1. pets
2. dogs

Kalamazoo Area Newcomers’ Club
April 2015
Celebrating 74 years of service
Kalamazoo, Michigan
April 16th Luncheon
Come one, come all, to our April 16th Cooking Class/Luncheon at Bistro
120 in beautiful downtown Paw Paw. Lynn and the delightful Wendell will
give you culinary tips as well as entertain and feed you to the hilt. This will be
a luncheon size version of the evening classes they have been hosting very
successfully for the past few years. The cooking demo promises to both
delight and inform.
Our meeting will start at 12noon. The address is 120 East Michigan Avenue,
which is Red Arrow Highway; also know as the main drag. So you will take
Stadium west to Paw Paw, turn left at the second light (Sugar Bear is on the
corner) and turn left again into the parking lot. Another clue is it is behind
McGuire’s Pub and if you were to park on the main drag you could walk into
the pub, past the bar, and into the Bistro's dining room.
The price for the Cooking Class/Luncheon is $25. The menu is not yet
available, but will be sent out as soon as possible. Reservations need to be
made by Friday, April 10th. Send your check made out to KANC to Linda
Ricca, 5644 Bel Shore Lane, Schoolcraft, MI 49087.
For questions or clarifications please call Barb Perkovic at 375-9061.
Mail in Luncheon Registration – $25
Thursday, April 16th at noon at Bistro 120
Check your luncheon choice, make out your check to KANC, and mail to Linda Ricca.
Member_________________________________1)______2)______
Guest __________________________________1)______2)______
Guest __________________________________1)______2)______
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New Members
April Birthdays!
Please welcome new member Valerie Vuk who
has rejoined us. Welcome back Valerie!
Happy Birthday to our April Birthday gals! Toni
Kowalski is organizing this month’s Birthday
Luncheon.
Sue Madden – 4/2
Marilyn Jauch – 4/7
Katie Kincaid – 4/11
Mary Skinner – 4/11
Betty Brill – 4/13
Toni Kowalski – 4/20
Patricia Niewoonder – 4/25
Lynn Gentner – 4/25
Barbara Jongeward – 4/25
Kay Howson – 4/28
Coffee Morning
Candace Hill is having a Coffee/Tea Morning for
our new and potential new members on Tuesday,
April 21st at 10am at her home. If you know of
people who are interested in joining Newcomers
and would like to check us out, please give
Candace a call at 352-1357.
Proposed New Board for 2015-2016
Our nominating committee of Nancy Draayer, Sharon Weaver, Karen Stoops, Jane Steimle, and Carol
Beckius has been very busy gathering our new Board for 2015-2016. We’d like to think the nominating
committee for all the time and effort. Following is the proposed Board for next year:
President: Bambi Hamming (new to Board)
Vice Presidents: Bernie Hagon (new to position) and Bev Slayter (returning)
Secretary: Shirley Wise (returning)
Treasurer: Sharon Weaver (returning)
Programs: Madi Meisner (new) and Shirley Carey (new)
Luncheons: Elaine Varricchio (returning) and Lori Miller (new)
Reservations: Jane Steimle (new)
Membership: Linda Kubinski (returning)
Publicity: Mindy Hamilton (new)
Hospitality: Jane Vandrè (new)
Special Interests: Marge Davies (returning)
Newsletter: Charlotte Hosking (returning)
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Special Interest Groups
Biking/Hiking/Skiing
Out to Lunch Bunch
Carol Beckius – 372-6950
Nancy Kelley – 375-0762
Sharon Weaver – 327-4606
Grace Weaver – 324-5776
The Out to Lunch Bunch will meet Wednesday,
April 8th - 12noon at Big T's Restaurant at 155 N.
Main Street in Lawton.
Come join this group on Monday, April 13th, for
a hike down the Kal Haven Trail. We will meet at
the railroad car on 10th Street, which used to be
the start of the Kal Haven Trail. It is about 1/2
mile beyond H Avenue on the left hand side. The
time to meet is 10:00. New people are always
welcome. We had a real international group on
March 9th, with someone from England and
someone from Korea. Call Carol or Nancy if you
plan to attend.
Directions: Going west on I-94 - take Exit 60
turning right on ramp toward Lawton/Paw Paw.
TURN LEFT ONTO M-40 toward Lawton and
arrive at 155 N. Main Street. Parking on the street
or in the back.
For reservations: please call or email Sharon
Weaver-327-4606, [email protected] or Grace
Weaver 324-5776, [email protected] before
Monday, April 6th.
Garden Group
Lois Loeffler – 372-0038
Shirley Wise – 375-0848
We look forward to seeing everyone.
Friends, Food and Fun
Cynthia Vennix, an occupational therapist
with Bronson LakeView Rehabilitation Services
in Paw Paw, MI, will provide the April 22nd
program at 9:30am at Charlotte Hosking's
home. Cindy will provide handouts and
demonstrate beneficial posture and movement
related to gardening and show ergonomic
gardening tools. Please RSVP to Charlotte at
[email protected] or call her at 372-2430.
