's a nice billboard there.

Adding to the blur in and around downtown is the Business Loop (BL) and Business Route (BR) System, which was supposed to be America's urban planning answer to freeways. Designed, but no longer serving the function of, getting people off the highway and into one's downtown, these are the knickknacks and decorations of our urban culture. But as for directional tools, don't kid yourself. People just stop in the Shell station and ask for directions.Not that state and federal highway officials aren't determined to help. Various downtown groupings of BR-131 and BL-94 and M-43 markers have 10, 11, 12 and even 13 individual signs and arrows on a post. Unfortunately, if you tried to follow these signs, your chances of going in a four-block circle would be significantly greater than your chances of finding your way back to I-94.

And speaking of getting lost . . . If that's your thing, and you employ signs to do so, I recommend the green Bike Route signs. You'll find these Bike Route signs in cities all over America. The Bike Route system was put in place either to amuse bicyclists or as an economic stimulus for the metal fabrication industry . I love to bike and I love to find bike routes. But these green Bike Route signs -- the ones with the bike and the arrow -- originate nowhere. They go nowhere. If they were supposed to go somewhere, then where are the maps showing where they go? There is nothing distinctive about the roads along which they sit. Some of these roads have extra lanes, which is great, but, unfortunately, most do not. I saw one of these green signs in Salt Lake City which proclaimed "Bike Route Ends Here." It would be interesting to know if that was just for Salt Lake or for the entire United States. Because of the prevalence of these signs in American cities, one would presume we have a national bike path system, but the reality is that we have a National Green Sign System. Are signs a burning issue in our community? Heavens no.

But signs pile up like dirty dishes, old newspapers and undone laundry in an unkempt home. After a while, you hardly notice the clutter. Then, when you have to get ready for company, you look around and say, "My God, have we been living in this?"Kalamazoo's newest sign system is a "wayfinding" project for downtown Kalamazoo. The theory is that if you know you are in the Haymarket District, South Town, Arcadia, the Bronson Park District, the East End or the area referred to as "Kalamazoo Mall" (1959-1999), you will have less trouble "wayfinding," also known as "finding your way" in the central city area, also known as the downtown. Each district has its own logo, its own color, its own shape and its own letter (for instance, "Kalamazoo Mall" is a burgundy diamond with a gold border and a white "K" and black type). The "graphics standards" are published, and they're strict. One can't help but admire the design integrity of the downtown wayfinding system which, unlike the Bike Route Sign System, does have maps.Even if the new wayfinding system doesn't help people find where they're going, it might just represent an opportunity to examine and reflect upon what these new wayfinding signs will have to compete with. Keep in mind that there are literally thousands of existing directional and location-identification signs in and around downtown Kalamazoo and they are supplemented by street banners, business signs, billboards, awning signs, historical markers, construction signs, parking lot instructions and building identification markers. Maybe for every new wayfinding sign that goes up, two existing street signs should come down.

As for improving the appearance of the larger community, I offer a simple three-step approach:

1. Get Rid of America's Green Bike Route Sign System. This system leads nowhere and, if anything, detracts from the aesthetic pleasure of bike riding.

2. Secede from the national Business Route and Business Loop Sign System. This system was designed to lead nowhere.

3. Form a committee. No, wait. That may have caused this problem. Better to take a page out of the successful anti-litter, Adopt-A-Highway, campaign, although that program unfortunately spawned yet another national sign system. I'm recommending an Adopt -- Then Abandon -- A Sign program. Individuals, service clubs, churches and businesses could work to reduce the number of signs along our area roads. I'm not suggesting, of course, that private citizens actually take it upon themselves to physically remove these signs the way they would with other litter. No, the signs are way too deep in the ground for that, and many are embedded in concrete. I recommend working through channels, which includes your local government, the Kalamazoo Area Transportation Study (KATS) and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). Although you could do this sign-abandonment work geographically, it would seem to make more sense to adopt-and-abandon signs by category. I would love to take the "No Parking" signs, for instance, and set a goal to have every third one removed. But, alas, with my heavy volunteer load, that may be too ambitious, as these signs are placed every few yards along some city streets. For the moment, then, I'll take something easier -- like "Stop Sign Ahead."