Beach third grader Emma Orr with her mom, Michelle Crawford, stepdad Zak Fisk, and brother Tyler, 11. Courtesy photo.

Emma sleeping soundly. Courtesy photo.

March 24, 6-8 p.m. at Beach Elementary

By Judy Reed

In September 2015, Emma Orr was a beautiful, happy girl who loved sparkles, and loved being outdoors playing with her kittens and running hot wheels and monster trucks through the dirt. By the end of the month, the sweet second-grader at Beach Elementary was fighting for her life.

Emma lives here in Cedar Springs with her mom and stepdad, Michelle Crawford and Zak Fisk, and brother, Tyler, 11. Michelle related how she first knew something was wrong with Emma.

“Emma woke me up with a serious bloody nose, and as the days followed, she became very pale with high fevers and she all but quit eating. Emma was admitted to Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital September 24, 2015 and a series of tests were taken including an MRI, bone marrow and blood tests. On September 25, 2015, Emma was diagnosed with stage 4 high risk Neuroblastoma. The cancer was found in her shoulders, spine, left leg, pelvic bones, in her liver and around her liver.”

Emma Orr has relapsed with Neuroblastoma in her brain and spine. Courtesy photo.

Michelle couldn’t believe what she heard. “I was an emotional roller coaster running off of 2-3 hours of sleep. I was in denial at first because Emma was always a healthy child,” she explained.

According to cancer.gov, Neuroblastoma is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in neuroblasts (immature nerve tissue) in the adrenal gland, neck, chest, or spinal cord. In stage 4, it has spread to distant lymph nodes or other parts of the body, and may be hard to cure.

Emma started on treatment immediately. According to Michelle, Emma completed 8 rounds of chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant, four cycles of antibody therapy and 12 rounds of radiation. Her treatments started September 2015 and went until August 2016. On June 10, 2016, she went into remission.

It lasted six months.

On December 12, 2016, Emma, now in third grade, relapsed with Neuroblastoma in her brain and spine. There were four tumors with the main tumor wrapped around blood vessels. Emma was given a 0 percent chance of survival.

“Emma did 17 rounds of radiation in hopes to shrink the tumors and expand her life a little longer,” explained Michelle. She said that radiation did shrink some of the tumors, however it has caused the main tumor to start bleeding. Emma’s survival chance went up slightly to 5 percent, but the bleeding will only increase as time goes on.

The Post asked Michelle how much Emma knows about this, and how is she taking it?

“Emma realizes her chance to survive is small and she understands the bleeding will continue to get worse until the unthinkable happens.”

The family is making the most of and treasuring their time together with Emma. “Emma has dropped out of school to spend more time with family as time is ticking away,” said Michelle. “It’s been a very emotional experience for all family members involved and we are all just trying to enjoy having Emma with us as long as possible.”

Recently, they attended Disney World together and made many happy memories, through a trip made possible by the Make-A-Wish foundation. “She loved every moment of it. Emma got to meet almost every princess possible and she loved the roller coasters!”

Emma’s mom said that insurance has covered about 90 percent of Emma’s medical treatments and some of the prescriptions. But they still need some financial support. There is a gofundme page set up at http://tinyurl.com/emmaorr for those who wish to donate.

Also, the Beach Elementary PTO is holding a special 25-cent sale fundraiser for Emma on Friday evening, March 24, from 6-8 p.m. Come join in a fun night of shopping to help raise money for Emma and her family. Booths will be set up with local direct sales consultants. Two raffle prizes will be available from each booth, each valued at a minimum of $25. Purchase 25-cent raffle tickets throughout the event and drop your tickets into the cup next to the raffle prize you wish to win. To make it even better, for every $10 spent at the booths, you will earn Golden Tickets. Golden Tickets get placed into a separate raffle drawing. One lucky winner will be announced at the end of the event. That lucky winner will receive a raffle prize valued at a minimum of $25 from each of the booths present. There will also be a custom Fight for Emma “No one fights alone” bracelet at the Plunder Design booth. Be sure to check that out.

To follow Emma’s fight, you can follow the Fight for Emma facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/732117343587400/.

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.

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!”

Event based Market begins this Saturday

It’s here! This Saturday, June 11, is opening day for Solon Market! The new Market will take place the second Saturday of every month from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. and will be event-based. This week’s Market features a community sale and petting zoo, chair massages and a raffle fundraiser to help build Velzy Park, the planned recreational facility behind Solon Township’s Office. Join the township in a perimeter walk along the proposed walking trail. Bring your garage sale items and join Solon’s vendors for a day at the Market. Produce featured this week includes asparagus, rhubarb, farm fresh eggs, honey and maple syrup. Other events planned include Christmas in July, Dog Daze Pet Expo in August, Sept Giveaways and Car Bash and October’s Bootacular.

Kids enjoy the petting zoo at the Solon Market.

For more information or to volunteer for events, Please call Shelly at 616-696-1848 or visit their facebook page—Solon Market. The Market address is 15185 Algoma Ave. in Cedar Springs. See you at Market!

