🌱 How a $1.1M grant is reshaping careers for Sparta students

Good morning to you Sparta! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How a $1.1M grant is reshaping careers for Sparta students

Also on today's calendar: Preserved! and 6 more events.

Today's riddle: What do you call a belt that is made of watches? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Rain, with a high of 67 and low of 50 degrees.
• Friday: Periods of sun; less humid, temps: high: 65, low: 39.
• Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high of 64 and low of 46 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Sparta Middle School launches manufacturing program with $1.1 million grant (fox17online.com) — Sparta Middle School just launched a hands-on manufacturing and engineering program funded by a $1.1 million state grant, giving local students early exposure to in-demand industrial skills. Through the new MEERA curriculum, kids are already using virtual welding, CNC machines, and robotic arms, with plans to expand the program to Sparta High School in the future.
   

📸 Around Sparta

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Sparta

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★ Featured events ★

Friday October 2
• Preserved! →
  LaFontsee Galleries, 1504 Plainfield Ave NE, Grand Rapids
  5:30 pm
Saturday October 3
• Preserved! →
  LaFontsee Galleries, 1504 Plainfield Ave NE, Grand Rapids
  11:00 am
• Captain While You Can Tailgate Tour →
  2000 S Mission St, Mt Pleasant
  3:30 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Friday October 2
• Coopersville at Sparta →
  Sparta High School, 475 West Spartan Dr., Sparta
  7:00 pm
Thursday October 8
• Sip & Shop: Sparta Cider Stroll
  Village of Sparta, 177 E Division St, Sparta
  4:00 pm
Friday October 16
• Live! Acoustic & Comedy Show, Benefit dinner supporting Renewed Hope India →
  Apple Valley Events, 2124 12 Mile Road Northwest, Sparta
  5:30 pm
Thursday October 22
• Shelby High School at Sparta High School →
  Sparta MI
• Membership Meeting →
  Sparta Moose Lodge, 11510 N Division Ave, Sparta
  6:00 pm
Friday October 23
• Cedar Springs at Sparta →
  Sparta High School, 475 West Spartan Dr., Sparta
  7:00 pm

📣 Sparta Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday October 1
• Montague at Cedar Springs →
  Cedar Springs MI
  5:00 pm
• Drinkin' & Thinkin' Triva with Trivia Cat →
  Perrin Brewing Company, 5910 Comstock Park Dr NW, Comstock Park
  7:00 pm
Friday October 2
• Sparta vs. Coopersville High School Football →
  LMCU Ballpark, 4500 West River Drive, Comstock Park
  5:30 pm
• White Cloud at Kent City →
  Kent City High School, 351 N Main St, Kent City
  7:00 pm
Saturday October 3
• Ecosteward Workday at Memorial Park →
  Extremis, 239 Northland Drive Northeast, Rockford
  9:00 am
• Apple & Spice: Appelflappen 2026 →
  Eastern Kille Distillery, 7755 Childsdale Avenue Northeast, Rockford
  12:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Comstock Park Public Schools posted a job opening for Elementary (English as a Second Language) Instructor in Comstock Park. Apply here.
• Burger King posted a job opening for Team Member in Coopersville. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Sparta here.

🗞 Nearby News

Kent City

• Veteran cook now 'in charge of all the lunch ladies' (schoolnewsnetwork.org)
• Fall Sports Stars: Who is the top Muskegon-area senior girls volleyball player? (mlive.com)
• Civil Practice – Reconsideration (milawyersweekly.com)

Rockford

• Just For Kids U-Pick program returning after successful first year (fox17online.com)
• Michigan Sports Writers football polls for Sept. 30 (michigansthumb.com)

Comstock Park

• Comstock Park voters to decide Nov. 3 on non-homestead millage (schoolnewsnetwork.org)

Ok Sparta! 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: A waist of time. (Thank you Martin L. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

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