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City of Alma E-Newsletter October 2012

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Don't Forget to Vote on November 6th
 
The General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012.   
The polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

Precinct 1
Presbyterian Church
495 Charles Rd.

Precinct 2
Peace Lutheran Church
325 Warwick Drive
 
Precinct 4
Alma Public Library
351 N. Court

Absentee ballots are available at the City Clerk's office.  Follow the link for the precinct map .
 
If you would like to see a copy of your ballot, make sure you're registered to vote or find where you vote if you do not live in Alma, vist the Michigan Voter Information Center and enter your name.  Detailed information and a copy of your ballot will be available.
 
The last day to register to vote is Tuesday, October 9th.  Register at your local clerk's or Secretary of State office.
 
If you have any questions, please call Barb Gager at 463-8336.

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October Events: 

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Trick or Treat Hours
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday 10/31 

 

Halloween Safety Tips

 

Candy, goblins, and ghouls! Halloween is fast approaching. It can be a delightfully fun holiday for children and adults alike, but concerns about our children's safety can also bring worry for parents. In today's world, it's important that everyone take some extra steps to prepare for a night of trick-or-treating amusement.

 

Here are some safety tips from the Alma Department of Public Safety to make this Halloween a safe and exciting time:

Costume Considerations

  • Masks can obstruct vision, so opt for face make-up instead. If you or your child does wear a mask, look for one with large eye, mouth, and nose holes to ensure comfortable breathing and sight.
  • Make sure that a child's costume and shoes fit comfortably and allows him/her to walk without tripping.
  • Make sure your children's costumes are not constructed out of flammable materials.
  • Bright colors and reflective stripes increase costume visibility at night.
  • Avoid sharp or hard accessories that may cause injuries if the child falls. Reconsider weapons props that appear too realistic.

Trick-or-Treating Guidelines

  • Know your children's trick-or-treating route and what time they are expected home.
  • Do not take shortcuts through backyards, alleys, or parks.
  • Take a flashlight with fresh batteries when trick-or-treating.
  • Children should always stay in groups and with a responsible chaperone. Parents should accompany younger children, if possible.
  • Make chaperones aware of any severe food allergies that may be included in treats.
  • Attach a note or wristband to the costume of young children with their name, address, and contact information, in case they become separated from the group.
  • Remind children not to enter stranger's homes or cars.
  • Explain to your child that he/she should not eat treats before parents have inspected them. Treating your kids to a spooky Halloween dinner will make them less likely to eat the candy they collect before you have a chance to check it for them.

Other Safety Thoughts

  • Welcome trick-or-treaters with your porch lights on. Increase lighting in areas where items may be tripped over, such as low to the ground Halloween decorations.
  • Do not give homemade or unwrapped treats to children.
  • Drive slowly on Halloween. Be on the alert for excited youngsters, whose vision may be obscured by masks, running out into traffic. Caution teenage drivers about Halloween driving safety hazards.
  • Discourage the use of roller-skates, skateboards, or bicycles during this time of heightened pedestrian traffic.
  • Use extra care when carving pumpkins. Consider painting faces or designs on pumpkins instead.

As always, report any suspicious or criminal activity to the police immediately. For emergencies, dial 911. For non-emergencies, contact Central Dispatch at (989) 875-7505.

 

Alma College Homecoming
  
Alma College celebrates homecoming on Saturday, October 6th with a parade along Superior Street beginning at 11:00 a.m. followed by the Scots hosting Adrian College for the 1:30 p.m. football game.  Visit the Alma College website for a complete listing of homecoming activities.
 
American Red Cross Community Blood Drives

 

With fall here, the American Red Cross encourages all eligible donors to wrap up summer with the gift of life.  Please help save a life.  Upcoming blood drives are:

 

Tuesday, October 2: 1:00 - 7:00 p.m.
First Presbyterian Church - Alma

 

Friday, October 26: 10:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Gratiot Medical Center

 

Friday, October 26: 10:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Ashley High School
 
For more information, please call 463-3209.

 

Owosso Train Returns in October 

 

The Steam Railroading Institute (SRI) in Owosso will again be bringing a train excursion to Alma on October 20. 

 

The SRI and the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society will host their annual Fall Color Trip on October 20.  The tour will leave Owosso at 9:00 a.m. and arrive in Alma at approximately 11:30.  After a 3 1/2 hour layover, the train will then return to Owosso at 3:00 p.m.

