Hospice of Michigan is accepting applications for Camp Good Grief, a day camp designed to help children cope with the loss of a loved one.

The free one-day camp is being held on Friday, June 14 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Camp Newaygo, located at 5333 Centerline Road in Newaygo. Children ages 8-17 are invited to attend Camp Good Grief, which offers a combination of fun and adventurous camp activities with grief education and emotional support.

“At a time when they’re trying to fit in, the death of a loved one can make kids feel different and alone,” says Tangela Zielinski, grief support service manager at HOM. “Camp Good Grief allows children to connect with others that are in a similar situation and leaves them feeling they’re not all that different.”

Hospice of Michigan grief professionals and trained volunteers facilitate the camp, which is open to all children in the community who have experienced the loss of a loved one.

Space is limited. For applications and more information, parents or guardians should call Tangela Zielinski at 231.527.0913.

AA Meetings at Rebo’s House 

Rebo’s House, 10 N. First St., Cedar Springs is open on Sunday, 9 am, 2 pm and 7 pm. Monday, noon, 7 pm Big Book, 8:15pm, Tuesday, noon, 5:30 women’s, 7 pm men’s & women’s. Wednesday, noon, 7 pm 12X12, 8:15 pm. Thursday, noon, 7 pm, Alanon 7 pm. Friday, noon, 7 pm and Saturday, 8:30 am, 10 am, 2 pm and 7 pm. #19

Cub Scout Mother’s Day Flower Sale

May 11, 12: The annual Cub Scout Mother’s Day Flower sale will be at Tractor Supply Co. (TSC) on May 11 from 8 am to 6 pm, and May 12 from 9 am to 6 pm and at the Mobile Gas Station on May 11 & 12 from 9 am to 6 pm. All proceeds will benefit Cub Scout Pack 3222. #19

Cedar Springs Garden Club Meeting

May 14: The Cedar Springs Garden Club will have a work meeting Tuesday, May 14 at 7 pm. We will clean the Community Garden at First and Beech Streets. If it rains the meeting will be at The Springs Church 135 N. Grant St. Any questions call Caroline Bartlette 616-696-9106. #19

Family Storytime

May 14: Share books, stories, rhymes, music and movement as a family; develop early literacy skills and encourage a love of reading. For children ages 6 and younger with a caregiver. Tuesday, May 14^th at 10:30 am at the Sand Lake/ Nelson Township KDL branch, 88 Eighth St. #19

Queen Pageant Meeting!! 

May 15: Attention all young ladies living in the Cedar Springs School district, or attending CSHS, who will be in the 11^th grade in the 2013-2014 school year. It’s time to start preparing for the 2013 Red Flannel Queen’s Pageant. There will be an info and sign-up meeting Wednesday, May 15^th at 2:30 pm in the Cedar Springs High School auditorium. For more information you can contact pageant director, Kaleigh Rosenberger, at kaleighrae_91@hotmail.com. There will be a final sign-up meeting for contestants and parents on June 2, 2013, at 2 pm at the Red Flannel Festival Office. #19

Community Luncheon

May 16: There will be a community luncheon on Thursday, May 16^th at 11:30 am at the Cedar Springs Public Schools District Office in the board room. Lunch is $7 per person and reservations are due by Tuesday, May 14^th at noon by calling the Cedar Springs Area Parks and Recreation at 616-696-7320. The luncheon will be followed by a presentation from the high school exchange students about their time here in the Cedar Springs area and their home countries. Come and meet them! #19

En-Gedi Youth Center Fundraiser

May 17: Come join us for the En-Gedi Youth Center Fundraiser on Friday May 17, 6:30 pm at the CS high school. Many wonderful items up for auction to include a vacation stay at W.W. Lodge, bicycles, home furnishings, athletic event passes, wood pellets, tickets to White Caps and Griffins, food and movie certificates, gas leaf blower, oil change, tools, and so much more. This event for free for all to enjoy with light snacks being served! A really fun night that will benefit En-Gedi’s efforts to strengthen the families of Cedar Springs and continue the free after-school youth center and special events for students 6-12^th grade. #18,19p

