Playground at York Creek is now open!

Kids were anxious to play on the new playground that opened up today at York Creek Apartments.  The youngsters had to wait all weekend for the cement to dry.  Many kids and parents stopped by in the afternoon and evening to get a good taste of the new play equipment.

The new KaBOOM! playground at York Creek Apartments awaits you.

These are lots of fun

The tire swing was one of the most requested items

Asi the playground has been here for years already

So much fun for the kids, so rewarding for the builders

More fun and games at the Alpine Township Sports Complex

Residents and guests enjoyed another beautiful day at the sports complex, with organized baseball and soccer, as well as just family get togethers.

Next week is the last game of the regular season already.  Eight teams are trying to make it to the play offs

Father and son practicing

GRABL Baseball Games

The kids are having a great time playing on one of the small fields

A family found one of the shade trees to relax under

So how do you tell these kids "No dogs allowed in the park"?  I guess you suggest they keep him home next time.

Watching the soccer game from one of the shaded spots

Whoever suggested putting a playground in at the Sports Complex had a great idea.

Meanwhile Back at the Bow Tie Tavern

The participants in the poker run sponsored by the Bow Tie Tavern and benefitting the Multiple Sclerosis Society  arrived back Saturday afternoon beginning at about 4:30.  Proprietor Mary Steinbrecher pointed out that 100% of the participants' donations went directly to the Multiple Sclerosis Society.  Mary herself provides the breakfast food and her friend Kim takes care of the dinner.

Multiple sclerosis (or MS) is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system (CNS), which is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. Symptoms may be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. The progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary from one person to another. Today, new treatments and advances in research are giving new hope to people affected by the disease.

The  result at the end of the day?  $10,000 raised for the Multiple Sclerosis Society.  It is great to see the commitment and generosity of our community.  Ou hats off for Mary Steinbrecher and her friends and supporters for a fantastic response to a true need.

Arriving back at the Bow Tie

A special companion

Proprietor Mary Steinbrecher with Dawn, who has MS and was able to participate in the fund raiser

The Sparta Fire Department was a little South of their border but a welcome participant

Meet Phil.  Phil is a brave man and a real stud.  Phil was willing to sacrifice the hair on his beautiful Adonis like chest all for the cause of fighting Multiple Sclerosis.

 

Meet Phil again,  Perhaps he got a little more than he bargained for

This is Lisa, she is on her own bike.  Lisa also has MS

MS has no known cure

Some supporters remained inside

Kim has been helping with the fund raisers for a long time

Mary Steinbrecher (right) with Suz, who is organizing the next fund raiser which is to benefit Senior Meals on Wheels.  This event will be held on September 18th .

Riding for a world free of Multiple Sclerosis - Bow Tie Tavern

They kept on coming.  All the bikers participating in the Bow Tie Tavern's 13th annual Motorcycle Poker Run to benefit the Multiple Sclerosis Society. The fundraiser is one of three planned by tavern  owner Mary Steinbrecher this year.   

After breakfast, the bikers left for other establishments for rounds of  poker and to return at about 4:30 for a meal and other festivities. 

UNDER THE PINES

What better place to visit while waiting for the bikers to return than "Under the Pines.

Located at Alpine and 7 Mile Rd.

Plenty of fresh apples

Colorful displays of peppers

Support local agriculture

A stop at Wahlfield Park at Alpine Ave. and 8 Mile Rd.

York Creek Playground

On Mondays, the kids in and near York Creek Apartments will have their own playground thanks to the generosity of Amway, KaBOOM!, The Comstock Park Rotary, York Creek Apartments, and the entire community.

KaBOOM! is a non-profit organization that wants to see a playground withing walking distance of every child.

Amway not only funded this project but allowed 120 employee volunteers to participate in the building of this playground yesterday. (Friday)

Well over fifty area businesses, organizations, churches, and schools helped the Rotary with financial donations,  donations of food, equipment, supplies, and volunteer workers.

Members of the Comstock Park and York Creek Community also came to help bring a playground to over a eight hundred children who live at or nearby the York Creek Community.

Management of York Creek Apartments and Land & Co were instrumental in making all this possible for the children of their tenants.
The Comstock Park Rotary Club was the sponsoring agency and committed to everything  necessary to see the project reach it's successful  completion.

The day began at 8:30 a.m.. Volunteers were fed both breakfast and lunch by the Rotary, and the build came to a successful completion at 2:30.  In addition to the 200 + volunteers, a number of special guests attended the ceremony.  These included Crash, Mascot of the White Caps, Katie the elephant, mascot for the Kent District Library, Purdy the Clown, and Pollo Loco, the Comstock Park Rotary's mascot.  Also attending ribbon cutting ceremonies were several dignataries, including Secretary of State Terri Land and  State Representative Dave Agema, who presented a Proclamation to the organizing agencies.

Just looking at the mountain of playground wood bark makes you tired.

Setting up the PA system and DeeJay.  In the back is Mr Paul Land, waiting to give a few opening remarks.

White Caps Mascot CRASH leading in morning excercises, asststed by Purdy the Clown.

Over 200 volunteers were n attendance

Rotarian Keith Gagnon, (right) having members of his team prepare some posters

The mountain is still a mountain

These two young volunteers demonstrating the "THANK YOU" poster they created.  To the left is a list of of the many generous  contributors

Those who were assigned sod duty got a real work out.

Community Policing Deputy Nate Ertle with White Caps VP Jim Jarecki and Land & Co.'s Troy Zapolski 

Nancy Campbell, Community Volunteer and State employee

Volunteers from Amway for this build were from their Logistics Department. Thank you, Amway!

Larry Burgess, Land & Co., with Alpine Township Planner Sue Thomas and Alpine Township Clerk Jean Wahlfield digging  a hole to plant a tree.

Alpine Township Building Inspector Gary Cambell has just completed a task

Alpine Township Clerk Jean Wahlfield with Michigan House of Representatives' David Agema

Mike Oezer, left, Progressive Engineering constructing one of the benches side by side with Bob VanderMale,  Prein & Newhof

Look what is left from that giant mountain

Comstock Park Rotarian and Plainfield Township Manager Robert Homan

Members and family of the Comstock Park Rotary who volunteered Friday

The entire volunteer crew.  What  an exciting event this was!