This quilt will be raffled off at the Cedar Springs Friends of the Library quilt show on March 18. Get your tickets at the library.

The Cedar Springs Friends of the Library will be having their 5th Annual Quilt Show fundraiser on Saturday, March 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Cedar Springs Middle School. Admission is $2 per person, and under 12 is free.

The Friends will once again be raffling off a beautiful quilt that was designed by Barb Grutter, pieced by Louise King, and quilted by Aerie Quilting. Raffle tickets are available at the Library or at Luv 2 Quilt for $1 each or 6 for $5. The quilt will also soon be on display at Independent Bank and they will have raffle tickets as well.

The Friends are also taking registrations for people who would like to show their quilts. They have changed and added categories to have better variety and competition. The categories are: King/Queen; Full/Twin; Crib/Wall-Hanging; and Table Topper/Tote. There is a limit of three items per person, and you will need a registration form for each quilt shown. Quilts should not be shown that have been shown previously. Quilt registration forms are available at the library or by calling either Barb Grutter at 616.263.9500 or Louise King at 616.696.1376.

The groundbreaking of the new Cedar Springs Library took place Saturday, July 9 at the corner of Main Street and W. Maple. Photo by J. Reed.

By Judy Reed

It’s been an exciting year for those helping to bring a new library to the Cedar Springs area. The CS Library board, Community  Building Development Team, the City of Cedar Springs, Solon Township, Friends of the Library, and community members have all worked together the last few years to get the project off the ground, and they finally realized their dream on January 9 with a celebratory groundbreaking at the corner of Main and Maple Streets.

“I’m only one, standing on the foundation prepared from the 1800s to this present day by a long line of educators, professionals, town folk, volunteers – enthusiastic people of vision and hope,” remarked Librarian Donna Clark.

“Our goal is to make the Library a central hub, providing an open environment to enhance access to the world of knowledge through mentoring, networking and collaboration, and to provide quality resources for personal growth and lifelong learning,” she added.

After the speeches, several people from area boards moved dirt with the golden shovels provided by Nugent Builders, the builder on the project. The project is expected to be done late spring.

A unique metal sculpture, made by artist Steve Anderson, of Anderson’s Metal Sculpture, was installed on the property behind where the new library is being built. The sculpture is a stainless steel, artistic representation of cattails among dragonflies.

“This sculpture, donated by the Community Building Development Team, will add the cultural touch that enhances the educational nature of all the projects planned for this ten-acre site,” said Library Director Donna Clark. “It will add culture and beauty within the areas of the rain gardens and near the planned library building.”

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!”

Free ice cream is always a hit at the opening of the Cedar Springs Public Library’s summer reading program. This little guy is enjoying his ice cream at last year’s opening day. Post photo by J. Reed.

Whether you are young or old, a parent or a grandparent, aunt, uncle or no relation at all…it’s time to get out to the Cedar Springs Public Library and get everyone signed up for this year’s annual Summer Reading Program! This year’s theme is “On your mark, get set, READ!” with a fitness and nutrition focus. A multitude of programs are scheduled from June 13 (opening day) to July 27 (the super fit field day carnival).

Opening day is from 12-6 p.m. You can pick up your free reading log, a free themed book bag, check out books, cool down with free ice cream, pet farm animals, and buys some used books from the Friends of the Library book sale.

The summer reading program includes events for every age group, babies to seniors, and every Wednesday there is a family program, with exciting presenters, starting on Wednesday, June 15, with the Flying Aces professional Frisbee team at 4 p.m. at Cedar Springs Middle School. Most other Wednesday programs are at 2 p.m. but check calendar for exact details on locations and times. They include Kalamazoo Nature Center, Our Amazing Universe, Hula Fit, Wolverine Skyhawks, Shake Rattle and Roll, and the grand finale super fit field day carnival.

Please check out calendar for days and times of other programs specifically for preschool, tweens, teens and adults.
From start to finish, you will want to participate all summer. Every week there will be special coupon prizes for our readers through 12th grade, such as free ice cream and other goodies for turning in your reading log, and you’ll also earn entries for bigger prizes given away at the end. Door prizes will also be given away at programs.

For more info on the summer reading program, visit the library’s website at http://cedarspringslibrary.org/news/summer-reading-program-2016/ and download the complete brochure, or call 696-1910.

Sheryl Fleser won the quilt raffle

Nancy Flierman with her first place quilt.

Saturday March 19, was the 4th annual Friends of the Library Quilt show. It was held at the Cedar Springs Middle School from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. with approximately 180 people in attendance. Included were 36 quilts made by area residents. The winners of the show were chosen by those in attendance, with prizes going to:

Nancy Flierman, of Cedar Springs, won the Antique Quilt Category with her “Dresden Plate” quilt, and 3rd place with “Cathedral Window.” Both were specially made by her mother, Garnet Kline, who passed last year. It took her mother six years to make Cathedral Window, from 1994-2000. ‏She won a beautiful quilt rack donated by Bob Thomas Woodworking,

Barb Krawcyzk with her second place quilt.

