Zinta Aistars's Blog, page 19
March 6, 2014
Fiesta by Blanca ... in demand
by Zinta Aistars
Published in Southwest Michigan's Second Wave Media
March 6, 2014
Blanca Cardoza making salsa (Photo by Erik Holladay)
Salsa has overtaken ketchup as the No. 1 condiment in the land. And Blanca Cardoza is finding the marketplace for her salsa, Fiesta by Blanca, is wide open. Zinta Aistars talks with the budding entrepreneur about the appeal of the spicy condiment that updates family recipes to reflect today's tastes.
It's a good problem to have: Blanca Cardoza is less than th...
Published in Southwest Michigan's Second Wave Media
March 6, 2014
Blanca Cardoza making salsa (Photo by Erik Holladay)Salsa has overtaken ketchup as the No. 1 condiment in the land. And Blanca Cardoza is finding the marketplace for her salsa, Fiesta by Blanca, is wide open. Zinta Aistars talks with the budding entrepreneur about the appeal of the spicy condiment that updates family recipes to reflect today's tastes.
It's a good problem to have: Blanca Cardoza is less than th...
March 4, 2014
Secondhand News: An Encore magazine cover story
by Zinta Aistars
Published in Encore Magazine
March 2014 Issue
Published in Encore Magazine
March 2014 Issue
Green’ and thrifty shoppers fuel growth of resale stores By Zinta AistarsPhotos by Erik HolladayThrift stores, secondhand stores, vintage stores. Call them what you will, but stores selling gently used items — from clothes and furniture to children’s gear and building materials — are popping up everywhere. In Kalamazoo alone, an Internet search will turn up nearly 50 listings of secondhand stores, from shops that sell item...
February 27, 2014
How sweet it is at The Cupcake Zoo
by Zinta Aistars
Published in Southwest Michigan's Second Wave Media
February 27, 2014
Lindsey Pimpileo and Cupcake (Photo by Erik Holladay)
Lindsey Pompileo caught the cupcake food trend right in time. Now her business, The Cupcake Zoo, is rising like heated batter in the oven. Zinta Aistars reports on how it all came to be.
Photo by Erik HolladayWhen Lindsey Pompileo was a girl, she didn't have an Easy-Bake Oven. She didn’t want one. She wasn’t interested in baking, and as she grew up, the runni...
Published in Southwest Michigan's Second Wave Media
February 27, 2014
Lindsey Pimpileo and Cupcake (Photo by Erik Holladay)Lindsey Pompileo caught the cupcake food trend right in time. Now her business, The Cupcake Zoo, is rising like heated batter in the oven. Zinta Aistars reports on how it all came to be.
Photo by Erik HolladayWhen Lindsey Pompileo was a girl, she didn't have an Easy-Bake Oven. She didn’t want one. She wasn’t interested in baking, and as she grew up, the runni...
February 18, 2014
One Oar: A Journey with Alzheimer's (Interviewing Marie Bahlke)
by Zinta Aistars
Aired on WMUK 102.1 FM radio
February 18, 2014
Marie Bahlke at WMUKOnce or twice a month, I have the pleasure of interviewing authors and artists on WMUK's Arts and More program. WMUK 102.1 FM is the Kalamazoo, Michigan, NPR affiliate station, and the Arts and More program is produced by Rebecca Thiele. Tune in on your radio dial if you live in the area ... or listen online to the complete interview.
Kalamazoo, Michigan, resident Marie Bahlke started writing poetry in her 7...
Aired on WMUK 102.1 FM radio
February 18, 2014
Marie Bahlke at WMUKOnce or twice a month, I have the pleasure of interviewing authors and artists on WMUK's Arts and More program. WMUK 102.1 FM is the Kalamazoo, Michigan, NPR affiliate station, and the Arts and More program is produced by Rebecca Thiele. Tune in on your radio dial if you live in the area ... or listen online to the complete interview.Kalamazoo, Michigan, resident Marie Bahlke started writing poetry in her 7...
February 17, 2014
Women's Lifestyle: Story of a Survivor
by Zinta Aistars
Published in Women's Lifestyle Magazine
February 2014
Ashley HeitzmanWhen Ashley Heitzman, 19, felt light-headed in her dormitory shower at Aquinas College, she nearly fainted. She called out to her roommates for help, and they assisted her to the couch. Heitzman’s friends called campus safety patrol to be safe. They told Heitzman to drink some water, as she was no doubt dehydrated on that warm day.Although it was probably nothing, Heitzman made a call the next day to the campus...
Published in Women's Lifestyle Magazine
February 2014
Ashley HeitzmanWhen Ashley Heitzman, 19, felt light-headed in her dormitory shower at Aquinas College, she nearly fainted. She called out to her roommates for help, and they assisted her to the couch. Heitzman’s friends called campus safety patrol to be safe. They told Heitzman to drink some water, as she was no doubt dehydrated on that warm day.Although it was probably nothing, Heitzman made a call the next day to the campus...
