When you fill out the 2010 census form, you’re making a statement about what resources our community needs going forward. Census information affects the numbers of seats Tennessee occupies in the U.S. House of Representatives. And people from many walks of life use census data to advocate for causes, rescue disaster victims, prevent diseases, research markets, locate pools of skilled workers and more. When you do the math, it’s easy to see what an accurate count of residents can do for our community. The information the census collects helps to determine how more than $400 billion dollars of federal funding each year is spent on infrastructure and services. All of your information is confidential.

Just in time for spring cleaning, the City of East Ridge’s sanitation department has opened its brush center to the public. The center will accept household trash, garbage, bulk items and brush. Citizens also may purchase mulch at the center. The East Ridge brush center is located at 905 Yale St. and will be open from 7 a.m.- 3 p.m. Fridays and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays. The center will charge a small fee for disposal of items brought to the center, which will be assessed by the attendant at the site based upon size and amount of waste. “We encourage all citizens of East Ridge to help beautify our community, and that begins at home,” said Director of City Services Freida Wheeler.

The East Ridge History Center is currently seeking photos of the city. Currently, the History Center is working on a pictorial history along with a photo display. Does anyone have any photos of the drive-ins that used to be located in East Ridge? There have been several requests for these and I’d like to include them in the two projects. Do you have any photos of East Ridge you want to be a part of these projects? If so, contact Beth Tatum at 827-0878, or btatum@eastridgetn.org.

East Ridge has been officially chosen for the Dizzy Dean Baseball World Series, to be held in July at Camp Jordan. The announcement was made by Danny Phillips, national commissioner of Dizzy Dean Baseball, Inc.

The 2010 East Ridge State of the City address will take place tonight at City Hall, located at 1517 Tombras Ave.

Mayor Mike Steele will deliver a State of the City address on Thursday, Feb. 18. The event will begin with a reception at 5:30 p.m. in the lobby of City Hall. The address will take place in the Council chambers at 6 p.m. The public is invited to this event.

McBrien Elementary School is having a Homecoming in May. Your help is needed to get donations, both monetary and memorabilia related. Everyone is hoping to make this a big success. Contact McBrien Elementary at 867-6209, or contact Beth Tatum at the East Ridge History Center. Her e-mail is btatum@eastridgetn.org and her phone number is 827-0878. If you have photos, she can scan them while you wait. Again, we are asking for everyone’s help for this event to be a success.

I need everyone's help to gather photos and memorabilia of McBrien Elementary School. There will be a Homecoming in May and we would like to have as many items as possible. Please drop your items by the History Center, located at 1510 Tombras Ave. from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. If you don't feel comfortable leaving your photos, I will scan them while you wait. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

A reminder to all citizens about the trash services: Please place trash cans facing the correct direction to the road and place cans at least three feet in any direction free from obstructions.

Let’s reflect on the year we just shared.