City staff and committees outlined a slate of holiday activities downtown and in community venues, and two residents used the public-comment period to urge clearer communications and municipal action on a street tree hazard.

The Public Affairs Committee described the season's calendar: a downtown Christmas window decorating contest (entries due Dec. 12), a tree lighting on Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. on the municipal lawn, Dec. 6 children’s activities including breakfast with Santa at the Masonic Center (9:30 a.m.–noon) hosted by the Fostoria Eastern Stars and Fostoria Masons (proceeds benefit a Christmas-for-every-child drive; attendees encouraged to bring new, unwrapped toys), a Holiday Sip and Shop at the Fostoria Learning Center (10 a.m.–5 p.m.), a Rotary Christmas Parade and Santa's Sidekicks Toy Express (1:30 p.m.), gingerbread-house decorating (2 p.m.) and appearances by Santa and Mrs. Claus at local businesses and at the historic Lake Erie and Western Depot (128 W. North St.). Organizers encouraged a suggested $5 per-family donation to support the Fostoria Rail Preservation Society for depot events.

Public comment highlights
- Deb Tyson (resident) thanked volunteers for contributions to the city and flagged that the Archer Energy gas-aggregation letters residents receive can be hard to parse; she said opt-out deadlines and instructions are easy to miss within long mailed notices and urged clearer communications.

- Rebecca Kimball (resident) asked the council to address a large, aging boulevard tree with branches she described as hanging and breaking in wind, posing a risk to passing vehicles and property; she said prior city markings and a promise to trim the tree had not led to corrective action and asked the city to follow up. Kimball also described neighbors blowing leaves into her yard via an alley, increasing her cleanup burden.

What the council said: The mayor reiterated the Archer Energy letter and opt-out instructions, and staff scheduled committee and staff follow-ups for public-works concerns noted in citizen comments.

Next steps: Committee organizers and staff will continue to promote events; residents requesting tree work or other public-works intervention should follow the city's process for service requests so staff can inspect and schedule necessary work.