SW Michigan Spark

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SW Michigan Spark Spark is a free monthly publication targeted to "baby boomers" and is available at over 500 locations throughout Southwest Michigan.

Each issue features great local stories on books, movies, history, art, nature, antiques, parks, food, health, golf, travel, volunteering, and much, much more. Great local organizations including the Kalamazoo Public Library, The Kalamazoo Valley Museum, the YMCA, The Area Agency on Aging, The Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo, The Kalamazoo County Parks, Senior Services, The Kalamazoo Golf Assn

and Fair Food Matters have helped make this first issue a big success. Spark is available Free at over 275 locations throughout Southwest Michigan. Pick one up at your local grocer, pharmacy, coffee shop, doctors office, library or restaurant. Spark is a publication of Ellis Strategies, LLC

Feel free to contact Steve Ellis at [email protected] with any questions, possible story ideas or suggestions.

For the last 25 years I have accumulated hundreds of, "Believe it or Not" type stories from the area: Prize cow produce...
05/06/2024

For the last 25 years I have accumulated hundreds of, "Believe it or Not" type stories from the area: Prize cow produces 19,000 pounds of milk, goat locked in jail for butting parked cars, man arrested 119 times, bears escape from Milham Park, boy's bicycle gobbled up by street sweeper, senior couple hitchhikes to California and back and many more strange and unusual stories. Come to my talk at the Zhang Portage Senior Center on Tuesday, June 11 at 2pm to here about these and more. Call 329-4555 to register.

As memories of the Checker Cab era grow fainter, Jim Garrison is determined to keep the glory days of the iconic Kalamaz...
02/06/2024

As memories of the Checker Cab era grow fainter, Jim Garrison is determined to keep the glory days of the iconic Kalamazoo creation alive. Garrison, a past president of the Checker
Car Club of America, is not only an authority on Checker automobiles, he owns two of them, a 1980 Marathon that he enjoys taking for rides when the weather is pleasant, and a 1931 Model M he is in the process of restoring. Read Dave Person's great cover feature on Garrison in the June issue! Pick up a copy at over 500 locations throughout Southwest Michigan today, or read at swmspark.com.

I will be doing a fun talk at the Portage Zhang Center on Tuesday, May 28 at 2pm. (This talk was rescheduled due to the ...
14/05/2024

I will be doing a fun talk at the Portage Zhang Center on Tuesday, May 28 at 2pm. (This talk was rescheduled due to the tornado) For years, I have been accumulating stories of celebrities that came to this area for various reasons and their interactions with local folks: Irene Ryan's visit to Upjohn in the late 1960's at the height of the Beverly Hillbilly's, Kevin Costner stopping for a cup of Starbucks on S. Westnedge, Tommy James and the Shondell's water skiing on Long Lake. Johnny Weismuller (Tarzan and the fastest swimmer in the world) racing my neighbor's father on Long Lake, and many many more. Call 329-4555 to register. Hope to see you there!

Stulberg to Celebrate 49th International String Competition This Weekend!The Stulberg International String Competition i...
13/05/2024

Stulberg to Celebrate 49th International String Competition This Weekend!

The Stulberg International String Competition is an internationally recognized competition that promotes excellence in string instrumental performances by gifted young artists under the age of twenty. The 49th Stulberg Competition will take place over the course of two days, with competition happening on May 17 and 18.

The Stulberg is an exciting event featuring young talented string musicians performing on violin, viola, cello and double bass. Twelve semi-finalists have been selected and will compete in Kalamazoo next weekend in front of a panel of world renowned judges, as well as a live audience. This year’s semi-finalists come from all corners of the USA as well as a semifinalist from China (Bios for all semi-finalists are available on the Stulberg’s website at www.stulberg.org).

The weekend kicks off on Friday, May 17 with a series of Master Classes in the Dalton Center at Western Michigan University, which are free and open to the public. Master Classes provide an opportunity for ALL area students, musicians and audiences to observe and learn from world class artists.

The Bach Prize Award Night will be held Friday evening at the Dalton Center Recital Hall at 7:30 pm. The Award Night will feature all twelve semi-finalists and their performances of solo Bach repertoire.

On Saturday, May 18, the first round of competition will take place at the Dalton Center, after which the twelve semi-finalists will be narrowed down to a field of six finalists. The Semi-finals are free and open to the public and begin at 9:00 am.

The six finalists will perform for the judges and a live audience at the Dalton Center Recital Hall at 7:30 pm on Saturday. The three medalists for the 2024 competition will be determined at this performance. In addition to a live audience, this performance will be live-streamed.

The finals are ticketed, and are sure to be an exciting and inspiring evening of music. Tickets are $15 for Friday and $25 for the Saturday performance, with a student price of only $5. A package is available which includes Friday and Saturday performances for just $35 for adults.

More information on all events and tickets for the Friday and Saturday evening events is available online at www.stulberg.org.

The May “Tales From the Road” feature highlights the revitalized new look of downtown Jackson. Pick up a copy today and ...
10/05/2024

The May “Tales From the Road” feature highlights the revitalized new look of downtown Jackson. Pick up a copy today and read the history of this historic town. The feature can also be read at swmspark.com

There’s a decent chance you might never have heard of Vic Taylor or his Kalamazoo-based indie record label, LaVal. But d...
06/05/2024

There’s a decent chance you might never have heard of Vic Taylor or his Kalamazoo-based indie record label, LaVal. But during the 1960s and 1970s, LaVal was a big name in popular entertainment, especially among lovers of blues, R&B, and comedy. The recording studio was located at 226 North Burdick. The Chuck Willis record pictured here was a little too "hot" for regular radio play at the time but became a big hit anyway! LaVal Records closed in 1980. Read Keith Howard's great story in the May issue and at swmspark.com.

