SW Michigan’s best family resource

Jan/Feb 2015

• Where to Sled, Tube, Skate & More• Hacks for Winter Comfort• Secondhand Snow Gear

Winter Fun Guide!

Plus:Handmade Feeder for the BirdsGreat family Events

Published by

Staying Indoors? Create an Active Playroom

• 2 • Jan/Feb 2015

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Reading2015

TogetherTues, March 3, 7 pmKalamazoo Central High School Auditorium

Meet Jerry Dennis

Michigan News will sell copies of The Living Great Lakes at the event.

Set sail with Jerry Dennis and explorethe history, nature, and science of ourmost vital source of fresh water - The Great Lakes. More than just a travelnarrative, The Living Great Lakes,Searching for The Heart of theInland Seas is a meditation on natureand our role as conservers as well asconsumers.

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KPL_FYI_JANFEB15_RTAd.pdf 1 12/2/2014 10:00:32 AM

from the Editor

I heard a song on A Prairie Home Companion last February that really stuck

with me. It’s called “Old Rosin the Beau” and it explains why Minnesotans take

pride in their winters.

“We are Northern people,” argues host Garrison Keillor, “we’re happier

when we’re in pain.”

This type of conquer-the-winter attitude, I found out when I moved to Michi-

gan two years ago, extends throughout the Midwest.

Last winter I complained about the weather on Facebook and my uncle, a

Whitehall resident, exclaimed, “What? Danes live for this!!!” It was news to me.

I guess I was really letting my ancestors down.

This year, I decided to approach winter with more gusto. I’m not claiming

to be able to “enjoy a bitter cold day” or “laugh at the hard freezing rain” like

Keillor can, but I can probably just stop complaining — you know, be the Dane

that would make my ancestors proud.

In preparation, I decided owning only one pair of long underwear was inad-

equate and I bought a coat that actually reaches below my waist, some water-

proof boots and a hat with earflaps.

I don’t look city-sleek anymore, but as my cousin pointed out when I visited

her in Traverse City, there’s a different kind approach to fashion in Michigan.

“Why aren’t you wearing socks?” she asked one October day when I was

there for a visit. “I said it would be cold.”

“Well, I thought socks looked bad with these shoes,” I admitted sheepishly.

It sounded stupider out of my head than in it.

“You know what’s trendy right now in Traverse City?” she asked. “Being

warm.”It might have been that everything was frozen but my brain, but something

kind of snapped in me when she pointed out how dumb I looked — I realized

I haven’t been giving Michigan’s winter a fair shake.

“Winter is good for the heart,” says Keillor. Who doesn’t need something

like that?

This winter, I’m going to try to become a Michigander. A Northerner. And I’m

going to start by wearing socks.

Tiffany FitzgeraldEditor

fyiswmichigan.com • 3 •

• 4 • Jan/Feb 2015

Publisherencore publications, inc.

Editortiffany fitzgerald

Contributing Editormarie lee

Graphic Designeralexis stubelt

Contributorsjarett coy, john lacko, brian lam, melissa lam, jef otte, brian powers

Advertising Saleskrieg leeceleste statlerkurt todas

FYI is published 6 times a year by Encore Publi-cations, Inc. Copyright 2014. All rights reserved. Editorial, circulation and advertising correspon-dence should be sent to Encore Publications, 117 Cedar St. Suite A, Kalamazoo MI, 49007. Phone: 269 383-4433. General email correspondence to publisher@encorekalamazoo.com

FYI is distributed free of charge at locations throughout Southwest Michigan; home deliv-ery subscription rate is $18 per year. Advertising rates and specifications at fyiswmichigan.com or by request.

FYI does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors; arti-cles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect FYI’s opinions or those of the FYI staff.

To learn more about us visit fyiswmichigan.com

SW Michigan’s best family resource

Jan/Feb 2014

• Where to Sled, Tube, Skate & More• Hacks for Winter Comfort• Secondhand Snow Gear

Winter Fun Guide!

Plus:Handmade Feeder for the BirdsGreat family Events

Published by

Staying Indoors? Create an Active Playroom

If you’re sick of the cold and gloom, Tif-fany has some uplifting words for you: “The best part about winter, and I really thought this as a kid, is that it ends. One way or an-other, the Northern Hemisphere will dip closer to the sun once more and we will feel warmth again.” In addition to being FYI’s editor, Tiffany is also a staff writer at Encore. A transplant from Colorado, she lives in Kalamazoo with her husband and two children, ages 3 and 12.

If you read this month’s Last Laugh col-umn, you might think there was never a time this Kalamazoo native really thought winter was wonderful. “I used to love winter, especially sledding on the hills behind Ka-lamazoo Christian High School,” Brian says. “Then I reached snow shoveling age and I have loathed Mother Nature’s yearly snow assault ever since.” When not braving the elements to bring home milk, Brian coaches improvisation and spends time with his wife and daughter.

Our Family Man admits he has become rather pessimistic about winter. “Probably the best thing about winter for me as a kid was getting bundled up to the point of im-mobility and careening with my grandpa on his ATV over a frozen lake,” Jef recalls fond-ly. “Now I don’t know anyone with an ATV, so I hate it.” Guess that leaves him with more time to pursue an MFA in creative writing at Western Michigan University, in addition to being a father of two.

Melissa’s contribution to Creation Station shows her soft spot for her fine-feathered friends. When not watching the birds out her window, Melissa likes to watch snow-flakes fall under the street lamps on those wintery Michigan nights. Melissa was a Mon-tessori teacher in Colorado and Kalamazoo for several years before starting her own day care, where designing fun and creative projects with household objects went from a hobby to a necessity. Currently, she enjoys refurbishing furniture and sharing her love of art with her 5-year-old daughter, Sienna.

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About the cover: The Ablao family (from top), Meredith, Maya and John, of Portage, enjoy a ride together on a local sledding hill. Photo by John Lacko

Who are these lovely people? See below.

fyiswmichigan.com • 5 •

J a n / F e b 2 0 1 5

Winter Fun GuideIf there’s snow, you gotta go! Our guide to the sledding, sliding, skiing, skating and other winter pastimes

Helmets for Winter Play

Secondhand Gear

Active PlayroomsWith a few pillows, bean bag chairs and balls, you can create a play space for those “stuck inside” days

FEATURE

In Every Issue

Ac tivities

PARENT TO PARENT

16

19

17

18

3 From the Editor

4 Our Contributors

6 Fun for Free Family-friendly fun for no charge!

9 Make This! Spinach and Cheese Quiche from

local chef Kelly Aggers

10 Everyday Hacks Handy tips to keep you warm and

cozy

12 Creation Station A handmade feeder for the birds

14 Is this Normal? Picky eaters, shy at the playground: You ask, experts answer

27 Kids’ Corner Art & poetry created by local kids

29 Cool Kids Turning K-cups into eco-friendly art and compost

21 Family Man Hey, helicopter your own kids!

30 Last Laugh His wintery trek to the store

wasn’t treacherous until he got to where he was going

23 Family Events A full slate of fun!

Winterfest Kids’ DayIt’s the race of kings! Furry kings, that is. The Race

of Kings Hamster and Gerbil race is one of the most anticipated events of Grand Haven’s Winter-fest Kids’ Day and it takes place inside. Bring your furry rodent buddies and a ball for them to race in. If you come early, you can watch the cardboard sled race starting at 11 a.m. at Mulligan’s Hollow.

Kids’ Day takes place at the Tri-Cities Family YMCA in Grand Haven, which is roughly 80 miles northwest of Kalamazoo, from noon-3 p.m. and features creative projects, balloons, face painting, a bounce house and more. Check out Winterfest-Mi.org for more activities your family might enjoy doing during the three-day long festival.

Date: Jan. 24, registration at 1 p.m.; races begin at 2 p.m; Kids’ Day is noon-3 p.m.

Route: Tri-Cities YMCA, 1 Y Drive, Grand Haven

Ages: All ages

More info: WinterfestMi.org

• 6 • Jan/Feb 2015

Fun For Free FYI

It might seem that in the dead of a Michi-gan winter, there wouldn’t be anything to do. But our Winter Fun Guide on page 16 shows there are a plethora of outdoor and indoor options for Southwest Michiganders to keep the winter blahs at bay.

Check out our event calendar on page 23 for a

complete list of family-friendly activities.

If you’re looking for something a little warmer and still family-friendly (not to mention free), check out these amazing Southwest Michigan treasures that provide entertainment for everyone.

Kevin Ryan

Kalamazoo Valley MuseumTornado and sandstorm simulations, slot-car racing,

hands-on exhibits about physics, an original Checker cab, a toddler room and more — there is something to pique any child’s interest at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum.

Museum admission is free, but for $3 each, you and your family can sit under the stars in the planetarium and enjoy a laser projection show with a 5.1 channel surround sound system. Be sure to check FYI’s calendar for a listing of the museum’s exhibitions and activities (page 23).

Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Monday-Thursday & Saturday; 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday; 1 p.m.-5 p.m Sunday

Place: 230 N. Rose St., Kalamazoo

Ages: All ages

More info: KalamazooMuseum.org

Portage District LibraryIt’s magical for kids to be in a space built just for them, where every-

thing is their size and appeals to their inquisitive and exploring natures. That’s what makes the Preschool Room at the Portage District Library such a great hangout for the little ones.

Everything is kid-sized, from the bookshelves to the chairs, and the room is decorated with a fairy tale-inspired mural by local artist Conrad Kaufman, a tree sculpture, a playhouse, a puppet theatre and other kid-friendly décor meant to spark the imagination.

