LANSING, Mich. — Lansing Mayor Andy Schor announced that the iconic holiday ornaments that sat in downtown Lansing will return after a generous donation to the replace them was made.
In October Lansing city officials decided it was best to not pay up to $7,500 to have the fiberglass ornaments repaired after a vehicle clipped them December 30, 2018.
Police were never able to identify a suspect.
However, a contribution from the Gentilozzi family is making it possible for those ornaments to return to the traffic roundabout at Michigan Avenue and Washington Square before the 35th Annual Silver Bells in the City on Friday, November 22, 2019.
“As a fifty-year property and business owner in Lansing, the Gentilozzi family is thrilled to work with the City of Lansing to fix the iconic holiday ornaments and return it to the traffic circle in time for Silver Bells in the City 2019,” Paul Gentilozzi said.
"To have a business and property owner that has been downtown and part of our community for fifty plus years step up and say that they were willing to help bring the ornaments back for 2019 and our Silver Bells celebration, it's just tremendous," said Cathleen Edgerly, executive director of Downtown Lansing Inc.
"We're doing this because it's important for us to do. Everybody that makes their living in the city should give back a little bit," said Gentilozzi.
In light of Gentilozzi's donation, Lukas Liming, an Okemos High School student who started a crowdfunding campaign to pay for repairing the traffic circle sculpture, said, he's ending the campaign. "The campaign had raised more than $70, all of which will be returned, he said"
For more information about Silver Bells, visit silverbellsinthecity.org
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