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Halloween


It’s time once again for the annual Halloween Spooktacular on October 31 in Cedar Springs, and that means lots of witches, goblins, zombies, superheroes, and more will be traveling up and down Main Street to treats from the businesses. Trick or treating at downtown businesses will take place from 5-6:30 p.m. and residential trick or treating is from 5-8 p.m. See more Halloween activities on page 7.

You may have also noticed that some of the flowerpots downtown have been decorated. The DDA worked with the Chamber to put together the Decorate a Pot contest that you now see lining Main St. Trick or Treaters will get a chance to vote for their favorite decoration and the money collected for the entry fee from the decorators will go to the charity of the winner’s choice. While you are out trick or treating take a minute to vote for you favorite either by paper ballot at City Hall or online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LFHX7SG.

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Heart of Cedar Springs growing


View of the new library as of Wednesday, Sept. 7. Photo from Community Building Development Team Facebook page.

View of the new library as of Wednesday, Sept. 7. Photo from Community Building Development Team Facebook page.

If you’ve driven down Main Street recently, you can’t help but notice that the walls are up on the new Cedar Springs Public Library at the corner of Main and Maple Streets. It’s coming along quickly! Also installed on Thursday was a new metal dragonfly sculpture in the area near the flowing well (behind the library), which will be part of the new rain garden area. Watch next week’s paper for more on that piece, created by local artist Steve Anderson.

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A “Spooktacular” success


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Goblins of all sizes roamed downtown Ceadr Springs Halloween night.

Hordes of miniature witches, monsters, princesses, superheroes and more braved the chilly, wet weather on Friday, October 31, and hit downtown Main Street in Cedar Springs and the surrounding area to make the annual Halloween Spook-tacular another rousing success.

“It went well,” said Kelly Roach, with Alpha Omega Coffee and Games. “A lot of people showed up in spite of the cold and wind. We had 3 crossing guards this year, and several people mentioned appreciating that.” Roach was in charge of organizing the event for the Cedar Springs Area Chamber of Commerce.

She said she had one customer, Felicia Smith, say how nice it was to have an opportunity to check out several businesses that she hadn’t gotten a chance to stop by yet.

Businesses, non-profit groups and churches all handed out candy and organized activities for the young (and some not so young) trick-or-treaters.

 

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Trick or treat in Cedar Springs


 

Are you ready to trick or treat in Cedar Springs?

Are you ready to trick or treat in Cedar Springs?

It’s only one week until Halloween—are you ready for a night full of fun? Does the thought greeting scores of trick or treaters make you break out in a cold sweat? Forget staying home! Pack up the kids and come out Halloween night for the Annual Cedar Springs Halloween Spooktacular in Cedar Springs! Sponsored by the Cedar Springs Area Chamber of Commerce, area businesses and churches, the fun starts at 4:30 p.m. with spooky storytime at the library, at the corner of Cherry and Second. That is followed by trick or treating from 5 to 7 p.m. at Main Street businesses.

The Kent County Sheriff Traffic Squad will hand out hot chocolate and donuts at the Cedar Springs firebarn at W. Maple and Second St. again this year, and the Cedar Springs Historical Museum will host a haunted school house at the museum in Morley Park. Calvary Assembly of God will host a carnival at Main and Ash, and The Springs Church will host Trunk-or-Treat from 6pm-8pm, in their parking lot at the corner of Maple and First Street, along with a giant slide, and refreshments. For more info, see ad below.

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Out of the Attic


Main Street in Cedar Springs during the blizzard of 1978

Main Street in Cedar Springs during the blizzard of 1978

Tired of the snow?

