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.

Windmill Island Gardens will host Books and Blooms this summer.
Michigan State University and Windmill Island Gardens partner to offer gardening classes

MSU-extension needed a garden space to show off its Smart Gardening campaign. Windmill Island Gardens needed to renovate its neglected butterfly garden. Together, the partners are sharing gardening knowledge with the Lakeshore community.

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.

Residents can purchase composting bags for $5 for one bag or $12 for three bags.
Ottawa County launches food composting program

Ottawa County’s new food composting program is the only local public health-led residential composting program of its kind in West Michigan.

Jennifer Pascua
Museum celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with May program

The Holland Museum is spotlighting the experiences of five Asian and Pacific Islanders in West Michigan on May 19 as part of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.  

Students in grades six through nine can explore careers through hands-on activities.
Students can explore careers through hands-on summer experiences

Students in grades six through nine can explore careers through hands-on activities and tours during a series of summer camps offered by the GRCC Workforce Training team.

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.

Step it Up participants can join group walks like this one or participate in physical activity on their own.
10 ways to enjoy the outdoors in Ottawa County Parks this month

Get outdoors this month with the Ottawa County Parks Department! Everything from birding to kayaking to bald eagle viewing are up for grabs.

Our Partners

Allegan County Community Foundation logo
Disability Advocates of Kent County logo
On Point Allegan

Common Ground Is Brewing

Support local stories and receive our signature roast straight to your door when you join at the Standard level (or above).

Drink Better, Read Local

Close the CTA

Don't miss out!

Everything West Michigan, in your inbox every week.

Close the CTA

Already a subscriber? Enter your email to hide this popup in the future.