Alpine Community

Neighbourhood
Association

Alpine Community
Neighbourhood
Association

Family Fun Day

ACNA NEWSLETTER April 2015

CONTACT: President of ACNA, Graham Jeffery, 519-578-9603, gwjeffery@rogers.com

Website: http://alpine-cna.blogspot.com/

Alpine Community
The Country Hills Recreation Association is holding their ever-popular Family Fun Day
Neighbourhood
again this year for the 18th time. And you know what? We're all invited!!
Association
Come out and enjoy some family time. Plenty for the kids to see and do!
- Kiddies Fun Trak
- Reptile show
- Doon Skatium mobile skateboard park
- Video games
- and More!
Country Hills Community Centre
Sunday April 26, 2015 - 2 to 4 pm
Admission: $1.00 per child
FUN for all!
Earth Day Community Cleanup - Saturday April 25th, 2015
Each year, neighbours get together and come out to clean up the trash scattered around
through the previous year. This annual cleanup effort makes a real difference in how our
neighbourhood appears and we thank all of you who have participated in the past. We
clean up Alpine Park, under the power line corridor, and other public spaces in the ACNA
area.
Here's how you can participate this year:
- Saturday, April 25th 9:00 am to 12:30 pm. Arrive and leave when you want to.
- If the weather on Saturday is wet, we'll do it on Sunday the 26th. Watch the ACNA blog
and Facebook page for a rain date announcement.
- We can supply garbage bags and gloves, but you can help by bringing your own.
- We'll have water and Timbits. Some gift items too.
- Meet behind Alpine Public School to pick up supplies and drop off your collected garbage. We'll take it away.
We look forward to seeing you there!
R031515

Alpine Community
Neighbourhood
Association

Alpine Community Neighbourhood Association Newsletter April 2015

Contact: Graham Jeffery, 519-578-9603, gwjeffery@rogers.com

Page 1 of 8

Community Garage Sale - June 6th, 2015

It's well known that grouping garage sales in the same neighbourhood, on the same
date, will attract buyers, so our recommended date this year is the first Saturday in
June. Your neighbours look forward to having their sales on the common date, and
we have had up to 30 sales at once. ACNA will support the garage sale date with local posters and ads on the Kijiji website.
Our rain date will be the following Saturday June 13th. If there's wet weather forecasted for the 6th,
check our blog and Facebook pages for an announcement.

ACNA's Annual General Meeting

At our Annual General Meeting, we will elect our executive team for the
2015/2016 year. We'll have our AGM within our regular May Meeting: May
5th - 7:00 pm - Alpine Public School - in the Library. If you wish to contribute
to our organization, or just come out and see what we're all about, you don't
have to join the executive. Just come out to any monthly meeting and get to
know us. Our June meeting will be at the same location, same time, on Tuesday June 2nd.

Kindergarten Registration 2015-2016 at Alpine Public School

Welcome to Alpine Public School! Kindergarten registration for the 2015/2016 school year took place
recently with great success. It was so great to see so many happy children looking forward to attending
school for the first time.
For those parents who missed the registration days, please call Mrs. Crewe at 519-743-4338 to make an
appointment. Please ensure your child is of age to attend school. If your child was born in 2011 he/she
will attend Junior Kindergarten in September 2015. If your child was born in 2010 he/she will attend
Senior Kindergarten in September 2015. If your child already attends Alpine Public School, registration
is not required.
To register, the following documents will be required:
- proof of birth (e.g. passport, birth certificate)*
- proof of address (e.g. drivers license, lease agreement, utility bill)
- immunization records
* Please note that a Health Card is not accepted as proof of birth

Alpine Community
Neighbourhood
Association

Alpine Community Neighbourhood Association Newsletter April 2015

Contact: Graham Jeffery, 519-578-9603, gwjeffery@rogers.com

Page 2 of 8

Top 10 tips for green binning

6.

7.


8.
9.




10.

1.
Place a paper egg carton or flattened cereal box on the bottom of your green bin

to help ensure your organics are easy to empty out.
2.
Use a liner bag or layer in paper products (e.g., facial tissues, shredded paper)

to help absorb liquids and keep your bins cleaner. Make your own liner

out of newspaper!
3.
If you want to use plastic liner bags, make sure they are certified compostable.

