http://www.mlive.com/northeastadvance/index.ssf/Latest News & OpinionenMon, 13 Jul 2009 12:14:55 PDTMovable Type Enterprise 1.52 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/noLatest News & Opinionnortheast_advancehttp://feedburner.google.comhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northeast_advance/~3/LN-BuDhthcQ/city_manager_shares_his_though_1.htmlNortheast AdvanceMichael TaylorMon, 13 Jul 2009 12:10:27 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northeastadvance/index.ssf//2453.3226276 ]]>In May of this year, the Wolverine World Wide tannery in Rockford shut down, resulting in many lost jobs, revenue and--for the city--tax dollars. Since then Rockford City Manager Michael Young has fielded hundreds of questions from area residents concerned...http://www.mlive.com/northeastadvance/index.ssf/2009/07/city_manager_shares_his_though_1.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northeast_advance/~3/cR2pRUvuEdY/paint_it_on.htmlNortheast AdvanceAdvance NewspapersMon, 13 Jul 2009 12:14:55 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northeastadvance/index.ssf//2453.3226314 ]]>Tom FirmeAngela Winkleblack, 10, of Grand Rapids has rainbow painted on her face by John Ball Zoo volunteer Gina Armock during a community day recently at the zoo....http://www.mlive.com/northeastadvance/index.ssf/2009/07/paint_it_on.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northeast_advance/~3/diKc-EhKJEc/grps_issues_more_pink_slips_to.htmlNortheast AdvanceChris HecoxMon, 13 Jul 2009 12:09:04 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northeastadvance/index.ssf//2453.3226264 ]]>Last week Grand Rapids Public Schools issued pink slips to 54 teachers in response to shrinking revenues, anticipated cuts in state funding and increasing costs. Superintendent Bernard Taylor Jr. said the layoff notices are a cautionary action taken because of...http://www.mlive.com/northeastadvance/index.ssf/2009/07/grps_issues_more_pink_slips_to.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northeast_advance/~3/FprXtjFTaYM/laura_knapp_named_acting_grand.htmlNortheast AdvanceChris HecoxMon, 13 Jul 2009 11:56:46 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northeastadvance/index.ssf//2453.3226155 ]]>LAURA KNAPP Interim Grand Rapids City Manager Eric DeLong has named Deputy Fire Chief Laura Knapp acting fire chief to replace John VanSolkema who retired last week. Knapp has been with the Fire Department since 1984....http://www.mlive.com/northeastadvance/index.ssf/2009/07/laura_knapp_named_acting_grand.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northeast_advance/~3/_sZOU7xCq1w/solon_township_man_faces_sex_c.htmlNortheast AdvanceAdvance NewspapersMon, 13 Jul 2009 11:50:33 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northeastadvance/index.ssf//2453.3226133 ]]>Leonard Glen Overmyer III, 44, of Solon Township was arrested earlier this month on charges of child sexually abusive activity. Overmyer's arrest was the result of a police investigation that lasted over 10 months....http://www.mlive.com/northeastadvance/index.ssf/2009/07/solon_township_man_faces_sex_c.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northeast_advance/~3/_P1dJQLSGuM/new_computer_repair_shop_opens_1.htmlNortheast AdvanceChris HecoxMon, 13 Jul 2009 11:48:11 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northeastadvance/index.ssf//2453.3226112 ]]>Residents in northeast Grand Rapids now have one more option to consider when they need their computers repaired. Imperial Computer Solutions recently opened a new store at 2462 Plainfield Avenue NE, next to the former Fat Boy Burgers restaurant....http://www.mlive.com/northeastadvance/index.ssf/2009/07/new_computer_repair_shop_opens_1.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northeast_advance/~3/6G47SftSwNQ/former_sheriffs_deputy_charged.htmlNortheast AdvanceMike TaylorMon, 13 Jul 2009 11:42:22 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northeastadvance/index.ssf//2453.3226068 ]]>KEITH KAZELSKIS A former Kent County Sheriff's deputy has been charged with stealing more than $1,000 from an elderly Solon Township resident....http://www.mlive.com/northeastadvance/index.ssf/2009/07/former_sheriffs_deputy_charged.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northeast_advance/~3/zHRBysUiUW0/fun_at_the_zoo.htmlNortheast AdvanceAdvance NewspapersMon, 13 Jul 2009 11:35:56 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northeastadvance/index.ssf//2453.3226030 ]]>Tom FirmeSarah Tait, left, and her son Noah, 3, both of Rockford, enjoy a day at the John Ball Park Zoo Community Days event last week in Grand Rapids....http://www.mlive.com/northeastadvance/index.ssf/2009/07/fun_at_the_zoo.