This week’s tip: Be responsible in your use of paper.

• Recycle your junk mail, newspapers, and other paper materials.
• Avoid paper plates.
• If you do want to use non-ceramic dishes and flatware, find recycled and biodegradable items (www.recycline.com, www.greenfeet.com and www.biodegradablestore.com).
• Use cloth napkins (several times before washing, if possible).
• Reuse paper towels and napkins for floor spills and clean-ups.
• When shopping for paper goods, choose those with the highest “post consumer” content you can find.
• Look for paper products labeled totally chlorine-free (TCF) or processed chlorine-free (PCF).
• Check www.nrdc.org/paper for an extensive list of green paper products.
• Switch to e-billing (phone bill, utility bill, bank statement, credit card statement, etc.)
• Use e-cards for special occasions.

Remember that compared to using virgin wood, paper made with 100% recycled content uses 44% less energy, produces 38% less greenhous gas emissions, 41% less particulate emissions, 50% less wastewater, 49% less solid waste and - of course - 100% less trees!

This week’s tip: Use alternative gift wrapping and cards.

If every family in the US wrapped 3 gifts in alternative wrappings, we could save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields. Get creative!

• Try colorful new dish towels.
• Use fabric scraps.
• Wrap with the comic pages of the newspaper.
• Reuse wrapping paper received - with a touch up of the iron if needed
• Reuse gift bags.
• Use tissue or paper bags, possibly decorated with “scrapbook” type cutouts or “stamped” images.
• Reuse bows and trimmings. (If every family in the US reused just 2 feet of ribbon we would save 38,000 miles of ribbon - enought to tie a bow around the earth!)
• Make gift cards out of used cards.
• Buy cards made from recycled paper.
• Trim your Christmas Card list.

This week’s tip: Change to CFL (compact fluorescent) lighting.

The incandescent light bult will be phased off the U.S. market beginning in 2012 through 2014 under the new energy law approved by Congress. This new energy-efficient light souce uses 75% less energy and lasts 5 years instead of a few months.

Getting started...
• Buy bulbs with the “Energy Star” endorsement.
• Be sure to get dimmable CFL’s if you have dimmers.
• They come in spiral, globe, flood and outdoor varieties.
• They come in a variety of brightness: soft or warm white vs bright white, daylight or natural.
• Recognize that CFL’s take longer to come to full strength than incandescent bulbs.
• Because of small amounts of mercury, CFL’s should be recycled. As a last resort, seal the bulbs in two plastic bags before putting them in the trash.

What’s the impact? Although CFL’s cost about 6 times more than incandescents...
• They use 75% less energy and last 5 years instead of a few months.
• One bulb will save about $5 a year in electricity costs over a regular bulb.
• A household that invested $90 in changing 30 fixtures to CFLs would save $440 to $1,500 over the 5-year life of the bulbs.
• CFL bulbs produce 70% less heat than incandescent bulbs.
• If each household in the US exchanged just one incandescent bulb with a CFL bulb, we would save a total of $526 million AND reduce the amount of carbon dioxide gas in the air by 8.9 billion pounds in just one year.
• If every American household replaced their 5 most frequently used lights with CFL bulbs, we would prevent the release of greenhouse gases equal to the emissions of 8 million cars.

This week’s tip: Clean out your catalogs.

Go to catalogchoice.org for a free service that helps you unsubscribe in just three easy steps. Be sure to have your catalogs with you -- you’ll need information off the address label.

Each year, 19 billion catalogs are mailed to American consumers.

What’s the impact?
• Number of trees used – 53 million trees
• Pounds of paper used – 3.6 million tons of paper
• Energy used to produce this volume of paper – 38 trillion BTUs, enough to power 1.2 million homes per year
• Contribution to global warming – 5.2 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equal to the annual emissions of two million cars
• Waste water discharges from this volume of paper – 53 billion gallons of water, enough to fill 81,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools
(Environmental impact estimates were made using the Environmental Defense paper calculator.)

The Catalog Choice community is presently 589,510 persons strong, having already opted out of 7,370,906 catalogs. You, too, can join and make a difference!

Featured Leader: Maurice Evans

Few people in Portage would know that their City Manager, Maurice Evans, was an elite athlete in college. But they're finding out that this former track star, out of his love of exercise, and belief in it, is helping make the city government a high-performance employer.

