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Grand Rapids Public Library prepares for more cuts

Submitted by WZZM13, News Staff
Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011, 11:58pm

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) - Governor Snyder's budget plan includes deep cuts for West Michigan libraries.

The director of the Grand Rapids Public Library says when she arrived six years ago, the library received $198,000 in state aid. That's now down to $36,000.

The library is already trimming its budget because it no longer receives a tax break for being in a renaissance zone.

"It's not just the 40 percent this year, it's the 40 percent two years ago, it's the 17 percent before that, it' just erodes and erodes and erodes," says library director Marcia Warner. "So we've done all the things that we feel like we can do and still operate a great library system. But anything on top of this, it's going to affect service."

Warner says the library has cut jobs for six years running, and workers are paying more for their health care. She says the library is tapping into its rainy day fund to cover next year's deficit.

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Preparations begin for West Michigan Golf Show

Submitted by WZZM13, News Staff
Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011, 11:45pm

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM)- Golfers can find a way to cure their cabin fever by heading out to DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids for the 23rd Annual West Michigan Golf Show.

The Golf Show starts on Friday and hundreds of exhibits from courses and resorts to clubs and merchandise will be featured. Also, fabulous door prizes, free golf lessons, clinics, and the Treetops Par-3 Challenge (a real grass golf hole indoors!) where one lucky golfer might win $25,000!

For a full list of times and activities, click HERE.

 

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Ronald McDonald House becomes even more family friendly

Submitted by WZZM13, News Staff
Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011, 11:45pm

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WZZM)- The first phased of the Make Room in Your Heart campaign was celebrated at the Ronald McDonald House of West Michigan Thursday night.

Four family guest rooms have been fully renovated in the house located near Fuller in downtown Grand Rapids.  Dozens of designers, suppliers and vendors donated services and gave discounted prices to help with renovation costs.

"Each room costs about $10,000 to reinvent so we opened our house, our home here this evening to donors who have generously stepped up to support our efforts and to those who might be interested in supporting room renovation at the Ronald McDonald house," said Lisa Evans, the Executive Director of the Ronald McDonald House of West Michigan.

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ArtPrize dates for 2011 announced

Submitted by WZZM13, News Staff
Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011, 11:45pm

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) - ArtPrize leaders have announced the registration dates for the 2011 competition. ArtPrize 2011 will be from September 21 to October 9.

ArtPrize is an art competition held in downtown Grand Rapids. It includes the largest monetary art competition award in the world, $250,000 for the top prize. This will be the third year for the annual event.

Here are some Key dates for ArtPrize 2011:

Venue Registration
Open: Monday, March 14, 2011
Close: Thursday April 14 (5 p.m. EDT)

Artist Registration
Open: Monday, April 18
Close: Thursday, June 16 (5 p.m. EDT)

Artist/Venue Matching
Open: Tuesday, May 31
Close: Thursday, June 30 (5 p.m. EDT)

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Walmart wins medical marijuana firing lawsuit

Submitted by WZZM13, News Staff
Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011, 11:45pm

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) -- A federal judge is ruling against a Battle Creek man who sued his former employer, Walmart, for firing him for his legal use of medical marijuana.

Joseph Casias, 30, has an inoperable brain tumor and cancer.  He is also a licensed medical marijuana patient.  He was an employee at a Walmart store in Battle Creek, and was even named the store's employee of the year in 2008. 

Casias had to take a mandatory drug test after an on-the-job injury last year, and tested positive for marijuana.  Though he told his employer that he is an approved medical marijuana patient in Michigan, the company fired him for violating its drug policy.

Casias sued the retailer, with the American Civil Liberties Union joining him in the lawsuit.  Attorneys for the involved parties argued their case in federal court in November.

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Independent TEDx conference to come to Grand Rapids

Submitted by The Rapidian, hyperlocal news source
Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011, 10:59am
Independent TEDx conference to come to Grand Rapids

By: Laura Chittenden in NEWS

TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. A TEDx conference, which works to spread “ideas worth sharing,” is currently being independently organized for Grand Rapids by Steve Frazee and Nick Pickrel. Frazee said that TEDxGrandRapids is like a like a conference between some of the smartest people on earth mingled with a broadway show. By catalyzing conversations among 500 thought-leaders in the area, via  internationally and locally renowned speakers, Frazee sees this conference as being an instrument in the development of new ideas for West Michigan, in technology, the arts, design, and other disciplines.

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The ArtPeers "Guild Idea" (Pt. 1 of 2): Background

Submitted by ArtPeers, grassroots, artist-advocacy organization
Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011, 9:49am
The ArtPeers "Guild Idea" (Pt. 1 of 2): Background

By: Erin Wilson

This is the first of a two-part series about what we loosely refer to as “the guild idea.” Essentially we’re trying to form a collective understanding about basic business practices among live/work artists in West Michigan. We’ll address questions in collaboration with you, about a range of questions like donating art/work, expectations for compensation, the importance of filing taxes, and generally the greater strength of a collective voice.

The crafting of these “best practices” will be a collaborative process throughout 2011 and beyond; “the guild idea” will be a living document, subject to open conversations that will take place virtually and in real life.

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