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FACE-TO-FACE MARKETPLACE

WEST LAFAYETTE

Opens Wednesday / May 1 / 3:30 – 7 pm Cumberland Park

Let’s get personal about our food. Like actually knowing where it comes from and who grows it. Like getting it locally and not shipped from another state or overseas. Like knowing it is at its peak freshness and not full of preservatives. That’s what our Farmers Market is all about. And it’s a fun opportunity to get face-to-face with neighbors and friends in the spring sunshine.

Fresh this season are some new vendors to complement the lineup of perennial favorites. Madd Lu’s Macaroons feature deliciously different meringue-filled confections. This is culinary chef Lindsay Poxon’s first year at the West Lafayette Farmers Market. She’ll be bringing a selection of macaroons, such as strawberry cheesecake and salted caramel, along with homemade truffles. The Vegan

Cheese Lady, Juliann Davis, is another new vendor whose niche market is selling 20+ non-dairy cheeses and meat-like sandwiches to those who do not eat foods with animal products. There is something for everyone at the Market. Check out all of the vendors at wlfarmersmarket.com.

SNAP payments are now accepted for the first time to qualified families for eligible foods at the Market. Also, CityBus is offering free rides to SNAP recipients to and from both farmers markets on market days. For more information about this program or any market-related questions, email wlfm@westlafayette.in.gov. Stay tuned for weekly entertainment and educational opportunities. New this year will be monthly car seat safety checks, performed by West Lafayette’s Fire and Police Departments. Let us know if you’d like to volunteer, host a nonprofit information booth, or become a vendor to keep our Market growing strong.

ART IN BLOOM Saturday / June 22 / 10 am – 2 pm

Get inspired by outdoor beauty at West Lafayette’s annual garden tour, featuring New Chauncey neighborhood with works by local artists. Art in Bloom tour particulars, as well as order forms for flats of red annuals, are on the City website and on the Art in Bloom Facebook page. The featured red flowers are available to residents at a special discounted price with payment due by May 9th, so don’t delay! Flower pick-up is on May 18th in the Farmers Market parking lot at Cumberland Park at 9 am. Please contact Bryce Patz at 765-775-5160 with any questions.

BUZZ

ING SINCE 2005PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANN HUNT

M A Y O R ’ S C O L U M N

SPRING BREAK

First of all, congratulations to Purdue’s graduating class

— your degree should include a special

Flexibility Certificate for surviving West Lafayette’s extraordinary growth spurt over the last four years. You’ve seen and gone through more changes than any other class in history. From remaking State Street, to adding more trails and roundabouts, to changing traffic patterns and crossings, to City Hall relocations, let alone all of the new campus buildings sprouting up, you’ve seen it all.

Our partnerships with Purdue, Lafayette, and Tippecanoe County helped create the perfect storm to make all of this recent progress possible. Our initiatives have been citizen-driven to keep pace with other top university towns and provide an exceptional living environment for citizens of all ages and the thousands of visitors we host annually in West Lafayette. It’s no accident that we regularly receive national accolades for our excellence in City Services (safety, engineering, & utilities). We plan for excellence. Our significant investments in infrastructure, development, and recreational opportunities are only fitting for the home of Purdue.

The good news this spring? We’re taking a break; no major construction. We’re

focusing on nurturing the seeds that were planted several springs

ago. As the weather warms up and the coast is clear, why not bike or hike along the 27 miles of paved trails and 10

miles of bicycle lanes, or try out the sharrow (multi-modal lane) along State Street if you

dare. Just wear a helmet. Take the time to enjoy the beautiful outdoors in a park or pool or festival. You’ve earned it.

RIVERFEST ON THE RISE

Saturday / July 13 / 9 am – 4 pm / Tapawingo Park

Like a midsummer day’s dream, Riverfest offers the perfect venue for families to escape the ordinary and enjoy a day in and around both sides of the river. The free annual festival starts at Tapawingo Park and expands across the pedestrian bridge into the streets of Downtown Lafayette for a full, fun day of family-friendly activities, entertainment, and learning opportunities to celebrate the Wabash.

Float your boat, or use one of the provided canoes or kayaks to paddle from the Purdue Crew House boat launch to the festival grounds. Feeling competitive? Sign up to crew one of the Voyageur Canoes, sponsored by local businesses. The City of West Lafayette will endeavor to retain the Beaver Award in its annual City Challenge race against Lafayette. New this year is raft racing for high school students. When a crewman says,

“Paddle faster — I hear banjo music!” don’t panic. It’s just live festival entertainment!

Dryland activities include a 5K and Kids Run on the trail system, a bicycle safety course on the Riverside Skating rink, a farmers market on the pedestrian bridge, disc golf, a fishing derby, a sand volleyball tournament, pony rides, and food vendors. Make sure to see the conservation exhibits from local organizations that are invested in making the river and both communities the best they can be. wabashriver.com

Riverfest

REMEMBERING THE PAST, MOVING INTO THE FUTURE

The interior of the future City Hall in historic Morton Center is poised for a revival this spring. The bones of the beautiful 1929 Tudor Revival-style structure are good and will remain the same except for exterior repairs/cleaning and window replacement. Because it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the window replacements will comply with its historic designation. The architect and construction management teams were chosen because of their expertise with historic renovation projects.

