Welcome to MichiganVisionHelp.org, a service of the Michigan Foundation for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Our purpose is to help maximize the independence of individuals who are blind and visually impaired. We provide personal services to individuals and families in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, USA. We also help oversee support groups at residential facilities in the Kalamazoo area.
The information on this website is intended to help people of all ages who are blind or visually impaired.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
My Greatest Fear
If you really knew me and understood me, you’d note something beyond the smile and sunny disposition. Sure, I’m a positive person. I’m also organized and detail-oriented. I tend to be clever, creative, caring and independent. I respect and honor good communication, and to top it all off I floss daily. It would seem that I’ve got a lot going for me—at least that’s what my resume reflects.
But it seems that every other week I find myself in the comforting presence of my father, a man who seemingly knows my heart better than I and who believes in me more than I’m capable of believing in myself. As he wipes away my hot tears of frustration, sorrow and self-pity, he assures me that dawn is nearly here. According to my father, when daybreak comes, I will blossom into all the greatness that I aspire.
I inherited the tendency to dream from my father, who undoubtedly inherited this trait from his father. While everyone contemplates their desires in life, I can’t distinguish whether it’s a blessing or a curse to be born into a family of dreamers. The way I was wired to dream means more than determining which career I want or how many kids I’ll have. I was born to dream to outlandish and absurd degrees of greatness. As a result, my greatest fear is mediocrity.
Mediocrity. I fear it more than death. To be mediocre would be to extinguish a legacy and to fail my inherent potential. I hope for so many things that I question whether I’m being reasonable. I want adventure. I want passion. I want to win. I want to change lives—to be an example, a hero, and a genius. I want to be swept off my feet, because I’m almost ready to knock the socks off of Mr. Right. Is this too much to ask? My dad, my great encourager, doesn’t think so.
Several months ago I was lucky to run into Jim Long, one of Kalamazoo’s legendary track coaches and a personal mentor. I sat in his office on a particularly trying day, when mediocrity was grasping at my heels. Maybe fear was written on my face, because without any exchange of words, Coach Long gave me a piece of paper that read:
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
-This excerpt was written by Marianne Williamson and read by Nelson Mandela at his 1994 inauguration.
I read it and cried. It is okay to dream, as long as you have the courage to act, the faith in positive outcomes, and finally the patience to watch greatness unfold.
But it seems that every other week I find myself in the comforting presence of my father, a man who seemingly knows my heart better than I and who believes in me more than I’m capable of believing in myself. As he wipes away my hot tears of frustration, sorrow and self-pity, he assures me that dawn is nearly here. According to my father, when daybreak comes, I will blossom into all the greatness that I aspire.
I inherited the tendency to dream from my father, who undoubtedly inherited this trait from his father. While everyone contemplates their desires in life, I can’t distinguish whether it’s a blessing or a curse to be born into a family of dreamers. The way I was wired to dream means more than determining which career I want or how many kids I’ll have. I was born to dream to outlandish and absurd degrees of greatness. As a result, my greatest fear is mediocrity.
Mediocrity. I fear it more than death. To be mediocre would be to extinguish a legacy and to fail my inherent potential. I hope for so many things that I question whether I’m being reasonable. I want adventure. I want passion. I want to win. I want to change lives—to be an example, a hero, and a genius. I want to be swept off my feet, because I’m almost ready to knock the socks off of Mr. Right. Is this too much to ask? My dad, my great encourager, doesn’t think so.
Several months ago I was lucky to run into Jim Long, one of Kalamazoo’s legendary track coaches and a personal mentor. I sat in his office on a particularly trying day, when mediocrity was grasping at my heels. Maybe fear was written on my face, because without any exchange of words, Coach Long gave me a piece of paper that read:
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
-This excerpt was written by Marianne Williamson and read by Nelson Mandela at his 1994 inauguration.
I read it and cried. It is okay to dream, as long as you have the courage to act, the faith in positive outcomes, and finally the patience to watch greatness unfold.
Feaured Leader: Cliff Moshoginis
Cliff Moshoginis grew up near Detroit Metro and wiled away the hours on the pre-security-era "Observation Deck."The son of a soldier in the Air Guard, he long has been more than an observer in the world of aviation. After a stint with the airlines, he signed on with the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport in 1993. When he took over as director in June of 2006, questions and a bit of uncertainty surrounded the future of the airport, but Moshoginis has never waivered in his vision of a prosperous, busy airport serving Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties and surrounding communities.
