Commemorating the end of slavery, and renewing hope and commitment to a vibrant and flourishing future, the City of Goshen Community Relations Commission is hosting a Juneteenth Celebration at Shanklin Park (411 W. Plymouth Ave.) on Sunday, June 19 from 12 p.m.–4 p.m.

The event will feature local and regional artisans, performers, and food vendors. The main purpose is to celebrate, learn, and connect with others.

Beyond vendor tables we will also have a number of educational opportunities. Goshen Public Library will be printing library cards, community members will host Conversations on Reparations, and the Department of Environmental Resilience will share information about urban forestry.

La Casa will host a free 2-hour public workshop on personal finance from 10 a.m.–12 p.m. Come for the learning, stay for the party!

Juneteenth National Independence Day commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. In 2021, it became an observed federal holiday after a majority approval by the US House of Representatives and unanimous approval from the US Senate. The City of Goshen adopted Juneteenth as a local holiday the same year.

City of Goshen Community Relations Director AJ Delgadillo said a community-wide celebration showcasing local performers, artisans, and food vendors reminds us of how much richer our community is when everyone is empowered to succeed.

“I’m excited for the celebration on Sunday, but I’m also excited to see local artisans step into the spotlight,” he said.

As a holiday, Juneteenth isn’t just a time to celebrate, but also a time for reflecting and acting. The observation of Juneteenth includes empowering our neighbors to build their own opportunities, grow their own wealth, and bring everyone to the table.

“As a community we can say we’re welcoming but it means a lot more when we have a way to recognize the contributions of our neighbors—especially our historically excluded neighbors,” Delgadillo said. “It’s worth our time to say ‘I’m glad for all my neighbors and I’m excited to build the future of our community together.’”

All City offices will be closed Monday, June 20, in observance of Juneteenth. The Board of Works meeting—regularly scheduled on Mondays, has been canceled for the week.

Trash collection will NOT be affected by the holiday this week.

The City of Goshen is awarding over $400,000 in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to local nonprofit organizations in an effort to support their work in the community’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The continued provision of services and resources provided by local nonprofit organizations is vital to the community’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the negative health consequences of the pandemic and general well-being of the community.

A total of 19 organizations applied for a grant. A review committee comprised of two City Council members, staff, and community representatives awarded part or full sums of all 19 requested grants.

The following organizations will receive the grants after July 2022 and will have until Dec. 31, 2024 to use the funds:

• ADEC, Inc., ADEC Summer Camp, $25,000
• Center for Healing and Hope, Food Security with Dignity and Natural Helpers program, $25,000
• Elkhart County Clubhouse, Home repairs for accessibility and safety, $19,704
• Bashor Children’s Home, Benevolent Care Services and Safe Place Community training, $25,000
• Boys & Girls Club of Elkhart County, Summer Camp Food Support, $3,500
• Bushelcraft, Fresh Food for Families in Goshen’s Food Desert, $5,000
• Child and Parent Services, Family Resource Center Navigator, $10,000
• Council on Aging of Elkhart County, Access to Healthcare, $25,000
• Food Bank of Northern Indiana, Mobile Food Distributions, $20,000
• Goshen Christian Montessori School, Expanding high quality child care options, $5,000
• Goshen Community Schools, Field Trip funding, $40,000
• Goshen Health, Weekend Backpack Meal Program, $24,960
• Goshen Interfaith, Homeless Shelter relocation, $20,000
• Goshen Maple City Kiwanis, Tools-4-Schools program, $10,000
• Goshen Select Soccer Club, Capital projects for field development, $75,000
• Horizon Education Alliance, Positive Parenting Program, $20,000
• Maple City Health Care Center, COVID Vaccination for Goshen, $25,000
• Ryan’s Place, Children’s Grief Support programs, $20,000
• ULEAD, Kindness Week Events, $11,500

The City of Goshen was allocated $6.6 million in ARP funds with the intended use of responding to public health emergency with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic or its negative economic impacts on the community, responding to workers performing essential work during the pandemic and to make necessary investments in water, sewer or broadband infrastructure. For more information about the ARP Fund Plan or the grant program, go to www.goshenindiana.org/arp.

The City of Goshen Water & Sewer Department will be repairing a sewer main on Chicago Avenue.

The work will require excavation of the road, with a trench that will be approximately 8 feet in depth. For the safety of the work crews and the public, the Water & Sewer Department will close Chicago Avenue to through traffic, between Wilkinson and Denver streets, on Tuesday, June 14, starting 8 a.m., and reopening for traffic on Friday morning, June 17.

For more updates on road closures this summer, follow the City of Goshen on Facebook at facebook.com/CityOfGoshen or look for updates at goshenindiana.org/blog.

The following message is from the Indiana Department of Transportation:

The Indiana Department of Transportation announces the closure of State Road 119 between State Road 19 and State Road 15.

