The 4 Flutes Team. (left to right) Zack Flipse, Desiree Wines, William Tucker, Rick Goldwater, Zach Bishop, Ted Miller, Kyle Klein, Chantelle Rankin.
Zack Bishop’s father was a mechanic. At nine, he was helping his dad rebuild transmissions, disassemble them, clean their parts and put them back together.
But despite all the mechanical knowledge shared, Zack says the greatest gift given to him by his father was a work ethic. He remembers working late and on weekends to make good on promises to customers.
It was through one of his dad’s friends, a millwright, that Zack discovered machining. That led him to the Kalamazoo Regional Education Service Area’s (KRESA) Education for Employment (EFE) program and into machine tool technology classes. Upon graduation, he worked several machining jobs while strategizing the development of his own business. In 2015, at the age of 20, Zack’s dream of 4 Flutes Machining was born. Through a series of agreements with employers, Zack started to develop and do work for his own customers. This led to one machine in a pole building in Augusta, Michigan. There were lots of hours after work and on weekends while he worked a full-time job while building his dream. Zack says, “Things got crazy very quickly with a new company bringing all their business to 4 Flutes.” The need for more machines and more space led to a move to Vicksburg.
The November 2020 move to Vicksburg still saw Zack as 4 Flutes’ only employee. He was handling sales, ordering and unloading materials, design, cutting, invoicing, and shipping, while the business continued its rapid growth. Based on last year’s final production numbers, sales have increased 382 percent since the move. New business has expanded to include projects for the military and the space industry. To maintain that growth, over a dozen new machines have been added along with nine new employees.
4 Flutes is an eclectic mix of precision machines built in the early 1900s to state-of-the-art high-tech machines made for production volume. Standing in this shop gives one the feeling that anything can be made here. Zack says wages start at $25 per hour and there is no college requirement, although he encourages, and assists employees in taking college classes. “The education of tool making and engineering have improved exponentially at the post-secondary level over the last several years, and in our prototyping work we find ourselves talking to engineers and rocket scientists on a regular basis and knowledge is key.” Zack has carefully assembled a team of employees that he says “support each other at all levels and each of them wants to be a part of something bigger than themselves.”
Zack says 60 percent of their work is prototype work while the remaining is low volume to high volume production work. Some prototyping work, depending on materials and complexity, can come with a hefty price tag. Staying true to his father’s values, Zack wants to establish long-term customer relationships built on trust and experience. “When our clients move a project from a prototype to production, we want to continue with them,” he says, “we helped build the part, we know the challenges, we have the history. We also know that once production begins, the engineers are already planning the next prototype.”
Zack believes 4 Flutes will continue its growth over the next several years which will require some expansions. In 10 years he sees himself in a “massive state-of-the-art building that will rival some Stryker and Pfizer facilities, but still here in Vicksburg.”
In addition to growing his own business, he assists Vicksburg’s growth by serving on the Vicksburg Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the Vicksburg Planning Commission.
Book Club for Adults – April 6 and May 4 from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Book club meets at this time the first Thursday of every month. April’s book is a free-for-all. We will choose a book or author to read for May.
Comedy Movie Club – April 5 and May 3 from 6 – 8 p.m. Spend the evening watching a comedy movie at the library! Popcorn and drinks provided. April’s movie is the martial arts action-comedy The Paper Tigers. Open to anyone 18+.
Crafts for Adults and Seniors – April 18 from 1 – 3 p.m. Adults and seniors do crafts at the library. April’s craft is making your own scented soap. All you need to bring is yourself.
Anime and Gaming Social Group for 18+ — April 20 from 5 – 5:45 p.m. Social and discussion group for anime and gaming fans who are 18 and up. Come ready to discuss your favorite anime and games. Hot and cold drinks provided.
Craft and Chat – April 21 from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Adults and seniors bring their current craft project (e.g., knitting, crocheting, coloring, cross-stitch, etc.) to work on while chatting with other crafters. Tea and coffee provided.
Movie Club for Adults and Seniors – April 24 from 1 – 3:30 p.m. Come to the library to watch a movie, drink tea or coffee, and nibble on snacks. April’s movie will be “Emma,” based on Jane Austen’s classic novel.
Writers’ Roundtable creative writing group – April 26 from 1 – 2:30 p.m. All are welcome. Bring a short piece to workshop.
Pizza, Bingo, and More! All-Ages Pizza Party – April 26 from 5:30 – 7 p.m. We’ll have Hungry Howie’s pizza, pizza-themed bingo, pizza-themed crafts, and pizza story time for the little ones. Everyone is welcome at this all-ages event, but registration is required. Call the library at 649-1648 or stop at the Circulation Desk to register.