However, the inside of the building will be completely fresh and modern once completed. The internal makeover will breathe new life into the old soul. The south-east entrance (adjacent to the parking lot) will be redone with integrated stairs and ramps and new landscaping. Once inside, you’ll be greeted by a City staff member in a centrally-located customer service area who can take payments, answer questions, or direct you to meetings. The first floor will contain Council Chambers and meeting spaces of various sizes for use by community groups or classes. The second story will house the Mayor and the departments now located at City Hall (former Happy Hollow Elementary). A new central staircase will be built and the existing skylights will be replaced to allow light to cascade down into the building.

The exterior work and interior demolition will begin this spring once environmental testing is complete. The plan includes installing new energy-efficient HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and technology systems to keep the historic building high-functioning for the next one hundred years. It will be a total transformation which reveres our history and better serves today’s citizens.

BICYCLE MEANT FOR YOU

Celebrate National Bike Month this May by taking a spin to school or work, or anywhere else you want to go! Have the kids mount their steeds for National Bike to School Day on Wednesday, May 8. National Bike to Work Day is on Friday the 17th, and everyone is invited to the celebration at 8 am on the Myer’s Pedestrian Bridge. Check out more details plus other activities, rides, and safety information at bikewalkgreaterlafayette.org. Don’t own a bike? Use one of the Pace bicycles on campus by getting the free Pace Bike Share app on your smartphone.

Before you hit the road, read up on bicycle safety rules first. The WLPD has a full list of bike safety rules and resources on the City website, wl.in.gov. Bicyclists save money, reduce pollution, get exercise, park closer, and smile more.

WL MAY

Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.

Albert Einstein

Rendering of the new central staircase that will be built at Morton Center.

DIVE IN!

Now in its 54th year, the Municipal Pool is once again poised to make a big splash for youth and adults in West Lafayette when it opens on Thursday, May 23. Generations of local residents have brought their families to this prized piscine since 1965. New this year is an extended swim season. Public swim will now be available during weeknights and on weekends through Labor Day!

Because learning how to swim is an essential skill, the Parks Board has always kept swim classes reasonably priced. The Learn to Swim lessons help teach up to 500 children each season. Four two-week sessions of lessons are available, starting June 3. For swim times, classes, passes, and pool rental information, see wl.in.gov under Parks and Recreation.

LET’S TALK TRASH … CANS

It’s a messy topic but one that needs to be contained. Help us keep West Lafayette clean by using City-approved trash containers for your weekly pickup. We’ve done the research and found the best and most durable container, better than the hardware store variety that can break during extreme cold or when picked up by our truck’s robotic arms.

The City provides a quality 48-gallon or 96-gallon recycle cart per residence at no charge. If you need additional trash containers, we sell 48-gallon garbage carts for $59.33 or 96-gallon garbage carts for $69.55 both of which have a 12-year warranty. If you would like to purchase one, please stop by the front office at City Hall (formerly Happy Hollow Elementary) during business hours (M-F, 8 am - 4:30 pm).

DON’T WASTE IT — COMPOST IT

To decrease the amount of waste going into landfills and increase the energy we can generate from compostable food, the Waste- water Treatment Plant along with the Go Greener Commission and students from the Purdue Student Sustainability Council are piloting a new composting initiative for residents.

Simply collect acceptable food waste scraps (i.e., bread, dairy, meat without bones, fruits, vegetables, and processed food) in a countertop container, transfer it to a 5-gallon container (available at the WWTP), then drop it off at the Recycling Center. All food waste will be taken to the digesters at the WWTP to create biogas electricity and compost. For additional drop-off locations and backyard composting tips, go to wl.in.gov, Street and Sanitation Department under Food Waste.

HAPPY HOLLOW GATEWAY

The main entrance to Happy Hollow Park will be completely reconstructed this spring to create a separate and safe multi-use trail for hikers and bikers. Expect a complete two-week closure to the main entrance on Happy Hollow Road soon. Access to the park will still be available through all other entry points during that period, with the main entrance open before Memorial Day weekend. The entire gateway project is slated to be completed by mid-fall with minimal inconvenience to park patrons.

ENGINEERING UPDATE

Just a couple of projects are on the construction docket for the warm weather months; projects that will make your drive to sporting events easier and access to Happy Hollow Park better.

Cherry Lane ExtensionSoon there will be another access to the north side of campus by extending Cherry Lane all of the way from Northwestern Avenue to US 231. This will help alleviate traffic buildup on game days and rush hour. Look for construction of the new signaled intersection on 231 to begin this spring. There will be minimal traffic impact on the highway during the building process. Expect the project to be open to traffic before the first home football game on September 7.

