At Goshen College, Gilberto Pérez Jr. serves as the vice president for student life and the dean of students, but outside of the college, he seeks to make an impact in as many ways as he can. In the larger Goshen community, Pérez has served as a city council member for the city’s fifth district since 2020. “That work has really placed me in a lot of different settings across the community,” Pérez said. “It’s looking at ways that the city is helping residents who have issues with traffic, issues with trash pickup, issues with how well streets are [maintained],...

By Lukas Bontrager-Waite • March 23, 2023 • Features

Christmas season is fast approaching, and downtown Goshen is decked out with winter-themed decorations. Plastic evergreen is wrapped with lights around the black light posts, with snowflake-themed lighting fixtures extending out into the street, eight feet or so above the ground.  Electric lights strung throughout evergreen trees and hung in storefronts illuminate the downtown. Each storefront has its own decoration decisions to make. While these decorations may be easy to brush past without second thought, each business must put thought and preparation into their profusion or lack of decoration. Plastic holly, bulbs, Christmas lights and cream plastic candles with fake...

By Phil Witmer-Rich • December 1, 2022 • Features

Goshen’s ninth annual Arts on the Millrace (AotM) took place on Saturday. The event featured over 44 artists, local guilds and local musicians.  “It’s a curated event where the community can connect with — and shop — master artists, but in a casual, family-friendly, outdoor setting,” said Adrienne Nesbitt, director of events and co-founder of AotM.  Arts on the Millrace is a juried event, located near downtown Goshen at Powerhouse Park and stretching south along the Millrace trail. It was a sunny Saturday in Goshen, so the Millrace welcomed many faces throughout the day. The activities included live music, food...

By Sarah Miller • September 16, 2022 • Arts

National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed annually from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. People whose families emigrated from Central and South America, the Caribbean, Spain and Mexico are celebrated for their contributions and cultural heritage. After months of planning, the Hispanic Heritage Festival will return to downtown Goshen for the 2nd year this Saturday from 1:00 to 11:00 pm. The event was brought to fruition by Community Pro Education, a nonprofit organization promoting inclusion and cultural diversity.  “[The] Hispanic Heritage Festival is a great opportunity to bring the community together,” said Manny Cortez, the president of Community Pro Education. “We...

By Jakyra Green • September 15, 2022 • News