June 16, 2008



Feb. 8, 2010The DigestWhat’s Happening at KVCCWhat’s below in this edition?? ??? Helping Haiti (Pages 1/2) ? Habitat’s mission (Page 13)? Bus-service boost? (Page 2)? Jeff Dwarshuis (Pages 13/14)? ‘Wind’ open house (Pages 2/3)? Parents to gather (Pages 14/15)? Fret ‘play-in’ (Pages 3/4)? Interviewing (Page 15) ? Civil Rights ‘docs’ (Pages 4/5)? The Dewings (Pages 15-17)? Diversity 7 (Pages 5-7)? A ‘Valen-tune’ (Page 17)? ‘Human Race Machine’ (Page 7)? M-TEC winner (Page 18)? Police orientations (Pages 7/8)? Cover letters (Page 18)? Paring pounds (Pages 8/9)? WMU visitors (Page 19)? Incivility (Pages 9/10)? EFE open house (Pages 19/20) ? Trix Bruce (Page 10)? 4-year reps (Pages 19/20)? ‘Masks’ ends soon (Pages 10/11)? Old batteries (Pages 20/21)? Income-tax aid (Pages 11/12)? Gemini in concert (Pages 21/22)? A lot of chocolate (Pages 12/13)? And Finally (Page 22)???????An evening of music for HaitiA fund-raising concert to come to the aid of earthquake-wracked Haiti has been scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 20, in the Dale Lake Auditorium.Featuring the musical talents of Joel Mabus, Rachael Davis, Drew Nelson and the trio, Carmea, the concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets will be on sale at the door for “around $20.”Proceeds will be ticketed for the International Child Care Association's efforts to raise funds for the Grace Children's Hospital.Co-sponsoring the event are KVCC’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter, the college’s program in international studies, PeaceJam, and the Student Success Center’s unit that supports student organizations. Grace Children’s Hospital, founded in 1967, is the flagship ministry of International Child Care, a nonprofit organization recognized as Haiti’s leading medical facility dedicated to the treatment of children with tuberculosis.Grace annually takes in thousands of children who are suffering from tuberculosis and other childhood diseases. Grace Children’s Hospital also offers numerous outpatient services, including pediatric and adult tuberculosis treatment, a state-of-the-art eye clinic, a reproductive health clinic, and HIV/AIDS treatment services. The hospital was devastated in the Jan. 12 earthquake. Despite severe damage, hospital staff are still treating children and are planning to resume community-health programming as soon as possible. To help bring that about and launch the reconstruction of the hospital, the association has been scheduling fund-raising initiatives around the country, including the Feb. 20 concert on the Texas Township Campus. The doors will open at 7 p.m. Doubling bus service to KVCC is recommendedExpanding the Metro Transit bus service to the Texas Township Campus is one of the key initial recommendations of a consulting firm that was retained to analyze ridership in Kalamazoo County.In addition to extending the route that could take passengers to the Wal-Mart store on Ninth Street in Oshtemo Township and operate some services past midnight, it has been urged that two buses – instead of one – should go out to the KVCC campus every hour.The firm’s final report, including cost estimates of any changes, will be released sometime in March. No matter what the decisions are, alterations and expansions would probably not go into effect until the fall.Wind academy to host Tuesday open houseKVCC folks and members of the public can learn about the college’s latest wind-energy training initiative and more at an open house on Tuesday, Feb. 9.The Wind Turbine Technician Academy will be welcoming guests from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.in the M-TEC of KVCC, the home of the training academy on The Groves Campus.In addition to being able to meet members of the academy’s pioneer class and learn about the extent of their training, visitors can talk to two representatives of Bildungszentrum fur Erneuerebare Energien (BZEE), developers of the international standards under which the 16 enrollees are being trained.Created in 2000, BZEE was supported by major wind-turbine manufacturers, component makers, and enterprises that provide operation and maintenance services. As wind-energy production increased throughout Europe, the need for high-quality, industry-driven, international standards emerged. BZEE has become the leading trainer for wind-turbine technicians across Europe and now in Asia. BZEE is located in Husum, Germany.A German-headquartered manufacturer of wind turbines with planned operations in China and North America has entered into a training partnership with the academy.The educational cooperative with Fuhrlaender North America Inc., based in North Kingston, R. I., and Fuhrlaender AG, its parent corporation in Germany, will give KVCC academy students the chance for in-depth exposure to the maintenance requirements and hands-on monitoring of utility-scale wind turbines, and to cutting-edge software.Fuhrlaender AG, located in Midwest Germany between Rhein-Main and Rhein-Ruhr, and its global family of branch companies are among the world leaders in the wind industry. They offer a wide range of equipment and are currently manufacturing turbines ranging from producing 600 kilowatts to 2.5 megawatts. The company’s growth in the world market includes plans for several manufacturing facilities in the United States. Said Sheila Doherty, a spokeswoman for Fuhrlaender’s operations in North America:“We anticipate opportunities for some of KVCC’s graduating students to be invited to our training facility and headquarters in Germany to do further extensive training,” Doherty said, “with the expectations that we will someday be able to employ them here in the United States and/or abroad. “Fuhrlaender AG, an independent, non-group global manufacturer, has roots and 40 years of experience in the metal-processing and service industries. It became a pioneer in the use of wind power in the interior around 20 years ago and now has a presence around the world.Feb. 15 deadline for Fretboard Festival ‘play-in’With a booking to play in the fifth annual Kalamazoo Fretboard Festival as the prize, bands and performers throughout the state are invited to enter a play-in competition for the 2010 event in March.Performers of all genres of music are invited to apply prior to the Feb. 15 deadline. The only restriction is that an instrument with a fretboard must be among the person’s or group’s arsenal. Ten combos or performers will be chosen to play gigs of up to 10 minutes at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 5, which will be part of the monthly Art Hop in downtown Kalamazoo.Judges will select one of them to play a 60-minute gig on Saturday, March 20, during the three-day festival.The March 5 “play-in,” as well as all festival events, is free and open to the public. The Kalamazoo Fretboard Festival is sponsored by the Kalamazoo Valley Community College (KVCC) Foundation.To enter, musicians and musical groups must submit a demo tape, CD or web link of their work, along with a brief biographical sketch. Ten acts will be picked to perform a live set on that Friday. Performers who have been booked for concerts at the museum or KVCC are not eligible. Those who made the 2009 play-in but were not chosen are eligible to enter again.In addition to “frettin’ their stuff” at the 2010 festival later in the month, the play-in winner will be booked to perform as part of the museum’s concert billings during the 2010-11 season. That’s what happened to the 2009 selectee, Carmea, a trio featuring guitarist Catherine Ellis of Kalamazoo, cellist Rachel Alexander of Lansing, and mandolinist Alma Muxlow of Kalamazoo.From Friday, March 19, through late Sunday afternoon on March 21, the 2010 Fretboard Festival will feature performances by stringed-instrument virtuosos, instructional workshops for people who want to learn to play, and family-friendly activities.This yearly salute to all stringed instruments -- and especially those that are crafted in this part of Michigan -- will be staged in the museum and the college’s Anna Whitten Hall next door.The festival, which takes its name from the portion of a stringed musical instrument that allows a variety of notes to be played, will