It’s the perfect place to go on winter days (or any day for that matter), and there are activities during the day for little kids. For the older children, the library’s youth section offers afterschool programs and events for tweens and teens. Check the calendar (page 23) for a complete listing.

Hour: 9 a.m.- 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; 1-5 p.m. Sunday

Place: 300 Library Lane, Portage

Ages: All ages (Preschool Room is best suited for toddler to preschool age)

More info: PortageLibrary.info

fyiswmichigan.com • 7 •

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• 8 • Jan/Feb 2015

Family Dinner

*Meet us up close @ KalamazooArts.org

359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 269.342.5059

[part - ner] noun - 1. your local friend that cultivatescommunity creativity by supporting its member’s dreams, ambitions, and programs that help keep the arts alive and thriving in Kalamazoo.

ARTS COUNCIL PROGRAMS:

partner*

arts council of greater kalamazoo

We are not a Museum…yet we produce Art Hop, twelve times a year. This FREE program adds over $700,000 to the local economy.

We are not an Orchestra…yet we bring FREE live music to Bronson Park every Sunday, June through August, at Concerts in the Park.

We are not a Theatre…yet we produce All Ears Radio Theatre. Hailed as one of Kiplinger Magazine’s “Must Do” FREE events in Kalamazoo.

We are not a Social Service Agency…yet we offer teens in Kalamazoo County a FREE summer program called United Teens Talent which gives them a chance to express and find themselves as they work with seasoned directors and mentors.

We are not a School or Government Agency…yet we provide FREE workshops and regrant State of Michigan funds helping arts organizations and artists contribute to our local and regional communities.

1116 W Centre Avenue ☎ 323-9333PortagePrinting.com

Who Made Print and the Web Rivals?People love Allrecipes.com. The website has a reach of close to 30 million people. Yet at the end of 2013,

Allrecipes launched distribution of a printed magazine.

With all of this online success, what’s the point of going into print? What does Allrecipes know?

The company did the research and found readers love both the digital side and printed side of the business. Quite simply, print still holds a

profitable opportunity for the business.

Food product advertising is one of the strongest advertising categories in print

these days. Despite the shift to online advertising and the attention given to social media, print advertising brings

attention to products and services.

Internet and print marketing aren’t rivals. They are opportunities.

Online marketing reaches for people who are already looking for

your products and services. Print marketing comes to you.

Allrecipes expanded and grew by going into print. Have you asked

lately what print can do to expand your business?

Daniel BrierConductor

Justin Locke Author

Ben ZylmanStage Director

Enjoy this lively new spin on Prokofiev’s tale of Peter and the Wolf, this time as told by the wolf. Be a part of this

spectacular family event.

02.08.15Sunday | 3pm | Chenery AuditoriumFor tickets, visit KalamazooSymphony.comor call 269.387.2300

PETER VS. THE WOLF

$30 FOR 4 TICKETS

Up to $10 in savings!

BRING THE

FAMILYAND SAVE

Call 269.387.2300 for special

Spinach and Cheese QuicheEasy-to-make winter comfort food

Family Dinner

With her mom, Maryann Vassallo, Kelly Aggers oper-ates Barista Blues Café, a restaurant and catering com-pany at 91 Michigan Ave. W, Battle Creek.

Aggers, a mother of three children who attend Portage Public Schools, has graciously offered up her easy-to-make, protein-filled quiche recipe for a dinner that is as quick to whip up as it is delicious.

“We sell out of this one as fast as we make it,” she says. “Our customers love it.”

Chances are your family will like it as much as Barista Blues Café customers. And, the fact that you have 30 minutes while it bakes to put together a simple salad, cut up some fresh fruit or just do nothing is a bonus. (Okay, so maybe that last one is a stretch.)

Make this! FYI

From the kitchen of local chef Kelly Aggers

Ingredients1 refrigerated pie crust (we use our family dough recipe, but for ease you can use an uncooked refrigerated or fro-zen pie crust) 5 eggs1/2 cup milk1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp pepper1 handful of fresh spinach1 cup your choice of shredded cheese, divided

How to:1. Preheat oven to 350°. 2. Prepare crust according to package directions.3. In a large bowl, beat eggs, milk and salt and pepper.4. Sprinkle ½ cup of shredded cheese in bottom of pie

shell. 5. Place spinach leaves on top of the cheese. 6. Pour the egg mixture over the top carefully.7. Top with the rest of the shredded cheese. 8. Sprinkle with a dash of salt and pepper.9. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes. Quiche is done when the top

is light brown and the center is set.

Hints: • If your spinach is from a bunch, cut off stems and wash

the spinach. Dry the spinach using a salad spinner or by patting dry with towels. Make sure your spinach is dry before using.

• Get a little experimental with your cheese. Blends of different cheeses can add a new taste. Make your own by combining shredded Parmesan, Romano or Swiss with pre-shredded Cheddar or Colby cheeses.

• Some people like it hot. Serve with a bottle of red pep-per sauce to give it a little zing.

Gluten Free Option: Gluten-free, premade pie crusts and dough are available

in the frozen and refrigerated pastry sections of health food stores such as Natural Health Food Center, 4610 W. Main Street; People’s Food Co-op, 507 Harrison St.; and Sawall Health Foods, 2965 Oakland Dr.

Makes 8 servings. Nutrition per serving: Calories 118, Carbs 2.9g, Fat 8.5g, Protein 7.7g, Sugar 1g

fyiswmichigan.com • 9 •

Share your recipes with FYI readers! Submit to editor@fyiswmichigan.com

• 10 • Jan/Feb 2015

Whoever coined the term “winter wonder-land” obviously forgot about coughs, cabin fever, high-energy bills and the interminable cold. But, we didn’t forget (how could we af-ter the winter we lived through last year?) and we’re offering some great hacks to ease the chal-lenges of winter so you can enjoy the wonderland part.

Everyday Hacks FYI

Winter Hacks

A Honey Hack for Your Hacking Cough

Coughing and winter go together like…well, like coughing and winter, really. The two seem to be synonymous. When scouring the shelves for re-lief, particularly syrups children can have, you’ll find homeopathic options containing honey. Honey is a nat-ural remedy for coughing, so this hack uses what you have in your kitchen to make a cough syrup everyone over one year of age can have. (Important: do not give honey to children under one year of age.)

1. Mix together 3/4 cup raw honey, 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil and the juice of three lemons in a small pot.

2. Cook over medium heat until steaming; turn off heat and let mixture cool.

3. Store in a jar with a tight-fitting lid in refrigerator for up to three months.

4. Stir and warm before using. Give a dose of a tea-spoon up to a tablespoon to ease coughing and sore throats.

Hot Chocolate “Hack”

Okay, so this isn’t so much a “hack” as it is a great piece of advice. Stir a spoonful of Nutella or another sweetened hazelnut spread into your hot cocoa. That’s it. Isn’t that ge-nius? Then you can pretend it’s healthy. We’re full of good ideas around here, especially when it comes to chocolate.

Colorful Frozen Orbs

A reason kids love science class is because they geek on watching things transform. This winter, we’ve got a crafting hack for your kids that will allow them to change water into ice, balloons into orbs and clear liq-uid into beautiful colors, making them feel like science superstars or magicians in the process.

1. Fill water balloons with water; before tying a knot in the end of the balloons, add a couple drops of food coloring into the water. Use different colors for variety.

2. Tie the balloons off, and place them outside on a below-freezing day until they are frozen solid (or put in the freezer, if you’re the impatient type and don’t want to wait for a freezing cold day).

3. When frozen, cut the ties off the balloons, take the frozen colored orbs out and line your walkway with them or make a design in your yard. Beautiful out-door winter art has never been so easy.

fyiswmichigan.com • 11 •

Woolen Soles for Winter Warmth

If we learned anything from last winter, it’s that boots can always be warmer. Use this amazingly easy boot sole hack to add a little warmth to your feet. They’ll thank you.

1. Draw an outline of the insole of your ten-nis shoe or boot on a piece of thick wool material.

2. Cut around the outline, making a duplicate insole out of the wool.

3. Place inside the bottom your boots/shoes for extra comfy warmth.

Flip a Switch to Save Energy

Use your ceiling fan to save energy and money this winter:

1. Flip the ceiling fan’s re-verse direction switch (usually located on the staff of the light, or for fans without a light, on the center plate), direct-ing the blade to rotate in a clockwise direction.

2. Turn the fan on at low speed. This pushes heated air back to the ground level instead of letting it rise to the top of the room or house, creating an updraft.

3. Turn your heat down a couple of degrees to compensate for the added warmth.

Try local

JAZZ CURRENTS

Southwest Michigan turns to WMUK for news, music, arts and NPR

WMUK102.1

Homemade Winter Birdfeeder

Creation station FYI

• 12 • Jan/Feb 2015

by MELISSA LAM

In the wintertime, food can be scarce for our feathered friends. Help a bird out! This homemade winter birdfeeder is a family craft that not only provides a snack for small winter birds, but the crafters as well.

See, you get to eat this as you make it. And once it’s done, you can hang it outside within sight of a window and enjoy watching the birds eat all winter long.

Here’s how to do it:

Materials Needed:

• An orange, grapefruit, melon or pineapple

• Raw cranberries

• Wild birdseed

• A knife (sharp enough to cut the fruit)

• A spoon

• 24 inches of twine

• Toothpicks or wooden skewers

• A long, straight stick or dowel

Directions:

1. Cut the fruit in half with the knife.

2. Spoon out the insides of the fruit so you’re just left with the rind. (This is the part where you get to eat the fruit.)