Family Storytime – For children 18 months to 4 years old. Meets Mondays 10 – 10:30 a.m. (April 3, 10, 17, 24). Rich language experiences with storytelling, reading, and music and movement.
Mugs and Hugs – For children 18 months to 4 years old, on biweekly Wednesdays (April 5 and April 19) from 10 – 10:45 a.m. Fun learning and social time. Coffee and tea provided for adults.
Bouncing Babies – For babies to 2 years old every Friday from 10 – 10:30 a.m. (April 7, 14, 21, 28). We start early to enhance language and social development
Bulldog Break Time – For teens in grades 6 – 12, held on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month from 2:45 – 4:15 p.m. (April 13 and 27). A safe space for teens and tweens to get together and have fun. Crafts, games, social activities, and tasty treats provided.
Teen Space / Game Time – For teens in grades 6 – 12, held on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month from 4:15 – 5:45 p.m. (April 13 and 27). Nintendo Switch and games for people under 18! All supplies provided along with fun snacks.
STEAM – Our STEAM programs provide opportunities for children K to 5th grade to explore and experiment with new concepts. Monday, April 17, 11 a.m. – noon. STEAM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.
LEGO Club – Free Build – Students in grades K – 5 can build their favorite design in Legos. This month our theme is “PETS”. They will choose their favorite creation, along with a label to put in the library display case. Tuesday, April 18, 4 – 5 p.m.
Ladies Library Auxiliary Meeting – April 7 from noon – 3 p.m. in our Lower Level space.
Quilters Class – April 24 from 7 – 8 p.m. in our Lower Level space.
Quilt-n-Friends Workday – April 29 from 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. in our Lower Level space.
Bridge Club meets every Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. – noon.
Tai Chi meets each Tuesday night from 7 – 8 p.m. and each Thursday morning from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Tractors on display and the farmstead in the Vicksburg Historic Village. The Historic Village will soon be bustling with community activities.
By Leah Richard
The Vicksburg Historical Society is proud to provide free, family friendly events to our community. We have a fun-filled year planned and hope to see you at the Vicksburg Historic Village and Depot Museum this summer.
Buildings in the Historic Village will be open to the public every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, June through October. Admission is free, but donations are always welcome!
Annual Membership Meeting – Saturday, April 22, 10 a.m.-noon
The Vicksburg Historical Society is hosting its Annual Membership Meeting at 101 S. Main Street.
We will be joined by elder Kevin Harris of the Nottowaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi. Elder Harris will speak on the history of the tribe passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth.
Please join us to mingle, enjoy snacks, and get updated on events and member information! RSVP by April 14.
If you are thinking of becoming a member, you are welcome to attend. Members of the Board of Trustees will be on hand to answer questions and you will have the opportunity to sign up for membership.
Bike Rodeo, Check-Up, and Helmet Safety – Saturday, May 13, 9 a.m.- noon
As part of National Bike Month, we will be hosting a children’s Bike Rodeo at 301 N. Richardson.
Pedal Bicycle will be at the Historic Village Garage doing FREE bike check-ups and minor adjustments, while Safe Kids Kalamazoo County will be on hand to do helmet checks and hand out 75 FREE helmets!
Speaker Series – Sunday, May 28, 2 p.m. at Township Hall in the Vicksburg Historic Village
Speaker to be determined. Check out our Facebook page to keep updated.
Historic Village Season Opening and Hands-on-History – Saturday, June 10, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Join the Vicksburg Historical Society Board and Volunteers in starting our 2023 season off right! While you are out for the Vicksburg Old Car Festival, take a stroll through the Historic Village, enjoy games of old, kid’s crafts, and free refreshments.
In the Print Shop, get hands on with our Washington Hand Press. Visitors will have the opportunity to get behind the scenes and make their own print. A one-of-a-kind opportunity for all ages!
Birdhouse Building – Saturday, June 17, 10 a.m.-noon
With a generous donation of birdhouse kits and volunteers from Frederick Construction, and paint and brushes from Vicksburg Hardware, kids of all ages are invited to build and decorate their own birdhouses.
To keep up to date with our event schedule and learn about the history of the Vicksburg area, follow us on Facebook and check out our website: http://www.vicksburghistory.org.
One of the painted chairs. Photo by Carmen Murray.
Do you have a favorite chair? Is it your favorite because it’s comfortable enough for you to examine the inside of your eyelids? Or is it because you rocked your babies in it as you softly sang lullabies? Or maybe it’s your favorite because it’s a piece of your family’s history?
