The Vicksburg varsity softball team started the 2021 season off on the right foot, picking up two wins, 6-5 and 4-1, in a doubleheader against Richland Gull Lake.
In the first game, the Bulldogs got out to an early 4-0 lead that later shrank to 4-4 in the sixth inning. In the top of the seventh, the Blue Devils took a 5-4 lead, putting the pressure on the younger team to deliver. With two on and no one out, Danielle Diekman hit a ball to center to bring Maddison Diekman home. Danielle then found herself trapped between bases. However, in the commotion of trying to get Diekman out, Gull Lake momentarily took their eyes off Peyton Smith, allowing her to run home for the winning run from third.
“It was really Danielle who got that key hit there at the end and then got herself in a pickle to allow us to score a girl from third,” Head Coach Paul Gephart said.
In the second game, Payton Lewis got the Bulldogs on the board first by taking advantage of a Gull Lake mistake after a hit from Hannah Vallier. Vicksburg scored again in the bottom of the fourth, when Smith hit a big triple to bring Maddison Diekman home. Smith scored shortly after on a high pitch by the Blue Devils. In the fifth, Maya Peters hit a double to bring Vallier home again and make the score 4-0. Gull Lake hit a solo home run in the top of the sixth to make the score 4-1, the final score of the game.
“We’re young. there’s a lot of things that we saw that we need to work on, but I’m very happy when you start the season off, and you win two games,” Gephart said. “Especially that first game when they tied the score up and had all the momentum we came back and finished there at the end.”
Coming back in 2021 is a little bittersweet for both players and coaches. The Covid-19 pandemic cancelled all spring sports completely last year which means that a lot of seniors did not get to play their final season in 2020, leaving many to wonder what might have been.
It has also led to some challenges because many of the newer players have never played softball at the varsity level before the Gull Lake game. Gephart noted that losing a whole season is a challenge every team is going to have to deal with this year.
“There’s no excuses, I just feel bad for the girls from last year, all those that were returning,” Gephart said. “You’ve got eight starters returning and they lost their entire season, six of them graduated. So, I’m really happy that we’re even getting to play.”
Based on what he saw from the first two games though, prospects look promising. He said the younger players stepped up and the veterans led by example.
“I was really pleased with how well they played with the number of new people that we have playing this year,” Gephart said. “They did a really good job with very minimal amounts of time to practice.”
The Vicksburg varsity boys’ lacrosse team had a rough season start with losses to Harper Creek and Zeeland West. The Bulldogs dropped their first game against Harper Creek 12-9 on the road before losing at home to Zeeland 16-10.
Against Zeeland, the boys fought hard until the end, but the Dux had the benefit in time of possession, limiting scoring opportunities for the Bulldogs. Zeeland went up 1-0 off the opening faceoff before Colby Leach answered back to tie. Leach had two goals, also scoring the final point of the game for Vicksburg. After Thomas Harsha tied it up 2-2, the Dux ripped off six straight goals to make it 8-2. The Bulldogs never seemed to get momentum back.
“If you can’t pass and catch you will have a hard time holding onto the ball,” Head Coach Mike Malloy said. “They did it better, especially in the early part. Now you’re playing from behind, so you’re trying to press a little bit more.”
Rhodes Conroy had four goals for Vicksburg and Grayson Pratt also had a hat trick with three of his own. After missing a whole season due to the coronavirus pandemic, there are some challenges.
“From the coaching point, you’ve got a short window and it’s all about budgeting your time,” Malloy said. “We’ve probably spent a little more time on Xs and Os. And fundamentally I don’t think we’re where we need to be right now. We spent a lot of time yesterday on fundamentals.”
Another factor that has not helped the early part of the season is that both the varsity and JV teams had players in quarantine. Malloy credited his team with fighting hard regardless. He’s hopeful the team can turn around the slow start once they get some players back.
“These guys are playing hard and the guys in quarantine are ready to get back at it once they can,” Malloy said. “It’s tough for those guys to have to sit out.”
There are many popular movements today, encouraging us to restructure, reduce and live uncluttered lives. Subscribers claim that the result of living a life of excess is time spent worrying and taking care of what we have; if we can clear our space and minds of the extras, we have more time for joy, and we experience more happiness.
I certainly have more than I need, and sometimes my belongings, and yes, my schedule, can cause me some stress.
