Suggestion Box: Harvest Moon and a Walkable City

By N3WH entertainment team

It’s finally fall I guess. Has a little rain, a bit of a chill and the resultant barrage of leaves determinedly dropping at N3 World Headquarters  signaled the end of the eccentric meteorological experience the past month or so has given us?
Who knows? There just might be another little heat wave tossed our way by a teasing Mom Nature setting us up for a lengthy visit with her cousin Old Man Winter.
At any rate there’s still time to enjoy some of the natural beauty that abounds in these parts.
Here’s a couple of hints for the coming weekend.

"Shine On, Shine On Harvest Moon........"

The latest in the fall festival series presented by the River Country Chamber of Commerce  gets underway Friday afternoon when the Kids Carnival,  food vendors, and  arts and crafts folks set up shop at the Harvest Moon Festival Friday and Saturday in Grant

Love a parade? Of course you do. Who can possibly not like the occasional parade?Friday at 6pm you can experience  the Homecoming/Harvest Moon Festival parade a collaborative effort that celebrates the Grant area and the fine schools the town enjoys. Parade route will begin at the high school proceed west to M-37 where it will head South turning left on Commerce and again on Elder where it will make its way back to the school.
Then, of course, is the homecoming game for Grant. Not just any game but the storied Newaygo/Grant clash that this year yields a playoff spot for the winner.
At 8:30pm until closing time the Old Iron Bar and Grille Beer Garden will be open with live music for a little post game partying.

Saturday morning gets things rolling with the BBQ competition as grillmasters take to the coals to put their personal touch their creations. Judging takes place at 5pm.
The carnival and crafters return along with the food vendors and the afternoon includes an apple eating competition for ages 7-14 at 1pm  and an onion eating contest at 3pm.
And be sure to take some time to peruse the pumpkins on display because at 2:30pm a  winner will emerge in The Great Pumpkin decorating contest.
Old Iron’s Beer Garden will open at 11am and run through closing time and there is a Teen Dance at the Community Center from 7-10pm.

An Exploration Into Walkability

Live in Newaygo? Or have ties to the town through work, school, church, etc? Interested in helping plans to make the city more ‘walkable’? Have some ideas on how to continue to improve what already is a very cool town?
On Saturday from 9-10:30am a meeting will be held at the old museum building along the river by Riverfront Park. The event is part of the  “I Am Newaygo” initiative fostered by the  Newaygo Economic Development Office and aimed at giving the citizens of this fine city a major voice in city planning.

We really like this idea on a couple of fronts:

1.The Newaygo Economic Development Organization is more than likely just a name to most people. These sessions provide a venue  to meet, listen to, and engage in meaningful dialogue with the folks who are tasked with looking at future growth in the city.

2.This is a golden opportunity to ask the questions you  might have,  bring forth  your ideas, listen to the concepts being presented by others, and become aware of  how your city is evolving. A chance to be an engaged citizen and  part of the process rather than a detached  bystander uninvested in the inevitable changes.

Information on this meeting has been all over local social media and an article with more details can be accessed on our home page titled “A More Walkable Newaygo?”. There is also an “I Am Newaygo!” facebook page and city council member Eric Johnson has posted a great deal of info as well.
Oh, and if you  are perhaps tied up with soccer games, family obligations, planned events and such?
There’s another meeting Monday 6:00 - 7:30pm.
Same place.