Evans asked his benefits manager, Patti Thompson, to author a wellness program that would provide incentives for employees to exercise and eat well. "It was one of the first discussions we had," says Thompson, a 17-year Portage city veteran. Studies over the past year have shown the local government is enjoying the benefits of the creative program that rewards healthy behavior.

He credits Thompson for her work and employees for their acceptance of a program that combats one of the most serious problems in the workforce today -- rising healthcare costs.

Employees are supported in their efforts to get healthier by hitting goals that include receiving training and seeing their doctor. Excellent results include seeing some "high risk" employees reduce their risk of life-threatening illnesses, such as heart disease. Moreover, explains Thompson, "presenteeism" is up. "Healthy employees are known to be better employees," she points out. A veteran of human resources, Thompson studied numerous plans before offering the current one. "We still have some challenges, but we're making progress," she says.

Although he was a self-starter and was self-coached in high school and college, Evans admits it's good to be faced with the goal-setting pressure of the program. Evans took up running on his own in 10th grade and never looked back, earning All-American honors at Lake Superior State College and setting numerous school records, including one which stands today (9:24 in the two-mile). How good was Evans? His 10K times as a collegian, under 31 minutes, would have won most if not all 10K road races in Michigan last year.

Evans' competitive goals today are merely to run the best city government he can. His personal fitness goals are very much like those of his colleagues -- to stay fit, keep the weight off and feel good.

People interested in the City of Portage approach should feel free to contact Thompson at 269-329-4536.

Can Kalamazoo be "branded"?

Not a week goes by that I don't hear opinions about how Kalamazoo "should be branded."

I'm not a contrarian on the point merely because I grew up out west where a brand was something like Circle K Ranch. I went to the brandings and the smell of burning calf hide was none too pleasant, by the way.

No, the reason I can't get into branding Kalamazoo is because, other than labeling cattle, I really don't know what branding is. Pity, because as a marketer, I've been exposed to any number of books and articles on the subject. At the end of the day, I'll give you the fact that the Nike Swoosh and the Coca-Cola bottle or logo look a lot like brands. But with billions of mental imprints, the look of those has been burned into my brain. But, what are you going to do in a crowded marketplace of international signals with a $40,000 budget to make people believe that if, "yes, there really is a Kalamazoo" (the closest thing we'll probably ever have to a brand), what should it stand for?

If my marketing expert buddies ever would seem to be talking about the same thing when they were talking about brands and branding, I think I know enough about Kalamazoo to tell you it can't be branded. In fact, I've been on committees that have tried, and I've pretty much held my tongue, because when I work with people, I have a thing where I don't tell people what they can't do (they'll always surprise you).

But, ask yourself this: With Western Michigan University running a "Saddle Up" campaign, the Convention & Visitors Bureau telling you to "Discover Kalamazoo," and with the downtown marketing arm running a different message, Southwest Michigan First another, the Chamber another, and throw in the Promise of a Greater Kalamazoo, do you think we could collapse all those messages into a single campaign?

I don't. And I don't think we should. Reason? The beauty of Kalamazoo (County) to one person is completely different than the meaningful part of the community to another. For some it's the arts. For others, it's Lake Michigan. Still others think we should be the educational community (I'd vote for that one). How about biotech? High tech? High touch? One of my favorite things is street lights, so you can run in the winter on city streets.

We don't need a single message to all pull together in the same direction. We'll have to live with brandemonium.

Kristi's Korner

Ten years ago I sat in a crowded classroom of a local high school, trying to focus between the ringing and dinging of obnoxious chimes. It wasn’t a bell choir or even a music class. It was Typing 101.

Typing 101! I sat up perfectly straight with my delicate fingers poised above the home keys of an electric typewriter. As I typed away I envisioned all the new opportunities a typewriter could give me—polished reports, professional correspondence and perhaps better yet, an anonymous love letter. My great idea was almost a reality, and just as I prepared to type, “I love you,” the angry little machine scared me. It let out a shrill and sudden “ding!” before it violently zipped and retreated to start a new row. My paper read, “I lobe you.”

Within a year or two I think an entire landfill was dug for typewriters. I sat in the same classroom, this time learning web design on a bulky IBM. The possibilities with this new technology seemed abundant. And now, ten years later, they seem endless.

