Rotary Club Showcase Features Many New Acts

by Justin Gibson | Feb 25, 2019 | Community, Vicksburg

By Sue Moore

After 65 successful years of presenting Showboat as a fundraising musical romp to the delight of local audiences, changes were needed, according to the show’s chairman Mike Tichvon.

A new format has been developed that plays to today’s audience of young and old alike, Tichvon said. The script promises a trip to the moon in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the 1969 NASA expedition. How the cast gets there will be the intriguing part of what is still a musical celebration of local talent. Performances are scheduled at 7 p.m. March 1 and 2 and at 2 p.m. March 3 at the Vicksburg Performing Arts Center, Tichvon said.

A significant change to the show’s foundation is an increase in featured acts and a requirement for all acts to audition in front of a five-person panel, said Syd Bastos, director of the Vicksburg Cultural Arts Center. The acts guarantee a new level of entertainment for audiences, she said. With performances ranging from pop, old rock, classical, soul and even barbershop, there is something for everyone.

Some of the featured acts include Dusty Morris singing “Fly me to the Moon”, The Maxson Duet’s “Bring it Home to Me”, Bob Donelson’s “Your Song”, Kathy Forsythe’s “You’re No Good”, Caleb Dziepak’s “Ain’t That a Shame” and John Carpenter playing “Star Wars Fantasy” on the Steinway piano. Bastos said you can follow the Vicksburg Rotary Showcase on Facebook to learn more about these acts.

The stage crew has constructed its version of the moonshot rocket to be launched from the PAC stage. They had a little help from the electronic wizards that populate the Rotary Club’s back of the house construction gang.

The Rotary Club of Vicksburg has been able to raise over $641,500 to put back into the community since the inception of the Showboat that began as a minstrel show in 1953. It wasn’t real professional back then, but it was a lot of fun and attracted standing room only audiences. At one point the fire marshal had to close the doors of the old gymnasium because it had reached capacity. The show moved to the new Performing Arts Center at the high school in 1994. It took on a new dimension of production and presentation according to Larry Forsyth, this year’s show director. He has been a part of the show in one capacity or another for at least 50 years. His wife, the former Tina Schneider, was brought to the first performance in ‘53 in a baby basket as her father Arle, was one of the early performers and script writers.

The evolving show has included singers from the high school Simply Men chorus. The Showcase chorus is an all-male singing group that began rehearsals the first Sunday in January. They will be performing “Come Fly Away with Me” this year.

For the last four years, Boy Scouts from Troop 251 have offered a spaghetti dinner on the Friday and Saturday nights of the show in the high school cafeteria. They have enlarged the offering to a brunch for the Sunday matinee that has been well received. Tickets for the meals may be purchased from any Boy Scout and at the door which opens at 5 p.m. before the evening shows and at noon for the matinee.

Tickets are on sale at the Church Insurance Agency at 125 East Prairie Street from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and online at https://tix5.centerstageticketing.com/sites/vicksburg/. They will also be available at the box office the night and afternoon of each performance.

Damaged Cars Look Like New at Dunshee Body and Frame

by Justin Gibson | Feb 25, 2019 | Community, Vicksburg

Brock Stephenson, the painter specialist at Dunshee Body and Frame, points to a repaired bumper that he just finished painting. Dunshee’s owner Joe Townsend inspects the work.

By Sue Moore

It isn’t as easy to fix dinged up cars as it used to be, according to Joe Townsend, owner of Dunshee Body and Frame. His company just set up shop in Vicksburg at 1728 E. VW Avenue, its second location. “The science behind all the computers that are built into the newer model cars and trucks has changed,” Townsend explained. “It means we approach our estimating and actual work much differently than 45 years ago when Dunshee started in business in Kalamazoo.”

“We start any repair job with a pre-scan to determine the amount of damage and pinpoint where it has occurred,” Townsend said. “Then we do another scan once the car is fixed to authenticate that the work has been done right and the car is safe to drive. Not every automotive repair shop invests in this kind of sophisticated equipment, but we believe it’s the best way to do the job and get our customers safely back on the road.”