All proceeds go toward the new library fund

This quilt, shown by Barb Grutter, will be raffled off at the Cedar Springs Friends of the Library quilt show on March 19. Get your tickets at the library.

At the January 26th meeting of the CS Friends of the Library, Friend’s member Barb Grutter, of Garden Path Quilts, unveiled the gorgeous quilt that will be raffled off for the upcoming Friends Annual Quilt Show fundraiser on Saturday, March 19, 10am-4pm.

According to Friends President Louise King, the pieced blocks were made by several women throughout the community and Barb Grutter appliqued  the center design by hand. Louise put together the border applique by machine.

If anyone would like to display their quilts at the quilt show, they can get a form from the Cedar Springs Public Library, Luv2Quilt on 14 mile Road or from Barb Grutter, email (barb@gardenpathquilts.com). There is a registration fee of $10 for the first quilt and $5 for each additional up to 3 quilts. They are also accepting quilts for a separate antique quilts category. There will be prizes awarded for first, second and third place Viewers Choice, and first place Viewers Choice for the antique quilts. Quilt owners should not submit quilts that have been in the show previously.

The event also hosts a silent auction, vendors with craft-related merchandise, prizes, a quilting garage sale, and a raffle for a chance to win the donated quilt. Raffle tickets (1 ticket for $1 or 6 for $5) are on sale now at the Cedar Springs Library. There is a $2 admission fee to the show.

All proceeds from the show will go toward the new library fund.

The owner of The Cedar Springs Post, Lois Allen, has been publishing the “small town” newspaper with stories and information relevant to families in the northern Kent County area for over twenty years.

Starting publication in the late 1980s, Allen is hoping to get a well-deserved rest from the newspaper business. “I could use a vacation,” said Allen. “I haven’t had one in 25 years.”

She continued, “I set out to create the best local newspaper I could, and I think I’ve done that. The Post is great. I think it’s the perfect reflection of the community spirit here and I’m proud to be a part of it,” said Allen.

But now after decades of working to keep the struggling newspaper going, she is considering her options. “I’ve tried to get in contact with Warren Buffett to see if he’s interested in adding to his collection,” Allen explained. “I’d like to retire with about a million or so, but his people told me not to call back.” With no millionaires knocking down the door, Allen has even considered possibly closing The Post. She continued, “But then I thought, why not raffle it?”

According to Allen, the holder of the winning raffle ticket would “win” the newspaper. “Just think. You’d have your very own newspaper! You could put yourself on the front page every week. Or you could oust your neighbor for letting their dog crap in your yard. Think of the power you would hold!”

“You could say, ‘Stop the presses!’ every single day!” said Allen.

Readers or non-readers of The Post are eligible to enter and get their once in a lifetime chance at winning a real newspaper. And, as Allen says, there aren’t that many left. “They’re practically a collector’s item for the rich and famous.”

For just $10 a ticket, anyone can have a good shot at being a big shot in a small town. You could call Donald Trump and offer to “Do lunch.” And, unlike the lottery, the odds are very good at winning. Almost as good as hitting a pothole on your way to work.

Although the newspaper would be “free” to the winner, keeping it would not. According to Allen, the new publisher would be responsible for the operating funds needed to keep the weekly paper going once they took possession. She explained, “You’ll need money for stuff like, you know, rent, payroll, postage, printing five thousand copies weekly, the insurance, utilities, internet, office equipment, computer hardware and software, and stuff like that.”

“You might want to start with some serious operating cash,” she explained. “Or you can save a ton of money if you just do everything yourself.”

For a chance to enjoy ownership of a real newspaper and live the dream, that never, ever ends, look in The Post, April 1st issue for special details on, “I want to win a newspaper!”

Five dedicated community volunteers put their heads, needles, and thread together for over 40 hours to make a beautiful quilt for the Sand Lake/Nelson Township Library to use as a fundraiser.

The quilt was pieced together by Sharon Hula, Sharon Jones, Lois Williams and Janet Boezwinkle. Long arm quilting was done by Quilting by Carol of Rockford Michigan. This quilt demonstrates the passion these volunteers have for the library and its services.

“We hope that the community likes it as much as we do,” says Glenda Middleton, Library Branch Manager. “These women decided to offer it to the library as a way to raise money for the many services and operations we offer. The colors are so vibrant and cheerful that I imagine many people will love it.”

The quilt is a perfect-sized couch quilt at 68 x 110 inches. It is extra long and great for a nap or comfortable enough for two to stay warm and read a good book (from your library). The value of the quilt is $285.00.

Tickets are available for a suggested donation of $1 each or 6 for $5 at the library, 88 Eighth Street, Sand Lake. The drawing will be held December 21^st at 3 p.m. at the library. Need not be present to win.

For more information, contact the KDL Sand Lake/Nelson Library at (616) 784-2007 or visit www.kdl.org.

Sons of the American Legion, Glen Hill Squadron 287, of Cedar Springs, congratulates Ernie Adams, of Cedar Springs. Ernie’s winning ticket for our annual Rifle raffle was drawn on November 9. Pictured are SAL Commander Dominic Merlington, Ernie Adams holding his new Savage 270, and SAL member Keith Tyler.