🌱 Restaurant Social Zones Removed + GRPS Debates Mask Mandate

Get on up, Grand Rapids! It's Saturday, so let's get you started with everything you need to know going on in Grand Rapids today.

First, today's weather:

A p.m. rain or snow shower. High: 43 Low: 31.

Here are the top stories in Grand Rapids today:

1. Social zones, the outdoor dining areas set up outside of restaurants in parking or traffic lanes, were a creation in Grand Rapids to help restaurants during pandemic restrictions. Now, many are being removed in the city. The removals have come primarily at the request of the restaurants themselves, who have expressed that they won't make as much use of them during the cold weather. In some cases, these social zones have been removed to clear travel lanes for winter snow removal and overall road safety. (WZZM13.com)
2. Grand Rapids Public Schools is deciding whether to keep its mask mandate in place for students. Right now, the Kent County Health Department's order is still in effect for students in preschool through sixth grade, set to expire on January 2. The superintendent sent a letter out to families and staff on Friday asking for input about the mandate. (Fox17)
3. A remote-controlled chicken delivery cart is causing heads to turn on the west side of Grand Rapids. (WOODTV.com)
4. Celebrate the cultures of West Michigan at the Grand Rapids Public Museum Ethnic Heritage Festival, taking place today from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (WOODTV.com)
5. Guests can visit John Ball Zoo for just $5, effective today through the last day of the season on Nov. 21. (Fox17)

Today in Grand Rapids:

• BCHS Craft Fair - Walker City Recreation Department (12:00 AM)
• Second Saturday Workday at Flower Creek Dunes Nature Preserve (9:00 AM)
• Woody Invasive Removal - Site TBD - Kent County Parks Department (10:00 AM)
• Tustin Daze Fun Fest (6:00 PM)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Saturday! I'll see you soon. If you're feeling these newsletters, consider bringing some of your friends and neighbors along for the ride. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— 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.