The Cedar Springs Public Library is now halfway to the $50,000 matching grant! For every dollar donated to the library—either through participating in a fundraiser or straight donation—an anonymous donor will also donate a dollar, up to $50,000 toward the library building fund. Here are some ways you can help.

Fundraising meeting

The next fundraising meeting for the library will be at the Cedar Springs Middle School on March 27 at 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

License plates and frames

Looking for a trendy new license plate or frame to let folks know you are proud of your hometown? You can now buy a front license plate or frame that lets people know you are from Cedar Springs and will benefit the library, too!

The Red Flannel Festival is donating all the profit from sales of the license plates to the Library Fundraising Committee to assist in their effort to raise $50,000 toward the matching grant. The Festival is also donating all profits from Festival souvenirs on sale at Sally’s Cedar Chest on Main Street and the Cedar Springs Library, as well.

“It’s a necessity for the Festival to carry souvenirs to further the awareness of the Festival and the City to the surrounding areas,” said Andres. “This partnership furthers the mission of the Festival Board to help other organizations, as was established several years ago with our Community Share Program.”

The license plates can be bought at the Cedar Springs Library or Cedar Springs City Hall. Plates are $12, and frames are $18.

Biggest loser results

The person with the biggest percentage of body weight lost in the biggest loser fundraiser was Laura Inman with 11.11 percent lost. She won $100 for her effort.

In the men’s category, Nick Vanderhyde  came in first with 10.77 percent lost; Trisha Erlenbush lost 10.18 percent in the women’s category; and Dick Capek lost 9.3 percent in the seniors category and also lost 24.5 inches. Deb Norkus lost the most body fat with 5.4 percent lost.

As a group, participants lost a total of 255.5 pounds and 223.58 inches. Way to go!

Upcoming events

The Amish Warehouse will donate a percentage of furniture and gift sales during an April event. Watch the Post for upcoming ads with all the details!

The Cedar Springs American Legion will donate the proceeds from Bingo on April 12 at 5 p.m.

All You Can Eat Taco Bar at Big Boy’s Thurs. April 26 5-8 p.m.  Tickets on sale at the library. $9 for adults, $6 for kids. Same price at the door.

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

Contestants on NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” are also learning about ways they can help the environment while losing weight this season. Tune into the show and take the FilterForGood Pledge at www.filterforgood.com to learn more and get involved.

(ARA) – It’s empowering to know that there are small changes you can make in your own life that can also have positive effects on everyone else’s life. But did you know that many of the same things you personally do to live a healthier lifestyle can also positively impact the environment?
In fact, improving your own waistline and reducing your personal waste are connected in more ways than you’ve probably thought about. Here are four changes you can make to your everyday life that will also make a positive impact on your health and the earth:
* Eat local, organic foods. By making sure that you are purchasing locally grown, organic foods, you are also reducing the amount of energy it takes to transport the food to your area. When you eat locally, it means that the food has to travel a much shorter distance to make it onto your plate, therefore reducing its impact on the environment. It also allows you to know that you are eating some of the freshest produce available to you, which are packed with vitamins you need to improve your health.
* Drink more water, but ditch the disposable plastic bottle. We often mistake thirst for hunger, so grabbing some water might quench both a craving and your thirst. Water is a far better choice than calorie-ridden sugary beverages.
By carrying a reusable container  with you instead of single-use plastic water bottles, you’ll do your part in reducing plastic waste. “If everyone in the United States pledged to give up bottled water for just one month it could save more than 5 billion bottles,” says Josh Dorfman, environmental activist, TV host and author of “The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget: Save Money. Save Time. Save the Planet.”
* Eat more fruits and vegetables. The health benefits of increasing the amount of vegetables in your diet are well-documented, as vegetables are a low-fat, low-calorie source of essential nutrients. But did you know that when you eat less meat and more vegetables, you’re also reducing your carbon footprint?
According to a 2008 Economic Information Bulletin from the USDA, the food market produces hundreds of pounds of meat each year per American to meet demand – an amount that has not been good for our nation’s waistlines. The production of meat uses many more resources than fruits and veggies, which is why Dorfman recommends going meatless at least one day a week. For a fun and healthy way to learn more about how your food is sourced, ride a bike or jog over to a local farmer market.
* Power of the pedal, or your feet. On your way to becoming healthier, you’re sure to include exercise in your plan. Sometimes though, exercising can have a greater purpose than just working your muscles and improving cardiovascular health.
Consider including daily chores into your workout plan, as it will help you fit in your workout while also leaving your car on the curb. Bike or walk to the grocery store to do your weekly shopping.