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The Cedar Springs Community Players are inviting the community to an evening of mystery, intrigue and live performances at the Kent Theatre for their 8th Annual One Act Festival. This year’s festival brings six short plays to the stage in a single night, each offering its own twist on detectives, murders, revenge and unexpected endings. The lineup includes Where There’s a Will by Scott Phillips and Bob Trozak; Stella Flowers by Lina S. Gunther; Making the Cut by Howard Zuckerman; Rubies Don’t Bleed by Matt and Ariel Sanders; The Reckoning Room by Brent Alles; and A Murdered Mystery by Karl Gardner. The mysteries are geared toward older teens and adults and promise an entertaining evening filled with suspense and surprises. Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, March 6, and Saturday, March 7, with a 3 p.m. matinee on Sunday, March 8. Tickets are $15 for adults and $6 for students under 18. They are available at the door or online at CedarSpringsCommunityPlayers.org. Earlier that same weekend, younger performers will take the spotlight during the Cedar Springs Jr. Community Players’ Winter Showcase. Featuring students from elementary through high school, the showcase includes two family-friendly productions. In 12 Angry Pigs by Wade Bradford, the Big Bad Wolf faces a courtroom trial for allegedly blowing down a couple of houses. A Friend for Potato by John Shanahan explores the meaning of friendship and what it truly takes to be a friend. The Winter Showcase performance will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at the Kent Theatre. Admission is free, with general seating available. From fairy-tale courtroom drama to clever mysteries, the Cedar Springs Community Players have something for everyone during the first weekend in March at the Kent Theatre.

The librarians at the Nelson Township Branch of Kent District Library in Sand Lake are ready to spring into a new season with all of you! We’re hosting fun programs aplenty, but we’re always happy to help you with finding books, movies, or video games to borrow! Young children and their caregivers are invited to join us on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10:30 AM for Storytime and Rhyme Time respectively. Enjoy stories, music and rhymes while building early literacy and social skills. Storytime begins for the season on March 3 and Rhyme Time begins on March 6. For families with children, we will have a special Stuffie Tea Party in place of Storytime on Tuesday, March 10 at 10:30 AM with our plush friends from home joining in the fun. School age children are invited to our KDL Lab Experience on Saturday, March 14 at 10:00 AM. KDL Labs include steam activities and tons of fun collaboration! Teens are invited to join in the Teen Zone Sketch & Shrink on Saturday, March 21 at 10:00 AM for shrinkable drawings that can become keychains, jewelry, or more! Adults, we are hosting a Themed Herb Garden event on Wednesday, March 18 at 6:30 PM. Learn tips, tricks and ideas on creating herb gardens that fit your needs! Our monthly book club is meeting on Tuesday, March 17 at 1:30 PM to discuss Whalefall by Daniel Kraus. Stop in to thaw out with us at the library!

Since 1951, the building at 356 N. Main St. NE has been serving hot coffee and hearty meals to the Cedar Springs community. Over the years, Classic Kelly’s has had several owners, three name changes and a few expansions. What hasn’t changed is its role as a gathering place for neighbors. Heather Misner, a Cedar Springs native and 1996 graduate of Cedar Springs High School, officially took over on April 3, 2023. After working at the restaurant for 13 years, the restaurant went up for sale, and she was ready to be her own boss. “I didn’t want to work for anyone else,” Misner said. “I wanted to be self-employed.” Though the behind-the-scenes paperwork was new to her, the transition was smooth. Misner kept the entire staff, many of whom already looked to her for leadership. Among them is Lu, who has worked at the restaurant for 50 years under eight different owners. Preserving the family-friendly, small-town feel was a priority. When you walk into the dining room, you'll see the walls adorned with framed photos of Red Flannel Days gone by and local community champions, reminding visitors of the restaurant’s, and the community's long history. Just as important as the food and decor are the regulars who fill the chairs each week. Early mornings bring in the coffee crew: retirees and lifelong community members solving the world’s problems over bottomless cups. Kelly’s is known for its all-day breakfast and at a fair price, too. Regulars come in for favorites like southern omelettes and corned beef hash, both for $10.99, along with staples such as reubens and breakfast skillets. Misner has added homemade mac and cheese, banana bread French toast and gourmet pancakes. She recommends the made-to-order Alfredo or any classic breakfast dish for first-time guests. Daily specials include liver and onions on Tuesday, spaghetti and meatballs on Thursday and fried fish on Friday. Catering is also available. Since taking ownership, Misner has repainted, updated landscaping and added new equipment. Improvements in a 70-year-old building come with challenges, but she says customer feedback makes the effort worthwhile. “It’s nice to be part of the community where I grew up,” she said. “The community has been amazing.” She credits both customers and staff for the restaurant’s continued success. “All the different personalities mesh together and pull it off,” she said of her team. Classic Kelly’s is open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and is closed Mondays. Looking ahead, Misner hopes to keep improving operations while holding onto the charm people expect. Possible plans include a car show and an Easter egg hunt this year. Her goal is to keep Classic Kelly’s moving forward while staying true to the familiar experience locals appreciate.