With the touch of a button, that anonymous love letter can be translated into fifty different languages. And if I don’t know where to send it—heck, if I never even knew the guys’ name—our eyes simply locked at a café in Southern France—then some clever Google searches will reveal to me that he’s a single Aquarius named Jacques, who loves long walks on the beach and strawberry gelato. Perfect!

I have a family member who works 90 miles away, but doesn’t spend a dime on the commute. She does Pilates each morning and makes the perfect cup of coffee before settling in front of her laptop. She is part of a growing population of professionals who work from home. As a woman, technology will allow her to balance her career and a budding family. I envision her continued success, holding her cell phone to her ear with her shoulder, sending a few emails and spooning baby food to her first child.

The new roads paved by technology in the past decade are incredible—but far from perfect. Spell check didn’t catch my typing error and I sent Jacques an email stating, “I lobe you.” I’m still waiting to hear back from him.

Editor's Note: He won't call, Kristi. . .not after that earful.

The Virtual Office Is Here. Read about it here, or visit Kristi's Corner

When you ask your sons and daughters to move back to Kalamazoo to open up their own business, there’s one thing they may not have to worry about: office rent.

From the look of coffee shops, libraries and hotel lobbies, we’ve either got a new, upscale crowd of loiterers, or the virtual office is taking hold.

“That’s the most popular seat in the hotel,” says a manager at the Radisson, pointing to a seat where a young woman works with her computer and a cell phone. Outside of Rio, four other business people have their computers set up. The days of working in cubicles appears to be history for consultants, salespeople and executives on the move.

Interviews with businesspeople in Kalamazoo confirm that even the telephone isn’t what it used to be. “I don’t call anyone any more to set up a meeting. I set it up by email and we gather in a public place,” said a Kalamazoo architect at Water Street Joint. “When we get to the meeting, we’re surrounded by people with laptops and by people who are doing what we’re doing -- making good on a meeting scheduled electronically.”

Meanwhile, reports of telecommuniting continue to flourish. Last week, a young couple closed on property near Three Rivers, as they prepare to move from the state of Washington. “We wanted open land, like the prices in Michigan, we’re close to our family, and we can continue to do our work with our Washington employers,” said the former Plainwell resident who initiated the move.

Chad, let's discuss where to put this...

The City of Kalamazoo has been named as one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People. The 100 Best competition honors communities – ranging from small towns to urban neighborhoods across America – for their commitment to provide healthy, safe and caring environments for young people. Hundreds of communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands took part in the competition.

“Kalamazoo was selected because of the many extraordinary programs and organizations that exist to help our children and youth prosper,” said Commissioner Barbara Miller. America’s Promise competition adjudicators were captured by the range of organizations poised to facilitate projects that impact all children of the community. “Initiatives such as the Kalamazoo Promise [scholarship guaranteed to students who attend and graduate from Kalamazoo Public Schools] and organizations like Kalamazoo Communities in Schools [partners with individual volunteers and other agencies to develop mentoring relationships with students], Kalamazoo County Multi-Purpose Collaborative Body [primary human services collaborative, which includes executives from local government, educational systems, human service agencies and funding agencies] and Kalamazoo Youth Development Network also known as KYDNet [functions as bridge between direct services and collaboration building] work diligently to provide a strong foundation for the children in Kalamazoo and have created a great place for kids to grow, learn and become productive citizens of our community,” said Commissioner Miller.

A complete list of winners can be found here.

"Kalamazoo is the new Naples." Are you buying that?

Still time to train for the Borgess Run


By Blaine Lam
Publisher, ShareKalamazoo.com

“Kalamazoo is the new Naples.”

That’s my new campaign to convince people that the vitality of community life in these snowy climes is superior to the hassle of going all the way to Florida and putting up with the boredom/traffic (pick one).

Word has just filtered back, however, that 75 Kalamazooans got together the other night for entertainment and cocktails in Bonita Bay. A similar-sized crowd of your friends and mine gathered for same in Sarasota the next night.

In other words, the campaign isn’t going very well.

But, if you have something like, say, a job this time of year, get ready to beat the winter blahs -- or is it blues?

