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  • 📍 Clean energy, heatwave cooling centers, road work | June 20th, 2025

📍 Clean energy, heatwave cooling centers, road work | June 20th, 2025

Plus, house of the week, crew highlights, and more for the weekend

Author

LeQwane Lynch
June 20, 2025

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Good morning, Grand Rapids. I’m LeQwane and this is Calder News — and surprise… it’s actually the first day of summer today. Did anyone else feel like summer started weeks ago?

Anyhow, thank you for taking the time to read today’s issue.

I hope you have a great Friday and the rest of your weekend!

~LeQwane L.

Connect: Linkedin

Home Of The Week

Together with: Smallegan Real Estate

Click the image to learn more

Imagine luxury living in Ada with room for anything.

This 6-bed, 7-bath home sits on 3 private acres with over 8,200 square feet, in-law quarters, a carriage house, and 3 kitchens. The home includes a theater, 2 fireplaces, a finished lower level, and a wraparound deck with a built-in hot tub.

The main home has a 4-stall garage, the carriage house has 3. Located near Ada Village, Forest Hills schools, trails, and the Thornapple River. Sound good? Be quick because offers are due June 23 by 4 PM.

Grand Rapids Ranks Again

Despite what you might assume about how well Grand Rapids is being run.

We just landed in the top 25 of best-run cities in the U.S., coming in at #22. Not too shabby…

The ranking looks at how well cities deliver services compared to their budgets, basically, highlighting how efficiently things are being run.

GR is the highest rank for any city in Michigan on the list, beating out cities like Warren, Flint, and Detroit. Cities like Durham, NC and Missoula, MT ranked slightly higher, but all have similar city budgets.

The Digest

A briefing of local news that matters

Community

Cooling Centers Open For Heatwave

With temps expected to push through the 90s this weekend, Mel Trotter has launched a “Code Red” response to support unhoused residents. The chapel at their downtown facility will serve as a cooling center for up to 500 people. They’ll have water, sandwiches, and wet cloths as well. Plus, they’ll be helping with transportation. | Read more here

Energy

New Electric Boiler Powers Downtown

Vicinity Energy has installed its first new boiler in 60 years at its downtown Grand Rapids plant. The electric boiler will provide carbon-free energy to more than 120 buildings downtown. The project is backed by a $2 million state grant. Set to be operational in 2026 the system will handle ~30% of the city’s energy. Two more boilers are planned to eventually power 90% of Grand Rapids’ local network with clean energy. | Get more information on the program

Road Work

Plans To Rebuild MLK Jr. Bridge

MDOT is planning a full rebuild of the MLK Jr. Street bridge that goes over US-131, with construction expected to start in 2026. The project costs $30 million and will replace ~700 feet of the bridge from the US-131 northbound ramps to its end. Residents can preview the plans and give feedback at a public meeting next week Tuesday at the GR Fire Department on MLK Jr. Street. | Learn how to participate

Have news to share? Send it to [email protected] or add us to your press release list!

Crew Highlights

Have something nice to say about Grand Rapids that you’d like to share with 4,550+ locals? Share a shoutout, nice word, experience, or whatever you have in mind.

Your piece might just make it into an upcoming issue of Calder News!

Talk Of The Town

Interesting happenings around town

📻 A New Kind of Vintage Shop Opens

Bring Back Analog just opened on 28th Street and it offers refurbished boomboxes, VHS players, speakers, and turntables. The store is the passion project of a former construction exec who left the trades to turn his lifelong hobby into a business.

☕ Cozy Cafe Lands in Gaslight Village

Molly’s Cafe and Deli is set to open this fall on Wealthy Street in East Grand Rapids. The small-batch sandwich shop and bakery will serve soups, salads, and pastries made with local ingredients. The cozy part comes from only being able to seat 15 inside.

🌮 Popular Taco Spot Returns to Town

After four years of limbo, Taqueria San Jose is reopened. The popular taco spot closed in 2021 following pandemic woes. But after ongoing support from the community, the restaurant is back open for business.

What’s Happening?

Preview: Events —> Live Music

Friday, June 20th

Saturday, June 21st

Sunday, June 22nd

  • Adult Book Fair | Speciation Cellars | 12 PM - 4 PM

  • 616 RYDERS ANNUAL PICNIC | MacKay-Jaycees Park | 1 PM - 6 PM | Free to attend

  • World Music on the West Side with WYCE | Küsterer Brauhaus | 4 PM | $0

  • Sunday Night | Spectrum Entertainment Complex | 8 PM | Free to attend

Live Music

Friday, June 20th

Saturday, June 21st

Sunday, June 22nd

*Shows are subject to change, but that’s show biz.

That’s All For Today…

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