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Today’s edition · Wed., Nov. 11

Jenison, EGR win state titles; Hudsonville names new CEO

Plus, a $55 million apartment plan for the St. James church site and a Veterans Day parade tonight.

The Good Day Grand Rapids team2 stories17 sources5 min read

High School SportsTop story

Jenison and East Grand Rapids boys teams win state cross country titles

East Grand Rapids won Division 2 by seven points

Sources: Detroit Free Press, The Holland Sentinel

View as table
Value
East Grand Rapids152 points
Holland Christian159 points
Pinckney160 points

Two Grand Rapids-area boys teams won state titles Saturday at . Jenison, ranked fourth going in, took its first Division 1 championship with 101 points to Ann Arbor Skyline's 168, putting four runners in the top 30. East Grand Rapids won its second Division 2 crown with 152 points, seven points ahead of Holland Christian.

Individual winners included Holland Christian junior Avery Engbers, who took the Division 2 girls race in 17:29.6, and Tri-unity Christian junior Lincoln Laansma, who won the Division 4 boys race in 15:50.6. Grandville's Caden Livermore was second in Division 1, behind Ann Arbor Pioneer's Ronfeldt, who ran 14:45.9.

  • Ethan Burks: 19th for Jenison with a personal-best 15:30.9
  • Micah Becker: fifth for East Grand Rapids in 15:25.4
  • Livermore: 14:48.6, fourth-fastest time ever run at the speedway
  • Adalyn Raab: fifth in Division 1 girls, 17:25.7, for Zeeland East

Two area teams and two individuals won state titles

WinnerRaceScore or time
JenisonDivision 1 boys team101 points
East Grand RapidsDivision 2 boys team152 points
Avery Engbers, Holland ChristianDivision 2 girls17:29.6
Lincoln Laansma, Tri-unity ChristianDivision 4 boys15:50.6

Sources: mlive, The Holland Sentinel

Business

CJ Ellens will become Hudsonville Ice Cream's CEO on Jan. 1, 2027

If Hudsonville is in your freezer, here's who's running the company next. The Holland-based ice cream maker's board elected CJ Ellens as its next CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2027. He's the executive vice president now and has worked in a variety of roles over two decades.

His appointment follows a succession process designed by his parents, Denny and Scoob Ellens, who bought the company in 2003. Denny Ellens died in February at 70.

Ellens takes over a family-owned company on Jan. 1, 2027

  1. 2003Denny and Scoob Ellens acquire .
  2. Jan. 2023Tina Floyd becomes CEO.
  3. Feb. 2026Denny Ellens dies at 70.
  4. Nov. 2The company announces CJ Ellens as its next CEO.
  5. Jan. 2027Ellens' first day as CEO.

Sources: WOODTV.com, whtc.com, The Holland Sentinel

Ellens succeeds Tina Floyd, CEO since January 2023. Under her, the company launched a $40 million expansion and created 44 new jobs.

  • Floyd: stays involved as an adviser after the handoff
  • Ellens' focus: people, technology, partners and new opportunities

Floyd's tenure and the handoff, by the numbers

$40 million
expansion launched during Floyd's tenure
44
new jobs created
2 months
transition period with Floyd helping Ellens

Sources: whtc.com, wgvunews

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Asked

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Asked

How do you take your ice cream in November?

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News Notes

Parade

The Grand Rapids Veterans Day Parade is scheduled for 6 p.m. tonight downtown, followed by a ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park. It begins forming at 5 p.m. at Division Avenue and Pearl Street. mlive

St. James

Grand Rapids investment firm is proposing a $55 million development of about 240 apartments in two four-story buildings at 745 Bridge St. NW. It would require demolishing the former St. James Catholic Church, which is 150 years old and held its final Mass in June 2022. Founder Danny Beckett Jr. said in a news release, "St. James is part of the memory of Grand Rapids." mliveWOODTV.com

$55 millionproposed apartment development at the former St. James church site

About 240 apartments in two four-story buildings at 745 Bridge St. NW would replace the 150-year-old church.

Source: mlive

Red Kettle

The Salvation Army in Kent County kicks off its Red Kettle campaign Fri., Nov. 13, at 5 p.m. at Rosa Parks Circle. It plans to announce this year's kettle goal and Christmas Chair there. WGVU's Shelley Irwin Show welcomed Major Aaron Ortman and Cathy Blackburn to talk about the funds and the need for volunteers. WWMTwgvunews

Nick Fink's

Nick Fink's, on West River Drive at Lamoreaux Avenue in Comstock Park, has been around since 1888. The owners of Garage Bar & Grill are acquiring it from Gilmore Collection, planning a $500,000 renovation and a late-February 2027 reopening. The deal is expected to close this week. Crain's Grand Rapids BusinessWOODTV.com

Sullivan's

Grand Rapids home furnishings store Sullivan's is closing and liquidating after founder Bob Sullivan died in February at age 96. It ends a nearly eight-decade run. Crain's Grand Rapids Business

Shop

Etsy’s Top 100 Holiday Gifts are here with festive finds for everyone on your list. Think: custom playing cards, one-of-a-kind advent calendars, and hand-painted ceramics. One of our favorite finds is this customizable vinyl mixtape, complete with your choice of 10-12 of songs, a photo for the cover, and a personalized message. (Sponsored by Etsy)

Wardrobe

Cute enough for a coffee run, comfy enough for a full day on the couch, these soft-brushed barrel-leg sweatpants and this best-selling mock neck sweater make a pretty convincing case for staying cozy. Shop the pair, plus find more great cozy wardrobe options.

