The Community Building Development Team held a concert last weekend to celebrate the next phase of the “Heart of Cedar Springs” and to update residents on the status of the project.

Now that the library has been completed, they will be working on the amphitheatre, towards the back of the city’s property on W. Maple Street. According to the CBDT, approximately $50,000 is needed to complete the stage portion of the amphitheatre by fall. Efforts have begun to secure a matching $50,000 grant to  make residents’ dollars more valuable to this effort. Watch for more details in the Post, or you can go to their website www.cscommunitycenter.org to donate if you wish.

CBDT plans for the “Heart of Cedar Springs”

The CBDT held their Grand Gala in the spring, which raised $39,000. They said that a grand total of $2.5 million, which includes money, land, services and products, has been donated over the last three years from the community toward building the “Heart of Cedar Springs” projects.

Some of their accomplishments include:

• Additional land was purchased by the CBDT and donated to the City, enlarging the public park area known as the “Heart of Cedar Springs” located on the north west corner of Main & Maple Streets along with other land.
• Tests and permits were acquired from the Department of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Quality, and other state and local agencies.
• A detailed long-term site plan was created for the “Heart of Cedar Springs” area.
• Success in routing the North Country Trail (longest walking trail in the United States) through Cedar Springs with efforts nearing completion to name Cedar Springs a North Country Trail Town.
• A state-of-the-art $ 1.8 million Cedar Springs Community Library was built and is paid in full.
• A beautifully custom-designed metal sculpture was placed along Cedar Creek which will be surrounded by a rain garden and learning station of the plants and vegetation.
• A new bridge linking the properties on the north and south sides of Cedar Creek was built to replicate the original Carmody Bridge from the 1800s.
• A clock tower was built and erected which will eventually include a memorial for Veterans.
• Preliminary designs for an amphitheatre, community building, and walking trails have been completed.

If you’d like to be  more involved, or just keep up on what is happening, you can attend one of their meetings. The CBDT meets in the new library on the third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. There will not be a meeting in December.

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.

Family Fun Day at Metron

Aug. 5: Metron of Cedar Springs located at 400 Jeffrey, Cedar Springs, would like to invite the community to our Annual Family Fun Day on Friday, August 5^th from 4 to 6 pm. Activities for the day include: Bounce House, Games for the children, Live Musical Entertainment, food/drinks and fun for all. Hope to see you August 5^th! #31

Free Lake Effect Concert

Aug. 7: Free Lake Effect Concert featuring the band “Round Brown Suitcase” will be held on Sunday, August 7^th from 12 to 3:30 pm (band starts at 12:30 pm). The concert will be held at Bostwick Lake UCC Church, 7979 Belding Rd. NE, Rockford. Donations and food sales will benefit Pause with a Cause. Contact Lisa Atchison, 616-634-6459 with any questions. #30,31p

Take off pounds sensibly

Aug. 9: Take off pounds sensibly (TOPS), a non-profit weight loss support group for men and women, meets every Tuesday at the Resurrection Lutheran Church in Sand Lake. Your first visit is free so come check out what TOPS can do to help you reach your weigh loss goals! Weigh-ins 8:15-9am, meeting starts at 9:15am. Call Barb at 696-8049 for more information. #31

Rummage Sale at CS UMC

Aug. 10,11: The Cedar Springs United Methodist Women will hold a rummage sale in the fellowship hall on the corner of Main and Church Streets. August 10, Wednesday, from 9 am to 7 pm and August 11, Thursday, from 9 am to 2 pm. There will be a bag sale on Thursday. Proceeds go toward their mission projects. #30,31p

My Choice..My Health Diabetes Prevention Program

Aug. 15: This program will help you take steps to prevent type 2 diabetes. You’ll learn about healthier eating habits, ways to be more physically active and other behavior changes over the course of 16 weekly one-hour sessions. The group will continue meeting monthly, completing a full year. My Choice..My Health Program will be held at Solon Center Wesleyan Church, 15671 Algoma Ave., Cedar Springs starting Monday, August 15^th from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. To register, visit www.nkfm.org/dpp or call the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan at 616-458-9520. #31,32p

