Join Mayor Jeremy Stutsman for his annual Bike to Work Week Bike Ride, plus live music, food trucks and family activities at the City’s Backyard Bike-In event Saturday, May 14 at Powerhouse Park.

The Backyard Bike-In runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with the bike ride beginning at 10:30 a.m. The route will lead residents through the City’s new temporary Cycle Track, giving many a first glance at the bicycle lanes reserved on Lincoln Avenue between 5th and 8th streets.

See the route here.

Following the bike ride, local bands Shiny, Shiny Black and McLane & Co. will perform until 1 p.m. There will be life-sized yard games, a bike check-up station from Lincoln Avenue Cycling, food trucks from Sweazy Q and Rulli’s Pizza, and information tents from the Connect In Elkhart County project and MACOG.

Bike to Work Week is May 16–22. According to the National Bike League, 40% of all trips in the U.S. are less than two miles, making bicycling a feasible and fun way to get around.

In conjunction with the Goshen Chamber of Commerce’s “Beautify Goshen” Week, the Goshen Street Department will be making additional disposal services available to assist city residents in their “Beautify Goshen” tasks.

This free service is offered only during the first full week in May (an eight-day week with two Saturdays), and there is no limit to the quantity of items that may be disposed. Residents must make arrangements to transport the items; there will not be curbside pickup.  Because this free service is paid by the tax dollars of Goshen city residents, only City residents are allowed to dispose of items.  IDs will be checked to verify residency.

The collection site will be the Goshen Street Department located at 475 Steury Ave.  Hours that items will be accepted are as follows:

• Saturday, April 30 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Sunday, May 1: CLOSED
• Monday––Friday, May 2 to May 6 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Saturday, May 7 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

In order to keep disallowed items from entering the waste stream, the Street Department will have a crew member on hand at all times monitoring the items being accepted. Items that can be disposed of are:

• Non-hazardous refuse, such as furniture, carpeting, lumber, dry wall, metal and vinyl siding, windows, fiberglass insulation, mattresses, stoves, landscape timbers, bricks, etc.
• White goods, such as refrigerators, air conditioners, freezers, dehumidifiers, etc.; the Freon does not have to be removed
• Electronic waste, such as computers, home phones, televisions, etc.
• Tires up to 16½”, either on or off their rims

The following items will not be accepted during this large-item disposal:

• Pesticides or herbicides (insect or weed killers)
• Unlabeled drums containing any substance
• Sealed pressurized containers (propane tanks, etc.)
• Paint thinners, oil base or water base paint
• Brush and yard waste
• Asbestos insulation
• Contaminated soil

During the other 51 weeks of the year, Goshen residents may place one or two large items per month with their regular weekly trash for removal. (This does not include electronics, old tube-type televisions or any cooling appliances containing Freon or any of the items not accepted in the Beautify Goshen disposal.) For details of the year-long, large-item disposal, contact Borden Waste-Away at (574) 293-5001.

The Goshen Street Department began its spring brush and leaf collection on April 25, ending May 6 after multiple rounds.

During this first collection the Street Department will pick up both leaves and brush. Because of the large amount of brush and leaves usually placed out for this first pick up, it tends to take longer for the crews to make their rounds. Some information to remember:

• Residents are to have their leaves and brush placed at the curb, but not in the street so as to not cause a road hazard or hinder water drainage.
• Do not place brush or trash on or in leaf piles. 
• Leaf and brush piles placed in alleyways will not be picked up.
• Do not place piles around fire hydrants, mail boxes or telephone poles. 

For the rest of the summer season, brush collection will begin on the last Monday of the month from May through September. These are the starting Dates:

• May 30, 2022
• June 27, 2022  
• July 25, 2022
• August 29, 2022
• September 26, 2022

For clarification or questions, please call the Goshen Street Department at 534-9711.

City Departments and partners will gather at the Goshen Courthouse Lawn Friday, April 29 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. for an evening of fun and learning.

At the City’s Arbor Day celebration on April 29th, at the County Courthouse in downtown Goshen, there will be tree seedlings to give away: 100 Sweet Gum, 100 Pecan, and 100 Silky Dogwood. The Goshen High School Youth Caucus will also be raffling off 18 older trees. This will be a fundraiser for Trees For Goshen, a local non-profit organization that helps Goshen residents plant trees on their properties. Raffle tickets can be purchased at the Arbor Day event, and ahead of Arbor Day by inquiring at environmental@goshencity.com.

There are 11 different species of trees in the raffle, and participants can choose which kind of tree they are purchasing a ticket for. Three of these species will be smaller than 4 feet tall this spring, and tickets will be sold for $10 per tree; the remaining species will be 4-6 feet tall, and tickets will be sold for $15 per tree.

The City of Goshen will reconfigure Lincoln Avenue for the next several months to test the City’s first-ever cycle track. This temporary track will provide a safe connection in the city’s bicycle network and facilitate better pedestrian movement.

The City will install a demonstration Cycle Track lane along the south side of Lincoln Avenue between 5^th and 8^th streets in early May, with the plan for the lane to remain over a period of several months as a trial to determine if a permanent cycle track can be installed in the future.

In addition to the added lane, which will function as a two-way route for cyclists, Lincoln Avenue will be reduced to two driving lanes, accommodating for parking lanes on both sides of the road and a center turn lane.

The plan for lane reductions is based on a study of traffic volumes in the area, which indicates the change will have minimal impact on traffic flow.

The work will include adjusting the existing pavement markings and installing temporary curb sections with delineators to define the cycle track. The cycle track will be placed along the south curb line and the on-street parking will be shifted to the north side of the track. The number of on-street parking spaces will not be decreased.