spotlight guitars, banjos, hammered dulcimers, ukuleles, and mandolins, as well as the artists who make music on them and the craftsmen who manufacture these instruments.Concerts and workshops will again take center stage. Specific sessions are designed for those with exceptional, moderate and beginning skills. The festival was conceived as a celebration of Kalamazoo’s long history of stringed-instrument design, manufacture, and performance. While guitars have been a vital component of this history -- primarily through the legacy of Gibson guitars -- adopting the moniker of “fretboard” allowed planners to consider all forms of crafted instruments that create harmonious sounds in all genres of music. The entry form is available online via the museum’s web page (). The museum’s Facebook and Twitter sites also contain details about performers, locations and times, and how to enter the “play-in” competition. For more information, contact Jen Austin, special-events coordinator at the museum, at extension 7990 or jaustin@kvcc.edu.Till’s murder, Scottsboro chronicle a coming eraThe 20th-century genesis of the Civil Rights Movement and a racial killing that started to shock the nation about the brutality of discrimination will be the double-header documentary showings at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum on Saturday, Feb. 20.“The Murder of Emmett Till” will be shown at 1 p.m. in the Mary Jane Stryker Theater, followed at 3 p.m. by “Scottsboro: An American Tragedy.” Both are free.In March of 1931, two white women stepped from a box car in Paint Rock, Ala., and told police they had been raped by nine black teenagers on the train. That launched one of the most significant legal fights of the 20th century. The trial of the nine falsely accused teens would draw North and South into their sharpest conflict since the Civil War, yield two momentous Supreme Court decisions and give birth to the Civil Rights Movement. The Scottsboro story is about the struggles of nine innocent young men to save their lives and about using human beings as fodder for political causes.The freight train, crowded with homeless and jobless hoboes, had left Chattanooga, Tenn. A short time after it crossed into Alabama, a fight erupted between two groups of hoboes -- one black and one white. The train was stopped by an armed posse in Paint Rock. That’s when the two women stepped from the shadows of the boxcar to make their accusation. The name of the incident took its name from the small Alabama town where the nine were tried.“Scottsboro: An American Tragedy” is told from the points of view of both North and South, from the jails of Alabama to the salons of New York.The gallery of characters includes: the lead defendant, a defiant black man who refuses to lay down before the power of Alabama; the defense lawyer who comes to see in the case echoes of the discrimination he has felt himself; the accuser, a poor white woman who finds in her lie a route to respectability; and the Southern judge who risks the scorn of his beloved state to deliver justice.Five years in the making, there are interviews with the last surviving witnesses to the trials and archival footage and photos from as far away as Russia, with letters, diaries, newspaper editorials, and trial transcripts. In August 1955, one year and three months after Brown v. Board of Education, a 14-year-old black boy whistled at a white woman in a grocery store in Money, Miss. Chicago teen Emmett Till, who was visiting relatives, didn't understand that he had broken the unwritten law of the Jim Crow South until three days later.That’s when two white men dragged him from his bed in the dead of night, beat him brutally and then shot him in the head. Although his killers were arrested and charged with murder, they were both acquitted quickly by an all-white, all-male jury. Still posted at the town line was a sign reading, "Money -- a good place to raise a boy,"Shortly afterward, the defendants sold their story, including a detailed account of how they murdered Till, to a journalist. The murder and the trial horrified the nation and the world. Till's death was a spark that helped mobilize the Civil Rights Movement.Three months after his body was pulled from the Tallahatchie River, the Montgomery bus boycott began.Mamie Till, Emmett's mother, at the urging of black leaders, decided to leave the casket open at her son's funeral. She told the mortician not to "fix" her son's face. The world would see what had been done to him. Tens of thousands of people viewed Till's body, which was on display in a Chicago church for four days. Photos of his maimed and distorted face flooded the national and international press. America was shocked out of comfortable complacency, and the Till case became international news. Two days after Till's death, the “insulted” woman’s husband and another white man were arrested and charged with his murder. During the trial the following month, the courthouse became a microcosm of race relations: black observers packed into the segregated balcony seats as the defendants' families joked openly with prosecutors and jurors on the floor below. Remember the courtroom scenes in “To Kill a Mockingbird.”The courtroom took on a carnival atmosphere as snacks and soft drinks were distributed to white observers. Outside, the international press jockeyed for photographs and interviews that captured the ways of the American South. Till's uncle identified the assailants in court -- the first time a black person had testified against a white in Mississippi, and perhaps in the South. He was forced to leave town. After a five-day trial that made an open mockery of the possibility of justice, the defendants were acquitted. The husband and white celebrated, on camera, with a smile and an embrace.The federal government's failure to intercede in the Till case led blacks and whites to realize that if change were to come, they would have to do it themselves. The murder was a watershed in the development of the nascent movement for civil rights. Some historians describe it as the real spark that ignited broad-based support for the movement. 7th Diversity Conference timed for March 26Organizers of KVCC’s seventh annual Diversity Conference are shaping up the attractions for the half-day event slated for Friday, March 26.While plans are still tentative for “Educating Ourselves and Others,” a trio of sessions from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. will include a keynote speaker on diversity and race, a performance by Kinetic Affect, and a panel discussion entitled “How I Got Here”The latter will address family structures, how people grow up, the culture/environment of each person’s childhood, experiences with education, and the challenges and obstacles facing people as they try to move forward when it comes to tolerance. Free and open to the public, the conference events will be held in the Dale Lake Auditorium on the Texas Township Campus. The keynote speaker will be Greg Forbes Siegman.The Portage-based Kinetic Affect, the duo that won the recent “Kalamazoo Has Talent” competition, are two spoken-wordsmiths who joined forces in the summer of 2007 after being fierce competitors at local poetry slams.Gabriel Giron and Kirk Latimer have created a new kind of verbal experience that has seen them perform for a variety of local, regional and national organizations and audiences. They conduct youth workshops, give benefit performances, and participate in kickoffs, awareness raisers, and fund-raisers. Giron’s Latino background and hip-hop influences collide on stage with Latimer’s Native American heritage and academic nature. Despite apparent differences, they exhibit similarities, not only in the power of their combined voices, but also in the impact of their messages. They challenge beliefs, push boundaries, embrace differences, and seek to increase awareness of local and global issues.Giron admits to a difficult and angry past, vacillating from class bully to class poet. After lazily making his way through high school, he felt oddly drawn to the military. Eight months into his enlistment, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer and underwent cycles of chemotherapy