If you think it’s bad right now, look at the result of the blizzard of 1978. This is what Main Street in Cedar Springs looked like, and many snowpiles across the area lingered til March. It kind of feels like that now, doesn’t it? Many are tired of the snow and ice and frigid temperatures. A couple of days in the 30s and 40s last week gave us hope that spring is right around the corner, but the return of sub-zero temps, more snow, and the forecast from WOOD-TV’s Bill Steffen has all but dashed those hopes. He says we are looking the rest of March to be colder than normal. In one of his updates last week, he said maybe Cedar Springs should start making some green flannels. If only we could, Bill! Thanks to Ed Bremmer for the photograph.

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Year in Review: Gone but not forgotten


Roger Allen

Roger Allen

Many of us lost loved ones in 2013. However, there was one death that touched us all at the Post. It was the death of Roger Allen—the founder of the Post and father of our current publisher, Lois Allen.

Roger Allen, of Rockford, Michigan, and formerly of Cedar Springs, died Saturday, January 5 after a long battle with heart disease. He was 84.

He was well known in both communities as publisher of the Rockford Squire newspaper and founder of The Cedar Springs Post. He wrote a weekly column for both papers, and many people appreciated Roger’s wit and humor. It was one of the most popular pages in the newspaper. If his column didn’t run for some reason, people called and wanted to know where it was.

He bought the Squire when it was the Rockford Weekly Register and in bankruptcy in the early 1980s. He felt that it was important that the town’s oldest business and only newspaper stay in publication.

He bought the Squire while living in Cedar Springs, and his neighbors complained and told him they wanted a newspaper in Cedar Springs, too. (The Clipper was no longer printing.) So he founded the Cedar Springs Post in 1988 and turned over the reins to his wife, Alice, and daughter, Lois. His daughter Beth runs the Squire.

Roger wrote his weekly columns without fail for over 30 years. When he traveled, he called the column Roger on the Road, and when he was in town he called the column Main Street. His column always featured jokes, anecdotes and his own wry commentary on world events. After a heart surgery several years ago, he was no longer able to travel. He bought property in Rockford, built a house and lived out his last days there.

 

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Trick or treat in Cedar Spring—indoors and out


Are you ready to trick or treat in Cedar Springs?

Are you ready to trick or treat in Cedar Springs?

Are you ready for a night full of fun? Don’t let the forecast of rain keep you home Halloween night—there will be plenty of fun both indoors and out at the annual Cedar Springs Halloween Spooktacular in downtown Cedar Springs! Sponsored by the Cedar Springs Area Chamber of Commerce, area businesses and churches, the fun starts at 4:30 p.m. with spooky storytime inside the library, at the corner of Cherry and Second, and a scavenger hunt by En Gedi that starts at City Hall. That is followed by trick or treating from 5 to 7 p.m. at almost 40 Main Street businesses—so bring your umbrella!

If you are looking for more indoor activities, The Springs Church, located at 135 N. Grant Street, will host their Trunk or Treat inside the church. Calvary Assembly God will also hold their kids carnival inside at The Springs. There will be lots of candy for the taking, games, hot chocolate, cider and donuts. It will be fun for the whole family!

The Cedar Springs Fire Department will hand out hot chocolate and donuts at the firebarn at W. Maple and Second St. again this year, and the Cedar Springs Historical Museum will host a haunted school house inside the museum in Morley Park for the first time.

The En Gedi youth center’s “Ghost in the graveyard” at North Park (NE corner of Pine and Main) will be canceled if it rains.

Come see us at The Post! We will be handing out candy, along with many other businesses. Check out all the businesses and non-profits handing out candy this year on or just off Main Street (starting at the south end):

Cedar Street: The Cedar Springs Historical Museum

Between Muskegon (17 Mile) and Church Streets: Family Video, Hungry Howie’s, CS Family Chiropractic, Main Street Restaurant, Awesome Tan, and Admiral.

Between Church and Beech Streets: Amish Warehouse, McBride Accounting, United Methodist Church.

Between Beech and Ash Streets: American Legion, The Cedar Pub.

Between Ash and Cherry Streets: D&J Nails, Traveler’s Trunk, Link Wireless, The Hair Craft Company, Alpha Omega Coffee and Games, Round Up Tavern, Take Two Game Shop.

