🌱 Grant Issued For Lead Line Replacement + Homicide Victim Identified

Hi all. It's me, Nicole Fallon-Peek, your host of the Grand Rapids Patch newsletter. Here's all the local news you need to know right now.

But first, your local weather:

• Friday: Mostly sunny and pleasant. High: 79 Low: 59.
• Saturday: Pleasant with clouds and sun. High: 80 Low: 61.

Here are the top three stories in Grand Rapids today:

1. The city of Grand Rapids received a $5 million EPA grant to replace its lead service lines. The city plans to replace over 2,000 lines this year, with another 4,000 to follow. Funding is being provided by state and federal governments and Mayor Bliss highlighted the importance of eliminating lead exposure in Grand Rapids. (WZZM13.com)
2. Sacred Beginnings of Grand Rapids is expanding to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, providing support services to victims of human trafficking. Partnering with the Upper Peninsula Human Trafficking Task Force, the expansion will serve all 15 counties in the Upper Peninsula. Scared Beginnings has served over 2,300 residents in transition homes and 20,000 people during street outreach. (FOX 17 West Michigan News)
3. Christopher Michael Byrom Sr. of Grand Rapids is the victim of a deadly Jul. 4 shooting that occurred at an Independence Day celebration around 10:30 p.m. The shooting happened on Sycamore Street SE and Jefferson Avenue SE. This homicide is still under investigation. (FOX 17 West Michigan News)

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Today and tomorrow in Grand Rapids:

Friday, July 7

• Charles LaRue Art Exhibit At Forest Hills Fine Arts Center (9:00 AM)
• Paint And Sip: Michigan Summer At Brush Studio (6:30 PM)

Saturday, July 8

• Saturday Night Show Vol 25 At AllArtWorks Viewing Studio (6:00 PM)
• Grand Rapids Symphony At Blodgett Recital Hall, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Do you enjoy shopping? Made Market is hosting the Grand Rapids Summer Market on Jul. 15 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Goei Center. There will be over 55 local vendors who create handmade items. You don’t want to miss this! (Experience Grand Rapids via Instagram)
• Friendly Reminder! The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services wants to remind the public NOT to touch the foam found in our local lakes, rivers, and streams. There is a natural foam that can be found, but because it is hard to differentiate between natural foam and foam caused by PFA contamination, it is best to avoid all foam. (Michigan Radio via Instagram)
• Public Service Announcement! "In The Image" is collecting new athletic shoes for its Shoe Drive to help elementary school students in Grand Rapids for the 2023–24 school year. Donations can be brought in and placed in the GRPD lobby's collections box, located at 1 Monroe Center NW, Grand Rapids. (Grand Rapids Police Department via Facebook)

Thanks for following along and staying informed! See you all soon for another update.

— 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.