By Kelly Goward, Macatawa Area Coordinating CouncilThe urban environment is dominated by buildings, pavement, lawns, and other non-natural elements.We constantly struggle against nature to maintain our built environment, especially our lawns and gardens.This can include the use of fertilizers and pesticides that, if used improperly, can cause environmental harm. Our built landscapes can also be …
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By Regan Corum and Sarah Estelle, Hope CollegeEnvironmentalists and economists agree: Sustainability of natural resources is an important, timely issue. It’s worth our best efforts now to conserve and wisely utilize society’s scarce resources.This Labor Day, Hope College’s Markets & Morality program is hosting a virtual event on stewardship, environmental health, and markets featuring economist …
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By Mia Lindberg, Ready for SchoolThey say sometimes you just need to talk to a 4-year-old to understand life. For me, this could not be more true. I chose my career path of public health over lunch with a 4-year-old.My relationship with Ready for School began as a volunteer the summer before my senior year …
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By Barry Rutherford, Holland Board of Public WorksWe all like to get value out of our hard-earned dollars. Whether we are buying groceries or data plans for our phones, or even determining whether to buy a daily or annual pass to a park, we are constantly calculating the best value.Value calculations can change over time, …
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By Esther Fifelski, City of HollandThe Constitution requires that every person residing in the United States and U.S. territories be counted every 10 years though a Census.The data derived from the Census determines how billions of tax dollars are distributed to states, cities, and local organizations and individuals. Michigan also uses the data to distribute …
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By Elizabeth Merrit ’20, Hope College Green TeamWhat you spend your money on says a lot about what you value. Yet, many people do not think of their purchases in this way, especially when it comes to apparel. Although there are some very conscientious companies, many supply chains trace back to unethical practices, human trafficking, …
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By Jenny White, Velo KidsI scream, you scream we all scream for … a bike ride! Ok, ok, we can’t forget about the ice cream, too – evveryone’s favorite part.For the last six years Velo City Cycles, Velo Kids, Hudsonville Creamery, and the Holland Police Department have partnered in hosting a community Ice Cream Bike …
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By Ken Freestone, Holland Residential Energy AdvisorDo you know if your home is healthy, safe and energy efficient? During times of isolation in our homes – like the COVID-19 pandemic – we may encounter negative environmental conditions that we didn’t realize prior to being in our homes for extended periods. With health safety precautions well …
By Dan Callam, ODC NetworkIt’s time to join in the community cleanup of the Macatawa River.Register online to join in the fun and necessary cleanup this coming Saturday, July 11, from 10 a.m. to noon at Dunton Park, 290 Howard Ave., Holland.The annual event is a collaboration of the ODC Network and the Macatawa Area …
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By Ashley Van Zee, ODC NetworkWe all live in a watershed, and this year, we can all celebrate it safely.If you live in the Holland/Zeeland area, you live in the Macatawa watershed. A watershed is an area of land that drains into a certain stream, river, or lake. It’s like a bathtub where all the …
Continue reading “Living Sustainably: Macatawa Water Festival goes virtual with creative approach”
