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Photo by William Rowan, 2024 Community Photo Contest, featured on the cover of this year's calendar.


** Growing Together in Community in 2025
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Happy New Year, East Lansing! The City's 2024 annual report and 2025 community calendar is now available. Anyone who wishes to have one may pick up a copy at East Lansing City Hall, 410 Abbot Road; the East Lansing Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road; or the East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbot Road. To receive a copy in the mail, send a request to Communications Specialist Lita Johnson at ljohnson@cityofeastlansing.com (mailto:ljohnson@cityofeastlansing.com?subject=Calendar%20request) .
EXTRA CURBSIDE RECYCLING
Monday, Jan. 6
Bonus recycling collection on both sides of the City on one special day. Place recycling carts at the curb by 7:30 a.m.



** The first bonus recycling day on Dec. 23 resulted in the City collecting over 7 tons of recyclables and preventing those items from ending up in a landfill. A huge thank you to everyone who participated and helped make the season a little greener. Keep the momentum going into the new year!
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TRASH SERVICE
Through Wednesday, Jan. 8
Community members can dispose of extra trash without needing to use a yellow City trash bag. Trash must weigh no more than 40 pounds and will be collected on residents' regular collection day.

CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING & DROP-OFF
From Monday, Jan. 6 through Friday, Jan. 17
The City will collect live-cut Christmas trees to be chipped and used as mulch in City parks or donated to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for use as rabbit habitats. Remove all bags, holiday decorations and tree stands. Trees taller than 6 feet should be cut in half. Trees can be left curbside for no-fee collection without advance request or they can be dropped off at one of the following locations throughout the City:
* Patriarche Park - parking lot on Alton Road
* Emerson Park - Arbor Drive entrance
* Henry Fine Park - parking lot on Winchester Drive
* Valley Court Park - south of the Community Center
* White Memorial Park - parking lot at Pebblebrook Lane

HOLIDAY LIGHT RECYCLING
Now through Friday, Jan. 17
Both functioning and non-functioning holiday lights can be recycled at the East Lansing Department of Public Works (DPW), 1800 E. State Road in the cart inside the entrance. Lights should NOT be placed in curbside collection - thank you!


** City Council and Other Meetings Next Week
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Monday, Jan. 6
1 p.m. Seniors Commission meeting, East Lansing Hannah Community Center (ELHCC), 819 Abbot Road
5:30 p.m. Folk Festival Study Committee meeting, ELHCC
6 p.m. Transportation Commission meeting, ELHCC

Tuesday, Jan. 7
3 p.m. Downtown Management Board meeting, East Lansing City Hall, Conference Room A, 2nd Floor, 410 Abbot Road
7 p.m. East Lansing City Council, ELHCC

Wednesday, Jan. 8
6 p.m. East Lansing Independent Police Oversight Commission meeting, ELHCC
7 p.m. Planning Commission meeting, ELHCC

Thursday, Jan. 9
6 p.m. Historic District Commission meeting, ELHCC
6:30 p.m. Housing Commission meeting, ELHCC
6:30 p.m. Charter Review Committee meeting, ELHCC

For meeting agendas, visit cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/portal (https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/portal/) .


** City Celebrates Employee Accomplishments
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On Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, City of East Lansing staff gathered to celebrate the holiday season and acknowledge the outstanding work of employees over the past year. Honorees at this event included employees with 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and even 40(!) years of service to the City as well as recognition in the following special categories:
* Emerging Talent: Natural Resource Technician/Arborist Andy Gordon who has "shown an ability to balance independent work with team collaboration, excelling in resident communication while handling tree assessments, hazard mitigation and proactive urban forestry care." Learn more about the City's Urban Forestry program here (https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/274/Urban-Forestry) .
* Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Employee of the Year: All-of-us Express Children's Theatre (AECT) Artistic Director Nina Crumpton for being "a tireless advocate for the rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals, youth and those who are neurodivergent." The next AECT production is "Little Shop of Horrors" opening on Friday, Jan. 31. Visit cityofeastlansing.com/allofus (https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/812/All-of-us-Express-Childrens-Theatre) for ticket information as the opening gets closer.
* Inspiration Award: East Lansing Fire Department (ELFD) Safety Training Officer Olivia Skowronek was recognized for being cool under pressure and the first to cheer on others when they succeed. Schedule a fire safety education program by calling ELFD at (517) 332-1956.
* Outstanding Service Award: The East Lansing Police Department (ELPD) Chaplain's Committee was recognized for its work to recognize the 40th anniversary of ELPD Officer James S. Johnson's end-of-watch. The committee included Interim Police Chief Jennifer Brown, Officer Steve Whelan, Chaplain Jermaine Gayle, Kathy Morales and Diane Shafer as well as Chey Lacasse and the East Lansing Honor Guard. Watch the tribute to Officer Johnson here (https://youtu.be/H4VL87adnqE) .
* Employee of the Year: ELFD Captain James Ladiski was recognized with this special award for his leadership and passion to the department. It was noted that he was especially instrumental in holding the department together after the Feb. 13 tragedy.
* Team of the Year: The East Lansing City Clerk's Office was commended for their exceptional service, in particular related to successfully conducting five elections over the course of 12-months. Get information about elections and how to register to vote at cityofeastlansing.com/elections (https://cityofeastlansing.com/192/Election-Info) .

Congratulations to all of these hardworking, inspirational employees!
Congratulations to East Lansing City Clerk Marie Wicks on her retirement! Amy Gordon has been appointed Interim City Clerk while the City searches for her permanent replacement. Learn more and apply for this job here. (https://cityofeastlansing.com/Jobs.aspx?UniqueId=97&From=All&CommunityJobs=False&JobID=City-Clerk-731)


** Silas the Comfort Canine Comes to Work at City
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The East Lansing Police Department (ELPD) unveiled two new health and wellness initiatives for officers in December 2024. The first is a community comfort canine named Silas, a 6-month-old golden doodle who is training with ELPD social worker Hannah Peterson. The community will be able to interact with him at “Painting with Police” on Saturday, Feb. 22 at the East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbot Road.

The second initiative is a health and wellness app that will be available to all current police department members and their families as well as retirees. The app provides 24/7, confidential, easy-to-use wellness solutions and resources including a toolkit addressing more than 60 mental and physical health topics including fatigue, suicide prevention and alcohol abuse; mental health self-assessments; videos; and guides on yoga, mindfulness, nutrition and more.

The ELPD is still accepting applications for Citizens' Police Academy. The program begins on Wednesday, Jan. 29 and will meet from 6-8 p.m. each week through April 16. There will be no class on March 5, however, a four-hour class will be held from 5-9 p.m. the following week on March 12. To learn more and submit an application, visit cityofeastlansing.com/CitizensPoliceAcademy (https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/1757/Citizens-Police-Academy) .


** Share Opinions in Surveys from City
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The City is hoping to receive community feedback with two brief surveys.
* The Folk Festival Study Committee is considering reestablishing a folk or similar music festival in the City of East Lansing. Survey here (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5Z6RYJ6) .
* The City's Communications Department wants to hear from the community about how it receives City news. Survey here (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PTGJWRG) .

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