Townsend ought to know. He started at Dunshee in Kalamazoo while in college sweeping floors. “I loved construction and fixing things when I was a kid. My uncle worked at the shop so when I was in college I got a job there prepping cars for the paint shop and washing them too,” Townsend said. He ended up graduating from Western Michigan University with a business degree and took a sales job elsewhere. He hated it.

“I went back to Dunshee and the owner, Ken Draayer, started me as parts manager. Then he moved me to estimator and finally general manager when Ken was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2003. I ran the shop for Draayer’s widow, Sherrie, for 10 years and then purchased the business in 2015,” Townsend said.

“I’m not unique with having worked here for so many years. Don Carlson moved to Vicksburg to work when we opened and he’s got 40 years in,” Townsend said.

“There is a great need for young technicians to enter the field as there is a huge shortage. We try to grow our own and keep them here. In fact, the day of our open house last fall, Mercer Hardy, a Vicksburg High School senior, walked in and asked for a job. I was happy to have him and he brought another of his buddies from the high school Education for Employment class. We are growing our business in Vicksburg with eight employees here and 29 at our Kalamazoo shop.”

“Training our staff is a big investment but one we strongly believe in,” Townsend said. “Our shop in Kalamazoo is I-Car Gold Class and certified for makes such as Volvo, Chrysler, Hyundai, KIA and Nissan. We are in the process of getting certification for Chevrolet and Subaru. Then this summer, we will get our Vicksburg location certified too. We have gotten busier each week after our opening day. I reached out to the various insurance agents in Vicksburg and surrounding areas to explain our business model. It’s important that they feel comfortable with our work ethic and the results we can achieve.

“Folks here in Vicksburg have been wonderful. It’s a great new location for us between Vicksburg and Schoolcraft.” Townsend lives in Mattawan with his wife Erin and children Tyler, 13, Emma, 8, and Elizabeth, 6. He has coached in the Mattawan Little League and Rocket football and been a sponsor of teams as well.

Carlson may have said it best about his move to the Vicksburg location: “There is no place better to work. Their reputation is great and they treat me right.”

Chamber of Commerce Continues to Grow

by Justin Gibson | Feb 25, 2019 | Community, Vicksburg

Members of the Vicksburg Area Chamber of Commerce board gather behind the bar at Distant Whistle where their monthly meetings are usually held. They are standing in front from left: Sue Moore, President Mandy Miller, Secretary Christine Butcher. Standing in back, from left: Treasurer Dane Bosel; Brian Pitts, Vice-President Nick DeVito, Kim Critz.

By Sue Moore

Events help to bring people to this corner of Kalamazoo County, many people believe. When the Vicksburg Area Chamber of Commerce was reconstituted in 2008, the officers, headed up by Dr. Dustin Morton, decided to specialize in events.

Thus, the Chili Cook-off was created, mostly led by Jill Lindley, who owned a downtown flower shop. The village already had a big event, the Old Car Festival, begun in 1980 by the Vicksburg Community Association which was a precursor to the Chamber. The Old Car portion is still going strong, due to Skip and Carol Knowles who have never let up on the throttle. They have kept it going although the community association has become extinct.

A block party was suggested by Steve McCowen, who was one of the early presidents of the Chamber, along with the Taste of Vicksburg, which were both organized in the summer of 2013. The Taste survived as one of the regular Chamber of Commerce events, as has the chili cook-off. All the while, the leadership of the Chamber was ebbing and flowing. It was dependent upon volunteers to get the job done. One was Tanya Delong, who was active until she closed her knitting shop on S. Main Street.

Businesses too have come and gone with downtown experiencing empty store-fronts, while manufacturing has increased with expansion in the Leja Industrial Park. The conundrum was how to meld these two together and provide a benefit for all concerned. Enter Mandy Miller, hair stylist who owned her shop on S. Main Street, along with Nick DeVito, the barber next door. They have taken over the Chamber as president and vice-president, respectively, along with Dane Bozel as treasurer and owner of two separate businesses downtown. Brian Pitts and Kim Critz are trustees. Christine Butcher is secretary.

