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  • đź“ŤHow to avoid rally traffic | October 18th, 2024

đź“ŤHow to avoid rally traffic | October 18th, 2024

Author

LeQwane Lynch
October 18, 2024

Good morning, Grand Rapids. I’m LeQwane and this is Calder News - the newsletter giving you the deets on more Fall/Halloween fun than you know what to do with.

In today’s news:

  • ⚡️ EV Car Share

  • 🇺🇸 Kamala Harris Rally

  • 🍂 Tons of Fall/Halloween fun

Stay updated on the best news and happenings around GR - Join 1,000+ others getting information like this 3x a week for free

~LeQwane | Publisher of Calder News

Electric Vehicle Car Share

Grand Rapids is getting an EV car share program (think Lime scooters, but for cars).

The program is called “Dart GR” and it allows residents to rent an electric vehicle for $5 per hour.

What are the requirements? According to the City’s Mobile Department…

  • You must be at least 21 years old

  • Have a valid driver’s license

  • Clean driving record

  • And a credit or debit card

The program is currently in pilot phase 1, starting with 6 vehicles available to the public, which may be scaled to 12 vehicles during phase 2.

To use the car share program, download their app, complete the verification process, and reserve a ride.

The program received ~$500K in funding with a 3-year contract to operate in GR. I think it’s a cool idea, but it’ll be interesting to see how it works in practice…

What’s Happening

Areas to avoid if you don’t want to deal with traffic during the rally

Elections:  Kalama Harris rallies Grand Rapids

Kamala Harris is holding a rally today at Riverside Park. The rally will kick off around 10 AM. And thousands of people are expected to attend. You need an RSVP to participate.

Tons of people going anywhere in GR usually means one thing - heavy traffic.

If you are not attending the rally, it’s best to avoid the red areas on the map because… 

  • Exits on US-131 North of Leonard may close

  • Some exits off I-96 West Bound may close

  • Monroe will be backed up from Leonard to North Park Street

  • Heavy traffic and local law enforcement presence in the area

Outdoors:  Blandford offers free admissions

Blandford Nature Center is offering free admissions for the entire month of November. The center is open Monday to Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Business:  A new antique store opens

Home and Heritage Craft and Antique Market is hosting its official Grand Re-Opening event tomorrow. The market is located at 4972 Plainfield and has 113 booths spread across two levels and features antiques and crafts from 100 vendors.

Road Closures:  MDOT’s weekend project

MDOT is closing down Westbound I-96 between M-104 and US-31 at 7 PM on Friday (between Nunica and Norton Shores). The highway will open again on Monday.

Community:  Art show for mental health

Next Thursday, the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan is hosting an art show to highlight local artists living with mental illness — 51% of art sales proceeds will go to artists, while 49% will go to mental health programming. The show will be at the Goei Center, click here to get tickets.

We Asked

In Wednesday's email, we asked you (and 1,000 others) if you turned your furnace on.

I tallied up all the votes and here’s where everyone stands

  • 76% of you have turned up the heat

  • 24% of you haven’t - like real Michiganders

Community Feature

Photo of Millennium Park this Fall | Courtesy of Daniel C.

Get featured in Calder News - tag us on Instagram @Calder.News

Events

Want to know about the best events and live music happening in GR? Join 1,000+ other locals getting information like this via email every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. 👇️

Click the event’s name if you want to get more information

Today

  • Trunk or Treat | Ivanrest Church | 5:30 PM - 7 PM | Free

  • Abandoned Acres | Abandoned Acres Farm | 6:30 PM | $35/ person | Opening night

  • Mental Health Connections Fair | 1530 Madison Ave | 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM | Free | Get the support you need for free - access professional mental health resources, food, massages, and arts and crafts for your kiddos

  • Griffins v. Manitoba Moose | Van Andel Arena | 7 PM

  • Haunted House | 3989 Canal Ave NW | 7 PM - 10 PM | Free | All ages are welcome to this free haunted house with live actors inside

  • Haunted Holmdene Tours | Holmdene Hall, Aquinas College | Various times | $10 | Tour Aquinas’s 116-year-old Holmdene Manor while listening to ghost stories

Saturday

  • Fall Arts & Craft Show | The Refuge Church | 9 AM - 2 PM | Free | Shop 35 unique vendors for a wide selection of handmade products

  • Fall Fest | Forest Grove Reformed | 10 AM | Free | Enjoy a morning out with the family - wagon rides, pumpkin decorations, donuts and cider, tractors, and inflatables

  • Trunk or Treat | Ridge Point Community Church | 10 AM - 12 PM | Free

  • Indoor Trunk or Treat | Fairway Church | 11 AM - 1 PM | Free

  • Trunk or Treat | Whistlestop Park | 12 PM - 2 PM | Free

  • Trunk or Treat | Perrin Sportswear | 1 PM - 4 PM | Free

  • Pumpkin Palooza | New Ground Church | 3 PM - 5:30 PM | Free | A fun family event with pumpkin decorating, bounce houses, horses, photo op, candy, and more

  • Halloween Bar Crawl | KĂĽsterer Brauhaus | 4 PM - 10 PM | Prepare for a fun-filled night at the best bars in GR

  • Trunk or Treat | Kenowa Hills Elementary | 5 PM - 7 PM | Free

  • Trunk or Treat | Green Crown Real Estate | 6 PM - 7:30 PM | Free | Take your children out for an evening of trick or treating organized by local businesses and organizations

  • Boos & Brews Bar Crawl | The BOB | 6 PM - 1 AM | Have a spooky good time at the best Halloween-themed bars in GR

Sunday

Plus some of this week’s/weekend’s ongoing events…

Live Music +
Entertainment

Today

Saturday

*Shows & times are subject to change.

If you enjoyed any of our newsletters this week, share it with a friend you’re hanging out with this weekend.

-LeQwane L | Editor @ Calder News

Made with ❤️ in Grand Rapids