creston neighborhood association newsletter jan/feb 2009

Creston Neighborhood Association 205 Carrier NE Grand Rapids, MI 49505

Creston Community Calendar CNA HELLO NEIGHBOR EVENTS

Pancakes with CNAPancakes with CNAPancakes with CNAPancakes with CNA Saturday, January 24, 2009

9am -12pm 4th Reformed Church (1226 Union NE)

Meet Your CNA President, Nicole NotarioMeet Your CNA President, Nicole NotarioMeet Your CNA President, Nicole NotarioMeet Your CNA President, Nicole Notario----RiskRiskRiskRisk Monday, February 16, 2009

6pm-8pm Pilar’s Café (2162 Plainfield Ave. NE)

Pancakes with CNAPancakes with CNAPancakes with CNAPancakes with CNA March 2009

Saturday Date and Location to be Announced

2nd Annual Perennial Exchange2nd Annual Perennial Exchange2nd Annual Perennial Exchange2nd Annual Perennial Exchange Thursday, April 30, 2009

4:30pm-7pm Riverside Christian Reformed Church

602 Comstock NE

CITY COMMISSIONER’S MEETINGS

2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 7pm2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 7pm2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 7pm2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 7pm January 13 and 27, 2009 February 3 and 17, 2009 March 10 and 24, 2009 April 14 and 21, 2009

300 Monroe Avenue NW, 9th Floor

*For a special opportunity for input on who your next City Manager will be please visit

www.grcity.us to complete an important survey which will help advise the commission.

3RD ANNUAL ART BATTLE FOR COMMUNITY

Wednesday, May 6, 2009 6pm-10pm

Sazerac’s Lounge (1418 Plainfeild NE)

In the Creston neighborhood the winter months are a good time to plan for the upcoming year. As our neighbors’ wish lists came together in the town halls this past fall, a few common themes emerged. People want more opportunities to connect to one another, more activities for kids, a busier business corridor and ways to help neighbors keep up their properties, hold onto their homes in these tough times, and build safety and even more beauty into our Creston area. The work of our resident volunteers is directed toward making these wishes come true. We’d like to say “Hello Neighbor” at one of the CNA monthly meet and greet events this winter. See our calendar page for details.

We shared foreclosure prevention information door to door with our neighbors and published information in Sunday bulletins of area churches. CNA and 4th Christian Reformed Church hosted a potluck lunch in December for North End church leaders to learn more about what each church is doing in outreach to our Creston community. Neighbors have begun to reinvigorate the fundraising possibilities for the renovation of the playground at College Avenue and

Message from the Director:

Sweet Street just up the street from Creston High School. Along Plainfield Avenue CNA has sought and obtained a grant to add more mural art to the corridor business area this year. And, in our ongoing work to become self-supporting, the CNA board convened a new m e m b e r s h i p committee which held its’ first meet ing just b e f o r e t h e holidays. With new and renewed memberships and other donations we can be here in the years to come to help make your w i s h e s f o r Creston come true!

January-February 2009

Inside this issue… The history of Briggs Park, help with tax preparation, how to be more green, conserve energy, and save money, profile of two neighborhood businesses, community calendar and more!

Planning for new year underway in response to neighbor feedback gathered at town hall meetings

By: Deborah Eid, CNA Executive DirectorBy: Deborah Eid, CNA Executive DirectorBy: Deborah Eid, CNA Executive DirectorBy: Deborah Eid, CNA Executive Director

Tommy Allen, 2008

Briggs Park has weathered many a storm in its 97 years of existence. Purchased by the Parks Department in 1911 from Charles S. Briggs, a pioneer dairyman from Grand Rapids, Briggs Park has evolved from 6.93 acres of open green space into a wonderland that includes all the frills a child needs to be entertained for hours at a time: a pool and a playground. It is a Creston neighborhood hotspot that has filled many people’s lives with fond memories.

Despite the fervor for Briggs Park, it has, however, been on the chopping block one too many times. The origin of CNA is forever linked to Briggs Park

because of the passion Creston residents had for the park back in 1977, when the Grand Rapids pools were to be closed due to low usage. Little did everyone know that the reason pool attendance was down was because there was a leak in the pool and the constant refilling made for really cold swimming.

Neighbors diligently protected Briggs, thus saving the pool from closing and hasty demolition. From this victory, the Creston Neighborhood Association was born, an organization that would rally around other issues to help keep the Creston Community a safe and beautiful place to live and play.