3. Cut a tiny hole in the bottom of the rind shell.

4. Slide the stick or dowel through the hole.

5. Tie the twine around the top of the stick or dowel, leaving enough to wrap around a branch several times.

6. Poke your toothpicks or skewers through a cranberry and then through the side of the rind.

7. Hang your fruit bird feeder from a branch.

8. Fill the feeder with wild bird seed.

Tips:

• To keep snow off the seed, either hang the feeder from a low branch under a thick pine tree, or slide the top half of the fruit rind on to the stick about six inches above the bottom.

• Because of the points on the toothpicks and the size of the cranberries, this activity is probably best for ages 3 and up.

• Though birds might just choose to stand on the cran-berries, they are safe for them to eat.

• Find your own creative ways to decorate your feeder, just make sure you’re not using anything harmful to birds.

Experience the NEW Y’OPA!

165 W. Centre Ave. Portage269-366-4877

We’re the self-serve shop that has it all…Frozen YogurtItalian IceSorbetComing soon…GelatoCustard

Y’OPA

America’s oldest family-owned natural foods market. Providing the largest & most complete selection of natural foods & supplements in SW Michigan.

2965 Oakland Dr. Kzoo 269-343-3619www.sawallhf.com

M-S 8-9, Sun 10-6

Sawall Health Foods

Three Locations in Kalamazoo/Portagewww.mackenziesbakery.com

Family-owned, full service bakery specializing in Authentic Artisan Breads

MacKenzies’ Cafe & Bakery

Social ART Working!

1924 Whites Road Kalamazoo269.343.5670www.happyourart.com

• Private Parties • Childrens’ Birthdays • Corporate Team

Building • Bachlorette Parties

Happy Our Art

4610 West Main Street Kalamazoonaturalhealthfoodcenter.com

Kalamazoo’s family owned natural food market. Helping people feel better since 1971.

Natural Health Center

Serving our community since 1903

9660 Shaver Rd. Portage269-323-8310romencegardencenter.com

You’ll find everything you need for a perfect lawn & garden from our 10- acre nursery stocked with hundreds of trees, shrubs, perennials & annuals, plus all the supplies & expert advice you need for success!

RomenceGardens Inc.

The key to a healthy, local community

• 14 • Jan/Feb 2015

Is this normal? FYI

You Ask, Experts Answer

Picky eaters and ketchup loyalists, shying away from playing with oth-ers and regressing after the birth of a new sibling: The experts from Bronson Methodist Hospital, Child and Family Psychological Services and Comstock Community Learning Center answer the questions of three local parents wondering, “Is this nor-mal?”

Q:My 5-year-old and 2-year-old are very particular about what they eat. My 5-year-old only wants to eat macaroni and cheese and my 2-year-old will only eat food with ketchup on it. We have a really hard time with both kids because mealtimes turn into fights if we try to feed them something other than what they want to eat. Is this normal?

— Parent in Schoolcraft

Sally Bonnema, M.A., R.D., Pedi-atric Dietitian, Bronson Methodist Hospital: Picky eaters are not un-common at these ages, but pressur-ing kids to eat often backfires. Parents should prepare kids ahead of time by letting them know the what, when and where of meals. For example, mention to your kids in the morning what you will be serving for dinner so they aren’t surprised later when they sit down at the dinner table. Still, kids need to decide what foods and how much they actually eat. Continue to offer new foods along with their pre-ferred foods. Eventually they’ll get comfortable enough to try some-thing a little different.

Q: Recently, my 8-year-old daugh-ter started talking like a baby. She

goes into character, saying things like “look at the choo choo,” and even clings to us or throws tantrums. We had a baby about two months ago. Could this behavior be related to feeling insecure about the attention the baby gets? What can we do? — Parent in Kalamazoo

Alyssa Noonan, LLMSW, Private Prac-tice at Child and Family Psychological Services Kalama-zoo and Nichole Holliday MA, LLPC, LLMFT, Private Practice at Child and Family Psychological Services Portage: What you have described sounds like a perfectly normal reaction to a new addition to the family. Regression, or baby-like behavior, often occurs when an older sibling sees a new baby receiving at-tention. Your daughter is likely mim-icking the baby's behavior in hopes of getting similar attention. Often new babies require an abundance of hands-on and one-on-one interaction and your older child may be feeling a little left out, even though it's not your intention. As a result your 8-year-old is creating situations where she may get a reaction from you akin to what her new baby sibling may get.

It can be helpful to reward the “big girl” behaviors that she previously engaged in regularly, to highlight the privileges and fun responsibilities of being older and being a big sister.

Reinforcing positive interactions between siblings by using verbal praise and/or small rewards or extra

privileges, can make the addition of the baby to the family more positive for the older child. It is important not to shame or punish her for baby-like behavior or talk, but rather encour-age her to do or say things like a “big girl”. Focusing on positive inter-actions between siblings and avoid-ing shaming can prevent feelings of resentment that an older child may develop toward her younger sibling who is now sharing the spotlight.

If, however, the behaviors begin to indicate more serious distress, such as attempting to harm the baby or self, regularly soiling of self/clothing or prolonged sleeping/eating distur-bances, it may be time to seek a pro-fessional consultation.

Q:When I take my 3-year-old to the playground, he stands on the side of the play area, watches the other children and doesn’t engage in play at all. He doesn’t use the equipment unless there are no other children

fyiswmichigan.com • 15 •

Working together to help all

students succeed.

The Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency collaborates with Kalamazoo County schools to inspire educational excellence. We provide responsive, cost-effective support for learners, parents and educators.

For more information,visit www.kresa.org

or call 269-250-9200

• Play Therapy for emotional and behavioral struggles.

• Neurofeedback-a non-medicinal approach to treating ADHD

• Parenting and School Issues Consultations

Center for Change & Growth, PLC3315 Greenleaf Blvd Kalamazoo • (269) 657-5800

www.playtherapytoday.com

We believe in the power of playHelping children and families with life’s challenges

Dr. Susan M. CarterChild & Family Psychologist

Dr. Watson, CCGCanine Play Therapy Assistant

present. I’ve tried talking to him about what’s going on, but he’s not able to verbalize his feelings. Can I force him, or put him next to the other children? Should I be worried that he acts like this? — Parent in Otsego

Comstock Learning Center Staff: Many children are unsure in new social situations, just like some adults. And

social skills can come more easily for some kids than for others.

Talk to your child about his anxiety of playing with other children. Be sure to tell him that he can ask you questions about what to say in situations or for ideas

about feeling more comfortable in social situations. Role-play with your child at home before he enters a

social situation. Pretend that you are a child and give your child words he can use when approaching another child to play with him. Make sure to show your child positive interactions, for instance, sharing toys and taking turns with toys.

You can also help him to feel more comfortable by playing with him on the equipment next to and with the other children. Ease yourself out of the play when your child starts to engage with the other children on his own. You may have to be a play partner a few times before he is ready to be by himself.

Also, support your child’s confidence. Building confi-dence and self-esteem in children is important. For some kids, it takes a lot of courage to enter play with someone that they have never met. Some suggestions to foster self esteem in your child:

• Be truthful with your child. Be sure to praise and en-courage accomplishments and the effort that they made in meeting new people. This will help your child learn how to cope with disappointments in a positive way.

• When your child verbalizes inaccurate beliefs about him or herself, redirect them to be positive.

• Acknowledge your child’s feelings and encourage your child to make the right choices if he or she makes a mistake.

• Create a safe, loving home environment and show your love for your children in positive and spontaneous ways.

Do you have a question about your child’s development or behavior? Send them our way and we’ll take them to our team of experts! Email your questions to editor@fy-iswmichigan.com.

• 16 • Jan/Feb 2015

Winter funGo ahead – embrace the cold! There’s plenty to do in the great outdoors with your family this winter from sledding to

skating to skiing

• Leila Arboretum, 928 Michigan Ave. W, Battle Creek • Maple Street Magnet Middle School for the Arts, 922

W. Maple St., Kalamazoo • Meyer Broadway Park, 59475 Roberts Road, Three

Rivers• Milham Park Golf Course, 4200 Lovers Lane,

Kalamazoo • Oakland Drive Park, 7650 Oakland Drive, Portage• Portage Northern High School, 1000 Idaho Ave.,

Portage• Spring Valley Elementary School, 3530 Mt. Olivet Road,

Kalamazoo• Thurl Cook Park, end of Oak Street, south end of Glen-

view Circle, Plainwell • West Middle School, 7145 Moorsbridge Road, Portage• Woods Lake Elementary School, 3215 Oakland Drive,

Kalamazoo• Woods Lake Park, (this is a steep hill), 2900 Oakland

Drive, Kalamazoo

Sledding, Snow Tubing & Tobogganing

For cost:• Echo Valley Winter Sports Park, tobogganing and

tubing, no personal sleds or tubes allowed, opens Dec. 20; $18 for an all-day pass, $50 season pass, 8495 E. H Ave., Kalamazoo, hours and info at EchoValleyFun.com

• Timber Ridge Ski Area, snow tubing, $18, 7500 23½ St., Gobles, hours and info at TimberRidgeSki.com.