Job

You have job openings; our job is filling them. List your available positions with our Self-Service Ad Portal and connect with top talent citywide. Submit here in seconds.

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Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 13 games

Quoted

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— Thomas Paine

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Wednesday, Nov. 11

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Lost and found

This precious baby came up to my daughters car.

“Hall and Kalamazoo area near Van Haaften Pl SE. She has on purple collar. If you’re looking for her search this area.”

— A neighbor, Eastgate
Photo from the neighbor’s post

19 likes · 6 comments

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The Wrap

A museum exhibit about baby brains sounds like a lot of science, but this one is built for dancing, playing and exploring. “AlgreMENTE | Happy Brain: Celebrating Early Connections,” a bilingual traveling exhibit developed by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, opens Saturday at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Little ones get to be the experts.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Judge ends Catholic Central's football playoff run

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Every source in this edition17 links · 10 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. mlivemlive.com
  3. Detroit Free Pressfreep.com
  4. The Holland Sentinelhollandsentinel.com
  5. The Holland Sentinelhollandsentinel.com
  6. WOODTV.comwoodtv.com
  7. whtc.comwhtc.com
  8. wgvunewswgvunews.org
  9. mlivemlive.com
  10. mlivemlive.com
  11. WOODTV.comwoodtv.com
  12. WWMTwwmt.com
  13. wgvunewswgvunews.org
  14. Crain's Grand Rapids Businesscrainsgrandrapids.com
  15. WOODTV.comwoodtv.com
  16. Crain's Grand Rapids Businesscrainsgrandrapids.com
  17. Grand Rapids events calendargooddaygrandrapids.com

Past issues

  1. Tues., Nov. 10Judge ends Catholic Central's football playoff run
  2. Mon., Nov. 9Nate Danielson, Postava and Leonard are back with the Griffins
  3. Sun., Nov. 8Kenowa Hills wins its first district title, and Shine climbs the Griffins' list
  4. Sat., Nov. 7Judge rules Monday on Catholic Central; I-96 reopens
  5. Fri., Nov. 6Kent County sirens sound at noon today in a year-round test
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Good Day Grand Rapidsto me · Wed., Nov. 116:00 a.m.

Jenison, EGR win state titles; Hudsonville names new CEO

Plus, a $55 million apartment plan for the St. James church site and a Veterans Day parade tonight.

The TLDR

  1. Jenison and East Grand Rapids boys win state cross country titles
  2. CJ Ellens will lead Hudsonville Ice Cream starting Jan. 1, 2027
  3. Veterans Day Parade is scheduled for 6 p.m. downtown
Read this edition

More stories this week

From Good Day Grand Rapids’ other editions

All the news
Prep FootballJudge ends Grand Rapids Catholic Central's football playoff run a day before the district finalIf you had Tuesday night football plans, they changed. Kent County Circuit Court Judge Paul Denenfeld ruled Monday for the MHSAA, ending Grand Rapids Catholic Central's Division 5 playoff run. The Cougars were expected to host Berrien Springs in the district final.Tuesday’s editionRead Prep FootballThe judge said equal enforcement of MHSAA rules outweighed the harm to Catholic Central's playersWhy did the judge side with the MHSAA when he was sympathetic to the Cougars? Denenfeld dissolved the restraining order that let Catholic Central play, and wrote that harm to Zainea and his teammates is outweighed by harm to the MHSAA if the court interfered.Tuesday’s editionRead GriffinsNate Danielson, Michal Postava and John Leonard are back with the GriffinsIf you follow the Griffins, three familiar names are back. The Detroit Red Wings announced three roster moves Sunday: center Nate Danielson, goaltender Michal Postava and left wing John Leonard all go to Grand Rapids. Danielson, the ninth overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, has two assists and a minus-five rating in 13 games with Detroit this season.Monday’s editionRead

Around Grand Rapids

From mlive, Grand Rapids Magazine and 3 more newsrooms, gathered by 6AM News, 6AM City’s local news service.

More local news

  1. mlive13 minutes ago

    Christian music’s Winter Jam returns to Michigan in 2027 for two stops

    The 34-city Winter Jam 2027 tour, featuring artists like Crowder and Anne Wilson, includes Michigan stops in Grand Rapids and Ypsilanti, with $15 door admission.

  2. Grand Rapids Magazine38 minutes ago

    Museum to Honor Community Leaders at Awards Gala

    Grand Rapids Public Museum will celebrate three individuals whose leadership and dedication have helped shape the landscape of West Michigan.

  3. WOODTV.com54 minutes ago

    Kilwins in Gaslight Village shuts doors

    After nine years of serving ice cream, chocolate and other treats, the Kilwins location in East Grand Rapids has closed for good.

  4. WOODTV.com1 hour ago

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    For its 23rd annual Gift of Hope program, Hope Network is encouraging donations of $30 or more from the West Michigan community to benefit individuals in need.

  5. WOODTV.com1 hour ago

    AC Grand Rapids announces partnership with Nike

    Athletic Club Grand Rapids announced Wednesday it is partnering with Nike ahead of its inaugural season.

    Also reported byWZZM13.com

  6. Crain's Grand Rapids Business1 hour ago

    Tony Payne

    Mosaic Wealth Management is excited to welcome Tony Payne to our team as Financial Advisor and Senior Vice President.