Last week we featured flowers blooming in January because of the unseasonably warm weather. There’s no danger of that now!
Several inches of snow fell over the weekend, causing a snow day for schools on Friday, and slippery road conditions Monday. According to WOODTV 8 meteorologist Bill Steffen, more snow is on the way for this weekend.
Mary Cain, of Solon Township, took these beautiful photos after the snowfall last weekend. Thanks, Mary, for sharing them with us!
If you have winter photos you’d like to share, email them to news@cedarspringspost.com.

This shade structure is part of the new Kent City Streetscape.

As the snow flurries begin to fly and the 2011 construction season nears an end, the final touches on Phase 2 of the Kent City Streetscape are nearing completion.
The Village of Kent City Downtown Development Authority has been actively planning, and constructing its downtown streetscape project since 2008. According to Andrew Bostwick, of the Kent City DDA, the project was made possible by two major funding sources, as well as the DDA monies saved over the last 15 years. The DDA is structured to capture and retain a percentage of property taxes to stay within the district. Funds collected by the DDA are being used to pay for the matching portion of the project.
American Recovery & Reinvestment Act stimulus funding, provided through the Grand Valley Metro Council, provided funding to repave the road surface. MDOT funded the remainder of the project with matching funds through a Transportation Enhancement Act (TEA) grant. These funds provided many improvements such as new LED lighting, a community shade structure, enhanced stormwater runoff collection, new curbs, benches, street trees, trash barrels, and many other improvements.
According to Bostwick, the intent of the streetscape design is to incorporate a green design into the project. “The library plaza is a good example of this design. Permeable pavers provide a courtyard plaza for library patrons to enjoy, while lessening the impact of stormwater runoff. Rain barrels are installed to capture rainwater, and to aid the DPW workers in watering the trees and planters.”
New LED lighting will help lower the operating costs and provide a more efficient light source. A photometrics study was completed to help ensure an even flow of lighting across the entire downtown.
The Shade structure is meant to replicate a gazebo that once existed near the same location. The public is welcome to use the structure to meet friends, read, eat lunch, etc.
The final touches include the much-awaited removal of the electric poles from the street. Bostwick said that longtime village residents have expressed great joy that the street poles would one day be removed.
Bostwick noted that all of the DDA members have worked diligently to ensure that the project has continued to move ahead. Whenever possible, the DDA worked with the MDOT contractor to hire local businesses to help complete the project. “The community of Kent City is the benefactor of this project thanks to all parties involved with the construction. Residents are encouraged to take some time to walk through the downtown and enjoy the improvements,” he said.

Madison Scheuneman is the winner of this year’s Geographic Bee at Cedar Springs Middle School.
Each of the 16 Social Studies classes at the school sent their two best geography students to represent their class in the school bee this year.  The contestants were tested on their knowledge of the geographic features of the United States.
The students were given a series of question and were knocked out of the competition when they answered their third question incorrectly– a simple 3-strikes and you’re out method.  It took over 40 questions to get the group of 32 down to the top four.  8th grader Brian Jones did well finishing fourth.  7th grader Brayden Harper (who was also the runner up in the spelling bee) and last year’s winner Evan Kobayashi were knocked out on the same question, finishing in 2nd place.
Madison Scheuneman was down to her last strike but managed to prevail.  The final question that eliminated the boys was:
“Pamlico Sound is located west of Hatteras Island in which state?” The answer is North Carolina.
Madison is an 8th grader in Mr. Glyshaw’s class and is described by her peers as very competitive.  She is the daughter of proud parents Allison and Dennis Scheuneman and the granddaughter of Sara and Bill VanHorn. She will find out in the coming weeks if she is selected to move on to the second round of competition at Western Michigan University.

