RIVERSIDE PARK

It was an all hands on deck effort this past weekend to repair a Black Lives Matter mural that was defaced in September in Ypsilanti.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Riverside Park in Grand Rapids is poised to get a barrier-free kayak launch, a fourth picnic shelter, bathroom renovations and more. On Tuesday morning, Oct. 12, Grand Rapids commissioners gave initial approval to a construction contract that would see those park improvements in place by around spring or summer 2022. They also call for an accessible kayak launch in the lagoon area in the middle of the park that connects with the Grand River. It would be the city’s first accessible kayak launch. Accessible kayak launches are designed to make it easier for everyone, including those with disabilities or mobility aids, to enter and exit the boat.

YPSILANTI, MI – People gathered Saturday at Ypsilanti’s Riverside Park to celebrate Canna Jam with live music, standup comedy, a laser light show and other activities, while enjoying marijuana. Organizer Michael Komorn, an attorney whose firm works in cannabis licensing, said the annual festival and others like it aim to remove the stigma surrounding cannabis use in social situations. ‘Canna Jam’ festival offers music, comedy and marijuana in an Ypsilanti parkActivist and poet John Sinclair performed jazz poetry beside saxophonist Johnny Evans during the event that kicked off at noon Oct. 9. “The marijuana legalization movement is one of the last vestiges of pure democracy in our society” said Sinclair during his performance. Festivalgoers had the opportunity to buy from licensed cannabis vendors OZ Cannabis, The Botanical Co., Sticky Ypsi, Pure Lapeer and Quality Roots.

Events like Canna Jam are targeted at breaking down the stigma of cannabis use in social situations, Komorn said. The event is the fourth “temporary marijuana event” allowed under state law since since the permit became available in November 2019, according to Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency spokesperson David Harns. Four Ypsilanti police officers will be assigned to the event, Ypsilanti Special Events Coordinator Wendy Estey said. “It goes to the old adage of: You give a group of people a case of beer, they’ll start a fight. You give a group of people a bag of cannabis, they’ll start a band,” Komorn said.

Ypsilanti residents gathered Saturday for a “Peace Day” of community healing in response to last week’s vandalization of a city-approved Black Lives Matter mural with white supremacist graffiti. The event Saturday included live music from jazz musician John E. Lawrence, whose summer concert series attracted thousands to the park, as well as Athena Johnson and the Ypsilanti Community High School choir. Speakers included Duckworth and Stone as well as the Rev. Michael Robinson, senior pastor of Ypsilanti Community Church, Shelley Holt of Leadership Legacy Consulting and community activist Gail Summerhill. The prosecutor said the vandalism of the mural is under investigation, and his office is committed to bringing forth hate crime charges should the evidence support them.

A Black Lives Matter mural in Ypsilanti was vandalized by a white supremacist group in the early morning hours of Sunday morning.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – One person is dead after slipping and falling into the Grand River in Grand Rapids on Saturday evening. The Grand Rapids Police Department responded to Riverside Park, 2001 Monroe Ave. NE, around 5 p.m.Police said the victim was walking along the river and fell into the water. Rescue crews pulled the victim from the river and attempted CPR. Police said the victim is a minor but did not confirm the exact age. Drone footage shows the ongoing constructionHundreds climb stairs at Grand Rapids ballpark to honor 9/11 victimsMotorcyclist injured in Ottawa County crash

Dora Marchand was arrested for having her two dogs off the leash in a Manhattan park, but the cops were taunted by colleagues at the precinct.

LinkedIn Marketing Solutions ' new "Fish Out of Water" campaign, which launched Wednesday in the U.S. and U.K., tells advertisers they can reach business professionals on LinkedIn when they're in a "ready-to-do-business mindset." LinkedIn's new ad campaign tells advertisers that the right place for business-to-business marketing isn't alongside pictures of cute puppies or viral videos. LinkedIn saw a 23% year-over-year increase in revenue in what Nadella said was a record quarter for its ad business. The Marketing Solutions unit's clients include brands like American Express, Adobe and Chase, LinkedIn said. The newest campaign is part of a larger brand platform launched by LinkedIn Marketing Solutions in June that includes the motto: "Do business where business is done."

A bald eagle has been spotted at Riverside Park on the Upper West Side in Manhattan, CBS N.Y. reports. "It was my first time seeing a bald eagle in New York City," Turner said. "We've got it right here at Riverside Park," said Dan Garodnick, CEO of the Riverside Park Conservancy. The eagle spotted at Riverside Park was most likely a transient eagle looking for food or possibly looking to move to Manhattan. The eagle was spotted again Thursday afternoon at Riverside Park near 110th Street in Manhattan.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - On July 26 and 27, celebrate Michigan beer at the 22nd annual Michigan Summer Beer Festival at Riverside Park in Ypsilanti. Hosted by the Michigan Brewers Guild, approximately 150 Michigan breweries will be sampling over 1,000 craft beers at the annual event held to celebrate Michigan's extensive craft brewing industries and its love of beer. Some beers may be worth two or more tokens and additional tokens can be bought for 50 cents each at the event. According to the BeerFestList app, Arbor Brewing Co., Blue Tractor BBQ and Brewery, Edelbrau Brewing Co., HOMES Brewery, New Holland Brewing Co, North Peak Brewing Company, Odd Side Ales and many other well-known Michigan breweries are scheduled to attend. For more details and to purchase tickets, look at the 22nd annual Michigan Summer Beer Festival website.