The Cedar Springs Public Library has now hit $30,000 in its efforts towards earning a $50,000 matching grant.

“I really think we can do it,” said Library Director Donna Clark, referring to the other $20,000 needed.

The Library building fund committee has been hard at work with businesses and community partners since last fall on setting up fundraisers to meet the goal. One such fundraiser that occurred last week was the all-you-can-eat taco bar at Big Boy’s. According to the committee, donations and ticket sales at the event topped $1,300 for the Library (including $40 in t-shirt sales).

“Our thanks to everyone who came to support our library and to the many volunteers, management and the restaurant staff who gave their time and energy to the cause,” said Fundraising co-chairs Vicky Babcock and Alicia Imhoff. Author David Stricklen came to sign his books despite having knee surgery mere hours before the event. You can check out his website at www.blackwaterpond.com.

For a complete listing of upcoming library events and to donate via paypal, visit cedarsprings.llcoop.org.

Kids had a great time at the spaghetti fundraiser with author Amanda Litz, face painting, and free ice cream.

The Cedar Springs Public Library and Big Boy partnered last Thursday, Nov. 10, for the first all you can eat spaghetti buffet dinner to help raise funds for a new library. What happened was way above their expectations.
According to Librarian Donna Clark, they hoped to sell 50 tickets. They sold 200, which gave the library $500. But with the extra donations people gave, the grand total raised was $5,876.74!
“I am still walking on air after one of the best times I have had in recent times,” said Clark. “I so loved that Thursday evening, spent with our Library supporters old and new. It was like a Thanksgiving dinner, where you invite your whole family to come, though in this case, it was the whole community—eating, laughing, talking and giving. It is so bonding to gather around a shared vision and a meal, to remember who we are and what we can do when we put our heads and our dollars together.”
The library was recently offered the opportunity to obtain a $50,000 matching grant from an anonymous donor. Whatever they raise by the end of 2012 is what will be matched, up to $50,000. The first fundraising meeting is set for tonight, November 17, at Cedar Springs Middle School, at 7 p.m. in the upper floor large meeting room. Everyone is welcome.

Librarian Donna Clark is shown here with the Big Boy staff that helped organize and serve the spaghetti dinner.

One fundraiser is already planned—a used formal dress sale on January 7. Donate your gently used formal wear and they will give you a $50 tax deduction for every short dress and a $100 tax deduction for every long dress that you donate between now and January 6. Drop off dresses to Cedar Springs City Hall during normal business hours. All short dresses will be sold for $20 and all long dresses will be sold for $35 on January 7, at Cedar Springs High School. Dresses must be clean and on a hanger. Call Chris Burns at 788-8945 or Linda Lehman at 970-1368 with questions. All proceeds benefit the Library Fund Raising Campaign.

Parker Briggs, 7, enjoys a book at the library

The Cedar Springs Public Library’s summer reading club got off to a great start Monday, with over 600 people passing through the doors of the library to sign up, pick out books, get a book bag, and lots of other goodies.
New employee Rosann Gerhardt, commented, “(There was) great energy, a lot of excitement. People everywhere! I enjoyed watching children looking through our library’s books, trying to pick just the right book.”
Amber Hath, employee for 2 years, experienced her 3rd CSPL Summer Reading Program. She said, “This was my first time to work the program in the morning. I was not prepared for the onslaught when the doors opened.”
Friends of the library held a book sale, summer reading club t-shirts were on sale, and kids enjoyed some tasty ice cream courtesy of Kelly’s Restaurant, and Double K Farms was there with their petting zoo.
“We had 28 volunteers that made the day run smoothly,” said Library Director Donna Clark.

Kids enjoy ice cream at the opening of the summer reading club program.

Area residents celebrated poetry month last weekend with the “Potpourri of Poets” at the Kent Theatre.
The event, held Saturday evening, April 30, showcased a variety of classical and original poetry read by 25 adults, teens, and youth. Several presenters either dressed in character or brought along props to enhance the presentation.  Sue Harrison emceed the event.
“It was a wonderful experience,” said Librarian Donna Clark, one of the event organizers, along with Rosann Gerhardt and Nancy Noreen.  “I’m so proud of each and every one who participated. Every poem was special, adding a special flavor to the evening. Every person I talked with said how much they enjoyed the evening. We definitely want to do it again next year!”

Mark Gebhardt (left) receives 5-star award from Fremont Insurance.

Joe Clark (right) receives 5-star award from Fremont Insurance.