2nd place went to Barb Krawczyk, for her “Snake River Log Cabin” quilt. She won a quilt rack donated by Ron Akom.‏

Featured at the show were a yard sale of quilting goods, a silent auction, trunk shows from Blueberry Backroads and Red Button Quilt Company and a Quilt Raffle featuring a Queen size quilt pieced by the Scrappy Quilters and quilted by Aerie Quilting. The raffle quilt was won by Sheryl Fleser of Cedar Springs.

Diane Bengtson holds up the quilt she won from the Friends of the Library. Photo from Donna Clark.

The Cedar Springs Public Library raffled off a quilt as a fundraiser on Red Flannel Day, and raised $301. The lucky winner of the quilt was Diane Bengtson, a longtime resident of Cedar Springs.

Library Director Donna Clark related that when Friends of the Library President Louise King called her, Diane was flabbergasted, and clapping could be heard in the background as her family cheered for her. She reportedly said, “I never win anything! I wanted to support the library, so I bought some tickets.”

Members of the Friends of the Library sold tickets for five hours on Red Flannel Day, and the drawing was held at 5 p.m.

Parker Briggs, 7, enjoys a book at the library

The Cedar Springs Public Library’s summer reading club got off to a great start Monday, with over 600 people passing through the doors of the library to sign up, pick out books, get a book bag, and lots of other goodies.
New employee Rosann Gerhardt, commented, “(There was) great energy, a lot of excitement. People everywhere! I enjoyed watching children looking through our library’s books, trying to pick just the right book.”
Amber Hath, employee for 2 years, experienced her 3rd CSPL Summer Reading Program. She said, “This was my first time to work the program in the morning. I was not prepared for the onslaught when the doors opened.”
Friends of the library held a book sale, summer reading club t-shirts were on sale, and kids enjoyed some tasty ice cream courtesy of Kelly’s Restaurant, and Double K Farms was there with their petting zoo.
“We had 28 volunteers that made the day run smoothly,” said Library Director Donna Clark.

Kids enjoy ice cream at the opening of the summer reading club program.

Sand Lake/Nelson Twp. library looking for plant donations

Gardeners and readers will be delighted as the Friends of the Library “grows” minds this June and welcomes your plants for the 7th Annual “Awesome” Plant Sale & Auction at the KDL Sand Lake/Nelson Township Library. Donated plants are very important to this event.
This is a great time to divide plants from your own garden or just make some room. Re-home them and help the library!  Please pot your plants and label them with the common name, light requirements, height and bloom color. (Pots are available at the library.) Potted plants may be dropped off at the Library June 1-9. Plants will be inspected by the USDA and due to state inspection requirements, will not be accepted after June 9.
Local businesses, community residents and friends generously provide all the plants and items for the event. Last year, over 2,000 plants were donated, including perennials, annuals, herbs, flowers, trees, shrubs and more. The sale is from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and an oral auction will begin at 2:00 p.m.  The event is at the Library, 88 Eighth Street, Sand Lake (rain or shine) and all proceeds benefit the Library to meet the “growing” needs for youth and adult programs, books, and resources.
For more information, contact the KDL Sand Lake/Nelson Township Library at (616) 636-4251 or visit www.kdl.org.

Friends of the Sand Lake/Nelson Township Library ended the year of 2010 by donating $25,000.00 (twenty-five-thousand dollars) to Nelson Township toward the reduction of the balance due on the mortgage of the library.  Since the construction of the new facility, which was completed in 2007, the Friends have contributed $55,000.00 toward reduction of the mortgage debt.
Landscaping and development and maintenance of the prairie surrounding the library are also high on the Friend’s list of goals.  Since 2007 $31,600.00 (thirty-one-six-hundred dollars) has gone toward planting trees and shrubbery, improving the prairie and developing a rain garden north of the library.
Last fall the donor bricks were laid around the flagpole and along the sidewalk leading to the library. Bricks in the project were purchased: in honor of veterans and those in military service; In memory of those no longer with us; By organizations wishing to be remembered; and families and individuals. Contributions for additional bricks may still be made at the library.  Bricks are $50.00 each and may contain up to 3 lines of engraving.
New officers installed at the January meeting were: President Maureen Mahoney, Vice President Laura Hoffman, Secretary Carol Barber, Treasurer Dorothy Bishop and Trustees Judy Kruithoff, Fran Daniels, and Jean Anderson.
Meetings are held at the library in January, March, May, July, September and November on the second Saturday of the month at 10:00 a.m. The organization welcomes new members who would like to be involved with various projects and events and become an advocate for the library.