The North End Connection

Briggs Park: a historic gem and rallying point for origin of the Creston Neighborhood Association

By: Kaylee Milanowski, CNA VISTA VolunteerBy: Kaylee Milanowski, CNA VISTA VolunteerBy: Kaylee Milanowski, CNA VISTA VolunteerBy: Kaylee Milanowski, CNA VISTA Volunteer

January-February 2009 Page 15

Creston Neighborhood AssociationCreston Neighborhood AssociationCreston Neighborhood AssociationCreston Neighborhood Association

205 Carrier NE Grand Rapids, MI 49505

616.454.7900 Fax 616.454.8190

www.crestongr.com

Office Hours Monday-Friday 9am-2pm

The Creston Neighborhood Association is a nonprofit

organization serving the northeast Grand Rapids community whose boundaries are Leonard Street to the south, the Grand River to the west, Four Mile Road to the North, then Plainfield Avenue south to I-96 and along the city

corporation line to Knapp Street, east to Fuller Avenue, then south to Leonard Street. Membership

is open to anyone inside or outside of these boundaries.

The Creston Neighborhood Association Board of Directors

meets on the fourth Thursday of most months. Meetings are open to the public—contact our office

for time and location.

Board of DirectorsBoard of DirectorsBoard of DirectorsBoard of Directors Tommy Allen

Glenn Disosway (Treasurer) Candace Gavin (Secretary) Pastor Charles Geschiere

Pilar Jimenez Sara Kasprzak (Vice President)

Emily Martin Nicole Natario-Risk (President)

Dorothy Velasco (Associate Member)

StaffStaffStaffStaff

Deborah Eid, Executive Director Mackenzie Brown, Community Safety Organizer

Sue Capps, Executive Assistant Christa Lenssen, VISTA Volunteer

Kaylee Milanowski, VISTA Volunteer Carol Brugger, AARP Receptionist

The North End Connection is the newsletter of the Creston Neighborhood Association, published 6 times a year.

Circulation: 1000. Advertising space is available. Contact

our office for rate information.

Newsletter contributors:Newsletter contributors:Newsletter contributors:Newsletter contributors:

Tommy Allen, Mackenzie Brown, Carol Brugger, Sue Capps,

Deborah Eid, Candace Gavin, Ruth Kelly, Christa Lenssen,

Emily Martin, Kaylee Milanowski, Linda Ortman, Rick Szczepanski

A City of Grand Rapids Community Development Block Grant

Funded Program

The views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the

staff, Board of Directors or membership of the organization.

Become a

Member!

Your membership dues

help fund CNA’s work to build

community in Creston and

make it the great place to live

and do business that it is!


Shop Local!

Did you know, when you shop at locally-owned businesses, more of the money you spend stays in our local economy

supporting other locally-owned businesses?


The City of Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation Department is undertaking a Master Plan process for the

Ball/Perkins Park. This 82 acre park is located in northeast Grand Rapids and is generally located

between Knapp and Leonard Streets and Ball and Perkins Avenues. The site has a unique mix of habitat

types including successional old field, secondary woodland, primary woodland and two

wetland types: swamp and marsh, and could provide for an opportunity of mixed active and passive uses

with an emphasis on environmental protection and interpretation.

The Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation Department invite you to participate in a design charrette to

assist in developing the Master Plan for Ball/Perkins Park and share your feedback with this survey.

DESIGN CHARRETTE FOR MASTER

PLAN OF BALL/PERKINS PARK

January 24, 2009

City High School

1400 Fuller Ave NE Come to share your ideas from 9:00am-12:00pm

or 1:00pm-3:00pm

Findings will be presented at 6:00 pm

Please return by January 21, 2009 to: City of Grand Rapids

Parks and Recreation Department

201 Market Avenue SW

Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Ball/Perkins Master Plan Survey

In order of priorities (with #1 being the highest priority), please indicate which

amenities you would like to see incorporated in the design of Ball/Perkins Park:

Comments: _______________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

____ Walking/Hiking/X-Country Ski Trails

____ Nature Interpretation Trails

____ Community Gardens

____ Natural/Preservation Areas

____ Environmental Demonstration Facilities

-Raingardens

-Pervious Paving

-Natural Plantings

-Alternative Energy

____ Picnic Area/Shelter(s)

____ Restroom Facilities

____ Playground

____ Open Play Area

____ Sand Volleyball

____ Horseshoes

____ Other: ________________

____ Other: ________________


Matt Urbane is the proprietor and chef at this cozy, welcoming north-end café. Matt opened the restaurant seven years ago when his construction job was eliminated. Being a lifelong North Park resident the location was a no-brainer. The old storefronts along North Park Street were built back when Grand Rapids residents took the trolley to the North Park Pavilion and Boat and Canoe Club for a summer

holiday.