"It's going to happen," he told a business audience this winter of the terminal expansion that will serve passengers for the next quarter century. In fact, with the guidance of the business-based Kalamazoo County Aeronautics Board of Trustees and a supportive Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners, it's back to the drawing board -- literally -- to expand the facility.
"Look for construction in '09, possibly as early as later this year," says
Moshoginis, who will spend his share of time in Washington, D.C. making sure the funds keep flowing into this part of the state. Using his 28 years of industry experience, Moshoginis also fights for other Michigan airports as President of the Michigan Association of Airport Executives.
Meanwhile, airlines, too, are demonstrating their confidence in AZO. As it should be in air transportation, things are looking up. American is adding a fifth nonstop flight to Chicago, and Continental is due back in June.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Shh! Don't Tell Anyone . . .
When I tell people that I run, I recognize the initial shock and horror on their faces. And while it’s never been clinically documented, I’ve been told many times that I’m crazy for jogging in the heat, rain and snow. Running is my little secret.
Sometimes, I get up before the sun to start my jog. I can get several miles in before the watchful eyes of the world open to start their day. I even sleep to run. My dreams are bombarded with 5Ks and impromptu track meets. In some dreams I disguise myself as a high school student and run relays and win meets. In others I’m lost on a 5K course and my legs are stuck in slow motion.
When I go to the gym, I’m obsessed with passing the other runners on the indoor track. In my mind, every runner is a bull’s eye before me and a cloud of dust behind me. At this point I’m no longer human. I’m Gail Devers clearing the last hurdle, or Sly Stallone punching the air as he climbs to the top of the steps in Rocky. Then Michael Jackson hiccups in my ear and eggs me on as he sings “Bad” through my headphones…
Is this normal?
Probably not. I’ve heard of runner’s high, but question its existence. Besides the obvious health benefits, I run to feed my competitive spirit. I was in need of a place to vent my running—a place where I knew I would get support from those with the same diagnosis. Luckily I’ve discovered the competition and camaraderie through local running clubs and races hosted by Gazelle Sports, Borgess Medical Center and Kalamazoo Area Runners.
A good friend and fellow runner was asked why she chose to run as a hobby. Her blunt response humored me but held some truth: “Because there’s nothing else to do in this town.” As single, twenty-something’s stuck in Kalamazoo, we may have discovered the healthiest way to conquer redundancy. So, the secret’s out.
**If running is your little secret, or if you’re interested in meeting new people and getting fit, consider running or walking on April 25 and 26 at the Borgess Run for the Health of it.
Sometimes, I get up before the sun to start my jog. I can get several miles in before the watchful eyes of the world open to start their day. I even sleep to run. My dreams are bombarded with 5Ks and impromptu track meets. In some dreams I disguise myself as a high school student and run relays and win meets. In others I’m lost on a 5K course and my legs are stuck in slow motion.
When I go to the gym, I’m obsessed with passing the other runners on the indoor track. In my mind, every runner is a bull’s eye before me and a cloud of dust behind me. At this point I’m no longer human. I’m Gail Devers clearing the last hurdle, or Sly Stallone punching the air as he climbs to the top of the steps in Rocky. Then Michael Jackson hiccups in my ear and eggs me on as he sings “Bad” through my headphones…
Is this normal?
Probably not. I’ve heard of runner’s high, but question its existence. Besides the obvious health benefits, I run to feed my competitive spirit. I was in need of a place to vent my running—a place where I knew I would get support from those with the same diagnosis. Luckily I’ve discovered the competition and camaraderie through local running clubs and races hosted by Gazelle Sports, Borgess Medical Center and Kalamazoo Area Runners.
A good friend and fellow runner was asked why she chose to run as a hobby. Her blunt response humored me but held some truth: “Because there’s nothing else to do in this town.” As single, twenty-something’s stuck in Kalamazoo, we may have discovered the healthiest way to conquer redundancy. So, the secret’s out.
**If running is your little secret, or if you’re interested in meeting new people and getting fit, consider running or walking on April 25 and 26 at the Borgess Run for the Health of it.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
How to Treat Spring Fever
Whether you're a snowbird who is just returning or someone who toughed it out all winter, rest assured Spring weather is . . . not quite around the corner. But there's lots to do. Try these:
Take part in Grape Expectations on March 21 from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. The evening will consist of wine-tasting, amazing food and live jazz. The wine list will feature delicate whites, full-bodied reds, Sherries and the Sparkling White Cava from Spain. To complement the wine, food will be prepared by over a dozen of the area’s finest chefs. The cost is $45 per person. To learn more or to order tickets, call 269.382.8350.
