Open House at Alpine Elementary School

A number of local schools hosted an open house today in preparation for the new school year.  At Alpine Elementary, there was the opportunity to visit the classrooms and meet the teachers, visit with the school principal, and visit a number of booths boosting services offered by organizations focusing on supporting excellence in education. 

Alpine Elementary Principal Jason Snyder with students and parent

The hall was soon occupied by parents for a brief orientation

Anxiously waiting to meet their new students

Kent District Library was represented by Alpine Township Branch Manager Laura Weld and Allison Brito, Program and Outreach Specialist

Mark Huhn promoting the first "Dad and Kids" Pizza Night on Thursday September 15 from 6:00 PM-7:00 PM at the school cafeteria.  All dads of Alpine Elementary students and the students are invited for Pizza and learn more about the WATCH D.O.G.S.  program ((Dads of Great Students).  The program encourages fathers or father figures to play a greater part in the life of the students. 

Making Tough Jobs Look Easy

Spreading 50 cubic yards of playground wood chips in the playground at the Alpine Township Sports Complex would have taken the grounds keeper hours if not days to complete.  Thanks to the time and equipment donated by Township Trustees Ron Cordes and Jim May and their sons, the project only took a few hours to complete.  In addition to the wood chips, a large quantity of gravel was brought in and spread around the softball dugouts.  Not only did this spruce up the facility, but it eliminated a number of safety hazards



Brouwer Tree Service removed a number of dead trees that could pose a hazard over the bridge and entrance to the Alpine Township Offices and Library on 6 Mile Road NW and Alpine Ave.  This will pave the way for the Township to do some repair work on the bridge, which is beginning to show some signs of deterioration.

Fire Station #2 on 7 Mile Road NW is receiving a face lift, which includes the construction of an additional bay to house an emergency vehicle.  Additional repair is also planned for the parking lot.  Also planned for this month is the painting of the exterior of the Alpine Township Historical Museum

YMCA After School Bus Program

Now you can take the bus to the Wolverine World Wide YMCA or their playing fields directly from Mill Creek Middle School and Comstock Park High School!  Click here to download the brochure.  Call (616) 363-3000 to sign up. Scholarships available to qualifying students.

Apples, Peaches and More

Women Soccer at Alpine Township Sports Complex

Soccer as usual at the Alpine Township Sports Complex. 

Grand Rapids Team

Grant Team

Fundraiser at Bow Tie Tavern brings out the best

Dawn Preston

The Bow Tie Tavern has been a part of Alpine Township for about three fourth of a century. It was established in 1929 and before it was called the Bow Tie Tavern, it was known under several other names, including the Blue Tavern. The Tavern is located on the corner of Old Alpine Ave. and 10 Mile Rd. What may go unnoticed in the community is that the proprietor Mary Steinbrecher hosts a number of annual fundraisers. One of these each year is a Poker Run that begins with breakfast at the Bow Tie and ends there with a dinner and entertainment upon completion of the Run. Over the past 14 years, the staff and patrons of the Bow Tie Tavern have raised over $100,000 for Multiple Sclerosis with the help of the Road Weasels Motorcycle Club and many other sponsors.

It all began with the friendship between Kim Erickson and Dawn Preston. They knew each other for a long time before Dawn was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. In the United States, about 10,000 to 15,000 people are diagnosed with this chronic disease of the central nervous system (CNS), which is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerve. This motivated Kim Erickson and other friends to organize a fundraiser.

Mary Steinbrecher, Cathy DuCharme and Kim Erickson with Dawn Preston in forefront.

Bikers arrived one by one in the morning

  

Live broadcast by 107.3 FM WBBL the Grillin' Guys

Mid Morning

Late afternoon

Dinner

Some just enjoyed staying inside

Dave Scheidel

Sparta Fire Department once again caught across Township boundaries

 The Master Grillers
 

Sparta's Ladder Truck provided the colors

Busted!

Ottawa and Kent County Sheriff's Deputies along with the Walker Police Department  arrested two Walker residents Friday morning who are believed to be responsible for at least 30 break-ins in the Ottawa and Kent County area, including a half a dozen in the Alpine Township area.  The suspects were arrested in the act of stealing from a farm in the Wright Township area and the arrests were the result of good police work and citizen information.  The two men are expected to be arraigned later next week.  More information will be posted at http://safeneighbors.blogspot.com if such becomes available.  A copy of the Ottawa County Sheriff's newsrealease can be downloaded here.      

Sparta Area Migrant Council Picnics at Wahlfield Park

Volunteers of the Sparta Area Migrant Council enjoyed a picnic Friday night at Wahlfield Park in appreciation of their services throughout the year.

2011 Apple Harvest

It looks like another good year for Alpine Township's apple farmers this year.  A variety of apples such as Ginger Golds and Paula Reds can already be found at most Alpine Township Fruit Markets, and other varieties will follow soon.   These pictures were taken at  Chase Orchards on 7 Mile Rd.

More Utility and Road Construction

Residents are getting anxious to see some of the public works projects behind them and see things return to normal as school time approaches.  Alpine Township staff again thanks the community for its patience and understanding as necessary repairs are being made.

Digging up at Lamoreaux and Stoney Creek

A few blocks down the road at Lamoreaux and Westgate 

Many residents in the community south of 4 Mile Rd referred to as Stowell Terrace seemed pleased that their roads were repaired a few weeks ago and did not realize that another application was to finalize the process still needed to occur.  Thursday and Friday, a crew from SCI Construction Company in Ohio was on hand to micro seal the streets.  The equipment used to apply this process is not available locally,

In the meantime, routine inspections by a crew contracted by Michigan Consolidated Gas Company discovered a gas leak on the corner of Westshire and Brookgate and sent a crew out to repair it.  There was no immediate danger.