Kent District Library goes beyond books to celebrate bands, beer, bikes and BBQ

Partygoers can expect the unexpected as Kent District Library rolls out a new annual event that invites the public to experience the best of the diverse community programs it has to offer.

SuperPartyWonderDay is a free community celebration that brings together bands, beer, bikes and BBQ—all things that patrons of the award-winning

KDL system can explore through its programs and services. On Saturday, Aug. 12 from noon to 8 p.m. at the Meadows of Millennium Park, located at 1415 Maynard Ave. SW in Walker, the event goes “Beyond Books” to celebrate the breadth of offerings that KDL provides—and the area communities that makes it a success.

“We are beyond excited to host our first ever SuperPartyWonderDay,” said KDL Executive Director Lance Werner. “We have a whole smorgasbord full of excellent activities that will celebrate how KDL takes our patrons beyond books. Whether you’re a fan of bands, beer, bikes or BBQ, this is sure to be a day of unexpected fun.

“It also gives us a great chance to showcase the many unique programs and services we provide that you wouldn’t expect from a library. Patrons are surprised when they learn they can check out a bike. Or an iPad or wireless hotspot. Or download free video games and ebooks.

Or take grilling lessons, learn to brew beer or get help creating a movie or podcast. At KDL, our goal is to connect people with new ideas and new ways of exploring their community and the world around us.”

Highlights include:

• KDaLe program partners Railtown Brewing Co., Cedar Springs Brewing Co., Kayla Rae Cellars, Gravel Bottom Craft Brewery and Cascade Cellars Winery will be on tap to provide beer, cider and wine to eventgoers.
• Performances by KDL local indie bands Jesse Ray and the Carolina Catfish, CønradShøck + The Nøise and Brother Adams will provide musical entertainment throughout the day.
• The SuperPartyWonderRide will offer participants an opportunity to hop on their bikes and cruise through the park led by a squadron of KDL Cruisers. Bicycle parking and support provided by Bike KDL and Greater Grand Rapids Bicycle Coalition.
• The Rib CookOff will give grilling aficionados the opportunity to put their skills to the test. The event is sponsored by the Grilling Company. Participants will be judged on taste, visual appearance and tenderness. The public will be allowed to get in the action and sample tastes of the participants’ entries.
• Food trucks, including Patty Matters, A Moveable Feast and Moochies Dream Cream, will be on hand to serve up goodies like ice cream, popcorn, slushies, patties of all sorts and locally sourced fresh, seasonal food.
• Partygoers will have a chance to play KDL’s most popular kid-friendly games, such as giant checkers, beanbag toss, a top-secret STEAM activity and more.

While seating is available throughout the venue, ample lawn space is available to partygoers who wish to bring lawn chairs or blankets. Both “human” and “furry” kids are welcome.

For more information on the event, visit www.kdl.org/superparty. Connect with KDL on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter with #KDLSuperParty.

Celebrating at Cedar Springs Brewing Company, from left, David Ringler, Matt Peterson, Manda Geiger.

Cedar Springs Brewing Company is pleased and humbled to announce that its Küsterer Original Weissbier was the recipient of the bronze medal in the “South German Wheat Ale” category at the 2016 Great American Beer Festival, held earlier this month in Denver, Colorado.

In a ceremony at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, prestigious gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded to winning breweries in 96 beer categories covering 161 different beer styles (including all subcategories), establishing the best examples of each style in the country. Neither a gold nor a silver medal were awarded in the Pumpkin/Squash Beer category.

Winners were chosen from 7,227 competition entries (nearly 9 percent more than the 6,647 entries in 2015 and surpassing all previous participation records) from 1,752 breweries hailing from 50 states plus Washington, D.C.

The competition also saw its biggest-ever panel of judges, with 264 beer experts from 12 countries, including the U.S., and 170 competition volunteers. The panel also evaluated 88 Pro-Am entries, which were judged in three rounds over four days.

The category  CS Brew won in included five distinct styles:

German-Style Wheat Ale

a. Subcategory: South German-Style Kristal Weizen

b. Subcategory: German-Style Leichtes Weizen

c. Subcategory: South German-Style Bernsteinfarbenes (antique) Weizen

d. Subcategory: South German-Style Dunkel Weizen

e. Subcategory: South German-Style Weizenbock

Küsterer Original Weissbier was the highest rated beer in Subcategory C: Bernsteinfarbenes Weizen. Silver and Gold were awarded to Dunkel Weizen and Weizenbock, respectively.

“We are immensely proud to have brought home this award to Cedar Springs and Beer City, USA in our first competition,” stated owner David Ringler. “We are passionate about this style, along with Bavarian brewing traditions, and we continue to strive to get better every day. We thank everyone who has supported us along the way as this wouldn’t be possible without them.”

The Cedar Springs brewing staff includes: Benevolent Overlord of Brewing, Matt Peterson; Fräulein Brewster, Manda Geiger; Director of Happiness, David Ringler; and Kellertyp, Adam Evans.

For a complete list of winners: https://www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com/the-competition/winners/

Sign up to create a rain barrel to store rainwater to water your plants and garden and keep stormwater out of the lakes and rivers.

Rain barrel workshops on tap

What do rain barrels and a business making great beer have in common? Clean water for the Rogue River. A rain barrel is a system that collects and stores rainwater (stormwater) from your roof that would otherwise be lost to runoff and diverted to storm drains and streams. Stormwater is the leading source of water pollution in West Michigan. The average rain barrel will keep 1,815 gallons of stormwater out of our lakes and rivers each year. Saving water not only helps protect the environment, it saves you money and energy. A rain barrel collects water and stores it for when you need it most—during periods of drought—to water plants, your garden, or wash your car. Additionally, rainwater is naturally soft and devoid of minerals, chlorine and other chemicals found in city water, so it is a better alternative for your plants.

This year, Trout Unlimited is working with Rockford Brewing Company and Cedar Springs Brewing Company to host a rain barrel workshop series—Barrels and Brews—to help protect the Rogue River. Trout Unlimited has been conducting rain barrel workshops in the Rogue River watershed since 2013, successfully distributing around 250 barrels to the local community. Trout Unlimited is partnering with Plainfield Charter Township, the Cedar Springs Community Building Development Team, and the West Michigan Environmental Action Council to conduct these workshops. All workshops include everything you need to set up your barrel and take around 45 minutes. Rain barrels are $30 apiece and you must sign-up for a workshop at rainbarrels.wmeac.org.

Rain barrel workshops will be held at:

Rockford Brewing – Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. on: May 10, June 21, July 19, August 16 (12 E. Bridge St., Rockford)

Cedar Springs Brewing – Monday, May 23 at 6:30 p.m. (corner of Main and Maple, Cedar Springs)

We look forward to seeing you there!