Residents gathered at cemeteries and other locales Monday to remember those who died in the service of our country, and all those that have made our freedom possible.

The American Legion Glen Hill Post #287 held services at Elmwood, Solon, and East Nelson Cemeteries and the Cedar Springs Veterans Park. Assisting with the  service was the American Legion  Honor Guard, the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary, the Sons of the American Legion and the Boy Scouts.

Services were also held in Algoma Township and Sand Lake. The Cedar Springs Historical Society held their annual cemetery walk in Elmwood Cemetery on the Sunday before Memorial Day.

By Judy Reed

When you’re a kid, the long, hot days of summer seem to go on forever. It’s not long before kids exhaust their ideas of what to do and moms hear the familiar refrain, “There’s nothing to do! I’m bored!” Well, don’t you believe it! With a little searching, you’ll find hundreds of activities taking place in West Michigan where families can have fun and spend some quality time together. In this week’s special pullout section of “Beat the Boredom: a summer survival guide,” you’ll find just a fraction of the many things going on this summer—festivals, summer enrichment programs, camps, concerts, and more! Click on link below to see what’s on tap for you this summer!

Beat-The-Boredom-2013 

The Michigan State Police in Lakeview are investigating the drowning of a Pierson man.

Troopers responded to Muskellunge Lake, in Maple Valley Township, about 11:41 p.m. Wednesday evening, May 22, for a missing fisherman. They located Michael Lee White, 52, of Pierson, in the water, near his boat, at the northeast end of the lake. They believe he died of an accidental drowning.

The Michigan State Police were assisted by the Montcalm County Sheriff’s Office, Montcalm EMS, and a local resident. The accident is still under investigation.

The Post went with Mark and Ann Balczak to the NCAA Nationals in Pueblo, Colorado last week, where they went to see their son, Justin, compete. The photo shows Justin after his two day Decathalon 2nd place win, May 23-24. Justin is a sophomore at Lake Superior State University. For more details on his win, see page 16.

Congratulations, Justin, and thanks to Mark and Ann for taking us with you!

These sixth graders at En-Gedi are just some of the kids that benefit from your fundraising dollars that help this free youth center.

The En-Gedi Fundraiser Auction held on May 17 was an overwhelming success! With generous donations from many people and businesses in the community, a total of almost $22,000 was earned. The event offered appetizers for attending guests as they surveyed the numerous items on the silent auction tables and the 13 items slated for the live auction.

Art Smith generated a lot of excitement and enthusiasm for En-Gedi’s mission to serve the youth of our community through a free after school youth center, along with special events throughout the year. En-Gedi’s vision of working together with organizations already in place to help students make positive life choices and believing that our community will be “Better Together” was easy to support. C.S. Manufacturing committed to matching all funds earned up to $10,000.

“On behalf of the students and families who are benefiting from En-Gedi’s services, we would like to thank everyone who so generously gave to this special event. Our hearts are filled with joy and gratitude with your kind support. Please know you are helping to make a positive difference,” said Kevin Pike, Auction Co-Chair and En-Gedi Board Member.

You can get more than exercise while traveling the White Pine Trail.

Jaime Gunderson sent along these photos of her kids, Taylor and Eli Gunderson. They found a special treat while recently bicycling on the White Pine Trail in Cedar Springs—morel mushrooms!

What is your favorite way to prepare morel mushrooms? Send us your recipe, and we’ll print them as space allows. Send to news@cedarspringspost.com.

Two Garden Club members, Christine McFarlane (left) and Caroline Bartlette (right), are shown here landscaping in front of the Cedar Springs Public Library.

The Cedar Springs Garden Club has been hard at work beautifying the area across from the US Post Office at the corner of Cherry and First Streets, and was recently caught landscaping an area outside the Cedar Springs Public Library, at Cherry and Second St.

Thanks so much for making our city beautiful!

If you are interested in joining the Garden Club, call Sandy McEwen at 696-8660.

The Michigan State Police in Lakeview and the Howard City Police Department are jointly working on a breaking and entering of the McNaughton Elementary school earlier this week.

MacNaughton Elementary, 415 Cedar St., in Howard City, was broken into  sometime between 8 pm Monday evening, May 27, and 6:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, May 28.

Police said the suspect(s) did an extensive amount of damage to the interior of the school, causing officials to cancel school Tuesday. Many windows were smashed and individual rooms and a large number of computers were vandalized.

Last week there were reportedly two larcenies at the school and Howard City Police Chief Steve DeWitt said they may be related. Last week a very large stuffed animal “Moose” approximately 3 ft tall, and a smaller stuffed bear, was taken. Two cases of soft drinks were also taken.