Enjoy a game-day party and keep your resolutions on track

(Family Features)

Two of the most popular New Year’s resolutions are losing weight and eating healthier. But by the time the big game rolls around, many people are ready for a break — or looking for an excuse to cheat. But kickoff does not have to be a signal to punt your healthy-eating habits.
Registered dietitian Jodie Shield knows it can be a struggle to celebrate and stay healthy. She’s put together some win-win tips and recipes — healthy and delicious — that are sure to keep fans cheering for more:
—Know your game plan. If you’re the home team (i.e. the party host), you get to call the plays. Serve entrees that are lean and festive, such as Touchdown Turkey Chili. Or prepare a thin whole wheat crust pizza using reduced-fat mozzarella cheese, tomato sauce and lots of sliced veggies.
—Offer a starting line-up of healthier appetizers. Whip some traditional game day favorites into shape. Instead of nachos, serve baked chips with salsa. Pass on the salt and butter and sprinkle a dash of Parmesan cheese over popcorn. Forget the fried chicken wings and serve baked chicken tenders seasoned with Hidden Valley Salad Dressing & Seasoning Mix.
—Think fresh. Skip the super subs and set up a sandwich bar with lean deli meats such as turkey breast and ham, low-fat cheese slices and prepped veggies — like sliced tomato and shredded lettuce — and low-fat toppings.
—Pass on super big portions. No matter what foods are served, remember you don’t have to eat the whole thing. Grab a small plate and load half of it up with fresh veggies and baked chips.
—Get in on the action. During halftime, grab your guests and head outdoors for a quick game of touch football. You can always record the commercials so you don’t miss out.

7 Layer Fiesta Ranch Dip

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Makes: 10 (1/4 cup) servings
1     16-ounce can fat-free refried beans
1/2     cup guacamole
1     package Hidden Valley Fiesta Ranch Dips Mix
1     cup fat-free sour cream or plain nonfat yogurt
1     cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese
6     green onions, chopped
1     medium tomato, chopped
1/4     cup sliced black olives (optional)
1. Spread each of the ingredients in the order listed over a 9-inch serving platter or pie dish.
2. Chill for an hour and serve.

Touchdown Turkey Chili

Touchdown Turkey Chili

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: High heat cooks for 4 hours; Low heat cooks for 8 hours
Makes: 8 (1 cup) servings
1     tablespoon olive oil
1     medium onion, chopped
1     medium green bell pepper, chopped
2     pounds lean ground turkey breast
2     cans (14.5 ounces each) Mexican-style diced tomatoes
1     can (6 ounces) reduced sodium tomato paste
1     can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
1     cup low sodium tomato juice
1     package Hidden Valley Fiesta Ranch Dips Mix
1. Heat olive oil in a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat.
2. Add onions and bell pepper and sauté until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes.
3. Remove and place in slow cooker.
4. Add ground turkey breast to the same pan and cook until crumbled and browned, about 8 to 10 minutes.
5. Add the turkey to the slow cooker along with all of the remaining ingredients.
6. Cover the slow cooker and cook for 4 hours on high heat or 8 hours on low heat.

Cheesy Ranch Popcorn

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 3 1/2 minutes
Makes: 6 (2 cup) servings
1     bag (3 ounces) reduced-fat, low sodium butter-flavored microwave popcorn
1/4 pack (0.25 ounces) Hidden Valley Salad Dressing & Seasoning Mix
3     sprays from olive oil mister
3     tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1. Pop popcorn according to package directions. Immediately open the bag and pour the popcorn into a large serving bowl.
2. Spray the popcorn with three sprays from the olive oil mister, toss with salad dressing and seasoning mix and then toss with the Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

Hold That Line Hummus Dip

“No need to pass on fabulous dips to maintain your diet,” said Shield. “Thanks to the protein and fiber in chickpeas, hummus is light, yet heart-healthy enough to satisfy hungry sports fans. Try this easy recipe for happy game day guests.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Makes: 8 (1/4 cup) servings
2     cans (15 1/2 ounces each) chickpeas, rinsed and drained
4     garlic cloves
1/3     cup lemon juice
1     package Hidden Valley Salad Dressing & Seasoning Mix
4     tablespoons cold water
1/2  cup tahini (sesame seed paste)
Dash of paprika for garnish
1. In a food processor, puree the chickpeas, garlic, lemon juice, salad dressing and seasoning mix and water until very smooth, about 3 minutes.
2. Add tahini paste and process an additional 2 minutes.
3. Spread hummus into a shallow serving bowl.
4. Sprinkle top with paprika.