The key is taking it head on. So, they cancel school. They’re just playing it safe. That’s a chance for you to take the kids to their favorite sledding hill or putting on your cross country skis. (Visit our Hidden Treasures section on the three best places in Kalamazoo County to cross-country ski.) Last call, by the way, for Connecting Women & Nature: Skiing by Moonlight. Women 14 and over are invited to enjoy the trails of the Kalamazoo Nature Center on Wednesday, February 20. The moonlit exhibition is from 6-9 p.m. and will be guided by ski and nature experts Kara Haas and Sarah Reding. The cost is $10 for members and $15 for non-members and pre-registration by February 18 is required.

If you’re too late for that one, but want to get outdoors, consider a trail walk to discover nature’s first signs of Spring on Sunday, February 24 at 2 p.m. Nature Up Close Camp Director Dan Keto will help participants identify new plant life and the “early birds.” He’ll be talking about the first birds to return from winter migration, but won’t mention our friends in Naples.

A little discouraged that your New Year’s Resolutions haven’t panned out? You’ve still got two months to prepare for the Borgess Run for the Health of It, or the Priority Health 5K Walk on April 26. The night before, some 1,200 kids take part in the Meijer Kids’ Fun Run at the Borgess Health & Fitness Center. Go to http://www.borgessrun.com for more details.

Looking for something a little less invigorating to do the next couple of weeks?

First of all, phone a friend and make dinner reservations NOW for the expanded Art Hop on Friday, March 7. No reservations needed for the hop itself, but good luck finding a restaurant seat without advanced planning.

Then, as long as you’re looking ahead to what might be considered “mid-to-late winter” around here, make plans to attend the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Kalamazoo on Saturday, March 15.

If you only want to work out your vocal chords, note that you can audition Monday, March 17 for All Ears Theatre shows to be held on May 17 and 31. Auditions will be at 7 p.m. in the Epic Center classroom. The first evening of auditions will be an open call, followed by a callback on the second night. No experience is necessary. Come prepared to read from a script. For more information, visit www.allearstheatre.org.

Featured Leader: Judy Moore

As a community leader and a leader within her own organization, Judy Moore has earned the respect of the hundreds of people she has helped through Leadership Kalamazoo. That defines her as the true servant leader.

Now, after more than 20 years at the helm of Leadership Kalamazoo, Moore is passing the torch to Callie Gaines at the Chamber of Commerce.

Moore has commanded trust, and her quiet and confident nature has earned her the respect of those who have come to share her passion for community building through leadership training.

All these things were obvious to those who shared in her work, and who will continue
the work she has begun. Less obvious, perhaps, has been the inner drive that kept
the program fresh and relevant. All too often, organizations languish because no
single individual provides the ongoing will to keep them alive. Moore -- utilizing
self-discipline and high energy -- not only kept things going, but also attracted
people to work with her and leveraged their talents and experience.

All the betting money is that Judy Moore will continue to have a positive impact on the greater Kalamazoo area. But don't let that stop you from thanking her for what's she's done.

Michigan Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductees

Inductees

Francis Bentley
Northern High School
Flint, MI

Masaaki Hatta
Hazel Park, MI

Don Johnson
Lansing Eastern High School
Lansing, MI

Al Kastl
Chippewa Valley High School
Clinton Township, MI

Jare T Klein
Olivet College
Olivet, MI

Ignatius Konrad
J.W. Sexton High School
Lansing, MI

Kevin O'Connor
Detroit Catholic Central High School
Novi, MI

Mike Rodriguez
Catholic Central High School
Redford, MI

Charles Sherwood
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI

Bill Wilson
Central and Northern High School
Pontiac, MI

instructions for Chad

Change 2007 inductees left-hand guide bar to

2008 Inductees

On the 2008 inductees page, move all those (2007) Individual Biographies
to the other Inductees page,
alphabetize them, and Kristi will give you the new listing,
and then make the links to the the appropriate bios.

Banquet

The highlight of the year for the Michigan Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame is the banquet at which nominees are inducted.

This year's banquet will held Sunday, May 18, at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Lansing. Doors open at 4 p.m. Dinner and program begin at 5. Email us for ticket information.

hall of fame material home page

Welcome to the home of the Michigan Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. The Michigan Chapter is a direct extension of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Chapter and Museum in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

The Michigan Chapter provides outreach and support for the the National Hall. Our chapter was formed to honor committed coaches, officials, contributors and other deserving individuals.

