🌱 Firefighters Rescue Elderly Woman + Country Fresh Donates Milk

Hello, neighbors! It's me, Nicole Fallon-Peek, your host of the Grand Rapids Patch newsletter — here to explain everything you need to know about what's happening in our community.

But first, your local weather:

• Wednesday: A thundershower in spots. High: 70 Low: 64.
• Thursday: A shower and thunderstorm. High: 78 Low: 61.

Here are the top three stories today in Grand Rapids:

1. Grand Rapids firefighters are being looked at as community heroes after saving a woman who was trapped inside her home. According to Grand Rapids Fire Department Battalion Chief Scott Stevenson, rescue crews discovered a woman in her upper 70s lying inside the doorway after rushing in to stop the fire. It looked like the fire originated in the kitchen and the occupant, who had limited mobility, decided to try putting the fire out herself and then retreated once it got too large. (MLive.com)
2. Country Fresh, a Grand Rapids-based dairy company, announced they will be donating 100,000 cartons of milk to different book bands throughout Michigan. In partnership with SpartanNash, Country Fresh confirms more than a quarter of their donations will go toward helping Feeding America West Michigan after reports of nearly 50,000 children statewide struggling with food insecurity. According to the organization, these milk cartons will be stable to use for up to one year and will be benefiting a number of pantries in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Flint. (Fox17 Online)
3. Much of Pure Michigan’s $15 million advertising budget for the following year has been canceled by the state tourism office. Back in February, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s budget proposal included an allocation for this kind of federal funding, but after a report from the House Fiscal Agency, the state Legislature and executive branch have decided to eliminate the funding. Representatives from Whitmer’s administration claim the funding was eliminated due to the SFRF ending the COVID-19 emergency. (Crain’s Grand Rapids)

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Today in Grand Rapids:

Wednesday, July 12

• Broadway GR Presents Disney's Frozen At DeVos Performance Hall (7:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Four vacant homes in Grand Rapids could undergo rehabilitation efforts in order to provide low-income families with more affordable housing opportunities. According to Grand Rapids City Commissioners, House to Home Restorations may purchase the properties and once they’ve been renovated, sell them to families who make 80% less than the area median income. (MLive.com)
• Newlyweds Megan Ward and Isiah Kinney recently moved to Michigan with dreams of opening a first-of-its-kind ice cream boat in Grand Rapids. Ice Cream Afloat has already stopped at several West Michigan lakes so far this summer, so stay tuned for where you’ll be seeing them next. (Mix 95.7)
• According to Michigan State Parks, residents in and around various areas of the state may be able to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights on Thursday. If you’re interested in traveling to an area where this natural display can be seen, visit here to find locations with dark sky preserves and parks. (Michigan State Parks via Instagram)

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Featured events:

• Taxes in Retirement Seminar at Kent District Library - Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch (July 13)
• Taxes in Retirement Webinar on July 18th and 20th (July 18)
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That's it for today!

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.