Together they have spearheaded chamber activities including quarterly mixers that have provided new and old businesses a chance to pitch their wares. Miller tried a job fair last spring that was minimally attended. But it was considered an important step in the right direction to help manufacturing members stay connected to the organization.
Miller is a whirling dervish of event planning. She would do a lot more if she didn’t have a full-time job, husband and family interests. She also served on the Downtown Development Authority at one time and says it’s important not to confuse the two. The Chamber exists to promote the village. The DDA exists to work with bricks and mortar that helps to spruce up the downtown buildings. That agency will be leading planning for the streetscape project, set to move ahead in 2020.

Meanwhile, the Chili Cook-off and 5K race preceding it grew to the point where it was moved to the community pavilion on Richardson Street. It will better accommodate the large crowd of attendees and chili vendors, Miller pointed out. It is scheduled on Saturday, March 9 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Lions Club Bowling Fun-raiser

by Justin Gibson | Feb 25, 2019 | Community, Vicksburg

Lots of bowling teams participated in the 2018 Fun-raiser for the Lions Club. This team of Kathy and Steve Hambright, Anne and Jeremy Howard and Erin and Jeff Mohney were mocking the cover of 80s rock duo Air Supply album. They were one of the many bowling teams taking part.

“It’s that time of the year again,” Brett Grossman exclaimed.“This bowling event is something to look forward to right in the middle of this lovely Michigan frosty weather.” It’s the Vicksburg Lions Club 8th annual bowling fun-raiser, Sunday, Feb. 10, at Continental Lanes in Kalamazoo.

“The crew at Continental Lanes has been an excellent host of our events the last few years and we look forward to partnering with them again,” Grossman said. Registration begins at 11 a.m. with bowling to begin at noon. As in the last two years the Club has already filled all 32 lanes with six bowlers each. This event supports the Vicksburg Lions Club’s financial commitments to the Vicksburg community and Lions Club International charities.

Due to the popularity of this event, all teams and lane sponsors from 2018 had first crack at signing up for 2019. The event sold out in under ten days. “On the second Sunday in February each year, it feels like half the of the Village with a Vision heads north a bit to catch up for a fun Sunday afternoon for a good cause. We’d love to see as many people as possible, even if they aren’t bowling,” Grossman said.

There will be drawings for dozens of fabulous prizes graciously donated by local businesses and a 50/50 raffle. This event always makes for a great day, Grossman added.

Vicksburg Dancer to Appear at Miller Auditorium

by Justin Gibson | Feb 25, 2019 | Community, Vicksburg

Matt Wagner.

By Sue Moore

Diavolo – Architecture in Motion, a national dance company, is performing at Miller Auditorium on Feb. 27 at 7:30 p.m. Parents and friends of Vicksburg’s Matt Wagner will be in the audience to witness his exploits as a member of this highly athletic and unusual dance company.

Miller Auditorium bills the dance troop this way: “Fresh from its recent success as a top 10 finalist on NBC’s ‘America’s Got Talent’, Diavolo explores the relationship between the human body and its architectural environment, pushing the limits of performance by incorporating architectural structures, gymnastics and acrobatics into its work. Led by Artistic Director Jacques Heim, this audacious and innovative company goes where no other company dares!”

Wagner, 30, one of 12 performers in the group, grew up in a home on Barton Lake. He started dance lessons at the age of five, attended Howardsville Christian High School and Vicksburg United Methodist Church and took gymnastics in college at Oakland University. He auditioned in Dallas and was first selected for the second company’s apprentice program. He has moved up to being on the touring company for three seasons with a home base in Los Angeles.

“There is lots of gymnastics and intensity in their dance moves,” Wagner said. “We don’t use safety nets or harnesses. The audience can just feel it along with the epic music that has been composed and commissioned for our performances. Our founder and director is a mad genius. He directs the presentation like a movie; frame by frame.”

“There are six women and six men performing, climbing all around a tower type of apparatus,” he said. “It’s a very mixed group of shapes and sizes with lots of athleticism and acrobatic skills involved. To qualify I had to pass rigorous strength tests; 30 slow pushups with three counts up and down, 10 pullups and handstands, and that was just for starters. We consume a lot of food before the show. There is never too much food for me. I’m also in charge of our education outreach while on the road so this life is never boring.”