The 2008 Hall of Fame banquet will be held Sunday, May 18 at the Radisson Hotel in Lansing. Click here to learn more about this year's class.

We honor individuals in three ways:

The Lifetime Service Award Program, coordinated by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, is designed to honor and recognize dedicated wrestling people for their years of commitment to young people. The award is not about win/loss records. It is about a person’s dedicated efforts to help young people to not only succeed in wrestling, but also in life.

The Medal of Courage Award is given to a wrestler who has overcome overwhelming adversity to be successful of the mats and in his own life.

The Outstanding American Award is presented to an individual who was a former wrestler and has received state or national acclaim in his/her chosen profession.

Each award recipient is permanently recognized in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame (Stillwater, Oklahoma) with an embossed name plaque, and each receives a plaque and jacket to commemorate this very special occasion.

Kalamazoo's Three Best 'Cozy' Bookstores

Like the feel of a cozy bookstore? Check out these options:

Bookbug, Kalamazoo’s first independent children’s bookstore, will open its doors to the community on February 25 in the Oakwood Plaza on Oakland Drive. To celebrate, Bookbug will feature daily story times, musical performances and free giveaways throughout opening week. The store aspires to be a community hub, where children and their families can read, play, volunteer and give input for book reviews, inventory and website blogs. Boasting over 2,500 titles, Bookbug will host weekly story times, workshops, special events and author visits. The store will attract even the most hesitant young reader as it offers a unique reading area and playhouse covered in a book-shingled roof. Special services include special ordering, book fairs, gift cards/baskets and discounts for schools and educators. To learn more, visit the Bookbug online.

The year 2008 is a milestone year for Kazoo Books - it marks 20 years in Kalamazoo as an independent, family-owned bookstore. Offering two locations (K1 at 407 N. Clarendon, off West Main hill, and K2 at 2413 Parkview with free parking in rear), Kazoo Books sells both gently used and new books -- and the staff ("self-proclaimed book geeks") is happy to order new and out-of-print books for customers. K2 also has an Antiquarian Annex for those who like rare and collectible books. Among the bargains one can find at Kazoo Books is their policy to accept Barnes & Noble, Best Buy and Meijer gift cards (with some restrictions). In addition, they discount for teachers who are stocking their classrooms. Kazoo Books also offers many activities for book lovers. Coming up: Science Fiction Book Group (2/19, 6:30 pm), Soup and Suspense Mystery Group (2/21, 5:30 pm), History Lovers (2/21, 7 pm), Foodie Fun (2/27, 2 pm at Sarkozy's) and Writer's Network (3/11, 6:30 pm). Look for details on the website: www.kazoobooks.com.

Located in the lower level of the Kalamazoo Public Library, The Friends Bookstore features “gently used books very gently priced.” The Friends Bookstore is operated by Friends of the Library, a dedicated group of volunteers who raise money to support literacy programs, help build collections and contribute to special events at the Kalamazoo Public Library. Their recent efforts have helped to sponsor author visits and purchase artwork, paperback collections, library supplies and computer software. In addition to selling used books, The Friends Bookstore also offers audio and videotapes, CDs and KPL logo items. The bookstore is open every Wednesday from 12 p.m. – 7p.m, and Thursday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Visit The Friends Bookstore for more information or to shop online. To learn about volunteer and donation opportunities, go to Friends of the Library.

Valentine’s Day: Where’s the love?!