and several surgeries over three years at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Now deemed cancer free, Giron said days spent wondering whether he would live or die gave him a new-found perspective on life. He is majoring in film and creative writing at Western Michigan University.Though he never intended to share his past experiences and poetry with anyone, Giron said he discovered that his words connected powerfully with other people. The process became a way for him to cope and learn from his own experiences. His reflection on cancer survival, military experience, and family relationships enabled him to write on topics with unique vulnerability not commonly explored or spoken by others. By sharing his stories and commenting on what he sees around him, others can be inspired to share their stories, making poetry real, honest, and accessible regardless of age, class or gender. Now dressed in slacks, dress shirt and tie, Latimer had a history of fighting both inside and outside the ring. He turned his anger from his color-trunked opponents toward himself, resulting in his arrest at the age of 16. He continued a cycle of vengeance and retribution until his senior year of high school when five of his friends and classmates committed suicide. It took him nearly six months to change his approach to life. Once on the right path, Latimer transformed from a violent boxer to a highly awarded English/education major at Western Michigan University where he began to write poetry.. His style of writing evolved from his dedication to academics, the explosive power required of a boxer, and the unique juxtaposition of a prankster loving nature. Now an acting coach and an English teacher in high school, Latimer discovered a way to convert his inner turmoil and aggressiveness into a passionate and impacting learning experience. Through sharing himself and past experiences, he seeks to change minds and hearts, while also challenging our outdated educational system.One of Kinetic Affect’s recent performances of the spoken word was “Speak It Forward” that chronicles an artistic narrative of the human journey from birth to death with a simple goal: to inspire others by sparking conversation.The former poetry-slam competitors challenge stereotypes and provide a forum to individuals who have become too comfortable with allowing their voices to remain silent. Their first production entitled “Word Weavers” confronted male stereotypes, such as the need for men to portray themselves as a dominant force that must remain independent and refrain from overly expressing emotions of love and sadness.More information will be available by visiting the KVCC Diversity Committee’s web site at . People should register in advance for the 2010 Diversity Conference on the college’s home page. Volunteers needed to staff ‘Human Race Machine’ exhibitA week’s stay of the Human Race Machine on the Texas Township Campus will complement the college’s seventh annual Diversity Conference next month.From March 22 through March 26 in Room 4380, the magic of computer software will allow people to see what they would look like if they were of a different race. Participants will use their own image to gain a sense of their appearance as a member of six different races. The exhibit is based on the scientific finding that the DNA of any two humans is 99.97 identical and that there is no gene for race, adding substance to the premise that in a foxhole everybody is the same color – red.In addition, throughout the week in the exhibit area, there will be showings of the PBS documentary, “The Illusion of Race.”As with a similar format for the sixth conference in 2009, the plan is to open the experience to the public.However, that will require KVCC’ers to step forward to serve as volunteers to monitor the exhibit in one-hour shifts that week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Those who would like to serve as monitors for an hour or more can contact Nancy Taylor at extension 4142 or ntaylor@kvcc.edu.Police academy sets orientations for candidatesThose interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement are invited to attend orientation meetings that will be held by the Kalamazoo Law Enforcement Training Center based at Kalamazoo Valley Community College the second week of MarchWith all of them booked for the Student Commons Forum (Room 4230) on the Texas Township Campus, the short-course sessions in what the KVCC police academy is all about are slated for: Tuesday, March 9, at 2 p.m.; Wednesday, March 10, at 6 p.m.; and Friday, March 12, at 10 a.m.The orientation sessions are part of the application process for KVCC’s 77th police academy that is scheduled to begin in August. The application deadline is May 4.Police academy director Rick Ives said that additional information, along with an application packet, is available at this web site: . Two other contacts are (269) 488-4336 or lberkey@kvcc.edu . Michigan law requires county and municipal law-enforcement officers to be licensed by the state before they can enforce laws. Licensing is obtained by meeting the minimum enrollment requirements, completing the basic training requirements established by the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES), and obtaining employment with a Michigan police agency. The orientations will include detailed instructions for completing the application packet. Representatives from the KVCC Office of Financial Aid and other departments will be there to discuss timelines and to answer questions.Among the basic requirements to be a law-enforcement officer in Michigan are:● U. S. citizenship.● At least 18 years old.● No prior felony convictions, including expunged convictions.● Possess good moral character as determined by a favorable comprehensive background investigation covering school and employment records, home environment, and personal traits and integrity. Consideration will be given to all law violations, including traffic and conservation-law convictions, as possibly indicating lack of good moral character.● Possess normal hearing, normal color vision, and normal visual functions and acuity in each eye correctable to 20/20. ● Be free from impediments of the senses, be physically sound, be in possession of all extremities, and be well developed physically, with height and weight in relation to each other as indicated by accepted medical standards.● Be free from physical defects, chronic diseases, organic diseases, organic functional conditions, or mental or emotional instabilities that may tend to impair the efficient performance of a law-enforcement officer’s duties or that might endanger the lives of others or the officer.● Possess a valid Michigan vehicle-operator’s license.Candidates must pass the MCOLES pre-service physical-agility test and reading and writing test. Test information can be found at . Physical agility testing must be completed no more than 180 days prior to beginning the police academy. Exercise ‘opps’ can pare off the poundsOffering a proactive chance to pare off a few pounds before the need arrives to slim down for spring apparel, the Wellness and Fitness Center’s line-up of free, drop-in activities to promote vitality and good health among KVCC employees is operational through April 30.Here is the lineup for faculty, staff and enrolled students:Monday – swimming from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; total body conditioning, 1 to 1:55 p.m.; and dancing from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.Tuesday – swimming from 7 to 8:30 a.m. and zumba from noon to 12:55.Wednesday – swimming from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; and total body conditioning from 1 to 1:55 p.m.Thursday – swimming from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.Friday – swimming from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and fitness cycling from 1 to 1;55 p.m.Saturday -- swimming from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.Except for the obvious site for swimming, these exercise opportunities will be based in Room 6040 in the Student Commons. Zumba replaced yoga in the exercise activities. For the exercise-knowledge challenged, zumba is an aerobic fitness program created by Miami-based dancer and choreographer Beto Perez and two entrepreneurs. It originated in Colombia in the 1990s and as of 2009 is taught by some 20,000 instructors in 35 countries. Classes use music based on salsa, meringue, cumbia, and reggae.