THIS SCHOOLHOUSE ROCKS

Morris Schoolhouse is hosting an Open House on Sunday, July 21 from 2 - 4 pm. Go back in time to 1892 to see how children learned back then - the schoolbooks they used, the maps they studied, and the slates where they wrote their lessons. Visit with a schoolmaster around the pot belly stove or listen to music from a 1907 pump organ. You’ll also be able to view the future plans for Cason Family Park. Please make plans to attend this free and informative event. Parking will be available at the Connections Point Church across Cumberland Street. If you have any questions, contact Sue Eiler, 765-714-2213.

NEW HIRESSteven TiceFacility OperatorWater Resource Recovery Facility

West Lafayette Police Officer Heath Crawford and Zen, WLPD’s two-year-old K-9 Malinois, completed a rigorous six-week course at Vohne Liche Kennels and are now patrolling the streets together. Canine teams are adept at finding narcotics through their intensive training in drug detection, tracking, searches, and high-risk traffic stops. Congratulations to the newest partners in crime fighting!

Canine teams do many demonstrations each year in West Lafayette and Tippecanoe County schools, including participating in the D.A.R.E. program to educate students about the dangers of drugs. In addition, the WLPD canine unit assists several agencies within Tippecanoe and surrounding counties with school searches to keep schools safe.

OFFICER AWARDS

2018 Officer of the Year Elizabeth RomstadtCongratulations go to Officer Romstadt whose dedication is evident in her roles as WLPD K-9 handler, Field Training Officer, and Narcotics Unit member. She also excels in her service to the community outside of the agency as a local School Resource Officer, a RAD/RAD Kids instructor, and participates in many community events on her time off such as the Special Olympics Polar Plunge and the CASA for Kids Cycling Challenge. We are fortunate to have such a wonderful person and mentor serving our agency.

Police Merit Commission Exceptional Service Award Austin AmesOfficer Ames’ exemplary service on July 21, 2018 earned him this prestigious award for successfully preventing a suicide attempt from the Wabash Landing Parking Garage. His lengthy coolheaded counseling and approachability brought the subject to ultimate safety. Both police officers received their awards in March at City Hall.

SUMMER FUN STARTS HERE

Registration is nearly full for WL’s new Summer Day Camp with weekly sessions that run from May 28 – August 9, 9 am – 4 pm. Register now at City Hall (formerly Happy Hollow Elementary, 1200 N. Salisbury) with a $25 deposit to hold your spot. The all-day camp provides affordable summer childcare and fun opportunities for kids, ages 6-12 to swim, play games, learn arts & crafts, and take field trips. For more information, call 765-775-5110 or register at wl.in.gov/parks under Recreation Class Offerings.

PARTNERS IN CRIME FIGHTING

CITY NEWS

West Lafayette Police Officer Heath Crawford and Zen

Officer Elizabeth Romstadt Officer Austin Ames

NEWS BY EMAIL: To receive City newsletters by email, visit the email notification page under Services at wl.in.gov

John Dennis • Mayor 765/775-5100 mayor@wl.in.gov

Sana Booker • Clerk 765/775-5150 clerk@wl.in.gov

wl.in.gov

West Lafayette City Hall 1200 N. Salisbury Street West Lafayette, IN 47906

CONNECTION

A Tree City USA

WEST LAFAYETTE

PRSRT STDUS PostageP A I DPermit 74Lafayette, IN

Committed to Going Greener

Rx/OTC Take-Back2nd Thursday / 11:30 am – 1:30 pmMay 9 / June 13 / August 8West Lafayette Police Station

City Offices CLOSED Monday, May 27 / Memorial DayThursday, July 4 / Independence DayMonday, September 2 / Labor Day

Street Department CLOSEDFriday, July 5 for Independence Day

May is Bike MonthMay 8 / National Bike to School DayMay 13 – 19 / National Bike to Work WeekMay 17 / National Bike to Work DayBikeWalkGreaterLafayette.org

West Lafayette Farmers MarketWednesday / May – October3:30 – 7 pm / Cumberland Parkwlfarmersmarket.com

Indiana Fiddlers’ GatheringFriday – Sunday / June 28 – 30Tippecanoe Battlefield

Art in BloomSaturday / June 2210 am – 2 pmTour maps posted soon wl.in.gov

Stars & StripesThursday / July 4Riehle Plaza / Downtown Lafayette

Wabash RiverfestSaturday / July 13 / 9 am – 4 pmTapawingo Park

Tippecanoe County 4-H FairJuly 20 – 27Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds

LET’S GO EVENT CALENDAR

Wednesdays in the WildWednesdays / 1 – 3 pmLilly Nature Centerwl.in.gov/parks

Mind BOGgling EventSaturday / May 18 / 10 am – 3 pmCelery Bog Nature Area

West Lafayette Municipal PoolOpens May 23 / noon – 7:50 pmSalisbury & Kingston Streets

Round the Fountain Art FairSaturday / May 259 am – 4:30 pmLafayette Courthouse Square

Taste of TippecanoeSaturday / June 154 pm – midnightDowntown Lafayette