Alpine Community Neighbourhood Association

january 2016

Christmas Lights
Up Alpine Village
In December, Karen and Ann took a
drive around Alpine Village to take in
Christmas through our many neighbours lovely light displays. They wanted
to share with you what they saw. Each
street had beautiful displays with white,
red, green and many other colours
decorating their yards and homes.
There was a beautifully decorated large

evergreen tree at 23 Gracefield, a nicely

decorated yard including a snow globe
at 101 Roberts and a lovely lit home
at 89 Roberts. Residents were invited
to take in the beautiful display at 108
Lucerne. Next winter, take your family
for a ride or a walk around the streets
of our Alpine neighbourhood and enjoy
the beauty of the season.

Printed in co-operation with The City of Kitchener

Thank you
Neighbour!
Once again, Joe and Sandra
on Lucerne Drive held their
annual Halloween Haunted
House and Food Drive. Over
the past few years, they
have collected hundreds of
pounds of food for the Food
Bank of Waterloo Region.

Alpine Community Neighbourhood Association

january 2016

Being
Salt
Smart
This winter, cut back on the salt and not
only will you save money, you will be
helping our water supply. Heres how to
do it...
1. Shovel sooner than later. Let the
sun do more of the melting, when
you clear snow as soon as you
can so a snowy sidewalk doesnt
become an icy one.
2. Use salt alternatives like sand or
non-clumping kitty litter to create
traction.
3. Only use salt on icy areas and give
it time to work. A little goes a long
way and salt works best between
0C and -10C.
4. Wear winter boots with a good tread
to keep you safe and warm. We
cannot always expect bare pavement.
5. Prevent ice: Direct downspouts away
from walkways or driveways. Clean
eaves-troughs of leaves and other
debris. Keep storm drains clear.
Shovel unsalted snow to lower areas
or onto lawns to direct melting snow
away from paved areas. Dont push
snow back onto roads - please
shovel it onto private property.
For more information, check out
www.curbthesalt.ca

Winter Parking
and Snow
Clearing Rules
A City of Kitchener bylaw requires residents to clear their sidewalks of snow and ice
within 24 hours after the end of a snowfall. Not clearing can result in a city crew
or sub-contractor clearing the sidewalk for you and billing you for $300 or more,
depending on the size of your lot.
To help with snow removal on city streets, please place garbage and recycling in
the driveway area and NOT on the roadway on your collection day. In winter, please
make sure all items are at street level, either at the end of your driveway or on a
shovelled out flat area close to the curb. Waste items piled on snow banks will not
be collected.
If you cannot clear your walk due to health or mobility reasons there are agencies
who can help. The Working Centre 519-513-9225; Community Support Connections
519-772-8787; House of Friendship 519-742-8327. Fees and eligibility requirements
may apply.
Winter parking regulations are now in effect. Until March 31st, there is no parking
permitted on city streets between 2:30 am and 6:00 am. When a large snowfall
has happened or is predicted, a Snow Event may be declared and that prohibits onstreet parking for all 24 hours of the specified day. This makes snow clearing easier
and faster. Vehicles found in violation may be ticketed ($80) and possibly towed.
Call 519-741-2345 to find your towed vehicle. You can learn about Snow Events
through the media, or sign up to get email notices at kitchener.ca/tagandtow

Alpine Community Neighbourhood Association

january 2016

Family Day
Skate Party
Date: February 15, 2016
Time: 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Where: 100 Rittenhouse Road
The Country Hills Recreation Association
and the Alpine Community Neighbourhood
Association welcomes the community
for a FREE outdoor skate party with
entertainment and refreshments!

If you can, please

bring non-perishable
food items to support
the Food Bank of
Waterloo Region.
Volunteers are also wanted to help out
on the day of the event. Call Graham
Jeffery at 519-503-4795 to volunteer. For more information regarding
our Family Day activities, contact the
Country Hills Community Centre office
at 519-741-2596.
If it is too warm/cold or if there is severe
weather, we might have to cancel
or change this event. Please refer to
the ACNA blog at http://alpine-cna.
blogspot.com/ or call 519-741-2596
for updates.

Alpine Community Neighbourhood Association

january 2016

Are you a
newcomer to
Canada who
wants to
learn English?

