It was two weeks ago that I arrived in California.  The weather in Sacramento was cold and rainy but undaunted, we packed in the rain and drove south to Pismo Beach.The white egrets bid us good-bye as we drove down to highway 5. When we left Wheatland, it was cold and raining. The farther south we drove the weather changed and was unpredictable. One minute it was raining so hard we had the windshield wippers on fast and then the sun came out. It was that way for the first hour of our drive. We saw 10 rainbows that day.

Participants in this year’s Walk For Warmth, held Saturday, February 14 at City On A Hill in Zeeland, represented 13 different schools from all over Ottawa County. Of the approximately 180 walkers, most were students.

Zeeland High School Spanish III and IV classes raised a record number of pledges this year. The ZHS contingent led by Spanish teacher, Becky Purnell, raised over $3400, and provided nearly half of the number of walkers.

The City of Zeeland on Valentine’s Day was host to a very successful fund-raising event called The Walk For Warmth. The Walk was held at City On A Hill Ministries where approximately 180 people representing 12 towns, 13 schools and 16 companies, as well as families coming to walk and contribute, brought in over $6,000 to bolster Ottawa County Community Action Agency’s Utilities Assistance Fund. Including corporate sponsorships the 2009 Walk For Warmth raised a total of $21,000.

Zeeland's Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts will be Scouting for Food!!!  This event is to support local food banks.  Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts will be putting bags on doors in the community on March 21.  Then the next week on Saturday March 28 they will be picking up your donations of non parishable food items.  Please support your community and the Scouts!

Zeeland Cub Scout Pack 3048 will be holding a newspaper recycling drive on March 21.  It will be held in the parking lot of Byron Bank, which is on the corner of 96th Ave and Riley. Please come out and support your local Cub Scout Pack!!!

I am in California and was planning to take the warm weather back to Michigan. Well guess what, I landed in Sacramento and the weather is the same as in Michigan. Although it is expected to be in the upper 60's it is expected to be cloudy and somewhat damp. Oh well, that is better than the middle 30's.

The flowers are popping out all over and the rice fields are filled with hungry egrets. The daffodils are blooming and the famed California orange poppy will be in bloom before I fly back to Michigan. I had some in my garden last year and hopefully they will reseed.

Come and explore Deanna's Playhouse!  Visit our 15,000 square-foot play center and rediscover what it means to play!  Children can come and express their creativity through art, music, theater... or just zooming about our Holland-themed play area, Imagination Village.  A family -friendlly activity center unique to West Michigan.

Open Monday - Saturday, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Call Deanna's Playhouse for more information or to schedule a private gathering.

(616) 396-7566

11172 Adams Street, Holland, MI  49423

G&L Chili Dogs is celebrating their 3 year Anniversary this month. We want to thank all the Zeeland residents that support our locally owned and managed West Michigan business.

Thank You,
Dave Bartlett - General Manager

I honestly didn't think I would be doing a update for our project Gillead Garden, especially in January. I get a lot of email from garden mail order companies plus get a lot of catalogues from companies that have some how found me even though I did not ask for them.