 

Tickets may be purchased by calling (989)725-9464 or by visiting http://michigansteamtrain.com/sri/tickets/.

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Alma Public Library Events
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Haunted House Contest
 
Back by popular demand will be the Alma Public Library Haunted House contest.  Three winners will be decided by library patrons who will vote on the haunted house projects on display at the library.  The house projects must be submitted to the library between October 8 - 13 to be considered a valid entry.  Voting on the displays will take place from October 15 - 27.  Prizes will be awarded in three categories:  juvenile, teen and adult.  Contact the library at 463-3966 for more information.
 
Spanish Story Hour

 

D`onde? La biblioteca p`ublica de Alma(Where? Alma Public Library) A new event for the library will be the Saturday Morning Spanish Storytime. The program is scheduled at 10 a.m. and will run until November 17. A special holiday event is being planned in December, with a date to follow. The Spanish storytimes are planned for children between the ages of 2 and 6 years, but "kids" of all ages are welcomed...we encourage any and all who desire to have contact with the Spanish language, outside of the traditional classroom, to come and participate. This program is a joint effort between the Alma Public Library, the Hispanic Coalition, and the Alma College Modern Language Department.

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Construction Projects
 
Street construction is proceeding along E. Superior Street from the bridge over the Pine River to State Road. The work to date has been focused on replacement of sidewalk ramps to meet current ADA standards for Barrier Free Access and the repair of cracks in the road surface. Starting some time during the week of October 8th milling and repaving operations should begin. This will involve grinding off the top 1� inches of the street surface and replacing with a new layer of asphalt. The Michigan Department of Transportation expects that this milling and re-surfacing process should take two weeks to complete. The street will remain open during this process, but moving lane closures will cause some inconvenience to traffic. 

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Fall Leaf Collection 
 
The City of Alma Fall Leaf Collection program will begin on Monday, October 22, 2012.  The program provides leaf collection throughout the City twice and proceeds through the City in a clockwise direction. 
 
City leaf collection crews will cover all streets in each area once during each pass.  Residents should rake their leaves to the edge of the street prior to the days scheduled for their neighborhood.  Leaves should not be raked into the road or piled onto sidewalks.
 
To find out when your leaves will be collected, check out the map or call 463-8339 or 463-8346.
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Yard Waste Program Ends October 22nd
 
The City of Alma Yard Waste Program ends on Monday, October 22, 2012. All residents with yard waste should plan to have it placed at the curb by the 22nd. City crews will work through the city on the final round of yard waste pickup beginning that day.

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Safe Routes 2 School 
Walk to School Day 2012 
 
Alma Public Schools grades K-8 will be participating in this year's international Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 3, 2012.   The program encourages physical fitness and healthy habits; heightens awareness of traffic, safety and environmental concerns around schools; is an environmentally-friendly and inexpensive activity; helps kick-off a community-wide Safe Routes 2 School initiative and is a fun way to spend time with your child, grandchild or other special young person in your life.

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Alma Community Fall Festival 
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The Alma College Center for Responsible Leadership, Alma Action Association and the Downtown Development Authority will be holding the 2nd Annual Alma Community Fall Festival on Thursday, October 25, 2012 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.  Kids activities, games and "trunk & treat" are just a few of the fun treats in store.

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Get To Know Your Public Safety Department

 

In an effort to inform the community of the exceptional caliber of people within the Alma Department of Public Safety, we will be publishing short biographies of our employees in our newsletters. Our hope is that the community takes this time to learn a little about the fine men and women that help keep our City safe. This installment features the Director and one officer from the Alma Police Department.

  

Director David Walsh

Alma Department of Public Safety

 

Director Walsh received his police certification from the Michigan State Police Academy, his Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology from Saginaw Valley, and his firefighter 1 and 2 certifications from the State of Michigan. He is also a graduate of the Northwestern University Staff and Command School. He and his wife, Nancy Gallagher, have three children, David, Meredith, and Natalie. An Alma native, Director Walsh has spent his entire career at the Alma Department of Public Safety. This month makes his thirty-fifth year as an employee of the department. Director Walsh is also very active within the community. He has been on the board of directors for: Big Brother/Big Sisters of Gratiot County, the Alma/St. Louis Rotary Club, Mid-Michigan Industries, and the Alma Symphony. He is also an elder of the First Presbyterian Church and a past United Way chair and board member. When asked about his experience here, Director Walsh stated, "I really enjoy the community, I always have, and I enjoy working with the people that live here. I think Alma is a great place to live, work, and bring up a family." Contact Director Walsh at [email protected].