My grandparents used to read each other the messages on those little candy hearts every Valentine’s Day. They would giggle and smile coyly like two teenagers before dropping the tiny confection into the other’s mouth. I was only 10 years old when I saw this and realized that I wanted “grandparent love” someday. “Grandparent love” is that unconditional, hold-hands, drink coffee together in the morning and tea at night, in-it-for-the-long-haul type of love. This love has the comfort of homemade bread and the warmth of a wood-burning stove.
But as I’ve gotten older I’ve realized how difficult “grandparent love” is to find. And as each lonely Valentine’s Day passes, I quit reading the messages on those tiny hearts and just devour the entire bag in protest. It seems that “grandparent love” is becoming obsolete. Why? Because making homemade bread takes too long and wood-burning stoves are considered dangerous.
“The good ones are already taken.” What a discouraging phrase for the single, twenty-something in Kalamazoo. As I was driving to work last week I was distracted by all the young, ambitious men downtown wearing suits and walking with purpose. Where were they going? I’m convinced that there is a secret destination in this town for men who dream as big as I do. And I’m determined to find them without having to ride a bull, embarrass myself in a karaoke contest or give my credit card number on-line.
As part of the post-college, young-professional crowd, I know many of my peers will agree when I say this town needs a place of refuge for our growing demographic. Until a venue exists that reflects our budding sophistication and creativity, I’m forced to spend another night at home hoping for “grandparent love” while polishing off the final piece of candy from a big, red, heart-shaped box of chocolates that I bought for myself.
My latest heartbreak may be categorized as one of my greater disappointments. It revealed to me even higher standards for “grandparent love” that could be challenging to find again. But I’m going to press on and believe there is hope in this town for those who believe in life-long love and passion and who won’t settle for less. I think I’ll pass up the pity party this Valentine’s Day in hopes that I’m one heartache closer to never being heartbroken again.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

Take Care of Your Own Heart. Join The Heart Walk

As the leading cause of death in the United States, cardiovascular disease has likely been a threat to you or a loved one. That’s why Borgess Health has teamed up with the American Heart Association to sponsor the 2008 Southwestern Michigan Start! Heart Walk.
On February 16, walkers across southwest Michigan are encouraged to meet at Wings Stadium from 8:30 a.m. to noon to take the first steps in fighting cardiovascular disease. Walkers are encouraged to organize teams of coworkers, friends or family members and are asked to raise both awareness and funds by collecting donations for the American Heart Association.
The Start! Heart Walk provides an opportunity to create hope, inspire change and celebrate success in fighting heart disease and stroke. Hope is created as participants walk as survivors of cardiovascular disease or in memory of loved ones lost to the disease. Change is inspired as some participants take their first steps towards a leading a healthier lifestyle and reducing their risk of heart disease and stroke. Success is celebrated as funds are raised to support life-saving research, educational programs and widespread awareness.
To learn more about the Start! Heart Walk, to make a donation to the AHA, or to register for this event click here.

Going Green and Clean . . .

It can be as simple as taking your own shopping bag into the grocery store or as complex as getting an energy audit at home or at your business, but to put Kalamazoo on the LEEDing edge of environmentally progressive communities, everyone's going to have to pitch in. The 20 and 30 somethings who will be moving back into this region will expect us. The good news: We have a lot of room for improvement. Stay tuned here for how Kalamazoo's doing and things you can do to help make Kalamazoo green and clean.

This week's tip: Go to 1 Bag At A Time to get a re-usable shopping bag. Or you can buy one at Meijer for 99 cents. Note that:

• The petroleum in 14 plastic bags could drive a car 1 mile.
• Americans use over 10 billion plastic bags annually, consuming 14 million trees.
• It takes 70% more global warming gasses to make a paper bag than a plastic bag.
• Paper bags to not biodegrade in landfills.
• Cities spend up to 17 cents per bag in disposal costs.
• These bags not only mar the beauty of our surroundings, but pose a real threat to wild life. One study estimates that 100,000 marine animals are killed annually by plastic bags.
• Four billion plastic bags get trashed annually. If you tied them end-to-end, they would circle the earth 63 times.

And, when you use your own bag at D&W, they take a nickel off your bill.

So, you're telling me there's a chance . . .

George Erickcek, Senior Regional Analysts for the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, hasn't signed up for the cheer leading squad (just not in his job description), but people love it when he says there's good news for the home team. Want a closer look at what George is saying about this local economy? Watch this presentation.

Valentine's Day Tips in Kalamazoo

If you’re not too busy whispering sweet nothings into the ear of that special someone this Valentine’s Day, consider igniting (or re-igniting) that romantic flame at a Valentine’s Day event in Kalamazoo:

Celebrate this Valentine’s Day with class at The Union. Enjoy a gourmet, three-course meal in the heart of downtown Kalamazoo on Sunday, February 10. This special event begins at noon and features live entertainment by ensembles from the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. Tickets are $37 per person for the meal and performance. Reservations are required. For more information or to reserve your seats, call the Union at 269.384.6756.