The budget process allows council to prioritize the programs and services delivered by the city and set direction for the work to be
completed over the upcoming year. This process includes consideration of the operating and capital budgets, public input, and then final
The budget process allows council to
underground city-owned assets (infrareview and approval of the budget.

prioritize the programs and services

structure) before the end of its ability to

delivered
by thefunding
city and
setof direction
service.
During the operating budget deliberations, council
considered
for all
the services thedeliver
city provides
as well as funding the city
provides to other organizations. The proposed
focused
consideration
of three
forbudget
the work
to on
bethe
completed
over
the priorities: (1) Keep current tax supported city
services at status quo. (2) Increase investment
in arms length
Increase investment
in utility
infrastructure.
This not
only helps
to ensure that there
upcoming
year. organizations.
This process(3)includes

is limited disruptions or risk to the deliv-

consideration
of the operating
and capEarlier in the year, council was provided with
a high-level summary
of the Accelerated
Infrastructure Replacement Program (AIRP). The
ery of essential services, but proactive
Conestoga
FREE
italreplace
budgets,
public input,
and then
primaryCollege
objectivehas
of AIRP
is toEnglish
prioritize and
underground
city-owned
assetsfinal
(infrastructure)
before
the end
of its
ability
deliver the programs
The budget
process
allows
council
to to
prioritize
maintenance
also
helpsyear.
to prolong
theincludes co
classes
for adult newcomers who wish
service.
review and approval of the budget.
completed
over the
upcoming
This process

life cycle
of our underground
review
and approval
of the budget. infrastructo improve their language skills for life,
This
notfor
only
helps to
ensure that
there is limited
disruptions
or riskbudget
to the delivery
of essentialture.
services,
proactive maintenance
During
the operating
deliberations,
Thebutincreasingly
frequentalso
water
for work
and
further
learning.
Classes
During
thebreaks
operating
deliberations,
helps to prolong the life cycle of our underground infrastructure. The increasingly frequent water
main
are budget
an example
of what council considere
council
considered
funding
for
all
of
main
breaks
are
an
example
of
what
are open
for when
all levels
from literacy
to to infrastructure dont occur. Therefore, I have spoken
provides
to other
proposed budget focuse
happens
the necessary
investments
in support
of organizations.
a balanced, butThe
proactive
the
services
the
city
provides
as
well
happens
when
the
necessary
investCLB Level
8. New
students
can
start
at
services at status quo. (2) Increase investment in arms leng
approach
to investing
in our
hard
infrastructure.
as funding the city provides to other
ments to infrastructure dont occur.
any time (September to June). Full-time
Earlier
in the year,
provided
with aof
high-level s
Please do
contact me
about any city or ward related
matters. I canThe
be reached
by emailbudget
at paul.singh@kitchener.ca,
orcouncil
callspoken
mewas
at 519-741-2793.
organizations.
proposed
Therefore,
I have
in support
or part-time
learning
is possible.
primary objective of AIRP is to prioritize and replace underg
focused on the consideration of three service.
a balanced, but proactive approach to
Sincerely,
To be part of this program you must be
priorities: (1) Keep current tax supported
investing in our hard infrastructure.
This
not only helps to ensure that there is limited disruptions
an adult (18 and older) who is a landed
city services at status quo. (2) Increase
helps
to prolong
the life me
cycleabout
of our any
underground
Please
do contact
city or infrastruc
immigrant, permanent resident or a
investment in arms length organiza- happens when
the necessary investments to infrastructure do
ward related
matters. I can be reached
convention refugee to Canada.
tions. (3) Increase investment in utility approach
to investing in our hard infrastructure.
Councillor Paul Singh Ward 6
by
email
at
paul.singh@kitchener.ca,
infrastructure.
Morning and afternoon classes are
Please
dome
contact
me about any city or ward related matters. I c
or call
at 519-741-2793.
offered at three locations:
Earlier in the year, council was provided Sincerely,
Sincerely,
with a high-level summary of the
Kitchener: 800 King Street West,
Accelerated Infrastructure Replacement
3rd Floor. Tel: 519-886-3300
Program (AIRP). The primary objective
of AIRP is to prioritize and replace Councillor
Councillor
Waterloo: 145 Lincoln Road, 2nd
PaulPaul
Singh Singh
Ward 6 Ward 6
Floor. Tel: 519-886-6749
Cambridge: 150 Main Street, 1st
Floor. Tel: 519-740-8797
Child care may be available at the
Waterloo or Cambridge locations.
For more information contact the
Kitchener Language Instruction for
Newcomers to Canada (LINC) office
at 519-886-3300. People interested in
classes need to have their English capability assessed in order to determine
their starting level.

Dont Miss Any of

our Facebook Postings
Make sure you are seeing all of the postings for the Alpine Community
Neighbourhood Association Facebook group. Facebook does not automatically
place all the postings for the people/groups you Like in your home newsfeed.
Towards the top of the group page, you will see the word Notifications. Click
on it, and when the drop-down menu appears, click on All Posts. Then
youre done.