The Annex at Wings Stadium will hold a Curling Open House on March 21 from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. and on March 22 from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Some of the best curlers in the world, including Canada’s Shorty Jenkins, will be available to teach and introduce the sport of curling. Well known for his trademark pink cowboy hat, pink jacket and pink cowboy boots, ice technician Jenkins is one of the best-known figures in the sport of curling. The cost is $10 per person per session. For more information or to sign up, call 269.345.2277 or visit Wings Stadium.
Head to Raddisson Plaza Hotel on March 25 for the Baker’s Dozen. This Annual Girl Scout Benefit is from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Thirteen areas chefs from the area’s finest restaurants will compete to create the best dessert made from Girl Scout cookies. Guests are invited to sample desserts, vote for the favorites and participate in a live and silent auction. The cost of the benefit is $35 per person or $60 for two people. For more information, call 269.343.1516.
On March 26 the Epic Bistro will host the Second Annual Millennium Showcase. The showcase highlights a meal prepared every Millennium Chef. Chef Armand of Fieldstone Grill will prepare the first appetizer. Chef Ed of Black Swan will prepare the second appetizer. Chef Encarnacion of Epic Bistro will present the salad course. Chef Eric of the Union will prepare the Entrée and Chef Trent of Martell’s will serve dessert. Each Chef will be available to visit and answer questions. To reserve your spot at Epic Bistro, call 269.342.1300.
Celebrate spring at the Spring Blast on March 29 from 1p.m – 7 p.m. at Lawson Ice Arena and Gabel Natatorium. Lawson Ice Arena will host a skating exhibition, broomball tournament and open skate session. Gabel Natatorium will host an inner tube water polo tournament, a showing of “Dive In,” the Spongebob Squarepants movie and an open swim. The cost is $5 per person for a full day of fun. Participants must pre-register for the broomball tournament by calling 269.387.3076 and for the inner tube water polo tournament by calling 269.387.2550. Lawson Ice Arena and Gabel Natatorium are located on Western Michigan University’s main campus.
The Third Annual Kalamazoo Fretboard Festival will be held on March 29 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and March 30 from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. The festival celebrates Kalamazoo’s legacy of stringed instrument design, manufacture and performance. The event will highlight presentations and displays from local guitar makers and craftspeople. Stringed-instrument enthusiasts and musicians of all skill levels will enjoy performances by area musicians and various instruments. This event is free to the public. For more information, call 269.373.7965 or visit the Kalamazoo Valley Museum.
The Kalamazoo Nature Center will host the Signs of Spring Hike on Sunday, March 23 at 2 p.m. Guided by naturalist Kara Haas, hikers will learn to spot the first signs of spring in nature. This event is free and open to families and participants of all ages. For more information, visit the Kalamazoo Nature Center.
Attend the Flying Hunters of the Night presentation at the WK Kellogg Bird Sanctuary to learn about Michigan’s owls and what makes them successful hunters at night. The presentation is March 28 at 7 p.m. An optional nighttime hike will follow the presentation at 8:30 p.m. The program is $3 for members, $5 for non-members and $2 for children. To learn more call 269.671.2510 or visit the WK Kellogg Bird Sanctuary.
The Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery Visitor Center will host the Spring Gardening Spectacular on March 29. The two-part program will help participants identify the plants growing on their property and will cover many aspects of gardening and landscaping. The first part of the workshop begins at 10 a.m. and will feature a presentation on trees and shrubs given by Mary Ann Menck of Mary Ann’s Michigan Trees and Shrubs. The second half of the workshop will start at 12 p.m. as Victoria Larke of Glorious Gardens discusses flowers and herbs. Both programs are free to public and are open to participants of all ages. For more information, call 269.668.2876 or visit the Wolf Lake Sate Fish Hatchery Visitor Center.
Take part in Grape Expectations on March 21 from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. The evening will consist of wine-tasting, amazing food and live jazz. The wine list will feature delicate whites, full-bodied reds, Sherries and the Sparkling White Cava from Spain. To complement the wine, food will be prepared by over a dozen of the area’s finest chefs. The cost is $45 per person. To learn more or to order tickets, call 269.382.8350.
