The Grand Rapids Symphony opens its Crowe Horwath Rising Stars Series with a concert created in the spirit of ArtPrize - featuring music inspired by visual art. Associate Conductor John Varineau leads the orchestra in two performances of "ArtPrize Triptychs' - at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6; and at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, at St. Cecilia Music Center in Grand Rapids. The concert will include some projected images to enhance the listening experience.

St. Mary's Parish School in Spring Lake is inviting the community to bring their pets - large and small - to its annual "Blessing of the Pets' at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5. The ceremony will be held in the school parking lot "green space' at 421 E. Exchange St. Father Dan DePew, pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church, will preside over the gathering.

Escanaba, Kalamazoo and Manistee are being given a total of $622,500 in federal grants designed to help them improve their airline service. The three Michigan communities are among 29 nationwide that are getting $15 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Small Community Air Service Development Program. The program helps small communities develop their own solutions to local air service needs.

Celebrating local produce, the autumn season and young artistic talent, the local Chamber of Commerce will host the second annual "Pumpkins at Chinook Pier' from 10-11 a.m. Saturday. The free event is held in conjunction with Grand Haven ArtWalk. Children under the age of 12 are invited to pick a pumpkin, grab a marker or two and participate in the pumpkin-decorating time at the Grand Haven Farmers Market, located under the green canopy at Chinook Pier.

Daytime rain on Wednesday drizzled off in time for ArtWalk's Centertown block party and pig roast that evening. Hundreds of people gathered in the parking lot of the Frame and Mat Shop, 728 Washington Ave., to sample Centertown restaurant foods, take in some art and listen to music. "It was a huge turnout - the weather held out for us,' said Kelly Gates, a member of the ArtWalk committee. "It was a huge collaborative for local businesses and organizations in Centertown.'

Police said a 36-year-old New Jersey man who was found dead in a mid-Michigan jail cell over the weekend had been subdued by officers using a stun gun during his arrest. Michigan State Police told the Morning Sun a stun gun was used Saturday on Bradford Gibson of East Orange by officers trying to get him to leave a bar in Mount Pleasant. An autopsy was conducted and investigators were awaiting a report about cause of death.

Authorities removed about 60 young people from a Portage school district school bus as they searched for weapons this morning. Police reported that nothing was found during the search. Sgt. James Myers said Portage police were told a student on the bus yelled at a parent whose daughter had just boarded the bus suggesting someone might "return with real guns.' On Wednesday, teens are suspected of shooting pellet guns at area homes. The woman reported the comment to the bus driver, who reported it to the bus garage. Police were called.