Foto Friday – January Series Beats Winter Blahs

Foto Friday – January Series Beats Winter Blahs

Covenant-FineArts_Center

The January Series hosted by Calvin College is one of January’s

bright spots on the winter scene in Grand Rapids Michigan.  Famous

authors, public figures, sports celebrities, and many, many other speakers

are brought in every year for the public’s  education and entertainment.

The above photo was taken last Friday at the Calvin College Covenant

Fine Arts Center waiting for Ensemble Galilei to perform.  What a treat!

 

The January Series runs until the 25th of this month, so check out the

remaining speakers for yourself.

 

An added bonus to this local feature is the archives, where many

 speakers from the past have been recorded, so you can browse the

list and listen anytime it is convenient.

Copyright 2011  All rights reserved.

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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. Grand Rapids Michigan is a vibrant, growing metropolitan

area with a diverse business community, great medical research & services,

numerous universities, plus lively arts and entertainment of all kinds.

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

ar125812212017642 9 Pros and Cons to Balance When Buying a Grand Rapids Condo ar125812218972939 9 Pros and Cons to Balance When Buying a Grand Rapids Condo ar125812225271331 9 Pros and Cons to Balance When Buying a Grand Rapids Condo

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

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Forest Hills Public Schools Top State of Michigan Rankings

Forest Hills Public Schools Top State of Michigan Rankings

_____________________________________________

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. Grand Rapids Michigan is a vibrant, growing metropolitan area with a diverse business community, great medical research & services, numerous universities, plus lively arts and entertainment of all kinds.

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

search for Grand Rapids homes Find Grand Rapids Home Value Grand Rapids Relocation Guide

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

                          Contact Terry   616-292-7263

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Grand Rapids Michigan Cost vs Value Report 2010

Grand Rapids Michigan Cost vs Value Report 2010

The new Cost vs Value Report 2010 is out from the National Association

of Realtors.  This report compares home improvement costs and returns for

sellers.  There are national trends and local trends.  If you are a homeowner,

this is valuable information because it will tell you how much money you

can expect to recoup from home improvements on the sale of your home.

While you may not be intending to sell your home for many years, it is a

good indicator of what the average buyer is looking for in a home purchase

and what they are willing to pay for.

Front door of a home

 

Grand Rapids is right on target with the rest of the nation in the number

one item that repays investment.  A new front door, specifically, a steel door

will get you 102% of your money back.  If you need a new front entrance door,

you might want to consider skipping over to your home improvement store

and putting one on order. 

 

Now, don’t get crazy and pick a really fancy door if you live in a basic ranch. 

Home buyers don’t want a front door that doesn’t match the home

style or decor, so don’t waste your money.  A nice steel door in a great color will

do more for your home’s curb appeal than one that doesn’t fit aesthetically.

 

All other home improvement projects went down in payback dollars, not

a surprise considering our local rate of home sales in the past 2 years.  But if

you have been considering a home improvement project, check the list to see

if it is a feasible option for you and your home. 

 

Grand Rapids Cost vs Value Report

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

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. Grand Rapids Michigan is a vibrant, growing

metropolitan area with a diverse business community, great medical

research & services, numerous universities, plus lively arts and

entertainment of all kinds.

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

ar125812212017642 Foto Friday – Christmas Railway Garden Meijer Gardens 2010 ar125812218972939 Foto Friday – Christmas Railway Garden Meijer Gardens 2010 ar125812225271331 Foto Friday – Christmas Railway Garden Meijer Gardens 2010

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry   616-292-7263

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Affordable Grand Rapids Holiday Housing at the Prince Center

Affordable Grand Rapids Holiday Housing at the Prince Center

Family coming to Grand Rapids for the Christmas Holidays?

If you are cramped for space, rather than put your family and

friends on the floor or breaking out the air mattresses, tell them

about the rooms available at the Calvin College Prince Center.

$70.00 per-night deal beginning December 12, 2010
through January 8, 2011.

(*Mention the Holiday Rate when making the reservation.)

Swedish Christmas Tree
Amenities include King or Double Queen Room, Complimentary

deluxe continental  breakfast with a selection of cold and hot

items, Onsite fitness center and access to Calvin College’s

Spoelhof Fieldhouse Complex (limited hours and access),

Complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport, Limited

cable television, and  Internet access (Wireless, High speed

and dial-up).

Calvin College
3201 Burton Street, S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4301

(616) 526-6000
(800) 688-0122

_____________________________________________

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. Grand Rapids Michigan is a vibrant, growing metropolitan

area with a diverse business community, great medical research & services,

numerous universities, plus lively arts and entertainment of all kinds.

