Category Archives: News & Events

Updates, messages and other announcements are posted under this category with the intent to notify residents. Posts under this category are emailed in a newsletter at the end of the day.

Trash services delayed one day for Christmas holiday

The City of Goshen reminds residents that trash and recycling services will be delayed one day next week due to the Christmas holiday on Monday, December 25th. Trash service will continue to be delayed one day the week of January 1 due to New Year’s Day. Normal service will resume on Monday, January 8. The schedule for the week of December 25 is below:

  • Residents with normal pickup on Monday will have service Tuesday, December 26.
  • Residents with normal pickup on Tuesday will have service Wednesday, December 27.
  • Residents with normal pickup on Wednesday will have service Thursday, December 28
  • Residents with normal pickup on Thursday will have service Friday, December 29.
  • Residents with normal pickup on Friday will have service Saturday, December 30.

For more information on trash collection visit goshenindiana.org/trash-collection.

Friendly PSA: How to dispose of special waste during the holiday season

‘Tis the season full of cooking, gift wrapping, and new toys. With many households producing a little more waste in the coming weeks, we wanted to take some time and remind residents how they can properly dispose of some of the more unique kinds of waste that occur during the holidays.

Fats, Oils, and Grease (F.O.G.s), oh my!

Did you know that anything you dispose of through your kitchen sink makes it into the City’s sewer system? That’s one of the many reasons F.O.G.s should not be put down your kitchen sink. Not only will it cause problems for our municipal sewer system, but it can also clog up your household drains and pipes. Instead of sending F.O.G.s down the drain, below are a few alternative disposal options:

  • Pour F.O.G.s into a sturdy container and let harden. Dispose of it in a trash can. (Bonus points if the container is repurposed or recycled!).
  • Scrape hardened F.O.G.s straight into a trash can.
  • Use paper towels to soak up F.O.G.s from used dishes before washing.

Wrapping paper and ribbons galore

Before you put all your wrapping paper in the recycling bin, make sure to take a look at the design. Any paper that is glittery, metallic, or uses foil is likely not recyclable. If you’re not 100% sure, scrunch it into a ball. Does it stay scrunched? If yes, it can be recycled. If it flattens back out or unfolds, it likely can’t be recycled. Any tape, bows, or ribbon should be removed from the paper and thrown away before it hits the recycling bin.

I upgraded electronics; now what?

Did you get an upgraded electronic as a Christmas gift? If you’re getting rid of old electronics, make sure to recycle them properly. If you’re unsure where to recycle e-waste, check out the City’s household hazardous waste page for more info on local resources.

Goshen continues annual Mirth Tree ornament exchange

‘Tis the season for spreading joy and reducing waste in Goshen! The City of Goshen’s Department of Environmental Resilience is excited to announce the 3rd Annual Mirth Tree Ornament Exchange, a festive initiative to celebrate the holidays in an eco-friendly way.

This is the third year residents are encouraged to create ornaments from items that can be found or recycled, then hang them on the Mirth Tree to spread holiday cheer. The tree is located outside the Goshen Utilities Business Office, 203 S. 5th Street. To reduce waste, ornaments are encouraged to be made from natural or recycled materials.

If you aren’t sure where to start, get your creative juices flowing by visiting an ornament-making station. We’ll provide all the materials you need for a creative and environmentally conscious crafting session.

  • The Goshen Public Library, any time from December 1 through 22
  • The Green Bee, any time from December 1 through 22
  • The Electric Brew, Tuesday, December 12, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

If you are making ornaments at home, please keep these things in mind:

  • Please refrain from using glass. We want to keep everyone safe and avoid broken glass.
  • Paper and cardboard are great materials, but the weather may ruin the ornament because the tree is outside.
  • Please do not use any glitter. While glitter appeals to the eye, its adverse effects on the environment outweigh the visual appeal.
  • Here are some suggestions for materials to use:
    • Buttons
    • Ribbons
    • Popsicle sticks
    • Wooden beads
    • Sticks, Acorns, Pinecones, and other natural materials

Starting Christmas Eve, individuals can return and take an ornament home to hang on a tree. Individuals are still welcome to take an ornament from the Mirth Tree even if they did not make one.

Join us in making a difference, one ornament at a time, and let the Mirth Tree become a symbol of joy, community, and environmental stewardship this holiday season.

City of Goshen awarded state volunteerism award

The Environmental Resilience Department poses with the award. Back L to R: Lee Bergey; Aaron Sawatsky-Kingsley, Director of Environmental Resilience; Levi Moser. Front L to R: Theresa Sailor, Education Grant Writer; Melanie Helmuth, Urban Forestry Assistant; Acadia Imhof; Alexa Kennel; Brandi Devoe, Office Assistant; Anna Osborne.

Goshen Mayor Gina Leichty accepted the Government Entity Volunteerism Award on behalf of the City of Goshen during the 2023 Serve Indiana Awards for Excellence Ceremony on Wednesday, November 15. Mayor Leichty presented the award to the Department of Environmental Resilience on Friday, December 1.

“I want to thank the Department of Environmental Resilience and all of our AmeriCorps volunteers, past and present, for pushing Goshen forward and modeling the impact of volunteerism,” said Mayor Leichty.

The Government Entity Volunteerism Award recognizes any local or state government entity that has substantially impacted Hoosier communities through contributions of time and talent during the 2023 calendar year, demonstrating an ongoing community impact through volunteerism or philanthropy.

