Kent County SBA Loan Center Office Open June 18-27, 2013

Kent County SBA Loan Center Office Open June 18-27, 2013

Homes and businesses that suffered damage in the April 7-20  2013 flooding in Kent County

can apply for disaster relief loans to help repair their real estate and personal property.

 

The Small Business Loan Center will be open for one-on one assistance:

June 18-27, 2013

Kent County Sheriff’s Dept.

Disaster Loan Outreach Center

701 Ball Ave. NE

Grand Rapids MI 49503

 

Applicants are encouraged to apply online at:

https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

 

More detailed information here on times & hours, if interested.

 

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The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in West

Michigan. We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

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Gov. Snyder Declares State of Emergency for 18 Michigan Counties

Gov. Snyder Declares State of Emergency for 18 Michigan Counties

 

ThegrandriverKnappStnorth_thumb.jpg

 

Kent County is just one of the 2013 flood affected counties in Michigan.

This declaration will enable a damage assessment to be done on homes

and public properties.  Then it will be determined if damages are severe enough

to ask for federal assistance.

 

The estimated damages are 6 million dollars to homes and public property, so far.

This process will take a few weeks or even months before local home owners see any

government offers of financial assistance in the form of low interest loans to

rebuild or repair damages.

 

If you are a West Michigan homeowner displaced or coping with flood damage, watch

Kent County’s official web site for updates:  www.accessKent.com/News.___

 

_____________________________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in West

Michigan. We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

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West Michigan White Caps Start 2012 Season

West Michigan White Caps Start 2012 Season

The West Michigan White Caps start their summer season

with their opening day on Monday, April 9th.  It isn’t that far

away and would be a great outing for Spring Break Week. 

They have many promotions and specials going on, so don’t delay,

if baseball is your passion, get your tickets now.

 

The opening night match is with the Bowling Green Hotrods at 6 pm. 

 

Finale fireworks

Changes at the Fifth Third Ball Park Food Booths this year:

The winner of the White Caps Food Contest this year is the West

Side  Po’ Boy, which is kielbasa, pierogies, and sauerkraut covered

in marinara sauce and loaded on a hoagie bun.

 

The famous Fifth Third monster burger, a four pound, 5000 calorie

colossus is still a main attraction.  In addition this year, are giant

smoked turkey legs, perogies, Salsalitos, gluten free hot dogs,

Pickle Chips, and Deviled Eggs.  On the suite level, Lobster Rolls and

BBQ ribs will be available.

 

Don’t miss the fun of a White Caps Game this season!

 

White Caps Tickets                 Directions to Ball Park

Forest Hills Public Schools Offer Child Care

Forest Hills Public Schools Offer Child Care

Forest Hills elementary schools offer fee based, before

and/or after school child care (with the exceptions of Ada Vista,

Northern Trails, and Central Woodlands).  This program runs

from 6:45 am to the start of school and from school dismissal

until 6:15 pm.  An after-school, supervised study group is also

available for middle school students.

 

meadowbrook entrance

Registration in any child care program guarantees full or half day

child care if needed on non-school days.  Please call the Child Care

Office at 493-8787 for current fees, availability, and information

on the different programs.

 

Information and registration forms are available at the the Child

Care Office in the Operations Building at 150 Alta Dale SE

and online at the district’s web site. 

________________________________________________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan.  We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

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Reindeer are Visiting Local Grand Rapids Libraries December 2011

Reindeer are Visiting Local Grand Rapids Libraries December 2011

 topiary deer

It just isn’t Christmas if you don’t get to pet a real, live reindeer.  Ask

your kids or grandkids, they will tell you.  So put it on the calendar, the libraries

listed below will be hosting real reindeer from Rooftop Landing Reindeer Farm.

So dress warmly, bring the camera, and tag yourself some reindeer this holiday

season.

Thursday, December 8, 4:00 PM – Alto branch
Thursday, December 8, 6:30 PM – Comstock Park branch
Monday, December 12, 4:00 PM – Gaines Township branch
Tuesday, December 13, 6:30 PM – Plainfield Township branch
Wednesday, December 14, 3:00 PM – Caledonia Township branch
Thursday, December 15, 4:00 PM – Walker branch
Thursday, December 15, 6:30 PM – Grandville branch
Tuesday, December 20, 6:30 PM – Wyoming branch
Wednesday, December 21, 5:30 PM – Alpine Township branch
Wednesday, December 28, 2:00 PM – Kentwood branch
Friday, December 30, 2:00 PM – Byron Township branch

SEARCH FOR CALEDONIA HOMES

 

SEARCH FOR KENTWOOD HOMES

 

________________________________________________________________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan. We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

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Kent District Library Gets Star Rating

Kent District Library Gets Star Rating

The Library Journal has given the Kent District Library its coveted

“Star Rating” once again.  This national rating system ranks 7513

libraries by  index of public services.  The Star list this year notes 292

public libraries for exemplary public service.  Based on  circulation,

visits, program attendance, and public internet terminal usage per

capita, these libraries are vital to their communities.  The statistics

for these ratings are from 2009 patronage.

 

cowboy reader bronze sculpture

 

Kent District Library System is one of 3 Michigan libraries to rank

on the list. Ann Arbor received 5 stars, Kent District Library and Benzie

Shores Libraries were awarded 3 star ratings.