Creating Local Herbal Remedies

Aug. 15: Join local plant enthusiast Rachel Potter for a discussion and demonstration of how to gather and use medicinal plants to make salves, teas, tinctures and other natural remedies that nourish and heal the body and keep it healthy year round. This workshop will teach you to nurture yourself with what is growing all around us. For adults. Monday, August 15^th at 6:30 pm at the Nelson Township/Sand Lake KDL Branch, 88 Eighth St. #31

DIY Tie Dye for Teens

Aug. 16: Bring a white or light colored t-shirt to this program and try a new way of tie dye – with permanent markers! All other materials will be provided to help you create a one-of-a-kind shirt to wear. Tuesday, August 16^th at 4 pm at the Spencer Township KDL Branch, 14960 Meddler Ave., Gowen. #31

Auditions for CSCP Production of “The Foreigner”

Aug 22,23: The Cedar Springs Community Players are pleased to announce auditions for its upcoming production of “The Foreigner” by Larry Shue. This comedy has won two Obie Awards and two Outer Critics Circle Awards as Best New American Play and Best Off-Broadway Production. Auditions will be held at the Cedar Springs United Methodist Church on Monday and Tuesday Aug. 22 and 23 between 6:30 -8 p.m. Needed are: 4 adult males, 1 teen male; 2 adult women, and 4 non-speaking extras, can be either male or female. Production dates are October 13, 14 and 15 at the Kent Theatre. Please like our FB page and to see details! #31,32p

Tri-County High School Annual Gathering

Sept. 10: The Tri-County HS annual gathering for 1963 – 1975 will be held on September 10^th at the Sand Lake VFW. Appetizers and dinner from 5 to 7 pm with RSVP and $20 due by August 27^th. Lou Fisk, 616-263-9054 or gfisk01@charter.net.  Social hour is from 7 to 10 pm.  Social hour only is $5 at the door. #31,32p

MCC Offers Trip to Art Prize

Sept. 30: Experience ArtPrize September 30^th in Grand Rapids with Montcalm Community College. Buses depart from the Stanley and Blanche Ash Technology and Learning Center on MCC’s Greenville campus at 8:30 am and from MCC’s Sidney campus at 9 am. Buses will arrive at the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) at 10 am and depart at 5 pm. The trip is free to all who register. Admission to the GRAM is $4 per person. Anyone planning to participate in this trip must be age 12 or older; participants between 12 and 17 must be accompanied by an adult. To register, email the registration form located at www.montcalm.edu/events/artprize-trip/ to karen.maxfield@montcalm.edu or call 989-328-2111, Ext. 334, by September 15th. #31

It’s going to be a busy weekend in downtown Cedar Springs. The Cedar Springs Chamber of Commerce is teaming up with the Community Building Development Team to bring some exciting family events to this year’s Christmas in July sidewalk sales event, including a free movie in the park, the groundbreaking for the new Cedar Springs Library at Main and W. Maple Street, and a free concert at the site where the new amphitheater will be built (near the new library).

The weekend starts with a free movie in Morley Park, concessions, and other activities Friday, July 8, at 6 p.m. This year’s movie will be the Christmas movie Elf. Some businesses in downtown Cedar Springs will have Christmas in July sidewalk sales on Saturday July 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Then at 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 9, will be the groundbreaking for the new Cedar Springs Library at the corner of Main and W. Maple Streets, near the Fire Station. Everyone is encouraged to attend and celebrate this milestone.

The Community Building Development Team is also hosting a free concert performed by the band Mane Street, on July 9, from 6-10 p.m., at the site of the future amphitheater in the Heart of Cedar Springs. This is the lot where Cedar Springs began in the 1850’s, and is also in the same area where the new library is being built. There currently is a flowing well on the site, featuring one of the springs that Cedar Springs is named for. The address for the concert is 37 W. Maple Street, and is just west of the Fire Station and north of the White Pine Trail staging area. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and be ready to hear some good music!

At Sunshine Community Church Dec. 13

On Friday, December 13, the Sunshine Community Church, located at 3300 East Beltline Avenue NE in Grand Rapids, will host the exciting Jubilee Christmas Tour, featuring talented Christian recording artists The Booth Brothers, Greater Vision and Legacy Five.

What began as a light-hearted lunch conversation between three friends has become one of the most popular concert tours in Gospel Music. The Jubilee Tour brings three of the most popular names in Southern Gospel Music together for a unique and unforgettable concert experience. The event has proven to be very popular in cities across the United States, and has enjoyed sell-out concert attendance in numerous cities.