Diners come to the café for a good old-fashion breakfast includ-ing the Grand River Omelet with homemade sausages or a lunch special of soup and sand-wich. “We like to walk to Matt’s on a Saturday morning for breakfast,” said Carl Kelly, who lives about eight blocks away. “My wife and I love the fact that

Creston Businesses: Cozy Café and Decadent Desserts

Matt has good coffee and good multigrain bread. Matt does the cooking, so we know what we’re going to get and it’s consistently good.” Starting in December the café will serve burgers and pizza for dinner. Matt also serves groups at the restaurant or you can stop in or call for take-out. Call if you want your club or group to meet at the café and Matt will make arrangements.

If you’re looking for a friendly, cozy, non-smoking café where you can read the paper, meet friends and family, and enjoy a tasty meal, this is the place. Eat local!

By: Linda OrtmanBy: Linda OrtmanBy: Linda OrtmanBy: Linda Ortman

North Park Café is located at:

430 North Park Street North Park

Phone: 447-8892

Hours: 6:30am to 2:00pm Monday – Friday

8:00am to 2:00pm Saturday

Starting December 1st: 4:00 to 8:00pm

for hand ground burgers and specialty pizzas

Do you have a favorite spot to grab a Do you have a favorite spot to grab a Do you have a favorite spot to grab a Do you have a favorite spot to grab a bite to eat in Creston? Want to feature bite to eat in Creston? Want to feature bite to eat in Creston? Want to feature bite to eat in Creston? Want to feature it in this newsletter? Let us know by it in this newsletter? Let us know by it in this newsletter? Let us know by it in this newsletter? Let us know by

emailing [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

North Park Café

Las Vegas Cheesecake Co., located at 1300 Plainfield Ave., has recently changed hands and we welcome the new owner, Mark Datema along with the General Manager Erica Dussia to the Creston Neighborhood!

Mark, also the owner of Elite Limousine Service, bought the Las Vegas Cheesecake Co. in hopes to expand the already established customer base as well as focus on bulk orders


Las Vegas Cheesecake from restaurants, grocers, and weddings.

Both Mark and Erica see the potential in the company and have ties t o t h e C r e s t o n Neighborhood. Stop into the Las Vegas Cheesecake Co. and pick up a tasty dessert (Erica recommends Raspberry Bash)!


Welcome New Members! Maureen Abele & John Crouse Mary Banghart Therrien & Rebecca London Jean Barkin Samuel & Amber Beals Brian & Jennifer Berryhill Diana & Larry Bilski Richard Blodgett Verla & Jerry Blom Ruth Bumstead Ed Cavanaugh Neil & Doris DeBoer Tom & Jodi Deschaine David R. & Helene Despres Jim & Arliss Dieleman Charleen Dunn Harold D. Felten Winifred Fox Dr. Allen Gerrard Charles & Dawn Geschiere Mrs. Donald Geske Roger Gilles & Sue Stauffacher Robert & Donna Glennemeier Henry & Judy Gorkowski Thomas & Laura Gottschalk Kirk & Lori Hacker Mrs. Mary T. & Diane T. Hartig Lawrence & Marilyn Hefferan Carol Hennessy Leonard & Nancy Hickey Joel & Sarah Hoekema Jeanne Hoin Lisa Honeycutt

Otto & Dolores Husted Lisa Hyland Joel & Patty Jason Shirley & Norm Jelsma Carl & Ruth Kelly Mary Kolenda Joe Kresnak Sue Kriekard Jacob & Margaret Kroon Noah & Megan Kruis Helen Leavitt Aloise O. & Mike Lewakowski Evelyn Lewis Michael & Corita Linden Eugene & Jean Lyons Mary E. & Joe Maksymowski Nancy Markosky Joe & Judy McKeiver Pat & Tom Mellon Kim Mitchell D. Catherine Mueller Leon Orley Ms. Freda Osterink Lisa & Jim Owen David Page Matt Patulski & Maureen Nollette Mark & Deb Posthumus Mary Powell-Fisher & Kris Fisher Joni & Vern Powers Ben Rausch Mary Jane Riegling Phillip & Sue Rios M. Ande Roeser