“Zumba incorporates fast-paced music with cardio exercise,” says Blake Glass, manager of the KVCC Wellness and Fitness Center. “”The Latin-style music gets you in the mood and the instructor leads you through various multi-muscle movements that will have you sweating and burning calories while having a lot of fun.” ‘Classroom incivility’ topic of Faculty Success Center“Dealing with and Preventing Classroom Incivility” is this month’s topic slated to be covered in the ongoing series of presentations organized by the Faculty Success Center.The new initiative is operating under the auspices of Grant Chandler, dean of the Arcadia Commons Campus, to assist the college community in focusing time, energy, and conversations on high-quality teaching and learning.This month’s presentations are slated for Tuesday, Feb. 16, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 17, from 2 to 3:30 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 20, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.All sessions are held in the lower level of the Center for New Media. Those who wish to attend can e-mail facultysuccesscenter@kvcc.edu. Refreshments will be provided. Chandler can be contacted by extension 7849 or gchandler@kvcc.edu.Here’s the rest of the “Talking About Teaching” line-up through the end of the 2009-10 academic year:March: “The Appropriate and Inappropriate Use of Instructional Technology” – March 23, March 24, March 27April: “Designing Appropriate Learning Activities and Lesson Planning” – April 20, April 21, and April 24.The Faculty Success Center has also scheduled a new series of presentations about instructional practices at KVCC that is slated to begin this week.Biology instructor Cynthia Schauer will discuss “Grading that Encourages Learning” at 3 p.m. on Wednesday (Feb. 10) in the lower level of the Center for New Media. Communications instructor Jenny Ott will follow that up with a look at “Online Teaching” on Friday (Feb. 12) at 10:30 a.m.The other sessions, instructors and topics booked for the Center for New Media’s lower level are:Dan Benard (emergency medical technology), “Simulation,” on Friday, Feb. 19 at 11 a.m.Verne Mills (biology), “Calibrated Peer Review,” Friday, March 19, at 2 p.m.Kim DeClerq (chemistry), “Inquiry-Based Instruction,” Thursday, March 15, at 2 p.m.Marie Rogers (nursing), “Small-Group Discussion,” Tuesday, March 30, at 2 p.m.Theresa Shane and Renee Mielke, “Panapto,” April 7 at 1 p.m.Philipp Jonas (economics), “Learning Teams,” April 17 at 3 p.m.Serving on the new center’s advisory team are Chandler, fellow co-chair Schauer, Lynne Morrison, Bill deDie, Jonas, Fran Kubicek, Jan White, Kevin Dockerty, Al Moss, Ron Cipcic, Theo Sypris, and Joe Brady.Deaf performer can tell stories for allTrix Bruce, a deaf storyteller who features visual-gesture movements in her stand-up and theatrical performances, will offer her distinct style of creativity on Friday, March 19, at Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s Texas Township Campus.Bruce’s show will begin at 7 p.m. in the Dale Lake Auditorium. General-admission tickets for adults are $7 if purchased prior to March 18 and $10 at the door. Admission is $5 for children under 12, for students, and for those over 65. Tickets go on sale on Wednesday, Feb. 18, in the KVCC Bookstore.Patricia “Trix” Bruce, who hails from Seattle, Wash., and who has been profoundly deaf since she was six months old, is regarded as one of the most talented ASL performers on today’s scene. Her KVCC presentation, “Tales of a Mad, Mad, Mad ASL World,” artistically demonstrates the spectrum of ASL skills through audience interaction. Through her creative storytelling, Bruce brings into play various handshakes, 3-D representations, personification, and role shifts. It is described as a “roller-coaster ride through ASL poetry, storytelling and folk tales.”As a child, she experienced oral, mainstreaming classes for the deaf and later online education training. Bruce has been involved in the performing arts since 1980 that has taken her to roles in films and national stage productions of “West Side Story,” “Carousel,” Macbeth, “The Wizard of Oz,” “Snoopy and His Friends,” and “The Miracle Worker.” Bruce has taken part in the annual Michigan Story Festival, crafting a performance about the experiences of a deaf person in a hearing world.Earlier in the day, she will be conducting a storytelling workshop titled “ASL (American Sign Language) Role Shifting: He Said, She Said” for current and past ASL students from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Room 4380.Sponsoring Bruce’s performance and workshop are the Instructional Development Advisory Committee at KVCC and Kalamazoo chapter of the American Sign Language Honors Society. For more information about Bruce’s appearance in Kalamazoo, contact KVCC instructor Su Cutler at (269) 488-4482 or scutler@kvcc.edu.‘Spirit of Masks’ ending stay Feb. 14You could learn a lot by ignoring the advice in Jim Croce’s lyrics and pulling “the mask off the old Lone Ranger,” but so much more insight is possible by experiencing a mask and the culture it represents than seeing who is behind it. That’s the idea behind “Spirit of the Mask,” a 95-item collection that is viewable in the Kalamazoo Valley Museum’s first-floor gallery through Feb. 14. It is the work of Carla Hanson who realized that masks and “masking” were special the first time she dressed for Halloween in her hometown of Waterville, Kan. After taking anthropology classes at Kansas State University and meeting people from other cultures, she purchased her first ethnic mask, soon to be followed by many more. Her collection now numbers in the hundreds, representing more than 40 countries and many Native American nations. Masks have been used in diverse cultures on every continent except for Australia. They are composed of natural and man-made materials mask-makers usually find locally. While some are intricately decorated and some are very rudimentary or abstract, others can be lifelike as evidenced in Hanson’s collection. Masks are ceremonial or theatrical, with functions ranging from entreaties for worldly interventions on the part of a deity or ancestral spirit, to assertions of social control to advance a particular culture’s mores. Masks can serve a singular purpose in a specific celebration, but often they are used for multiple functions. Healing, fertility, and good fortune are a few examples of masking themes. Mask wearers traditionally are nearly exclusively men, even when female characters are depicted. “The masking traditions can teach us how these cultures deal with their lives and their environment,” Hanson says. “While masks traditionally have specific purposes, they are so beautiful and powerful that they can be appreciated as works of art as well.” Among the masks that are part of the Kalamazoo exhibit are those originating on five continents from indigenous people in more than 50 countries, including Bali, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Nigeria, India, Brazil, Bolivia, Germany, the Ivory Coast, New Guinea, Mexico, Mali, New Guinea, Zaire, Russia, Sweden, Holland and Switzerland. Masks from a dozen Native American tribes are also included. They range in age from 10 to 60 years old, and are made from such materials as palm froth, root dye, stains, wood, papier-m?ché, polychrome, cloth, leather, natural pigments, and white clay.