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Grand Rapids area grade schoolers help prove how Native Americans made maple sugar

Submitted 06-23-2011 under LOCAL LIFE

Students of Blandford School and Goodwillie Environmental School helped a research team to figure out the historically accurate way that Native Americans may have made maple sugar from tree sap, and the findings may change the way that hundreds of...

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Second Coming: The Story of David Bixby - Part 1

Submitted 06-22-2011 under LOCAL LIFE

Part I: THE "CULT ALBUM" This is part one in a three-part series re-introducing folk musician Dave Bixby to the city that he left 40 years ago. He is performing this Friday at The Division Avenue Arts Collective (115 S. Division) in...

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Bill Hill, literary adventurer and downtown fixture, retires from the public library

Submitted 06-20-2011 under LOCAL LIFE

Regular patrons of the downtown public library probably recognize William "Bill" Hill by sight if not by name. Sharp-featured, sandy-haired (though sporting a bit more grey these days), he’s like a character actor you’ve seen a...

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From the garden: Harvesting your own hyper-local herbal apothecary

Submitted 06-13-2011 under LOCAL LIFE

For many, the term herbal apothecary evokes images of shelves, bottles and jars all filled with mysterious herbs and herbal formulas from exotic plants. But to have an herbal apothecary, plants need not be exotic or mysterious - in fact, as more and...

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Eat the Weeds: ReWilding the Spring Salad

Submitted 05-26-2011 under LOCAL LIFE

While it was a cool start to spring, the past two weeks of warm, wet weather have the plants around us springing from the earth. You may have taken particular notice if you are a lawn-mower -- the grass is growing tall and so are many of the lawn...

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Downtown invitational attracts eight teams for a basketball rumble in Heartside

Submitted 05-24-2011 under LOCAL LIFE

Last Saturday afternoon, May 21, eight teams descended on the alley behind the Division Avenue Arts Collective (115 S. Division) for the first downtown invitational: a tournament of three-on-three basketball. The eight teams assembled were "...

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Local children's book author leads 250-mile bike ride to Chicago

Submitted 05-18-2011 under LOCAL LIFE

With internet, television, smart phones and the numerous other electronic distractions, today’s youth are becoming more and more apathetic to the idea of enacting big ideas. Local children’s book author Sue Stauffacher set out on a five...

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2011 Grand Rapids Bicycle Summit inspires community to be bicycle friendly

Submitted 05-17-2011 under LOCAL LIFE

On Friday, May 6, over 200 attendees and 25 exhibitors found themselves assembling at GVSU’s Eberhard Center for the Greater Grand Rapids Bicycle Coalition’s (GGRBC) 2011 Bicycle Summit. With the tagline “Inspiration to Action,...

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Grand Rapids Griffins excel in community involvement

Submitted 05-16-2011 under LOCAL LIFE

If you've ever been to a Grand Rapids Griffins hockey game, then you know they can put on an entertaining hockey game, but it's what is done behind the scenes that makes those games so exciting. I had the opportunity to sit down with...

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A Tribute to Cat Stevens: Seth Bernard and Friends sing out

Submitted 05-12-2011 under LOCAL LIFE

“Growing up, Cat Stevens was a real hero of mine, and one of my biggest influences. He helped me to be my best self.” With that personal tribute, homegrown singer-songwriter Seth Bernard opened a heartfelt homage Saturday night...

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