Mary Ruzicka-Savage Commissioner Roy Schmidt Shirley Schriber Ruth Schrier Gladys Spangler Barbara Stanford & Mark Coleman Rick & Pat Steinport Jeffrey & Sarah Stephan Don & Sharon Straight Tim & Joanne Sushereba Henry & Jeane Swart Gary Swets Brian & Mandy Taylor Patti Thomas Ann Usakowski Gary VanderLende Barbara VanderVoord David & Lisa VanDyke Robert VanOort John & Susan VanOudheusden Kelly & Todd VanValkenburg Caroline Waltz Delbert Wiersma Barbara J. Williams David & Judy Wills Janine Zomermaand Business MembersBusiness MembersBusiness MembersBusiness Members

NorthPointe Christian Elementary Preschool East Shore Co., LLC

Residents of the Creston Neighborhood gather together in October for the Creston Neighborhood Association’s Annual Meeting, where they learn of the work of CNA, vote for board members, and sign up for volunteer opportunities.

Photos: Tommy Allen, 2008


If you haven’t already noticed, there are Local First signs appearing all over town on store windows and doors. This organization is working at educating us as consumers to support our local businesses so that money re-circulates in Grand Rapids. Members purchase from other local businesses which helps grow these businesses and the tax base. We all know that local businesses tend to donate more to our city charities because they are part of our community.

If you are not familiar with this organization you may want to visit their website at www.localfirst.com. Local First is a collective effort between local business owners, non-profit organizations and people in West Michigan who want to support our local economy. We are

Why Buy Local?

painfully aware of how very important this is right now.

Think about how much sense this makes for all of us. Local purchases mean less transporta-tion cost which in turn means less traffic congestion, pollution and sprawl. Small businesses are our biggest employers too. They are the largest group of employers nationally. Unlike in big chain stores we consumers can find more interesting goods to buy.

The statistics that really grabbed my attention were these: If we spend $100 at a local business on average $68 dollars stays in our local economy. If we spend $100 at a non-local business, an average of $43 dollars stays in the area. At a time when we are struggling

here in Michigan it makes good sense to buy local and support each other. So, next time you are

considering a purchase, think think think think local first.local first.local first.local first.

By: Ruth KellyBy: Ruth KellyBy: Ruth KellyBy: Ruth Kelly

The Mary J. Szczepanski “Never Give Up” Scholarship Foundation, a nationally recognized initiative, offers college scholarship opportunities to all U.S. high school seniors who creatively raise funds for Multiple Sclerosis.

The foundation and its mission to raise awareness and much needed research funds for

this disease of the nervous system, is a partner with Accelerated Cure Project, a non profit organization in Waltham, MA, whose focus is a cure for MS.

We are a proud member with the Creston Neighborhood Association, working in your community.

Local foundation and CNA member offers scholarships to high school seniors

By: Rick SzczepanskiBy: Rick SzczepanskiBy: Rick SzczepanskiBy: Rick Szczepanski

Please visit our www.msscholarship.org for more information. Please visit our www.msscholarship.org for more information. Please visit our www.msscholarship.org for more information. Please visit our www.msscholarship.org for more information.


Since coming to Creston I have had the opportunity to see first hand what the men and women of Grand Rapids do whose main job is to protect and to serve. The Civilian Police Academy is a program offered to all residents of the City of Grand Rapids as well as employees who work in the City whose work pertains to the field of Crime Prevention.

Once a week for three and a half hours, the participants get to take a look at various different departments of the GRPD. Every class has different guest speakers

CNA Community Safety Organizer attends Civillian Police Academy

from each department and ranges from how the GRPD handles issues of internal affairs to interactive presentations with representatives from the K-9 unit. The ten week class begins with a warm hello by Police Chief Belk and a tour of the police station. The open atmosphere in the classroom welcomes the tough questions that the students may have regarding the inner workings of the GRPD.

I know in my ten short weeks of taking the class, I have gained valuable insight on how an officer handles the enormous responsibilities that their job requires. It cannot be easy being, at times, the most unpopular person in the room even though your job requires you to be the first line of defense should any of those people be in harm’s way. It is an undertaking that I myself know that I could never do and give my utmost respect to those that are willing.

So if you are interested in knowing what a half million

Interested in attending the Civilian Police Academy or

learning more?

