🌱 GRPL Birthday Bash + Mel Trotter Ministries + Guilty Of Murder

Happy Wednesday, people of Grand Rapids! Here's everything worth knowing in town today.

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny. High: 31 Low: 24.

Here are the top 3 stories today in Grand Rapids:

1. On Tuesday, the Grand Rapids Public Library celebrated its 150th anniversary with a Birthday Bash. The Birthday Bash wrapped up a year-long celebration that included a read-a-thon that raised more than $17,000 for the Mobile Library, a library card drive that garnered more than 1,700 new cardholders, and the opening of the GRPL eStore. The Grand Rapids Public Library was founded in 1871 and the first librarian, Miss Frances Holcomb, was hired at an annual salary of $500. (Fox17)
2. Mel Trotter Ministries will host a free Christmas meal for community members experiencing hunger and homelessness this holiday season. The annual Christmas luncheon will take place from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Dec. 22 at 225 Commerce Ave. SW in Grand Rapids. No registration is necessary, and the event is open to the public. (GR|MAG)
3. A man has been found guilty of murdering a 51-year-old in Grand Rapids in 2019. Court records show that Jordan Loomis was found guilty of felony murder in the death of James Earl Robertson, whose body was found in Ottawa County in Dec. 2019. Loomis’ sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 25, 2022. (WOODTV.com)

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From my notebook:

• Grand Rapids Fire Department Chaplain/Conductor Bill VanderVennen wishes all of you a very Merry Christmas. (Facebook)
• Celebrate the first day of winter with a painting from the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts' collection. (Instagram)
• Brewery Vivant and the GRPS Foundation have a longstanding partnership, and now they have teamed up with AYA Youth Collective. Both organizations, with their unique mission are paving the way for a better future for Grand Rapids' kids. (Facebook)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with a new update.

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a born and raised Rhode Islander. She works as a freelance copywriter for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and as an assistant producer for a live-lit storytelling show in Chicago. She holds a degree in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies from The University of Rhode Island. In her free time, you can find her traveling, hiking, or photographing her neighborhood as a street photographer.