GRAND HAVEN, Mich.—The general public is invited to attend the “Holly Berry Bazaar” at United Methodist Church of the Dunes Friday, November 1  and Saturday, November 2.

This year’s bazaar will feature a cookie walk, bake sale, silent auction and six large booths filled with items handmade by the United Methodist Women’s guild, to help people get in the mood for Christmas and the holidays.  Booths include:

•   “Holly Berry Christmas”―featuring hand-fashioned ornaments, stockings, pillows, candles    and wall hangings bearing Christmas and holiday trimming.
• “Potpourri”—featuring children’s clothing, toys, home runners, pillows and hand towels.
• “Gifts From the Heart”―featuring soup mixes, dip mixes, bird feeders, hand lotions and note pads.
• “Homespun Gifts”―featuring knit, crocheted and felted items:  scarves, hats, gloves, mittens, baby wearables, flowers to pin

Organizations in Kent, Ottawa and Muskegon counties are teaming up this week to encourage people to take the stairs.

Take the Stairs Week runs September 3 through September 6.  The three-day campaign is meant to encourage people to become more physically active while saving energy.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, graphic designs promoting healthy behavior have been shown to motivate stair users; that’s why Kendall College of Art and Design at Ferris State University created images for this campaign.  Free color signs are available at the Heart of West Michigan United Way for businesses and organizations with escalators or elevators.

Participating agencies include:

The American Institute of Architects, Grand Rapids Chapter 

GRAND HAVEN, Mich.—The hard work of Lighthouse Quilt Guild will be on display this weekend as part of the annual Great Lakes/Great Quilts show.

Visitors to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church can buy quilts and quilt related items, watch quilting demonstrations and check out more than 150 quilts made by the quilt guild.  Eight quilts will be picked for display at the 2014 American Quilting Show in Grand Rapids.

Visitors can also register their quilt in the Michigan Quilt Project by bringing a completed version of this inventory form and a picture of them and their quilt to the show.  The Michigan Quilt Project is dedicated to preserving the state's quilting history at the Michigan State University Museum.