• Prairie View County Park, bring your own equipment, warming shelter available, 899 East U Ave., Vicksburg, $5 fee per vehicle

Free:• Brookside Park, M-89 east at city limits, Otsego• Crane Park, (hill above tennis courts), 2001 S. Westnedge

Ave., Kalamazoo• Hillside Middle School, 1941 Alamo Ave., Kalamazoo • Kindleberger Park, 650 S. Riverview Drive, Parchment• Lake Cora Hills Golf Club, 56640 County Road 671,

Paw Paw

Sisters Sylvie, front, and Mira Graziano enjoy sledding.

fyiswmichigan.com • 17 •

• Vicksburg Cemetery (hill next to the cemetery), 335 Highway Street, Vicksburg

Ski Resorts

• Bittersweet Ski Resort, snow tubing, snowboarding and skiing starting at $29, 600 River Road, Otsego, hours and info at SkiBittersweet.com

• Swiss Valley Ski and Snowboard Area, skiing and snow-boarding, $10 for beginner-area lift tickets up to $39 during peak hours, 13421 Mann St., Jones, hours and info at SkiSwissValley.com

• Timber Ridge Ski Area, snow tubing, snowboarding and skiing, $20-$29, 7500 23½ St. in Gobles, hours and info at TimberRidgeSki.com

Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing Courses

• Fort Custer Recreation Area, groomed trails, free with State of Michigan Recreation Pass or $11 one-time fee, 5163 W. Fort Custer Drive, Augusta

• Kalamazoo Nature Center Trails, 1,100 acres and 8 miles of trails from easy to more difficult, $4 for children and students, $7 for adults, free for ages 3 and under, 7000 N. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo

• Milham Park Golf Course, cross-country skiing only, 4200 Lovers Lane, Kalamazoo, conditions available at KalamazooNordic.com

• Pigeon Creek Park Trails, 10-plus miles of trails from easy to difficult, 2 lighted trails, 12524 Stanton St., West Olive

Slick dealsSecondhand Equipment

Skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and ice skating offer active outdoor winter options, but the price of equipment can feel out of reach. For those looking to dive into a new winter hobby for less, there are some local options to get second-hand equipment.

• Move on up — Looking to upgrade equip-ment or switch skis for a snowboard? Take ad-vantage of equipment swaps, which are often hosted by ski resorts (Timber Ridge has one in early November) or sports equipment retailers.

• Check the listings — You can save hundreds of dollars by looking for your winter sports equip-ment online. We found a pair of Volka downhill skis on the Kalamazoo Craigslist priced at $60 used and in good condition that would normally be $500 to $800 new. eBay is another great op-tion for looking for outdated equipment that’s still in good shape but doesn’t hold retail value such as the youth snowshoes we found starting at $20.

• Online sale racks — If you have your eye on a specific brand of ski, snowshoe, ice skates or other equipment, search for outlet and bulk purchase online retailers like Evo.com that sell earlier models at slashed prices. Searching clear-ance sections at normal winter sport seller sites can also provide a selection of products offered at lower prices.

• Thriftstores — Sure, thriftstores aren’t always a reliable source of winter sports equipment,

but lots of people donate unwanted but still usable ice skates, ski boots, snowshoes and cross-country skis,

particularly those for beginners, to their local thriftstores. It’s al-

ways worth a look.

• Ask around — Put an all-call out on so-cial media to see if

friends and relatives will let you buy/borrow or just have their used skis, snowboards, sleds, kids winter sports equip-ment, etc. As kids grow out of equipment and people tire or move on from previously favorite pastimes, cheap or free options are often closer than you might think.

Graham Russell of Pelham, Ala., tries snow tubing.

..

difficult, free with State of Michigan Recreation Pass or $11 one-time fee, 2104 South Briggs Road, Middleville

Curling

• Kalamazoo Curling Club, located at the Wings Stadium Annex, more info at KalamazooCurlingClub.com

Ice Skating

• Echo Valley, begins Dec. 20, $5 in-cluding skate rental, $25 unlimited pass, 8495 E. H Ave., Kalamazoo, hours and info at EchoValleyFun.com

• Lawson Ice Arena, open skate noon-1 p.m. weekdays, 2-3 p.m. weekends; $1 admission and $1 skate rental weekdays, $3 admis-sion and $1 skate rental weekends, 2009 Howard St., Kalamazoo, info at WMich.edu/Lawson/Open-Skate

• 18 • Jan/Feb 2015

It’s snowing and the kids are eager to play outside. Such cherished winter activities as downhill skiing, ice hockey, snowboarding and sledding can be fun-filled, but also dangerous.

If your kids’ winter activities involve speed or possible head impact, helmets are an excellent way to ensure they are protected, say experts at Bronson Children’s Hospital.

“Nearly half of all head injuries in children are attribut-ed to sports or recreational activities,” says Deb Carpen-ter, a childhood injury prevention coordinator at Bronson, noting that helmets can reduce the risk of severe brain injuries by 88 percent.

Before you go strapping a bike helmet on to go sled-ding, note that not all helmets are effective for every activ-ity. Helmets are designed to shield the head from impact associated with a particular activity. For winter activities such as sledding, skiing, snowboarding and ice-skating, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends winter sports helmets meet the Snell RS-98 standard.

• Prairie View County Park, 3 miles of groomed trails, warming shelter available at beach house, $5 per ve-hicle, 899 East U Ave., Vicksburg

• River Oaks County Park, 4 miles of groomed trails, $5 per vehicle, 9050 E. Michigan Ave., Galesburg

• W.K. Kellogg Experimental Forest, 700-acre preserve with trails, 7060 N. 42nd St., Augusta

• Yankee Springs State Recreational Area Trails, 5,000-acre facility with 7 miles of trails from easy to most

“Although wearing a helmet does not decrease the risk of injury, it greatly decreases the severity of an injury by absorbing force and spreading impact throughout the helmet,” says Rita Cox, Bronson’s trau-ma program manager.

“Correctly fitting your child’s helmet is important. A snug fit around the head is essential to the effectiveness of the helmet,” says Cox. Wearing extra padding or hats under the helmet can interfere with the helmet’s fit and defeat its purpose.

Bronson Children’s Hospital, in partnership with Safe Kids Kalamazoo County, fits kids with a reduced-cost helmet on the first and third Thursday of each month at Bronson Hospital’s Trauma Center. Helmets are $25 and offered in sizes from toddler to extra large. (The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under one year of age not wear helmets because of babies’ weak neck strength.)

While it would be ideal if children willingly and happily wore helmets, they don’t, and it can be difficult to impress on them the benefits and necessity of wearing helmets. The first step in this process starts with parents.

“When parents wear helmets, they act as great role models for their children to do the same,” says Cox.

Winter Helmet 101

• Millennium Park, begins Dec. 12, $4 admission, $3 skate rental, 280 Romence Road, Portage, info at (269) 324-9400

• Otsego Ice Rink, begins Dec. 14, outdoor skating, bring your own skates, corner of Court and Farmer streets, Otsego, info at (269) 692-3391

• South Haven Ice Rink, begins late November-early December, cov-ered outdoor rink with cooling sys-tem, $4 day pass, $3 skate rental, 546 Phoenix Road, South Haven, hours and info at SHIceRink.com

• Wings Stadium, public ice skating and drop-in ice hockey, 3600 Van-rick Drive, Kalamazoo, schedule and info at WingsStadium.com

by JARETT COy

Fitting the right helmet for the right sport

fyiswmichigan.com • 19 •

Despite what you might see on Pinterest when search-ing “active playroom,” you do not need to hire an archi-tect or install a full jungle gym in your basement to have a functional and fun indoor play space.

Sensory and active play are often used in occupational therapy to enhance the at-home play of children who have been diagnosed with sensory or developmental disorders, but any child benefits from sensory play and indoor active equipment, especially in the dead of winter.

It’s easy to get started. Wendy Horton-Bierema, occu-pational therapist and owner of Arcadia Center for OT in Portage, recommends three things to create an active playroom: a pile of softness kids can crash in, a memory foam bean bag chair and large exercise balls.

Perhaps the easiest to create is a crash pile. Hor-ton-Bierema tells her clients to pile rolled-up sleep-ing bags, stuffed animals (without hard plastic parts like eyes or sound boxes), comforters, old bed and

Stuck Indoors?Zoe Horton-Bierema, 10, enjoys a ball pit in her mom’s active playroom.

Brian Powers

Create an Active Playroom!

• 20 • Jan/Feb 2015

decorative pillows and large pieces of fabric together on a floor.

“Anything soft and squishy,” she says. “Kids can roll over the piles, bury under it, bulldoze through it. They just have the best time.”

If you want to get even more move-ment for the kids, you can:

• Have a ball — Inflatable kids’ pools, tents and playpens can be transformed into ball pits easily — just buy the plastic balls. Check Craigslist for hand-me-down options or find the balls online and in stores like Target and Walmart starting at about $20 for 100 balls and ranging up. You can also substitute cut-up pool noodles, pillows or foam bricks or use items from the crash pile.

• Monkey around — Every home has joists in the ceiling. Why not make good use of them this winter and create a small-scale jungle gym for your kids? Install hooks into the ceil-ing joists of your playroom or child’s bedroom that allow you to hang a ring and bars set (about $30) and to

switch the rings out for swings ($25) or chairs, as well.

Most manufacturers include de-tailed hanging instructions (and also sell small gym mats to place on the floor). KidsDreamGym.com is a lead-ing manufacturer of indoor play equipment and has a plethora of op-tions available for purchase online to serve as a good jumping-off point when shopping around.

