News from City of Alma

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City of Alma E-Newsletter

December 2010

Come Home

to Alma
for the Holidays!

The Annual Come Home to Alma for the Holidays celebration will kick off on Friday, December 10th with a Christmas Parade at 5:30 p.m. Come join the fun and participate in all the activities throughout the evening in beautiful downtown Alma. Events include:

Santa at Purple Pear from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Santa's reindeer on Superior between Woodworth & State St.
Caroling wagon rides for just 25¢
Free trolley rides for a Christmas light tour
Christmas Tree decorating contest. Come vote for your favorite.
The Sidewalk Prophets will be performing at the Tree Lighting ceremony
Store specials and many activities for young & old
Christmas tree lighting at 8:15 at Chamber of Commerce Building
Christmas Cash Drawing following Tree Lighting

For complete information, visit "Come Home to Alma for the Holidays". This year's celebration promises to be "BIGGER & BETTER" than ever!

Adams Ave. Sidewalk Construction Under Consideration

The Alma City Commission and LDFA Board are considering constructing a sidewalk on the west side of Adams Ave. from E. Superior to Ely Street. Funds for the project will be provided from surplus funds in the Local Development Finance Authority account. Funds in this account can only be used within the LDFA District, which includes Adams Ave. Also under consideration is the installation of street lighting. What do you think? We're interested in your comments, questions or suggestions. Please let us know your thoughts by calling 463-8336, dropping us a line at PO Box 278, Alma, MI 48801 or emailing us.

Gratiot County Master Plan

The City of Alma has been collaborating with the cities, villages and townships of Gratiot County to write a new county-wide master plan. This is the first time in the State's history that all local units of government within one county have worked together to create a unified master plan. The plan is almost complete. Citizens can find copies of the plan here. The Alma Planning Commission and City Commission will soon be asking citizens to review and submit their comments prior to formal adoption of the plan. If you have any suggestions or comments, please send them to Dan Stasa, Zoning Administrator.

Gratiot County GIS Authority

Aerial Photos Now Available

The cities, villages and townships of Gratiot County have partnered together to form the Gratiot County Geographical Information System Authority. By working together, the local units of government have been able to save money while improving their geographically based records. One of the goals of the Authority is to make more information readily available to the citizens of Gratiot County through the Internet. As a first step, we have a beta version of our new aerial photos and map of Gratiot County. The beta version is available by following this link to the City of Alma website and clicking Gratiot County GIS Aerial Photos & Maps.

Alma Public Schools Search for Superintendent

The Alma Public School District, with assistance from the Michigan Association of School Boards is conducting a search for a new superintendent. Please follow the link and provide your input on this important search for our community.

December Alma Public

Library Events:

Friday Night Movies
at the Alma Public Library

The fun continues into the month of December. This month's movies include:

12/10 - Cat Ballou

12/17 - You Can't Take it With You

12/18 - National Velvet

The programs start at 7:00 p.m. in the Alma Public Library, with free admission. Snacks are available during the presentations for a nominal fee. Stop in and spend a Friday evening at the cinema with a group of "Friends".

Free DVD Use

The library will offer free DVD use for the month of December. Familes may check out two DVDs each week and when returned, you can check out another two DVDs for free!

Mitten Tree

The library is sponsoring a Mitten Tree and collection box for the Salvation Army through December 17. Mittens, gloves, hats and nonperishable foot items (boxed foods, canned goods, etc.), as well as personal items (toothpaste, deodorant, soap, shampoo, kleenex, toilet paper, etc.) will also be appreciated. Help us help those that might be in need this year. Thanks!

Library Holiday Hours

The Library will be closed for the holidays December 23 - 25 & December 31 - January 1, 2011.

American Red Cross

Community Blood Drive

Let's give the ultimate gift this holiday season, the gift of life. Upcoming blood drives are:

Wednesday, December 1: 2:00 p.m. - 7:45 p.m..

Hillcrest Elementary School - Alma

Tuesday, December 7: 1:00 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.

First Presbyterian Church - Alma

Saturday, December 18: 10:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Countryside Christian School - 4308 S. Luce Rd., Ithaca
Tuesday, December 21: 1:00 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.
Wheeler First Methodist Church
Monday, December 27: noon - 5:45 p.m.
ZCBJ Hall - 401 E. Main St., Bannister
Tuesday, December 28: 10:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Gratiot Medical Center - Alma

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 463-3209.

Dial-A-Ride Updates

Back to Schools Specials
December 21 - December 30, 2010

Semi-Annual Pass $120 one way
Semi-Annual Pass $235 both ways

or
Ticket Books $9.00 (ticket book coupon cannot be used during this sale). These books are a $12 ticket value.

Regular price ticket books sell daily for $11.00 each or $10.00 with a coupon from the back page of the ticket book.

If you cannot make it to the office during this time, appointments can be made. Please phone us at 463-6016.

DART Business Hours

Monday thru Friday
Office 7:00 am - 4:30pm
DART Service 7:00 am - 8:00 pm

DART Fares

Regular Price Junior Fares (non-prepaid)
7:30 am - 5:30 pm in Alma $1.75
5:30 pm - 8:00 pm in Alma $3.50
Prepaid fares $1.85 daytime or $3.70 evening

St. Louis Service

M-W-F: 9:00 a.m., noon & 3:00 p.m.
T-TH: 9:00 a.m. & 3:00 p.m.
Regular fare: $4.00 per ride
Monthly pass (per calendar month only): $60 one way
January 15, 2011 through end of school June 2011: $555

Ticket books: $9.00 (ticket book coupon cannot be use during this sale). These books are a $12 ticket value.

DART will be open December 23 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Service is by advance reservation by phoning 463-6016 prior to the service date. DART will be closed December 24, 25 & 31.

Christmas Tree Safety Tips

Each year, fire departments respond to an average of 210 structure fires caused by Christmas trees. Carefully decorating Christmas trees can help make your holidays safer.

Picking the tree tree2

Choose a tree with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched.
If you have an artificial tree, be sure it is labeled, certified, or identified by the manufacturer as fire retardant.

Placing the tree

Before placing the tree in the stand, cut 1-2" from the base of the trunk.
Make sure the tree is at least three feet away from any heat source, like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights.
Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit.
Add water to the tree stand. Be sure to add water daily.

Lighting the tree

Use lights that have the label of an independent testing laboratory. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both.
Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Connect no more than three strands of mini string sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs.
Never use lit candles to decorate the tree.
Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.

After Christmas

Get rid of the tree when it begins dropping needles. Dried-out trees are a fire danger and should not be left in the home or garage, or placed outside against the home.
Bring outdoor electrical lights inside after the holidays to prevent hazards and make them last longer.

Remember...