The Annex at Wings Stadium will hold a Curling Open House on March 21 from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. and on March 22 from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Some of the best curlers in the world, including Canada’s Shorty Jenkins, will be available to teach and introduce the sport of curling. Well known for his trademark pink cowboy hat, pink jacket and pink cowboy boots, ice technician Jenkins is one of the best-known figures in the sport of curling. The cost is $10 per person per session. For more information or to sign up, call 269.345.2277 or visit Wings Stadium.
Head to Raddisson Plaza Hotel on March 25 for the Baker’s Dozen. This Annual Girl Scout Benefit is from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Thirteen areas chefs from the area’s finest restaurants will compete to create the best dessert made from Girl Scout cookies. Guests are invited to sample desserts, vote for the favorites and participate in a live and silent auction. The cost of the benefit is $35 per person or $60 for two people. For more information, call 269.343.1516.
On March 26 the Epic Bistro will host the Second Annual Millennium Showcase. The showcase highlights a meal prepared every Millennium Chef. Chef Armand of Fieldstone Grill will prepare the first appetizer. Chef Ed of Black Swan will prepare the second appetizer. Chef Encarnacion of Epic Bistro will present the salad course. Chef Eric of the Union will prepare the Entrée and Chef Trent of Martell’s will serve dessert. Each Chef will be available to visit and answer questions. To reserve your spot at Epic Bistro, call 269.342.1300.
Celebrate spring at the Spring Blast on March 29 from 1p.m – 7 p.m. at Lawson Ice Arena and Gabel Natatorium. Lawson Ice Arena will host a skating exhibition, broomball tournament and open skate session. Gabel Natatorium will host an inner tube water polo tournament, a showing of “Dive In,” the Spongebob Squarepants movie and an open swim. The cost is $5 per person for a full day of fun. Participants must pre-register for the broomball tournament by calling 269.387.3076 and for the inner tube water polo tournament by calling 269.387.2550. Lawson Ice Arena and Gabel Natatorium are located on Western Michigan University’s main campus.
The Third Annual Kalamazoo Fretboard Festival will be held on March 29 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and March 30 from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. The festival celebrates Kalamazoo’s legacy of stringed instrument design, manufacture and performance. The event will highlight presentations and displays from local guitar makers and craftspeople. Stringed-instrument enthusiasts and musicians of all skill levels will enjoy performances by area musicians and various instruments. This event is free to the public. For more information, call 269.373.7965 or visit the Kalamazoo Valley Museum.
The Kalamazoo Nature Center will host the Signs of Spring Hike on Sunday, March 23 at 2 p.m. Guided by naturalist Kara Haas, hikers will learn to spot the first signs of spring in nature. This event is free and open to families and participants of all ages. For more information, visit the Kalamazoo Nature Center.
Attend the Flying Hunters of the Night presentation at the WK Kellogg Bird Sanctuary to learn about Michigan’s owls and what makes them successful hunters at night. The presentation is March 28 at 7 p.m. An optional nighttime hike will follow the presentation at 8:30 p.m. The program is $3 for members, $5 for non-members and $2 for children. To learn more call 269.671.2510 or visit the WK Kellogg Bird Sanctuary.
The Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery Visitor Center will host the Spring Gardening Spectacular on March 29. The two-part program will help participants identify the plants growing on their property and will cover many aspects of gardening and landscaping. The first part of the workshop begins at 10 a.m. and will feature a presentation on trees and shrubs given by Mary Ann Menck of Mary Ann’s Michigan Trees and Shrubs. The second half of the workshop will start at 12 p.m. as Victoria Larke of Glorious Gardens discusses flowers and herbs. Both programs are free to public and are open to participants of all ages. For more information, call 269.668.2876 or visit the Wolf Lake Sate Fish Hatchery Visitor Center.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
The Devil Made Me Do It
I remember sitting wide-eyed on the floor as a child, a little girl engaged by animation and the screen of a big television. Twenty years later, an array of educational television programs and networks are produced for children. I like to think that although I wasn’t learning Spanish or sign language, the occasional cartoon indulged my imagination and perhaps developed within me a slight sense of humor…and just a hint of dignity.
