News across Greater Grand Rapids

AMISH COOK: A little farm life and a lot of helping hands
Good morning! Stillness reigns in our quiet countryside as another dawn breaks. An occasional crowing from Austin’s bantam rooster reminds me that my dream of living on a farm has come true. We may not have all the animals I’d like to have, but it’s a start. The post AMISH COOK:…
EMILY CASWELL: Building your brand thanks to a Commitment to Culture is no coincidence
Some people say there is no such thing as a coincidence, but I like the idea of a coincidence. Defined as “a surprising or striking event where two or more things happen at the same time by pure chance, without any planned connection or causal link,” I find a coincidence one of…
NATHANIEL MADONNA: Help! I know too much
We live in an age of information. A LOT of information. In just a couple clicks and a few seconds, we can know what’s going on anywhere in the world. From wildfires in Canada to conflicts in the Middle East to political drama to another celebrity death, we’re constantly bombarded…

MIKE TAYLOR: Fun in the sewer
I think I’d be smarter today were it not for the fact that, as a child, I used to play in the sewer. It might have been only a storm drain of some kind, but whatever it was, there were some mighty sketchy items floating around in that murky water. The post MIKE TAYLOR: Fun in the…
What does financial fulfillment actually feel like?
Feeling financially fulfilled means so much more than just the number in your bank account. It’s about being able to take your family out to dinner without calculating whether you can afford it. It means sleeping soundly on a Sunday night, knowing that if the water heater gives…

SANDY MAIN: Once Upon a Daily
160 years ago “Trotting” — The lovers of horse flesh have rare sport every Saturday on the Fair Grounds at Cook’s Corners. Last Saturday there was some pretty good trotting on the Mile Track. Trials of speed were made between Sapp’s Mare and Rider’s Mare for a purse of $100 with…

Traffic Fatality in Holland

GUEST VIEW: Circle the wagon, the midterms are coming
The race is on for upcoming midterm superiority, as we are constantly bombarded with deceitful or false TV ads, warning us of the danger of supporting opposing candidates. By November, some of us may be panting and screaming for breath from all the wild political bantering and…

MIKE MCALVEY: Remembering
This comes a little late, but today’s article is actually being written on Sept. 11, 25 years after the attacks on America on Sept. 11, 2001. Do you remember where you were? It was one of those tragically iconic moments that provided us with a permanent image of where we were,…

MIKE TAYLOR: Perchance to dream
Was Freud right? Do our dreams reveal the details of our internal lives? Our aspirations, fears, desires? If so, I should be locked up. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to lock up my Sweet Patootie, Nevin, too. Apparently, she’s as nuts as I am, but in a different way. The post MIKE…
Simple budgeting tips that fit real life
If you’ve just started managing your own finances, recommitted to doing it well or noticed your spending isn’t making you as happy as you’d hoped, a budget might be exactly what you need. When you know where your money is going, you’re likely to feel more in control and more…

Fall Leaf Pick-Up Begins for City Residents
Residents may place leaves on the curb, out of the roadway, between September 20 and November 15. City crews will begin their final pick-up starting early in the morning on November 16 and continue throughout the week.