 

Officer Jason Biehl

Police Department

 

Officer Biehl is a graduate of St. Louis High School, Alma College, and the Lansing Community College Police Academy. Officer Biehl is also trained as an evidence technician. He has been with the Alma Police Department for six years. Officer Biehl looked forward to having an "opportunity to give back" as a police officer. It's no surprise, then, that he is the department's current School Resource Officer. As an SRO, Officer Biehl is the link between law enforcement and Alma schools. He provides assistance to school administrators and establishes a familiarity with the community's youth. Officer Biehl is also the current coordinator for the Alma Youth Police Academy, a summer program designed to introduce children from the ages of 10-15 to the inner workings of the criminal justice system. He is currently married and the father of one daughter. Contact Officer Biehl at [email protected].

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Come Home to Alma
for the Holidays!
 
The Annual Come Home to Alma for the Holidays celebration will be Friday, December 14th  from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. in downtown Alma.  Completing the weekend will be the 2nd Annual Jingle Bell 5K Run/Walk and Reindeer Trot on Saturday at 9:00 a.m.
 
To get the most up to date information, please go to Facebook and "like" the Come Home to Alma for the Holidays page.  There you will find the activity schedules, forms and meeting dates and times.  All are welcome to join the meetings and get involved in the activities.

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Parking Ban Begins November 1st 
No parking
 
The annual winter parking ban on city streets goes into effect on November 1st.  Parking is prohibited on any street from 2:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. November 1 - March 31.
 
Daylight Savings Time Ends
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Remember to set your clocks back one hour before you go to bed on Saturday, November 3rd. The time change begins at 2:00 a.m. 
 
Change the Batteries in
Your Smoke Detectors
 
When you set your clocks back also change the batteries in your smoke detectors.  Keep your family safe!

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Issue: 43

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City of Alma

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In This Issue
VOTE!
October Events
Library Events
Construction Projects
Leaf Collection
Safe Routes 2 School
Fall Festival
Get to Know Your Public Safety Department
Come Home to Alma for the Holidays!
DON'T FORGET!

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Upcoming City  closings: 

 
Thanksgiving
11/ 22 & 11/23
 
Christmas
12/24 & 12/25
 
 New Years
1/1/13

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City of Alma Officials:

 

Mayor

 

Vice-Mayor

 

Commissioner

 

Commissioner

 

Commissioner

Nick Piccolo
Commissioner

 

Commissioner

Phillip J. Moore
City Manager
(989-463-8336

 

Asst. City Manager/ DDA Director
(989)463-8336

 

Public Safety Director
(989)463-8317

 

Public Services Director
(989)463-8346

 

City Clerk
(989)463-8336

 

City Assessor
(989)463-8356

 

Building Inspector
(989)463-8356

 

Finance Director
(989)463-8346

 

Transportation Services Director
(989)463-6016

 

Library Director
(989)463-3966

 

Controller
(989)463-8346

Fire Commander
(989)463-8359

463-8317

 

Fire (business)
463-8359

 

Public Services
463-8346

 

Municipal Garage
463-8339

 

Cemetery
463-8901

 

Forestry
463-8901

 

Library
463-3966

 

DART
463-6016

 

Water
463-8349

 

Wastewater
463-6506

 

Public Access
463-5883

 

Housing Commission
463-4200

Emergency
911

 

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City of Alma Telephone Numbers: 

Emergency
911
 
City Manager
463-8336
 
City Clerk
463-8336
 
City Assessor
463-8356
 
City Treasurer
463-8346
 
City Engineer
463-8346
 
Building/Zoning
463-8356
 
Downtown Development Authority
463-8336
 
Public Safety
463-8317
 
Fire (business)
463-8359
 
Public Services
463-8346
 
Municipal Garage
463-8339
 
Cemetery
463-8901
 
Forestry
463-8901
 
Library
463-3966
 
DART
463-6016
 
Water
463-8349
 
Wastewater
463-6506
 
Public Access
463-5883
 
Housing Commission
463-4200 

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Join Our Mailing List
City of Alma
 www.ci.alma.mi.us
525 E. Superior St., PO Box 278
Alma, MI 48801-0278
(989)463-8336