A particularly vivid cartoon concept remains with me today. It’s not the dropping of an anvil or the endless chase scene. It’s the fork in road—the definitive moment when the character must turn right or left and choose between right and wrong. But my favorite part about the fork in the road was that it was never a hasty decision. It was thoroughly considered with the help of two characters, a devil hovering above the right shoulder and an angel strumming its harp over the left.
With college behind me, and the possibility of new careers, love interests and advanced degrees before me, I sometimes feel like every other step brings me to the inevitable fork in the road. And so often when I can’t decide which turn to take, which career to choose and whom to love—I consult the white-winged and haloed version of myself. Why? Because while the path to success may be lined in accolades, it’s the figurative high road that will truly set me apart.
When “doing the right thing” makes national headlines, I realize the high road is less traveled. But the character that fuels that path is honorable and respectable – and will prepare me for life’s next big intersection. A young child watching cartoons, I was captivated by the morals, the ethics or maybe even the spiritual conviction introduced at the fork in the road. Today, when everything is sensational, dramatic and complicated, I am even more fascinated by making the right turn.
Disclaimer: To claim to be purely angelic would be to vastly exceed the parameters of the little white lie. With a sly smile I’ll admit I often acknowledge and consider the hot pokes and prods of my own pitchfork. Even the high road has potholes.
03-12-08
A particularly vivid cartoon concept remains with me today. It’s not the dropping of an anvil or the endless chase scene. It’s the fork in road—the definitive moment when the character must turn right or left and choose between right and wrong. But my favorite part about the fork in the road was that it was never a hasty decision. It was thoroughly considered with the help of two characters, a devil hovering above the right shoulder and an angel strumming its harp over the left.
With college behind me, and the possibility of new careers, love interests and advanced degrees before me, I sometimes feel like every other step brings me to the inevitable fork in the road. And so often when I can’t decide which turn to take, which career to choose and whom to love—I consult the white-winged and haloed version of myself. Why? Because while the path to success may be lined in accolades, it’s the figurative high road that will truly set me apart.
When “doing the right thing” makes national headlines, I realize the high road is less traveled. But the character that fuels that path is honorable and respectable – and will prepare me for life’s next big intersection. A young child watching cartoons, I was captivated by the morals, the ethics or maybe even the spiritual conviction introduced at the fork in the road. Today, when everything is sensational, dramatic and complicated, I am even more fascinated by making the right turn.
Disclaimer: To claim to be purely angelic would be to vastly exceed the parameters of the little white lie. With a sly smile I’ll admit I often acknowledge and consider the hot pokes and prods of my own pitchfork. Even the high road has potholes.
03-12-08
Monday, March 10, 2008
The Luck of the Irish finds Downtown Kalamazoo
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Kick off St. Patrick’s Day in downtown Kalamazoo with the 7th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15. The parade starts at 11 a.m. at the corner of South Burdick St. and Michigan Ave. The route runs down South Burdick before turning west on Cedar St. and ending at the Knights of Columbus. Last year over 70 organizations participated in the parade, with highlights from the Western Michigan ROTC, television and radio personalities and the Kalamazoo Pipe Band. The Irish American Club of Kalamazoo organizes the Kalamazoo St. Patrick’s Day Parade. For more information, visit the Irish American Club of Kalamazoo.
The Union Cabaret And Grille: Celtic Entertainment March 13-15
St. Patty’s Day festivities will continue after the parade at the Union Cabaret and Grill, located on the Kalamazoo Mall. The Union will host Celtic entertainment by Harvest Home at noon and 9 p.m. on Saturday, March 15,
The Laughing Post: 1st Annual St. Patrick’s Day Party
Help start a St. Patrick’s Day tradition at The Laughing Post! On Monday, March 17, The Laughing Post will kick off their 1st Annual St. Patrick’s Day Party with a “Top of the Morning Breakfast” of green eggs and ham from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m. for only $2. The Laughing Post will feature entertainment, green drink specials and “Luck of the Irish” raffles every hour. There is no cover charge for this event. For more information, visit The Laughing Post.
Irish American Club Meeting: March 17
The Irish American Club will host a St. Patrick’s Day program at the Sports Forum on Monday, March 17. Dinner begins at 6 p.m. followed by a meeting at 7 p.m. A special program consisting of Irish music, dancing and comedy routines by the Prime Time Players begins at 7:30 p.m. The Sports Forum is located at 803 W. Mosel in Kalamazoo.
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