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East Express | Feb. 29, 2024

PARKS & RECREATION

SWEETHEART DANCE RETURNS 
Community members of all ages are invited to the annual Sweetheart Dance on Saturday, May 18 at East Grand Rapids Middle School, 2425 Lake Drive SE. The fun begins at 5:30 p.m. and goes to 8 p.m. Attendees will enjoy a night of crafts, dancing and desserts. Don’t forget to bring a camera to capture the evening against two themed photo backdrops.  

Sign up by April 18 to receive a $5 discount. All participants – parents, caregivers and children – must register. 

REEDS LAKE RUN & TRIATHLON REGISTRATION OPEN
Registration for the Reeds Lake Run on June 22 and Rhoades McKee Reeds Lake Triathlon on Sept. 7 is now open. Click on the name of each event for details and to register.

FINANCE & CITY ADMINISTRATION

CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS
Here are a few highlights from the Feb. 19 City Commission meeting:

• The Commission approved zoning ordinance amendments for the development of accessory dwelling units.
• The Commission approved a new vacation accrual for employees who move to or from part-time and full-time work to give credit for all years worked.
• The City’s quarterly financial report was presented.  

For the full meeting agenda, click here. 

The next City Commission meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, March 4 at the Community Center, 750 Lakeside Drive SE.

Community members can also watch the meeting live via the City’s YouTube channel and view minutes and agendas here. 

THANK YOU, ELECTION WORKERS

The Clerk’s Office extends a special thank you to election workers and volunteers who have helped us implement significant changes to Michigan law regarding early voting and precinct consolidation. Additionally, their hard work helped ensure another secure and efficient election this past Tuesday during the presidential primary. 

Interested in helping with the November election? Details are available here.

STATE OF THE CITY
Mayor Katie Favale is pleased to provide community members with her annual State of the City update. Read her 2023 recap, including accomplishments such as infrastructure improvements, parks programming and sustainability projects, and what residents can look forward to this year here.

PUBLIC SAFETY

CHIEF HERALD’S RETIREMENT OPEN HOUSE

Join us in celebrating Chief Mark Herald’s impactful EGR Public Safety career and wishing him a wonderful retirement. Community members are invited to his retirement open house 2-4 p.m. Wednesday, March 6 in the Commission Chambers at the Community Center, 750 Lakeside Drive SE. Remarks will take place at 3 p.m. 

Chief Herald announced his retirement in December after a 40-year career in law enforcement, including the past 21 at the City. He served as EGR’s deputy director of public safety for four years before being promoted to public safety director in 2006.

Read more about Chief Herald’s law enforcement career here.  

PUBLIC WORKS

CONSTRUCTION UPDATES

Public Works is continuing its work in updating water service lines on Wealthy Street between Cambridge Boulevard to the west city limit and on Gladstone Avenue from Robinson Road to Sherman Street. For more information on all 2024 projects, please visit the construction updates webpage.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

COREWELL HEALTH IRISH JIG

Community members and drivers are asked to be aware of Irish Jig participants the morning of Saturday, March 16 along the route pictured above. 

This year’s route has participants starting and finishing on Lakeside Drive SE in front of the Community Center. The route travels along Breton Road to Hall Street, loops around on Bonnell Avenue, then back to Hall Street and up Lake Drive to the finish line.  

EAST GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

The Reeds Lake Trailblazer 5k run/walk returns Thursday, July 4. Runners and walkers of all ages and skill levels are welcome with proceeds benefitting the Community Foundation. 

Registration is available online. Register by June 7 to guarantee a t-shirt.

E-GREEN SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE

Mark your calendar for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 19 for the first event of the Sustainable Neighbors series presented by the E-GReen Sustainability Initiative and sponsored by Friends of the EGR Library. The topic will be "Growing Green: Healthy Lawns, Healthy Community" in which attendees will learn about natural lawns and native gardens. 

Read the event details here. 

KENT DISTRICT LIBRARY: EAST GRAND RAPIDS BRANCH

The East Grand Rapids branch will host several free programs over the next few weeks:

• Mini Brick Derby – 3-5 p.m. Tuesday, March 5: Build your dream race car out of LEGO® bricks and see if it has what it takes to win! There will be one hour before the race to design and build your car using library-provided bricks, and then the all-ages derby race will begin. Sponsored by Friends of the EGR Library.
• Intro to Canning – 6:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, March 11: Learn interesting recipes, from beets to jams, with different canning techniques. Take home a few recipes and a canned good. Space is limited; first come, first served. For adults.
• Growing Green: Healthy Lawns, Healthy Community – 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 19: Are you interested in natural lawns and native gardens in our neighborhoods? Join Growing Green Grand Rapids and learn how to go chemical-free in EGR. This Sustainable Neighbors series is presented in partnership with the E-Green Sustainability Initiative and sponsored by Friends of the EGR Library. For adults.

Don't forget we are accepting entries to our annual Write Michigan Teen Poetry Contest, open to teens in grades 6-12 living or attending school in Kent County. Teens are encouraged to submit up to two poems by April 1 to be eligible to win a Meijer gift card. Teens who enter the Poetry Contest are also invited to read one of their poems at a Teen Poetry Slam for another chance to win. Enter the contest today – we can't wait to read your poems! 

GRAND VALLEY METRO COUNCIL

The GVMC recently published its winter 2024 newsletter, which includes a reminder to help identify flooding locations, details on the development of the agency’s FY2025 Unified Planning Work Program and more. 

LOWER GRAND RIVER ORGANIZATION OF WATERSHEDS

Read LGROW’s annual report, which outlines the ways this collaborative organization helps protect and improve the Lower Grand River Watershed for all to enjoy.  

EAST GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
For parents of kindergarteners new to EGRPS starting in the 2024-25 school year, a parent-only meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 24 at Breton Downs Elementary School, 2500 Boston St. SE.

For residents looking to enroll in grades K-12, please email enrollment@egrps.org.

EAST GRAND RAPIDS SCHOOLS FOUNDATION
Save the date: EGRSF’s annual fundraiser, HURRAH!, returns to Wege Plaza overlooking Reeds Lake with food, fun, friends, music, drinks and more Saturday, April 20. This year’s HURRAH! will be a birthday party celebrating the Foundation’s 40 years of supporting our schools. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available online.

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