Water Damage Restoration in Grand Rapids, MI

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - A few places that I made great memories with family and friends for birthdays, anniversaries, christenings after Mass and certain holidays closed at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The community also saw some plans for various businesses and developments come to a screeching halt. Some businesses that closed spaces sat vacant for months or years, while others got new tenants sooner downtown and in other quadrants of the city.

I went to multiple gatherings at Bravo Cucina Italiana at The Village at Knapp’s Crossing on East Beltline Avenue NE. Grand Rapids has an abundance of foodies and we love checking out new spots. When it opened in 2016, it was the chain’s first West Michigan restaurant and among several new businesses opening in the retail development that fall.

I don’t know what role the pandemic and its restrictions played in Bravo’s closure a few years ago, but I was glad to see activity in the space it once occupied next to P.F. Chang’s. Like so many traveling that road, I was curious what was going to replace it, and reporter Brian McVicar told us this week.

Sorry foodies, it isn’t a restaurant, but pet owners have a new option. The former restaurant is being renovated into a location for VCA Animal Hospitals, a veterinary care organization. In August, Brian told us that the other construction at Knapp’s Crossing was a building that would house a Barnes & Noble and Acapulco Mexican Grill among other businesses.

Reporter Danielle James told us what was going on down in Ottawa County on 35 acres of Zeeland farmland, sharing news about the sports complex that Zeeland Public Schools is building on 96th Avenue with a price tag of nearly $11 million.

On the heels of Tuesday’s vice-presidential debate, Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance was back in West Michigan again on Wednesday. Reporter Michael Kransz told readers about the Ohio senator’s visit to Marne, including telling voters in the region they will continue to see him, and former President Donald Trump, often before the Nov. 5 election.

Unfortunately, domestic violence was again in the news. For hours, jurors listened to details about a woman being allegedly tortured by her ex-husband, including being hooked to jumper cables and electrocuted. Reporter Bradley Massman covered the trial and told readers Saul Lucio-Ipina pleaded no contest on Tuesday to two life offenses.

That’s what caught our eye in the Grand Rapids area this week that interested readers. Take a look at those headlines, and others, below.

What’s being built on the East Beltline? It will have animals

Man electrocuted wife to ‘inflict as much pain as possible,’ prosecutor tells jury

Vance tells West Michigan he or Trump will be here ‘probably every week’ until election

After ex-wife described hours of torture, man takes plea to end trial

Lake house flaunts 5-tier deck for serene outdoor living on the market for $1.2M

Missed ArtPrize? Check out our favorite photos from the international art competition

Tell us: What do you think of big skyline changes planned for Grand Rapids?

U.S. Chamber of Commerce taps West Michigan business leader for advisory role

About Hello, Grand Rapids: Each week, we deliver the big headlines straight to your inbox. Sign up for the newsletter here. Monica Scott is the editor for MLive Media Group’s The Grand Rapids Press and Muskegon Chronicle, who previously was a reporter who covered the city, county and schools in the community.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Two years ago, Charlie Seufert didn’t expect to add heart transplant survivor to a long list of high school accolades that included golf and varsity tennis team captain, state scholar athlete and honor student.

The East Grand Rapids High School graduate diagnosed as a child with aortic stenosis had a heart transplant in January 2023, his senior year.

Seufert is one of three Grand Rapids teens who were all treated by the same doctor for congenital heart conditions at the University of Michigan’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and U-M Health West.

Now, 18, all are freshmen at the University of Michigan with an interest in pursuing careers in healthcare. Seufert met fellow Wolverines Adelyn Kim and Giulian Porcari briefly for the first time at the Diag to take a photo for a university piece highlighting their shared heart condition journeys and connection to Dr. Ronald Grifka.

Grifka, the surgeon who treated all three students, described the full-circle moment as inspiring.

“Working with them for 16-18 years is really rewarding,” he said. “I got to know them from the time they were born to now… attending the University of Michigan.”

