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A good friend can be hard to come by. It is a good thing when we are able to show appreciation in such cases. Penny Svenson Garbunkle and Ardith Sharkel were good friends who had recently faced some harsh opposition against them. As a result Penny took it pretty hard. Ardith was able to provide Penny with an ark-like comfort that did bolster Penny’s outlook. There were times when they enjoyed putting their writings together and called those writings, The Ark of Friendship. On this particular day Penny had decided to send a letter to Ardith by mail, floral stamp, smiley stickers and all. Sometimes it is nice go through the postal service. On this occasion the mail brought Ardith a smile and a glad heart. Here is the letter that Penny sent to Ardith: Dear Ardith, my Dear Ark of Friendship Pal, You are a Gem. I am so glad that you reminded me of our good intentions to bless others. You were right. I am glad you were there to lift me up from that rut. We must remember to remain good soldiers even when it comes to showing kindness! I’ve written this poem about the good soldier, King David. I hope you like it. Thank you again! Blessings, Your Friend, Penny. DAVID THE MUSICAL MAN David was a musical man Loving to sing Believing God Grand Yes, David was a Musical Man He played through his trials Sang praise through denials In tunes of atonement Found Grace In the Words that he sang God’s Peace it did reign Through David the Musical Man May we find in the Psalms God’s will and His calms As did, David the Musical man.

By Jake Watson

Belle’s Hat Shoppe may be one of the smaller buildings at Heritage Village, but it has a

CEDAR SPRINGS, MI - The community of Cedar Springs is coming together to support a new effort to preserve its last source of local news. First launched in 1984, The Bugle has long been a part of Cedar Springs life, and its continuation aims to fill the void left by the closure of The Post in 2022. With the closure of The Post, a cornerstone of community information since 1988, residents expressed an outcry over the loss of a trusted local news source. Social media has since become a popular alternative for information, but its limitations have highlighted the need for a dependable publication. Issues such as misinformation, rumors, and a lack of in-depth reporting have underscored the value of a resource like The Bugle. In a chance encounter on Red Flannel Day, 2024, Tom Noreen, former publisher for The Bugle, interviewed local business owner, and Cedar Springs native, Jake Watson for an article. Watson expressed interest in contributing to The Bugle as a hobby, however Noreen who owned the publication since 2006 revealed his plan to retire. Without a successor, the paper would be closed. Watson, not wanting to let the publication, and last source of local news fade away, offered to keep it going. “The Post was more than just a paper; it was a tapestry that captured the heartbeat of our community. I felt it was essential to keep that connection alive through The Bugle.” Revamping of the publication brings the exciting opportunity for Cedar Springs to reconnect with town happenings through a reliable source of information. Once only printed, The Bugle will soon offer both a printed monthly edition and a modern online platform at www.csbugle.com, as well as a Facebook page, positioning itself to reach a wider audience than ever before. This dual-format approach ensures that local news remains accessible to everyone, whether they prefer the traditional feel of a newspaper, the convenience of digital updates, or both. By embracing modern technology and fostering community involvement, The Bugle aims to serve as a central hub for local stories, events, and businesses. The support of the Cedar Springs Historical Society has further bolstered The Bugle’s growth. By providing space at the Cedar Springs Museum located at Morley Park, the Historical Society has made it possible for the paper to expand its scope while continuing to serve as a vital community resource. The museum itself, along with its dedicated members and board, add invaluable historical insight to The Bugle’s content, ensuring that the community’s past remains intertwined with its present and future. Another exciting initiative being explored is a partnership with area schools, encouraging students to get involved not only in journalism, but community service and civic duty. Plans are already underway with Creative Technologies Academy to inspire interest in reporting, writing, and storytelling. With a fresh vision, The Bugle is poised to do more than just inform, it’s set to inspire. The newspaper’s continuation, and in some ways, revival, signals a renewed era for the community, where every resident has access to the trusted, reliable news they deserve. As The Bugle continues to sound, it remains focused on the same core mission that has guided it for decades: Fostering Connection and Capturing The Heartbeat of Cedar Springs.