Farm Days at Cedar Springs TSC

May 18: The Tri-County Country 4H Club is having Farm Days at the Cedar Springs Tractor Supply Company parking lot on Saturday. May 18^th from 10 am to 1 pm. We will be showing our animals (horse, cow, pig, chicken, rabbit, goat and more). We will have information on the animals and how we get the product to the table. There will also be a grilled hot dog meal fundraiser. We would love for the community to meet our animals and see what we do! #19

Roast Beef Dinner

May 19: The Rockford Veterans of Foreign Wars at 4195 – 13 Mile Rd. is hosting a roast beef dinner on the third Sunday of the month, May 19th from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm.  Adults $9, children $4.50. The best dinner in town! Take outs and deliveries are available. For deliveries cal 616-866-2675 by 11:30 the day of the dinner. This will be the last dinner at this location. Starting on June 16^th dinners will be at  the American Legion Boat & Canoe Club, 401 North Park St., Grand Rapids Michigan. For more information call Fred Chambers 616-443-7630 or Post Adj. Doug Allen 616-696-3736. #19

Morel Mushroom Hunting at HCNC

May 19: Join a Seasoned Mushroom Hunter and let’s see how many of these tasty mushrooms we can find! Morel Mushroom Hunting is a wonderful activity to enjoy with the entire family, young and old alike. Kids generally have a easier time seeing the mushrooms due to the fact that they are a lot closer to the ground than an adult. Mushroom lovers from around the country who come seeking that elusive delicacy-the marvelous morel. Found in OUR nearby woods and clearings. Bring your bags or maybe wheelbarrows and come find some with us! We will be going off our trails in the hunt, so come prepared to go through the woods! Dress appropriately. All ages, no dogs allowed. Donation of $3.00. Howard Christensen Nature Center is located at 16190 Red Pine Dr. NW, Kent City, (616) 675-3158. #19

Toastmasters Club Meeting

May 21: Members gain confidence, overcome fears, and remove filler words from presentations, share great stories and information, and learn leadership at every meeting. Guests are welcome. On May 21^st the meeting is at 7 pm, at Prudential Preferred Realtors, 502 Northland Dr. NE, north of Our Lady of Consolation Catholic Church & 11 Mile Rd., Rockford. For directions call Sue at 616-866-3509 or visit www.nkctm.org or Facebook North Kent Community Toastmasters. #19

Free Electronics Recycling Event

May 28-30: Cedar Springs High School is hosting a free electronics drop-off event at the school Tuesday, May 28 from 10 am to 6 pm, Wednesday, May 29 from 8 am to 6pm, and Thursday, May 30 from 8 am to 3 pm. Look for the Comprenew e-Drop trailer in the school parking lot. Acceptable items include office & household electronics (cell phones, radios, microwaves, VCRs, TVs), computer components & accessories. Almost anything with a cord or battery will be accepted. Comprenew will wipe or destroy all computer hard drives. No big box appliances, air conditioners or refrigerators. Proceeds from the recycling event will benefit Cedar Springs High School. #19

Sporting Dog Benefit Hunt Test

June 1: Great Lakes Sport Dog Assn is holding an Upland/ Retriever Hunt Test and Training Day on June 1^st at the beautiful Pine Hill Sportsman’s Club, 8347 – 10 Mile Rd. NE, Rockford. Profits from this charitable hunt test event will be donated to Sterling Service Dogs; Sterling Heights, Michigan to help train assistance canines to assist Michigan’s disabled youth. All Sport Dog lovers and sportsmen are invited to attend and participate. For more information please visit www.greatlakessportdog.com or call 734-7484813. #19

(Family Features) For Mother’s Day, celebrate the nurturing nature of mom with a specially painted flower pot that holds her favorite herbs or flowers.

The Chalkboard Herb Pot and Mommy’s Favorite Flower Pot projects from Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores don’t require any special skills, so anyone can make a customized gift for mom, grandma, or any other special mom in their life.