ALGOMA TOWNSHIP - The Algoma Township Planning Commission on Wednesday night held a meeting that included public comment on a proposed text amendment regarding data centers and digital mining.

On most days in downtown Cedar Springs, Perry Hopkins blends easily into the routine. He's in his shop, answering questions, helping customers and keeping things moving.

CEDAR SPRINGS - The Kent County Sheriff's Office has identified five teenagers responsible for vandalizing the restrooms at The Heart of Cedar Park earlier this week, and each will be facing criminal charges.

CEDAR SPRINGS - Walk into the 12,000 square foot Hawks Athletics facility on a busy day and you'll see what you'd expect: kids working on swings in the live at-bat lane, pitchers learning mechanics inside one of the three pitching lanes, parents chatting in the background. What you might not notice right away is what the people behind it are trying to build, a place that feels like a second home, and a program that belongs to the whole community, not just one team or one season. Hawks Athletics started pretty much how most things do: as just an idea. Hawks CEO Brant Bender moved to the Cedar Springs area in 2016 and connected with Hawks COO Todd Norman, who's lived here his whole life. A conversation at Morley Park made it clear they were after the same thing, a youth sports program built for the long haul, one that gives more kids a real chance to grow and gives families a good place to be together. In 2023, that shared vision became official when Cedar Springs Hawks Youth Baseball, known locally as Hawks, incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The baseball side of the mission is pretty straightforward: teach the game in an environment tha t encourages competition and individual growth, prepares players for high school ball, and builds teamwork and sportsmanship along the way. But the deeper mission, Norman says, is about opportunity. A lot of the questions Hawks gets come down to motive, why these guys care so much. Norman's answer is simple: "this is home." L to R: Kate Norman, Todd Norman, Brant Bender "I want to make Cedar Springs a better place," he said. "When I'm gone, our children, and the kids I've coached, they carry this on." Bender said Hawks was built to avoid something he's seen all too often in youth sports: short-term teams that only help the players lucky enough to make that particular roster. "When you start an individual team, only the people on that team get better," he said. "You don't have the system that supports the next kids coming up." That's why Hawks focuses on building a program, not just fielding squads. The organization puts together teams for young players in Cedar Springs and the surrounding areas, and offers private lessons, Hittrax and ProBatter training, and Saturday clinics. Coaches are all USA Certified, and the emphasis is on steady, year-round development. For Hawks leadership, better performance isn't the entire end goal, it's what happens when you open doors. Norman spoke about breaking down barriers for local kids, whether that's financial, transportation, geography, or the quieter social dynamics that can leave kids on the outside looking in. He worries that the same thing can happen right here if a talented kid doesn't have the resources to be seen and trained. "There could be a kid somewhere around here who's a fantastic athlete," Norman said. "We're just trying to give them the chance to become great." Hawks runs on donations and memberships, and the day-to-day work is handled by an all-volunteer staff. Some coordinators and trainers are brought in on contract for one-on-one sessions and are paid through classes and clinics, but the engine behind Hawks is still community effort. The organization is also looking beyond baseball. Bender stated that Hawks plans to add additional sports over time, basketball, softball, pickleball, soccer, and more, through partnerships with schools, businesses, athletic directors, and other local programs. The Hawks team hopes to work with Cedar Springs Public Schools on an after-school plan that could shuttle students to the facility, about four miles from the school. It's a practical step, Norman says, that would help busy families and widen access for the kids who need it most. Right now, Hawks Athletics is in the middle of a capital campaign to raise $60,000 to finish and upgrade the facility. Donation information is available on the Hawks Athletics Facebook page. At a time when youth sports can feel expensive and sometimes out of reach, Hawks leaders are trying to prove something different: that the community gets stronger when more kids get a chance. Norman keeps coming back to the same idea, that what they're doing isn't just for "their" kids. "In the end, our children will be better off if your children have the same opportunity, because we grow together," he said. "A rising tide lifts all boats."

Questions surrounding the future of the Sand Lake Fire Department recently prompted discussions with the City of Cedar Springs about whether the city could assume responsibility for fire services in the Sand Lake area. After reviewing the request and evaluating the implications, Cedar Springs has determined it will not move forward with the idea and will not bring the matter before city council for a vote.