Visit www.grcity.us

By: Mac Brown, CNA Community Safety OrganizerBy: Mac Brown, CNA Community Safety OrganizerBy: Mac Brown, CNA Community Safety OrganizerBy: Mac Brown, CNA Community Safety Organizer

dollars worth of drugs looks like, willing to be bitten by a dog from the k-9 unit, see how fast you can react in a lethal situation, ride along with a police officer or get some tips on how to get out of a speeding ticket, sign up for this class! I guarantee you will leave with many new friends and a new found respect for the person behind the uniform. For more information please visit the City of Grand Rapids website at grcity.us.


Foreclosure Worries – Everybody’s Concern

My friends, to say that we are in troubled times would only be echoing those that talk to you via television, and the articles you read in the newspaper or the internet. One of the issues referred to when hearing or reading these somber words is foreclosure. And it worries each of us when we see that a house at the end of our street is vacant and has become a magnet for crime. Here at Creston, it has been a goal of ours to ensure to those that call this neighborhood home, that they will have the continued ability to do so. In addition, it is also our continued responsibility here at Creston to empower those willing to take action against people that would trespass or damage a temporarily vacant home. Even if you are not a direct victim of foreclosure, the increasingly high growth in foreclosures has a direct effect on you as well.

Between January and June this year, 124 homes have gone into foreclosure. This rate of foreclosure is 18% higher than last year. Overall, 1 in 12 homes in Grand Rapids is in foreclosure.

There are three groups of people in the neighborhood that are affected by foreclosure: the homeowner, the renter, and the neighbor.

The Homeowner:The Homeowner:The Homeowner:The Homeowner: For most of you, the reason behind the situation that you are currently in is beyond your control. Whether it be loss of a job, developments in a family member’s health condition, or bad lending practices, there is no time to lose. Help is here, but only you

can make the first step toward using it to your benefit. There is an old proverb that says “Pride comes before a fall.” Make sure that you consider who will be falling with you if you do not act, and that you don’t let pride keep you from calling. There are millions of people across this country in the same or similar situation; this is not an isolated incident and feelings of guilt or failure should have little effect on you calling for help.

Some steps that can be taken immediately:

1. Stay in constant contact with your lender; call them with any foreseeable problems in the future regarding payment. Your lender will appreciate this and be more inclined to help you stay in your home.

2. Eliminate all costs that are not essential to your family. Stream-line entertainment costs , transportation, etc. If you don’t need it, stop paying for it.

3. Contact your current billers and let them know your current situation. Many of your utility providers already have assistance programs in place for situations just like the one you are facing, and if not, most will work with you to keep you from going under.

4. Food costs are higher now; supplement that by getting some items at your local pantries. For a listing, please contact us at Creston.

5. Call Home Repair Services at 241-2601. I cannot emphasize the importance of “the sooner the better.” They have certified

Financial Counselors there specifically to address foreclosures and the capacity to do so, but the later you wait the more difficult it becomes for them to help you.

The Renter:The Renter:The Renter:The Renter: Most renters do not know their rights when their landlords have gone into foreclosure. If you are not sure what rights you have as a renter, please contact us at Creston and we can direct you to those that specialize in tenant/landlord issues. Keep in mind that in almost all situations the tenant is entitled to at least 30 days notice before they are expected to move.

The Neighbor:The Neighbor:The Neighbor:The Neighbor: The first thing that you must ask yourself is “what is happening when these homes around me remain vacant?”

Most of the time, these homes become targets of crime and require vigilance from their neighbors to remain crime-free and in doing so, those that remain will not see their own property values fall as much. On average, the property value of a home falls about $5,000 when the home next door becomes vacant.

Some steps to ensure that this does not happen to you are:

1. Be active in communicating w i th y ou r n e i ghbo rhood association!

2. Know your neighbors. If you see them out in the yard, stop on by and exchange a few words about how you both can work to keep the vacant home on your block crime-free.

By: Mac Brown, CNA Community Safety OrganizerBy: Mac Brown, CNA Community Safety OrganizerBy: Mac Brown, CNA Community Safety OrganizerBy: Mac Brown, CNA Community Safety Organizer


On October 23, 2008 at the CNA annual membership meeting we honored two neighbors whose volunteer efforts shone in 2008. Linda Ortman was honored as recipient of the A.W. Morgan Neighbor-hood Advocate Award. Perhaps you’ve seen Linda slipping copies of the CNA newsletter into the entryways of area businesses. Linda feels that the work of the association needs to be made known to everyone who lives and

CNA HONORS ITS’ OWN! HATS OFF TO LINDA ORTMAN AND NANCY ALLEN!

works in this wonderful neighborhood. She also takes the initiative to go out and gather news as a roving reporter for the association newsletter and you’ll see her listed as a regular contributor to Creston’s b imonthly publication.

