In-person library programs return to Vicksburg

by Justin Gibson | Oct 9, 2021 | Community, Vicksburg

Vicksburg District Library has begun adding in-person programs to its schedules. The Library has been slow to start as it watched the progress of the COVID-19 while more Kalamazoo county residents continued to get vaccinated. While keeping attendees’ health and safety in mind, especially for children who aren’t approved for vaccination, Vicksburg has gradually started advertising for traditional programming.

The first program held in-person was the Writers’ Roundtable, headed by Library Director Eric Hansen at the end of August. It was well-attended and given its success, it was left up on the Library’s Calendar of Events to begin its regular rotation every fourth Wednesday of the month at 1 p.m.

“I was exceedingly glad to host the Creative Writing group again,” said Hansen. “Hosting events and meeting the community is a core part of being a librarian, and it makes our work fun and exciting.”

Stephanie Willoughby, youth services librarian, began holding in-person family story time sessions in mid-September. She worked to keep families spaced out for social distancing and highly recommended masking although it was not mandatory. In addition, she started holding another session of the popular program on Wednesdays, in addition to the traditional Mondays. Her hope is that this will offer another option for families to attend, as well as keep attendance spread out for the safety of all attendees.

“Story time lasts about 20 to 30 minutes and there is a take-home craft or activity every week,” Willoughby said. “Each family has their own designated spot with the book that is being read. Caregivers and kids can then cuddle together while I read the stories. Plus, there are shakers and scarves that are cleaned thoroughly after each program.”

Willoughby experimented with in-person programming during the summer reading program in June and July. Story times were held outside at the Pavilion in the Historical Village, allowing for open air and easy social distancing for families. The programs proved successful.

The head of reference and circulation services, Adrianne Schinkai, held her first session of the Book Club for Adults on Sept. 2. Schinkai decided to move along with the scheduling of programs, but has taken a page from Willoughby’s book by holding the sessions at different times each week. Book Club for Adults is currently being held the first Thursday of each month at 9 a.m., while a spin-off program, the Everything Book Club, is being held the third Thursday of the month at 5:30 p.m.

In addition, Schinkai is heading Yarn Arts Circle, a crafting program that was gaining popularity before cancellation due to COVID-19. A morning session is being held the second Thursday of the month at 9:00 a.m. while the traditional evening session will be held the fourth Thursday of the month at 5:30 p.m. This allows patrons to attend without overcrowding. Schinkai hopes the new schedules will open attendance opportunities for new patrons.

“One of the biggest things our patrons are looking for right now is programming. However, we want to do this as safely as possible,” said Schinkai. “Not only is there the health and safety of our patrons, of course, but the health and safety of our library’s staff as well. We haven’t escaped unscratched by COVID. We hope patrons will keep this in mind when they return to the Library.”

The regular lineup of in-person programming starts in October. The Library advises that events will be socially distanced as much as possible and any mask mandates that are in place by the Michigan Health and Human Services are expected to be followed by all attendees. To find out more about these events, visit the Vicksburg District Library’s Calendar of Events page at http://www.vicksburglibrary.org.

Marching bands converge on Vicksburg Oct. 12, 16

by Justin Gibson | Oct 9, 2021 | Community, Vicksburg

The sounds of marching bands – multiple marching bands – will return to Vicksburg Tuesday, Oct. 12, and again on Saturday, Oct. 16.

Vicksburg High School has again been asked by the Michigan State Band and Orchestra Association to serve as a host site for the District XI Marching Band Festival on Oct. 12. Between five and 11 marching bands are expected to participate. The public is invited to attend and concessions will be available. The schedule is on vicksburgbands.com.

That’s a prelude to the 6th Annual Vicksburg Bulldog Marching Band Invitational the afternoon and evening of Oct. 16, the first to be held in the renovated high school stadium.

Bands from 16 Class A-D schools are scheduled to perform in the competition, with more than 1,000 students expected to perform. Marching bands from area schools scheduled to attend include Schoolcraft, Portage Central, Three Rivers, Climax-Scotts, Mattawan, Otsego, Parchment, Kalamazoo Central and Comstock. Other schools registered for the event include Bronson, Springport, River Valley, Camden-Frontier, Hartford, Charlotte and Berrien Springs.

Following the competition portion of the event, the Vicksburg High School marching band, the Big Red Machine, will present its 2021 competition show as an exhibition. The host band does not compete with the invited bands for a rating.

Following the Vicksburg exhibition, drumlines of Vicksburg and another school will take center field for this year’s Drumline Face-Off feature, when it debuted in 2018.

The bands will be scored by a panel of judges on various criteria, such as music performance, marching accuracy, music effectiveness and visual effect. Music-themed trophies will be awarded to the bands placing first, second, and third in each class, and additional “hardware” will be going home with bands receiving the “caption award” in each class for Best Marching, Best Music, Best Percussion and Best Color Guard. The band with the top rating across all four classes will win a Grand Champion trophy.

Stadium gates will open for spectators at 2:30 p.m. The first competing band will perform at 3:15 p.m., and be followed by the other bands performing at approximately 15-minute intervals, with a short dinner break for judges built into the schedule. Awards ceremonies for the Class D and B bands will be held about 5:30 p.m., with the Class C and A bands awards to be presented following the Drumline Face-Off. When the complete schedule is finished it will be available on the internet at vicksburgbands.com.

The admission charge remains at $6; pre-school age children are admitted free. A keepsake print program will also be available at the admission gates for a nominal charge. A variety of food and beverages will be available throughout the event. On-site parking is available at the High School and the nearby Administration Building (Old El); and also at the adjacent Middle School accessed by the drive between the Administration Building and the Bus Garage. Overflow parking will be available on nearby neighborhood streets.

The Bulldog Invitational is a fundraiser for the Vicksburg Band Boosters, which sponsors the event. A strong showing of support for this event by fans of the participating bands, and by the Vicksburg area community sustain the Bulldog Invitational as a premiere annual scholastic marching band competition in this area.