Tips for Using Chalkboard Paint

Chalkboard paint comes in classic black, but also comes in other colors as well.

Make sure it’s completely dry before trying to write on it.

Some chalkboard paints require you to condition the paint with chalk before using it. Read label instructions carefully.

Tips for Decorating 

Using spray paint and hot glue guns may require adult supervision.

Give the kids creative control – it may not turn out perfectly neat, but it will be perfect for mom.

Not sure what to paint on the flower pot? Let the kids dip a hand or foot into the paint and put prints onto the pot. Or, cut fun shapes out of sponges or potatoes and let them stamp around the pot.

You can find more ideas, project guides and supplies at www.joann.com.

Chalkboard Herb Pot

No experience necessary

Crafting Time: 3 to 5 hours

Supplies and Tools:

1 Ceramo red clay flower pot

Saucer to match pot, if desired

Blackboard spray paint

White paint pen or chalk

Ribbon – width to match the size of the pot rim

Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Potting soil

Plant of your choice

Directions:

1. Wipe pot and saucer clean to remove all dust.
2. Spray pot and saucer with chalkboard spray paint – no need to paint the interior of the pot if using for planting.
3. Allow paint to fully dry – approximately 3 to 4 hours.
4. Attach ribbon around rim of pot using hot glue.
5. Fill the pot with a potting soil mix.
6. Transplant your favorite herbs or flowers into the pot.
7. Write the name of the herb or flower on the outside of the pot using paint pen for a permanent finish or chalk for changeable finish.

Mommy’s Favorite Flower Pot

Crafting Time: 3 to 5 hours

Skill Level: No experience necessary

Supplies and Tools:

1 Ceramo red clay flower pot

Gesso spray paint

Non-toxic poster paint

Small paintbrush

Spray fixative

Potting soil

Plant of your choice

Directions:

1. Wipe pot clean – remove all dust.
2. Spray pot with gesso spray paint – no need to paint the interior of the pot if using for planting.
3. Allow paint to fully dry – approximately 3 to 4 hours.
4. Paint the rim of the pot with the poster paint color of choice using paintbrush.
5. Allow rim to dry to the touch.
6. Decorate the body of the pot with poster paints.
7. Allow pot to fully dry.
8. Spray decorated area of the pot with a coat of fixative.
9. Fill the pot with a potting soil mix.
10. Transplant your favorite herbs or flowers into the pot.

Brooke Lubben, Sean Herp, Jacob Gust, and Whitney O’Brien are part of the Jazz Dinner and Comedy Fest May 14.

How many saxophonists does it take to change a light bulb? How do you get a drummer off your front porch? Find the answers to these and other pressing questions at the Cedar Springs High School Jazz Band’s Jazz Dinner and Comedy Fest!

Join the inanity of old jokes and good fun while raising money for the Jazz Program.  We’ve got elephant jokes, knock knock jokes, lightbulb jokes, jokes that will make you groan, skits that will make you laugh and jazz that will lift your spirits.

Mr. Robuck and the band have invited some guest artists to join them in this fundraiser.  Kenneth Neville, percussionist Jazz 2009, currently works as a musician for the Army Reserve Band and is a student in the Jazz Program at Michigan State University. Julia Gunneson, vibes/percussion Jazz 2009, is graduating this year from the school of music  at Grand Valley State.

On Tuesday, May 14, this year’s fundraiser will open with a spaghetti dinner at 6:30 p.m.  and close with an evening of skits, solos, dance, some really bad jokes and a lot of great music. All of this can be yours for $10. You can catch this great show at the Cedar Springs Middle School. Tickets are available at the High School Office or from any current Jazz Band Member. How can you resist?

Mark your calendars now for the John Voshel Jr. Memorial Ride for fallen police officers, fire fighters and veterans, on Saturday, May 18. It will start at 10:30 a.m. at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans, 3000 Monroe Ave., Grand Rapids, and last until 6 p.m.