Nancy Allen, also known as the “sample lady” at Kingma’s Market on Plainfield, was awarded the Kathy Kuhn

Neighborhood Volunteer award for her endless hours of phoning as the CNA Volunteer Coordinator. You probably heard from her when we were notifying members by phone this past fall about the annual membership meeting! Nancy is the woman in the know when it comes to your member-

ship dues and your interest in participating on projects for CNA. Nancy has spent the year gathering names and numbers from our various CNA events, and working side by side with CNA office staff to remind members when it’s time to renew their membership. She feels strongly that membership is the key to keeping Creston’s neighborhood tradition of active involvement growing and going, from one neighbor to another.

To dog owners who clean up after their dogs on all

city property

To the homeowner on the south side of Comstock who put in a

new green driveway! Awesome!

To vandals who have repeatedly turned over the

porta-jons in Riverside Park

To park users who do not follow leash laws and let their dogs run and poop in

the ball diamonds.

ROSES... & THORNS...

By: Deborah Eid, CNA Executive DirectorBy: Deborah Eid, CNA Executive DirectorBy: Deborah Eid, CNA Executive DirectorBy: Deborah Eid, CNA Executive Director

Tommy Allen, 2008

Tommy Allen, 2008

Do you have roses and thorns to add? Email them to [email protected]


Grand Valley State University students will be volunteering to shovel driveways and walkways in our neighborhood on January 24, from 9am-12pm. If you know of anyone in your neighborhood who could especially benefit from

this service, please call CNA at 454.7900.

Need Help With Filing Your Income Taxes?

The Creston Christian Reformed Church and St. Alphonsus Church, located at 238 Spencer and 224 Carrier, are offering free help with filing your income taxes again this

year! It is by appointment only, so please call the Creston Neighbor-hood Association at 454.7900 to reserve your time slot.

Income Tax help will be every Thursday evening between 4pm and 7pm at St. Al’s and every Saturday morning between 9am and noon at Creston CRC starting February 7th and ending April 11, 2009. Once you have made your appointment you will receive additional information in the mail.

Also, be sure to bring your economic stimulus check informa-tion with you! If you are interested in volunteering to help with tax preparation please contact Shelli at 361-7500. Please note that there is a fifteen hour training requirement.

Call CNA at 454.7900 to

schedule your

time slot!

The Kent County Prescription Discount Card Kent County Prescription Discount Card Kent County Prescription Discount Card Kent County Prescription Discount Card will be available in 2009 for ANYONE to access

discounts on prescriptions, some dental, vision, and hearing services, as well as some vitamins and pet

medications. There are no residency, income or age requirements—the card can be used at any of the participating pharmacies in the state of

Michigan by anyone. Average savings on prescriptions are 32%. The prescription card is not insurance and is not supplemental to your current

insurance coverage. You may use the card OR your insurance. This initiative is funded through participating pharmacies and drug companies, in

cooperation with Kent County and the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan. For more information,

call Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan at 988.5081 or visit their website www.aaawm.org. Cards will be available at Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan, at various other local agencies or can be

printed from a link on the Kent County website at www.accesskent.com beginning in early 2009.

Participating pharmacies include: CVS, D&W,

Family Fare, Felpausch, K-Mart, Meijer, Rite Aid, and Walgreens.

By: Christa Lenssen, CNA VISTA VolunteerBy: Christa Lenssen, CNA VISTA VolunteerBy: Christa Lenssen, CNA VISTA VolunteerBy: Christa Lenssen, CNA VISTA Volunteer



3. Some upkeep from neighbors is important; pick up trash if it collects. Trash attracts pests and once they are there, rats and roaches do not discriminate as to where they will go next.

4. Park your car in front of the home to make it look occupied

5. Weed or mow in the summer-time. In the winter, shoveling the sidewalks in front of the house will signal, to would be offenders, that the house is being looked after.

6. Once you get to know your neighbors and the area surrounding you and the vacant home, suspicious people in or around the property will be easier to identify and report to the police.

7. Contact Housing if a vacant home on your block needs to be secured or looks to be in violation of housing code. The number is 456-3053. For more housing code information contact us at Creston.

Foreclosure, cont’d.

By: Kaylee Milanowski, CNA VISTA Volunteer

Engaging the community, one resource directory at a time

Thank you for all who participated in the Creston Neighborhood Community Meetings this fall! We successfully completed all four of our interactive Town Hall meetings where we distributed our Creston Neighborhood Resource Directory (CNRD), a guide that includes city agencies, non-profits, churches, schools, and informational tips.