Versiti Blood Center is reporting seasonally low blood supplies following a difficult month of collections, driven largely by weather‑related school cancellations and seasonal illness. According to Versiti, approximately 30 percent of its blood supply normally comes from high school blood drives, many of which were canceled in recent weeks. While collections dropped, the need for blood in hospitals did not. “Blood donations are down due to weather and illness, but the need has never changed,” said Jamie Gumowski, with Versiti Blood Center. To help address the shortage, two community blood drives are scheduled locally in February, offering residents an opportunity to donate close to home. Upcoming Community Blood Drives Resurrection Lutheran Church - Sand Lake Monday, February 9, 2026 1:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Resurrection Lutheran Church Narthex180 Northland Dr., Sand Lake Whole blood and double red donations will be accepted. Appointments can be scheduled through Versiti’s donor portal. https://donateblood.versiti.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/11620790 Cedar Springs Community Blood Drive Tuesday, February 17, 2026 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Cedar Springs Library Whole blood, double red, and platelet donations will be accepted. Appointments are encouraged but not required. https:// donateblood.versiti.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/11629981 Blood donations are used daily by area hospitals and have a limited shelf life, which why consistent community participation is essential, especially during winter months when donations typically decline. Versiti is a nonprofit organization serving hospitals throughout Michigan and the Midwest. Residents interested in donating can find additional details and sign up for an appointment through Versiti’s donor scheduling system.

By the time the Red Hawks roll out their mats, most folks already know what to expect from Luke Egan: a solid handshake, a quiet nod, and once the whistle blows, a calm confidence that is hard to teach. Cedar Springs has seen plenty of tough athletes come through the Red Hawks locker room, but every once in a while a season takes on a life of its own. Luke's senior year has been that kind of season. Back in the fall, Egan helped make history on the football field, setting the Cedar Springs varsity record for the longest interception return, a 98-yard sprint that scored the game's first touchdown and set the tone for a decisive victory over Sparta, and solidifying his place as perhaps the best defensive back Cedar Springs High School has ever seen. Egan’s presence on the mat complements the narrative built on the gridiron. He remains undefeated so far this winter, and is sitting at around 165 career wins heading into the final stretch. That momentum has carried over to the team results, too. In the opening duals, Cedar Springs made a statement, beating Coopersville 66 - 15 in match number one and defeating Kenowa Hills 66 - 12 in match two. As for Luke, he has had to earn each one of his victories. His freshman year started with a broken hand that kept him out of matches and away from the normal rhythm of a young wrestler trying to build momentum. This year, he dealt with mono during what was supposed to be the clean runway into the postseason. Neither one has changed the way he talks about his career. “It didn’t set me back really,” Egan said, when I caught up with him mat-side Friday night. “I lost some wins. I was really looking forward to getting 200 wins for my high school career. It set my wins back, but not my progress.” A mature answer from a seasoned veteran who knows how tempting it is to chase numbers. Successful wrestlers are shaped over time, and Egan is quick to point out who helped shape him: “I really look up to my coach, Dave,” Egan said. “He’s been with me for the last 14 years. I started with him. I look up to him a lot." And a far as inspiration goes, Luke shared "I always looked up to the older wrestlers when I was in elementary school, like Ryan Ringler.” Those names will mean something to the kids who have future wrestling aspirations. They are listening to today's varsity athletes the same way Egan listened back then, watching the older wrestlers and picturing themselves in that spot someday. After this season, Egan plans to keep wrestling and keep studying. He is headed to Grand Valley State University, committing to the Lakers back in November. “My plans are attending GVSU, I got offered to wrestle there,” he said. “And I’ll be pursuing my engineering degree there as well.” Cedar Springs will get a little more time with Luke first. The Red Hawks head to Lowell for their next matchup, and Egan will be right in the middle of it, stretching, locking in, and taking it one move at a time, with a state championship still clearly in his sights.

SOLON TOWNSHIP - It felt a bit like a church revival, only instead of hymns and altar calls, the message Tuesday night came through a microphone and a long line of neighbors waiting their turn to speak. Two hundred forty-three people packed Frost Creek Church, a venue Solon Township uses when the crowd is simply too big for the usual meeting room, all to weigh in on the possibility of a data center along farmland between 16 Mile Road between U.S. 131 and Algoma Avenue.

CEDAR SPRINGS - A water main break in Cedar Springs’ Solon Business District kept crews working late into the night, and a boil water advisory is now in effect for customers served by the affected line. City officials say the first report came in yesterday at about 5:30 P.M., when residents notified the city that water was pushing up through the ground near Independent Bank on 17 Mile Road. The water main involved supplies water to businesses along 17 Mile Road from Taco Bell west to White Creek, as well as along White Creek from Culver’s north to Solon Road, and includes The Brooks on Solon Road. The city's Utilities Department responded immediately, first working to stop the flow of water, then uncovering the extent of the break. Repair work continued for hours, with crews on site until nearly 1 A.M. The line has since been repaired. While the cause of the break is still unknown, the city reports it has confirmed the break was not related to area fire departments using a nearby hydrant earlier in the day. There is no evidence indicating hydrant use was linked to the failure in any way. City Manager Darla Falcon said she and her staff stayed late into the evening, fielding phone calls and ensuring every affected business was contacted, making sure information was communicated clearly as the situation developed. The water main involved was one of the largest in the city with a 12 inch diameter and was installed sometime in the 1970s. City officials note that these water mains typically have a service life ranging from 50 to 120 years, depending on conditions. A boil advisory remains in effect for those impacted until further notice. Affected residents and businesses are encouraged to check the City of Cedar Springs website for updates at www.cityofcedarsprings.org