This is the only type of plastic allowed. If you add other plastics such as

grocery bags, garbage bags, plastic cutlery, etc. your bin will not be emptied.
4.
Maintain your green bin and kitchen container with regular washing.
5.
Use natural deodorizers such as baking soda or white vinegar.
Capture organics in other rooms of your home. Set a paper liner bag in your bathroom to collect
tissues and hair.
Clean out your fridge or freezer the day before collection. Some residents even store their
organics in paper bags in their freezer during the week and then drop the bags in the green bin
on collection day.
Store your green bin in a convenient, well-ventilated location.
Set out your green bin for collection every week - even if it is not full. This will ensure you have
enough space in your bin and reduce odours. Reminders: (a) Set out only your green bin -
do not set out your kitchen container or paper liner bags. (b) Set out by 7 a.m. on your collection
day. (c) Consider setting out on your collection day instead of the night before. If you have issues
with raccoons, contact us (The Region) for a lock.
Handle your green bin gently. This will help it to last longer. If it does get damaged, please bring
it when you pick up a replacement. The Region will recycle broken green bins.

Acceptable items
Baked goods - e.g. bread, cakes, cookies, dough, pies
Baking and cooking ingredients
Butcher paper
Butter & margarine
Candy
Cat litter
Cereal
Certified compostable plastic liners bags
Charcoal
Coffee cups (PAPER, no lids)
Coffee filters, grounds
Corn cobs, husks
Cotton balls
Cotton swabs having a rolled paper or wooden rod
Cooking oil
Dairy products - e.g. cheese, sour cream, yogurt
Eggs, eggshells
Facial tissues
Feathers
Fish, fish parts
Flowers (cut), bouquets
Fruit
Fur
Grains & rice
Gravy & sauces
Alpine Community
Neighbourhood
Association

Grease, lards, fats

Greenery from wreaths
Hair
Herbs & spices
Houseplant waste Jams & jellies
Mayonnaise
Meat, meat products, bones
Muffin/baking cups (paper)
Nail clippings
Nuts & shells
Paper bags including fast food packaging, flour bags, microwave popcorn bags
Paper plates, cups, napkins
Parchment paper
Pasta
Peanut butter
Pencil shavings
Pet waste (including bedding, droppings,
kitty litter)- must be bagged or wrapped
in paper)
Pizza
Pizza boxes
Play dough (homemade)
Popsicle sticks
Popcorn
Salad & dressings
Sawdust

Shellfish
Shredded paper
Snack foods
Sugar & sweetener packets
Sugar & syrups
Sugar bags
Tea bags (except Lipton pyramid tea bags)
Toothpicks (wood)
Vegetables - including waxed
vegetables such as rutabaga)
Wood ashes (cold)
Wood chips

Alpine Community Neighbourhood Association Newsletter April 2015

Contact: Graham Jeffery, 519-578-9603, gwjeffery@rogers.com

Page 3 of 8

Do not green bin these

Band-Aids
Batteries, paint & other hazardous waste
Biodegradable plastic bags
Candles
Chewing gum
Cigarette butts & ashes
Cleaning sponges
Corks
Cutlery (metal, plastic)
Dental floss/tape, toothbrushes
Diapers
Dryer lint
Dryer sheets
Lipton Pyramid Tea (plastic mesh tea bag)

Metal - (anything in part or as a whole is made of metal of any

kind)
Paper towels containing hazardous/cleaning products
Plastic - grocery/retail plastic bags, biodegradable plastic bags, plastic containers, plastic wrap, etc.
Plastic packets of ketchup, relish, etc.
Sanitary products - (personal)
Textiles
ted
mit
b
u
Vacuum sweepings/ household dirt
s
cled ttle
i
Water softener salt
t
r
i
a
Wax
...... nn Wh
A
Waxed paper
by
Wood, treated wood
Recyclables - place in blue box
Yard Waste - compost in back yard, set out during seasonal pick up,
or bring to transfer station

Thank you to the neighbour(s) on Roberts crescent who graciously donated their time and snowblowers to dig out their neighbours' driveways in an
effort to make their shovelling task a little easier.
Your help is much appreciated.

..... submitted by Karen.
ALWAYS ASK, NEVER ASSUME!!
His request approved, the CNN News photographer quickly used a cell phone to call the local airport to charter a flight. He
was told a twin-engine plane would be waiting for him at the airport. Arriving at the airfield, he spotted a plane warming up
outside a hangar. He jumped in with his bag, slammed the door shut, and shouted, 'Let's go'. The pilot taxied out, swung the
plane into the wind and took off.
Once in the air, the photographer instructed the pilot, 'Fly over the valley and make low passes so I can take pictures of the
fires on the hillsides.' 'Why?' asked the pilot.
'Because I'm a photographer for CNN', he responded, 'and I need to get some close up shots.'
The pilot was strangely silent for a moment, finally he stammered, 'So, what you're telling me, is . . . You're NOT my flight
instructor?'
"Life is short. Drink the good wine first."
1. What do you put in a toaster? Answer: Bread - if you said "toast" give up now & do something else. Try not to hurt yourself. If you said "bread", go to Question 2.
2. Say "silk" 5 times, now spell "silk". What do cows drink? Answer: cows drink water, if you said milk, don't attempt the
next question. However if you said "water", go to Question 3.
3. If a red house is made of red bricks, a blue house is made of blue bricks, a pink house is made of pink bricks and a black
house is made of black bricks, what is a green house made of?
Answer: greenhouses are made of glass. If you said green bricks, why are you still reading this?
If you said "glass", go to Question 4.
4. Without using a calculator - you are driving a bus from London to Milford Haven, Wales. In London 17 people get on the
bus, in Reading 6 people get off and 9 people get on. In Swindon 2 people get off and 4 people get on. In Cardiff 11 people
get off and 16 people get on. In Swansea 3 people get off and 5 people get on. In Carmathen 6 people get off and 3 get on.
You then arrive at Milford Haven. Without scrolling back to review, how old is the bus driver? Answer: Oh for crying out
loud! Don't you remember your own age? It was YOU driving the bus! If you pass this along to your friends, pray they do
better than you.

Alpine Community
Neighbourhood
Association

... submitted by Dennis Haid

Alpine Community Neighbourhood Association Newsletter April 2015

Contact: Graham Jeffery, 519-578-9603, gwjeffery@rogers.com

Page 4 of 8

Dear Residents,
I wish you a healthy and happy spring and summer. As the weather has begun to warm, I look ahead into
this New Year with optimism; I feel that we are truly blessed to live in such a great city with so much to
offer. It remains a privilege to serve the Ward 6 community as your city councillor, which I could not do
effectively without you. So, please feel free to share your thoughts and concerns with me so we may
continue working together to improve our ward and city.
On February 23, the 2015 budget was finalized by council. I will take a moment to explain. Initially staff
had proposed a 2.25% tax levy increase, which would have been in line with the Consumer Price Index, at
around 2.3%.
Council approved the 2015 budget, which included a city tax rate increase of 1.91%. Its important to note
that the majority of Kitchener citizens surveyed in the past have expressed their expectation of amenities
and good service delivery. When voting on the budget items, I tried to strike a balance between being
sensitive to those taxpayers who live on fixed incomes and those desiring enhanced service levels. I
believe the approved budget meets this goal of being both affordable and sustainable without having to
sacrifice.
Effort was made to again fund the city's now depleted tax stabilization reserve, which is used to fund
operating deficits arising from unexpected expenses. Rebuilding this fund will help to ease the pressure
on the need to increase the tax levy in future years.
Opportunity was taken to improve some city services, such as proactive pruning of city boulevard trees.
This should address numerous resident complaints received each year and help to further safeguard against
property damage.
Throughout my last term on council, my objective was to propose effective methods to limit any tax
increase to the cost of livingthe 2015 budget achieved this goal and came in below the rate of inflation.
As we head into spring, you will notice pot holes appearing on our roads, caused by the harsh temperature
fluctuations we experienced this past winter. Although city crews regularly patrol our streets to find and
fix these and other road deficiencies, your help in reporting pot hole locations to the Corporate Contact
Centre will assist staff in repairing these in a timely manner. To report a pot hole, call 519-741-2345 and
provide closest address (if possible), intersection, and lane with our staff.
I am happy to hear from you on these and any other matters affecting you, as your voice is most important
to consider when making decisions that affect you. You may e-mail me at paul.singh@kitchener.ca, call
me 519-741-2793 and follow me on twitter: @paulsinghward6.
Sincerely,

Councillor Paul Singh Ward 6

Alpine Community
Neighbourhood
Association

Alpine Community Neighbourhood Association Newsletter April 2015

Contact: Graham Jeffery, 519-578-9603, gwjeffery@rogers.com

Page 5 of 8

The Water Conservation By-law - Helping Us Save Water

In the summer, fresh water demand can strain our water supply. So the Region of Waterloo has rules in place
under the Water Conservation by-law. Here are the most important rules...
Most restrictions apply between May 31st and September 30th each year. During this time, watering the lawn using a hose is permitted one day a week and only between the hours of 5:30 to 10:00am and 7:00 to 11:00pm. You
determine your day based on the last digit of your address number:
- Monday if your last digit is 0 or 1
- Tuesday if your last digit is 2 or 3
- Wednesday if your last digit is 4 or 5
- Thursday if your last digit is 6 or 7
- Friday if your last digit is 8 or 9
Example: for a home at 742 Evergreen Terrace, their last digit is "2" so they water their lawn using a hose on
Tuesdays.
Other watering activities can only be done on odd or even numbered days, according to address number. Example: 742 Evergreen Terr. can only do these on even numbered days, like June 2nd, or July 26th. The same hours
as above apply.
- Watering of gardens, trees and other outdoor plants (not lawns) with a hose
- Washing cars with controlled hose (shut-off valve)
- Topping up permanent residential pools
- Watering lawns with a hose between October 1st and May 30th each year.
You can do the following on any day...
- Water lawns or gardens using a bucket or watering can not attached to the municipal water supply.
- Filling a portable pool or kids' wading pool.
- Complete filling of permanent pools which are currently empty.
- Washing a car with a bucket - both wash and rinse - no hose
Exemptions:
- You can change your lawn watering day to a different day of the week if you apply to the Regional government.
A limited number of changes are granted each year, you can only apply after May 1st, and there is a $10 administrative fee. Then you have to stick to watering only on your changed day of the week until September 30th.
- If you apply nematodes to treat your lawn, you can register with the Regional Government to allow 24 hours of
hose watering after the application, followed by 6 days of hose watering during the approved hours (see above).
- If you put down new sod, you can apply for a permit. That allows more frequent watering for two weeks - 1 day
of unrestricted watering, 6 days of daily watering during the approved hours, then 1 week of watering every other
day based on the even/odd day rules.
Other important rules:
- Watering is banned when it is raining.
- Washing streets, driveways, walkways and buildings is prohibited.
More details on these rules and how to apply for exemptions can be found in the document "QUESTIONS ANSWERED: WATER CONSERVATION BY-LAW #07-069 (and Amendments)" which is on the Region of Waterloo Website http://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/water. Or you can contact the Region at 519-575-4495.
If we all respect and follow these rules, this will better ensure that we have a good supply of fresh clean water
throughout the hot summer months.
Alpine Community
Neighbourhood
Association

Alpine Community Neighbourhood Association Newsletter April 2015

Contact: Graham Jeffery, 519-578-9603, gwjeffery@rogers.com

Page 6 of 8

Kitchener History Facts

In 1784, the land where the city stands now was given to the Six Nations tribes by the British government as a reward for their loyalty during the American revolution. In 1796 and 1798 the land was sold
off to a land speculator and then re-sold to Pennsylvania Mennonites. The first buildings were erected
by 1800.
The oldest building in Kitchener is the Joseph Schneider House, now a museum on Queen Street. It was
built in 1816. The Kitchener city core, like that of Waterloo, was located where it is because it was poor
agricultural land.
"Berlin" was our city's name between 1833 and 1916.
Kitchener's Victoria Park was established in 1896, soon after Waterloo Park (1890).
The first railway line reached Berlin in July of 1856. This was the Grand Trunk Railway, running from
Toronto to Sarnia. The line passed through Guelph as well. Access to Highway 401 came in 1960.
Kitchener's old City Hall was demolished in 1974, to make way for a downtown shopping mall. The
new City Hall was built between 1990 and 1993.
The first gas lighting system in Berlin was installed in 1879 at the Dominion Buttons factory. In 1882
gas production was expanded by the Berlin Gas Company, whose business started by supplying gas to
factories, a few city streetlights and the homes of a number of well-to-do families.
The current Region of Waterloo Airport was opened in 1951, built on land purchased in 1948. Before
then, the airport was located at a site where Lexington Road meets University Avenue in Waterloo. That
airport opened in 1930, and was taken over during the Second World War by the British Commonwealth
Air Training Plan.
The landfill site where McLennan Park stands today operated between 1958 and 1976. The City of
Kitchener operated the site until 1973, when the Region of Waterloo took over. For many years, the City
had to deal with odors and methane coming from the site, which closed nearby townhouse developments
for a number of years. There is approximately 2 million tonnes of waste under McLennan Park.
On October 11, 1910 Berlin became the first city in Ontario to receive public utility electricity generated
at Niagara Falls, 100 miles away. By 1919, 252 Ontario municipalities were getting Niagara-generated
power. Before 1910, electricity was all privately generated and relatively expensive.
The first time that legendary hockey broadcaster Foster Hewitt called a game was on March 22, 1923.
The Intermediate league game was played in Toronto between a Kitchener team and a Toronto team.
Hewitt sat in an enclosed glass box, which started to fog up, speaking through a telephone to the radio station. This was just a couple of months after the first live hockey broadcast ever, also for a game
played in Toronto. Hewitt used the phrase "He shoots, he scores!" in his first broadcast.

Alpine Community
Neighbourhood
Association

Alpine Community Neighbourhood Association Newsletter April 2015

Contact: Graham Jeffery, 519-578-9603, gwjeffery@rogers.com

Page 7 of 8

Community
Contact
Numbers

Police/Fire Emergency
Police Non-Emergency
Alpine Community Neighbourhood Association
Country Hills Community Center
Alpine Public School
- Property Issues at Alpine P.S. - Bestel Security
Our Lady of Grace School
- Property Issues at Our Lady of Grace
St. Mary's High School
City of Kitchener
Kitchener Public Library Main Number
Kitchener Public Library (Country Hills Branch)
Region of Waterloo
Grand River Transit
Crime Stoppers tips line

911
519-653-7700
519-578-9603
519-741-2596
519-743-4338
519-749-3838
519-745-3961
519-578-3660 x5555
519-745-6891
519-741-2345
519-743-0271
519-743-3558
519-575-4400
519-585-7555
1-800-222-8477

What can you do to be more involved in your neighbourhood?

- Come out to our monthly meetings. We enjoy getting together. We plan events, discuss issues of concern, exchange information.
- Tell us what you want in this newsletter, suggest a topic, or write something yourself; perhaps an interesting story you want to share.
- Pay a tribute to a special neighbour, through the newsletter, blog or Facebook page.
- Get involved in our events - like our Earth Day Cleanup, or Halloween Food Drive.
- Join our Facebook page and contribute there.
- Help us deliver the newsletter. It's a volunteer effort! Four times a year and no more than a few dozen
for each person to deliver.
Call Graham at 519-578-9603 or email gwjeffery@rogers.com for details on any of these.
Don't Miss Any of our Facebook Postings
Make sure you are seeing all the postings for the "Alpine Community Neighbourhood Association" Facebook group. Facebook does not automatically place all the
postings for people/groups you "Like" in your home newsfeed.
Towards the top of the page, you will see the word "Notifications". Click on "Notifications". When the drop-down menu appears, click on "All Posts". Then you're
done.
Alpine Community Neighbourhood Association - Who Are We?
We are the neighbourhood association for the area bounded by Block Line Road, Homer Watson Blvd,
Strasburg Road and Ottawa Street. Anybody living within these boundaries is welcome to join. We volunteer to ensure a better social, economic and business climate in the neighbourhood. We publish this
newsletter, organize events, hold an annual food drive, provide our neighbours with useful information,
and focus on problems in the neighbourhood. We meet once a month during the school year, usually
the first Tuesday of each month, in the Alpine Public School library, at 7:00PM. Feel free to come to a
meeting! For more information, call Graham Jeffery 519-578-9603.
Alpine Community
Neighbourhood
Association

Alpine Community Neighbourhood Association Newsletter April 2015

Contact: Graham Jeffery, 519-578-9603, gwjeffery@rogers.com

Page 8 of 8