We will continue to hand out the CNRD throughout the neighborhood with the help of neighborhood s c h o o l s , c h u r c h e s , businesses, and block captains! The CNRD helps answer questions about who to call concerning housing issues, your health and wellness, safety tips, your neighborhood and community, locations of area food pantries, care for your children, and much more.

In addition to distributing directories to neighbors at the Community Meetings, we discussed our wishes for the Creston neighborhood.

We received motivating feedback from meeting participants that included wishes such as:

• Revitalizing the Creston Business District by attracting new businesses and making it more pedestrian-friendly

• Co l l abo ra t ing w i th churches to help with seniors in the Creston neighborhood

• Help increase home ownership and the appearance of the housing stock

• Starting a Creston neighborhood farmer’s market

• Helping increase an over-all sense of community by promoting neighborly interaction

A big thanks to Creston High School, North Park Presbyterian Church, R i v e r s i d e C h r i s t i an Reformed Church, and Trinity Baptist Church for letting us use their space for our meetings!

Pancakes with CNA

4th Reformed Church

1226 Union NE

Saturday, January 24 9am-12pm

Say “hello neighbor” at...


Going Green

in Creston

*Caulk and weather strip or install door sweeps to doors and windows that leak air. The warm air in a heated home exerts a "pull" on outside colder air, drawing it in wherever it can.

*Draft Check: A simple way to locate outside air coming into your home is with a stick of incense. (Some hardware stores sell "smoke pencils" for this purpose). Light the incense and inspect your home, from the inside, for air leaks. Choose a breezy day, and go around windows, areas where plumbing and wiring go through walls, attic doors, entry doors and fireplace dampers. How much the smoke drifts horizontally from the incense will reveal how serious the leak is. Most leaks can be quickly plugged with exterior silicone caulk--be sure to caulk the leaks from the outside of the house, or moisture will build up in-side the walls.

*Keep the draperies and shades on your south facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the chill from cold windows.

*Change your furnace filter regularly.

*Dial down your thermostat’s temperature; especially when you are not home or at night. When areas are unoccupied for at least eight hours, a temperature of 55 degrees is recommended. Even small temperature setbacks can produce substantial savings. For example, it costs 22% more to heat an area to 72 degrees, rather than 68.

*Close off rooms you do not use regularly (unless there is risk of pipes freezing), shut air vents, and push a towel under the door to only heat the area you need.

*Turn down your hot water to low (120-140 degrees)

*Put up storm windows or apply plastic sheeting to windows

*Wrap your hot water heater with insulation. A hot water heater uses 12 to 15 percent of a typical home’s

energy. Completely wrap electric water heaters, but wrap gas water heaters on the sides only. On gas heaters, make sure that the pilot light’s access door isn’t covered or that air isn’t blocked from the burner.

Sources: www.eartheasy.com, US Department of Energy, MSU Extension

Additional Resources

Websites with more energyWebsites with more energyWebsites with more energyWebsites with more energy----saving tips:saving tips:saving tips:saving tips: http://web1.msue.msu.edu/iac/energy www.energysavers.gov

Professional energy audit:Professional energy audit:Professional energy audit:Professional energy audit: Residential Energy Services Network www.natresnet.org/directory/raters.aspx

Free, webFree, webFree, webFree, web----based home energy audit tools:based home energy audit tools:based home energy audit tools:based home energy audit tools: www.hes.lbl.gov http://my.dteenergy.com/home/myEnergyAnalyzer.html

Home Repair ServicesHome Repair ServicesHome Repair ServicesHome Repair Services Offers home maintenance classes, including weather-ization, a tool lending library, and the Builder’s Abundance store, where you can buy building materials at discounted prices. Call or visit their website to find out if you qualify for services; classes are free and open to the public. (616) 241-2601 or www.homerepairservices.org

Habitat for Humanity ReStoreHabitat for Humanity ReStoreHabitat for Humanity ReStoreHabitat for Humanity ReStore Sells building materials at discounted prices. No eligibility criteria; it is open to the public. They are located at: 5701 S Division Ave or (616) 531-4591

Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) Provides Property Improvement Program loans to qualifying homeowners for weatherization.

Call Department of Human Services, Salvation Army, ACSET, or DTE Energy if you are having trouble paying your utility bills or need help applying for the Home Heating Tax Credit.