Kent District Library is in the $10–29.9 million category for expenses.

Circulation per capita is up to 15.9 books per year, 9.1 visits per year,

and .4 program attendance at KDL. 

 

The recent recession and economic woes have really increased library

usage nation wide.  More and more people are accessing their library

online and through mobile devices.  Ebooks in libraries have increased

by 183% in the past year.  These are trend changing statistics.  Will

the brick and mortar libraries morph into something more than book

storage buildings?  Libraries today are becoming community interest

havens for all types of groups.

 

SEARCH for Kent County Homes

_____________________________________________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in West

Michigan. We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

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Ada Michigan Hall Street Reconstruction Planned for 2012

Ada Michigan Hall Street Reconstruction Planned for 2012

Planning and design work is advancing on a proposed 2012 project

to re-surface Hall St., from Cascade Rd. to the Forest Hills Central

School campus, add a center turn lane at Paradise Lake and add

facilities for pedestrians and bicycles.  A 5 foot sidewalk is planned for

each side of Hall Street instead of an 8-10 foot path. 

 Hall St Ada Mi  Nov 2011

Since Hall Street is the dividing line between Cascade Township on the

south and Ada Township on the north, the cost of this project will be

shared by both townships and Kent County Road Commission.  Another

neighborhood information meeting will be held after plans are firmed up,

so residents along the road will know what to expect.

 

 

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan. We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

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Foto Friday – Fish Ladder Park Grand Rapids Michigan

Foto Friday – Fish Ladder Park Grand Rapids Michigan

Fish Ladder Sculpture Grand Rapids MI

To help the salmon that are trying to reach their spawning grounds

in the upper reaches of the Grand River and its tributaries, this Fish Ladder

was installed at one of the main drops in the Grand River.  Even with the

help of the ladder, they still have a Herculean task to get up  the Grand

River in downtown Grand Rapids.  Fish Ladder on Grand River

The Fish Ladder was installed in 1974 and is a favorite spot to watch

 the fish return up river in the fall.  Joseph E Kinnebrew IV, designed the

Fish Ladder Sculpture that allows the fish to climb the dam at Fourth Street

and Front NW.  

We have seen the fish so thick that the ducks can walk on their backs

to catch treats thrown in for them.  If you visit when the salmon are

running, be sure to bring a bag of bread crumbs!

 

View of GR from ladder

Grand views of our local city and riverfront are visible from here. 

You can see the many cranes and buildings going up on Michigan Avenue,

also known as The Medical Mile. The VanAndel Institute, Butterworth Hospital,

Lemmon-Holton Cancer Center, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital and the

Michigan State University Medical School.

Grand Rapids Medical Mile from Fish Ladder

A small public city park adjoins the fish ladder and is a great spot

to bring a picnic lunch and watch the activity on the river.

Fishermen were pulling huge salmon from the river when we visited the

other day.  The salmon are on their way upstream from Lake Michigan.

Birch tree at FL park

 

Did you think Grand Rapids was named for the river that flows through it?

Yes, and for the treacherous and lengthy rapids that existed here.

 

Grand River Rapids Wall

The rapids have long been tamed with reinforced concrete walls that

step the rapids down gradually along the length of the river through the city.

Whether you come to fish or just watch the fish jumping, it is a fascinating

spectacle every fall in Grand Rapids.

____________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate,

the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in

West Michigan.  We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

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Forest Hills Public Schools Resolve $9.5 Million Budget 2011 Shortfall

Forest Hills Public Schools Resolve $9.5 Million Budget 2011 Shortfall

Budget woes for school districts are not news for communities today,

as the monetary belt tightens for school districts all over the United States.

But the Grand Rapids Forest Hills Public School District has done a great

job of planning ahead AND getting concessions from their teaching and

support staff.  The recent budget shortfall was lessened by a $7.5

million voluntary decrease in staff and teaching compensation alterations.

The other $2 million will come from the district’s strategic reserves.

 

PineRidgeElementarySchool

 

Good schools are valued by the people who live in the community

and Forest Hills has been ranked the number one school district in Kent

County by Grand Rapids Magazine.

 

SEARCH FOR FOREST HILLS HOMES

MORE FOREST HILLS ARTICLES

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate, the

Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in West Michigan.

We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

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Landscape Shrubs that Deer Dislike

Landscape Shrubs that Deer Dislike

If wild deer are a part of your neighborhood, you know that your

favorite shrubs can be eaten down to mere nubs over a Michigan winter.

Deer are just trying to survive and you might as well plant shrubs

that are not on their “favorite” dining list.  Please note these lists

comprise plants that can be eaten by deer – if hungry enough and

nothing else is available.

Whitetail Doe and fawn

Deer Rarely Eat :

Barberry

Paper Birch

Common Boxwood

Russian Olive

American Holly

Drooping Leucothoe

Colorado Blue Spruce

Japanese Pieris

 

Deer Seldom Eat:

American Butternut

European White Birch

Red Osier Dogwood

Flowering Dogwood

Kousa Dogwood

English Hawthorn

Redvein Enkianthus

European Birch

Forsythia

Honey Locust

Chinese Holly

Inkberry

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate, the

Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in West Michigan.

We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

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