Two area insurance agencies have received 5-star ratings from Fremont Insurance company, a Michigan-exclusive property and casualty insurance carrier.
Both Gebhardt Insurance Agency, of Cedar Springs, and Clark Insurance Agency, of Casnovia, were presented with this prestigious honor at the company’s Winter Regional Meeting held at Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville, Mich.
“(These two agencies) embody the characteristics necessary to be successful in our industry – hard work, a commitment to the customer and the drive to achieve quality business results – even in a challenging economic environment,” said Fremont Insurance Company President and CEO Richard Dunning.  “We commend Gebhardt Insurance Agency and Joe Clark Insurance Agency in this outstanding achievement and we are pleased to present this tribute of our appreciation, admiration and partnership.”

Winners of Rotary 4-way test essay competition

By Donna Clark and Tom Noreen

Eight classes participated this year in the Cedar Springs Rotary’s Annual 4-Way Test Essay Contest with the 5th grade at Cedar View Elementary. All essays were written at school in 200 words or less. Teachers chose the two best essays from their class, and from those 16, our 4-Way Committee, Julie Wheeler, Carolyn Davis and Donna Clark, were to choose three.

It was very hard to choose just three, so we didn’t—we chose five. We had a tie for 4th place!

The top three stories talk of the great example that was set by someone and then how that special example inspired them to change or respond in some way.

We read some great stories on the theme of Setting a Good Example, like my Grandma wrote the meaning of my name and put it on a plaque and I look at it every day; Kyanna encourages her little sister to do her homework, get a good education, and a good career; boredom can do strange things to boys, such as cause them to throw berries at Mrs. Penny’s house, run off when she appeared, and then later coming back to apologize and clean up the mess. Needless to say, it was very interesting for our committee to have the chance to read the top two essays from each class.

Rotary has developed a meaningful partnership with Principal Mike Duffy and the teachers and students of the 5th grade class over the years. Mrs. Boverhof has been our contact person for the essay writing partnership between Rotary and Cedar View for four years now.

Mrs. Boverhof noted, “Every year something new pops up. This year when I introduced the topic of ‘Setting a Good Example,’ I was met with blank stares.” She explained they could give examples. Hopefully as a result of these essays we will have “given the kids an awareness of what ‘setting a good example’ looks and feels like.”

This year’s winners are in order Nicole Kukla, Peyton Elliston, Mariah Reich and tied for fourth Blake Williams and Brandon Owens. You can find Nicole’s essay below.

One of the most widely printed and quoted statements of business ethics in the world is the Rotary 4-Way Test. It was created by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor in 1932 when he was asked to take charge of the Chicago-based Club Aluminum Co., which was facing bankruptcy. Taylor looked for a way to save the struggling company mired in depression-caused financial difficulties. He drew up a 24-word code of ethics for all employees to follow in their business and professional lives. The 4-Way Test became the guide for sales, production, advertising and all relations with dealers and customers, and the survival of the company was credited to this simple philosophy. The 4-Way Test was adopted by Rotary in 1943.

Nicole’s essay:

My Mom My Hero

By Nicole Kukla

Incredible! That is what I think about my mom. She is a single mom who takes care of two kids, works Monday through Friday, and still has time to do exciting things with us. She has taught me so many things and is always setting a good example for me. One of the most important things she taught me is to never give up. It’s something she never does. She probably doesn’t even think about it. I have watched her do so many things, but the thing I never saw her do is give up.

My mom takes care of my sister and I all by herself. She feeds us, pays for sports, and most importantly puts a roof over our heads. I don’t know how she does it. She works so hard to make sure we are successful in everything we do. My sister and I are sometimes very hard to take care of because we argue. But we get along fifty percent of the time. On top of all of the other things she does, she works. I have never seen anybody work so hard before. My mom also has to make a ton of sacrifices for us. On the weekends, my mom takes us to sports. My sister has winter guard and I have soccer. She could be hanging out with her friends but she doesn’t. These are her famous words, “my kids come first.”

Sometimes my sister and I make sacrifices for our mom. Sometimes on the weekends, we like to hang out with her. It is like our way of saying thank you for everything that she does. Our sacrifices aren’t really important though because it is fun to spend time with her. When I’m older, I want to be like my mom and set good examples for the people around me.

The Lipizzaner Stallions performed at the Van Andel Arena last Sunday. Photo courtesy of D. Clark.

