Be Informed. Get Connected. Share Your Voice.
Creston Neighborhood News
July 28, 2022
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SAVE THE DATE - CRESTON NIGHT OUT - AUGUST 2
4pm-7pm @ Briggs Park
Free Dinner (until 6:30), Arts and Crafts, Games, Resources, Community and more!
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Don't miss the Ribbon Cutting for the new Briggs Park Butterfly Garden at CRESTON NIGHT OUT - AUGUST 2
4pm-7pm @ Briggs Park
The space, which is also a public art piece, was reimagined by the Creston Neighborhood Association, Lions & Rabbits Center for the Arts, and local artist Craig Merchant. A group of volunteers will plant native pollinator species in the center of the space with the help of Hum Native Plantscapes this fall.
Read more about our neighborhood's new addition here
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VOLUNTEER AT CRESTON NIGHT OUT!
If you'd like to join us in making Creston Night Out a success, sign up to volunteer with us on August 2 at the link below:
Creston Night Out Volunteer Form
Please reach out to us at contact@crestongr.com if you have any questions about
volunteering for this event or are interested in other volunteering opportunities at CNA
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ART BASH IS BACK!
Wednesday, September 28, 2022
Since 2006, the Creston Neighborhood Association has organized Art Bash (previously Art Battle 4 Community), bringing stakeholders, neighbors, and artists from the Creston area together for this unique, live event. After a brief hiatus in 2020 and 2021, CNA is excited to share the return of our trademark event.
Art Bash provides materials for 8 Creston-based artists to create art live and in person. Each artists' live work is then auctioned off - a portion of the proceeds from this event will go to the artists, and a portion will benefit the Creston Neighborhood Association in providing services to its neighbors.
Tickets will be on sale soon - stay tuned for details!
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Kymie’s Weed and Deadhead Club
A message from Kymie, CNA Community Organizer:
"Ha. This isn’t about consumption or dancing bears, but it’s close. It’s about beautifying our neighborhood and feeling proud of where we live. It's about building your community through volunteering, working together, and meeting cool new people. This work isn't easy and it can't be done alone: we need YOU!
We are looking for individuals to help with the upkeep of Creston's various “bio-retention basins” in medians up and down Plainfield. This work will include pulling out WEEDS and DEADHEADING wilted flowers. No experience? No problem! Join us for a great opportunity to learn!"
DATES AND TIMES
Wednesday, August 3- 10am–11am and 5pm–6pm
Thursday, August 4- 10am–11am and 5pm–6pm
Monday, August 15- Times TBD
You can sign up to volunteer for next weeks' dates and times by emailing Kymie (pronounced Kimmy) at kspring@crestongr.com
We’ll be starting up again the week of August 15 - let us know if there’s a day & time that works for you!
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DIY WEED KILLER
Create a natural, chemical-free, and pet-safe herbicide with a simple DIY solution:
Combine 1 gallon white vinegar, 1 cup table salt, and 1 Tablespoon Dawn dish soap in a spray bottle. Apply only to unwanted weeds. The acid in the solution will draw out moisture from plants.
To learn more about Living Green in Creston, or to attend a committee meeting, email board@crestongr.com
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COMMUNITY NEWS & RESOURCES
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THIS SATURDAY - JULY 30
AFTER DARK 2022
Lions & Rabbits Center for the Arts is hosting their annual After Dark Block Party in Creston to showcase local artist and business vendors.
Join us on July 30th for a market, live music, games, food, drinks, and more! All proceeds will go towards public art projects in Grand Rapids to support our mission and create a thriving arts community in West Michigan.
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MICHIGAN STATE PRIMARY ELECTION
MAKE A PLAN TO GET OUT AND VOTE - THIS TUESDAY - AUGUST 2
The Midterm Election is a great opportunity for our communities to build local power!
Visit the Michigan Voting Information website (linked) to make sure you're registered, locate your polling location, inform yourself of what will be on the ballot, and get all of your voting information.
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Friends of GR Parks offers opportunities for neighbors to get involved in keeping our city's parks enjoyable, beautiful, and accessible to everyone.
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunites:Sixth Street Park Clean-Up (Sunday, July 31st @ 10 am) - Join Sixth Street Park adopters and City Chapel by spending the morning cleaning up the park and learning to properly take care of trees. Click here to sign up to volunteer!
