Douglas M. Gordon, 67 of Cedar Springs, died Tuesday, March 14, 2017 at his home. Doug was born December 28, 1949 in Grand Rapids, Michigan the son of E. Raymond and Janet (Gunnell) Gordon. He graduated from Cedar Springs High School in 1968 and Michigan Tech University with a bachelor degree in Forestry. He was an outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting, fishing, morel hunting, golfing and playing cards. Surviving are his children, Mark Gordon, Sara (Will) Shepard, Matthew (Katie) Gordon, Molly Gordon; 10 grandchildren; sisters, Susie (Ken) Parker, Pam (Tim) Covell; brother, Joel Gordon; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Tom Gordon. The family will greet friends Saturday from 11:00 am until time of service at 1:00 pm at the Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs. Pastor Jane Duffy officiating. Interment Elmwood Cemetery, Cedar Springs. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cedar Springs Parks and Rec.

Arrangements by Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home

Two programs put on by Cedar Springs Parks and Rec are underway in the next week.
The Wee Hawks Basketball Program begins this Saturday, April 30, from 9-10:30 am at the Cedar View Elementary Gym and runs four weeks. Cedar Springs High School basketball coaches work with students in Kindergarten through 2nd grade to help them get a good fundamental start at the game. They will work on some basic ball handling skills and drills, dribbling and work on making a few shots. The program is held at Cedar View Elementary gymnasium and there are special baskets put up so that the youth do not have to shoot as high to get their two points. The participants will receive a basketball at the end of the camp that will allow them to keep practicing on their newfound talent over the summer. Registration forms can be found online at www.csaparksandrec.com or at the CS Public Schools District Office.  Pre-registration is encouraged, but not required.
To celebrate Mother’s Day, there will be a mother-son movie night at the Cedar Springs Middle School on May 6, from 6-9 p.m. The event features the movie “Megamind,” while enjoying pizza and popcorn. It also includes fun activities that give the boys a chance to make a meaningful gift and card for the holiday, and a chance to go into the gym and play together or sit in the cafeteria and have a few moments away from television and distractions of home to play a game together. The night is filled with opportunities for the boys to play with their friends and spend time with their mothers. Tickets are on sale now during normal daytime office hours at Hilltop and Monday-Wednesday evenings at the Middle School from 6-9pm. Tickets in advance are $12 for two people, or $15 for three or more. Tickets can be purchased at the door for an additional fee, $15 for two people, or $20 for three or more.

Photo courtesy of Amanda Gerhardt

Are you looking for a fun, safe way to entertain kids on the Fridays that Cedar Springs Public Schools releases kids two hours early? Cedar Springs Area Parks and Rec has the answer in its new program “Fantastic Fridays.”

“We’ve had two Fridays and are having a great time, but would love for more students to get involved,” said CSAPR Director Amanda Gerhardt. She said they have had 20-30 students, and initial plans were to serve 60-80.

Fantastic Fridays was developed as a partnership between the Parks and Rec and the school system to help ease the burden of parents on the 11 early release Fridays spread throughout the school year for professional development.

Designed for students in first through 6th grade, Fantastic Fridays is an enrichment program that includes healthy snacks, activities, and a certified teacher and daycare provider on staff. Each Friday will have a theme, and could include special guest speakers, craft projects, and recreational activities.

Photo courtesy of Amanda Gerhardt

“The first week was themed “red” for Red Flannel Weekend, so the Red Cross came and spoke to the group about first aid, weather safety, household safety and more,” explained Gerhardt. “The second week was about healthy lifestyles.  We did a lesson on the food pyramid, played nutrition bingo, learned some basic dance moves with former Red Flannel Queen Rebecca Tackmann, exercised to the new ZUMBA craze with instructor Kate Rehmus, and relaxed and toned with our yoga instructor, Chelie Simmons.  It was a great day.”

The next early release date will be October 30 and the theme will be responsible pet care. A veterinarian assistant will visit with animals.