If you want to hang a swing or ham-mock, Horton-Bierema says to make sure you have six feet of room from each wall to the swing for safety pur-poses.

• Reach for the top — For about $70, you can hang a set of 10 climb-ing wall holds on the wall of your play-room or kid’s bedroom. The holds should be home-climbing grade and come with instructions about how to properly mount the holds so they’ll hold the weight of your child.

Some parents and caregivers at-tach the holds directly to the dry-wall, while others attach the holds

to a piece of plywood and then at-tach the plywood to the wall. Many at-home rock climbing walls sets are traverse walls meant to be climbed horizontally rather than vertically, so having a not-so-tall wall isn’t an issue. Visit EverlastClimbing.com for a great climbing wall example.

No space? Horton-Bierema says you can still create a soothing senso-ry area in a small space such as a clos-et. Throw in a beanbag chair, drape a piece of furry fabric over it, add a battery-operated push-on light and a little music and you’ve got a cozy spot for kids to hang out inside.

Stop by our Pinterest page to get even more ideas and tutorials for sensory play and indoor at-home play-gounds at Pinterest.com/fyiswmichigan.

Brian Powers

Zoe Horton-Bierema enjoys laying amid the softness of a crash pile.

fyiswmichigan.com • 21 •

HELICOPTER YOUR OWN KIDS

Family Man FYI

Going to a restaurant with children is like going to court with a crook. The difference is, in court, only the crook gets judged. Also usually the crook will not scream and throw food.

Thus, we avoid taking our kids out to eat, and when we must, we go to the kind of loud, cavernous eateries that serve mostly cheese and have the word “Factory” in their name. It’s just easier that way. Even there, though, one faces the harsh eye of judgment. Wit-ness: Once, when he was 18 months old, we took our younger son to a place we’ll call “The Food Product Factory.” He put aside all the toys we brought about 14 seconds after we sat at a table, because what he really wanted to play with was a butter knife. It was a knife in only the loosest sense of the word, really more of a flat metal stick, so we said, “Why not?” and let him have it.

Within seconds, the waitress, who looked to be about 18, swooped in and snatched the knife away from our son.

“Ha, ha, oh, let’s not play with knives,” she said, laugh-ing a fake laugh and rolling her eyes at us with a look of You poor ignorant rubes, I pity this child who must suffer

your idiot negligence at home, but at least not here, not on my watch. Then she gave him a fork.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I submit it to you: who, then, is stupider?

Clearly, I don’t let my toddler son, who is now three, play with knives — not sharp ones, at least. That would be

irresponsible. But I do believe in allow-ing my kids leeway enough to make their own mistakes, some of which might result in mild physical injury.

A smart man learns from his own mistakes, as they say, and a wise man learns from the mistakes of others, but nobody learns from being told what not to do, because then they’re like, “Oh yeah? Don’t touch that hot stove, you say? Alright, I’ll just stand here near it,

not doing anything in particular, and hey, what’s that over there?”

Oldest trick in the book. I “fell” for it and now my 3-year-old doesn’t touch hot stoves anymore.

This is how we learn to be responsible for our own be-havior: by being responsible for it. My 3-year-old is not old or responsible enough to handle sharp knives, but my 12-year-old is and does. He might cut himself, maybe even badly enough to end up in Urgent Care (as I did one

by JEF OTTE

• 22 • Jan/Feb 2015

“Play nice,” she admonished them, even though they all appeared to be playing nicely.

“Is this your son?” she asked me, lifting him and placing him gently on the ground. “Cute little guy. But he won’t be so cute when reconstruc-tive surgery leaves him hideously deformed.” (Note: she didn’t actually say that last part.)

Touché, anonymous lady at the playground. I will take your views on safety into account. But in the mean-time, hands off. Helicopter your own kids all you want. Just please don’t helicopter mine.

time when I was about his age trying to scrape a microwaved Jolly Ranch-er off one of my mother’s plates and stabbed a knife through my hand. The blood was insane. In conclusion, being 12 + microwaves = fun!).

According to me, an authority, mild injuries build character. These are rites of passage.

I don’t expect everyone to agree with me, and many don’t. A couple of weeks ago I took my 3-year-old to the park, where he was playing on a see-saw with three other kids. This seesaw was not like the high rickety wooden seesaws of my childhood, where your friend would quickly hop off at the bottom so that you slammed into the ground and got the wind knocked

out of you. This seesaw was about three feet high and came gently to rest upon a polymer surface that felt like an industrial pillow.

I’m pretty confident in my 3-year-old’s sense of his own limits — he has yet to hurt himself at a playground, and while that doesn’t mean he can’t, I pretty much let him do his own thing. Then something happened that I wish was strange, but, lamenta-bly, was not. A woman, who did not seem to be related to any of the kids on the seesaw (the other three kids’ parents were all within sight), rolled in and started handing out orders.

“Two at a time, please,” she said to the children, even though there were four seats on the seesaw.

Calling all teen filmmakers!Enter your films in the 12th Annual Teen FilmmakerFestival, the best film festival for teens in Michigan!

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Are you the next Judd Apatow, Sofia Coppola, Spike Lee,Sam Rami, or Zack Snyder? Start shooting and find out.

Action!Learn more at: kpl.gov/teens/filmmakerfest

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fyiswmichigan.com • 23 •fyiswmichigan.com • 23 •

MondaysI’m a Big Kid Now Storytime, activities & stories for 4- & 5-year-olds, 10 am in January, Portage Li-brary, portagelibrary.info 2-3 Year Olds Storytime, stories, songs & other activities, 10:30-11:15 am, Comstock Library, com-stocklibrary.org TuesdaysBaby & Toddler Time, stories & activities, 9:30 am & 10:30 am, Portage Library, portagelibrary.info Baby Lapsit, songs, bounces & rhymes for babies from birth to walking & caregivers (siblings wel-come), 9:30 am in February, KPL-Central, kpl.gov 1-2 Year Olds Storytime, stories, songs & activities, 9:45-10:15 am, Comstock Library, comstockli-brary.org I’m a Big Kid Now Storytime, activities & stories for 4 & 5-year-olds, 10 am in February, Por-tage Library, portagelibrary.info

Toddler Talk, songs, rhymes, movement & story (must have caregiver), 10:15-10:45 am, Parch-ment Library, parchmentlibrary.org Toddler Storytime, songs, move-ment & stories for 2- & 3-year-olds & caregivers, 10:30 am in January, KPL-Central, kpl.gov Baby Steps, Rhymes, songs & books for little ones from walking to 24 months & their caregivers (siblings welcome), 10:30 am in February, KPL-Central, kpl.gov

2-3 Year Olds Storytime, stories, songs & activities, 10:30-11:15 am, Comstock Library, comstock-library.org Preschool Pals Storytime, stories, songs, fingerplay & crafts, 1-1:45 pm, Parchment Library, parch-mentlibrary.org WednesdaysKnee-High Naturalists, hands-on education about the natural world (registration required), 9:30-11:30 am, Binder Park Zoo, 7400 Divi-sion Drive, 979-1351; $10 1 child & 1 adult, $6 each extra child; $7 extra adults; children under 2 free

Great Start Playgroup, stories, activities & play, 10 am, KRESA West Campus, 4606 Croyden Ave, 250-9640 2’s & 3’s Storytime, stories & activities, 10 am, Portage Library, portagelibrary.info Toddler Talk, toddlers play, par-ents chat, 10:15 am, KPL-Oshte-mo, kpl.gov

Preschool Pals Storytime, sto-ries, songs, fingerplay & crafts, 10:15-11 am, Parchment Library, parchmentlibrary.org Family Storytime, stories & ac-tivities, 10:30 am, KPL-Alma Pow-ell, kpl.gov 3-5-Year-Olds Storytime, sto-ries, songs, activities & crafts, 10:30-11:15 am (no event Jan 7), Comstock Library, comstock-library.org Baby & Me Time, 20 minutes of fun for you & your baby, 11:15-11:35 am (no event Feb 18), Parchment Library, parchmentli-brary.org Baby Talk, parents talk about infant care with facilitator Connie Koning, RN, 1:30 pm, KPL-Oshte-mo, kpl.gov ThursdaysKnee-High Naturalists, hands-on education about the natural world (registration required), 9:30-11:30 am (no event Jan 1), Binder Park Zoo, 7400 Division Drive, 979-1351, $10 1 child & 1 adult, $6 each extra child; $7 ex-tra adults; children under 2 free

Preschool Storytime, stories & activities, 10 am, Portage Library, portagelibrary.info Great Start Playgroup, stories, activities & play, 10 am, KRESA West Campus, 4606 Croyden Ave, 250-9640 Family Storytime, stories & activities, 10:30 am, KPL-East-wood & KPL-Oshtemo, kpl.gov

3-5-Year-Olds Storytime, sto-ries, songs, activities & crafts, 10:30-11:15 am (no event Jan 1 & 7), Comstock Library, com-stocklibrary.org Winter Warm-Up, cider, hot chocolate, snacks, games & mov-ies, 4-6 pm, KPL-Central, kpl.gov

FridaysFamily Storytime, stories & ac-tivities, 10:30 am, KPL-Central, kpl.gov SaturdaysHome Depot Kids’ Workshop, weekly projects, call for sched-uled project, 9 am-noon, Home Depot, 6685 S Westnedge Ave, 324-8100 Build & Grow Workshop, week-ly clinics (registration required), 10 am, Lowe’s Home Improve-ment-Kalamazoo, 5125 W Main St, 345-2110; Lowe’s Home Improvement-Portage, 5108 S Westnedge Ave, 276-0215