Grifka said he’s hopeful their success provides hope for parents who may be struggling with the diagnosis of their child.

“They’re going to be active. They’re going to be intelligent. They’re going to be successful and productive and really enjoy life like other kids,” he said. “And I hope that’s the biggest message people get out of it.”

Seufert described being born with aortic stenosis - a narrowing of the aortic valve preventing blood from flowing from the heart to the body - as “pretty sweet” up until late 2022, not counting the several surgeries he needed at a young age.

He was seven days old when Grifka, now the president of University of Michigan Health-West in Grand Rapids, performed a heart procedure on him. He then had two more surgeries.

“After early elementary school, nothing really happened, so I (would) just go to the doctor in Ann Arbor every six months, miss a day of school and do all these fun tests.

“I’m sure my parents helped with that a lot too, just with their way of shaping it not necessarily as a negative thing, but a positive thing... something unique to me,” he said.

But a little over a year earlier, he was in the hospital relying on life saving medications.

Seufert said his symptoms first appeared while scuba diving on a family vacation in late 2022.

“We were 40 feet underwater with still a good 10 minutes left of our dive, and I fully ran out of air,” he said. “Everyone else still had probably three quarters of a tank left. Mine was gone. So that was a little bit of a red flag.”

When the heart isn’t pumping enough oxygen-rich blood to the body, the body often responds by breathing faster.

“It was so cool (until) the fact that I started dying,” Seufert said of the trip.

He soon felt nauseous and had trouble breathing, and initially thought he had contracted pneumonia. Several weeks later, he ended up in the hospital, and hour after being there his heart stopped.

Despite multiple attempts to restore his heart rhythm and wean him off IV medications, Seufert’s oxygen levels would dramatically drop every time, and he said tests showed that his heart had suddenly deteriorated with no way to structurally fix it.

Twenty-four hours later - the family learned a heart was available.

Since then, Seufert said he’s had five separate cases of pneumonia and four additional stints in the hospital, but his body hasn’t rejected the heart.

“You’re not invincible, which is what I’ve learned,” he said.

Seufert said considering a career in public health stemmed from the complicated feeling of not being able to make his own health choices as a 16-year-old needing a heart transplant.

He was in a position with his parents where they agreed on most of his healthcare choices and everything went smoothly, Seufert said, “but there’s a lot of kids that aren’t in the same position, that don’t have parents like mine.”

Seufert said he’s interested in public health because of the opportunities to help people and continue to improve on how healthcare systems are run.

He chose the University of Michigan, he said, in part because of how much it seemed like students were interested in wanting to change the world.

“No one here is accepting the way that things are,” he said. “We need to be the ones… the leaders that are causing this change, whether it’s through studies or whether it’s through activism.”

Porcari, a Rockford High School graduate studying biochemistry, said he wants to be a cardiologist.

He was diagnosed as a child with transposition of the great arteries, meaning his heart’s arteries were reversed and preventing the body from getting oxygen.

Grifka performed a minimally invasive heart procedure to improve his blood flow, and Porcari then had open heart surgery called an “arterial switch” to return his aorta and pulmonary artery to their normal positions.

After maintaining a relationship with Grifka through childhood, when Porcari saw him again it was to shadow him and learn about cardiology.

“Just because of what I’ve gone through, cardiology has… stood out,” he said. “I feel like I already know more about the heart.”

The third Grand Rapids teen, Kim, a graduate of Forest Hills’ Northern High School, also maintained a relationship with her surgeon. He attended her high school graduation party.

According to the university, she needed two open heart surgeries for a condition called Tetralogy of Fallot, or a heart abnormality that predominantly affects the right side of the heart, resulting in inadequate blood flow to the lungs.

In addition to her pre-dental track at the University of Michigan, Kim told the university she’s interested in participating in fundraising and advocacy efforts to support congenital heart research.

Grifka said hearing about his patients pursuing healthcare is especially meaningful because he became a doctor due to his own family’s experiences.