The evening allows each group to be featured during the first half of the program, then the second half brings the three groups together for a Jubilee spectacular.  The unscripted and spontaneous format that is both entertaining and inspirational, providing audiences with a most enjoyable, must-see evening.

In 2012, the three artists united to release the Jubilee Christmas recording and traveled to eight cities to present the Jubilee Christmas Tour. The concerts featured material from the new Christmas recording and delighted crowds throughout the Holiday season.

The dawning of 2013 began a new chapter in the Jubilee series, as the Jubilee artists continue to Tour throughout the United States. This Holiday season, the Jubilee Christmas Tour will be featured in 16 cities throughout the US. The stop in Grand Rapids will mark one of those special evenings. This event, featuring the Booth Brothers, Greater Vision and Legacy Five at the Sunshine Community Church, promises to be enjoyable for the entire family. The Jublee Christmas concert will begin at 7:00pm.

Reserve tickets online at www.imcconcerts.com, or by phone at 800-965-9324.

The VanHoutens, a well known and loved musical ministry duo from the Holland area, will be in concert at Victory Baptist Church this Sunday, Nov. 10. They will be ministering in music at all three services (9:45, 11:00, and 6:00). The church is located at 16415 Meddler Ave, Sand Lake (2 miles north of Tow’s Country Store). For more information, call 616-984-2525.

NOVEMBER 20, 2013

Cedar Springs High School Auditorium

5:30pm 6th—8th Grades

7:00pm High School

Summer is wrapping up and so is the  Cedar Springs Area Parks and Recreation Department’s seventh annual Concert in the Park Series. They invite you  to come and enjoy the music of “Decades” on Thursday, August 15 from 7-9pm in Morley Park, Cedar Springs. You will hear top 40 hits from various decades while enjoying fellowship with other community members. Just bring your chairs and relax!

The event is free to the public and will include a free raffle of door prizes during the band’s intermission, which are donated by local businesses. In addition to the entertainment, there will be concessions for sale. There will be cotton candy, sno cones, popcorn, drinks, candy bars and more for you.

The Cedar Springs Area Parks and Recreation Department is comprised of Algoma, Courtland, Nelson, and Solon Townships, the City of Cedar Springs and the entire Cedar Springs School District. The six organizations work together to offer  recreational and enrichment activities.  For more information on this program or others, please call 696-7320 Monday-Wednesday or email director@csaparksandrec.com anytime.  There is also a Facebook page to stay aprised of programs and information, just search for Cedar Springs Area Parks & Recreation.

The Cedar Springs Area Parks and Recreation Department has put together its seventh annual Concert in the Park Series this summer and wants to invite you  to come and enjoy the music. The next concert is on Thursday, July 18, at 7 p.m., with the group “Great Scott.”

The event is free to the public and will include a free raffle of door prizes during the bands intermission, which have been donated by local businesses. There will also be concessions for sale—cotton candy, sno cones, popcorn, drinks, candy bars and more. The events began in 2006 with one concert and grew in 2007 to holding three concerts.  The Cedar Springs businesses work with the department to offer these events at no charge to the community. “These concerts have grown in size and have become a mainstay summer event for the Cedar Springs area,” said Parks and Rec Director Amanda Gerhardt. “We enjoy watching the community come and relax for an evening.  The hard economic times make it difficult for some families to do activities, so we are thrilled to provide them this opportunity to have some fun,” she added.

An additional concert will be held on August 15 in Morley Park and will feature music for all ages by the group “ Decades.”

Another event that the Cedar Springs Area Parks and Recreation department is sponsoring is a bus trip to the Detroit Tigers on Sunday, August 4.  They will be taking on the Chicago White Sox. The bussing will be provided by Compass Coach. Seats for the game are located in the lower section near the first base foul pole. A voucher is included for a hot dog, drink and chips. With the game being on a Sunday, kids can ride the ferris wheel and carousel for free, and run the bases after the game. This will be a fun event for all ages. Tickets are $85 and forms are available online and at CS Public Schools District Office.

For more information on this program or others, please call 696-7320 Monday-Wednesday or email director@csaparksandrec.com anytime. There is also a Facebook page to stay aprised of programs and information, just search for “Cedar Springs Area Parks & Recreation.”