We the People Giving Back (a totally volunteer organization) is hosting the motorcycle run to honor those that protect us. We will be making two stops, one in Cedar Springs and one in Greenville, both at the American Legion Halls, where we will recognize some of our fallen heroes and Gold Star families. We also will be providing three random acts of kindness to support children with disabilities. This event is designed to educate communities and bring awareness about the sacrifices made by all who wear a uniform. This ride will impact nine communities in Northern Michigan, in the hopes of honoring the fallen.

Fallen Officers who will be recognized with special presentations:

Walker Police Officer Trevor Slot; Kalamazoo Public Saftey Officer Eric Zapata; East Grand Rapids Police Officer Bruce Van Popering; Battle Creek Police Detective Lavern Steven Brann; Montcalm Sheriff Detective William McCarthy; Michigan Conservation Officer Gerald Welling; Grand Rapids Officers Joseph Taylor, Daniel Duyst, and Robert Kozminski; and three more from the Michigan State Police.

We will be doing three random acts of kindness with this event: First at 11:00 a.m. at the VA Home for Nathan Dloughy (who has Downs syndrome); second in Lakeview, benefiting Hunt For a Cure Targeting Cystic Fybrosis; and third at 5:00 p.m. at the VA Home for Trenton Ellis (a victim of Shaken Baby Syndrome).

We are proud to have and support the many quality charities and organizations who will remain at the VA Home to give demonstrations and have informative booths while the ride takes place.

Some of these are include: Operation Injured Soldier, Voice Of Warriors, Pets for Vets, a concert by Kelly Trudell, GRPD Bomb Squad demonstrating removal techniques using their ROBOT, the GRFD demonstrating the Jaws of Life, and more.

To Pre-Register go to one of the following:  American Legion Post 101 in Greenville, or B & H Sporting Goods in Cedar Springs. Or you can register the day of the event at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans before 10:30a.m.

Please take the time to stop by and thank our heroes, visit for a while, and enjoy a great day.

For more info or questions please contact Media Relations Director Pam Bradfield at 616-984-2398 or CEO Doug Pickel at 616-255-2895.

A famous admiral and an equally famous general were fishing together when a sudden squall came up. When it died down, both eminent warriors were struggling helplessly in the water.

The admiral floundered his way back to the boat and pulled himself painfully in. Then he fished out the general, using an oar.

Catching his breath, the admiral sputtered, “Please don’t say a word about this to anyone. If the Navy found I can’t swim I’d be disgraced.”

“Don’t worry,” the general said. “Your secret is safe. I’d hate to have my men find out I can’t walk on water.”

Hometown Happenings articles are a community service for non-profit agencies only. Due to popular demand for placement in this section, we can no longer run all articles. Deadline for articles is Monday at 5 p.m. This is not guaranteed space. Articles will run as space allows. Guaranteed placement is $10, certain restrictions may apply. You now can email your Hometown Happenings to happenings@cedarspringspost.com please include name and phone number for any questions we may have.

Cub Scout Mother’s Day Flower Sale

May: 4-5 & 11-12: The Cub Scout Pack 3222 is having a Mother’s Day Flower Sale at the Tractor Supply Company in Cedar Springs on Saturdays May 4 & 11 from 8am to 6pm and on Sundays May 5 & 12 from 9am to 6pm. They will also be at the Mobile Station on the corner of 14 Mile and Northland Dr. from 9am to 6pm on all the above dates. Proceeds benefit Cub Scouts Pack 3222. #18-19

Rummage Sale for Relay for Life

May 4: The Cedar Steppers will be holding a Rummage Sale on Saturday, May 4^th, from 8:30 am – 2:30 pm at Red Hawk Elementary. All proceeds will be donated to Rockford Relay for Life benefiting the American Cancer Society. We are also looking for more donations for the sale. We accept good, clean items such as clothing, household items, toys etc. You may drop off your donations at Red Hawk Elementary on Friday, May 3^rd from 3 – 5:30 pm. To make arrangements for pick up of donations, please contact Tina Tiethoff (616)644-0369 or tina@tiethoff.com. Please keep us in mind when doing your spring cleaning and donating your used items. The sale is for a great cause and your donations will help celebrate more birthdays! All items left after our sale will be donated to local charities. #17,18p