“My little brother had Down Syndrome and a bunch of medical issues,” he said, “and (that’s) how I became a pediatrician, because I thought the doctors could do a little better for my brother and my parents, and I tried to do that for my patients and their families.”

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Western Michigan University officials say alcohol sales at collegiate sporting events over the past year have generated tens of thousands of dollars for athletics and scholarships while opening new marketing deals as they look to expand sales to more sports.

Public universities in West Michigan are taking varied approaches to selling alcohol at collegiate sporting events since Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in June 2023 signed bipartisan legislation allowing for alcohol sales. Some higher education institutions jumped at the possibilities of a fan experience with adult beverages, while others are still exploring the idea.

Western Michigan University was among the first universities in the state to introduce alcohol sales at its sporting events, which started with the 2023 football season opener and throughout the season at Waldo Stadium. Other sports sold alcohol for a portion of their season, including at about 80% of hockey games and 50% of basketball games, said Dan Bartholomae, WMU’s vice president and director of athletics.

WMU sells beer, wine and hard seltzers ranging from $10 to $12. Last school year, gross sales of alcohol at WMU totaled about $275,000, resulting in $87,000 in profit, Bartholomae said.

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This new revenue goes into the operating budget for the university’s athletics and tuition support for student-athletes.

“We weren’t fully funding our scholarships previously, so we weren’t at the full NCAA max in our sports, any of them. So we’re utilizing those funds to get up to that number. To get to that number is that is actually a little bit larger than the alcohol proceeds, but we’re utilizing those as an operating revenue to offset that expense,” Bartholomae said.

Based on what WMU officials consider a success with the first season of sales, the university aims to bring alcohol to as many WMU sporting events as possible. In addition to football, hockey and basketball, WMU will serve alcohol during upcoming seasons for gymnastics, soccer, volleyball, baseball and softball — every ticketed sport at WMU, Bartholomae said.

However, state law limits the use of alcohol licenses to a maximum of 100 events per calendar year across all licenses for intercollegiate scheduled athletic events. As WMU obtains alcohol licenses for more venues, the university aims to coordinate alcohol sales to most effectively serve fans and stay within the legal limit.

“We couldn’t serve at every single game (WMU hosts) and stay under that 100-event limit, so what we’ve done is kind of gone through and strategically looked at where we feel like sales would be most impactful and games where we think will have the most fans,” Bartholomae said. “We’ve eliminated a few games here and there, but we’ll be serving at the majority of games in all venues this year, and that’ll be the first time.”

Grand Valley State University also has introduced alcohol sales at sporting events. Since piloting alcohol sales at a Oct. 28, 2023 football game at Lubbers Stadium, the university has brought in $38,950 in gross sales over four games hosted between the 2023 and 2024 seasons, MLive recently reported. Over the three games from last season, the sales netted $12,000 for GVSU’s athletic fund, said Craig Wieschorster, associate vice president for business and finance.

“So if they (athletics) have needs in one year versus different needs than another, they have the flexibility to utilize those funds,” Wieschorster told Crain’s.

Wieschorster said school officials have submitted a license application for the GVSU Fieldhouse and alcohol sales will be coming in the future at men’s and women’s basketball games. The list of locations could be expanded, he said.

GVSU currently sells beers, seltzers and a co-branded canned cocktail by Long Road Distillers called “Lake + Valley Lemonade.” Prices range from $7 to $9, Wieschorster said.

Similarly, WMU has inked an exclusive marketing agreement with West Side Beer Distributing.

“What you’re going to start seeing is a lot of co-branded, messaging, advertising, and potentially even products down the line,” Bartholomae said. “You (already) see it outside of the campus and it’s just a nice opportunity for us to get our brand out there.”

While WMU and GVSU have experienced success with alcohol sales at sporting events — with both Bartholomae and Wieschorster noting no incidents related to the change — some schools remain tentative.

