1. If you live in Kent County, starting next year the recycling center won’t be taking plastic bags or shredded paper.
Plastic bags complicate things at the facility, and they’ve even had to stop operations to get the plastic bags untangled from the machinery.
Instead, they’re asking people to take their bags to stores that recycle them like Meijer.
The changes go into effect on January 1.
2. A $5 million multi-use development is being added to the West Leonard Business District in Grand Rapids.
Crews will break ground on the project next month. Three buildings at the corner of Leonard and Broadway will be demolished, and the three-story building will go up in their place.
Brann’s, which is one of the investors in the project, is also working on a one-million-dollar renovation at their restaurant on Leonard Street as well.
The new building is expected to be complete in early September.
3. Gull Meadow Farms, near Kalamazoo, is adding something new this holiday season. They’ve decorated their greenhouses in over 100,000 lights.
People can walk through each of them, all with different themes.
There will also be plenty of holiday music, snacks, and of course Santa is available for portraits as well.
It’s open Thursday through Sundays during their business hours and admission is just $4 a person, while children under 36-inches get in free.
Find more details on their Facebook page.
4. It’s National Cookie Day, and many popular chains are celebrating with a fresh batch of freebies and deals.
DoubleTree Hotels are handing out the Hilton brand’s famous warm cookies for free, and you don’t even have to be a guest to get your hands on one.
Insomnia Cookies is also giving out one free cookie to anyone who stops by. Plus, the chain is hosting a contest to award a year’s worth of cookies to five winners.
If you head to a Misses Fields store, you get a free cookie with any purchase.
5. A new type of fruit can now last in the fridge for a lot longer than you’d think. There’s a new apple variety with some incredible properties called Cosmic Crisps.
Researchers at Washington State University took more than 20-years to create them, breeding together the Enterprise and Honey Crisp Apples.
Scientists say these apples can remain inside the fridge for more than a year without spoiling. They’re described as very crunchy and juicy.
Farmers have planted roughly 12 million trees across Washington State, and their crops are now shipping to grocery stores across the country.
