One of the gingerbread houses at the Cedar Springs Library.

The Animal Junction 4-H Club would like to invite all of the Cedar Springs community to visit the Cedar Springs Library until Friday, December 7, to view the wonderful confectionary creations that their 4-H members have made to kick off this year’s holiday season.

They would like the community to vote for the gingerbread house they like the best. The winners will be announced on Saturday, December 8, at 10 a.m. at the Cedar Springs Library, at the corner of Main and W. Maple Street in Cedar Springs.

Bounce houses and water slides were a big hit at the summer reading celebration last week. Post photo by J. Reed.

Kids loved the sno cones supplied by the Green family at the summer reading celebration. Photo by Donna Clark.

By Judy Reed

Last Thursday, August 2, was a great day for the celebration that ended this year’s summer reading program for the Cedar Springs Library.

Over 1300 people turned out for the event, which was held in Morley Park, from 1-3 p.m. Included in the celebration was a lot of fun stuff for kids to do—bounce houses, water slides, carnival games by the Green family, a petting zoo with Animal Junction and Double K Farms, the Kent County Sheriff mounted police, face painting, and more. 

There were long lines for sno cones supplied by the Green family, and Mayor Gerald Hall and his wife, Amy, popped 12 pounds of popcorn! Lots of great prizes were also given away at the event.

Librarian Donna Clark and her staff sure know how to put on a great party. Hope to see you all there next year!

Santa Claus arriving for the Christmas tree lighting in Cedar Springs last Saturday, December 2. Post photo by J. Reed.

By Judy Reed

We had great weather here in Cedar Springs last Saturday, December 2, to welcome Santa Claus to town. And a lot of people enjoyed the day-long events that took place before the big man made his entrance in the parade.

“A Cedar Springs Christmas weekend 1—Mingle with Kris Kringle—went over quite well,” said Perry Hopkins, president of the Cedar Springs Area Chamber of Commerce. “The library had over 100 people attend their crafts to start the event off. Story time with Mrs. Claus and Cousin Shannon was a hit for the children as well. “

Hopkins said that the children loved the petting zoo and bake sale provided by Double K Farms and Animal Junction. The CS HS Choir performed while people were waiting for the parade to start.

More people marched or drove in the parade this year, which brought Santa from the fire station to the corner of Ash and Main, in a horse-drawn carriage.

Calvary Assembly of God presented their live nativity before the tree lighting. Post photo by J. Reed.

Calvary Assembly of God once again did a live nativity scene, and then Santa and Mayor Gerald Hall did a countdown to light the tree. Afterwards, children and their families were invited to follow Santa over to the American Legion where they could color a picture, write a letter to Santa, or have hot chocolate, while they waited to visit with Santa and get a photo taken. Baked goods were also available for sale.

The Christmas tree after it was lit at the corner of Ash and Main Street. Post photo by J. Reed.

Hopkins said that photos that were taken during the daylong event will be available on the Mingle with Kris Kringle event page on Facebook. 

The fun continues this weekend with the Kent Theatre Christmas Concert on Saturday, December 9 from 3-5 p.m., and the Kent Theatre Christmas Dance Extravaganza on Sunday, December 10, from 3-5 p.m. Admission is $3 for each show.

By Judy Reed

Exciting things are happening this summer at the new Cedar Springs Community Library, and Monday is just the beginning as the annual Summer Reading Program kicks off.

The kickoff event to their biggest program of the year starts Monday, June 12, at 10 a.m. and runs until 6 p.m. And this year, there will be lots of room to move around in the building.

“We have so much room!” said Library Director Donna Clark. “Five of our old building would fit in the new one—going from 2,000 sq. ft. to 10,000!”

During the kickoff event, adults and kids—from babies to seniors—can register and receive a reading log in the large classroom, and then move on to the community room to sign up for special programs that will happen throughout the summer, and take part in a new woman’s bike raffle. Themed t-shirts will be on sale there, and the Friends of the Library book sale will also be in the community room.