Carol Beckius – 372-6950
Marilyn Jauch – 372-7751
Friends, Food and Fun will be at the home of
Jane and Mindy Hamilton on April 11th at
6:30pm. Please RSVP to Jane by April 2nd. She
will then send out the recipes. You may email her
at [email protected] or call her at 3532767.
Sit & Stitch
Morning Bunco
Charlotte Hosking – 372-2430
Sandee Ahrens – 544-2643
We will meet on Friday, April 17th at 11:30am at
the Grand Traverse Pie Company for lunch and
some stitching. Please let Charlotte know if you
can attend by emailing [email protected] or
calling 372-2430.
We will be playing Bunco at Sandee Ahrens'
home on Wednesday, April 1. Please let Sandee
know by Sunday March 29th if you plan on
playing by calling her at 544-2643 or email her at
[email protected].
Come join us, whether you knit, crochet, crossstitch, quilt, or just want to have a few laughs and
some good company.
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Special Interest Groups
Afternoon Bridge
Marathon Bridge
Jan Boutelle – 372-0678
Judy Hobson – 629-4050
Jan Boutelle – 372-0678
Bridge this month will be on Monday, April 20th
at Fieldstone Grill. Lunch will be at 11:30 and
bridge follows at 12:30.
The afternoon bridge group will play on Monday,
April 13th at 1pm at the home of Carol
Hutton. On Friday, April 24th at 1pm we will
play at the home of Micki Verne. If you would
like to play with this group, please contact Jan
Boutelle at [email protected] or 269-3720678.
Couples Bridge
Linda Zeter – 381-7971
Couples Bridge will meet on Saturday, April 25th
at 7pm. Lynn and Greg Morris will be
hosting. Please let Lynn or Linda know if you are
unable to play. Anyone interested in
joining Couples Bridge, please call Linda. We
could also use some subs.
Consumer File Box
Carol Ebel - 327-8402
Spring-cleaning—window washing, house
cleaning, carpet and drapery cleaning—call for
excellent businesses that can help you. If you’ve
used a great service recently, please call me so I
can add them to our lists!
Diners’ Club
Chris Willson – 762-6501
Our Diners’ Club for April will be on Tuesday,
April 28th at 5pm at Chinn Chinn’s in Mattawan.
Please let Chris Willson know if you wish to join
us by April 26th.
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Book Nook
Jane Steimle – 324-9051
Have you read a book or seen a review of one you would like to read next year?
Please send suggestions to Jane at [email protected].
Book Nook meets the third Monday of each month at Kazoo Books located
at 2413 Parkview, Kalamazoo, just west of Oakland Dr. Turn on Book
Alley off Barnard Ave. for plenty of parking behind the store. Come join us
for great discussions. New members are always welcome!
The books for the next three months are:
April 20, 2015, Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman
Discussion leader – Linda Kubinski
With a career, a boyfriend, and a loving family, Piper Kerman barely
resembles the reckless young woman who delivered a suitcase of drug money
ten years before. But that part has caught up with her. Convicted and
sentenced to fifteen months at the infamous federal correctional facility in
Danbury, Connecticut, the well-heeled Smith College alumna is now inmate
$11187-424—one of the millions of people who disappear “down the rabbit
hole” of the American penal system. From her first strip search to her final
release, Kerman learns to navigate this strange world with its strictly
enforced codes of behavior and arbitrary rules. She meets women from all
walks of life, who surprise her with small tokens of generosity, hard words of
wisdom, and simple acts of acceptance. Heartbreaking, hilarious, and at
times enraging, Kerman’s story offers a rare look into the lives of women in
prison.
May 18, 2015, The Woman Upstairs by Claire Messud
Discussion leader – Susan Hutt
Nora Eldridge, a thirty-seven-year-old elementary school teacher in
Cambridge, Massachusetts, who long ago abandoned her ambition to be a
successful artist, has become the “woman upstairs,” a reliable friend and tidy
neighbor always on the fringe of others’ achievements. Then into her
classroom walks Reza Shahid, a child who enchants as if from a fairy tale.
He and his parents—dashing Skandar, a Lebanese scholar and professor at
the Ecole Normale Superieure, and Sirena, an effortlessly glamorous Italian
artist—have come to Boston for Skandar to take up a fellowship at Harvard.
When Reza is attacked by schoolyard bullies who call him a “terrorist,”
Nora is drawn into the complex world of the Shahid family: she finds herself
falling in love with them, separately and together. Nora’s happiness
explodes her boundaries, until Sirena’s careless ambition leads to a shattering
betrayal. Told with urgency, intimacy, and piercing emotion, this story of
obsession and artistic fulfillment explores the thrill—and the devastating
cost—of giving in to one’s passions.
