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Holland Mayor Nathan Bocks, right, and residents scrub 8th Street in downtown Holland before the Tulip Time Festival’s Volksparade on May 14. 

Holland’s Tulip Time Festival makes a strong comeback

Holland historian J.R. Valderas documents how Holland’s iconic Tulip Time Festival made a full recovery after the pandemic, with visitors experiencing innovative programming and an unexpected heat wave.

Latest in General
Sarah Sass
Muskegon professionals find success, happiness close to home

Why are professionals choosing to live in Muskegon? Lake Michigan beaches, bike trails, great restaurants, and an inclusive community, they say.

The test kitchen highlights open spaces under the counter and sink for chairs or wheelchairs, lowered ovens, and cabinets with pull-down wire shelving.
Community, inclusion inspire new Home Accessibility Center to support those with disabilities

A new Home Accessibility Center will serve as a showroom to give contractors and families a place to learn how existing kitchens, bathrooms, and other rooms can be renovated to ensure those with disabilities can continue living at home.

Dee Meux, a certified nursing assistant at Samaritas, wears Glass smart glasses.
Smart glasses help family caregivers connect to professional help for loved ones aging at home

Caring for an older relative despite having no formal caregiving training can be stressful, but a new pilot project in the Grand Rapids area is using smart glasses to help.

Team members from Zeeland High School's robotics team — known as Built on Brains, or B.O.B. — were one of two teams to compete at the F.I.R.S.T. Robotics World Championship in Houston last month.
Robotics students are next tech workforce

Two area robotics teams competed at the F.I.R.S.T. Robotics state and world championships, but that's just the beginning. Many tech companies mentor the students now and seek them out when it comes time to hire later.

Jocelyn Hines (right) poses with her parents (left) and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer after Hines received the 2019 Youth Volunteer of the Year award.
MSU grad launches Muskegon Young Black Professionals to support community

Muskegon native and MSU grad Jocelyn Hines was inspired to launch Muskegon Young Black Professionals after seeing a similar networking organization in Detroit.

Ottawa County Land Use Specialist Andrew Roszkowski discusses broadband data mapping opportunities during "Ottawa Online" on Thursday, April 21, 2022, at the Ottawa County Administration Building in West Olive. (Rich C. Lakeberg/Ottawa County)
Ottawa County’s digital inclusion strategy begins with survey to understand digital divide

More than 10% of Ottawa county residents don’t have access to high-speed internet, according to the results of an Ottawa County's broadband data collection survey.

Ferry and Voyager students are learning about botany and native plant species at The City Farmer.
Ferry-Voyager students partner with Grand Haven area businesses

Grand Haven Area Public Schools’ Ferry and Voyager elementary students are learning about their community by working with area businesses.  

Blue Star Trail is a nearly 20-mile recreational trail, connecting South Haven to Saugatuck. 
Foundation grants support placemaking in rural communities

Allegan County Community Foundation recently awarded $335,000 in grants. Some of the funding will support community-building projects in rural areas.

The city of Holland hosted an open house to display ideas gathered from public input for an ice rink at its downtown park, Window on the Waterfront.
From one man’s dream to a city’s vision: Ice rink proposal for downtown Holland taking shape

What began as one man's vision has taken on the hopes of hundreds as the city of Holland sought out public input for a proposed ice rink near the city's downtown. Retired school teacher Frank Kraai donated the $1 million in seed money, but more will be needed to fully realize the dream. Next comes fundraising. 

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