Even little Zippy, our one-year-old Boston, has a box overflowing with toys and a regular supply of chews and small treats. He has more than enough, and I’ve been surprised by his reaction.
Here’s what happens: I give Zippy a special chew when I return from the grocery store. He sniffs it, takes it gently in his mouth and then hides it. He becomes obsessed with keeping it safe. He searches for just the right spot: behind a curtain, under a pillow, beside his bed. He fusses with it and scoots away, only to quickly change his mind. He then picks it up and begins the process again. While this does keep him occupied and distracted, and he avoids the occasional puppy-chewing-destruction, it seems hard for him to relax. He is continually worried about arranging it and keeping it safe.
According to my Google search, this behavior is common in dogs, and can be a result of several things, including instincts and stress. But here is a reason listed again and again: this behavior can occur when a dog has more than he needs. Bingo!
The more we have, the more we must take care of. Certainly, our families have needs: shelter, food, clothing, and a household budget that runs regularly in the black. These things are necessary for quality of life and security for our loved ones. The challenge is to achieve a balance between preparing for a rainy day and enjoying the moment. But most of us would agree that too many belongings and commitments can keep us stressed and obsessed.
For me, excessiveness is best demonstrated by our gardens. What started as an 8-by-4-feet perennial bed twenty-five years ago, is now a yard filled gardens that follow our fencing, grow under our trees, and occupy the ever-developing island beds. Each year, it seems, we divide plants, move plants, add plants, increasing and intensifying the work required. Yes, the lush foliage and beautiful blossoms are lovely, and we do enjoy them, but the gardens are hours of work, especially in the spring. While I don’t worry about our gardens like Zippy seems to fret about his bones, it does consume lots of our energy and time.
Simplicity. We are gradually adjusting to the idea of downsizing. Now that we are nearing retirement (and our knees and backs ache after an afternoon of pulling weeds or mulching) simplifying our outdoor space seems wise. This is an adjustment for me, and it is wrapped in the need to acknowledge and accept this human experience of aging.
We will divide perennials and give away some plants this year, and we will remove high maintenance plants. Perhaps some of the space in the existing gardens will be reseeded and rejoin the grassy yard. Maybe I won’t bring home as many new plants from the nurseries and greenhouses – but I fall for those colorful beauties’ siren songs every time.
Simplicity. I’m going to do my best to streamline our gardening life and relax a bit more.
MacKenzie’s Bakery, which closed in Kalamazoo at the end of 2020, will open later this year in downtown Vicksburg under the ownership of Vicksburg native Chris Moore.
Moore acquired the bakery’s assets, including the brand, recipes and equipment, from Water Street Coffee Joint owner Mark Smutek in a deal completed April 19 on undisclosed terms. The new company will produce wholesale bread to area retailers and restaurants.
Mackenzies Vicksburg – the business will drop the upper-case K and the apostrophe – will open at a Moore-owned property 103 E. Prairie Street. The 1,700-square-foot location will primarily serve as a kitchen and distribution facility, but the bakery may eventually offer retail products via a small storefront space. The building is attached to 101 E. Prairie, also owned by Moore. The facades of the adjoining two-story buildings have been restored as part of Moore’s stated mission to revitalize downtown Vicksburg and restore many of its original buildings into historic centerpieces.
Moore, owner of The Mill at Vicksburg, an $80-million mixed-use project in development on the west end of the village, said he grew up enjoying MacKenzie’s baked goods and jumped at the chance to revitalize the brand and help bring more business to the village. Moore has said his vision is to create a “thriving Vicksburg.”
“Downtown Vicksburg is going to smell great with the aroma of Mackenzies bread,” Moore said. He resides in Seattle where he operates Concord Technologies and Old Stove Brewing, but frequently visits Vicksburg for extended periods.
After MacKenzie’s closed, the brand, web domain name and equipment were purchased by Smutek. Moore’s Vicksburg leadership team, led by Chief Operating Officer Jackie Koney, was approached by a mutual acquaintance who connected them to Smutek, leading to the acquisition.
The MacKenzie’s equipment has been transferred to Vicksburg, where Koney’s team will work to complete renovation plans.
Former owner John MacKenzie has signed on to help consult the new owners during startup. Additional full- and part-time staff will be hired to manage daily operations. The focus at first is on wholesale bread.
