As we enter the holiday season, join us as we celebrate some amazing accomplishments of City staff! Each department plays a vital role in our community and we’re very grateful for their efforts.
 

Special Events:

To kick things off, let's start with the Special Events Superstar, Michael Lary. Here's how amazing Michael was in 2024:

• Hosted and collaborated on over a dozen events, including the Temporary Recycling Drop-Off Station, Juneteenth, State of the City and Volunteer Appreciation, Eggstravaganza, Geary Park Skate Jam, Fall Festival, Downtown trick-or-treating, Nine on Nine, Ferndale Pride, DIY Street Fair, Funky Ferndale Art Fair, Cinco de Mayo, and the Memorial Day Parade (and more!) 
• Welcomed over 200 volunteers 
• Collected food to benefit the Renaissance Vineyard Food Pantry
• Facilitated $2,700 in donations to the Renaissance Vineyard Food Pantry and FernCare Free Clinic

Michael embodies the spunk and spirit of Ferndale. He is always there when you need him and his passion for this community makes Ferndale a better place to be. Thank you, Michael!
 

Parks and Recreation: 

It's time to recognize the most spectacular team around--our Parks and Recreation Department. Whether it's the vibrant parks, fantastic events, exciting sports, or inclusive programs, there is something for everyone from children to seniors. Let's celebrate all of their amazing achievements this year. In 2024, the Parks and Rec. Team:

• Sold out the summer camp program in just 3 minutes! Participants increased from 50 to 80 weekly and extended from 9 to 10 weeks 
• Increased youth sports participation in basketball by 56% since 2023, and introduced a girls’ league by popular demand to provide a space for third to fifth-graders 
• Expanded adult sports with the launch of adult drop-in soccer and an aquatics program, including water aerobics, open lap swim, and a parent-tot swim class 
• Hosted the Geary Park Skate Jam and held contests for all age groups in skateboarding, BMX, and scootering 
• Reached new heights with senior trips to Mackinac Island and the Grand Hotel, an all-inclusive, 5-star hotel packed with activities and excursions 
• Continued park revitalization efforts with major improvements to Wilson Park and Martin Road Park with new activities, sustainable features, and new accessibility standards 

There's so much that goes on behind the scenes to make these things happen. We appreciate their diligence and passion for this community. They make it a fun place to stay and play! Thank you, LaReina, Robert, Emanuel, Taylor, Alicia, Christion, Ariana, and all of our coaches, drivers, and volunteers.

PS. A resolution for 2025 could be to volunteer or coach!

Public Works:

It's time to celebrate one of our departments who is ALWAYS getting the job done: DPW. Whether it's coordinating important processes behind the scenes or taking front-line action in the community in a variety of areas, DPW is always on the job and showing up for Ferndale. 

In 2024, DPW: 

• Verified 1,000 lead service lines and replaced 500 
• Published a self-reporting lead service line verification tool for properties 
• Cleaned and televised 60k linear feet of sewer lines through the Sewer Televising and Cleaning Program 
• Lined 8k linear feet of older sewer lines in poor condition through the Sewer Improvement Program 
• Repaved 6.6 miles of roadway and four parking lots 
• Removed and replaced 22,000 square feet of broken and damaged sidewalks 
• Replanted 50 high-risk trees with 125 healthy trees 
• Planted 20,000 flowers in Downtown Ferndale 
• Plowed 14 snow events 

Thank you for all you do to keep the community safe and clean! 

Zero Waste/Sustainability:

Some people love the environment, and then there's Logan Applebee, Ferndale's Zero Waste Manager, who levels everything up. Logan continues to set the standard for Ferndale's environmental growth and sustainable drive through collaboration, innovation, and determination.

Here's what Logan brought to the community in 2024:

• Collected 160,300lbs of compost—on track to collect more than 2023!
• Signed up 163 new households to the Residential Compost Program
• Added one new permanent compost drop-off location at City Hall
• Provided more access to recycling for multi-family units
• Distributed a curated native seed mixture to Ferndale residents (completely grant-funded!)

We also have to thank all the amazing, dedicated community volunteers on the Ferndale Environmental Sustainability Commission for their efforts. We couldn't do it without your input and expertise. We must also thank the Ferndale Cleanup Club for being so awesome and cleaning up Ferndale!

Thank you to Logan and our community for giving love to our beautiful City and planet.

Human Resources:

When we think about integral members of our City, we think of the Human Resources Department. They are constantly raising the bar for employees—beginning with the interview process and all the way through to retirement.

Here are some accomplishments our HR team achieved in 2024:

• Celebrated 34 employees who have over 10 years of employment with the City
• Promoted 12 employees
• Recognized anniversaries and milestones with the "Picture This" program
• Hosted Bring Your Kid to Work Day for the first time in 8 years
• Participated in the Youth Leaders for Tomorrow Program and the Fern and Learn Program
• Restructured the new hire orientation process

Our Human Resources Department knows how to put people first. They provide a powerful, engaged organization with equitable care and development. We're thankful to them and the other amazing staff on Team Ferndale!

Downtown Development Authority

Do you know how Downtown Ferndale stays so funky? It's because of our amazing Downtown Development Authority that champions the vibrancy and development of Downtown Ferndale.

The DDA had many achievements this year, including:

• Downtown Ferndale Awarded the Best Neighborhood to Live In by Metro Times
• Received a match grant of nearly $300,000 for wayfinding and sidewalk conditions
• Partnered with the Ferndale Arts & Beautification Commission to host the Nine on Nine concerts
• Added three new art installations to the public art collection and refreshed current art pieces
• Attended the Main Street National Conference
• Saw many people out and about on the bike lanes!

The DDA makes Downtown Ferndale a welcoming community that enhances creativity, passion, and a spirit for Ferndale. Thank you to all of our incredible businesses and staff who make our community amazing and unique. We couldn't do this without you. And a special thank you to Jennie, Sommer, and Sadie for all of your hard work and dedication to this community. We appreciate you so much. 

And if you still need to do some gift shopping or gatherings, head to Downtown Ferndale! 

Fire Department

The Ferndale Fire Department always amazes us, but somehow every year we grow more and more thankful. 2024 was an unbelievably moving year for our heroic firefighters

We're so happy to celebrate the following achievements:

• Set the regional standard for Fire and EMS services by doubling the national average of CPR survival rates
• Celebrated Fire Chief Teresa Robinson’s election as the first female President of the Southeast Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs
• Awarded Joseph DiCamillo Firefighter of the Year and Recognized Brandon Brunell for Graduating from Oakland Fire Academy
• Welcomed new staff members and firefighters/paramedics, including new Assistant Chief Robert Ginther
• Created a free virtual home inspection to survey residential safety and offer a customer resource guide (also allows for the Fire Marshal to inspect in person)
• Provided fire safety and hands-only CPR training to Ferndale Senior Living facilities

Our firefighters celebrate the holidays a little differently. Many of our local community heroes are spending their holidays at the Fire Station instead of at home with their loved ones. Please keep them in your thoughts over the holiday season. ❤️

Thank you for your service, FFD! You are so valuable to Ferndale and your heroism inspires us every day.