“Masks tell stories,” said Elspeth Inglis, the museum’s assistant director. “They don’t hide them.” Income-tax-filing aid now available for staff, studentsWith the deadline looming for Americans to make good their income-tax IOUs to Uncle Sam, free return-preparation assistance is being made available at KVCC for students and staff whose individual or family incomes were $49,000 or less for 2009. Working in conjunction with the Kalamazoo County Tax Counseling Initiative’s “Helping You Keep Your Money” program, the college's Student Success Center is hosting the assistance that is supported by the Internal Revenue Service, which provides the software, training, and certifications needed to operate these sites. "This is the second year that KVCC is hosting a site on the Texas Township Campus," said Pamela Siegfried, who is the life resources coordinator in the Student Success Center. As of Jan. 15, people could dial 211 on their telephones to get details on items and information to bring, the locations throughout Kalamazoo County including KVCC, assistance in setting up an appointment, and tax-preparation times. The tax assistors will be on the Texas Township Campus from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on these Fridays: Feb. 12, Feb. 19, Feb. 26, March 6, March 26, April 2 and April 9. Another way to schedule an appointment is to go online at and click on “tax calendar.” That will take the user a list of locations, dates, times, and items to bring.The service is provided by IRS-certified community volunteers from the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. E-filing will be available at all locations. In addition to KVCC, partnering with the Kalamazoo County Tax Counseling Initiative are the American Association of Retired Persons, Bowers Manufacturing, Goodwill Industries, the Greater Kalamazoo United Way, Guardian Finance and Advocacy Services, Gryphon Place, the Kalamazoo County Community Action Agency, the Kalamazoo County Department of Human Services, the Kalamazoo Public Library, the Volunteer Center of Greater Kalamazoo, and the W. E. Upjohn for Employment Research. Among what must – or should – be brought to an appointment to assist in the process are a copy of the 2009 return, a photo ID, Social Security card for the filer and dependents, all W2s and/or 1099s (Social Security), and information about student loans. A full list of documentation is available on the web site. Friday-night treat for chocolate loversSans Willy Wonka, downtown Kalamazoo will become something of a chocolate factory this Friday night (Feb. 12).“An Evening of Chocolate” in the Kalamazoo Valley Museum will feature a how-to demonstration for making a no-bake luscious dessert and a showing of Johnny Depp’s 2000 romance film, “Chocolat.”The $15 tickets for the double-header must be purchased in advance and are limited to 84, the number of seats available in the museum’s Mary Jane Stryker Theater where the film will be shown. As of last week, about 50 tickets were left.A chef from the Radisson Plaza Hotel and Suites will give a full demonstration at 6 p.m. on how to make a mocha toffee crunch terrine dessert. Each ticket holder will be given a slice to eat, along with a recipe card.Once all fingers are licked, the 84 will move into the museum’s theater to watch the film based on the novel of the same name by Joanne Harris.It’s the story of a young mother who arrives at a fictional, repressed French village in the winter of 1959 with her 6-year-old daughter and opens La Chocolaterie Maya. Her chocolate creations quickly begin to change the lives of the townspeople. The store imbues both wonder and angst as it opens during the 40 days of Lent.The confections enliven a married couple's tired romance, encourage an elderly man's secret love, bring rapport to a willful diabetic, and comfort an awkward woman who longs to leave her drunken and abusive husband. However, the devout village mayor sees the chocolate-maker as an immoral provocateur and quietly works for her downfall. Joining Depp in the cast is Judi Dench, who in recent years has taken on the role of “M” in the latest James Bond films. “Chocolat” was nominated for Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and won a Screen Actors Guild Award for outstanding performance by an entire cast.For more information, contact Jen Austin, the museum’s special-events coordinator, at (269) 373-7990 or jaustin@kvcc.edu. Habitat for Humanity to explain its missionThe Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity will be on the Texas Township Campus to explain its home-ownership program on Thursday (Feb. 11).Habitat representatives will explain the mission of this non-profit, international organization to students and staff at 5:30 p.m. in the Student Commons Forum.“There’s no place like home,” says Pamela Siegfried, the Student Success Center’s life resource coordinator who is the organizer of the presentation. “For many families in our community, this goal seems out of reach. But Habitat for Humanity is making a difference.”Habitat volunteers build simple, decent, affordable homes in partnership with Kalamazoo-area families who need a better place to live, want to buy their own homes, and are ready to accept the responsibilities of home ownership.For more information about the free event, contact Siegfried at extension 4825 or look at .‘Friday Night Highlights’ features top-drawer guitaristAn evening of classical guitar strumming is the “Friday Night Highlights” booking on Feb. 5 in the Kalamazoo Valley Museum’s Mary Jane Stryker Theater.Because Friday will be Art Hop night in downtown Kalamazoo, Jeff Dwarshuis’ concert from 6 to 8 p.m. is free. Booked for Feb. 12 is “An Evening of Chocolate” featuring a chocolate demonstration and the film, “Chocolat.”Each of the "Friday Night Highlights" attractions is actually a doubleheader because also planned is an 8:30 p.m. showing of the planetarium show featuring the music of U2. That has a $3 admission fee. With a laser-light show in full color streaming across the planetarium's 50-foot dome, the 35-minute production will feature the classic hits of the Dublin, Ireland, combo that has earned 22 Grammys, sold 146 million albums, and warranted induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in its first year of eligibility. If you like concerts where the performers are up close and personal, then the museum and its 84-seat, surround-sound Stryker Theater are the place to go.Known for his refined techniques and passionate expression, the Grand Rapids-based Dwarshuis presents a repertoire that spans the Spanish classics and the modern masters. His virtuosity mirrors the beauty and grace of this instrument through the centuries.Dwarshuis, who has a master’s in social work, is a staff member of Life Guidance Services that offers counseling in employee assistance, family life, and holistic therapies.Sans Willy Wonka, downtown Kalamazoo will become something of a chocolate factory on the evening of Feb. 12.“An Evening of Chocolate” in the museum will feature a how-to demonstration for making a no-bake luscious dessert and a showing of Johnny Depp’s 2000 romance film, “Chocolat.”The $15 tickets for the double-header must be purchased in advance and are limited to 84, the number of seats available in the museum’s Mary Jane Stryker Theater where the film will be shown. As of last week, about 50 tickets were left.A chef from the Radisson Plaza Hotel and Suites will give a full demonstration at 6 p.m. on how to make a mocha toffee crunch terrine dessert. Each ticket holder will be given a slice to eat, along with a recipe card.Once all fingers are licked, the 84 will move into the museum’s theater to watch the film based on the novel of the same name by Joanne Harris.It’s the story of a young mother who arrives at a fictional, repressed French village in the winter of 1959 with her 6-year-old daughter and opens La Chocolaterie Maya. Her chocolate creations quickly begin to change the lives of the townspeople. The store imbues both wonder and angst as it opens during the 40 days of Lent.The confections enliven a married couple's tired romance, encourage an elderly man's secret love, bring rapport to a willful diabetic, and comfort an awkward woman who longs to leave her drunken and abusive husband. However, the devout village mayor sees the chocolate-maker as an immoral provocateur and quietly works for her downfall. Joining Depp in the cast is Judi Dench, who in recent years has taken on the role of “M” in the latest James Bond films. “Chocolat” was nominated for Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and won a Screen Actors Guild Award for outstanding performance by an entire cast.Here is the “Friday Night