“This project has the potential to make the important connection between the Indiana Multi-Use Path, the Millrace Trail, the Maple City Greenway and the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail,” Civil Engineer Josh Corwin said. “The City’s hope is that this reconfiguration also will help make the neighborhood more bike and pedestrian-friendly.”

The City will evaluate the layout, traffic flow and parking, as well as collecting feedback from the public during the trial period. A public meeting will be held to receive community feedback. The date and location will be determined at a future date.

More information, including updates, diagrams and illustrations of the project can be found at goshenindiana.org/cycletrack. For any questions, residents can contact the Engineering Department at 534-2201 or via email at engineering@goshencity.com.

Our future leaders are talking. The Community Relations Commission thinks we should tune in.

The CRC organized an essay contest for all Goshen students in junior high through high school. Members of the Commission will celebrate and award the participants of this year’s essay contest Tuesday, April 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 111 E. Jefferson St. 

The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided. 

Through their essays, students chose one of the eight CRC principles, reflected on it and discussed how it affects us as individuals and communities.

As a community, we have a stake in challenging our leaders to grow their insight and imagination. For the contestants, the stakes were more concrete— up to $150 in cash! 

A committee of five judges has determined 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place winners for each category: Jr. High and Sr. High.

Ed Groff, CRC secretary, and who served as a judge for this contest, spoke of his experience reading the essays from this year’s participants. 

“As a member of the CRC it has been a pleasure to read the inspiring essays that were submitted for this year’s contest,” he said. “Students, drawing from personal experiences, shared their aspirations for a fair and robust Goshen. We hope to see this become an annual event, encouraging our youth to voice their visions for our evolving community.”

After a 2 year break due to the pandemic, America’s Freedom Fest, is returning to the Goshen Municipal Airport, Saturday, July 9, 2022.  

Headlining this year’s event will be the United States Air Force (USAF) A-10 Demonstration Team. Air Combat Command announced at the 2021 International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) that America’s Freedom Fest had been selected to host the USAF A-10 Demonstration Team. 

Airport Manager Randy Sharkey said America’s Freedom Fest is ranked as one of the largest single day air shows in the country, attracting 25,000 – 30,000 spectators. This year’s show will be one of the best yet, with the USAF A-10 Demonstration Team, he added. 

“There are only a handful of shows selected each year that receive a military jet demo and we are fortunate to have showed up on their radar,” Sharkey said. Unlike previous military participation at Goshen Air shows, the A-10 Thunderbolt II will be staging their operations at the Goshen Airport. 

In 2019 America’s Freedom Fest hosted the F-22 Raptor, however due to runway restrictions the Air Force staged at the Battle Creek MI Airport. Sharkey added, “This will be a first for us where we are able to provide ground support services for a USAF military fighter jet.” 

Spectators at the show will be able to get up close to the A-10. The A-10 is the Air Force’s premier close air support aircraft, providing invaluable protection to troops on the ground. 

The Air Combat Command A-10 Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team, stationed out of Davis-Montham Air Force Base, Arizona, brings the aircraft to air shows across the country to showcase the unique combat capabilities of the A-10 “Warthog.” The pilot and aircraft will perform precision aerial maneuvers, while highlighting the mission and professionalism of the men and women of the United States Air Force.  

Additionally, the team brings attention to the Air Force’s proud history by flying formations with historical aircraft in the presentation of the Air Force Heritage Flight.

Piloted by Major Haden “Gator” Fullam of the 355^th Fighter Wing, Davis-Montham, the A-10 will perform a full tactical demonstration with live pyrotechnics as part of their participation in the 2022 Edition of America’s Freedom Fest. 

In addition to his role as the A-10 demonstration Team Pilot, Major Fullam has accumulated more than 1,800 flying hours, including 541 combat hours in missions over Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan in support of Operations Inherent Resolve, Operation Freedom Sentinel and Operation Resolute Support.  Prior to his current position he served as an Instructor Pilot and Assistant Director of Operations for the 354^th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Montham.

Major Fullam will be joined by a civilian qualified Heritage Flight Program Pilot/Aircraft following his full demonstration in the presentation of the Heritage Flight (watch for details as the pilot and aircraft for the Heritage Flight are confirmed later this spring).

The A-10 Demonstration Team and the Heritage Flight will headline an unparalleled cast of civilian performers, aircraft and entertainment scheduled for America’s Freedom Fest 2022.  

Attendees can anticipate an incredible and varied air show line-up to include: Randy Ball & the Mig-17, Chris Darnell & the Shockwave Jet Truck, Red Bull Helicopter Air shows, The Phillips 66 Aerostars 3 ship Aerobatic Team, Susan Dacy Barnstorming America in the super Stearman Biplane, Michael Vakin in the Extra 300, Bob Richards in “Machaira”, Rotors N Ribs helicopter performers and so much more! 

In a Salute to America’s Freedom, the airshow activities will culminate with an incomparable fireworks display by the Madbomber Fireworks Production Company. 

For more information on performers, private chalets, sponsorship opportunities and advance tickets go to www.americasfreedomfest.net. America’s Freedom Fest is an Indiana 501c3 corporation.

The City of Goshen Water and Sewer invites public participation in developing a wellhead protection plan.

A public meeting will be held Thursday, March 31, at 1 p.m. at the Goshen City Court building, 111 E. Jefferson St.

To fulfill the requirements of the State of Indiana Wellhead Protection Rule, the Goshen Water
& Sewer Department is updating our Wellhead Protection Plan.

The next step in this process involves the formation of a volunteer-supported local planning team. This team will make decisions on how best to protect our drinking water from potential sources of contamination. Interested parties are invited to come learn more about the process and to support the local planning team.

Address questions to Marvin Shepherd, of the Goshen Water and Sewer Department at 574-534-5306.