A MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR
Hello, friends and neighbors.
It’s fall in East Grand Rapids, which means beautiful foliage, school activities and the upcoming holidays. As you prepare for a weekend full of Halloween festivities, I have a few reminders to share.
First, I wish everyone in our community a safe and fun Halloween. In East, trick-or-treating takes place 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31. Our Public Safety Department has put together this great list of safety tips for pedestrians, drivers and caregivers.
Additionally, with darker morning and evening commutes, it’s important to exercise increased caution while on the road.
EGR Coffee Talk returns 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 10 at Bagel Kitchen. The coffee is on me, so please mark your calendar and join me for some great coffee and conversation.
Our next community blood drive takes place 2-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14 in Room 105 at the Community Center, 750 Lakeside Drive SE. While walk-ins are welcome, appointments are preferred. Call 866.642.5663 to schedule yours.
I am also available to meet with residents during weekday office hours, additional Coffee Talk hours and weekends. If you have questions or would like to discuss something, please contact me by email or call 616.949.2110, ext. 887 to schedule a meeting.
Happy fall!
Katie
SOCIAL DISTRICT
We're excited to announce the opening of our new social district in the Gaslight Village business district, Regatta Plaza and Johns Collins Park.
The new social district enables individuals 21 and older to consume alcoholic beverages sold by qualified Gaslight Village establishments within the designated social zone, which includes:
- Wealthy Street SE from Lovett Avenue to Lakeside Drive, excluding the sidewalk in front of East Grand Rapids High School and Memorial Field on the south side of the street.
- Croswell Avenue from Big Bob’s Pizza to Wealthy Street.
- Bagley Avenue from Crazy Charlie’s to Wealthy Street.
- Lakeside Drive from Wealthy Street to the north end of John Collins Park.
- Regatta Plaza on Wealthy Street in the heart of Gaslight Village.
Learn more about the social district here.
FINANCE & CITY ADMINISTRATION
NEXT CITY COMMISSION MEETING: NOV. 6
The next City Commission meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6 at the Community Center, 750 Lakeside Drive SE.
Community members can also watch the meeting live via the City’s YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3koI057.
EARLY VOTING INFORMATION
Early voting will take place 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 through Sunday, Nov. 5 in Room 105 at the Community Center, 750 Lakeside Drive SE, except for Wednesday, Nov. 1, when it will be offered 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
For more information on early voting and the November election, visit eastgr.org/elections.
PUBLIC SAFETY
HALLOWEEN
In EGR, trick-or-treating traditionally takes place 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31.
To ensure everyone has a safe and fun evening, Public Safety reminds community members of all ages to review these safety tips.
PUBLIC SAFETY EVENTS
Our fall Drug Takeback Day will take place 10 a.m.-2 p.m. this Saturday (Oct. 28) at the Public Safety lobby, 770 Lakeside Drive SE. This is a great opportunity to safely dispose of unused or expired prescription medications – no questions asked.
Since the start of this program in 2018, our Public Safety Department has collected and properly disposed of 6,705 pounds of medications, helping to keep our community safe by decreasing the chances of misuse and environmental contamination.
Public Safety will also host its annual open house 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Oct. 28 at 770 Lakeside Drive SE. All ages are welcome for treats, refreshments and police and fire giveaways.
PUBLIC WORKS
SHAKE YOUR MAILBOX
If your mailbox is located near the street, take a few minutes to check its condition. Over time, screws can loosen and posts can rot. If your mailbox moves when shaken, the mailbox or post may not withstand snow thrown from plows and should be repaired before winter.
It’s also important to ensure your mailbox follows U.S. Postal Service standards. The best mailbox supports are stable but bend or fall away if a car hits them. Position your mailbox 41-45 inches from the road surface to the bottom of the mailbox or point of mail entry. Place your mailbox 6-8 inches from the curb or edge of the pavement for areas that do not have a raised curb.
ADOPT-A-DRAIN
As fall leaf pickup continues, Public Works encourages residents to keep catch basins clear of leaf litter and street debris.
We partner with other local communities through the Grand Valley Metro Council and Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds to promote water quality for our watersheds while mitigating localized flooding through an adopt-a-drain portal.
What does it mean to adopt a drain? By pledging to keep your drain free of leaves and debris, you’re joining your neighbors in helping to protect the environment, manage stormwater and minimize flooding. Our city has approximately 1,300 catch basins, and while our 15 Public Works staff members help clean catch basins, rain events or even just a few leaves can plug them. That’s why a community effort is needed – and helps tremendously.
How to care for your adopted drain: Check the weather report weekly. If possible, clear leaves and debris off drains before it starts raining and shovel snow off drains during the winter to keep water flowing. Remove leaves, other natural materials and trash and clear about 10 feet on each side of the drain. Leaves, sticks and other natural materials can be placed in your yard waste container.
Stay safe when clearing storm drains: Please stay out of the street as much as possible. Place yourself in the right of way – the area between the sidewalk and the street – to clear the drain and wear reflective clothing so drivers can see you. Always wear gloves and be careful of sharp objects. Use a rake, broom or shovel if possible. Never try to lift or remove the drain grate.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
GASLIGHT VILLAGE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
The Gaslight Village Business Association invites community members of all ages for a fun afternoon of trick-or-treating, retail and restaurant specials and more 4-7 p.m. tomorrow (Oct. 27). Visit gogaslight.com/frightfulfriday for details.
Make sure to mark your calendar for the annual holiday tree lighting Friday, Nov. 24. Details coming soon at gogaslight.com/tree-lighting-ceremony.
EAST GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Please join us for a magical evening as East Grand Rapids High School presents “A Midsummer Night's Dream” by William Shakespeare. Performances are at 7 p.m. Nov. 2-4 at the Performing Arts Center, 2211 Lake Drive SE.
Tickets are available online or in person at the box office starting at 6 p.m before each show. Come support the drama department to see what our students have created.
EAST GRAND RAPIDS SCHOOLS FOUNDATION
Caldecott Medal-winning author and illustrator Jason Chin met with elementary school students last week. Chin’s visit was funded by a grant from the Foundation, as part of a partnership with the Friends of the EGR Library. Chin visited Wealthy Elementary, Lakeside Elementary and Breton Downs Elementary, with a public appearance at the EGR library.
The Foundation thanks its donors for making this possible.
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