June 15, 2015
Meet for potluck brunch at Jane Steimle’s, 7158 Hickory Point
Drive, Portage, to choose books for 2015-16. Meet as usual at 10:00 am.
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KANC
Board Members
2014-2015
President:
Nancy Draayer – 321-0773
Vice-Presidents:
Bev Slayter – 216-3426
Chris Willson – 762-6501
Secretary:
Shirley Wise – 375-0848
Treasurer:
Sharon Weaver – 327-4606
Historian/Publicity:
Kathy Smothers - 353-9866
Hospitality:
Candace Hill – 352-1357
Luncheons:
Bernie Hagon
279-623-4115
Elaine Varricchio
303-6130
Membership/Directory:
Linda Kubinski – 324-3068
Newsletter:
Charlotte Hosking
372-2430
Programs:
Barb Perkovic - 375-9061
Brenda Turner - 382-7530
Reservations:
Linda Ricca - 544-0233
Special Interests:
Marge Davies – 353-3523
Nancy’s Newsworthy Notes
Bowie's Adventures with the Law
Life continued in the tiny desert town with my oversized black dog who had adopted me. I found that
Bowie needed a lot of exercise and was used to his freedom. This was a bit of a challenge, but we were
having fun on our hikes in the desert and nearby mountains. We even made some friends who showed
us some great places to go. On one particular occasion we had gone to Fort Bowie, a national historical
site with a friend and her dog. Fort Bowie is a beautiful place with trails winding through desert terrain
and foothills past the ruins of the 19th century fort. As we pulled up to the parking area, we
encountered the park ranger. In a rather surly manner, he warned us that dogs were only allowed on a
leash. We agreed and went on our way.
As we disappeared over the first hill, my friend unleashed her dog. I was a little taken aback as I
recalled the stern warning. In a blasé manner, my friend informed me that her dog didn't enjoy being on
a leash and was sufficiently obedient. I said I suspected my dog was not so trustworthy untethered. As
we walked along, I realized I was not a good match for this 100-pound walking muscle whose new dog
friend had the privilege of freedom. Perhaps you see where this is going. Against my better judgment, I
did succumb to my strong willed adoptee. I looked him in the eyes and firmly told him to come when I
called as I unleashed him.
The two dogs were having a great time playing and running together. It was so good to see him enjoy a
tiny piece of the freedom he no longer enjoyed even though I was feeling a bit uneasy. Then it
happened. He took off at a full run chasing some unseen scent trail and was nowhere to be seen. This
couldn't be good. Calling his name, I ran off in the direction I thought he had gone. This direction also
happened to be toward the park ranger's office. Panicked, I tried to pick up the pace, but I was no
match for this dog on a mission.
As I finally approached the office, I could see the escapee barking up a tree. Sheepishly, I explained
something about entangled leashes and a runaway dog to the angry-faced ranger. That was received by
a lecture about my delinquent dog chasing an endangered coatimundi up the tree and that was a federal
offense. I would be required to produce lots of legal documentation on my vehicle and my dog. To
complicate matters I was not a permanent resident of Arizona and that documentation would have to
come from Michigan. The next day at school I spent my 20-minute lunch hour frantically calling to get
this necessary documentation by the imposed deadline all the while having thoughts of my jailbird dog.
Luckily in the end I was able to get the necessary papers on time and my disobedient dog escaped being
labeled as a felon.
I gave Bowdog a big hug and told him how lucky he was that he had dodged another bullet thanks to
me. He just looked at me in typical dog style as if to say, "what'd I do?"
Nancy Draayer
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April
2015
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KANC Calendar of Events
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Sunday'
Monday'
Tuesday'
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Wednesday'
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Thursday'
Friday'
1!
2!
Bunco
!
Saturday'
3!
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4!
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9:30am at
Sandee Ahrens’
5!
6!
7!
8!
Out to Lunch
Bunch
!
12noon at Big
T’s
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12!
13!
14!
Hike
10am at Kal Haven
Trail
!
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12noon at
Bistro 120
1pm at Carol
Hutton’s
20!
Book Nook
10am at Kazoo
Books
21!
22!
Garden Club
!
6:30pm Jane &
Mindy
Hamilton’s
17!
Sit & Stitch
!
24!
Afternoon
Bridge
!
18!
11:30am at
Grand Traverse
Pie Co.
23!
9:30am at
Charlotte
Hosking’s
11!
Friends, Food &
Fun
16!
KANC
Luncheon
!
10!
10am at Marge
Davies’
15!
Afternoon Bridge
19!
9!
Board Meeting
25!
Couples Bridge
7pm at Lynn &
Greg Morris’
1pm at Micki
Verne’s
Marathon Bridge
11:30am at
Fieldstone Grill
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26!
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27!
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28!
29!
30!
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See Special
Interest pages
for further
details!
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Visit our newly revised Website!
Kazoonewcomers.com
You can also find us on Facebook!
Kalamazoo Area Newcomers Club
9410 Oakview Drive
Portage, MI 49024
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