Community Updates: Friday, October 7

First City Commission Meeting of October Takes Place at City Hall on Tuesday

On Tuesday, the Grand Rapids City Commission held the first of its October meetings at City Hall. The meeting began with the usual roll call and Pledge of Allegiance before moving onto official city business (adopting ordinances, approving resolutions, etc). There were also three public hearings scheduled to take place at this meeting, two of which were related to a proposed construction project in the 1300 block of Plainfield Avenue. Once the official city business portion of the meeting was concluded, residents of Grand Rapids were once again able to take the podium to express their thoughts, opinions, and concerns on a variety of issues to the Commission.

Compared to some of the more recent City Commission meetings, Tuesday's public comment section was brief. However, those that did get up to speak covered a wide range of topics -- including public safety and climate change. One of these individuals, the Vice President for External Relations at the Grand Valley State University Student Senate, took the podium to express concern on behalf of his fellow GVSU students regarding public safety and rising crime rates in Grand Rapids. "Students have stated that they are concerned about being out late at night and, furthermore, students are being consulted to not go out at night alone and to try to not go out at all," he stated. "I'm here to ask, on behalf of the Grand Valley student body, that this council consider all available measures to bring the crime situation under control." Two members of the Grand Rapids Climate Coalition asked the Commission to consider allocating more funding to climate justice while another GR resident raised concerns about on-street parking in neighborhoods surrounding businesses.

The recorded livestream can be found on the City of Grand Rapids' YouTube channel and can also be viewed below:

Grand Rapids Public Museum Releases Line-Up for 2022 Mighty Wurlitzer Organ Concert Series

On Monday, October 3, the Grand Rapids Public Museum sent out a press release announcing the official schedule for the upcoming 2022 Mighty Wurlitzer Organ Concert Series. There will be four concerts total in this series -- two in November and two in December.

Scott Smith, a Lansing-based organist and theater organ preservationist, will be performing at the GRPM’s Meijer Theater on Friday, November 4 and Saturday, November 5. The November shows will feature the 1925 silent film version of The Phantom of the Opera alongside Smith's playing of the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ. Both virtual and in-person tickets are available on the GRPM website -- ranging from $10-$15 for in-person tickets and $6-$10 for virtual tickets. In December, John Lauter, an organist from Detroit, will be performing popular holiday tunes for audiences as part of the Holiday Classics series. Those concerts will take place on Friday, December 9 and Saturday, December 10 at the Meijer Theater. Showtimes can be viewed below:

• Friday, November 4: Show starts at 7:00pm
• Saturday, November 5: Show starts at 2:00pm
• Friday, December 9: Show starts at 7:00pm
• Saturday, December 10: Show starts at 2:00pm

For more information about the 2022 Mighty Wurlitzer Organ Concert Series or to get tickets, visit the Grand Rapids Public Museum's website here.

Also in the News:

• According to a press release sent out on Tuesday, the Grand Rapids Police Department will be holding a recruiting event at Garfield Park on Monday, October 10. 

• The Grand Rapids Fire Department has announced that it will be holding the 22^nd Annual Silent Night Memorial Service and Parade at 7:00pm on Wednesday, October 12. 

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