Brant Michael Anderson Memorial Benefit

May 4: A Memorial Benefit for Brant Michael Anderson will be held on Saturday, May 4 from noon to midnight at the Tri County Eagles #4467, on Lake St. in Sand Lake. There will be live music, a silent auction (closing at 9 pm), 50/50 drawings, a quilt raffle (drawing at 4 pm) and a bake sale. Donations also may be made at any Chase Bank, no account number needed. #17,18p

Cedar Rock Storm Ice Hockey JV Team Tryouts

May 4,5: Cedar Rock Storm Ice Hockey are having JV Team tryouts on Saturday, May 4^th and Sunday, May 5^th at the Cedar Rock Sports Plex from 3 to 4:30 pm. Birth years 1996 to 1999. The cost is $50 total. Any school qualifies to play on JV Club. #18

Jiggly Wiggly Frog Hunting

May 5: Howard Christensen Nature Center will go frog hunting to learn about frogs – not to capture forever – but to study their habitats and mannerisms. First, we will learn (short fun lesson with refreshments) about the frogs in Michigan and why they are so important to our environment and a lot of other fun froggy facts will be toad…told! Then around dusk, we will go hunting frogs. We are going down in the pond area with flashlights and try to find us some frogs for studying. This is for ALL ages. Dress appropriately. Sunday May 5 from 6 – 8 pm. Cost is $5.00 donation. HCNC is located at 16190 Red Pine Dr. NW, Kent City, (616) 675-3158. #18

Blood Drive at Resurrection Lutheran Church

May 6: Resurrection Lutheran Church in Sand Lake is hosting a blood drive on Monday May 6^th from 3 to 7 pm. The church will receive $10 even for anyone who attempts to give blood and can’t. #18p

Dinner at the Legion

May 6: American Legion, 80 Main St. Cedar Springs, is hosting a pork chop dinner on Monday, May 6ht, from 5 – 7 pm. Included will be stuffing, mashed potatoes, veggies, salad, dessert and drinks. All dinners are $9, children $4.50. Enjoy home cooking, take out is available. 616-696-9160. #15p

Chess Anyone?

May 6: Drop-in chess at the library! All skill levels welcome. An adult is usually on hand to help you with your game or match you to a worthy opponent. For all ages. Monday May 6^th at 6:30 pm at the Sand Lake/ Nelson Township KDL Branch, 88 Eighth St. #18

Seasons Hike at HCNC

May 7: Each season is unique and brings many changes to the land as well at the plants and animals there. In this program, participants will explore prairies, ponds, and forests of Howard Christensen Nature Center using their five senses to find the best of what each season has to offer. Five senses  (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste) – we will briefly go over our sense and explore how they affect each of in in nature, with refreshments in the Interpretive Center. Tuesday, May 7 from 10 am to 2 pm. Bring a brown bag lunch and dress for the outdoors. Donation of $4.00. HCNC is located at 16190 Red Pine Dr. NW, Kent City, (616) 675-3158. #18

Family Storytime at KDL

May 7: Share books, stories, rhymes, music and movement as a family; develop early literacy skills and encourage a love of reading. For children ages 6 and younger with a caregiver. Tuesday, May 7 from 10:30 am to 11:30 am. Sand Lake/ Nelson Township KDL Branch, 88 Eighth St. #18

God’s Kitchen North Provides Free Meal

May 9 & 23: God’s Kitchen North welcomes Northern Kent County families for an evening meal on the 2^nd and 4^th Thursday of each month. No charge – No registration required. Served from 6-7 pm at Our Lady of Consolation Family Center, 4865 – 11 Mile Rd. in Rockford. #18

United Methodist Women’s Springs Rummage Sale

May 9-11: Rummage Sale at Sand Lake United Methodist Ed. Building, corner of 6^th and Maple Streets in Sand Lake. Thursday, May 9 from 9 am to 5 pm; Friday, May 10 from 9 am to 5 pm; Saturday May 11 from 9 am to 12 noon. #18

Used Book Sale

May 9-11: The Friends of the Library are hosting a used book sale at the Timothy C. Hauenstein Reynolds Township Library in the library Community Room, 117 W. Williams, Howard City. Thursday, May 9^th from 10 am to 7 pm. Friday, May 10^th from 10 am to 5 pm, and Saturday, May 11^th from 10 am to 1 pm.

