Community Updates: Friday, August 19

Grand Rapids Public Library to Host "Adult Storytime" Events 

The Grand Rapids Public Library has announced that it will be hosting four monthly "Adult Storytime" events at the Golden Age at Creston Brewery to close out the year. These sessions, each with a different "theme," will begin at 6:30pm and occur on the second Tuesday of each month. Special guests will be there to read short stories to attendees, as will staff from the GRPL. The schedule for these events is:

• September 12: Brittany Devon
• October 10: Star Buxom
• November 14: John Steven Crowley
• December 12: Matt McKay

Refreshments will be available at each event, including free appetizers (while supplies last) and adult beverages for purchase. For more information about the upcoming “Adult Storytime” events, visit the GRPL's website here. To see a full calendar of upcoming GRPL events, click here.

City of Grand Rapids Schedules First Commission Night Out Event for Next Tuesday

The City of Grand Rapids has announced that it has scheduled the first “Commission Night Out” event for 5:30pm to 7:30pm on Tuesday, August 23. The meeting, which will take place at Sibley Elementary School (in the first ward), will address both neighborhood-specific Commission matters and the community's thoughts/opinions on the recent National Community Survey. Residents will be able to visit booths dedicated to the livability factor(s) that they feel the strongest about -- including education, health/wellness, natural environment, safety, and more. There, they will be able to discuss each issue and propose ideas for how these factors can be improved. 

City officials hope that this event will help to ensure that everyone's voices are heard and that the community is engaged when it comes to making improvements within the city. In Wednesday's press release, Mayor Rosalynn Bliss had this to say about the importance of this event:

"I'm excited to relaunch Commission Night Out and give folks who can't always travel down to City Hall a chance to participate in a government meeting. This blended event also will help us engage with residents in a meaningful way. The data tells us one thing, but it is always helpful to put some life behind that by talking to people about their experiences."

Refreshments will be available at this event beginning at 5:00pm. Childcare will also be provided to attendees beginning at 5:00pm, but space is limited. Residents of Grand Rapids are asked to pre-register their children here (for ages 0-3) or here (for ages 4-12). More "Commission Night Out" events are expected to occur in coming months, but no official dates have been announced. For more information, visit the City of Grand Rapids' website here.

Also in the News:

• On Wednesday, The Rapid announced that it would be making some changes to Route 10 -- the bus line that services Clyde Park. New stops will include the campuses of the Spectrum Health South Pavilion, Special Olympics Michigan, and Pine Rest. Visit The Rapid's website for more information.

• John Ball Zoo has announced that its flamingos have officially been released from quarantine and are once again able to be visited by zoo patrons. 

Sharing Your Stories

The Rapidian encourages local residents to share their own stories related to civic, economic, and public health developments in the Grand Rapids area on The Rapidian’s platform. To get started as a community reporter, visit TheRapidian.org/write.