LEGENDAges:

Infant

Toddler, ages 1-3

Preschool (up to 4)

School Age 4-11

Tweens & teens, ages 12-17

All ages

Indoor activity

Outdoor activity

Cost is free, otherwise cost is indicated

WHERE IS?Comstock Library — Comstock Township Library, 6130 King Highway, 345-0136 KIA — Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, 314 S Park St, 349-7775

KPL-Alma Powell — Kalamazoo Public Library-Alma Powell, 1000 W Paterson Ave, 553-7960KPL-Central — Kalamazoo Pub-lic Library-Central, 315 S Rose St, 342-9827KPL-Eastwood — Kalamazoo Pub-lic Library-Eastwood, 1112 Gayle Ave, 553-7810KPL-Oshtemo — Kalamazoo Pub-lic Library-Oshtemo, 7265 W Main St, 553-7980KPL-Washington Square — Ka-lamazoo Public Library-Wash-ington Square, 1244 Portage Rd, 553-7970Kalamazoo Valley Museum, 230 N Rose St, 373-7990Parchment Library — Parchment Community Library, 401 South Riverview Drive, 343-7747Portage Library — Portage District Library, 300 Library Lane, 329-4544

WEEKLY

Thru May 17 — Kalamazoo for the Union! An Exhibit of Civil War, Civil War through the eyes of Kalamazoo County residents, 9 am-5 pm Mon-Sat; 1-5 pm Sun, Kalamazoo Valley Museum, kalamazoomuseum.org Thru Jan. 19 — Voices for Social Justice, explore race, equity & social justice through oral histo-ries of Kalamazoo residents, 9 am-5 pm Mon-Sat; 1-5 pm Sun, Kalamazoo Valley Museum, ka-lamazoomuseum.org Thru March 19 — Orion Nights, learn to find stars within the constellation & about their cycle of life, 3 pm Tues & Thurs, Ka-lamazoo Valley Museum, $3, ka-lamazoomuseum.org Thru March 8 — How to Return? Contemporary Chinese Pho-tography, visual examination of post-boom China, 11 am-5 pm, Tues-Fri, KIA, free to members, youth under 12, $5, kiarts.org

Thru Jan. 31 — Let’s All Get Along, circle time program, 10 am & 1 pm Mon-Fri; 11 am Sat, Kalamazoo Valley Museum, ka-lamazoomuseum.org Thru March 15 — Wired & Wrapped: Sculpture of Seung-mo Park, contemporary Korean sculptor, 11 am-7 pm Tues-Fri, 11 am-5 pm Sat & Sun, KIA, free to members & kids under 12; $5, kiarts.org Jan 5 thru Feb 28 — BEAR Bin-go, pick up card at Young Peo-ple’s Desk, complete & cross off

activities for a trip to the treasure chest & entry in a prize drawing, Comstock Library, comstockli-brary.org Jan 14 thru March 2 — 1,2,3 Play With Me, 5-week parent/child workshop with child develop-ment specialists (registration re-quired), 10:30-11:45 am Jan. 14, 21, 28, Feb 4 & 11 @ KPL-Cen-tral; Feb 2, 9, 16, 23 & March 2 @ KPL-Oshtemo, kpl.gov Jan 12 thru 18 — High School Exam Care Packages, free exam care packages for teens with treats, distractions & more (1 per Portage high school student while supplies last; bring school ID to Library Youth Desk), Por-tage Library, portagelibrary.info

Jan 25, Feb 1 & 8 — Downhill Ski or Snowboard Lessons, group lessons taught by pro-fessional instructors (space lim-ited; pre-registration required), 2-3:30 pm, Timber Ridge Ski Resort, 7500 23 1/2 St. Gobles, pre-register before Jan 23 @ 323-1942; $5 individual, $10 family, $60 payable to Timber Ridge on Jan 25 (fees include equipment rental, 3 weeks in-struction & lift ticket valid un-til 8 pm on each lesson date

Feb 20 thru 27 — The Hobbit, stage adaption of JRR Tolkien’s beloved classic, call for times & prices, Kalamazoo Civic Theatre, 329 S Park St, 343-1313

ONGOING

(continued on page 24)

• 24 • Jan/Feb 2015

Funding provided by

JAN 10 - The Green HornetJAN 24 - Grandfather Faraday CallingFEB 7 - The Cowfoot Stand DownFEB 21 - The Adventures of ZorroMAR 7 - The Ventriloquist Curse

All Ears Theatre performs newly scripted radio programs for live audiences, complete with old school sound effects, from January through May. Shows are

later broadcast on 102.1 WMUK-FM. Performances are at 6:00 pm at the First Baptist Church and are FREE to the public.

For a complete schedule of shows, visit Kalamazooarts.org

Free Upcoming Shows

Feb 9 thru 11 — From the Heart, make valentines for residents of a local nursing home, all lo-cations of Kalamazoo Public Library, kpl.gov Feb 14 thru 21 — 2015 USA Curling Nationals, the 10 best national men’s & women’s curl-ing teams compete, game times & tickets contact Wings Stadium, 3600 Vanrick Drive, 345-1125, $10 & up

JANUARYThursday, Jan. 1John Daley Memorial One One Run, 31st annual 2.2 or 4.4 mile walk/run, Spring Valley Park, 2600 Mt Olivet Road, 337-8191, $30 registration fee Friday, Jan. 2Miss Lisa: Stories & Dance, movement, music & dance, 10:30 am, KPL-Washington Square, kpl.gov Books to Movies, enjoy pop-corn, watch The Fault in Our Stars, 1 pm, KPL-Alma Powell, kpl.gov Saturday, Jan. 3Lego@ the Library, build, race, inspire & imagine, 10:30-11:30

am, KPL-Oshtemo, kpl.gov

Miss Lisa: Stories & Dance, movement, music & dance, 10:30 am, KPL-Central, kpl.gov

First Saturday@KPL, stories, ac-tivities & door prizes, 2:30 pm, KPL-Central, kpl.gov Monday, Jan. 5Teen Advisory Board, plan programs & service projects, discuss books, movies, music & websites, eat snacks, play games, 3:30 pm, KPL-Central, kpl.gov Animanga Club, watch anime, check out manga, share fan art, swap books, cosplay & snacks from Japan & Asia, 4:30-6 pm, Parchment Library, parchmentli-brary.org Wednesday, Jan. 7Digital Filmmaking @The Hub, learn digital film editing, 6 pm, KPL-Central, kpl.gov Thursday, Jan. 8KIA Public Tour, tour Wired & Wrapped: Sculpture of Seung-mo Park exhibit, 6-7 pm, KIA, free to members & youth under 12, $5, kiarts.org Digital Filmmaking @The Hub, learn digital film editing, 6 pm, KPL-Central, kpl.gov

Teen Advisory Group, enjoy a pizza slice & talk books, make crafts & discuss the library, 6:30 pm, Portage Library, portageli-brary.info Friday, Jan. 9Art Hop, art at locations in downtown Kalamazoo, 5-9 pm, kalamazooarts.org Art Hop Event, A New Year That Shines Like All Our Glass, 5-9 pm, KIA, kiarts.org Saturday, Jan 10Ice Skating Lessons, learn to skate with expert instructors, 9:30-10:30 am, The Ice Rink at Millennium Park, 280 Romence Road, pre-register at 329-4522, $20 per student KSO Peter & the Wolf, Well-loved family classic comes to life (registration required), 10:30 am & noon, KPL-Central, kpl.gov

Sunday, Jan 11January Brunch & Winter Fes-tival, free winter-related activi-ties all day & an optional brunch, 10 am-4 pm, Cedar Creek Insti-tute, 791 W Cloverdale Road, Hastings, $7-$8 for child brunch; adults $14-$16 Monday, Jan 12Yoga Storytime, pairs stories with yoga poses, 10:30 am, KPL-Oshtemo, kpl.gov Teen/Tween Advisory Board, earn community service hours planning teen events, snacks provided, (registration required), 5-6 pm, Comstock Library, com-stocklibrary.org Tuesday, Jan 13Lego@ the Library, build, race, inspire & imagine, 6:30 pm, KPL-Washington Square, kpl.gov

Wednesday, Jan 14Lego@ the Library, build, race, inspire & imagine, 4:30 pm, KPL-Washington Square, kpl.gov

Thursday, Jan 15“Drive In” Movie, decorate a cardboard box car & enjoy a short film, 10:30 am, KPL-Wash-ington Square, kpl.gov Snowball Express, snow sto-ries, snowflake craft & a cool treat, 4:30 pm, KPL-Eastwood, kpl.gov Lego Brick League, create, build & collaborate, 4:30-5:30 pm, Parchment Library, parch-mentlibrary.org Friday, Jan 16Just Move Storytime, by Just Move Fitness & More, 10:30 am, Portage Library, portagelibrary.info

Saturday, Jan 17Snowshoe Nature Hike, ex-plore West Lake Nature Pre-serve with Kalamazoo Nature Center naturalists, 2 p.m., West Lake Nature Preserve, 9001 S Westnedge Ave, 323-1942

