Coming Soon

The Unites States Postal Service mail box which is currently located at the parking lot of the Alpine Township Center is being relocated and will soon be found on an island in the driveway north of the library. The Post Office will actually be providing two mail boxes, so residents can drop off their mail coming from either direction without having to make a u-turn on the parking lot. This will not only create convenience and safety but will result in more use, since the current site is somewhat awkward.

Jerry Shuker repainting donated ballards

A new farm building being erected on the Thome farm adjacent to the
Alpine Township Community Building and Historical Society Office.

Comstock Park Rotary Meets at Grotto Park

The Comstock Park Rotary which meets every Thursday at 12:10 P.M. at the Swan Inn, changed it's venue for one day today and met at what has become their favorite place, Grotto Park, which became the club's major renovation project. Grotto Park is located adjacent to the Veteran's Facility on Monroe, "One of our members drove past the facility and saw it," said Todd VandenToorn, who was co-chairman of the $350,000 project. "It was closed to residents. There were barriers and signs saying it was dangerous. The steps were crumbling." Just look at it now.

The weather cooperated but the bratts did not

Club members Dan Clark (l) and Doug Gordon (r) in deep discussion about
the upcoming Chicken Barbecue at Dwight Lydell Park Thursday August 27th

The dedication monument is awesome but nowhere as rewarding as
the appreciation shown by residents of the Veteran's Facility

A bird's eye look of Grotto Park

Members of the Alpine Township Fire Department were all too anxious to see a demonstration of a Rosenbauer Pumper Truck as it visited Fire Station 3. The truck was on it's way to a Fire Chief's Convention in Traverse City. Alpine Township is eligible for a new truck in 2010 through the Kent County Fire Commission program to which it contributes every year. A Fire Department Truck Committee is working hard to come up with a truck that has all the necessary essentials within the assigned budget.

Wendy Simon, Front Line Services Inc, Freeland

More Sunday Recreation

On Sunday the Holy Trinity Men's over 50 team took on a team from IHM at the Alpine Township Sports Complex. Merl Westrick, who has been managing this team for many years, hit his first extra base hit since 1989 and our cameras were there to capture it. Congratulations, Merl!

It was a solid double


Another solid swing

Back in the dugout regaining his breath

And there is always soccer

A bare miss

Crossing the Township

Wilbur Ellis, on 10 Mile Rd near Fruitridge

one of the few construction jobs in the Township

A view of Alpine Township from 10 Mile Rd.

A view of Alpine Township from 10 Mile Rd.

Cranberry Lake at Kenowa Ave

Cranberry Lake

Thursday Night Recreation

Every Thursday night this group gets together at the Alpine Township Sports Complex to play beach volley ball. They bring their own net.
Another group plays regularly Wednesday nights. There are two courts available.

Click on photos to enlarge

Leadership for Tomorrow

Rotary clubs identify and sponsor the finest young leaders in their communities. Students who have completed their high school junior or senior year, exchange students, and students who have completed their
college freshman year are offered the opportunity to participate in the Life Leadership Conference. The persons selected are outstanding student leaders who are a credit to their schools and communities. They are hungry for knowledge, willing to meet new friends, and eager to engage in a program that will have lasting effect on their lives. They are, simply, the leadership of the future!

This year, 154 students were selected to attend the Life Leadership Conference hosted by the Cadillac Rotary Club at the Kettunen Center near Tustin, Michigan. Amongst those selected were two Comstock Park students, Krista Sabo (left) and Allison Shumaker (right) Here they are addressing members of the Comstock Park Rotary, thanking them for receiving the opportunity to attend, and relaying the leadership lessons learned.

Comstock Park Rotary Program Chairman Frank Vietze, Allison Shumaker and Krista Sabo

Alpine Township Library Pet Show

Due to rain in the forecast, Alpine Township Hall was the site for the Alpine Township Library Summer Pet Show. Area kids shared stories about their pets and some had their dogs do tricks. It were definitely the dogs who dominated the entries, as the cats stayed away, and only one lone gecko was present. According to sources, the pets conducted themselves in the same manner as the Township Trustees did when they met earlier this week. (Yes of course that meant perfect)

This black lab is also fully trained by Paws with a Cause as a Rescue Dog

The kids loved all the pets

The Gecko was the center of attention

It was just another fun thing to do this summer

Christmas in July

These young ladies were discovered at the pavillion at Dwight Lydell Park (located on the edge of Alpine Township) celebrating Christmas. All are members of the Red Hat Club, most from the North side of the county, and many worked together at GM at one time. The reason for celebrating Christmas as a group in July is because so many of their members are not available in December.

