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EAST EXPRESS | DECEMBER 2025

Friends and neighbors,

As December arrives, the festive spirit fills East Grand Rapids with light, laughter and community cheer. It was wonderful to see so many of you at the Gaslight Village Holiday Tree Lighting last week – your energy and smiles truly made the evening shine. 

This time of year reminds us how fortunate we are to live in a community that values connection, generosity and shared traditions. Whether you’re enjoying winter walks around Reeds Lake, shopping and dining locally or gathering with loved ones, I hope you take a moment to appreciate the simple joys of the season. 

As winter weather settles in, please drive carefully and watch for pedestrians, especially during darker morning and evening hours.

Wishing you a happy, healthy and safe holiday season surrounded by friends, family and the warmth of our East Grand Rapids community.

Warm regards, 
Katie

COFFEE HOURS

Residents have the opportunity to speak with elected officials at Bagel Kitchen, 2228 Wealthy St. SE:

• Commissioner Abbie Groff-Blaszak: 9-10:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 4
• Mayor Katie Favale: 8 a.m. Friday, Dec. 19. 

SUPPORT THE EGR COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

The East Grand Rapids Community Foundation supports positive developments in our community – all made possible through the generosity of supporters. This holiday season, consider making a gift at eastgrmi.gov/foundation.

FINANCE & CITY ADMINISTRATION

NEXT CITY COMMISSION MEETING

The next City Commission meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15 in the Commission Chambers 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 online.

WINTER PROPERTY TAXES

Winter property taxes have been mailed and are due upon receipt. They will be considered late after Feb. 16, and late fees will apply. Details at eastgrmi.gov/taxes. 

STAY INFORMED

If you need assistance signing up for City communications, visit the City office, 750 Lakeside Drive SE, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

PARKS & RECREATION

SPORTS NIGHT OUT

Mark your calendar for Sports Night Out: Jan. 10, May 2 and Nov. 7. 

For the upcoming January event, attendees will enjoy games, pool time, snacks, crafts and more at the EGRHS pool and gym. Register here.  

PUBLIC SAFETY

HOLIDAY SAFETY REMINDERS

During this festive season filled with events, travel and gatherings, it’s important to stay on top of your safety game to ensure everyone has enjoyable experiences. 

Public Safety shares these safety tips for the holidays:

1. Always stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stovetop. 
2. Don’t leave your home when cooking food in the oven and check on it frequently.
3. Never leave lit candles unattended. 
4. If you plan to travel for the holidays, remember to lock up your home, outbuildings and remaining vehicles. Remove all valuable items from your yard and car and store them inside your house or garage, including bikes and toys, yard equipment and power tools.  

BE VIGILANT OF FRAUD 
Public Safety also reminds community members to be alert of potential fraud via phone calls and text messages.  

While they can take many forms, common phone scams include the caller:

• Pretending to be from an organization you know. 
• Confronting you with a problem or offering a prize.
• Pressuring you into immediate action.
• Telling you to pay them in a specific way. 

The Federal Trade Commission outlines a few tips to protect consumers from fraud, including:

• Block unwanted calls and text messages.
• Do not provide your personal or financial information in response to a request you did not initiate.
• Resist pressure to act immediately.
• Stop and talk to someone you trust.

To report a suspected case of fraud or other non-emergency, contact East Grand Rapids Public Safety at 616.949.7010.

PUBLIC WORKS

HOLIDAY LUMINARIES 
An EGR holiday tradition, candle-lit luminaries line some neighborhood streets Dec. 24-25. Participating residents can request sand for the lanterns by noon Thursday, Dec. 18 by calling Public Works at 616.940.4870 or by submitting an online request.

Public Works only provides the sand, which will be dropped off at requested addresses in half-filled 32-gallon barrels. Neighborhoods coordinate and organize luminary events, and residents are responsible for purchasing candles and bags. Bags must be placed in the public right-of-way, which is the area between the sidewalk and the street.

 HOLIDAY TREE PICKUP
Public Works will collect natural trees and wreaths for chipping Jan. 5-16. Please remove lights, ribbons and ornaments from the greenery and place the tree or wreath in the right-of-way on the day before your regular pickup day.
 
More at https://eastgrmi.gov/243/RefuseRecycleYard-WasteCompost.

WINTER WEATHER OPERATIONS

Curious about our street and sidewalk salting and plowing operations? How we prioritize road routes? How you can help make snowplowing easier for our Public Works team? Get the answers to these questions on our website or view the video below.