Tree Pruning Events (every other Wednesday) - We're so excited to get back into pruning trees! Join us every other Wednesday from 5:30 - 7:30 pm - the next tree pruning event will be Wednesday August 3! Click here to sign up to volunteer
For questions and more information, visit the Friends of Grand Rapids Parks website (linked)
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 SWEET STREET PARK UPDATES
The city recently announced the official completion of the Sweet Street Park updates! Improvements to Grand Rapids' Sweet Street Park were made possible by a 2013 voter-approved millage.
Some new features include: a curved bench to watch the beautiful sunsets of Grand Rapids, picnic tables, accessible pathways, landscaping, bike loops, play ground, and garbage bins.
Click Here to read more about all the Grand Rapids' Park Projects!
Looking for some different activities to enjoy at our city's Parks? Thrive Outside offers a "Gear Library" that has you covered with outdoor gear rentals and equipment education. Neighbors can rent outdoor games, gear, and equipment for FREE!
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New City Neighbors Youth Clubs
This summer, New City Neighbors implemented a Youth Club series for students grades K-12 and their families. Attendees will learn about specific topics from NCN Chefs and Farmers through fun educational activities.
Some topics that are covered over the summer include everything from health, farm fresh recipes, and safe kitchen practices, to growing your own veggies, soil health, composting, and supporting native pollinators.
There's still time to sign up for the August Youth Club sessions:
August 5th - Chefs: How to Make Easy and Healthy Snacks at Home - CLICK HERE to sign up
August 19th - Farmers: Native Plants and Beneficial Insects - CLICK HERE to sign up
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FESTIVAL HISPANO
August 5-7
The Hispanic Festival has been a Grand Rapids tradition for more than 40 years! This three-day event at Calder Plaza celebrates and shares the rich diversity of Hispanic heritages, cultures and customs through authentic food, music, dance, costumes and merchandise. Hosted by the Hispanic Center of West Michigan, the Festival is free and open to the public.
To read more about The Hispanic Center of West Michigan's annual fiesta, CLICK HERE
Sign up to Volunteer for the event:
Hispanic Festival 2022 Volunteer Registration
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 Learn of helpful community resources available to YOU:
School Support for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
This initiative, supported by the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan, provides a $250 Meijer gift card to grandparents for the purchase of back-to-school supplies and clothing for their grandchildren. CLICK HERE for more information
Salvation Army Utility Payment Assistance
The Salvation Army’s Energy Assistance Services (EAS) seeks to walk alongside low-income households to address energy crises. In this process an applicant may be offered bill payment assistance, energy company subsidy program enrollment, and case management services. The goal of these services is to support household financial stability and support the customer in achieving goals they have set for themselves. CLICK HERE for more information
Michigan Homeowner Assistance Fund (MIHAF)
The Homeowner Assistance Fund was established in 2021 to lessen hardships associated with the coronavirus pandemic by providing funds to prevent homeowner mortgage delinquencies, defaults, foreclosure, loss of utilities or home energy services and displacements of homeowners experiencing financial hardship due to coronavirus. CLICK HERE to learn more about MIHAF and see if you're eligible for assistance.
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Looking for a way to get active, meet new people, and have fun?
Join Creston Neighbors each Wednesday at Noon for Creston Walks!
Participants will earn a $5 Meijer gift card (while supplies last)
Park and gather in parking lot across from St. Alphonses at 205 Carrier St Ne.
Inclement weather cancellations will be posted on facebook.com/tnewc
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CRESTON
COMMITTEES & MEETINGS
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ALL neighbors are welcome and encouraged to attend committee meetings and board meetings. Creston is ALL OF US working together
Please contact the listed email if you want to attend a meeting.
Land Use Committee
Wednesday, August 3, 6:30pm
board@crestongr.com
Living Green in Creston
Tuesday, August 9, 6:30 PM
board@crestongr.com
Fund Development Committee
Thursday, August 18, noon
contact@crestongr.com
Climate Chaos Committee
Thursday, August 18, 6:30 PM
kspring@crestongr.com
CNA Board Meeting
Thursday, August 25, 6:30 - 8:30 PM
CNA Community Room or Zoom
board@crestongr.com
Please keep an eye on the CNA Calendar for other upcoming meetings and events. |
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Our Community Partners support the Creston neighborhood every day! If your business is interested in becoming a community partner to support the Creston neighborhood, please contact us!
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