Dates to Remember

BOATER SAFETY CLASSES

Alpine Township will host 2 evening Boater Safety classes in 2012. These classes are taught by our community policing officer Nate Ertle, Kent County Sheriff’s Department. The first class will be Tuesday and Wednesday April 24 and 25, and the second opportunity will be on Wednesday and Thursday May 2 and 3. All classes are from 6:30 PM-8:30 PM

 Registration is required. Please call Beth at 784-1262.

 

Students must be at least ten (10) years old and should bring a pen or pencil. A $5.00 registration fee per student will be collected on the first day of the class.  Classes will be at the Alpin Township Hall, 5255 Alpine Ave NW, Comstock Park, MI 49321.

Best of the Ridge, Maple Syrup Competition

Alpine Township Historical Commission will again host a "BEST OF THE RIDGE MAPLE SYRUP" competition on April 15, 2012. It will again be at the Alpine Elementary gym at 2 p.m. All are invited to enjoy the sweet maple syrup produced in Western Michigan after the judging! This year was a short harvest year with only half crop for most producers.

If you are a maple syrup producer, please contact us at the Alpine Township office: 616-784-1262.

Leaf Pick Up

The 2012 Spring Collection dates are

Tuesday April 24 2012

Tuesday May  8 2012 

Platted areas of the Township, including Westgate, Brambleberry Estates, Marway Plat, and areas south of Lamoreaux and east of Alpine are eligible. Bags and tags

can be purchased from the Township Offices during normal business hours, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. They can also be purchased at the Alpine Branch Library when the Township offices are closed.

Bags and tags are available at $1 each or eleven for $10.

Shop with a Sheriff at the Alpine Township Walmart

To be escorted from Walmart in a patrol card by the Kent County Sheriff's Department is usually not something to brag about, but to be escorted in a patrol car to Walmart....now that turned out to be a real treat for about 50 children this early Sunday morning.  It was all part of the Kent County Sheriff's Department's "Shop with a Sheriff" program.  Over 50 kids met at Sam's Club's parking lot and paired up with a deputy or officer of the Kent County Sheriff's Department  and were transported by vehicles with lights flashing and sirens blaring to the nearby Walmart here in Alpine Township.  There they were met by other deputies who escorted the kids into the store and helped them spend about $100 each on clothing essentials for themselves.  In addition, participants were able to spend another $20 for either another family member or purchase a present for themselves.  The $6,000 used for this project came from generous contributors in the community.  Kids also ate donuts, received Junior Deputy t-shirts, and had the opportunity to have their picture taken with the deputy and Santa Claus. 

An identical program took place later in the morning at the 28th Street Walmart.



Early morning commotion at Walmart




Deputies awaiting children to shop with



Last minute instructions

Children were escorted to the door where they received red carpet treatment

"Shop with a Sheriff"

Keeping the program well organized

Community Policing Volunteer Coordinator Sandi Jones and Community Policing Deputy Tom McCutcheon

Alpine Township's Community Policing Deputy Nate Ertle

Following re some pictures with Santa



A Walmart manager joining the fun



Thank you for shopping Alpine Walmart

Neighborhood Watch in Full Swing at Alpine Meadows

Alpine Meadows Neighborhood
 Watch President Joyce Garcia

Participation in the Neighborhood Watch Program at Alpine Meadows Mobile Village on Fruitridge Ave  is in full swing and the rewards are apparent. Only 13 police complaints were filed this past month which is about half of the complaints filed in previous months, and most of those complaints were of a minor nature. The residents in the community are aware of what is going on in their community and are in touch with management when issues arrive. Family activities that are planned over the next few months include a Halloween Trick or Treat program and Breakfast with Santa. Curfews for children and young teens have been established and are enforced. Bus stops are being monitored by parents. Residents who have lived in the village for some years are encouraged by the many improvements that have originated with the current management. A significant number of new mobile homes are occupying once vacant spots. Kent County Community Policing Office Nate Ertle is excited about the policies being put in place by community manager Dawn Hamblin to improve the quality of life of the residents. At Thursday night's meeting of the Neighborhood Watch group, recently elected president Joyce Garcia stressed the importance of parents taking responsibility for their children's action, and doing whatever possible to keep drugs away from the youth in the community.

Alpine Meadows is located in Alpine Township at 3800 Fruitridge Avenue N.W. Grand Rapids, MI 49544. 

Community Manager Dawn Hamblin with Community Policing Officer, Deputy Nate Ertle

A few of the residents in attendance