Mother’s Day “Eve” Show

May 11: “Engelbert meets Elvis” on Saturday, May 11^th from 7:30 to10 pm. Rockford American Legion, 330 Rockford Park Drive, 616-866-2001. Tickets are $15 at the door (opens at 7 pm), $10 in advance. Dinner is available in the lounge prior to the show.  #18

En-Gedi Youth Center Fundraiser

May 17: Come join us for the En-Gedi Youth Center Fundraiser on Friday May 17, 6:30 pm at the CS high school. Many wonderful items up for auction to include a vacation stay at W.W. Lodge, bicycles, home furnishings, athletic event passes, wood pellets, tickets to White Caps and Griffins, food and movie certificates, gas leaf blower, oil change, tools, and so much more. This event for free for all to enjoy with light snacks being served! A really fun night that will benefit En-Gedi’s efforts to strengthen the families of Cedar Springs and continue the free after-school youth center and special events for students 6-12th grade. #18,19p

Howard City High School Alumni Reunion

May 25: A reunion of Howard City High school Alumni is planned for May 25 at the Heritage United Methodist Church, 19931 Kendaville Rd., Pierson. Punch will served at 6 pm and dinner at 6:30 pm. The cost is $15 per person. Please send reservations by May 21st to Don Bauman, 22313 M-82, Howard City, MI 49329, phone 231-937-5648. #18

A man walks into a restaurant with a full-grown ostrich behind him. The waitress asks them for their orders.
The man says, “A hamburger, fries and a coke.” He then turns to the ostrich and asks,  “What’s yours?”
“I’ll have the same,” says the ostrich.
A short time later the waitress returns with the order. “That will be $9.40 please,” and the man reaches into his pocket and pulls out the exact change for payment.
The next day, the man and the ostrich come again and the man says, “A hamburger, fries and a coke.”
The ostrich says, “I’ll have the same.”
Again the man reaches into his pocket and pays with exact change.
They do this every day for a couple of weeks. Then one day the man orders something different. “I will have a steak, baked potato and a salad,” says the man.
“Same,” says the ostrich.
Shortly the waitress brings the order and says, “That will be $32.62.”
Once again the man pulls the exact change out of his pocket and places it on the table.
The waitress cannot hold back her curiosity any longer. “Excuse me, sir. How do you manage to pay with the exact change every time?”
“Well,” says the man, “one day I was cleaning the attic and found an old lamp. When I rubbed it, a Genie appeared and offered me two wishes. My first wish was that if I ever had to pay for anything, I would just put my hand in my pocket and the right amount of money would always be there.”
“That’s brilliant!” says the waitress. “Most people would ask for a million dollars or something, but you’ll always be as rich as you want for as long as you live! But what’s with the ostrich?”
The man sighs. “My second wish was for a chick with long legs and who agrees with everything I say.”

Hometown Happenings articles are a community service for non-profit agencies only. Due to popular demand for placement in this section, we can no longer run all articles. Deadline for articles is Monday at 5 p.m. This is not guaranteed space. Articles will run as space allows. Guaranteed placement is $10, certain restrictions may apply. You now can email your Hometown Happenings to happenings@cedarspringspost.com please include name and phone number for any questions we may have.