I will be doing a fun talk at the Portage Zhang Center on Wed, May 8 at 2pm. For years, I have been accumulating stories...
29/04/2024

I will be doing a fun talk at the Portage Zhang Center on Wed, May 8 at 2pm. For years, I have been accumulating stories of celebrities that came to this area for various reasons and their interactions with local folks: Irene Ryan's visit to Upjohn in the late 1960's at the height of the Beverly Hillbilly's, Kevin Costner stopping for a cup of Starbucks on S. Westnedge, Tommy James and the Shondell's water skiing on Long Lake. Johnny Weismuller (Tarzan and the fastest swimmer in the world) racing my neighbor's father on Long Lake, and many many more. Call 329-4555 to register. Hope to see you there!

The May issue is out on the streets with a great cover story by Dave Person on Paul Selden and Bike Friendly Kalamazoo! ...
29/04/2024

The May issue is out on the streets with a great cover story by Dave Person on Paul Selden and Bike Friendly Kalamazoo! Pick up a copy today or read the complete issue at swmspark.com

Every issue of Spark includes a Tales From the Road feature, highlighting many unique and interesting places nearby (and...
19/04/2024

Every issue of Spark includes a Tales From the Road feature, highlighting many unique and interesting places nearby (and a few further away like the January New Orleans feature). The last few month's have included: Albion, Hastings, Lake Odessa and Grand Ledge. Now is the perfect time to hop in your car and head out to one of our great area small towns. You never know what you will find!

Thank you Vicky Kettner for the invite to the very inspirational YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo Community Breakfast. I had no...
13/04/2024

Thank you Vicky Kettner for the invite to the very inspirational YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo Community Breakfast. I had no idea just how much the Y does for our community.

Sister Grace Scola is 99 years young and is the "2023 RSVP Volunteer of the Year." Read Jim Coppinger's great story abo...
09/04/2024

Sister Grace Scola is 99 years young and is the "2023 RSVP Volunteer of the Year." Read Jim Coppinger's great story about this remarkable woman in the April issue!

120 years ago, in late March of 1904, Kalamazoo experienced the devastation of flooding that caused the Kalamazoo River ...
02/04/2024

120 years ago, in late March of 1904, Kalamazoo experienced the devastation of flooding that caused the Kalamazoo River to rise 9 feet above its normal level and wreak havoc upon the area. Read Keith Howard's great story of this Historic Flood in the April issue!

The April issue is out on the streets and available at over 500 locations throughout Southwest Michigan. Long-time runne...
01/04/2024

The April issue is out on the streets and available at over 500 locations throughout Southwest Michigan. Long-time runner Tracy Mathews is featured on the cover and is leading her 12th Run Kalamazoo training group, getting ready for the big Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon events weekend on May 4 and 5. Pick up a copy today or read the complete issue at swmspark.com

Ever month, Laura Kurella gives us a wonderful recipe to tempt our taste buds. For March, just in time for St Patricks D...
12/03/2024

Ever month, Laura Kurella gives us a wonderful recipe to tempt our taste buds. For March, just in time for St Patricks Day, Laura gives us her Original Irish Coffee recipe. Pick up a copy of the March issue today or read it at swmspark.com

Looking for cool new places to visit and explore? This all new photo presentation will include interesting spots up nort...
08/03/2024

Looking for cool new places to visit and explore? This all new photo presentation will include interesting spots up north as well as many destinations only only an hour or so away. Great bakeries, restaurants, unique stores, parks, museums, etc.

Call 269 329-4555 today to reserve a spot!

At one time, the local blacksmith was a very important part of every community. In the late 1800's, Kalamazoo had 20 bla...
06/03/2024

At one time, the local blacksmith was a very important part of every community. In the late 1800's, Kalamazoo had 20 blacksmith shops. One of the best was the shop of Arend Bos at 122 Eleanor.
One of their key products was a flat board-like horseshoe called a “muck shoe” that allowed the horses to work in the celery fields without sinking. With the advent of the automobile, most went out of business, but Arend Bos and later his son Jerry, carried on and transitioned into the auto repair business, closing in 1957 as the last blacksmith shop in Kalamazoo. Read Keith Howard's great story in the March issue.

The March issue is out on the streets with a great cover feature by Dave Person on Jamie Kavanaugh and O'Duffy's Pub-Jus...
02/03/2024

The March issue is out on the streets with a great cover feature by Dave Person on Jamie Kavanaugh and O'Duffy's Pub-Just in time for St Patricks Day. Pick up a copy today at over 500 locations throughout Southwest Michigan or read it at swmspark.com

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The Spark Story

Each issue features great local features on books, movies, local history, art, nature, antiques, parks, food, health, travel, volunteering, and much, much more. Great local organizations including the Kalamazoo Public Library, The Portage District Library, The Kalamazoo Valley Museum, the YMCA, The Area Agency on Aging, The Kalamazoo Nature Center, Senior Services and many others have helped make this publication a big success. Spark is available Free at over 650 locations throughout Southwest Michigan and now has close to 20,000 readers each issue! Pick one up at your local grocer, pharmacy, coffee shop, doctors office, library or restaurant.

Spark is a publication of Ellis Strategies, LLC Feel free to contact Steve Ellis at [email protected] or 269 720-9157 with any questions, possible story ideas or suggestions.