Ice Skating Lessons, learn to skate with expert instructors, 10:30-11:30 am, The Ice Rink at Millennium Park, 280 Romence Road, pre-register at 329-4522, $20 a student Lego@ the Library, build, race, inspire & imagine, 10:30 am, KPL-Central, kpl.gov Redefining the Multiple, Japa-nese printmaker exhibition, 11 am - 5 pm, KIA, $5; free to mem-bers & youth under 12, kiarts.org Family Game Day, play fun games, 2-4 pm, KPL-Oshtemo, kpl.gov Sunday, Jan 18Princess Tea Party, tea, petit fours, savories, pictures, story-telling, dancing & a castle tour, 1-3 pm, Henderson Castle, 100 Monroe St, 344-1827, $25 Teen Exam Late Night, special after-hours study session with food & drinks, 4:30-9 pm, Por-tage Library, portagelibrary.info

Monday, Jan 19J-Pop Club, Japanese anime, manga, Pocky & food, 3:30-4:30 pm, KPL-Central, kpl.gov Teen/Tween Book Club, read & discuss a new book each month, enjoy activities & snacks, 5-6 pm, Comstock Library, comstockli-brary.org Tuesday, Jan 20Teen Game Club, video, board & card games, 4-5:30 pm, Por-tage Library, portagelibrary.info

A Long Winter’s Nap, learn about hibernating animals, fun activities, 6 pm, KPL-Eastwood, kpl.gov Wednesday, Jan 21Beauty & the Beast, Disney’s stage adaptation, 7:30 pm, Mill-er Auditorium, 2200 Auditorium Drive, 387-2300, $27.50-$68

Thursday, Jan 22Yoga for Teens, fun & easy in-troduction to yoga (registration required), 4:30 pm, KPL-Oshte-mo, kpl.gov Bookworms, book club for kids & their grown ups (featuring Igraine the Brave), 4:30 pm, KPL-Central, kpl.gov

ONGOING (continued from page 23)

fyiswmichigan.com • 25 •

fontanamusic.org269.382.7774

Crybaby ConcertsThese FREE mini-concerts held at 11 AM on

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space for stroller parking. Nutritious, kid-friendly

snacks provided after each performance.

Jan 17 KPL Oshtemo Branch

Mar 14 Bronson Gilmore Center

for Health Education

Apr 18 KPL Central Branch

May 16 Bronson Gilmore Center

for Health Education

Our missionis your

musical growthand enjoyment!

Music Instruction forAll Ages & Abilities

Epic Center, Suite 12, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mallinformation@crescendoacademy.comwww.crescendoacademy.com 269/345-6664

• Study & learn in a positive and supportive atmosphere with professional, enthusiastic, experienced, university-trained teaching artists including Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra Artists-in-Residence• Private instruction on strings, woodwinds, brass, piano, guitar, percussion, voice, theory and composition• String and wind chamber ensembles• Community Voices ensemble for disabled teens and adults• Music Together® classes for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers• Orff Studio classes for grades K-5 & adults• Gift certificates available!

Member

Try-It-Yourself Wire Sculpture & Performance by DancEX-periment, try your hand at wire sculpture & enjoy a dance per-formance, 6-7 pm, KIA, $5; free for members & youth under 12, kiarts.org Beauty & the Beast, Disney’s stage adaptation, 7:30 pm, Mill-er Auditorium, 2200 Auditorium Drive, 387-2300, $27.50-$68

Friday, Jan 23Half-Day Hootenanny, Lego & crafts, 2-4 pm, KPL-Central, kpl.gov Saturday, Jan 24Winter Blues Drop-in Crafts, choose three crafts to do, 10:30 am-3:30 pm, Comstock Library, comstocklibrary.org Zumba for Kids, high-energy dance party with kid-friendly routines, 1-2 pm, Parchment Li-brary, parchmentlibrary.org

Monday, Jan 26T(w)een Anti-Valentine’s Day Party, anti-Valentine’s Day-themed games, crafts & pizza (registration required), 5-7 pm, Comstock Library, comstockli-brary.org Wednesday, Jan 28Snowball Express, snow stories, snowflake craft & a cool treat, 4:30 pm KPL-Alma Powell, kpl.gov

Thursday, Jan 29Lego@ the Library, build, race, inspire & imagine, 4:30 am, KPL-Eastwood, kpl.gov Saturday, Jan 31Cross-Country Ski Class, intro-ductory class on safety, proper use of equipment & more, 9-11 am, Milham Park Golf Course, 4200 Lovers Lane; pre-register by Jan 29 in person at Lee’s Adventure Sports, 311 Kilgore Road, or Breakaway Bicycles, 185 Romence Road, $15 person (8-14 years); $20 person (15 & up) Winter Jamboree, cross-coun-try skiing, kayak sledding, snow-man & igloo building, 9:30 am-1 pm, Milham Park Golf Course, 4200 Lovers Lane, 337-8295, kalamazoocity.org/depart -ments/parks-and-recreation

Just Move Storytime, by Just Move Fitness & More, 10:30 am, Portage Library, portagelibrary.info

FEBRUARYSunday, Feb 1Gilmore Rising Stars, Italian pianist Beatrice Rana, 4-5:45 pm,

Epic Center, 359 S Kalamazoo Mall, 226-8784, $5 student; $25 general admission Monday, Feb 2Yoga Storytime, pairs stories with yoga poses, 10:30 am, KPL-Central, kpl.gov Teen Advisory Board, plan pro-grams & service projects, discuss books, movies, music & web-sites, eat snacks, play games, 3:30 pm, KPL-Central, kpl.gov

Forecaster Phil: A Groundhog Program, stories, fun facts, crafts & activities, 4:30 pm, KPL-Alma Powell, kpl.gov Animanga Club, watch anime, check out manga, share fan art, swap books, cosplay & enjoy snacks from Japan & Asia, 4:30-6 pm, Parchment Library, parch-mentlibrary.org Teen/Tween Crafternoon, af-ternoon craft session with snacks (registration required), 5-6 pm, Comstock Library, comstockli-brary.org Yoga for Teens, fun & easy in-troduction to yoga (registration required), 6 pm, KPL-Oshtemo, kpl.gov Tuesday, Feb 3Lego@ the Library, build, race, inspire & imagine, 6:30 pm, KPL-Washington Square, kpl.gov

Thursday, Feb 5Teen Lego Club, shake off mid-dle/high school stress & build like a kid again, 4-5 pm, Por-tage Library, portagelibrary.info

Friday, Feb 6Art Hop, art at locations in downtown Kalamazoo, 5-9 pm, kalamazooarts.org Art Hop Event, Chase Away the Chills, KIA, 5-9 pm, kiarts.org

Saturday, Feb 7Lego@ the Library, build, race, inspire & imagine, 10:30-11:30 am, KPL-Oshtemo, kpl.gov

Winter Snow Party, activi-ties, snowman & cardboard sled contests, hot chocolate & bonfire, 12-3 pm, Oak-land Drive Park, 7650 Oak-land Drive, portagemi.gov

First Saturday@KPL, stories, ac-tivities & door prizes, 2:30 pm, KPL-Central, kpl.gov Lego@ the Library, build, race, inspire & imagine, 10:30-11:30 am, KPL-Oshtemo, kpl.gov

• 26 • Jan/Feb 2015

February 14 – August 30, 2015EXPLORATIONS IN ARCHAEOLOGY

It’s not what you find, but what you find out.

The Kalamazoo Valley Museum is operated by Kalamazoo Valley Community College and is governed by its Board of Trustees

kalamazoomuseum.org 269.373.7990

EVIDENCE FOUND

Sunday, Feb 8February Brunch & Winter Festival, free winter-related ac-tivities & an optional brunch, 10 am-4 pm, Cedar Creek Institute, 791 W Cloverdale Road, Hast-ings, brunch $7-$8 for children; adults $14-$16 Kzoo Baby & Family Expo, family-friendly exhibits, activities & entertainment, 11 am-4 pm, Radisson Plaza Hotel, 100 W Michigan Ave, kzoofamilyexpo.com KSO Family Discovery: Peter vs. The Wolf, introduction to the instruments of the orchestra by the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, 3-4:30 pm, Chenery Auditorium, 714 S Westnedge Ave, 337-0440, $6-$12 Monday, Feb 9Teen/Tween Advisory Board, earn community service hours planning teen events, snacks provided, (registration re-quired), 5-6 pm, Comstock Library, comstocklibrary.org

Wednesday, Feb 11Valentine Fun, make a valen-tine for someone special, deco-rate a cupcake, 3-5:30 pm KPL-Alma Powell, kpl.gov

Family Game Day, play fun games, 2-4 pm, KPL-Oshtemo, kpl.gov Sunday, Feb 22MiniMax Slopestyle Competi-tion, for skiers & snowboard-ers under 14 (entry-level com-petition), 9 am to 5 pm, Timber Ridge Ski Resort, 7500 23 1/2 St Gobles, $16 to $19 admission TimberRidgeSki.com. Teen Filmmaker Festival, 12th annual Teen Filmmaker Fest screenings, 2:30 pm, Chenery Auditorium, 714 S Westnedge Ave, 337-0440, kpl.gov

Monday, Feb 23Teen/Tween Book Club, read & discuss a new book each month, enjoy activities & snacks, 5-6 pm, Comstock Library, comstockli-brary.org Thursday, Feb 26Little Scientists, early literacy & STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics), read stories & practice narrative, 10:30 am, KPL-Central, kpl.gov