Between Cherry and Elm Streets: The Cedar Springs Public Library (Cherry Street), The Kent Theatre, Vitale’s Pizza, The Gun Tavern.

Between Elm and Maple Streets: Curves, Cedar Chest, Homemade Ceramics, Car Quest, Frog’s Legendary Billiards; Perry’s Place, Cedar Springs Fire Department (W. Maple), The Cedar Springs Post (E. Maple), and The Springs Church (driveways off E. Maple and First Streets).

Pine Street and North: Wesco, B&H Sporting Goods, Cedar Springs Tire, Dollar General, KC’s Kones and Coneys, Kelly’s Restaurant, Vanderhyde Ford.

 

 

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Community Celebration Day this Saturday


The Cedar Springs Area Chamber of Commerce expects 60-plus vendors at this year’s Community Celebration Day Saturday. Last year’s event drew about half that. Post photo by J. Reed.

The Cedar Springs Area Chamber of Commerce expects 60-plus vendors at this year’s Community Celebration Day Saturday. Last year’s event drew about half that. Post photo by J. Reed.

By Judy Reed

Imagine the aroma of meat on the grill, music playing, water splashing, children laughing, and sidewalks lined with great deals up and down Main Street…Well, you no longer have to imagine it, because it’s really happening!

The Cedar Springs Area Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for its second annual Cedar Springs Community Celebration Day in downtown Cedar Springs this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

There will be activities on Main Street from Muskegon St. (17 Mile) to 18 Mile. Look for sidewalk sales, artists, musicians, face painters, a dunk tank, great food, farmers market and flea market vendors, local demonstrations and more! You’ll findboth downtown and surrounding area merchants, home-based businesses and non-profit groups. Those interested in Red Flannel souvenirs will find them there, and those looking for kids back to school clothes can check out the booth of the brand name clothing reseller. The Solon Market vendors will also be part of the Celebration this year.

Other new vendors this year include an alpaca farmer with baby alpacas who will show how fur is turned into wool; a local nursery will have plants for sale; and the Lions Club will do an eyeglass drive with a percentage of the money made from the eyeglasses to benefit the Boy Scouts.

There will also be three different bands, including Steal Grey, a local Cedar Springs band performing country and classic rock. True Story, who performed at Solon Market last week, will perform at Cedar Chest. There is no admission to hear any of the music.

Last year’s event drew about 30 vendors, and over 60 have already preregistered for this year’s event. “We’re hoping to have 80 to 100,” said Chamber president Shawn Kiphart. “There is still plenty of space available, and we’ll take registrations up to Saturday morning.” Those wishing to set up a spot should call 616-773-5126 for more information. (See ad on page 16)

 

 

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Crash punctures dump truck gas tank


Post photo by J. Reed.

Post photo by J. Reed.

By Judy Reed

 

A crash at the corner of Main and Muskegon Streets in Cedar Springs last week Thursday, July 25, resulted in a gas spill from a dump truck leaving a construction zone.

According to Cedar Springs Police officer Chad Potts, a jeep driven by Caroline Bartlett, 68, of Cedar Springs, was heading eastbound on Muskegon Street about 2:45 p.m., when it approached the Main Street intersection and tried to turn right. When the driver realized she couldn’t make the turn and was going to hit the barricade, she tried to abort the turn and went straight, and struck the driver’s side of a Dean’s Excavating truck that was heading north through the intersection. The crash ruptured the fuel tank on the dump truck and Cedar Springs firefighters and others worked at the scene to clean up the spill.

Post photo by J. Reed.

Post photo by J. Reed.

Neither the driver of the jeep nor the driver of the dump truck, Gary Wall, 55, of Leroy, were transported to the hospital. They sought their own medical attention.

In a related incident, a firefighter at Main and Church Street was directing traffic away from the accident, when a southbound pickup with yellow lights rotating proceeded through that intersection without stopping and bumped the firefighter with his mirror. He was not injured and no citation was issued.

