News from City of Alma

City of Alma E-Newsletter

News That's Important for You!

February 2013

Alma Police Athletic League (PAL) Youth Indoor Soccer Registration & Clinic

The PAL Indoor Soccer season is almost upon us. Listed below are the registration and start dates as well as clinic times for the youth leagues.

Registration for youth (5-14 years old) is now open online at
www.allplayers.com/g/almapal. You may also register your child the first day of clinics, February 16th which is the deadline for
registration.

If you are interested in H.S./Adult Indoor Soccer please email us at almapdpal@yahoo.com.

Thank you for your interest in PAL Indoor Soccer and we look forward to yet another great season in 2013!

Saturday February 16th

5-6 year olds:
Registration: 8:45 am - 9:15 am Clinic: 9:15 am - 10:00 am

7-8 Year olds:
Registration 10:00 am - 10:30 am Clinic: 10:30 am - 11:15 am

9-10 Year Olds:
Registration 11:15 am - 11:45 am Clinic: 11:45 am - 12:30 pm

11-14 Year Olds:
Registration 12:30 pm - 1:00 pm Clinic: 1:00 pm - 1:45 pm

Games and practices will start the following Saturday - Feb. 23rd and be played for 5 consecutive weeks.

COST IS $35 PER PLAYER FOR NON-PAL MEMBERS

Any questions contact our office at 989-466-7630

New Businesses

Business Improvements - 2012

The Alma DDA and the City of Alma would like to thank all new businesses who opened their doors in 2012. We also want to thank all the businesses who made investments in the Alma community in 2012.

New Businesses

McLaren Medical Practice & Walk In Clinic - 1486 Wright Ave.
Papa's Sweet Shop - 204 E. Superior St.
Merrill Institute of Welding - 520 Republic Ave.
All American Glass Plus - 932 E. Superior St.
Connections Counseling Services - 107 W. Superior St.
Drop Tine Archery & Outdoors - 101 W. Superior St.
Cyclesations - 313 N. State St.
Wellness Improvement Center - 107 W. Superior St.
Fat Rabbits Tricks & Treats - 314 N. State St.
O'Reilly Auto Parts - 1785 Wright Ave.
The Barbershop - 403 Gratiot Ave.
Janie's Barbershop - 319 E. Superior St.
New Horizons Computer Learning Center - 327 E. Center St. (Inside GTECH)
Charles L. Simmons - 316 Golfside Dr.
Perspectives Counseling - 107 W. Superior St.
Molly Bea Photography - 107 W. Superior St.
Cross Road Bar & Grill - 5957 N. State St.
Pioneer Quick Luber #6 - 307 W. Superior St.
Zak's Party Store - 1237 Michigan Ave.
The Brown Dog - 324 N. State St.
Security Septic Tanks, Inc./SST Environmental - 2000 E. Superior St.
Sarah L. Ostahowski - 525 W. Warwick Dr.
Frisbey's Auto Body & Detail - 1951 Michigan Ave.

Business Improvements

City Cleaners - 316 W. Superior St.
Alma Tire Service - 1210 E. Superior St.
Alma Renaissance - 214 E. Superior St.
Alma College - 614 W. Superior St.
Masonic Pathways - 1200 Wright Ave.
Roslund, Prestage & Company, P.C. 525 W. Warwick Dr.
Edward Jones Investment - 525 W. Warwick Dr.
Bravehearts Pub - 218 E. Superior St.
Purple Pear Place - 127 E. Superior St.

Thank you all for your commitment to Alma. We wish you the best!

Congratulations to

Greater Gratiot Development!

"Greater Gratiot Development, Inc. is one of the best, if not the best rural economic development organization in Michigan." This is according to Jim Hettinger of Urban Development Services who was was recenlty hired to complete a study and organizational assessment of GGDI. This report just reiterates what we already know: We are very fortunate to have GGDI working for us!

Thank you Don Schurr and Carol Wetzel for your hard work and dedication to Gratiot County. Keep up the good work!

