Round Up Day

It was Round Up Day at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 155 Seven Mile Road NW this Sunday. It was a mixture of tent revival, the good old West (with cowboys, indians and horsedrawn wagons) and county fair (with lots of games and even a dunk tank).
The church is celebrating its sixth year anniversary. Ladies attending the services today received a bouquet of flowers. The church also offers services for Spanish speaking worshipers. Pastor Ernesto Marticorena leads Spanish services and Steven Bryan is the senior pastor.

Alpine Township Fire Department Annual Steak Fry

Members of the Alpine Township Fire Department held their annual Steak Fry tonight. The event was hosted by one of their own, Dale Bergsma. Firefighters or their spouses brought a dish to pass, and there was plenty of steak, fresh corn, and baked potatoes and onions on hand. Fire Chief Ron Christians presented a number of awards, most notably Fred Schweitzer, for 55 years of service, Jeremy Kelly, 10 years of service, and Joe Schweitzer, 5 years of service. Also recognized was John Schweitzer, a retired firefighter, who will soon be celebrating his 90th birthday. Also present were Supervisor Alex Arends, Treasurer Jim Townsend, and Trustees Jim May,Ted Wallace and spouses/guests.

Congratulations, Joe Schweitzer, for 5 years of service.

Jeremy Kelly, recipient of a 10 year award, a little over enthusiastic, you think?

Fred Schweitzer being recognized for 55 years of service to the Alpine Township Fire Department

Great Food, Better Friendship

Township Officials and their Spouses/Guests

Mary and Dick Dunneback with John Schweitzer.

Bright Spots on a Rainy Day

For the second time this summer, Mary Steinbrecher, owner of the famous Bow Tie Tavern sponsored a fundraiser for a worthwhile cause. Today it was the 12th Annual Motorcycle Poker Run, that began with breakfast earlier this morning and finished late this afternoon with a chicken barbecue. About 200 bikers participated, with the proceeds going to National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

A third fundraiser is already planned for September 12, with proceeds going to Senior Meals on Wheels.

Enjoying the refreshments before dinner

Leaving early in an effort to beat the bad weather

Ready for a chicken dinner

Dan (left) and Linda Way and son Chris have been participating in this annual fundraiser for MS for many years.

Left to right, Kim Erickson, who organzed this event, Mary Steinbrecher, and Charlotte Brown.

The chefs who slaved the grills all afternoon and prepared hundreds of chickens for the bike riders and guests. (Note: If this picture looks blurry it could just be the smoke.

This is a great time to visit one of the many farm markets in Alpine Township. To get a list of farm markets on the Ridge please visit Fruitridge Markets,

The variety of vegetables and fruit is great!

How fresher can it get?

The apples look fantastic already

So do the peaches

There are plenty od shoppers on hand despite the rain or threat of rain

Zion Lutheran Church sponsored its annual Chicken Barbecue at their church today.

The event was planned for inside

A time to chat with neighbors and friends

Guests were warmly welcomed

Thursday at Dwight Lydell Park

Those stopping by the Comstock Park Rotary Park Chicken Barbeque yesterday around noon were pleasantly surprised by a trio of musicians who entertained the crowd for several hours. The trio played courtesy of Martin D. Buth II, the only remaining charter member of the Comstock Park Rotary Club which was organized in 1952.

Martin D. Buth II , left, seen here with son Martin III will be celebrating his 92d Birthday in a few months.

This is part of the crew that really does chicken right



Part of the production line

The Rotary chicken is making many new friends in an effort to become famous and ward off attempts to put her on the grill with the rest of the chickens

The evening rain did not stop the band Decades from performing at Dwight Lydell Park Thursday. A number of die hard fans were on hand to listen to some of the great music of the past decades performed in outstanding fashion. The event was sponsored by the Comstock Park Downtown Development Association

Nor could the rain keep away until dusk some of the participants of the Vacation Bible School program sponsored by the Family of Christ Lutheran Church The Church is located in Alpine Township.

Community Resource Fair

Comstock Park Schools hosted its annual Community Resource Fair at Pine Island Elementary School. Hundreds of parents and students had the opporunity to register children for classes, and discover the many resouces available in Alpine and Plainfield Townships.

Great weather resulted in a great turn out

School supplies donated by members of the Alpine Curves. This is just one of the many businesses and organizations that were represented

The Ridge and Alpine Agriculture were well represented, and supplied door prizes of bags of fresh apples and cases of fresh raspberries, which are in season. Christy Tripp-Arkema with the Foreign Language Department at Comstock Park High School

Student editorial staff of the Comstock Park Connection, the school publication for the community

This turned out to be a great community event.

Alpine Township Clerk Jean Wahlfield and Supervisor Alex Arends

Some of the many door prizes for students who participated and visited a minimum number of tables

Students looking over the school supplies donated by Alpine Township

Some Minor Repair

The Kent County Road Commission employees repairing the one lane bridge by the Six Mile entrance to the Alpine Township Center.

Legislative Pig Roast

The Kent County Farm Bureau's annual Legislative Pig Roast was hosted by Alpine Towship Trustee and Farm Bureau Director Jim May. Most Federal and State legislators were represented at the event, as well as numerous County and Township officials. The theme was "Animal Care" and a panel of speakers addressed both the care of animals on the farm, and the care of animals at the slaughterhouse.

Michigan Senate Bill 655 and Michigan House Bill 4127 recently passed the Agricultural Committee (7-1). The bills are supported by the Michigan Farm Bureau and many other agriculturally related trade organizations. This legislation would clarify that the Michigan Department of Agriculture and the Michigan Agricultural Commission are the sole authorities for the regulation of livestock health and welfare in Michigan. Supporters feel that this legislation will guarantee comprehensive, balanced and scientific animal care for Michigan. Supporters of this bill also stress the need for the agricultural community itself to establish legislation, as compared to being regulated by animal rights groups and other third parties. Not all at the event showed support for the bill, citing concern over agribusiness and small farms having to pay "third party entities" to audit and certify their compliance with these industry standards"

The event provided a great opportunity of networking between Kent County farmers and local and state officials.

County Commissioner Tom Antor

State Representative DavidAgema

Janis DeVree from Senator Mark Jansen's staff

Rotary Chicken Barbeque Thursday

Comstock Park Rotary
World Famous
CHICKEN BARBEQUE
$7.50

1/2 Chicken, Potato Salad, Coleslaw, Roll and Beverage(Pop 75 Cents)Thursday, August 27, 2009 Noon - 6:00 P.M.Rain or Shine Dwight-Lydell Park, West River Drive - Advance Orders Taken Call (616) 437-5567 or e-mail gregwares@charter.net Deliveries on orders of 15 or more dinners within 10 miles Come and enjoy a delicious meal in the park or take out. *or earlier if sold out

Enjoy Music in the park at 7:00 P.M.

Alpine Festival - September 12-13

ALPINE FESTIVAL -- Begins with an adults-only Las Vegas party, 7 p.m. to midnight Saturday, September 12, continuing from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, with activities including a family festival with children's games, tractor pull, country store, raffle and more, plus a chicken dinner from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Holy Trinity Parish, 1200 Alpine Church Road NW, Comstock Park, 784-0677