Kindergarten Open House
April 30: Ready, Set, Go! On Tuesday, April 30 from 6 to 7 pm, our kindergarten team will be welcoming the parents/guardians of the 2013-14 Kindergarten Class to Cedar Trails Elementary. Parents/guardians will move in small groups from classroom to classroom getting a glimpse at the typical kindergarten day and curriculum expectations. There will be five stations in all. We hope to answer questions and get everyone ready for an exciting start to the school year. Hope to see you there. #17

Huge Book Sale
May 2-4: Great deals on a variety of books, movies and more. $2 bag sale on Saturday (excludes specially marked items). Sale will be held at the VFW Hall (corner of 5th and Lake Streets) Starting May 2 at 10 am. Sponsored by the Friends of the Sand lake/ Nelson Township Library. #17

Rummage Sale for Relay for Life
May 4: The Cedar Steppers will be holding a Rummage Sale on Saturday, May 4th, from 8:30 am – 2:30 pm at Red Hawk Elementary. All proceeds will be donated to Rockford Relay for Life benefiting the American Cancer Society. We are also looking for more donations for the sale. We accept good, clean items such as clothing, household items, toys etc. You may drop off your donations at Red Hawk Elementary on Friday, May 3rd from 3 – 5:30 pm. To make arrangements for pick up  of donations, please contact Tina Tiethoff (616)644-0369 or tina@tiethoff.com. Please keep us in mind when doing your spring cleaning and donating your used items. The sale is for a great cause and your donations will help celebrate more birthdays! All items left after our sale will be donated to local charities. #17,18p

Ensley Center Nature Center Arbor Day Celebration
May 4: Come join us to enjoy the awakening of Spring in the forest with crafts, games, treats and walk the trails. Saturday, May 4 at 10 am. Ensley Center Nature Center, located on 136th Street, ¼ mile west of Cypress Ave. Questions call 616-636-5880. #17

Brant Michael Anderson Memorial Benefit
May 4: A Memorial Benefit for Brant Michael Anderson will be held on Saturday, May 4 from noon to midnight at the Tri County Eagles #4467, on Lake St. in Sand Lake. There will be live music, a silent auction (closing at 9 pm), 50/50 drawings, a quilt raffle (drawing at 4 pm) and a bake sale. Donations also may be made at any Chase Bank, no account number needed. #17,18p

Red Flannel Festival Volunteers and Meetings
May 21: Interested in Volunteering?! The all volunteer Red Flannel Festival Board meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at the RFF Officer at 21 E. Maple Street at 6:30pm. Would love to see YOU there to help in this 74 year community tradition! Please direct any inquires to president@redflannelfestival.org. #17p

Alice Powell is well-known around Cedar Springs, especially as an antique dealer and appraiser. But this Saturday, we will get to see a different side of the 86-year-old resident who is still young at heart—her artistic side.

This Saturday, April 20, from 4-7 p.m., a reception and exhibit for her paintings will be held at The Studio, at 90 N. Main in Cedar Springs. Her friends and neighbors, Claudia Mabie and Denise Beatty, are putting together the show.

“Alice was a well known antique dealer and collector for a number of years, but people may not be aware that she has this talent,” explained Claudia, about why she wanted to put on the show. She said she’s known Alice for 25 years.

Alice lives in Solon Township, and she’s lived in the greater Cedar Springs area since she was five or six years old. She said she’s always liked to paint, even as a child. But she’s only been painting in earnest since the late 1960s. And she said she’s learned from some wonderful teachers, including Prof. Mast, from Michigan State, and Hazel Palmer, right here in Cedar Springs.

Acrylic is the medium she uses to paint with, though at one time she also used oils.

Alice calls her style contemporary—out of the box. She said she developed this new style when her husband of 61 years, Marvin, passed away five years ago. “I call it ‘circles of eternity,’ she explained.

Alice said she paints for herself, and often doesn’t know what she’s going to do when she starts. But she usually likes the way it turns out. “I paint to Bob Dylan,” she remarked. “I’ve always liked Bob Dylan.”

She’s entered her art in several juried shows, and one of them, titled “Oh Pharaoh, you ain’t seen nothing yet” won at a show in Lansing, and will be on display this Saturday. She will have over 30 pieces on display and for sale at the exhibition.

Stop in and see Alice and her work this Saturday. You won’t want to miss it!