“We are looking to bring Mackenzies bread into store and dining establishments across Southwest Michigan, so our immediate focus is to gear up for large-scale bread production,” Koney said. “Once we get settled, we’ll evaluate expanding product offerings and delivery channels.”
The move into downtown Vicksburg was welcomed by Village leadership. “We look forward to welcoming a new iteration of MacKenzie’s into downtown Vicksburg,” said Village Manager Jim Mallery. “There is a lot of potential for growth with Mackenzies Vicksburg’s products and sales channels, so we are excited to have them up and running and adding to our downtown charm.”
Mackenzies Vicksburg expects to share more information on opening dates and product offerings later this summer.
Larry Forsyth and Sheri Louis present a Blessing Box.
Generous Hands provides food, grocery vouchers, school supplies and menstrual products for families in Vicksburg. The pandemic has increased the need for food and presented obstacles to food distribution. In order to overcome these barriers, we have adapted the way we operate and are launching a new program called “The Blessing Box”.
The Blessing Box concept (also termed Little Free Pantry) is a take-off on the “Little Free Library” idea in which volunteers place and tend a “library” to encourage the sharing of books among neighborhood friends. Several of these libraries operate in Vicksburg already.
As explained on their website littlefreepantry.org, “Jessica McClard launched the grassroots mini-pantry movement in May 2016 in Fayetteville, Arkansas, when she planted the Little Free Pantry Pilot, a wooden box on a post containing food, personal care, and paper items accessible to everyone all the time, no questions asked. She hoped her spin on the Little Free Library concept would pique local awareness of food insecurity while creating a space for neighbors to help meet neighborhood food needs. A little over a month later, Crystal Rock Cathedral Women’s Ministries planted a Blessing Box in Ardmore, Oklahoma. By August 2016, the movement was global. Throughout the US and internationally, the grassroots mini-pantry movement continues growing and moving. Whether a need for food or a need to give, mini pantries help feed neighbors, nourishing neighborhoods.”
Currently, littlefreepantry.org provides a listing for the location of over 1800 Little Free Pantries in the U.S., allowing easy access for people in need.
In that same spirit, Generous Hands has begun providing non-perishable food as well as hygiene items (including shampoo, soap, toothbrushes/toothpaste and toilet paper) in our first Blessing Box. Local volunteer and woodworker, Larry Forsyth, assembled this sturdy box and installed it in front of Generous Hands and South County Community Services’ location at 606 Spruce St in early March. It is labeled with the Little Free Pantry motto: “Take what you need, give what you can.” Supplies are replenished daily.
A second Blessing Box will be opening soon at Portage Terrace off Portage Road. Sheri Louis, executive director of Generous Hands, notes, “We are so excited to launch the Blessing Box program. We hope this will be a way for our neighbors in Vicksburg to access nutritious food when they need it.” Additional locations are being considered as the program expands.
If you would like to help with the Blessing Box program, or have ideas for new locations for Blessing Boxes, please contact Sheri Louis at 269-370-7965 or slouis916@aol.com.
Nearly 500 people were vaccinated at Vicksburg High School gym.
By Kathy Oswalt-Forsythe
The Kalamazoo County Health Department vaccinated nearly 500 South County residents in a March 30 clinic at the Vicksburg High School gym. Recipients received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine free of charge.
Executive Director Drew Johnson of South County Community Services (SCCS), said 487 vaccines were administered. The agency made the vaccine available to 18-and-older residents of Vicksburg and Schoolcraft villages and townships of Pavilion, Climax, Wakeshma, Brady, Schoolcraft and Prairie Ronde townships. The clinic used the Johnson & Johnson vaccine because the targeted recipients were those who might be unable to travel to the bigger clinics in Kalamazoo. The one-shot vaccine has been shown to be extremely effective at keeping people safe.
Johnson, whose agency was actively involved in the scheduling and outreach, was pleased. “We were very happy that we didn’t fill up until the day before the clinic, which to us meant that we had the correct number of vaccines available for the area.”
Johnson indicated the agency had adequate time to reach out to clients, many of whom are “older or living with conditions that make them more vulnerable to COVID-19.” SCCS personnel contacted over 350 seniors and provided transportation as needed.
“This was a true partnership,” Johnson said. “The County of Kalamazoo was great to work with throughout the process and very well-organized.” Johnson also expressed appreciation for the Vicksburg Community Schools who made available a space with plenty of room for social distancing.
