🌱 Halloween Flash Mob + SAFE's Next Pitch Night + Jon McDonald

Morning, people of Grand Rapids! It's me again, Miranda Fraraccio, your host of the Grand Rapids Daily.

First, today's weather:

Times of clouds and sun. High: 56 Low: 44.

Here are the top stories today in Grand Rapids:

1. A semi-truck got stuck on railroad tracks around the 100 block of Graham SW in Grand Rapids on Friday afternoon. Officers asked drivers to avoid the area while they attempt to move the vehicle. All railroad crossings were blocked from Century to Grandville to Godfrey. (WZZM13.com)
2. Ninth graders from East Grand Rapids High School are bringing back a Halloween flash mob after a year-long hiatus. Erin Fredrickson, who moved to the area 14 years ago, has hosted a number of students over the years to put on this Halloween entertainment. The group’s flash mob performances will occur three times on Sunday evening: 6:45 p.m., 7:15 p.m., and 7:45 p.m on Cambridge Blvd. in East Grand Rapids. (WOODTV.com)
3. The anti-violence group, The Safe Alliances For Everyone (SAFE) Task Force, is holding their next pitch night on Nov. 17 with the hopes of awarding up to $10,000 to nonprofit organizations and up to $1,000 to individuals to support their concepts and efforts in reducing community violence. (grbj.com)
4. In a survey from U.S. News Real Estate, which evaluated 150 cities to see if retirement needs and expectations could be met, Grand Rapids came in at No. 28. (WLNS)
5. Famous painter Jon McDonald stopped in Grand Rapids to showcase his latest works focusing on African American women. (Fox17)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Saturday! I'll see you back in your inbox Monday with your next update. If you're enjoying these newsletters, consider bringing some friends and neighbors on board. 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.