There will also be fun outside for everyone. Outside by the large tree and the historic well will be the Double K Petting Barn with Animal Junction 4H members assisting. Cindy Karafa says that there will be lots of new baby animals to show. Classic Kelly’s is giving away free ice cream cups again this year, the Cedar Springs Fire and Rescue trucks will be there, and Ronald McDonald will come to share a book and some magic tricks from 2-4 p,m. These activities will end between 3 and 4 p.m. The ice cream will then be moved to the Community Room.

At closing on Wednesday, June 7, 321 people had already preregistered for the summer reading program. “We usually have over 700 after the first two or three weeks of our kickoff,” said Clark.

June and July will be filled with reading and special events. The more hours a person reads (K-12) and the more books adults read, the better his/her chance is to win one of the prizes offered by 29 local businesses.

The last day to turn in reading logs is July 21. The program will end with a carnival at Morley Park on July 27, where the prizes will be given away. But kids in grades K-12 don’t have to wait until July 27 to win something—they win with every one of the five reading coupons turned in throughout the summer. “Every coupon turned in is a special local treat,” remarked Clark. “Come on in and join us and we will ‘treat’ you well, compliments of our local business community!”

The new library has been a big hit with the community. According to Clark, they are averaging 300 people a day. They issued 73 new library cards in their first 12 days of being open, and have updated many of the KDL patrons who use their service as well. If you haven’t made it there yet, stop in Monday, June 12, and have some fun!

Animals from Double K Farm are always a hit at the kickoff of the Summer Reading program at the Cedar Springs Library. Courtesy photo.

Kids really enjoy the ice cream at the kickoff of the Summer Reading program. Courtesy photo.

The Cedar Springs Public Library was on fire with enthusiasm Monday, June 13, as the Library kicked off its spectacular Summer Reading Program. The clouds and brief rain could not dampen the spirits of the 625 participants of this community affair. Families made their way to the Library from noon to 6 p.m. to sign up for a summer of fun, reading, great programs and prizes. Themed book bags, compliments of ChoiceOne Bank, for K-12thgrades, were filled with reading logs and books, as patrons made their way out to the yard to climb aboard Fire Truck #8 and the Rescue Squad vehicle, get free ice cream donated by Classic Kelly’s Restaurant, purchase books from the Friends of the Library book sale, pet the animals from Double K Farm and interact with Animal Junction 4H students.

Community Partners were out in force for the day to assist –members of various businesses, Cedar Springs Fire department volunteers, teen volunteers, and parents working together with Library staff to make the day memorable. Already 753 children and adults have signed up, a new record for opening week.

Over $400 was taken in Monday as raffle tickets were sold to add to the $500+ already sold. A Stihl Blower and Trimmer, valued at over $700, and donated by Bill Shallman, Manager of Weingartz of Cedar Springs, were placed on display at Independent Bank and chances to support the building of the new Cedar Springs Community Library actively promoted by bank staff. Winners at the end of the day were Kenneth Kent, blower, and David Twining, trimmer. Kenneth bought 2 tickets and David $5 worth of tickets. I guess you really never know—it really could only take one ticket to win!

The new library was proudly displayed all day at the event. The brick, windows, roof—the outside make-up of the library was chosen last month by the Library Board, so the new rendering of the library was complete a few weeks ago. Library staff have been shared it enthusiastically to everyone! On June 27, the Library Board will vote on the building company who will get the contract to begin construction sometime around mid-July. Library staff had a great time telling families that next year we will have our summer reading program in our new library.

If you haven’t signed up, get on over to the Cedar Springs Library and sign up for over 35 great prizes and Wednesday weekly programs, plus 25 other special programs to happen for ages 8 through adults. Preschoolers have special programs on Fridays at 11:15 a.m. on the Library grounds, as well. For more information and a calendar of events, go to the Library’s website:  cedarspringslibrary.org. Follow our summer reading theme, Fitness and Nutrition. “On Your Mark, Get Set, READ!”