The summer concert series in Cedar Springs returns tonight, Thursday, June 20, at 7 p.m., for its seventh season. The series will be held in Morley Park on the third Thursday of June, July and August. Tonight’s entertainment will be The JetBeats, a new 4-member rock and roll combo from Grand Rapids.
Their bio says “the group’s mission is to bring back the excitement from the high energy live shows of the early 60’s Beat Music era, as well as British Invasion classics and a healthy dose of American rockabilly and rhythm & blues.” See more at www.reverbnation.com/TheJetbeats.

Great Scott will be featured on July 18, and Decades on August 15.

These concerts, organized by Cedar Springs Area Parks and Recreation, are sponsored by local groups and businesses and will be free to the public. Door prizes will be given away during the band breaks, and concessions will be available for purchase. So bring your chairs and enjoy some snacks and entertainment with your Cedar Springs area neighbors! All concerts 7-9 p.m. In the event of bad weather, they will be moved to Cedar Springs Middle School if it’s available.

The last event in the Parks and Rec concerts in the park series is coming up Thursday, August 18 at Morley Park, in Cedar Springs, at 7 p.m. and will feature the Sea Cruisers, playing 50’s and 60’s music.

There will be cotton candy, snow cones, caramel corn, candy and drinks for sale at the event.

Bring a lawn chair, family, and friends and have some fun!

In case of bad weather, it will be held at Cedar Springs Middle School, at the corner of Northland Drive and 16 Mile Rd.

Concerts in the Park are supported by Cedar Springs Area Parks and Recreation and local businesses.

Brooke Morris, 12, of Cedar Springs, Madison Morris, 9, of Cedar Springs, Alexa Morris, 11 years, Algonquin, IL, and Amanda Morris, 13 years, also of Algonquin IL spending time with musician Taylor Swift last week.

Two Cedar Springs girls and their two cousins got a special treat last week when they got to spend some one on one time with one of their favorite singers, Taylor Swift.

Almost 11,000 attended the concert in Grand Rapids on July 28, including Brooke Morris, 12, of Cedar Springs, Madison Morris, 9, of Cedar Springs, Alexa Morris, 11 years, Algonquin, IL, and Amanda Morris, 13 years, also of Algonquin IL.

According to Brooke and Madison’s mom, Stephanie Morris, Taylor Swift’s mom handpicked girls out of the crowd to attend the musician’s private “T-party” after the performance. The girls wore special shirts, and held lit signs and guitars to help them get noticed.

“It was an amazing experience for them and something they will never forget!” said Stephanie.

Music is back in Morley Park, in Cedar Springs, and there will be another concert tonight, Thursday, July 21 at 7 p.m. with the group “Brena.” It may be warm outside, but come try and relax to the sweet sounds of this awarding winning band, that even has their own CD.

In addition to the entertainment, there will be concessions and door prizes, along with cotton candy and frozen snacks. These frozen snacks and the cold beverages will help you counteract the heat. The event is free to the public and will include a free raffle of door prizes during the bands intermission. The door prizes are donated by local businesses.

This is the fifth year that the Cedar Springs Area Parks and Recreation department and local businesses have sponsored concerts in the park.  The events began in 2006 with one concert and grew in 2007 to holding three concerts.  The Cedar Springs businesses work with the department to offer these events at no charge to the community. “These concerts have grown in size and have become a mainstay summer event for the Cedar Springs area,” said CSAPR Director Amanda Gerhardt. “We enjoy watching the community come and relax for an evening. The hard economic times make it difficult for some families to do activities, so we are thrilled to provide them this opportunity to have some fun.”

An additional concert will be held on August 18 in Morley Park and will feature 50’s and 60’s music by “ The Sea Cruisers.”

Another event that the Cedar Springs Area Parks and Recreation department is sponsoring is the 3rd Annual  mud volleyball tournament on Saturday, August 13. Registration is open currently and continues through August 5. Forms are available online and at CS Public Schools District Office.

For more information on this program or others, please call 696-7320 Monday-Wednesday  or email director@csaparksandrec.com anytime.  There is also a Facebook page to stay aprised of programs and information, just search for “Cedar Springs Area Parks & Recreation.”