Coming from all walks of life, members share a bond of affection, forged by common life experiences and a genuine enthusiasm for wherever life takes them next. Whether donning their signature purple and red outfits, or lavender and pink for their younger sisters under 50, they embrace their growing friendships with gusto and grace

Members brought gifts and a dish to pass, as well as lots of good will and cheer.

Members of the Red Hat Club have social as well as benevolent events.
Left click photos to enlarge.

Lucy Pollitt, who is also an active member of the VFW Post 830 wanted to make sure to pass along the upcoming picnic this Saturday July 25th at the Veterans Facility and extend an invitation to everybody.

Fricano's Pizza Tuesday Night Cruise

Every Tuesday night is Cruise Night at the Alpine Ave. Fricano's Pizza (5808 Alpine Ave., Comstock Park, Michigan). It has become very popular and runs from the first Tuesday before Memorial Day through Summer until the Tuesday after Labor Day, from 4pm to 10pm. Phone for more information (616) 785-5800.

I am Lion, Hear me Roar!

Today was the first social get together of the newly formed Comstock Park Lions. Worldwide, Lions clubs are recognized for their service to people who are blind and visually impaired. This service began when Helen Keller challenged Lions to become “knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness” during the 1925 Lions Clubs International Convention. Today, Lions extend their commitment to sight conservation through countless local efforts, as well as through their international SightFirst Program, which works to eradicate blindness. Lions also collect and recycle eyeglasses for distribution in developing countries year-round and especially during May, which is Lions Recycle for Sight Month, and October, as a way to mark Lions World Sight Day, which is held the second Thursday of each October. In addition, Lions make a strong commitment to young people through many youth programs. Lions also work to improve the environment, build homes for the disabled, support diabetes education, conduct hearing programs and, through their foundation, provide disaster relief around the world. Alpine Township thanks the Rockford Lions for their successful efforts to bring Lionism to Comstock Park. . Plans for a charter celebration is scheduled for September. Anyone interested in becoming a charter member can still do so. Service organizations strengthen our community.

Rockford and Comstock Park Lions meeting as a group for the first time

Getting acquainted

Sunday Recreation

Sunday was another day at the ballpark, with a full parking lot and cars parked along Alpine Church Road. The Grand Rapids Area Baseball League (GRABL) completed a two day tournament and the Migrant Soccer League had a full Soccer Schedule. At 6:00 PM, there was softball.

Images of America

In 2007 Mary Rasch Alt had a pictoral book published through Arcadia Publishing titled: "Images of America - Alpine Township". Being a third generation Alpiner, and having worked as a freelance writer and photographer for the Grand Rapids Press for over 20 years, she was the ideal person to write a history of Alpine Township through photographs. Mary currently serves on the Alpine Township Historical Society.

Today, Mary was on hand for a book signing at Sam's Club, on behalf of Arcadia Publishing.

Anyone who would llike a copy of the book can call the township hall at 616-784-1262 or email a.arends@alpinetwp.org.

SPARTA DAYS PARADE

Today was the Parade at Sparta's Town & Country Days. One of the entrants was none other that our County Commissioner Tom Antor,

No Parade is complete without cowboys and cowgirls on horses.

Also present was Michigan's Apple Queen, Amber Nyblad of Casnovia

First Runner Up, Jessica Zelenock was also on hand.

Part of Sparta High School's Marching Band

Researching Your Roots

In July and August, the Alpine Township Historical office is open on the third Sunday of the month for residents who are interested in researching their family's history. On July 19 and August 16, a member of the Historical Commission will be on hand to answer any questions or help research the information available at the office from 2 to 4 p.m. There is a lot of information that has been collected in the historical office that even the most seasoned researcher might not be aware of: military records, photographs, family histories, newspaper articles, obituaries and school records!

The Historical Commissioners are now working on locating anyone who went to the Englishville School for the September 20th reunion at the Alpine Township Museum. Englishville School was a "fractional" school including students from both Alpine and Sparta. Come and visit us during the July or August open house or call the township office at 784-1262 and leave your name, address and phone number.

This Saturday, July 18th, Arcadia Publishing asked Mary Alt to be at Sam's Club on Alpine Ave. from 1 to 3 p.m. to greet people and sign her "Alpine Township" book. If you happen to be in the area, stop by and say hi! If you have a book already, Alpine Township Historical office, 2015 Seven Mile Road, will be open on Sunday, July 19, from 2-4 p.m. and Mary is will be there if you would like yours signed by the author. .

John Fryear and his mother Loretta Ottenwess at their farm stand on the corner of Fruitridge and 8 Mile N.W.

Fritz Wahlfield III at the site of a new apple storage facility being build at Jack Brown Produce, 8035 Fruit Ridge NW

View Michigan Tourism Movie (Courtesy YouTube)