According to Cedar Springs Police Chief Roger Parent, the truck was owned by Dean’s Excavating and had been called in to help with the cleanup. But the firefighter didn’t know that. Parent cautioned citizens to always stop and identify themselves if they need to be at the scene of an accident. “When in doubt, they should stop. They shouldn’t think that everyone knows what they are there for,” he said.

 

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Main Street


Focus

I am surprised that our upcoming election may hinge on the candidates views on marriage. The briefest look at our national and world news shows and incredible variety of problems, troubles and serious issues. We have Syria, North Korea, immigration, climate change and economic distress. The marriage issue affects only a few. The major problems may affect everyone.

Judgement

A busload of politicians was driving down a country road, when suddenly the bus ran off the road and crashed into an old farmer’s barn.

The old farmer got off his tractor and went to investigate. Soon he dug a hole and buried the politicians. A few days later, the local sheriff came out, saw the crashed bus and asked the old farmer where all the politicians had gone.

The old farmer told him he had buried them.

The sheriff asked the old farmer, “Lordy, were they all dead?”

The old farmer said, “Well, some of them said they weren’t, but you know how them crooked politicians lie.”

Nutrition

Two alligators were sitting at the side of the swamp near Washington, DC.  The smaller one turned to the bigger one and said, “I can’t understand how you kin be so much bigger ‘n me. We’re the same age, we was the same size as kids. I just don’t get it.”

“Well,” said the big ‘gator, “what you been eatin’, boy?”

“Politicians, same as you,” replied the small ‘gator.

“Hmm. Well, where do y’all catch ‘em?”

“Down ‘tother side of the swamp near the parkin’ lot by the capitol.”

“Same here. Hmm. How do you catch ‘em?”

“Well, I crawls up under one of them Lexus and wait fer one to unlock the car door. Then I jump out, grab ‘em on the leg, shake the manure out of ‘em, and eat ‘em!”

“Ah!” says the big alligator, “I think I see your problem. You ain’t gettin’ any real nourishment. See, by the time you get done shakin’ the manure out of a politician, there ain’t nothin’ left but the hind quarters and a briefcase.”

The miracle

A woman takes her 16-year-old daughter to the doctor. The doctor says, “Okay, Mrs. Smith, what’s the problem?”

The mother says, “It’s my daughter, Lynda. She keeps getting these cravings, she’s putting on weight, and is sick most mornings.”

The doctor gives Lynda a good examination, then turns to the mother and says, “Well, I don’t know how to tell you this, but your Lynda is pregnant—about 4 months, would be my guess.”

The mother says, “Pregnant? She can’t be, she has never ever been left alone with a man! Have you, Lynda?”

Lynda says, “No mother! I’ve never even kissed a man!”

The doctor walks over to the window and just stares out. About five minutes pass and finally the mother says, “Is there something wrong out there, doctor?”

The doctor replies, “No, not really, it’s just that the last time anything like this happened, a star appeared in the east and three wise men came over the hill. I’ll be darned if I’m going to miss it this time!”

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Main Street


North Korea, Syria and Iran represent a few more wars our country could stay out of.

If you’re in favor of war, skip down to the jokes.

My own low approval of war comes from a long life that goes back so far that for most people it’s only “history.” My military service was spent in Korea in 1946-1948, the handful of years between World War II and the full-blown Korean War.

None of America’s wars occurred on our soil in living memory. For that we should be thankful. But maybe it has made us, as a nation, more accepting of our going to war.

On the bright side, although America has many religions and sects, we seem to get along. That is a real blessing. Other countries have internal religious wars in which America should think long and hard before getting involved. Maybe we’re all agreed on that.

What I’m trying to say about war can be summed up in two words: Be skeptical.

 

Religious viewpoint

A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her six- and seven-year- olds.

