Hey hey Grand Rapids! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: Divine Dialogues and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: What has a tail, but no body? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. Grand Rapids Mayor Declares September 28th 'Good Neighbor Day' (wgrd.com) — Grand Rapids is officially marking September 28 as Good Neighbor Day, with Mayor David LaGrand recognizing residents who go above and beyond on their block. Local nonprofit Kind Hearts Bloom will honor 10–15 neighbors with handcrafted bouquets, and you can nominate someone whose kindness helped you this year by submitting a story online by September 25.
2. Confluence Thought Series returns to Grand Rapids for 5th year (fox17online.com) — A two-day Confluence Thought Series is coming to downtown Grand Rapids Sept. 17–18, with sessions at Kendall College of Art and Design and field trips to Array of Engineers and the Grand Rapids Chamber. Expect talks on AI in healthcare, NASA-linked aerospace work, sustainable design, river restoration, and the region's data center debate, with tickets ranging from free to $60.
3. Grand Rapids prepares for Eastown Streetfair on Saturday (woodtv.com) — Grand Rapids' Eastown neighborhood is gearing up for the 53rd annual Eastown Streetfair this Saturday along Wealthy Street, featuring more than 100 artist, food, and community booths. The free, family-friendly event runs 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with live music and a dedicated family activity area supported by the Grand Rapids Public Library's mobile library, the Children's Museum, and more.
4. Corewell Health to Expand Grand Rapids and Troy Hospitals (healthcarefacilitiestoday.com) — Corewell Health plans a $1.34 billion, 780,000-square-foot expansion of Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, adding a new emergency department, 180 private rooms, and 17 operating rooms. The 11-story project, spanning Michigan Street and Barclay Avenue properties, is slated to start demolition and construction in summer 2027, pending city approvals, and aims to ease chronic overcrowding as the city grows.
5. ArtPrize returns to Grand Rapids and downtown businesses are ready for the boost (fox17online.com) — ArtPrize's return is set to bring a major surge of visitors and spending to downtown Grand Rapids, with hotels already seeing more reservations. Local shops like Old World Olive Press and Sugar Bar are hustling to reopen or prepare, hoping the nearly million-visitor draw translates into crucial foot traffic and support for small businesses.
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Ok Grand Rapids! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Coin (Thank you John W. for sending it in!)
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