For a complete look at the Greater Gratiot Development, Inc. An Organizational Assessment and Benchmarking Study, just click on the link.

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 the city's newsletter. 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 focuses on one of our police officers.

Officer Ervin Ward, Police Department.

Officer Ward began his law enforcement career in Breckenridge in 2010. He started working for St. Louis in 2011 and Alma in 2012. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Ferris State University before graduating from the 85th Delta Police Academy. He has received training in first aid, defensive tactics, radar, Taser, aerosol subject restraint, Datamaster, driving, and domestic violence. Officer Ward currently resides in Midland with his girlfriend and their cat and dog. He enjoys spending time with his family and outdoors, especially when hunting, golfing, fishing, or playing softball. When asked about why Officer Ward chose this profession he stated: "There is a certain aspect of anticipation. You never know what the next call or day is going to bring for you. My all-time goal at the end of the day is to help people and make the area that I am enforcing safer."

American Red Cross Blood Drive

The American Red Cross currently has an urgent need for types O negative and B negative blood donations.

Distributions of types O- and B- to hospitals are outpacing donations creating an urgent need.
All types are, however, encouraged and gratefully accepted.

Have a heart, donate today!

Upcoming blood drives are:

Tuesday, February 5: 1:00 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.

Alma First Presbyterian Church

Friday, February 22: 10:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Ashley High School

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

Valentine's Day Trivia

Just a little trivia you can use to impress your special Valentine!

Valentine's Day is named after the Patron Saint - Saint Valentine.
Around 15% of U.S. women are believed to send themselves flowers on Valentine's Day.
It has been estimated that as many as one billion cards are sent world-wide each year, on Valentine's Day.
It has been estimated, by Greeting Card Association, that of all the people who purchase cards on Valentine's Day, around 85 percent are women.
NECCO has been making heart-shaped valentine candies, with sweet sayings printed on them, since 1902.
It was only in the 1980s that the diamond industry began to promote Valentine's Day as occasion for gifting diamond jewelry.
St. Valentine's Day was declared an official holiday in 1537, by England's King Henry VIII.
It is believed that it was on February 14th, that St. Valentine was put to death. Before dying, he wrote a note for his love - the jailer's daughter, signed "From Your Valentine".
A heart-shaped outline and the figure of the winged cupid are amongst the most popular Valentine's Day symbols.
Two out of every three Valentine's Day cards are accompanied by a gift.
In the Middle Ages, men and women used to draw names from a bowl to see who their valentine would be.
In Victorian times, if you got a card on Valentine's Day, it meant bad luck.
Sweden is the only country that does not celebrate Valentine's Day.
The launch of penicillin was announced on Valentine's Day.
Flowers are the most popular Valentine's Day gift.
Duke of Orleans sent the first Valentine's Day card, after being captured in 1415.

Snow and Ice Control Plan

The City of Alma has a snow and ice control plan in place which designates snow plowing priorities during a winter storm. The plan specifies which facilities and streets will be cleared and the priority in which snow and ice will be removed. Please follow the link to read the plan in its entirety.

Taxes Due February 14th

Property owners are reminded that property taxes are due by 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 14, 2013. Taxes paid after February 14th will be subject to a 3% penalty.

Remember to Shovel Your Sidewalks and

Clear Snow and Ice from Fire Hydrants

Now that winter has arrived, we remind everyone that you are required by City Ordinance to keep sidewalks free and clear of snow and ice. Also, if you have a fire hydrant on your property, please keep it clear so that it is easily accessible in case of an emergency. If you have questions, call 463-8356.

We Accept Credit/Debit Cards

The City of Alma is now able to accept your credit/debit cards for payment of your water bills, invoices, park reservations, parking tickets, police reports, DART tickets, library transactions and other services. We cannot accept credit/debit cards for taxes, but you may pay your taxes and water bills using credit/debit cards on our website. Also remember we still have bank drafting for your water bills.

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Issue: 47

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