If you or someone you know has information on last week’s thefts and/or this weeks breaking and entering, please contact the Howard City Police immediately at 231-937-4311. Information can remain confidential.

“Someone has information that will be useful,” said DeWitt. “We need your assistance in solving this crime against your school and your students.”

It’s been a long time coming, but the Kent Theatre’s new state of the art digital projector has been installed and is ready to roll!

This weekend’s showing of “42” will be the theatre’s first movie using the new digital projector.

The projector is a top-of-the-line system and is one of the highest quality projectors running in West Michigan. Not only did they upgrade to digital projection, they also upgraded the Dolby sound system to the latest technology.

“We want to thank the community for their support in raising money for this project,” said Len Allington, President of the Cedar Springs Theatre Association.

The Kent began a fundraising drive last spring to raise $60,000 for the new digital projection system after finding out from film distributors that most movies were now going digital, and film prints would be harder to find, and possibly cease all together.

Be sure to come this weekend to see the result of everyone’s exceptional effort in the last year to save movies at the Kent!

Admission is $3. Turn to page 7 for a list of this summer’s movies.

Matthew Landry was the first to register his family for the CS Public Library’s Summer Reading Program, “Dig into Reading.”

It’s time again to register for the Cedar Springs Public Library’s Summer Reading program!

This year’s theme is “Dig into Reading.”

Opening day for the program is June 10. There will be free book bags, ice cream, and even a petting zoo to celebrate! Normal registration for this program is around 700 each year, and crowds number around 600 on opening day alone. Stop by the library at the corner of Cherry and Second St. to register. Themed T-shirts are also available to order for $10 or 2 for $15.

There are plenty of fun programs on tap this summer for all ages at the library. You won’t want to miss them! Turn to pages 6-7 for all the details.

From the Better Business Bureau

The Salvation Army released the following warning:

“We received word from one of our National Advisory Board members about a robo-call from an organization (no name given) mounting an emergency appeal for funds for tornado disaster relief in Oklahoma. The pitch included specific reference to American Red Cross and Salvation Army, with text along the lines of “The American Red Cross and The Salvation Army are on site working, and we need more funds to keep help coming.” There was an option to press 1 to donate. The call came from phone number 888-981-6499.

Please be advised that this is NOT authorized fundraising of either The Salvation Army or the American Red Cross.  We ask that you please warn your territories and/or Board Members about this scam.”

BBB Serving Western Michigan offers the following basic wise giving tips:

1. Get the Charity’s exact name. With so many charities in existence, mistaken identity is a common problem. Thousands of charities have “cancer” in their name, for example, but no connection with one another.

2. Resist pressure to give on the spot, whether from a telemarketer, door-to-door solicitor or telephone call.

3. Be wary of heart-wrenching appeals. What matters is what the charity is doing to help.

4. Press for specifics. If the charity says it’s helping the homeless, for example, ask how and where it’s working.

5. Check websites for basics. A charity’s mission, program and finances should be available on its site. If not, check for a report at www.give.org.

6. Check with state charity officials. In many states, charities are required to register, usually with the office of the attorney general, before soliciting. Check http://www.nasconet.org/documents/u-s-charity-offices/ for the relevant office in your state.

7. Don’t assume that every soliciting organization is tax exempt as a charity. You can readily check an organization’s tax status at www.irs.gov/app/eos.

Mrs. Pride Hanes, age 80, of Sand Lake, passed away on Thursday, May 23, 2013. She grew up just south of Howard City. Her father, Roy Brisbin was the editor of the Rockford Squire and the Cedar Springs Clipper. Pride was a 1950 graduate of Tri-County High School. Pride was a teacher and when Grant Hanes returned from the military, he met Pride, and they were married on October 9, 1953. Pride taught school until they were blessed with a family. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ in Ravenna. When her children were older, she became a teacher aide with the little children. Pride loved being at home, especially when her grandchildren were around. Both she and Grant enjoyed wintering in Zephyrhills, Florida. Pride loved garage sales and many beautiful pictures and accessories adorn her home. She was an excellent cook. Pride is survived by her husband, Grant; children, Mark and Kris Hanes, Mitchell Hanes, and Kevin Hanes; 11 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her son, Michael Hanes, her daughter, Michelle Hanes, her brother, Roy Brisbin, and her sister, Joy Shellenberger. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider Hospice of MI, 989 Spaulding Ave., SE., Ada, MI 49301. A family service had been held.

Arrangements by Pederson Funeral Home, Rockford www.pedersonfuneralhome.com