December 2020 eNewsletter |
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Welcome to the City of Kentwood's monthly eNewsletter. Stay up to date about community news, events and programs happening this month. |
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City of Kentwood Operations Update |
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Consistent with the new Michigan Department of Health and Human Services emergency order, all indoor sports, enrichment and group fitness classes are postponed through Dec. 8. The Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE, remains open for those who want to utilize Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry or participate in our holiday giving programs. Face coverings and check-in are required for anyone who enters the facility.
City Hall remains open for essential in-person services. Visitors are required to wear a facial covering and practice physical distancing. Residents are strongly encouraged to continue to access City services online at kentwood.us or call or email City staff. Bills may be paid through U.S. mail, electronically using ACH or the drop box or drive-up teller tube located outside City Hall.
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Tune into Kentwood’s Virtual Tree Lighting Ceremony - Dec. 3 |
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After much discussion, the City of Kentwood has decided to host a virtual tree lighting ceremony this year due to COVID-19 and restrictions on gatherings. Residents are invited to tune in to Facebook at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3 to watch the tree lighting. Mayor Stephen Kepley will give a holiday greeting before lighting the tree. Viewers also will get a glimpse of the holiday lights and decorations around city campus.
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Send a Letter to Santa through Dec. 18 |
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This holiday season, Santa Claus has asked for our help collecting children’s letters for him. Now through Dec. 18, children can write letters to Santa and bring them to the “North Pole” mailbox at Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SE, or the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE. Letters can also be mailed to Santa’s attention to: P.O. Box 8448, Kentwood, MI 49518. All letters will then be forwarded to the North Pole for a response from Santa – be sure to include your return address! Look for more details on our website at kentwood.us/letterstosanta.
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Kentwood Holiday Giving Continues Through Dec. 16 |
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If you want to join our efforts to make the holidays brighter for community members in need, we welcome you to take part in the following programs that run through Dec. 16 at the Kentwood Activities Center, or KAC.
Be a Santa to a Senior
To participate, select a tag from the Senior Santa Tree, purchase the item(s) listed on the tag, wrap the gift, tape the tag to the outside and return it to the KAC by Dec. 16. You also can select a tag by phone at 616.656.5270 or order a gift online through beasantatoasenior.com.
Holiday Hat and Mitten Tree
Help adorn the Holiday Hat and Mitten Tree with new or very gently used hats, scarves, mittens, coats, boots, snow pants, socks and blankets. These cold-weather donations will be distributed to individuals in our school systems and surrounding community organizations who are in need of support.
Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry
We’re always accepting donations for Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry at the KAC during business hours. We also have collection bins available for organizations that want to place them at their facilities. More information, including a list of suggested donations, is available at kentwood.us/littlefreepantry.
The KAC is at 355 48th St. SE and is open 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday. Thank you for your generosity!
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Updated Winter 2020 Tax Payment and Utility Payment Options |
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As we work together to limit in-person transactions and help stop the spread of COVID-19, we strongly encourage you to mail your winter tax payment or take it to the drop box or drive-up teller located in the median on the south side of City Hall.
If you must pay in person at City Hall, please have your check prepared prior to arrival or have exact change for cash transactions.
Thank you for your partnership in helping to keep our community healthy and safe. To find more information about tax payment options, visit our website.
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If you need help with food, housing, paying bills or other items, please call 211, text your ZIP code to 898211* or search online any time to get connected with resources. Operators offer help in 180+ languages. To explore more resources, please visit kentwood.us/resources.
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Brush/Leaf Drop-Offs Open Through Dec. 6
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Our brush and leaf drop-off sites at the Kentwood Department of Public Works, 5068 Breton Ave. SE, remain open through Sunday, Dec. 6. Residents may utilize the sites between noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Brush, sticks, tree limbs, logs, loose leaves and grass clippings are accepted. Visit our website for more details.