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

search for Grand Rapids homes Find Grand Rapids Home Value Grand Rapids Relocation Guide

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry   616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

Calvin College3201 Burton SE Grand Rapids, MI 49546

(616) 526-6000 | 1-800-688-0122 | info@calvin.edu

Grand Rapids Michigan – City of Bridges

Grand Rapids Michigan – City of Bridges

Downtown GR on Grand River

Grand Rapids Michigan is a city of bridges. With the mighty Grand River

running right through the middle, bridges are extremely important to everyday

transportation and mobility in our city and to the suburban areas surrounding

Grand Rapids proper.

Blue Bridge over Grand River

The Blue Bridge is a pedestrian walkway between the Amway Grand Hotel

and Grand Valley State University campus on the west side of the river.

P1030592

The Fulton Street Bridge is one of the major thoroughfares in Grand Rapids

and bisects the center of the heart of downtown.

 

SM Gr River 6th st bridge cropped

The 6th Street Bridge is an older bridge on the northern section of the

city near Monroe Avenue seen from the Fish Ladder.

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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. Grand Rapids Michigan is a vibrant, growing metropolitan area with a diverse business community, great medical research & services, numerous universities, plus lively arts and entertainment of all kinds.

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

search for Grand Rapids homes Find Grand Rapids Home Value Grand Rapids Relocation Guide

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

                          Contact Terry   616-292-7263

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Where Does My Kent County Recycling Go?

Where Does My Kent County Recycling Go?

Grand Rapids has invested in a greener future if we all play the

recycling game. The new $10 million facility has been built on an

old brown field site (former west side Stamping Plant).  The profits

of selling recyclables will payback borrowed bonds ahead of the

projected time frame.

Kent County Recycling Center

Located at 977 Wealthy Street SW in Grand Rapids, MI

Let’s look at some statistics and see if recycling is worthwhile:

  • 9130 tons of glass
  • 7749 tons of ferrous metal cans
  • 225 tons of aluminum
  • 12,334 tons of corrugated cardboard
  • 3,851 tons of magazines
  • 140,182 tons of newspaper
  • 10,836 tons of mixed plastics

Since 1993, Kent County has recycled the above totals.

This is equivalent to conserving:

31,595 household’s annual energy consumption

584,281 barrels of oil

27,266,461 gallons of gasoline

Kent County Recycling initial sorting

One of the best things about Kent County Recycling is no more sorting!

The new facility  does all sorting on site, so One Container at the curb

holds all recyclables.  The new facility has the capacity to run 3 shifts

a day and has a waiting list for their recyclables.  If they had more

products to recycle, they have a robust resale market that wants them.

This is just good stewardship and makes sense to keep all those reusable

items out of our landfills.

tube sucks plastic bags off the line

Most work at the Kent County Recycling is done by community service,

so there is minimal labor costs.

production sorting line

The New Kent County Recycling Plant:

Processes 18 tons per hour (4-6 tons per hour at the old facility)

Process recyclables 6 hours per day (13 hours per day at the old facility)

Process 108 tons of recyclables per day (40 tons per day at the old facility)

Kent County Recycling sorting lines

Kent County Recycling sorting batteries

The new facility features a 5,000 square foot education area that

offers two public meeting and classroom areas and a 125-foot long

viewing platform to allow safe overhead viewing of the machinery

processing recyclables.

Kent County Recycling Baled product ready to be picked up

Kent County Recycling & Education Center in Grand Rapids

is a very successful enterprise. But it could be much more successful

if we all contributed. Do you recycle?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

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.

Grand Rapids Michigan is a vibrant, growing metropolitan area with a

diverse business community, great medical research & services, numerous

universities, plus lively arts and entertainment of all kinds.

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

search for Grand Rapids homes Find Grand Rapids Home Value Grand Rapids Relocation Guide

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry   616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

Foto Friday – Autumn at John Ball Zoo

Foto Friday – Autumn at John Ball Zoo

 grizzly bear at the zoo

With summer over, we often forget  the zoo as an attraction to visit.

Actually, fall and winter are much more active times for lots of the animals,

such as the grizzly bear above, the snow leopards, and the mountain lions.

They are up and moving around, whereas in the summer heat, they just snooze.

Winter rates are on at John Ball Zoo, making a visit more affordable

for the whole family.  Hours are 10am – 4pm daily.

Halloween is celebrated at the zoo with Zoo Goes Boo! this month.

John Ball Park & Zoo

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

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. Grand Rapids Michigan is a vibrant, growing

metropolitan area with a diverse business community, great medical

research & services, numerous universities, plus lively arts and

entertainment of all kinds.

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

search for Grand Rapids homes Find Grand Rapids Home Value Grand Rapids Relocation Guide

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry   616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

Keeping Halloween Fun – Grand Rapids Michigan

Keeping Halloween Fun – Grand Rapids Michigan

Halloween is one of the most exciting holidays as a child.

What costume to wear?  Where will we go Trick or Treating?

Can my friends go?  How much candy will I get?  Can I eat it tonight?

Halloween 2007

Yes, I am in disguise with our little Yorkie on a past Halloween.

