This branch of Kent District Library (KDL) is tiny and is housed in the same building as the Alpine…read moreTownship hall. Nate and I recently visited for their event to meet some sled dogs! It was such a fun experience being able to learn about them and give them some pets in the parking lot. Once we were finished we went inside to warm up and check out the library. Again, it's very tiny, but full of wonderful displays, books, activites, and a nice spot for the community to get their library fix. I chatted with one of the employees who was so friendly and kind. They have computers for internet access, copier, printing, and wifi.

I enjoy most of the ladies that work at this branch always a warm welcoming feeling. Very small…read morelibrary but always something on the calendar for the kids. Can't find what you are looking for they will find it and order it for you. My favorite branch to visit!

A beautiful and historic library that has been maintained very well. Even the wooden carved chairs…read morefrom the 1880's still bare the Charles Hackley initials like they were made yesterday. The details in this library are absolutely breathtaking inside and out. Come here just to see all of the beauty, and wonder why people don't put nearly as much love into making buildings today. The employees and volunteers are very kind as well.

Such a cozy library! It looks like a restored mansion or something, but no, it was originally built…read moreto be a library. It's a very beautiful space. They also have a cool kids play area. Prior to the shutdown, I visited and looked for several books for my son. I did notice that some of the kids books, at least in the "dinosaur" section were pretty worn and old, so I was already worried about germs. Post pandemic, they are open limited hours and don't allow browsing in most sections, but I have still popped in several times to pick up books. They "quarantine" books upon return to make sure they are safely ready for the next visitor. Reading is a great thing to do during the pandemic, so keep visiting the library!

I love libraries and visit them in other cities whenever I can! I've been to this branch of the…read moreHerrick District Library a few times now and I'm always impressed with the selection of items. The parking lot in front of the building is free. Walking in the main entrance, new books are in the front and there is an info desk nearby. The new book section of any library is my favorite, and they even separate out the new cookbooks, which is my other favorite section of any library. I had fun looking at lots of great new books and then wandered around a bit. There is a great section of DVDs, video games, and even board games that you can check out. They have an extensive seed library, and I saw kits to test your home energy levels. Lots of great resources at the library beyond just books. I liked the touch screen kiosk that you can use to browse the library catalog or search for events. There is ample seating and I found a cozy spot to sit and use their free wifi to get some work done. I was impressed with the library staff as I noticed them acknowledging all patrons and handling all situations and interactions with care. I am a strong supporter and lifelong user of libraries, and this is a good one.

What a lovely library! Visiting public libraries has become our new travel hack when the sun gets…read morehigh and we're looking for a little local adventure. This particular library branch is located a few blocks from the Main Street of Holland's shops and restaurants and features an expansive and engaging children's section with several play installations for all ages. We enjoyed a craft activity, read a few books, and played in their playscape/house for about an hour. I also snuck to the basement to find a cozy fireplace seating area and small used bookstore. Fabulous spot whether you're a local or visitor!

We absolutely adore Georgetown Township Public Library. The librarians are kind, helpful, and plan…read moreimmersive experiences that make learning fun! Today we saw Clark Lewis Juggling and the free show was excellent! He was juggling fire and chainsaws, performing hand stands while swallowing swords to name a few tricks. The best part? All of this was done to some heavy rock music for a punk edge. lol. During the summer they hide a golden book and offer prizes to those who find it. There is a seed catalogue for the community to benefit from, and in addition to taking out books there are also games, activity packs, movies, community experience passes (John Ball Park Zoo, Children's Museum etc.) and music that can be borrowed. They have a great kids section and the adult/ reference section upstairs has a cozy fire to curl up and read to. This summer they are hosting public movie nights, live music and farmer markets for the community. We love Georgetown Township Public Library. It is well managed, clean, bright, and always has something that serves the community.