Energy-Saving Tips By: Christa Lenssen, CNA VISTA VolunteerBy: Christa Lenssen, CNA VISTA VolunteerBy: Christa Lenssen, CNA VISTA VolunteerBy: Christa Lenssen, CNA VISTA Volunteer


Dear Creston Neighbors, We’d like to hear from you. What suggestions do you have for your neighbors that will help us be better stewards of the environment? Here’s our first interview on the subject. It’s with CNA neighbor Cassie Younts, mother of three girls, married to Scott Younts. She shares a few things she’s doing to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

We all probably realize that by being a bit more conservative with our resources we can reduce the amount of trash we throw out. Cassie Younts does that every week. Here’s how: Cassie takes advantage of the city’s free recycling program. (Call 456-3232 for information) Between recycling paper, plastic and metals, she winds up with an average of one tall kitchen trash bag every week. She also com-posts to build rich soil for gardening.

“I’m not perfect but I’m always working on ways to be better at the “3-R’s,” she says, “It’s about attitude and taking it seriously.” In addition to the usual paper products like news-papers and bags, Cassie recycles wrappers from cans, tags from cloth-ing, toilet paper rolls, cereal boxes, l i t e r a l l y e v e r y th in g pa p e r . (Interestingly, a study done by the Michigan State University Extension states that since 1970, paper has increased in landfills and accounts for about 34 percent by weight and 38 percent by volume of the landfills dug.)

Packaging is something Cassie pays attention to. Like many, she reuses gift bags and saves tissue paper. When making a purchase, she tries to avoid buying individually wrapped items. For example, juice boxes are out, refilling a plastic container for the girls’ lunches is in. The girls return their plastic bags for rewash-ing and reuse. Most lunch box items are packaged in reusable containers.

Creston Neighbor, Cassie Younts shares her efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle

She doesn’t buy “lunchables’ which are not only less healthy, but use more plastic.

Pre-potty training, the girls all wore cloth diapers. These were sewn and pre-folded with easy to use Velcro closures. “A little bit of work is worth our future and our children’s future, and it becomes a habit,” she says. “If you teach your kids they don’t know anything else.” Daughter Maddie’s teacher told Cassie that Maddie had refused the zip lock bag she offered her to carry work home. Instead Maddie said, “That’s ok, I’ll just put this in my folder, I don’t want to use a plastic bag.”

The family buys lots of goods from places like Goodwill, garage sales and consignment stores like Once Upon a Child on Alpine. Buying local is important too, says Cassie, because “whether it’s used or new, the energy saved by buying local helps protect our natural resources.”

The family joined a CSA, or Community Supported Agricultural farm for the first time this summer and plans to do it yearly. By paying a portion of the cost of produce up front, farmers get the capital they need to start the planting season. Members go collect their fruits and vegetables once a week and learn to eat what’s fresh. Extra food is frozen, shared or canned.

Cassie says she’s become much more cautious about buying junk and tries instead to buy what will last and not end up in a landfill. A friend who works at UICA in downtown Grand Rapids told her that they recycle at this community based artis t ’ s organization and have labeled their dumpster with a sign that say’s “Landfill Only” so people stop and think: “Do I want to add

this to a landfill or is there another way to dispose of it?”

Homemade shopping bags now carry most of the groceries home and Cassie takes apart arts and crafts the children make and saves the parts for future fun rather than throwing stuff away. At her weekly bible study group, Cassie collects any throwaway silverware and brings it home to wash. The group now only uses mugs, having given up styrofoam cups with ease once the suggestion was made. One more idea from Cassie before we leave you to ponder what you do to reuse, recycle and reduce: “If you have something useful to get rid of try “Freecycle” on Yahoo and post it. Somebody out there will see your trash as their treasure!

If you have an interesting If you have an interesting If you have an interesting If you have an interesting story about how you reduce, story about how you reduce, story about how you reduce, story about how you reduce,

reuse and recycle, let us know! reuse and recycle, let us know! reuse and recycle, let us know! reuse and recycle, let us know! Call the CNA office and ask Call the CNA office and ask Call the CNA office and ask Call the CNA office and ask for Ruth Kelly’s contact info. for Ruth Kelly’s contact info. for Ruth Kelly’s contact info. for Ruth Kelly’s contact info.

We’d love to get some We’d love to get some We’d love to get some We’d love to get some more ideas!more ideas!more ideas!more ideas!

By: Ruth KellyBy: Ruth KellyBy: Ruth KellyBy: Ruth Kelly

creston neighborhood association newsletter jan/feb 2009

Spiritual