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A tree recycling site will be offered Dec. 28 to Jan. 29 at our Department of Public Works except on Dec. 31, Jan. 1 and Jan. 18 when our offices will be closed for holidays. Residents may bring holiday trees between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please note: all decorations, lights, wires and other non-natural materials must be removed in advance. A box for string lights will be located near the front doors of the Public Works building. |
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Operation P.R.I.C.E. During the Holiday Shopping Season |
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Operation P.R.I.C.E. – Preventing Retail Theft through Initiative, Collaboration and Enforcement – has kicked off for the holiday season to create a positive and safe shopping experience for those who live, work and visit our city. The educational program was created in 2014 by the Kentwood Police Department as a collaborative effort to build relationships with our business community and to respond to crime patterns more effectively during the busy shopping season.
During Operation P.R.I.C.E., police work with more than 70 local retailers to discourage shoplifting and educate employees and store owners on ways to reduce theft. Participating retailers display posters and signs to indicate their partnership with the Kentwood Police Department. The department also provides informational pamphlets to businesses on indicators of theft, counterfeit currency, legal actions and methods of filing reports. Shoppers can expect to see police officers in and around the community’s popular retail destinations. For more information, visit our website.
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Kent District Library Update |
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Out of an abundance of caution, Kent District Library has closed its branches to in-person visits but continues to offer curbside pickup services, online programs and expanded online resources. Curbside service is available during normal branch hours so there is no interruption for patrons who check out items. Online programs and other resources are available 24/7. Read this blog post for further details.
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Tips for Driving in the Snow |
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With winter upon us, the Kentwood Police Department offers reminders for how you can stay safe while driving in snow and ice:
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Clean off windows: Clear all your windows of snow and ice so you are able to see the roadway.
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Drive slowly: Drive with caution. Give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination, so you’re never stressed into speeding.
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Accelerate slowly: Spinning tires limit control of your vehicle.
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Stop slowly: Just as you should speed up slowly, you should also come to a stop slowly. It takes up to 10 times longer to stop on icy roads.
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Give yourself space: If a normal stopping distance is 3 to 4 seconds, it takes at least 8 to 10 seconds on freezing roads. So give yourself a good margin of safety up to 30 seconds on ice.
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Beware of icy bridges: Remember that overpasses and bridges freeze before other parts of the roadway.
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Work your anti-lock brakes: Do you know how to use anti-lock brakes? Focus on the three S’s: Stomp as hard as you can, stay there – that is, with your foot on the brake – and steer where you want to go.
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Check road conditions: Always check to see if a road is salted, gritted or otherwise treated against snow and ice. Also bear in mind that other cars’ tire tracks, packed-down plowed roads and other such compressed conditions are more likely to turn to dangerous ice.
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When the snow starts to fly, we often receive questions about the clearing of sidewalks and streets. Our Department of Public Works prioritizes winter operations from highest-volume streets, such as 44th Street, 52nd Street and Kalamazoo Avenue, to lowest-volume roads, such as cul-de-sacs. We make every attempt to have all the roads cleared within 24 hours after the snow event has ended. For more information about our winter maintenance efforts, visit our website.
Remember, property owners are responsible for clearing the sidewalks in front of homes and businesses. Please remove anything more than 2 inches of snow, ice and other obstructions from the sidewalk in front of your home or business as well as from around fire hydrants within 24 hours after a snow event has ended. We appreciate your help in keeping our pathways clear for everyone.
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Winter Parking Reminder - Nov. 15–March 15 |
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Winter on-street parking rules are in effect through March 15. Parking along city streets is prohibited between 1 a.m. and 8 a.m. and any other time when on-street parking impedes snowplowing, cleaning or maintenance operations. Your Department of Public Works and Police Department greatly appreciates your assistance in keeping our roads safe during the winter. |
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Holiday Closures – Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1 |
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Please be aware our offices and tree recycling site will be closed Dec. 24, Dec. 25, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 for the holidays. |
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4900 Breton Ave. SE Kentwood, MI 49508 | 616.698.9610 | Contact Us
City Hall opens daily at 7:30 a.m. and closes Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 4:30 p.m.; Tuesdays at 6 p.m.; and Fridays at noon.
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This is a monthly eNewsletter. You are receiving it because you have done business with the City of Kentwood or have signed up for news about our community events and programs. If you would like to no longer receive this, you may unsubscribe below. |
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