When snow events are in the forecast, Public Works asks residents to park in their driveway instead of the street. If you must park in the street, please avoid parking directly across from another vehicle so snowplow drivers can provide safe and efficient service.

SIDEWALK PLOWING
City sidewalks are plowed after a snow accumulation of approximately 2 inches and on weekends when the snowfall has concluded, but not to a bare pavement standard. Sidewalk priority routes for schools are addressed as needed to ensure sidewalks are clear prior to the start of school. 

The City does not provide ice control to city sidewalks. Residents are encouraged remove residual snow and ice left after plowing so sidewalks are safe for pedestrians.  

Public Works continually evaluates and experiments with different snow removal equipment. Pictured above is an example of an ice crusher/snowpack attachment that has proven effective at removing residual snowpack and ice, but the process can be slow. Public Works appreciates your patience and partnership in ensuring our sidewalks are safe for all.

Public Works also reminds residents of a state law that requires motorists to stay 200 feet behind active Public Works snowplows and maintain a 20-foot distance when stopped at an intersection.

Public Works thanks you for your partnership in making sure our streets and sidewalks stay safe for everyone.

PREVENT PIPES FROM FREEZING 
During the winter, pipes and water meters can freeze. The City is responsible for water service from the curb stop in the right-of-way to the water main in the street. Property owners are responsible for water service from the curb stop to and throughout their property.

The City offers the following tips to help protect water service pipes:

• Wrap and insulate all water pipes in unheated areas of your home, paying particular attention to pipes near exterior walls.
• Keep the location of your water meter above 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Make sure any garden hoses on the exterior of your home are disconnected and the outdoor faucet is winterized.
• Know the location of your water shutoff valve in case of a leak.

What to do if your pipes freeze:

• If your pipes freeze and you have water running in your home, turn off the water at your water shutoff – usually located near the water meter – and contact a licensed plumber.
• If interior pipes freeze, do not apply any direct heat to your pipes and instead use a space heater or a blow dryer to heat the area around the piping.
• If your water service stops and the entire interior plumbing and water meter are insulated or located in an area heated above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, please contact Public Works at 616.940.4870. Public Works staff will assess the situation and, if the water service is frozen from the curb stop to the main, they will thaw the service line and restore water service.

CLEAR SNOW AND ICE FROM FIRE HYDRANTS

If you have a fire hydrant near your home, please consider helping Public Safety by keeping snow piles away from the hydrants or shoveling out around the hydrant after heavy snow events. Public Safety officers do make the rounds and shovel when necessary, but their immediate duties may keep them from clearing the snow from all hydrants in a timely manner. Thank you for your help!

CONSTRUCTION UPDATES
Check out the latest construction updates from Public Works.

2024 STREET & SIDEWALK MILLAGE: ONE YEAR RECAP
Thanks to East Grand Rapids voters, the 10-year street and sidewalk millage approved in November 2024 is already making a difference! Your support is helping build smoother streets, safer sidewalks and stronger connections across our community. Read how your millage dollars have been hard at work this past year.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS 

EAST GRAND RAPIDS SCHOOLS FOUNDATION
The East Grand Rapids Schools Foundation is offering East Grand Rapids Public Schools more than $700,000 this year in program support, classroom grants, professional development for teachers, student scholarships and more. From kindergarten through graduation, the Foundation will contribute more than $6 million to EGRPS students’ education. That’s all thanks to previous donors. 

To make East schools even better together, donate to the Foundation quickly and easily here. 

GRAND VALLEY METROPOLITAN COUNCIL
Read GVMC’s fall newsletter here. 

EGREEN SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE

E-GReen’s annual electronic waste and foam packaging recycling event takes place 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, at the Public Works complex, 2310 Reeds Lake Blvd. SE.

Computers, laptops, tablets, hard drives, circuit boards, processor power supply, UPS power cords, cables and wires, cell phones and holiday strong lights will be accepted.  

For foam packaging, #6 block style and #6 food grade will be accepted, along with consumer electronics, gaming systems, GPS units, audiovisual equipment, printers, keyboards and mice. 

CRT TVs/monitors and batteries will not be accepted.

KENT DISTRICT LIBRARY: EAST GRAND RAPIDS BRANCH

The library's annual Let It Snow winter reading program for teens and adults begins Dec. 1. Read six books over the next three months to earn a fun seasonal mug — find all the details at kdl.org/snow/. 

Below are some featured programs:

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