This month's topic has been one that has been a popular topic in our community for a few years...PFAS. I am part of a group on Facebook that continues to follow any updates, and provide information. The topic hit my radar again this past week in a Facebook post from Dr. Mark Hyman, MD, former Director of the Cleveland Clinic, and now founder and Senior Advisor for their Center for Functional Medicine. His topic of discussion was a bacteria found in our gut microbiome, that has been found in a recent study to actually help eliminate toxins, including PFAS, from the body by binding to them in the bloodstream. The bacteria is called Eggerthella lenta. One study in mice found that E. lenta prevented 45% of the toxins from entering the bloodstream, acting like a "sponge". Remember that PFAS are considered 'forever chemicals' because they don't break down in the environment, nor in our bodies. They are found in nonstick coatings on cookware, film from fast-food packaging, in "waterproof" clothing...and, even in our water supply. PFAS have been linked to hormone disruption, immune system problems and even cancer. [Remember when we covered using the old style cast iron skillets?] Now, as Dr. Hyman points out, this doesn't give us an opening to let our guard down about toxins, but it does give us another reason to keep our gut health in check. It is also another reason to reflect on how wonderful our bodies are made, isn't it!? :-) To your health! - Cindy Patin, Natural Health Advisor - 616.696.6121

August 9th 12pm to 5pm Perry’s Place llc for herbs, teas, and more and Pour Michigan Wine Barn (2 of Michigan’s hidden gem businesses) are partnering up to host a new vendor event. Beads and Meads, Friends and Gems is a new event that offers Michigan vendors an opportunity to set up a vendor booth and sell their homemade goods using beads, crystals, gems, and stones. We are also allowing for local art and other crafted items. Michigan made meads, wines, and sparkling juice will be available for sipping and shopping in designated areas of the event. A portion of the event’s proceeds will go towards the publication Cedar Springs Happenings for promoting Cedar Springs Area events. $40 for a single booth 12x12 or $70 for a double booth. Please sign up by July 31st. $15 late sign up fee if after August 1st, 2025. Contact Perry at kinofhope@yahoo.com for more details.

August Events at The Kent Theatre $3 Movie: How to Train Your Dragon Friday, August 1st - 6PM Sat. August 2nd - 3PM & 6PM Sunday, August 3rd - PM Free Movie: Mystery Movie Tuesday Tuesday, August 5 - 7PM Free Movie: Cats & Dogs (2001) Friday, August 8 - 6PM Saturday, August 9 - 3PM & 6PM Sunday, August 10 - 3PM Free Movie: Cats & Dogs (2001) Tuesday, August 12 - 7PM $3 Movie: Jurrasic Rebirth Friday, August 15th - 6PM Saturday, August 16th - 3PM & 6PM Sunday, August 17th - 3PM Free Movie: Mystery Movie Tuesday Tuesday, August 19th - 7PM Free Movie: Cats & Dogs - 2 Friday, August 22 - 6PM Sat., August 23rd - 3 & 6PM Sun., August 24th - 3PM Free Movie: Cats & Dogs - 2 Tuesday, August 26th - 7PM Closed: August 29 - 31 September Events Free Movie: Kelly’s Heroes Friday, Sept. 5th - 6PM Sat., Sept. 6th - 3PM & 6PM Sunday, Sept. 7th - 3PM $3 Movie: Elio Friday, Sept. 12 - 6PM Sat., Sept. 13th - 3PM & 6PM Sunday, Sept. 14th - 3PM $3 Movie: F1 The Movie Friday, Sept. 19th - 6PM Sat., Sept. 20th - 3PM & 6PM Sunday, Sept. 21st - 3PM $3 Movie: Superman (2025) Friday, Sept. 26th - 6PM Sat., Sept. 27th - 3PM & 6PM Sunday, Sept. 28th - 3PM Please check the Kent Theatre’s Facebook page for more to come.

Summer is winding down so find a bit of time to visit the Nelson Township Branch of Kent District Library in Sand Lake before it ends!