Ferris State University in Big Rapids has not sold alcoholic beverages at sporting events and is still reviewing the possibilities of serving them, said Dave Murray, the school’s associate vice president for marketing and communications.

During a “Ferris Athletics state of the union” event in late 2023 that featured President Bill Pink, Athletic Director Steve Brockelbank and Assistant Athletic Director Tim Blashill, Pink said he was “slow rolling” a decision on alcohol sales to ensure it was “well thought out.” Pink added that it would ultimately need approval from the school’s Board of Trustees, according to a report in The Ferris State Torch.

“If it enhances the fan experience and motivates them to come back to our venues and watch our student athletes compete. That’s where I see the greatest benefit in it for us. Do I think we can generate some revenue? Yes,” Brockelbank reportedly said. “But I also think that it’s important that we make sure that we can do it safely, that we have processes and protocols in place so that we can execute it safely so everybody has a good experience, right? We don’t want alcohol to take away from the experience.”

Ferris State has no set timetable for when a final decision on alcohol sales will be made, Murray said.

“It’s just something we are exploring. It’s a very complex issue,” Murray said. “(The University) wants to make sure they take a really deep dive into the pros and cons before coming up with the decision.”

More from Crain’s Grand Rapids Business:

Holland provider helping seniors avoid costly nursing home care invests $1M to meet demand

Township considers first housing units under plan to revitalize Plainfield Avenue corridor

Boys and Girls Clubs of Grand Rapids plans $4.5M renovation at south side location

The Bananas usually play in Major League Baseball stadiums. The Party Animals, however, have expanded their roster of games into MiLB markets.

Credit: AP

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Banana Ball World Tour is coming to the state of Michigan for the first time ever in June of 2025!

The West Michigan Whitecaps announced Thursday night that the Savannah Bananas will take over LMCU Ballpark as their Party Animals team faces off against the Firefighters in a three-night series starting June 12.

The Banana Ball World Tour originally only featured the well-known Savannah Bananas. However, as the sport of Banana Ball has gained popularity, more teams have joined in to play ball under the league's unique set of rules.

Some of those unique rules include a two-hour time limit on games, no walks and foul balls caught by fans count as outs. You can find the full list of rules here.

Along with the growth in popularity bringing in more teams, it's brought more fans. The Bananas usually play in Major League Baseball stadiums. The Party Animals, however, have expanded their roster of games into MiLB markets. Leading to their historic upcoming visit to West Michigan.

The league warned that those hoping to attend the series in Grand Rapids should anticipate a high demand for tickets.

“We fully expect these games to sell out within hours of tickets going on sale,” said Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the West Michigan Whitecaps, Dan Morrison. “In other markets, waiting lists regularly have over 100,000 people and tickets have sold out in less than 24 hours. Knowing the fan base we have in West Michigan I have no doubt we will see the same.”

If you're hoping not to strike out on getting tickets, you'll need to join the Ticket Lottery List, which you can find here.

All lawn, reserved, box and premium box seats for the games will be sold as General Admission tickets by Banana Ball. Suites, 4-Topps and Hospitality Spaces for each of the games will be sold through the Whitecaps and will be available as part of the annual group lottery to be held on November 21st.

“Banana Ball has taken the baseball world by storm, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring their unique brand of baseball to the state of Michigan for the first time,” said Steve McCarthy, President of the West Michigan Whitecaps. “We’re expecting a tremendous response, and I know this group is ready to deliver an incredible experience for fans.”

How can fans get tickets?

Join the Ticket Lottery List before it closes on November 1, 2024. Joining the list doesn’t guarantee the opportunity to buy tickets. A random drawing will take place about 2 months before the event for the chance to purchase available tickets. If you’re drawn, you’ll have an opportunity to purchase tickets.

The Ticket Lottery List will close on November 1, 2024. Once the lists closes, fans will join the Ticket Wait List. There is no guarantee to have the opportunity to purchase tickets if fans join the Ticket Wait List, but fans will be notified if tickets do become available.