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northeast_advance/~3/M98uDQc-19s/northview_students_travel_to_p.htmlNortheast AdvanceChris HecoxMon, 13 Jul 2009 11:33:21 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northeastadvance/index.ssf//2453.3226013 ]]>Northview students who participated in the French Back-to-Back program stand in front of the L'Ecoute sculpture in front of St. Eustache Church in Paris Paris in June sounds dreamlike with its flowering courtyards juxtaposed against historical architecture. For 11 Northview...http://www.mlive.com/northeastadvance/index.ssf/2009/07/northview_students_travel_to_p.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northeast_advance/~3/wTllgR8fyAs/plainfield_township_to_conside.htmlNortheast AdvanceChris HecoxMon, 13 Jul 2009 11:10:07 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northeastadvance/index.ssf//2453.3225867 ]]>Plainfield Township Manager Robert Homan says it's time for the township to take a "realistic" long-term approach to managing its floodway along the Grand River. More than 150 homes are located in the floodway....http://www.mlive.com/northeastadvance/index.ssf/2009/07/plainfield_township_to_conside.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northeast_advance/~3/YSimHEwIRZw/fundraising_campaign_begins_fo.htmlNortheast AdvanceChris HecoxMon, 13 Jul 2009 10:56:52 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northeastadvance/index.ssf//2453.3225765 ]]>An effort is underway to raise some $200,000 to build a sculpture of civil rights icon Rosa Parks in the park that bears her name in Grand Rapids....http://www.mlive.com/northeastadvance/index.ssf/2009/07/fundraising_campaign_begins_fo.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northeast_advance/~3/O46AakKJK58/two_wild_wednesdays_remain_at.htmlNortheast AdvanceMike TaylorMon, 13 Jul 2009 10:42:47 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northeastadvance/index.ssf//2453.3225651 ]]>Things are getting wild this summer at the Howard Christensen Nature Center, 16160 Red Pine Drive in Kent City. The center's popular "Wild Wednesdays" series of nature encounters will be held two more times this summer; on July 15 and...http://www.mlive.com/northeastadvance/index.ssf/2009/07/two_wild_wednesdays_remain_at.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northeast_advance/~3/CO3A_cF2CbU/milk_moustaches.htmlNortheast AdvanceAdvance NewspapersMon, 06 Jul 2009 10:04:50 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northeastadvance/index.ssf//2453.3172967 ]]>Tom FirmeFrom left, Vincent Reinink, 5; Vivian Reinink, 4; Catherine Draper, 3; and Alex Draper, 4, sip on some milk at the John Ball Zoo....http://www.mlive.com/northeastadvance/index.ssf/2009/07/milk_moustaches.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northeast_advance/~3/CKM54jaJsiM/grcc_receives_grants_to_prepar.htmlNortheast AdvanceChris HecoxMon, 06 Jul 2009 09:59:54 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northeastadvance/index.ssf//2453.3172915 ]]>Grand Rapids Community College will receive a little extra financial help for its efforts to retrain baby boomers for new careers. Civic Ventures, a think tank on boomers, work, and social purpose, and Metlife Foundation awarded $25,000 to the college...http://www.mlive.com/northeastadvance/index.ssf/2009/07/grcc_receives_grants_to_prepar.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northeast_advance/~3/2a_bFX1ZJwY/no_need_to_pay_5950_for_certif.htmlNortheast AdvanceAdvance NewspapersMon, 06 Jul 2009 09:50:13 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northeastadvance/index.ssf//2453.3172839 ]]>Some Kent County residents are receiving an unsolicited letter from a company urging them to obtain an "official" or certified copy of the deed to their home, according to Kent County Clerk/Register of Deeds Mary Hollinrake....http://www.mlive.com/northeastadvance/index.ssf/2009/07/no_need_to_pay_5950_for_certif.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/northeast_advance/~3/mTcE8H6_MaM/grcf_awards_3524000_worth_of_g.htmlNortheast AdvanceAdvance NewspapersMon, 06 Jul 2009 10:00:50 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2009:/northeastadvance/index.ssf//2453.3172804 ]]>Grand Rapids Community Foundation recently awarded $352,400 worth of grants to aid families facing foreclosure, keep children safe and preserve greenspace....http://www.mlive.com/northeastadvance/index.ssf/2009/07/grcf_awards_3524000_worth_of_g.htmlnonadult