The City of Goshen was nominated and selected for this award largely for its successful partnership with the Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG) and the AmeriCorps program.

The partnership between MACOG, AmeriCorps, and the Environmental Resilience Department began in 2022 when the city hosted two AmeriCorps members, Shae Dirks and Acadia Imhof. In this federal program, individuals commit to a year of service in their community, earning a modest living allowance, health care, and an education award in exchange. The City is hosting three full-time and two part-time AmeriCorps members this year: Lee Bergey, Acadia Imhof, Alexa Kennel, Anna Osborne, and Levi Moser.

Over the two-year partnership, AmeriCorps volunteers have served over 9,800 hours on a dozen projects focused on community sustainability and public health, including organizing a women’s bike ride, designing and installing a rain garden, surveying trails to assess necessary repairs, and preparing over 700 trees to give away as part of Arbor Day.

Beyond partnering with MACOG and AmeriCorps, city staff regularly promote volunteer opportunities for the public, such as tree plantings, food events, and local clean-ups.

About Serve Indiana

Serve Indiana is a division of the Department of Workforce Development for the State of Indiana. The mission of Serve Indiana is to advance service and volunteerism by informing, connecting, and promoting opportunities and resources that enrich the lives of Hoosiers. This is accomplished through several programs and initiatives, including AmeriCorps State Funding, Day of Service Grants, and the Awards for Excellence.

Goshen to provide warming centers during winter months

The City of Goshen, Elkhart County Emergency Management, Goshen Interfaith Hospitality Network, Faith Mission, and Goshen Public Library have teamed up to provide a place of warmth for our residents this Winter at the Goshen Public Library during normal business hours.  Please check on your friends, family, neighbors, homeless, and the elderly during the winter months. Contact the Goshen Police Department if you need assistance checking on someone.Anyone in need of shelter outside of normal Library business hours or if the library is closed, please contact the Goshen Police Department for assistance (574)536-1790 or (574) 533-8661

Goshen Public Library Hours:

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 10 AM – 8 PM

Tuesday: 1 PM – 8 PM

Friday: 10 AM – 6 PM

Saturday: 10 AM – 4 PM

Public Notice: Jefferson Street reconstruction from Main Street to Third Street – Notice of Intent

The City of Goshen (204 E. Jefferson Street, Suite #1, Goshen, Indiana 46528) will be submitting a Notice of Intent (NOI) letter to notify the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) of their intent to comply with the requirements of the Indiana Construction Stormwater General Permit (CSGP) to discharge stormwater from construction and land disturbing activities associated with the Jefferson Street Reconstruction from Main Street to Third Street project. The project is located along Jefferson Street from just east of the intersection with Main Street to the intersection with Third Street on the west.

The project is located in the SE 1/4 of Section 9, Township 36 N, Range 6 East, in Elkhart Township, Elkhart County, Indiana.

Runoff from the project will soak into the underlying soil through the proposed pervious concrete block roadway with an eventual release to the Elkhart River and through the public storm sewer with a direct discharge to the Elkhart River.

Questions or comments regarding the project should be directed to Jason Kauffman, Stormwater Coordinator, by calling 574-534-2201 or sending an email to jasonkauffman@goshencity.com.

Hold onto those leftovers: trash pick up delay

Heads up! If your usual trash and recycling pickup is on Thursday or Friday, your service will be delayed one day due to the Thanksgiving holiday. The Thursday route will be picked up on Friday, and the Friday route on Saturday. Regular pickup will resume on Monday, Nov. 27th. Please plan accordingly and hold onto those leftovers a bit longer! Thank you all for your cooperation.

November Stormwater Toolbox Newsletter

Read the newsletter by clicking the following link: bit.ly/SWNewsNov2023.

The goal of the Goshen Stormwater Department is clean water for everyone and everything. One way this is achieved is through public education and the Stormwater Toolbox Newsletter is one of many ways this is accomplished. 

In this month’s newsletter, a message of thanks is shared for the help the community gives to keep our local waterways clean. In addition, there are three articles:

  1. November 16 is National Stormwater Day – The National Municipal Stormwater Alliance declared November 16 to be National Stormwater Day as November 16, 1990, is when the Federal Register included notice of the promulgation of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase I MSP program marking this a major day in the stormwater community.
  2. The series on the origin of words used to describe waterways draws to a close this month with a focus on the word used to describe the smell in the air after a summer thunderstorm: Petrichor.  
  3. Holiday F.O.G. Warning – F.O.G. stands for fats, oils, and grease and if these are dumped down a drain it can harm the health of our sewers and local waterways. Find out the proper ways to handle F.OG.s during the holiday season and year-round.

If you have concerns about stormwater drainage or water quality issues or have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact the Goshen Stormwater Department at stormwater@goshencity.com or 574-534-2201.

Goshen Parks’ Nights of Lights event returns to Shanklin Park

The City of Goshen Parks & Recreation Department will kick off its Goshen Nights of Lights event at Shanklin Park on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 23.

“We’re excited to bring back the event to Shanklin Park this season,” said Parks Superintendent Tanya Heyde. “This is an event many families enjoy and look forward to, and we hope many more take the opportunity to create new fun memories at this year’s drive-through, bike-through, or walk-through light show.”

Started last year, Goshen Nights of Lights is a celebration of the holiday season full of animated light silhouettes, walk-through silhouettes, and tree wrappings. The event will run from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. daily through New Year’s Day.