Where can fans sign up for the Ticket Lottery List?

https://bananaball.com/tickets/

https://thepartyanimals.com/tickets/

When do tickets go on sale to those selected in the Ticket Lottery List?

Tickets for the 2025 Banana Ball World Tour Road games go on sale about two months before the event.

All fans who join the Lottery List will be asked to verify their identity to ensure they are not bots. Identity Verification for eligibility will come at a later time closer to when events go on sale.

How much are the general admission tickets?

Our standard tickets always start at $35. VIB/VIP Meet and Greet tickets start at $100. No hidden fees, no tax, all fun.

Tickets for MLB Stadiums range from $40-$80 with VIB/VIP Meet and Greet tickets starting at $125.

We only sell tickets through our official lottery on FansFirstTickets.com. Any tickets for sale outside of this platform are likely fraudulent.

I thought tickets were $35. Why am I finding tickets online for more than that?

Our standard tickets start at $35 when you purchase them from our site. If you find some that are WAY MORE than $35, those tickets had been bought from us and are now being sold on a third-party platform that we cannot control. These third parties include StubHub, VividSeats Ticketmaster, etc.

Warning: Tickets purchased through 3rd party sites are often fraudulent and will not be accepted.

An overwhelming majority of people selling tickets on social media platforms are fraudulent. Please use extreme caution if you choose to go this route.

Do you have group ticket options?

Join the Ticket Lottery List before it closes on November 1, 2024.

If we have the opportunity to accommodate your group, you’ll be contacted directly by a member of the Banana Ball Ticket Team.

Do I need to buy my child a ticket?

Little Banana Ballers three and under get in for free but will be expected to sit on a lap.

I want season tickets/I want to become a member for Banana Ball Tickets!

At this time, we are at our capacity for season memberships in Savannah and are not able to offer any new memberships for the upcoming season!

Why is it called a World Tour if you’re just playing in the US?

We are constantly adding markets and are working on playing across the planet!

I want to do a fundraiser with tickets. How can I?

While there are many worthy causes and organizations who wish to use the Banana Ball tickets for the promotion of their cause, we try our best to maintain the full integrity of our tickets, including the pricing and distribution of our tickets. In light of that, we strongly discourage groups from using our tickets as fundraisers either directly or through a raffle. Such actions can result in the tickets being canceled and revoked, but also loss of opportunity to purchase tickets in future seasons.

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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A new study shows that people are looking for access to affordable transportation.

Grand Rapids recently launched a pilot program over the summer to provide better access to Lime scooters and bikes.

The report shocked city officials after Grand Rapids showed that the city had one of the highest user counts in the world.

"This affordability program allowed us to have Lime access members rank seventh in the world, putting us ahead of New York City and just behind Portland, Oregon," Grand Rapids Mobility Planning and Policy Supervisor Erin Evenhouse said.

Kevin Scott often walks to work in downtown Grand Rapids, which he explains takes a while.

"The walk is 45 minutes from where I am on Lafayette and Hall," Scott said.

He is one of the many users who relies on the e-scooters to get home from work after spending another 8–10 hours on his feet cooking.

"It feels fantastic. I really don't want to walk 45 minutes after a really hard day, so I'll definitely take a scooter versus walking every day," Scott said.

He's not the only one who uses them to get to work.

"We're just absolutely thrilled with the impact that we've seen so far," Evenhouse said.

The pilot program lasted over five weeks, allowing riders to access five free half-hour daily rides.

Evenhouse explains that their initial findings showed a large number of people signed up.

"[What] we really want to do is promote lower or no-cost mobility for the people who need it the most," Evenhouse said.Scott likes the current cost, but he adds that lower prices would help him save more for a car.

"It helps me save for one because it's very affordable. So I can't really complain," Scott said.

Grand Rapids is still making these scooters and bikes more affordable.

They have targeted neighborhoods where people can get discounted rides.

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