Alpine Community Neighbourhood Association

january 2016

Home Burglary Prevention

Here are some tips to reduce the
chances of your losing personal
property to burglary...

Dont confront thieves.

The typical home burglary happens
during the day, when residents are
not home. Thieves prefer having
nobody home.
If you are at home and someone
rings the doorbell, answer it. A
wide-angle peephole installed in the
door can help you identify the caller.
You dont need to open the door, but
let whoever is there know you are
present and find out what they want.
If they look or act suspicious, you
can help the police by calling their
non-emergency number 519-6537700 and providing a description.
If you come home and you think
someone is in the house, do not
enter and confront them. Call 911
and stay outside.
Dont just rely on your neighbours to
keep an eye out. They arent looking all
the time, and a home burglary can be
completed in less than two minutes.

Increase the visibility of your home

Limit dark and hidden areas around
your property.
Have proper outdoor lighting at
night, but dont keep these lights on
during the day.
While tall solid wood fences are popular, chain link fences increase visibility.

Prevent thieves from getting in

Lock your doors, even when you are
at home. Some thieves are good at
snatching items from near the front
door - keys, purses, jackets - when
residents are away from the front of
the house. Lock garage and shed
doors too.
The same applies to your car, even
at home. Do not leave valuables in
plain sight inside your vehicle. Even
if it is locked, your vehicle can be
entered quickly. Take your laptops and
cell phones into the house with you!
Keep your tool shed locked. Your tools
can be used to break into your house.
Ladders and patio furniture can be
used to access the second floor.
Dont hide door keys outside in
obvious places e.g. under the mat,
or in the BBQ.

Windows and doors

Many doors are easy to kick in. You
are better off having a solid metal or
wood door. Deadbolt locks, securely
fastened with long screws, help.
Windows can often be better protected, with proper latches or with special
plastic film that prevents shattering.

Sliding glass doors are vulnerable.

Adding screws along the top of the
door can prevent someone from
lifting the door out of its rails.

Hide your stuff

There are obvious places where thieves
look. Keep your best jewellery out of
your jewellery box or dresser drawers.
Hide it creatively, but remember where
it is. Or rent a safe deposit box at the
bank. Home safes will be taken if not
hidden or securely attached.

If you are away for a while

Make the house look occupied. Have
someone drop by to remove flyers, cut
the grass. Ask someone to park their
car in your driveway.

Call 911 only when...

A crime is in progress, there is a fire or a
serious medical situation. If the thieves
are already gone when you get home,
call 519-653-7700 to report the crime.
For more information you can access
the Waterloo Regional Police Services
website, specifically: http://www.
wrps.on.ca/stay-safe/protecting-your-property

Alpine Community Neighbourhood Association

january 2016

Come Join Us at
Our Upcoming
Meetings
Below are the dates of our regular
monthly meetings until June 2016.
These meetings will be at Alpine Public
School, 75 Lucerne Dr., in the library.
At each meeting we discuss the ACNA
events we plan each year and issues
that affect our neighbourhood. We also
get updated on some City of Kitchener
events and services. AND you can bring
municipal issues of concern to you, so
we can discuss them at the meeting.
The meeting dates are all Tuesdays and
start at 7:00 pm. Please be on time,
as we cannot leave the schools main
door unlocked after the meeting starts.
January 5th
February 2nd
March 1st

April 5th
May 3rd
June 7th

ACNAWho Are We?

We are the neighbourhood association for the area bounded by Block Line Road,
Homer Watson Blvd., Strasburg Road and Ottawa Street. Anyone 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, provide our neighbours with useful information, and focus on problems in
the neighbourhood. We meet once a month except July and August, usually the
first Tuesday of each month, in the Alpine Public School library, at 7:00 pm. Feel free
to come to a meeting! For more information, call Graham Jeffery 519-503-4795.

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 special tribute to a neighbour,
through the newsletter, blog or
Facebook page.
Get involved in our events - like our
Earth Day Cleanup, or the events
we organize with the Country Hills
Recreation Association.
Join our Facebook page and
contribute there.
Help us deliver the newsletter. Its a
volunteer effort! Four times a year
and no more than a few dozen
copies for each person to deliver.

W ebsit e: h tt p: / / al pi ne - cna.b logs p ot . c om/

F ace book gr ou p: Al pi ne Co m m u n it y N eighb ourhood A s s oc ia t ion
GRAHAM JEFFERYPRESIDENT OF ACNA
519-503-4795 GWJEFFERY@ROGERS.COM

JENNY BOURKENEWSLETTER LAYOUT

BOURKECOTTAGE@GMAIL.COM