We like to get into the fun while answering the door to Trick-or-Treaters.

With all the excitement of costumes and candy, it is helpful to review

some safety tips.

Hope your Halloween is Safe, Spooky and FUN!

  • Have a plan –know where to go, how long, and stick to it
  • Accompany your children, if too young to go alone
  • Safety in numbers – have older children travel in groups
  • No short cuts through alleys, parking lots or back yards
  • Make sure costumes are bright colors and not too long
  • Dark costumes should have reflective strips applied
  • Use make-up instead of masks, so children can see
  • Only approach homes that have lights on and Halloween Decorations out
  • Don’t let children go inside homes – get candy on the porch or steps
  • Obey traffic laws and carry flashlights
  • Be aware of candles, fire hazards to costumes and fake hair
  • Hair spray may be better than a wig
  • Use a small bag so child doesn’t trip or fall
  • Save candy until you get home and can inspect it
  • Make sure all candy is sealed in original wrappers
  • Say no to Strangers – kids should never accept rides or get into a car

If you still need a little inspiration for a costume, this has some topical ideas

and this site has oodles of suggestions for home made costumes.

If you are a procrastinator, this site has some last minute ideas.

_ Pumpkins __________________________________________________________________________________________________

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.

Grand Rapids Michigan is a vibrant, growing metropolitan area with a diverse

business community, great medical research & services, numerous universities,

plus lively arts and entertainment of all kinds.

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

search for Grand Rapids homes Find Grand Rapids Home Value Grand Rapids Relocation Guide

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry   616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

Ada Michigan M-21 Bridge Construction Scheduled

Ada Michigan M-21 Bridge Construction Scheduled

The beginning of construction of the new bridge over the Grand River

approach in Ada Michigan will begin this fall.  MDOT will have a public

open house to keep interested parties up-to-date on the progress on

October 4th, 2010  7:00 pm at Community Church.

M 21 bridge over Grand River Ada MI

Bridge Information over the Grand River in Ada

M-21 Bridge Construction Update:

To view a PDF of MDOT’s M-21 Bridge Construction Update, please click here.

To view an aerial view of the project, please click here.

MDOT TO HOLD OPEN HOUSE IN ADA FOR THE NEW M-21 BRIDGE

WHAT:The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is hosting

an open house-style meeting to provide an overview of the M-21

(Fulton Street) bridge replacement project over the Grand River in

Ada Township. Interested parties will have the opportunity to learn

details and ask questions about upcoming construction.

WHO: MDOT staff; residents and interested stakeholders.
WHEN:
Monday, October 4, 2010
WHERE:
Community Reformed Church, 7239 Thornapple River Drive, Ada, MI 49301
SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS: (616) 464-1800

BACKGROUND:
Scheduled for construction in 2011, the project will reconstruct the

M-21 bridge over the Grand River in Ada Township. MDOT has been

working with township officials, residents and businesses to find

the most effective way to safely maintain traffic through Ada

Township during construction. This marks the first reconstruction

project of this bridge since it was originally built in 1957.

● Work on the project should begin on or about October 11. This will

require reducing traffic to one lane in each direction on the existing

bridge, while preparations are made to construct the temporary bridge,

immediately south of the existing bridge.
● Progress deadlines contained in the bid specifications for the project

include the following completion deadlines:
– Traffic will be diverted to the 2-lane temporary bridge, with one lane

of traffic in each direction, in April, 2011.
– The new replacement bridge is scheduled to be open, with one lane

of traffic in each direction by October 21, 2011.
– The new bridge will be completed and fully open to 4-lanes of traffic

plus pedestrian/bicycle lane, by November 30, 2011.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

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.

Grand Rapids Michigan is a vibrant, growing metropolitan area with a diverse

business community, great medical research & services, numerous universities,

plus lively arts and entertainment of all kinds.

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

search for Grand Rapids homes Find Grand Rapids Home Value Grand Rapids Relocation Guide

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry   616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

Foto Friday – Grand River Grandeur

Foto Friday – Grand River Grandeur

grand river south at knapp st

The Grand River is the longest river in Michigan, running from Hillsdale

near the Indiana border, up to Lansing, and then turning west towards Grand

Rapids and eventually emptying into Lake Michigan.  Its watershed drains an

area of 5,572 miles including 18 counties and 158 townships.

The native people who lived here called the river  O-wash-ta-nong, meaning

“Far-away-water” because of its length, 260 miles.

With fall fast approaching, scenes such as the one above are common here

in West Michigan.  This photo was taken on the Knapp Street bridge in Ada

township.

_

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. Grand Rapids

Michigan is a vibrant, growing metropolitan area with a diverse business community,

great medical research & services, numerous universities, plus lively arts and

entertainment of all kinds.

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

search for Grand Rapids homes Find Grand Rapids Home Value Grand Rapids Relocation Guide

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry   616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM