City of Alma E-Newsletter

News That's Important for You!

May 2014

"Spring Fling" Carnival

The golf outing is not the only activity happening the first weekend in May. The Spring Fling Kids' Carnival is scheduled for May 2nd, 3rd & 4th. The carnival will include great rides, carnival foods like elephant ears, funnel cakes, cotton candy and carnival games to test your skills. The carnival will be open on State Street Friday May 2nd 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.; Saturday, May 3rd 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. and Sunday, May 4th 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Come to downtown Alma and enjoy a great day with the kids!

Household Hazardous Waste Program

hazardous waste

The City of Alma in conjunction with the City of St. Louis, conducts aHousehold Hazardous Waste Program. Residents

may drop off unwanted items

such as batteries, paints, pesticides/herbicides and cleaning liquids. This year's collection dates are:

May 6: 8:00 am - 4:30 p.m.

May 7: 8:00 am - 7:30 p.m.

May 8: 8:00 am - 4:30 p.m.

The collection program will take place at the Public Works Garage,800 Washington. Appointments are required and can be made by calling 463-8339. For more information, please follow the link.

KAB Flower Planting Day

On Saturday, May 17th the KAB Committee welcomes volunteers to the fourth annual Alma in Bloom flower planting downtown. The KAB Committee will have a total of 37 pots in the downtown area. Volunteers are asked to meet at 10 am in front of the Chamber of Commerce Office. Bring your gardening tools and friends.

The Keep Alma Beautiful is recruiting volunteers to help maintain and water the flower pots throughout the summer and fall. Please consider gathering a group of friends, co-workers or anyone who wants to contribute to this great community service project. If you have more questions about how to get involved please email or callAeric Ripley at 463-8336.

Highland Festival & Games

HiglandFestLogo

The 47th Alma Highland Festival and Games will take place May 23, 24 & 25 on the Alma College Campus. This year's festival is sure to be a great time! On the schedule are the Saturday morning parade, Solo Piping & Drumming Championship, Choreography Dance Competitions, Athletic Events, Country Dancing, Entertainment Tent, Border Collie Exhibition, 5K Road Run/Walk, 10K Run, Kids Fun Run, Arts & Crafts Show, Clan Tents, Chelsea House Orchestra and Mudmen.

The vending area provides visitors with the opportunity to buy a kilt, bagpipes and just about anything Scottish. The food vendors will be located outside the festival gates as well as the Arts & Crafts Fair. To get the most up to date information on the Festival including rain plan locations, follow the link to the Highland Festival website. Buy your tickets online by May 24 and save!

Also, the Highland Festival Committee is still looking for banner holders for the parade. If you would like to help, please call 463-8979.

Rules of the Road

The League of American Bicyclists' "Rules of the Road" are the core of the Smart Cycling program and will prepare you for a safe and fun bike commute no matter where you are riding.

FOLLOW THE LAW

Your safety and image of bicyclists depend on you. You have the same rights and duties as drivers. Obey traffic signals and stop signs. Ride with traffic; use the rightmost lane headed in the direction you are going.

BE PREDICTABLE

Make your intentions clear to everyone on the road. Ride in a straight line and don't swerve between parked cars. Signal turns, and check behind you well before turning or changing lanes.

BE CONSPICUOUS

Ride where people can see you and wear bright clothing. Use a front white light, red rear light and reflectors when visibility is poor. Make eye contact with others and don't ride on sidewalks.

THINK AHEAD

Anticipate what drivers, pedestrians, and other people on bikes will do next. Watch for turning vehicles and ride outside the door zone of parked cars. Look out for debris, potholes, and other road hazards. Cross railroad tracks at right angles.

RIDE READY

Check that your tires have sufficient air, brakes are working, chain runs smoothly, and quick release levers are closed. Carry tools and supplies that are appropriate for your ride. Wear a helmet.

Red Cross Blood Drives

The American Red Cross asks that you give a gift that can help save a life -- a blood donation.

Tuesday, May 6: noon - 5:45 p.m.

Gratiot County Commission on Aging

Tuesday,May 13:8:30 a.m. - 2:15 p.m

Ithaca High School

Thursday, May 22: 11:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.

Alma Pine Villa Apartments

Tuesday, May 27: 1:00 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.

Alma Public Library

Thursday, May 29: noon - 5:45 p.m.

St. Louis Church of Christ

To schedule your appointment, you may call 1-800-Red-Cross, 989-463-3209 or visit www.redcrossblood.org.

Water Conservation Tips

Follow the tips below for saving water:

Around the house

Wash only full loads in the clothes washer. Washing small loads uses over twice as much water per pound of laundry.
When buying a new clothes washer, consider purchasing a water-saving model. Water saved: up to 40 gallons per load.
Insulate hot water pipes where possible to avoid long delays (and wasted water) while waiting for the water to "run hot." When building a new home, keep the distance short between the water heater and showers and other places that hot water is used.

� 1996-2014 Lower Colorado River Authority

Yard Waste Program in Full Swing

Yard Waste is collected on your regular trash collection day and must be in paper bags, cardboard boxes and/or trash containers marked "yard waste". Tree limbs should be placed in piles, not bundled, with all stems lying in the same direction. To get the complete info on the yard waste program, follow this link

Garage Sale Sign & Yard Sale Regulations

garage sale sign

It's that time of year again! The City of Alma encourages residents to conduct garage sales, but urges them to follow the regulations concerning garage sale signs. Follow this link to be "in the know" on the do's and don'ts of garage sale signs and yard sale regulations.

Noxious Weed Program

weed The City of Alma enforces a noxious weed ordinance. All property owners are required to keep weeds and grass mowed. All lot owners must cut the noxious weeds or the weeds will be cut and the costs will be assessed against the property by special assessment. If you have any questions please contact City Assessor Kathy Roslund at 463-8356 (click name for email).

Forward Us to Your Friends!

gossip

If you know of someone who may be interested in receiving our e-newsletters, please forward this copy to them or tell them about us. Anyone interested can join our mailing list by following this link.

Issue: 62