Highlights” schedule of movies, concerts by local combos, and special events through the first third of 2010:Feb. 19: The music of John LaCross and Dave Menzo as a duo known as "Afterhours Experience.”Feb. 26: The 2007 blockbuster movie, “Transformers.”March 5: Fretboard Festival play-in competition.March 12: “Snow Falling on Cedars,” the film version of the book chosen to be the 2010 Reading Together selection.March 19: Fretboard Festival kick-off concert.March 26: “Star Trek Generations.”April 2: “Terminator.”April 9: EMBARR in concert.April 16: The pop/rock music of We Know Jackson.April 23: Performer Rob Vischer.April 30: Concert by Waverland (topic/acoustic/alternative).May 7: The 1979 movie “Battlestar GalactiaMay 14: The music of Branden Mann and the ReprimandMay 21: The 1984 comedy “Ghostbusters.”May 28: The improv and music of Just Panda.Tips for success, parents gathering on tap this weekKVCC instructors should be alerting their winter-semester enrollees about the upcoming events planned by the Student Success Center that are designed to energize academic accomplishments. Students can get some assistance in learning how to apply for scholarships and the spectrum of scholarships that are available to them from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday (Feb. 9) in the Student Commons Forum. The topic will be repeated on Wednesday, Feb. 17, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Forum. Wednesday (Feb. 10) , is the date for the second “What It Takes to be Successful” presentation in the Student Commons Forum from 1 to 3 p.m. These examine classroom expectations for students, the effective management of time to promote student success, test-taking tips, the process for a smooth transfer to a four-year university, and job-searching suggestions. Four such sessions are booked for the winter semester.“Parent Connect” is an attempt to bring together KVCC students who are also parents, but all college enrollees are invited to listen to a guest speaker and enjoy refreshments. This session is set for the Forum from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday (Feb. 11).A representative from GreenPath Debt Solutions will lead a presentation on “New Directions – Surviving a Job Layoff or Job Change.” It is scheduled for the Forum on Tuesday, Feb. 16, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Topics will include the steps to regroup from such a situation, craft a plan for recovery, evaluate the current situation, and take steps to a better future.A drop-in workshop about employment opportunities is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 18, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. in Room 1356. It is designed to assist students with the spectrum of employment preparation, including developing and critiquing a resume, preparing an effective cover letter and reference list, and mapping networking strategies.Resources for job leads will also be discussed as well as the importance of employability skills in the workplace.. It is designed to assist students with the spectrum of employment preparation, including developing and critiquing a resume, preparing an effective cover letter and reference list, and mapping networking strategies.The finer points of interviewing The Student Success Center’s presence on the Arcadia Commons Campus has begun a series of roundtable discussions to help students make their way through the career-searching process.Each of the presentations will be held in 128 Whitten Hall on Tuesdays from 1 to 2 p.m. “Informational Interviewing” will be covered on Feb. 9.The rest of the schedule is:Feb. 16—“Importance of Networking.”Feb. 23 – “Creating a Career Plan.”More information is available by contacting career adviser Diane Finch at extension 7864 or dfinch@kvcc.edu.A look at the Dewings, Kalamazoo’s ‘doing’ familyWhat brought William G. Dewing from an apprenticeship in Calcutta to Kalamazoo where he forged a major chapter in the community’s industrial history is the Feb. 14 installment of the 2009-10 edition of “Sunday Series” presentations at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum.Curator Tom Dietz will dig into that part of the community’s past at 1:30 p.m. in the Mary Jane Stryker Theater. All of the programs are free and open to the public. Born in 1809 in Norfolk County in England, William Goss Dewing was raised in comfortable circumstances. As a child, he was sent to France for his education, but his heart was set on a life on the high seas. His father apprenticed him out as a sailor for the English East India Company. Over 10 years of service, Dewing rose to the rank of first officer, making several voyages to India before turning 20. Serving on the Broxbornebury in 1827-28, he kept the ship’s log, recording the weather, daily and weekly routines, passengers and goods transported, and even the disciplining of insubordinate sailors during six months at sea. Dewing’s log books, preserved in the Western Michigan University Regional History Collections, provide a fascinating account of life on the sea.The Broxbornebury carried both merchandise and passengers, including a small musical band for entertainment. Dewing chronicled the supplies and merchandise the ship carried as well as the quantities of ale for the British troops stationed in India.Dewing tired of this life and in the early 1830s resolved to seek his fortune in the United States. With his brother, Frederick, he settled in the New York City area and, in July 1836, moved west to Kalamazoo where the two brothers opened a store. Frederick left Kalamazoo in 1841 but William kept the store going. In 1855, Dewing and James A. Kent began the manufacture of doors, window sashes, moldings, blinds, and other lumber products. The firm eventually became Dewing & Sons, located on Kalamazoo Avenue between Burdick and Edwards streets.Dewing & Sons owned timberland in West Virginia, Arkansas, and northern Michigan that supplied wood for their factory. As they prospered, William G. Dewing and his sons, William S., Charles, and James, made major contributions to Kalamazoo’s industrial development. They were generous supporters of local charities including the Industrial School for Boys and the Children’s Home, which provided shelter and training for poor, neglected, and homeless children.William Goss Dewing died on April 11, 1884. His sons maintained the family business well into the 20th Century. In addition, each was a successful entrepreneur in his own right.William Sheldon Dewing, the eldest son, was born in Kalamazoo on Sept. 17, 1845. He was a partner in the family business and continued the firm after his father’s death. He was a partner in several local businesses, notably the Kalamazoo Stove Co. in which he was a principal investor and later served as its president. He was an investor in several paper makers, including the Riverview and Superior Paper companies. The younger William Dewing also loved horses and was an organizer of Recreation Park which hosted Grand Circuit horse racing from 1908 through 1931. Automobile races were held at the same track in the early 1920s. Today, the Kalamazoo County Fairgrounds is located at Recreation Park. Shortly before his death in 1929, he built the W. S. Dewing Building on the northeast corner of Burdick Street and Michigan Avenue. It featured retail commercial outlets on the first floor and professional offices on the top two floors. The building still stands and is now the home of KVCC’s Center for the New Media.Charles A. Dewing also was involved in the paper industry, including the Superior Paper Co. and the King Paper Co.. He served as the first treasurer for the Kalamazoo Stove Co. and was an early investor in Kalamazoo’s automobile industry as a partner in the Michigan Automobile Co.. Charles was a principal organizer of the Kalamazoo Beet Sugar Co. that sought to develop sugar-beet agriculture and processing. That business failed but its sugar refinery, located several miles north of town on the river, was later the home of the Kalamazoo Vegetable Parchment Co.James H. Dewing followed in his brothers’ footsteps when it came to investments. Like Charles, He experienced a business failure in the food industry – the Kalamazoo Pure Foods Co. that sought unsuccessfully to compete with Shredded Wheat. The product, “Wheat Meat,” failed to find a market. Dewing had greater success as a financier, serving for many years as vice president of the Kalamazoo National Bank.James married Fanny Chapin, daughter of L. C. Chapin who founded the Lawrence and Chapin Iron Works. The firm’s foundry still stands on the northwest corner of Rose and Water streets, home now to National City Bank as part of Arcadia Commons East. James and Fanny’s daughter, Emma, married Paul Todd, son of Albert M. Todd, Kalamazoo’s “Mint King”.In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Dewing family contributed significantly to the economic development of Kalamazoo as illustrated by one of the buildings on Kalamazoo College’s campus carrying the name.Here are the “Sunday Series” programs through spring:“Poetry Artifactory VI” – Feb. 28“Kalamazoo’s Argonauts: The Lure of California Gold in 1850” – March 14“The Ladies Library Association” – March 28“Play Ball! – Baseball in Kalamazoo” – April 11“Kalamazoo’s Musical Heritage” – April 25.For further information, contact Tom Dietz at 373-7984.How about a Valen-tune for that special one?Math instructor Sue Hollar and her Mid-Lakes Chorus of Sweet Adelines are offering an innovative Valentine’s Day remembrance for those who have our hearts. The singing group will send a quartet to visit the person of choice, sing two songs, and present a flower and a card – all for $40. The offer is open to those whose special Valentine is within a 35-mile radius of Kalamazoo. “We can also telephone someone and deliver personal greetings and two songs for just $15,” she said. Those interested can contact Hollar or check out the form on this website: ( ) or “become a fan of Mid-Lakes on Facebook.”Hollar reports that the singing group’s annual Christmas concert at St. Catherine's last December earned more than $1,200 for Meals on Wheels and the Kalamazoo Free Clinic.“I wanted to offer Mid-Lakes' thanks to the community for supporting these two worthwhile charities, and for supporting of our chorus and our craft,” Hollar said.M-TEC-based company wins statewide awardA fledgling company that is incubating in the M-TEC of KVCC received one of the top awards in recent statewide competition staged by the Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest (GLEQ).In the group’s 10th year of such events, GLEQ presented The Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award to Loretta Cipkus Dubray, president and chief executive officer of Global Clinical Connections for her tenacity in building her business and in recognition of her commitment to "have a plan and work the plan."Founded in 2008 as a single point of contact, Global Clinical Connections is described as a consulting and project-management firm that offers solutions for the preparation and distribution of investigational materials for clinical trials. It serves small, medium, and large biotech and pharmaceutical companies that are developing drugs or biologics in Phase I-IV, are utilizing a virtual or mixed-virtual model of business, and need to supplement their internal clinical supplies resources. The staff has more than 85 years of industry experience in manufacturing, packaging, labeling, and global distribution of clinical supplies. “It is skilled in navigating the complex regulatory environment, informed regarding current trends in the industry, and focused on delivering innovative, cost-effective solutions,” according to a company statement. More than 175 Michigan-based entrepreneurial ventures were registered for the competition that attracts a wide-range of innovation-base businesses in fields such as alternative energy, information technology and software, advanced manufacturing, homeland security, medical devices and life sciences. The competition’s twice-annual, two- track program accommodates both idea-stage ventures and companies with up to $3 million in cumulative sales. Winning ventures were selected by 85 volunteer judges, including venture capitalists, angel investors, university-based tech-transfer, engineering and business staffs, and economic- and business-development professionals. Jack Ahrens of Kalamazoo, managing partner of TGap Ventures, and chairman of the GLEQ Board of Directors was one of the presenters. One of the sponsors is Southwest Michigan First.The 10-year-old GLEQ, based in Ann Arbor, is a nonprofit education program designed to accelerate the formation of high-growth companies. GLEQ sponsors a statewide business-plan competition in a variety of categories twice each year. GLEQ leverages a portfolio of 185 volunteer business and investment experts to provide training, coaching, mentoring and judging.What to do and not do in writing a cover letterStudents who have job-search fears can ease that anxiety by taking part in a series of “Ready to Work” workshops at Anna Whitten Hall.Free and organized by career adviser Diane Finch, each will be held on the first level on Tuesdays from 6 to 7 p.m. Finch can be contacted at extension 7863.Here is the schedule:Feb. 9 – “How to Write a Cover Letter.”Feb. 16 – “Interviewing Techniques.”Feb. 23 – “Practice Interviews.”.Wednesday forum focuses on smooth transfer to WMUTransferring to Western Michigan University as smoothly as possible is the thrust of a Wednesday (Feb. 10) event being hosted by the Focus Program.From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Student Commons Forum on the Texas Township Campus, representatives from 14 WMU programs, divisions and units will be available to talk to students. Faculty members are asked to inform their students about this opportunity that will include door prizes and free refreshments. KVCC students interested in becoming a Western Bronco after completing work on their two-year degree here will be able to get information from the College of Arts and Science, the College of Aviation, the Haworth College of Business, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the College of Fine Arts, the College of Health and Human Services, University Curriculum, the Lee Honors 3College, the Division of Multicultural Affairs, the Office of Admissions, Occupational Education Studies, the Office of Financial Aid, and the Kalamazoo Promise liaison.“This is the perfect time to get the scoop on the how, what, when, where and why of the academic life of a Western Bronco,” says Bonita Bates, director of the Focus Program. She can be contacted at extension 4529. The forum is open to all students.The Focus Program is a student-support initiative at KVCC in partnership with WMU. The objective is to increase the number of KVCC students who successfully complete an associate degree and then transfer to WMU to work on a four-year diploma in their field of study.More details or information is also available by contacting Robyn Robinson at extension 4779 or visiting her in the Transfer Resource Center in Room 1364. Her e-mail address is rrobinson@kvcc.edu.Representatives from WMU's admissions and financial-aid offices will be at KVCC on Wednesday, Feb. 24, in the Student Commons Forum to give students an on-site decision about being admitted and talk about financing the next phase of their education.Interested students should come to the Transfer Resource Center to schedule an appointment or call Robinson at extension 4779. Appointment times are from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. EFE open house slated for TuesdayThe Education for Employment (EFE) initiative, which has been in existence for more than two decades, will hosts its annual open house for students, parents and supporters on Tuesday (Feb . 