After explaining the commandment to “honor” their fathers and mothers, she asked, “Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?”

Without missing a beat, one boy, the eldest child in his family, answered, “Thou shalt not kill.”

 

Perfect viewpoint

At a local coffee bar, a young woman was expounding to her friends on her idea of the perfect mate: “It’s very important that the man I marry be musical with a decent singing voice. I consider a sense of humor to be essential, as well as knowing how to tell jokes. In other words, the man I marry has to be a shining light among company. But he also must be the kind who will stay home with me at night.”

A male listener at a nearby table overheard and spoke up: “Lady, what you really want is a television set!”

A blonde went to her doctor and showed him that both her ears were red and painful. The doctor asked her what had happened. “I was ironing a shirt and the phone rang,” she told him, “but, instead of picking up the phone, I accidentally grabbed the iron and stuck it up to my ear.”

“Oh, dear!” said the doctor in sympathy. ”But what happened to your other ear?”

“The jerk called back!”

 

Artistic viewpoint

After his divorce, Joe asked his best friend, Hank, to fix him up with a blind date. Hank obliged. The next day Joe phoned Hank and shouted angrily, “What kind of guy do you think I am? That girl you fixed me up with was cross-eyed. She was almost bald. Her nose was long and crooked. She had hair growing on her face. She was flat-chested and her ankles were as thick as her thighs.”

“Well,” answered Hank, “either you like Picasso, or you don’t like Picasso.”

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Main Street


Go green!

St. Patrick’s Day: It’s not the kind of holiday that gives us the day off work, but Americans seem to love it. Even those with no trace of Irish in their veins like it. Maybe it’s just the green beer.

St. Patrick is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland, stamping out the pagan practices of the natives. St. Patrick may be the one who first imported Christianity to Ireland or it may have been some other early priest, but Patrick is the one who caught on with the locals. This happened in the fifth century, so we’re not talking fleeting popularity.

The green flood

In the 19th century, America received a flood of Irish nationals fleeing poverty and the potato famine. Those immigrants are the forebears of a huge number of present-day Americans who tend to be proud of their ancestry. But during the 19th and early 20th centuries, Irish-Americans were regarded as lowlifes: pretty stupid and probably drunk. This led to a lot of Irish jokes.

Pretty stupid

1) Paddy was shaving when he knocked the mirror off the shelf and it fell to the floor where it cracked across the middle. Paddy gazed down in horror. “Bejabbers, I’ve cut me throat,” he gasped.

2) Paddy and Mick were nailing up the side of a wooden house. Mick noticed that Paddy was examining the nails and throwing away every other one.

“What’s wrong with the nails?” he asked.

“Sure and the heads are at the wrong end,” answered Paddy.

“You idiot,” said Mick. “Can’t you see they’re for the other side of the house?”

Probably drunk

1) Why did God invent whiskey? So the Irish would never rule the world.

2) An Irishman walks into a pub. “Give me three pints of Guinness, please.”

So the bartender brings him three pints and the man proceeds to alternately sip one, then the other, then the third, until they’re gone. He then orders three more.

The bartender says, “Sir, you probably like them cold. You don’t have to order three at a time. I can keep an eye on it, and when you get low I’ll bring you a fresh cold one.”

“You don’t understand,” said the customer. “I have two brothers, one in Australia and one back in the old country. We made a vow to each other that every Saturday night we’d still drink together. So right now, my brothers have three Guinness, too, and we’re drinking together.

The bartender thought that was a wonderful tradition.

Every week the man came in and ordered three beers. Then one week he came in and ordered only two. He drank them and then ordered two more.

The bartender said to him, “I know what your tradition is, and I’d just like to say that I’m sorry that one of your brothers died.”

The man said, “Oh, me brothers are fine, but I just quit drinking.”

Irish names

I’m one, are you? Happy St. Patrick’s Day! You can find a partial list of Irish last names at this website: http://www.st-patricks-day.com/irish-family-names.html

 

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