Water
Parents react to data showing 49507 leads state in lead poisoned children
by (Talor Musil)
Submitted 11-07-2017 under PLACE-MATTERS
After a decade of decline, the number of lead-poisoned children in Kent County is rising. Recent data shows a 40 percent increase in lead-poisoned children in the 49507 zip code during the past two years. This Grand Rapids neighborhood ranks number...
Grand Rapids Public Schools’ Parent University to host screenings of American Divided
by (Natalie Hart)
Submitted 08-08-2017 under NONPROFITS
On Wednesday, June 28, over 600 people gathered at Celebration Cinema South to watch two screenings of America Divided, a film series that explores some of America’s thorniest issues—criminal justice, housing equity, education,...
Michigan treasure: Fish of a thousand casts
by (Michigan Wildli...)
Submitted 07-25-2017 under NONPROFITS
There’s only one thing better than the heart-pounding experience of reeling in a monster-size muskie. “Releasing that fish and watching it swim away is a great feeling because you know you’re helping to make sure there’ll be...
Rain gardens continue to flourish, transform Plaster Creek area
by (Calvin College)
Submitted 01-24-2017 under PLACE-MATTERS
It is the summer of 2014, and rain has begun to fall on a hot July afternoon in West Michigan. One droplet lands on a rooftop in the Alger Heights neighborhood, running down the sloped roof into the gutter and through the downspout onto the driveway...
How to grow a rain garden in Grand Rapids to protect local watersheds
by (Calvin College)
Submitted 08-08-2016 under PLACE-MATTERS
Written by Joel Betts, Green Infrastructure Associate with Plaster Creek Stewards Rain gardens have become an increasingly important tool in many urban areas for addressing the negative aspects of stormwater runoff. Over the last few years, Plaster...
Creek friendly yards encourage healthier Grand Rapids watersheds
by (Calvin College)
Submitted 04-26-2016 under PLACE-MATTERS
Because the way we live on the land affects the quality of our waters, even if we can't see a creek from our house, the way we take care of our yards is imortant. A main focus of Plaster Creek Stewards is to help residents become aware of the...
Standing ovation for Snyder in Grand Rapids shows gross disconnect with people of Flint
by (balexander)
Submitted 03-22-2016 under OPINION
Yesterday The Economic Club of Grand Rapids reminded me how thoroughly disconnected they are from the pulse of the community. Let me rephrase that. The Economic Club of Grand Rapids reminded me that they have no desire to assess a pulse, as a matter...
Second annual River City Water Festival to celebrate Grand River
by (Public Museum)
Submitted 03-01-2016 under NEWS
Groundswell, the West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC) and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) are excited to partner once again with the Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) to bring the second annual River...
Local Westside school collecting water for Flint Public Schools
by (jullianiemackey)
Submitted 02-02-2016 under NEWS
The Harrison Park School community is organizing in a collaboration between parents and school administrators to help our neighbors in Flint with their need for safe water. The Parent Action Leader, Petronila Solares, at Harrison Park School, was an...
Environmental concerns reflective of racial inequity
by (prfcgr)
Submitted 01-25-2016 under NONPROFITS
Water is a natural resource that, in the developed world, we often take for granted. On a daily basis, most people in the United States do not question whether or not their drinking water is safe. In Grand Rapids, most people don’t think about...