Play Good Defense and Substitute
The best way to tackle those creamy, high-calorie dips is to make smart substitutions. Here are a few options to help you get started:
Instead of:     Use:
Guacamole     Salsa
Pesto        Chopped tomatoes and basil
Sour cream    Plain fat-free yogurt
Cheese     Reduced-fat cheese
Cream        Fat-free evaporated milk

For more recipes and tips, visit www.hiddenvalley.com.

West Michigan Pursuit  wrestlers continue to surge forward, as evidenced by their performance at the Cedar Springs open tournament held this past Sunday. “We entered 15 wrestlers and 10 came home with medals. I am very excited at the progress our kids are making every week,” says Pursuit owner Dave Andrus. “This tournament was very tough with 539 wrestlers. Everyone battled and made me proud of what we do.”
While most wrestling clubs operate “on season” only, WMP is unique in that many of its wrestlers train twice weekly year round.  With a recent move to a larger facility just 5 miles south of their previous location, membership continues to grow, drawing young wrestlers from 7 area school districts, including Cedar Springs.  With the local tournament behind them, they are preparing to travel to Hart next weekend for their annual Hart Attackers Tournament.  At this point in the season, wrestlers will compete every Sunday until regional tournaments begin the weekend of March 10th.  MYWA Individual State Championships will be held at Kellogg Arena the weekend of March 23.

Mary Gardner, of Algoma Township, sent us this photo of something you’d rarely see in January—primroses blooming!
“I was filling my birdfeeder today and a bee buzzed by me,” she said. “I wondered how many other things were fooled by our spring-like weather, so I checked my flower garden. Sure enough, I have primroses budding and blooming on January 10th! This is utterly amazing to me.”
Mary said she also has strawberry plants leafing out. “I can’t help but wonder what this will do to our spring crops,” she added.
According to WOOD-TV meteorologist Matt Kirkwood, we have officially broken the record for the least amount of snow to begin a winter season. By January 10 Grand Rapids only had 9.8 inches of snow, and the average by January 10 is usually 36.4 inches. Weather in November, December and January has been warmer than average, with January being a full 9 degrees warmer.
However, we are under a winter storm watch beginning at 4 p.m. Thursday evening and into Friday, with an expectation of 4-8 inches of snow.

Utility workers working on a pole damaged in an accident at 17 Mile and White Creek Avenue Tuesday. Post photo by J. Reed.

A crash at the intersection of 17 Mile and White Creek Tuesday morning smashed a utility pole and sent one couple to the hospital to be checked out.
According to Cedar Springs Police Sergeant Ed Good, a man driving a Chevy pickup truck was headed east on 17 Mile Road about 9:27 a.m. Tuesday, January 10, when he failed to stop at the light, and slammed into the passenger side of a SUV that was southbound on White Creek. As a result of the impact, the SUV lost a tire and smashed a utility pole at the southeast corner of the intersection, while the pickup spun around and landed facing west.
Cedar Springs Fire Chief Marty Frasier was having breakfast nearby and was first on the scene. He said that all airbags deployed, and that the older couple in the SUV walked to the BP Gas station and were met there by ambulance. They were taken to the hospital to be checked out but there didn’t appear to be any injuries to them or the driver of the pickup.
“Their complaints were mostly irritation and soreness caused by the airbags,” explained Sgt. Good. “That just goes to show what seatbelts and airbags can do.”
The driver of the pickup was identified as Cory Matthew Baerwalde, 21, of Lowell. The driver of the SUV was Nina Schuler, 70, of Cedar Springs, and her passenger was her husband, Richard Schuler, 73.
The accident caused the traffic lights to go out at the intersection, and Consumers Energy was on the scene to repair the damage.