Are you looking to add a treasured piece to your favorites? Or looking for a unique gift for Mom for Mother’s Day on May 14? Consider a one-of-a-kind chair created for the Take a Seat for the Arts fundraiser hosted by the Vicksburg Fine Arts Boosters (VFAB).
Chairs will be on display at the Celebration of the Arts on Thursday, April 20 at the High School. You can bid on chairs using QR codes on the chairs or by visiting this website: https://vicksburgfab.wixsite.com/vfab.
The auction is open April 20 through Tuesday the 25th. Winners will be contacted by Friday, April 27.
The members of VFW Post 5189 are looking for a few good vets to join their ranks.
By James Schippers, Commander
Vicksburg VFW Post 5189 is seeking new members. The post’s emphasis has always been service to veterans and community. Post membership has been too small to establish a canteen or club, so meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the Kline’s Resort Clubhouse. Chartered in 1946, the post was named for Captain Charles Osborne, a medical doctor who served in the South Pacific in WWII.
James Schippers, who served in Vietnam as an infantry soldier, is the new post commander. Senior Vice Commander is Mel Kuis, who also served in Vietnam. Commander Schippers oversees business and organizes post meetings and Honor Guard services. Senior Vice Commander Kuis and Commander Schippers organize Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day activities. Senior Vice Commander Kuis also commands the Honor Guard that provides military honors and rifle salutes for deceased veterans at the request of family.
Significant dates for veterans and activities include: Buddy Poppy donations during the month of May; Memorial Day Ceremony at Vicksburg Cemetery; June 14 Flag Day; July 4, Independence Day; and November 11. Veteran’s Day. The Post’s biggest challenge today is an aging and declining membership.
The VFW Post 5189 is seeking eligible veterans who would like to serve other veterans and the community. The post will pay an individual’s first year membership dues and will share the cost of an official VFW jacket. We want to continue building our VFW membership to help veterans get the Veteran’s Administration benefits that they deserve. Anyone interested in joining our post can contact Commander Schippers at 269-760-7391 or email at bjschippers@comcast.net.
Alisha Siebers, Executive Director, Vicksburg Cultural Arts Center
Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 Tournament of Writers! The competition accepts submissions in the genres of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Each piece is evaluated by a panel of judges who score the submissions using a rubric that evaluates effective use of language, powerful deployment of literary techniques, and creativity. Based on these scores, judges award prizes within each genre, separated out by age divisions.
This year’s FICTION winners are: First Place: Gabbi Kirchner (Junior Division), Shelbie Walton (Young Adult Division), Ross Landers (Adult Division), and Rick Chambers (Senior Division). Second Place: Samantha Ball, Wyatt Walton, Simon Thalmann, and Francis Kartch. Third Place: Jerzie Harp, Alex Roberts, Dustin Colwell, and Nancy Smith. This year’s NONFICTION winners are: First Place: Lillian Ross, Emilie Helmbold, Kristin Youngs, and Mark Stucky. Second Place: Eleanor Ross, Ashley Porter, and Dan Knasel. Second Place: Eleanor Ross, Ashley Porter, and Dan Knasel. Third Place: Simon Thalmann and Bonnie Oswalt. Our POETRY winners are: First Place: Noelle Germay, Hannah Laughery, Carolyn Adams, and Carol Braymer. Second Place: Hayden Moden, Ashley Gerber, Ashley Porter, and Charles Crouch. Third Place: Hayden McCarty, Kaylen Holden-Pierce, Dustin Colwell, and Jo Wiley.
All entries in the tournament are published in the “Small Town Anthology,” which has been painstakingly complied by Syd Bastos, complete with a beautiful cover designed by our new board member, Audrey Seilheimer. In “Small Town Anthology,” Volume IX, you will find pieces by new writers and seasoned writers of all ages and walks of life. You’ll be transported to all kinds of locations: to our familiar lakes, forests, cabins, and beaches; but also to Alaska, deep space, Koonikoo Island, fairyland, and a place where moose have gooses on their heads. You’ll travel back to childhood, ahead to old age, step into dystopian futures, and ponder the past. A kaleidoscope of narrators will take you on these journeys: warriors, mothers, con men, moon princesses, alpha wolves, and even a sentient carrot.
Copies will be available for purchase for $10 at the free Tournament’s Inspiration Celebration on Thursday, April 6 at 6 p.m. at R & R Events. The public is invited to join us as we celebrate our local writers’ courage and creativity. Come hear a few of the writers read their poems and join us for a book-signing party. We will be announcing the Judges’ Choice Grand Prize and the new Gilbert and Ivy Youth Writers Award at the celebration.
For more information about the Tournament of Writers or about how to purchase the “Small Town Anthology” on Amazon, visit our website at http://www.vicksburgarts.com.