Crews will begin replacing the bridge over the Elkhart River on or after June 20, with work expected to last until the end of November. All work is weather-dependent and schedules are subject to change.

During the closure, Drivers should use the posted detour of S.R. 19, U.S. 20, U.S. 33 and S.R. 15, or seek an alternate route. The trail that runs adjacent to the worksite will remain open for use during construction. Access to Shanklin Park will also remain open.

INDOT reminds drivers to slow down, use extra caution and drive distraction-free when travelling in and around all work zones.

Stay Informed:

Motorists in Northeast Indiana can monitor road closures, road conditions, and traffic alerts any time via:

• Facebook: facebook.com/INDOTNortheast
• Twitter: @INDOTNortheast
• TrafficWise: 511in.org

With dangerously hot weather moving in through Elkhart County this week, the City of Goshen is asking residents to be mindful and take action to protect themselves, their loved ones and their neighbors.

The National Weather Service (NWS), reports an excessive heat watch from Tuesday Afternoon through Wednesday evening, with heat index values up to 110 possible.

Extreme heat and humidity will increase the potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities.

In talking with the Goshen Public Library, the City of Goshen has designated the library, 601 S. Purl Street, a cooling center during these times of extreme weather. The library hours for the remainder of this week are:

• Tuesday 1–8 p.m.
• Wednesday 10–8 p.m.
• Thursday 10–8 p.m.
• Friday 10–6 p.m.

The NWS recommends being prepared to drink plenty of fluids and staying in an air-conditioned room or out of the sun if possible. Additionally, Mayor Jeremy Stutsman asked residents to look after one another.

“Please check on your friends, family, neighbors, the homeless and the elderly during this time of extreme heat,” he said. “If you know of anyone in need of assistance, don’t hesitate to call for help.”

If you need assistance checking in on someone, please contact Officer James Ballard at 574-536-1790. Please call 911 if you have an emergency.

Don’t miss the fun next Saturday, June 18, starting at 11am!

Grab your family, friends, lawn chairs, bathing suits, and towels for an awesome family day! Activities include 8 water slides to choose from, Ron’s River Dogs $, Ice-Cream on Wheels $, music and fun!

Wrist bands are $10 per person and can be purchased ahead of time at our administrative office, online with wrist band pick up the day of the event, or purchased at the event!

For more information and to purchase tickets please click the link below or call our administrative office at 574-534-2901

Click here to register.

Join us Saturday, June 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mill Street Park, 202 Prospect Ave.

The event will feature the unveiling of the 2022 storm drain mural art project and voting for a “People’s Choice” award winning artist. The theme of the project this year was “Dreaming of Clean Water” with the goal of raising awareness about the connection between the City’s storm drains and clean water.

To further that goal, the event will also feature a clean-up of Rock Run Creek and the surrounding neighborhood. Crews will be leaving from the main event center at regular intervals to participate.

Most storm drains in Goshen connect directly to waterways without any treatment—meaning trash and other debris in our roadways ends up directly in our rivers and streams.

Water Fest Order of Events!

• 10:15 – Clean-up crew leaves from City tent
• 11:00 – Dunk Tank: Jason Kauffman, Stormwater Coordinator
• 11:15 – Clean-up crew leaves from City tent
• 12:00 – Recognition of Drain Art Muralists
• Dunk Tank: Jeromy Sheets, Director of Athletics and Student Activities (GJHS and GIS)
• 12:15 – Clean-up crew leaves from City tent
• 12:30 – Dunk Tank: PJ Wolf, Dean of Students (GHS)
• 1:00 – Dunk Tank: Mayor Jeremy Stutsman
• 1:15 – Clean-up crew leaves from City tent
• 1:45 – People’s Choice Award Winning Mural Announcement

Water-themed activities and learning from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.!

The Goshen Department of Engineering is seeking community input on the new temporary cycle track along Lincoln Avenue.

Residents can take the survey by going to https://bit.ly/cycletracksurvey, (en español: https://bit.ly/ciclovialincoln). An open house and other opportunities for residents to ask questions directly to staff will be announced at a later date.

The City reconfigured Lincoln Avenue to test the City’s first-ever cycle track, which runs along the south side of Lincoln Avenue between 5^th and 8^th streets.

The track is expected to provide a safe connection in the city’s bicycle network and facilitate better pedestrian movement while having a minimal impact to vehicular traffic flow. 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.

John Boettcher Excavating will be performing work to do a sewer tap on Indiana A venue for the new Vequity Medical facility. This project will require both northbound lanes to be closed on Indiana Avenue between Pike Street and the alley that runs behind Dunkin’. The closure is scheduled to occur June 13 through the 16th.

The contractor will maintain open access for the businesses and residents on Indiana Avenue and Pike Street.

For more updates on road closures this summer, follow the City of Goshen on Facebook at facebook.com/CityOfGoshen or look for updates at goshenindiana.org/blog.