Sand Lake has a new fire engine thanks to a program overseen by the Kent County Fire Commission. Post photos by J. Reed.

It’s been a long time coming, but the Sand Lake Fire Department finally got its brand new engine with the help of Kent County.
All the fire departments in the county are on a rotation system, and each fire department gets a new engine every 17 years, with the county paying a portion and Sand Lake paying a portion. The department also gets the option to purchase the previous county engine.
According to Sand Lake Fire Chief Ed Holtzlander, the new fire truck costed $325,000. “It’s the first engine in the county with a clean burn diesel emission system,” he said.
The engine was designed for not only fire equipment, but also for rescue equipment, such as the Hurst tool.
The Sand Lake Fire Department consists of 20 volunteer firefighters covering two stations—one in the Village of Sand Lake, and one in Ensley Township, at Cypress and 120th. With the addition of the new engine, they now have two engines, two tankers, two grass rigs, and a rescue truck.
Holtzlander said that 1997 was the last time that they purchased a new fire truck.

(ARA) – The cold snap has arrived and the stormy winter days and dark evenings are here. It is time to prepare your car for the winter months to minimize the risk of a breakdown. Such breakdowns could be avoided by carrying out regular checks, so motorists are advised to follow these steps to minimize the risk.
“There’s nothing worse than breaking down on a cold winter night, stranded on the side of the road,” says Jim Fults, auto insurance leader at Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company. “A few basic and regular checks can dramatically reduce the risk of getting stuck on the road.
“We urge motorists to set aside some time to carry out a series of simple checks,” says Fults. “Some may seem like common sense, but you’ll be surprised at how many drivers forget after the summer. For example, it is crucial to ensure all your lights are clean and working properly. Always replace any broken bulbs immediately. If you don’t, you will not only find it difficult to see the road clearly, you run the risk of not being seen by other drivers.”
Make sure you minimize the risk of breakdown this winter by following some tips from Fireman’s Fund:
Fireman’s Fund winter auto safety tips:
* Get your car checked: A professional check is worth it, for added peace of mind.
* Check your tires: Rain, snow and ice can make roads lethal. Check your tire tread and make sure the air pressure is okay.
* Light the way: Keep lights clean and make sure they are working.
* Get charged up: A dead battery is the main cause of breakdowns, so get it checked and replaced if necessary.
* Cooling system: Ensure this is checked and that the anti-freeze content meets the manufacturer requirements.
* Wipers: Check windscreen wipers and replace if they fail to clear the screen correctly.
* Fuel: Ensure you have more than enough for your journey.
Be prepared and take the following items with you:
* A fully charged cell phone
* Shovel in case of snow
* De-icer and a scraper for windows
* Blanket and warm clothing in case the worst happens
* Sturdy shoes or rubber boots
* Some snacks, such as energy bars
* Extra fuel
In addition, it is a good idea to put together an emergency winter survival kit so that you are prepared should you breakdown. Remember to include a flashlight, blanket, ice scraper and a first aid kit.

Two fundraisers held last weekend earned money toward the $50,000 challenge match toward the Cedar Springs Library building fund.

The gently used gown sale held at the high school Saturday earned $175 toward the cause. According to Christine Burns, who helped organize the event, the dresses that are left will go to local consignment shops, and will still earn money toward the library.

The Biggest Lozer challenge was a popular event, with 25 people weighing in at Curves Saturday. “We raised $562.50 towards the library $50,000 match challenge,” said Alicia Imhoff, organizer. “But more important, we all took a step towards being healthier.”

Donna Clark, Mary Osborne and Debra Jo VanderWerff were winners of the Body By Vi giveaways, courtesy of Sally Howland.

Prizes are being given away for the greatest percentage of body weight lost in three categories: women, men and seniors. And it’s not too late to join. Just stop into Curves during normal business hours:  M-TH 7-11 a.m. and 4-7 p.m., Fri. 7-11a.m. and Sat. 9-11 for their weigh-in, measurements and a $25 entry fee.  Weigh out is in March.