Programs run from directly after school on early release days until 5:30 p.m. Students can be picked up earlier, however. The cost is $8 per Friday. Scholarships are available for those on free or reduced lunch programs.

To register for the Fantastic Fridays, pick up a registration form at the district office at Hilltop, or visit the Parks and Rec website at www.csaparksandrec.com.

Parents may be wondering what to do with their Cedar Springs elementary children this year when they are released two hours early on the 11 staff development Fridays spread throughout the school year. But Cedar Springs Public Schools and the Cedar Springs Parks and Area Recreation have come up with an option for those early release Fridays called “Fantastic Fridays.”

Designed for students in first through 6th grade, Fantastic Fridays is an enrichment program that will include healthy snacks, activities, and a certified teacher and daycare provider on staff. Each Friday will have a theme, and could include special guest speakers, craft projects, and recreational activities. Local businesses will help sponsor the program, and high school students will volunteer to tutor and help with students. “It truly is a community project,” said Amanda Gerhardt, Director of Parks and Rec.

According to Gerhardt, high school volunteers will go to Cedar Trails, Beach, and Cedar View and pick up registered students and walk with them to Red Hawk Elementary, where the program will be held. “Students will be accounted for at their school, and again at Red Hawk,” said Gerhardt.

Programs will run from directly after school on early release days until 5:30 p.m. Students can be picked up earlier, however.

There are only a limited number of spots available, and it’s first come first served. “We’ll have 60-80 spots available for each Friday, and those that sign up for all 11 Fridays will have priority,” noted Gerhardt. The cost is $55 for all 11 Fridays, or $8 for individual Fridays.

The first early release day is Friday, Oct. 2, which falls on Red Flannel weekend, so the theme is red, and will include a visit from the first responders at the Cedar Springs Fire Department.

Cedar Springs Superintendent Ron McDermed said they have worked closely with Parks and Rec to come up with a plan for the students. “We know this is not an easy thing for parents, and it was a difficult decision for the board,” he noted. The school used to take off an entire day for professional development, but switched to the early release this school year. McDermed said there were two reasons. One is that they need to keep up on reviewing student achievement and need to increase the time to meet together to do that, and the second reason was the late start of the school year. “If we had continued with the other way (full days off), we would have had to extend the school year well into June,” he explained.

To register for the Fantastic Fridays, pick up a registration form at the district office at Hilltop, or visit the parks and rec website at www.csaparksandrec.com.

Post photo by J. Reed

A wet, windy day threatened to ruin the last concert in the park of the summer, but some alternate plans saved the day for both young and old alike.

The Cedar Springs Area Parks and Recreation had a fun, family-friendly event scheduled in Morley Park last Thursday, August 20, but a little rain didn’t dampen the enthusiasm. About 3:00 p.m., Director Amanda Gerhardt made the decision to hold the evening event in the Cedar Springs Middle School. “It had been raining all morning and was still black to the west at that time. We couldn’t risk it. The bounce houses may not have withstood the 20 mph winds either,” she explained.

They got the word out through Facebook, email, telephone, and their website. They still had over 250 people in attendance.

Post photo by P. Crystal

Kids enjoyed looking at and sitting in the new Cedar Springs Fire truck, jumping in three bounce houses and listening to Dilly songs with Aaron Vanderwege. They also received free water bottles and toys.

Adults enjoyed the music of Punch n’ Company, with American Idol contestant Jake Mellema, free popcorn, and a myriad of door prizes given out by local businesses. The Red Flannel Queen and court were on hand to help hand out tickets and door prizes. They also danced with the band. The Cedar Springs Police Department was also on hand.

According to Gerhardt, when Punch n’ Company took the stage, the place started rocking. “We had people dancing and saying it was the best band to date,” remarked Gerhardt. “We are already planning on having them return in 2010.”

She estimated that over 1,000 people attended this summer’s concert series, and is looking forward to 2010.