February 16, 2014
Advocate: Building a Legacy of Health
by Zinta Aistars
Published in Women's Lifestyle Magazine
February 2014 Grand Rapids, MI
Kay Rose
Growing up, Kay Rose watched her mother’s health habits, and now her two teenage sons are watching hers.“I lost my mother when I was 23,” said Rose. “But I watched her struggle with health problems most of my life.My mom suffered a stroke when she was in her 40s, and I was only 3 or 4 years old at that time. I grew up with the knowledge that my mom was a stroke survivor.”Rose’s mother suffered recurre...
Published in Women's Lifestyle Magazine
February 2014 Grand Rapids, MI
Kay RoseGrowing up, Kay Rose watched her mother’s health habits, and now her two teenage sons are watching hers.“I lost my mother when I was 23,” said Rose. “But I watched her struggle with health problems most of my life.My mom suffered a stroke when she was in her 40s, and I was only 3 or 4 years old at that time. I grew up with the knowledge that my mom was a stroke survivor.”Rose’s mother suffered recurre...
February 6, 2014
A bike, 1,655 miles, 200 birds, one man's 12-month adventure
by Zinta Aistars
Published in Southwest Michigan's Second Wave
February 6, 2014
Josh Haas riding in Barry County (Photo by Erik Holladay)
When Josh Haas sets a goal, he doesn't settle for the little stuff. In 2013, he decided to travel across Barry County, Michigan, on his bike as he spotted birds. Zinta Aistars talks to Haas about how that turned out.
Josh Haas keeps New Year’s resolutions. That alone is worthy of applause. His resolution for the year 2013 was so unique, however, that...
Published in Southwest Michigan's Second Wave
February 6, 2014
Josh Haas riding in Barry County (Photo by Erik Holladay) When Josh Haas sets a goal, he doesn't settle for the little stuff. In 2013, he decided to travel across Barry County, Michigan, on his bike as he spotted birds. Zinta Aistars talks to Haas about how that turned out.
Josh Haas keeps New Year’s resolutions. That alone is worthy of applause. His resolution for the year 2013 was so unique, however, that...
February 3, 2014
What I Want Instead
by Zinta Aistars
Published in GERM Magazine
February 2014
Why would they be surprised that I fell in love with a chain saw? Instead of dolls when I was little, instead of pink and frilly ruffles and bows, instead of flouncy dresses and stick-thin high heels, instead of giggly small talk, instead of nodding prettily to everything the cute boy says, with a seductive whisk of my hand to toss my long blonde hair over my shoulder, just so, just so that it catches the light and maybe blinds him into w...
Published in GERM Magazine
February 2014
Why would they be surprised that I fell in love with a chain saw? Instead of dolls when I was little, instead of pink and frilly ruffles and bows, instead of flouncy dresses and stick-thin high heels, instead of giggly small talk, instead of nodding prettily to everything the cute boy says, with a seductive whisk of my hand to toss my long blonde hair over my shoulder, just so, just so that it catches the light and maybe blinds him into w...
January 30, 2014
The route to a better bus service
by Zinta Aistars
Published by Southwest Michigan's Second Wave Media
January 30, 2014
Kalamazoo County Commissioner Jack Urban (Photo by Erik Holladay)
A more efficient, more streamlined transit system in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with more routes and more frequent stops is the goal. Zinta Aistars has the report on how it's coming about.
Photo by Erik HolladayWhen considering what barriers might hold the unemployed back from getting and holding jobs, what's the first one that comes to mind? The economy...
Published by Southwest Michigan's Second Wave Media
January 30, 2014
Kalamazoo County Commissioner Jack Urban (Photo by Erik Holladay)A more efficient, more streamlined transit system in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with more routes and more frequent stops is the goal. Zinta Aistars has the report on how it's coming about.
Photo by Erik HolladayWhen considering what barriers might hold the unemployed back from getting and holding jobs, what's the first one that comes to mind? The economy...
Sculpting a new reality in Sin Republic
by Zinta Aistars
Published in Rapid Growth Media
January 30, 2014
Sin Chun (Photo by Adam Bird)
Sin Chun sculpts hair and plots world domination from his new Grand Rapids, Michigan, salon, Sin Republic. Zinta Aistars has the story.
To walk into Sin Republic at 1140 Monroe Avenue NW, Suite 2103, is to enter another country. That’s how Sin Chun sees it, and no one coming through the doors is arguing. Enter and you become a citizen.
Sin Chun approaches, his smile bright. He is slight and qui...
Published in Rapid Growth Media
January 30, 2014
Sin Chun (Photo by Adam Bird)Sin Chun sculpts hair and plots world domination from his new Grand Rapids, Michigan, salon, Sin Republic. Zinta Aistars has the story.
To walk into Sin Republic at 1140 Monroe Avenue NW, Suite 2103, is to enter another country. That’s how Sin Chun sees it, and no one coming through the doors is arguing. Enter and you become a citizen.
Sin Chun approaches, his smile bright. He is slight and qui...
