🌱 Michigan Tech to Host GLI + Man Sentenced to State Prison for DUI

Hello there, Grand Rapids! I'm here in your inbox today to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on around town.

But first, your local weather:

• Friday: Partly sunny and hot. High: 93 Low: 63.
• Saturday: Hot; a stray p.m. t-shower. High: 91 Low: 62.

From our sponsor:

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Here are the top three stories in Grand Rapids today:

1. On Thursday, Jun. 1, Michigan Tech University confirmed they will be hosting the Great Lakes Invitational (GLI) for the next four years, including this year's 57th annual tournament. This holiday college hockey tournament is set for late December and will be taking place at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids. Last year was the first time this tournament was held on the west side of Michigan after it exclusively took place in Detroit for the first 50-plus years. (MLive.com)
2. A local man is headed to serve time in state prison after police say he caused a deadly crash while driving under the influence last year. Brian Parks, 21, was sentenced earlier this week to serve between three to 15 years in prison and is required to pay a restitution of $6,650. The crash that took place late last year involved Parks crashing into the back of another vehicle where the driver was thrown from her car and pronounced dead on the scene. (WOODTV.com)
3. The City of East Grand Rapids is officially partnering with DTE Energy to join its CleanVision Natural Gas Balance program. The overall goal of this program is to provide participants with cleaner energy sources and encourage the use of more renewable natural gases produced by the carbon offsets in Michigan's forests. Grand Rapids will become the first municipality to join this sustainability-focused program. (Fox 17 Online)

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Today and tomorrow in Grand Rapids:

Friday, Jun. 2

• Festival of the Arts at Downtown Grand Rapids (5:00 PM)

Saturday, Jun. 3

• Lids for Kids at Garfield Park (10:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• Looking for something different to do this weekend? Take a trip over to John Ball Zoo to attend their stunning Lantern Festival, which features a variety of handcrafted Asian lanterns that completely illuminate the ground around you. This is a limited experience that will run until Sunday, Jun. 11, so check it out while you can. (Experience Grand Rapids via Instagram)
• A large, abstract plant-covered art installation is making quite the impression in Downtown Grand Rapids. This new installation is featured on the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel for the second year in a row and features a variety of red, lime green, and pink vegetation. A Nunica company known as LiveWall was responsible for building this installation and even grew the plants themselves. (MLive.com)
• Kids' Food Basket is inviting community members to come out and indulge in some fine dining at their 21st annual Feast for Kids fundraiser. This charitable event will be held at Noto's on Tuesday, Jun. 13 and will include a four-course meal prepared by last year's group of top chefs from the American Culinary Federation of Greater Grand Rapids. All proceeds will go toward KFB's ongoing mission to feed children dealing with food insecurity, click here if you're interested in attending. (Fox 17 Online)

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Featured events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get Delighted Every Week (June 6)
• Social Security Seminar at Forest Hills Fine Arts Center (June 8)
• Surya Kriya Workshop June 10-11, 2023 (June 10)
• Add your event

You're all caught up for today! I'll be back in your inbox soon with 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.