Win a Valentine package from Millennium and The Gilmore! Millennium Restaurant Group and the Gilmore Keyboard Festival have partnered up to offer this outstanding giveaway. The prize includes 2 Gold Zone Tickets for the Richard Goode Festival Prelude Recital on Sunday, April 13, and a $100 gift certificate for Millennium Restaurant Group. Richard Goode was a favorite at the 2004 Gilmore Festival, and the prize is valued at $170. To enter, send your name, address, email address and telephone number to annedrummond@charter.net. The winner will be drawn on February 12, and no purchase is necessary to enter or win.

Turn your Valentine’s Day into a fairytale with the help of Black River Carriage Company. Black River Carriage Company has offered horse drawn carriage rides to the Kalamazoo area for over twenty years. To make special reservations, call 269.657.9300.

Share the love at Bell’s Brewery on February 14. Sip on Bell’s Two Hearted Ale and enjoy a performance from the Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad in Bell’s Eccentric Café. The featured band has a reggae feel and will travel from Rochester, NY to spread some love. The show begins at 9:30 p.m. and cover is $5.

Sweeten the night with wine and dessert tasting at Vintner’s Cellar Winery. The winery will offer indulgent desserts made to complement six of their sweet wines. Vintner’s is hosting Valentine’s Night of Sweetness on February 14 from 6 -7:30 p.m. or from 7:30 - 9 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person or $40 per couple. Call 269.342.9463 to make reservations.

Step into the past for a charming evening at a historic Kalamazoo landmark. Henderson Castle, built in 1895, sits high atop a Kalamazoo hill and offers a beautiful view of the city. The castle will host Valentine’s dinners in a warm, romantic setting on February 9, 14 and 16. Dinner will feature live music followed by a tour of the castle. The cost is $85 per couple. Call 269.344.1827 to make reservations.

Experience an eclectic, fresh flavor of music on Valentine’s Day. The Kalamazoo Valley Museum will host the Royal Garden Trio on February 14 as part of their Music at the Museum series. The Royal Garden Trio, a jazz ensemble from Ann Arbor, will play at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 per person. To order advance tickets, call 269.373.7990.

For some original Valentine’s Day excitement, head to Wings Stadium for the Borgess Pink Ice Game! Cheer on the K-Wings as they play the Flint Generals on a rink of pink on February 14 at 7 p.m. Black Diamond will perform the national anthem and sing a song for an on-ice wedding. Call 269.345.5101 for ticket information. After the game, strap on some skates and hold the hand of a loved-one for an hour of public skating. Admission to the open skate is $5. Skate rental is $3.

Learn the Do’s and Don’ts of Dating from a guest speaker at a single’s mixer! The Cheff Center is hosting a night of mingling and wine tasting for singles age 21 and up on Friday, February 15. The fun is from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. and dress is casual. Tickets are $45 at the door and all proceeds benefit The Cheff. The Cheff Center is located at 8450 N. 43rd St in Augusta.

Tantalize every taste bud at Food Dance Café this Valentine’s Day. Food Dance offers “authentic, eclectic new American cuisine.” They serve, fresh, local foods in a unique, big-city atmosphere. On February 14, Food Dance will host a 3-course or 5-course meal for $30 per person or $45 per person, respectively. To make reservations, call 269.382.1888. To view the menu, visit http://www.fooddancecafe.com/pages_/events_.cfm?EVID=59&TYPE=3.

Livability for the Blind

Kalamazoo has many distinctions when it comes to livability, among them being rated the third-most livable city in the United States for people who are blind or visually impaired.

According to the American Foundation of the Blind, Kalamazoo stands out not only for the wide array of services available, but also because citizens are aware of blindness and people who are blind, friendly, helpful and accommodating.

Because of the university degree/certification programs in blindness located at Western Michigan University and the Commission for the Blind Training Center, people are accustomed to seeing blind or visually impaired people in the streets and in the community. On top of that, Kalamazoo has a record of hiring people with sensory disabilities. Kalamazoo offers cultural programs and cultural opportunities for people who are blind and visually impaired. Public transportation is also a plus. And, in addition to the Commission, the long-standing Michigan Foundation for the Bind and Visually Impaired, serving the greater Kalamazoo area, provides outreach to help seniors who are losing their eyesight. A therapist trains seniors and their families in adaptation skills.

Oh, the two cities judged more livable for the blind and visually impaired? Charlotte, N.C. and Berkeley, CA.