If you live in West Olive, this is a go-to venue to keep in mind for event planning. My family has…read morehosted many of our high school graduation open houses here, and it has worked perfectly. There is plenty of parking, they have tons of tables and chairs for all your guests, multiple stall bathrooms, and a huge kitchen for prep work and storage (fridge, sinks, stove, oven). It's not the fanciest, for sure. It's fold up tables and chairs, some trash bins, cinder block walls, and pretty much nothing else. But the whole space is a big blank canvas for your imagination. We like to cover the tables with craft paper and leave tons of crayons and markers out for guests. I've been to open houses that brought live music, so there is that capability as well. A bonus is the playground and field space behind the building so young ones can stay entertained. You do have to be a West Olive resident in order to rent the space, but if you don't have the means to accommodate a big gathering at your home, then the Port Sheldon Township Hall is perfect for you! Another bonus is the Port Sheldon Party Store is a stone's throw down the road in case you forgot something.

Mel Trotter Ministries: A Resident's Reality This place…read morewakes you up around 6:50 AM, then forces you to stay until 9:00 AM if you want to access your belongings from storage and get back in. You can leave as soon as you get up, but then you won't have the stuff that you need. Their heat only seems to be at the proper temperature on certain floors; the main lobby, where we are forced to be if we aren't leaving, is not one of those areas. They give you a small blanket and sheet and expect you to be warm enough. Their food quality and quantity are not enough--restrictive meal times, no lunch, and small portions. Wifi is available, but you're not allowed to use it. The TV is on only for a limited time and only plays the news. There is no real sign of the advertised "enrichment" programs. Instead, the programs that do exist favor select people, creating a tiered or hierarchical system. The south side is for employed residents and comes with more privileges, while the north side is "in the trenches," where residents are exposed to unpredictable and sometimes chaotic situations, including illness and bodily harm. The Night-Shift Problem perfectly illustrates this divide. For a resident working a shift like 10 PM - 7 AM, the standard 7 PM curfew can be waived with "documentation of reason." Once approved, a flag is put in the system to allow re-entry. However, the shelter typically forces these residents to stay on specific "program floors" so they won't be disturbed by the general population's 6:30 AM wake-up call. If you aren't in that specific program or don't have that flag, you're not getting back in. If you want a place to stay, you need to arrive around 9:00 AM. Regulars wake up first and reserve their beds for the day, and then everyone else reserves theirs. Rooms are shared (usually 2 per bunk bed) with a shared bathroom that can be locked from the outside. The shelter's operations are often inefficient. For example, severely intoxicated guests are technically not allowed under the MTM Code of Conduct, yet I've seen them admitted anyway, only to have to be picked up by an ambulance later. This slows down service for everyone else and creates unnecessary risk. Despite the decent rooms, free laundry, and security, the system is designed in a way that makes survival harder than it needs to be.

Mel Trotter Ministries is a beacon of hope and compassion in the heart of Grand Rapids. Their…read morecommitment to serving individuals experiencing homelessness goes far beyond providing shelter -- they offer dignity, support, and a path toward lasting transformation. Grateful for all they do to bring healing and restoration to so many lives.

This is a very nice town and municipality that is a suburb of Grand Rapids, MI. It is mainly driven…read moreby the Amway Company and the families that own it. There is a condo complex, shopping and food district that is being built by the small Thornapple River and across from the Amway Corp Headquarters. Very clean and new with no real fast food options ( have to drive a bit find them ( closer to Grand Rapids). Not much social life in this simple, quiet community but it is very safe and rural with plenty of wildlife. A very nice mix of newer and older homes in good size lots at the more expensive end of pricing. If you are looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of life and people, this is your place.

The Holland Civic Center is a building that can be used for a multitude of purposes…read more We were here because we bought tickets to the Edgar Allen Poe Speakeasy. It was a fun idea, and the drinks were tasty, but the performance felt very high school theatre club gone wrong. Thank god for the drinks! lol. As I was trying to immerse myself in the performance and listen to the recitation of Poe's short stories and poems while sipping a vodka concoction... I noticed this space could also be used for basketball games and sports practices. This is truly a multipurpose space! So while I didn't enjoy the Poe performance for the $65+ dollars... I did enjoy the Holland Civic Center space and may return for other activites hosted there in the future.