We received a nice note from Donna Clark this week. She and her husband Dan won* a set of four tickets to see the Lipizzaner Stallion last Sunday at Van Andel Arena.
“Our family absolutely loved seeing the Lipizzaner Stallions ‘dance’ to classical music. Dan, Tamar and our eldest daughter, Daneille, and I used the four free tickets we won through your subscription drive. I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to subscribe to the POST – tickets or no tickets!  We are so grateful for the gift of seeing the Lipizzaners for the first time. It has been a 25-year dream of Daneille’s to see these horses. She first read a book about them when she was 7 years old and later, in her early
teens, saw a video about them in Austria during the War. General Patton actually saved many of them from being killed during the devastation of World War II. I am not sure what was more exciting for me—seeing the stallions or seeing Daneille delight in the show.  Thank you!”
We are so glad the Clark family enjoyed their prize!
You, too, can win some great prizes by subscribing to the Post for only $25 per year. Fill out the entry form on this page and mail, or subscribe through our website (www.cedarspringspost.com) using Paypal.
This week’s winners are:
*Scott and Michele Hanmer, of Cedar Springs, won a $25 gift card to Family Fare, on 17 Mile in Cedar Springs.
*Rosemary Jeruzal, of Cannon Township, won a $5 gift card to Family Video, located at the corner of Main and Muskegon Street in Cedar Springs.
Winners must pick up their prize here at the Post within 30 days or the prize will be awarded to someone else. We are open from 9-5 Monday through Friday. Please call 696-3655 to make other arrangements.
Thanks so much to the businesses partnering with us in this drive! If you are a business who would like to donate a prize, call us at 696-3655.
*Subscribers are assigned a number, and winning numbers are then chosen using a random number generator at www.random.org.

Thank you to all of this week’s subscribers!

Gary Peterson
Jack & Marjorie Clark
Cheri & Douglas Durst
Adeline Anderson
Carol Connor
Donald & Maureen Patin
Donald & Shirley Braun
Jo Ellen Empie
Walter & Helen Nielsen
David & Heather Wolfe
Kim Lemke
Mary Paige
Rosemary Jeruzal
Brian & Cherryl Rosenberger
Kristen Rosenberger
Ronald & Pamela Stonehouse
Karen & Samuel Gebhardt
Ben & Cindi Downer
William & Joyce Blain
Robert & Karen Robinson
Gawain & Jolene Teuscher

Are you looking for a cure to what ails you? Need some good news for a change? The good news is that everyone wins when you buy a subscription to the Cedar Springs Post!
This week, we drew the names of two lucky winners, who each won four tickets to see the Lipizzaner Stallions this Sunday at VanAndel arena! The winners are:
•    Daniel and Donna Clark, of Cedar Springs
•    Helen Pike, of Sparta
Congratulations to our winners! And it’s not too late for the rest of our readers to subscribe and be entered to win some great prizes from area businesses! See the entry form on this page for details.

Thank you to all of this week’s subscribers!

Daniel & Donna Clark
Mary & Dennis Menke
Fred & Carollee Gunnell
Rex Nielsen

Lee Ann Eary

Patricia & David Eary
Harold & June Middleton
Anne Heath
Annetta Fisk
Cheryl Rose
Robert & Jean Snow
Robert Ruwersma
Rosemary & Michael Gray
Marilyn & Carl Neff, Jr.
George & Eldona Allington
Joanne Furhoff
Kim Gillow
William & Ruth Stalhood
Delores Rau
Dwight & Josephine Jamison
Freda & Eugene Naffziger

Deb Schuiteman, store manager at Meijer, hands Librarian Donna Clark a portion of the grant money that Meijer requested on behalf of area nonprofits through the Pepsi Refresh Program.

If you don’t ask, you don’t get.
The Cedar Springs Public Library was notified recently that they had $407 waiting for them at our local Meijer store from the Pepsi Refresh program. Knowing that the library needed to replace at least four of their six computers, Librarian Donna Clark thought, ”That’s great! That’s half of one computer!”
Clark said she was then invited to apply for more money to see if she could get the “other half” of the computer. “I wrote the request and was notified by
Deb (Schuiteman, store manager,) that Meijer had granted us another $500 to be used in store for anything they offered in the way of computer software, supplies, etc.,” remarked Clark.
She said Schuiteman is retiring after 37 years of service at Meijer, and the money for the library will be among the last of her “Meijer good deeds.”
Clark noted that they would be replacing all six computers and they are being provided in memory of Lois Arthur (2+), one by Meijer, and three by Mike and Alice Holton. Four are public computers and two are for staff.