Bookworms, book club for kids & their grown ups (featuring The Night Fairy), 4:30 pm, KPL-Cen-tral, kpl.gov Twilight Skate, late night skat-ing under the stars, prizes, (registration required), The Ice Rink at Millennium Park, 280 Romence Road, $5 skate and rental, $3 skate only, portagemi.gov Friday, Feb 27Lego@ the Library, build, race, inspire & imagine, 2 pm, KPL-Alma Powell, kpl.gov Movie & Snacks: Muppets Most Wanted, screening (mov-ie rated PG), 2 pm, KPL-Alma Powell, kpl.gov STOMP, explosive, inventive & unique theatre experience, 8 pm, Miller Auditorium, 2200 Audito-rium Drive, 387-2300, $35-$50

Saturday, Feb 28Fancy Pants Theater, pretend play with songs, stories, games & short performance, ages 3-6 10 am; ages 6-11 11 am, KPL-Central, kpl.gov Zumba for Kids, high-energy dance party packed with kid-friendly routines, 1-2 pm, Parch-ment Library, parchmentlibrary.org

Thursday, Feb 12Valentine Fun, make a valentine for someone special, decorate a cupcake, 10-11 am & 3-5:30 pm KPL-Eastwood, kpl.gov Valentine Fun, make a val-entine for someone spe-cial, decorate a cupcake, 4-5 pm, KPL-Washington Square & KPL-Oshtemo, kpl.gov

Teen Advisory Group Meeting, talk books, make crafts & live the library a piece of your mind while enjoying a piece of pizza, 6:30 pm Portage Library, por-tagelibrary.info Saturday, Feb 14Fancy Pants Theater, pre-tend play with songs, stories & games, ages 3-6, 10 am; ages 6-11, 11am, KPL-Central, kpl.gov

Just Move Storytime, by Just Move Fitness & More, 10:30 am, Portage Library, portagelibrary.info Drop-in Valentine’s Day Craft, choose three crafts to create, 10:30 am-3:30 pm, Comstock Library, comstocklibrary.org

Valentine’s Skate Date, bring your partner or kids for a private

skate, live music & dinner on the ice (registration required), The Ice Rink at Millennium Park, 280 Romence Road, $15 per person, portagemi.gov Sunday, Feb 15Princess Tea Party, tea, petit fours, savories, pictures, story-telling, dancing & a castle tour, 1-3 pm, Henderson Castle, 100 Monroe St, 344-1827, $25 Monday, Feb 16“Drive In” Movie, decorate a cardboard box car & enjoy a short film (registration required), 10:30 am, KPL-Central, kpl.gov

J-Pop Club, Japanese anime, manga, Pocky & food, 3:30-4:30 pm, KPL-Central, kpl.gov Tuesday, Feb 17Crybaby Concert with Fontana Chamber Arts, 45-minute mini-concerts for preschool children & their caregivers, 11 am, KPL-Oshtemo, kpl.gov Teen Game Club, video, board & card games, 4-5:30 pm, Por-tage Library, portagelibrary.info

Wednesday, Feb 18Lisa Ballerina, (aka Lisa Bre-dahl) presents songs, dance, stories & fun (registration re-quired), 10:15-11:15 am, Parch-ment Library, parchmentlibrary.org Thursday, Feb 19LEGO Brick League, create, build & collaborate, 4:30-5:30 pm, Parchment Library, parch-mentlibrary.org MLK Day Celebration, short film, activities & remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., 4:30 pm, KPL-Alma Powell, kpl.gov Tape it! Bring inspiration & cre-ate with a variety of tape pro-vided by library, 4:30 pm, KPL-Washington Square, kpl.gov

Cupcake Wars, decorate cup-cakes (ingredients provided; registration required); prizes for best cupcakes, 6:30-7:30 pm, Portage Library, portagelibrary.info Friday, Feb 20Just Move Storytime, by Just Move Fitness & More, 10:30 am Portage District Library, portage-library.info Saturday, Feb 21Lego@ the Library, build, race, inspire & imagine, 10:30 am, KPL-Central, kpl.gov

fyiswmichigan.com • 27 •

Kids’ Corner FYI

Imagination Gallery

Privileged

I’d like to say I try to make a difference in this world.I’d like to say I careabout the girl who’s beaten by her fatherand the boy who hasn’t eaten in three daysand the mother who liesbeside her child’s gravebecause she has nowhere else to go.

But instead

I try to forget and tell myself— the girl, the boy, the mother, the child—they’re not my problem.Someone else will probably helpthose who need it the most.Just like they always haven’t.

The years pass and the girl grows into a damaged womantaught that she is worthless to anyone of worthso instead of giving love she sells it.The boy still hasn’t eaten, so thin he’s invisible to those who passand tip over the can with the cointhat rolls out of his reach and again he’s left with nothing.The mother at last takes a place beside her child yet no onenotices the extra tombstone.

I look backand see nothingfor I’m blind to the sufferingthat surrounds me in my life ofprivileges.

Marleigh ThomAge15

Gull Lake High School

“The King”Eli W.Age 9 Lawrence

Found Poetry answers, sweepingin the star of that chancesuccess still would guarantee questions.season with months, ending before it starts, unique could be similarto drafted wonder.

Nina MolitorAge 9

Parkwood-Upjohn Elementary School

If you know a kid who’s up to great stuff or a child who would like to share their artwork, writing, projects and more with FYI readers, let us know! Send all info to editor@fyiswmichigan.com.

• 28 • Jan/Feb 2015

Cool Kids

A deathly fear of spiders and daddy longlegs resulted in an unexpected eco-friendly mission for local Kazoo School student Laryn Kuchta. Every day, when the rest of her class wandered into a dense wood to observe nature, where spiders and daddy longlegs abound, Laryn stayed behind.

“My science teacher want-ed me to do something edu-cational and productive while they were in the woods,” she explains. “I started studying recycling and helping out with the school’s recycling.”

That’s when Laryn re-alized the school had a problem — an excess of

“about 1,000” used Keurig coffee cups, which are not recyclable. She needed to figure out what to do with them. After she did some research, Laryn found she could compost the filters and grounds and recycle the lids. Then she turned to Dr. Sally Read, Kazoo School’s interim head of school, for help with the plastic cup portion.

“That’s when Dr. Sally came us with a great idea — we could give the leftover cups to the preschoolers at Kazoo and they could make crafts out of them,” Laryn says. “And I could help them.”

That’s what Laryn’s been doing since — disassembling the cups, composting, recycling what she can and then teaching preschoolers how to make crafts out of the plastic cups. She gets crafting ideas like painting with the cups, stacking them on a glow-light table or making snowmen or bells for the holidays from her mom, Pinterest and the teachers at Kazoo School.

The students she works with are incredibly excited to craft with her, says Laryn. Even she is surprised by their commit-ment.

“During their free time, when I thought they would go play on the slides or the swings, I’d say about 70 percent of the kids came over to keep helping,” she says. “One even told me she remembered me coming last time and thought it was really cool. I think it’s cool that they know they’re helping out but they still like doing it because it’s not boring.”

Laryn says she’s looking forward to doing more projects like these, but she’s also taking her knowledge of Keurig cup recycling home with her, too.

“We have a Keurig machine,” she says. “We’re thinking about starting a compost at home with the filters and I can do crafts with the cups, too.”

Local kids doing great things

Laryn Kuchta, 11Putting K-cups to Good Use

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fyiswmichigan.com • 29 •

The Last Laugh (continued from page 30)

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I pushed on, step-by-step, house-by-house, block-by-block,Ignoring the damp in my glove and my sock.Now driven with purpose like the day’s driven snow,I laughed as I cried at just one block to go.Some sun through the gray! Just a ray, nothing more,Shone down from the sky when I first saw the store.The feeling I felt cannot be overstated,That ray, like a finish line, reading, “You made it!”

The warmth of the store quickly thawed out my tears,The Kenny G song was Muzak to my ears.I loaded my cart up with coffee and meats,

Potato chips, pizzas, Hot Pockets and treats,Card packs and magazines, dog food and wine,And even a DVD in the checkout line.As the register tallied the bounty I had,I thought of my daughter, so proud of her dad,Who gave his own safety and warmth no concern,For the joy of his family upon his return.Then I thought of my wife, how this trek would impress her.‘Til I reached for my wallet . . . back home on the dresser.

LAST LAUGH FYI

The Month After Christmas

• 30 • Jan/Feb 2015

By BRIAN LAM

‘Twas the month after Christmas in Kalamazoo,And I, with my family, had nothing to do.The car in the driveway was just a white mound,And the neighborhood snowplow had not been around. The cupboards were empty from being snowed in,While the last of the hooch was an ounce of sloe gin.Our dog, just a Yorkie, couldn’t get out the door,So we watched helplessly as he peed on the floor.As I peered through the window for traces of sun,My daughter demanded we do something fun.

It seemed ditching cable had been a bad call,So the screen of the TV just mocked from the wall.“I’ve got it,” I said, “I shall trek to the store.I’ll pick up some food and some games and much more.”D&W sat just a mile away, And I called to confirm they were open that day.I bundled, I binded, I suited and strapped,With layers, with liners, with laces and flaps,And into the snow and the wind and the gray,I lunged step by step and began on my way.

Through each window I saw neighbors sip their tea smugly,As they watched a man plodding through weather so ugly.Each TV was on. Each fireplace blazing.Each oven filled, surely, with something amazing.Each pickup truck passing with tires for snow,Made my steps feel so small and spirits so low.The seconds like minutes. The minutes like hours.I began to hallucinate: lengthy hot showers.In madness, I lathered and shampooed with snow,I soaped up with a snowball, I scrubbed high and low,When the sound of a passing snowplow brought me back,My legs back to churning, my mind back on track.

(continued on page 29)

fyiswmichigan.com • 31 •

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