Ed White lights the sky for Silver Bells  

TUESDAY, Nov. 19 — The time before the big show is winding down for Ed White, the IBEW 665 electrician who travels from rooftop to rooftop maintaining the 50,000 bulbs that light the Lansing skyline for Silver Bells.  

“The only part I really don’t like about this is driving around checking in on lights and seeing one go out after I was just up on the roof,” White said.  

The veteran electrician carries the torch for the mighty task, enduring harsh winds, slippery rooftops and so many fussy, tiny light bulbs to get the city in prime shape for the holiday. He’s spent the past five weeks working on Lansing’s tallest buildings all the way up to the Boji Tower.  

“Growing up as a kid, Christmas lights were my favorite,” White said.  

“My favorite part is the initial turn on. You can spend weeks or months doing a project, installing all kinds of stuff with the wiring and switches," he added. "When everything comes on, it is just a little bit of magic. It takes a second to turn those lights on, but it grants you such a sense of accomplishment and reward.”  

The job requires White to lug boxes of bulbs and a safety harness to each location. The wiring for Silver Bells was kept on the rooftops for the past three years. Replacing damaged bulbs comes from ice storms, high winds, general wear and human tomfoolery.  

“The lights on the parking garage this year looked like some guy just went up there and played whack-o-mole with them,” White said. “I had fun having to get all those out with my pliers.”  

Of all the buildings lit in Lansing, the PNC bank building is the toughest, White said.   

“A lot of roofs have white vinyl reflective energy coating and it gets very slippery when wet. So you’re trying to walk like a duck and your feet might come out from under you. On Monday, I lost my traction and did a faceplant on that roof,” he said.    

 “I had my pockets all full of bulbs and every one of those bulbs smashed and broken. I was wet, cold and had a coat full of broken glass.”   

With the current wiring infrastructure going on three years in the elements, IBEW 665 is looking at more permanent replacement options with LEDs, IBEW 665 member Manuel Smith said.  

Aside from the rooftop lights, IBEW 665 plays another role in Silver Bells by leading the Electric Parade with its float.  

“I like seeing everyone get together for Silver Bells. All the shop owners are cool even though I come through their buildings and make a mess with the snow,” White said. “Everyone seems happy to see the lights come on.”