🌱 How Spring Lake’s new grants aim to catch Grand Haven beach traffic
Coffee in hand, Grand Haven? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- How Spring Lake’s new grants aim to catch Grand Haven beach traffic
- Grand Haven schools mourn beloved White Pines principal Michael Shelton
- Will Grand Haven’s iconic lighthouse finally open to visitors?
📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Grand Haven? Post it to Grand Haven photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️
Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Tuesday: Becoming windier, not as cold, with a high of 38 and low of 35 degrees.
- Wednesday: Breezy in the morning, temps: high: 39, low: 32.
- Thursday: Very windy; periods of rain, with a high of 45 and low of 20 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Spring Lake Township launches facade grant program to boost local business visibility (fox17online.com) — Drivers heading to Grand Haven’s beaches along M-104 may soon notice fresher, more inviting storefronts in neighboring Spring Lake Township. A new facade grant program will offer two matching grants up to $10,000, helping small businesses upgrade exteriors, attract beach-bound traffic, and strengthen the local commercial corridor that many Grand Haven visitors pass through. 
2. Principal's death mourned at Grand Haven Area Public Schools (mlive.com) — Grand Haven families are mourning the death of Michael Shelton, longtime principal of White Pines Intermediate School, who passed away Sunday surrounded by loved ones. Grand Haven Area Public Schools are offering counselors and other support for students and staff, and the district will share details about services once his family is ready. Families are encouraged to contact school offices or Mosaic Counseling if students need extra help.
3. Plan to open up Grand Haven lighthouse to the public could move forward with city council approval (fox17online.com) — Grand Haven’s historic lighthouse could soon open to the public if city council approves a long-planned renovation agreement with the Grand Haven Lighthouse Conservancy. The project would add an interpretive center and gift shop on the pier, backed by more than $2 million in local fundraising and federal pier work. A soft opening is targeted for this summer, with full operations by summer 2027.
4. First look at MLive's 2026 Michigan Mr. Basketball watch list (mlive.com) — Grand Haven hoops fans will spot a familiar matchup mentioned in MLive’s first 2026 Mr. Basketball watch list, which highlights top high school boys players statewide. The story focuses on standout athletes from across Michigan, including a Rockford–Grand Haven game at Grand Haven High School, and explains how the award race will be tracked through the season.
5. Bodies of two missing snowmobilers recovered in icy Michigan lake (cbsnews.com) — Two men from Grand Haven, 65-year-old Daniel Myers and 49-year-old Jason Aemmer, were found dead after their snowmobiles went through the ice on Round Lake in Mason County early Sunday. Multiple sheriff’s offices, state police, and fire departments searched overnight in difficult conditions before locating the victims, their submerged machines, and safely rescuing a diver who briefly fell through the ice.
📸 Around Grand Haven
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🗓
Upcoming Events in
Grand Haven
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
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Tip Two – Grand Haven
Tip Two, 102 S Harbor Dr, Grand Haven
7:00 pm
Wednesday December 17
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
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Winter Choir Concert
Grand Haven High School Grand Haven, MI 49417
7:00 pm
Tuesday December 16
📣 Grand Haven Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
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Trail Point
6035 Lake Michigan Dr , Allendale
9:00 am -
Business Blind Date - Boulder Ridge
Boulder Ridge of Allendale , 4370 Pingree St , Allendale
12:00 pm -
Knitting for Allendale
Allendale Twp Library , 6175 Library Ln , Allendale
2:00 pm -
Acoustic Jam Night
Coopersville Farm Museum and Event Center , 375 Main St , Coopersville
6:00 pm -
Coopersville Acoustic Jam Night
Coopersville Farm Museum and Event Center , 375 Main St , Coopersville
6:00 pm -
Winter Choir Concert @ 6pm in the PAC
Fruitport Middle School Fruitport, MI 49415
6:00 pm -
FCS Choir Holiday Concert 6th-12th
Fruitport Community Schools Fruitport, MI 49415
6:00 pm -
MS Holiday Band Concert
Orchard View Middle School , 16 Quarterline Rd , Muskegon
7:00 pm -
Planning Commission Meeting
Fruitport Township Hall , 5865 Airline Rd , Fruitport
7:00 pm -
Stronger Together: Women's Peer Support Group | Overview of Mediation & Restorative Services
Disability Network West Michigan , 27 E Clay Avenue , Muskegon
11:00 am
Tuesday December 16
Wednesday December 17
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Furnaces and water heaters are common carbon monoxide or CO poisoning sources.
Have a professional inspect heating systems, water heaters and any other fuel-burning appliances and equipment every year. Learn more about CO at… (Nextdoor )
- H&R Block posted a job opening for Guest Services Coordinator in Grand Haven. Apply here.
- Taco Bell posted a job opening for Team Member in Grand Haven. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Grand Haven here.
Ok Grand Haven! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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