9).The gathering is slated for 5:30 to 8 p.m. at The Air Zoo, 6151 Portage Road. KVCC is one of the founding partners in the award-winning EFE program that is operated through the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency (K-RESA).Students and parents can take a look at the scores of vocational, technical and professional programs that are available to sample during their years in high school. Sharing the spotlight will be the countywide Education for the Arts program and its offerings. Visitors can learn how both EFE and EFA experiences can satisfy Michigan Merit Curriculum requirements and how college credits can be earned by those still in high school. The EFE programs that can provide college credits include accounting, welding, allied health, network administration, art and design, marketing, auto collision, machine tool, auto technology, law enforcement, aviation, hotel-restaurant-travel management, banking, heating-ventilation-air conditioning, computer technology, furniture and cabinet making, emergency medical technology, electrical technology, early-childhood education, drafting and design, digital video production, culinary arts, and the construction trades.Other EFE programs include cosmetology, photography and digital imaging, radio broadcasting, business management, dynamic web programming, animal science, animal technology, dental assistant, health occupations and veterinary science. Work co-op experiences are also available through EFE.For more information about the open house, call (269) 388-9484. 4-year reps coming to Texas Township CampusRepresentatives of several four-year colleges in Michigan will be available on the Texas Township Campus to talk to prospective transferees this month.All will be having discussions with KVCC students in the cafeteria on the dates.Michigan Tech will lead the way on Feb. 9-10 (Tuesday and Wednesday) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Lake Superior State University will be on campus Feb. 10-11 (Wednesday and Thursday) from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.Siena Heights University is booked for Tuesday, Feb. 16, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.Lake Superior will make a return visit on Feb. 17 and again on Feb . 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Michigan Tech returns on Feb. 17 and Feb. 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Wrapping up February will be Lawrence Tech on Feb. 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.The college’s Transfer Resource Center/Focus Program is also arranging a series of trips for KVCC students to visit campuses around the state. The first trek was to Western Michigan University on Jan. 15 with others in the pipeline.Departure times are 9 a.m. and the return is timed for 4 p.m. Students can visit the center in Room 1364 for details about the series of free campus visits.Don’t dump those old batteriesIn cleaning out your office and workspace to prepare for the winter semester, or going through your home with a fine-tooth comb, remember this – ● the KVCC initiative to recycle used and unused rechargeable and alkaline batteries, which keeps them out of landfills where their assets will be lost forever.Recycling boxes for both rechargeable batteries as well as alkaline batteries are located in the following areas: the M-TEC Facility Shop; the Arcadia Commons Campus Facility Shop; Texas Township Campus Facility Services; the museum’s carpentry shop; the college’s audio-visual department; the automotive-technology and heating-ventilation-air conditioning labs; and in Computer Services.The lead-acid batteries used in cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, and other motorized equipment can be recycled by taking them to the Household Hazardous Waste Center operated by Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services at 1301 Lamont Ave. This drop-off center is on the edge of the county fairgrounds. Information about what else can be deposited there is available by calling 383-8742.The recycling containers for dead batteries generated by on-the-job use at KVCC are provided by the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corp. (RBRC). RBRC's Charge Up to Recycle!? program is designed to keep rechargeable batteries out of the solid-waste stream, adhering to the federal and state laws requiring the proper disposal of some types of used rechargeable batteries. This program offers community and public agencies the tools to implement a simple, no-cost recycling plan. These batteries are commonly found in cordless power tools, cellular and cordless phones, laptop computers, camcorders, digital cameras, and remote-control toys.From symphonies to museum, Gemini plays for familiesThe music of Gemini and the songs of Michigan environmental educator Joe Reilly will be the entertainment targeted for families at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum this winter. The duo of Gemini is booked for Saturday (Feb. 6) while Reilly will share his tunes about Michigan’s lakes and natural places on Saturday, March 6. That attraction, too, begins at 1 p.m.Admission is $3 for the performances in the Mary Jane Stryker Theater. A Detroit News reviewer once stated that “if the Pied Piper had been twins, odds are he would have been Gemini,” a twosome whose acoustic music from around the world celebrates the fun, warmth, and humor of family life. The Hungarian-born twins from Ann Arbor spice their performances with sing-alongs, hand-motion tunes, folk tales, hushed lullabies and tender ballads. They have been Gemini for 37 years, delivering their music on nearly a dozen instruments.The twin twosome added a new facet to their music as they began performing with orchestras, including the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Kansas City Symphony, the University of Wisconsin Symphony, and The Phoenix Ensemble.Born in Budapest in 1949, the twin brothers emigrated with their parents after the 1956 Revolution and lived in Israel for three years before moving to the United States. Since 1973 they have made their home in Ann Arbor.Living in several countries as they were growing up gave the brothers a chance to see and appreciate different ways of life, as well as exposing them to the music and instruments of various cultures. Their cantor father in the synagogue taught them everything from religious music and Italian opera, to Hungarian and Yiddish folk songs. While performing since 4 year olds, the brothers didn’t start studying instruments until they were 7. However, it wasn't until after they graduated from college (the University of Rochester with degrees in history and English) that their lifelong interest in music became focused on a career in performing and song-writing. They play violin, guitar, slide guitar, pennywhistle and other folk flutes, mandolin, harmonica, and unusual hand-percussion, including the bodhran and the bones. Their wives frequently double the size of a Gemini performance. The brothers have received songwriting grants from the Michigan Council for the Arts, and have written music for educational TV and films at Wayne State University. Gemini's orchestral arrangements have been created by Bo Ayars, who has worked for artists as diverse as Elvis Presley, Barbra Streisand and Judy Collins. For a number of years, Ayars served as musical director of the Capitol Steps, the political satire troupe based in Washington. More information about events, attractions and tickets is available by checking the museum’s web site at or by calling 373-7990. And finally. . . There may be different strokes for different folks, but all of us can make a difference if we know something about medical strokes.Neurologists say if they can get to a stroke victim within three hours, the effects can be totally reversed. The trick is to recognize what has happened and to get the patient to medical care.There is a formula, a code, to remember if you encounter a person who might have suffered a stroke. A lack of awareness can spell disaster in the form of severe brain damage. A bystander can recognize a stroke by remembering STR and asking three simple questions:S -- Ask the individual to SMILE.T -- Ask the person to TALK, to speak a simple sentence, such as “It is sunny out today.”R -- Ask him or her to RAISE both arms. Here’s another “sign” of a stroke:Ask the person to “stick” out his/her tongue. If the tongue is “crooked,” if it goes to one side or the other, r that is also an indication of a stroke. If he or she has trouble with any one of these tasks, call 911 and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.Then, pat yourself on the back. ?????? ................
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