Alpine Community Neighbourhood Association

APRIL 2016

Alpine village
garage sale: June 11
We encourage residents to put out their
garage sale items on the morning of
Saturday June 11th 2016, making it
more appealing for buyers to come to
our neighbourhood to find lots of sales
in one area on the same day.

individual sales through an online Google

Map showing the location of each sale.
Contact us at gwjeffery@rogers.com
or 519-503-4795 with your address
and any special sale items to get your
sale on the map.

This year we are working with the

Country Hills Recreation Association
to expand the area of the Garage
Sale event, and we will be promoting

Our rain date is Saturday June 18th.

Check our blog and Facebook pages
on the 10th and 11th for any update
announcements.

Printed in co-operation with The City of Kitchener

Thank you
NeighbourS!
ACNA co-hosted the Family
Day Skate party in February,
even though we had no skating,
due to the weather. During
the indoor event we held, we
also collected 69 pounds of
food for the Food Bank of
Waterloo Region, and a few
cash donations. Thank you to
all who contributed.

Alpine Community Neighbourhood Association

APRIL 2016

Your backyard
Vegetable Garden
I know spring planting season is a bit in the distance
but here is some food for thought if you are thinking
about a backyard vegetable garden.
If you do not have room for a garden, then consider container plants. They yield well
and can be put on a deck or near a back door for easy harvesting.

Very Easy
Strawberry
Rhubarb Jam
Ingredients:
4 cups sugar (I usually use 3 or less
depending on how tart you like it)
5 cups rhubarb
1 540 ml can crushed pineapple
2 small packages (2-3 oz)
strawberry Jell-O

Directions:
Combine first three ingredients in
a large pot and boil rapidly for
20 minutes
Remove from heat
Stir in 2 small packages of Jell-O.
Use the Jell-O brand as the no
name brand does not provide
the same results
Spoon into jars and enjoy

We keep it simple these years with just planting tomatoes, onions, sweet peppers
and hot peppers. Oh, and of course, our rhubarb plant which yields quite a bit and
we give lots of it away.
We know there are no pesticides or other chemicals. My mouth starts to water waiting for that first ripe tomato to make a toasted tomato sandwich. We sometimes
fight the rabbits for the first one but there is plenty to go around.
Starting a vegetable garden at home is an easy way to save money that $2 tomato
plant can easily provide you with 10 pounds of fruit over the course of a season.
Planting a garden with vegetables also gives you the pleasure of savoring a delicious,
sun-warmed tomato fresh from the garden. In almost every case, the flavor and
texture of varieties you can grow far exceed the best grocery store produce.
Plus, growing vegetables can be fun. Its a great way to spend time with children or
have a place to get away and spend time outdoors in the sun.

Where to plant:
1. Full sun. Most vegetables need at least 6-8 hours of direct sun. If they dont
get enough light, they wont bear as much and theyll be more susceptible to
attack from insects or diseases.
2. Plenty of water. Because most vegetables arent very drought tolerant, youll
need to give them a drink during dry spells. When thinking about how to plan
a vegetable garden, remember: The closer your garden is to a source of water,
the easier it will be for you. I make full use of our rain barrels.
3. Good soil. As with any kind of garden, success usually starts with the soil.
Most vegetables do best in moist, well-drained soil thats rich in organic matter
(such as compost or peat moss).
Good luck.

Alpine Community Neighbourhood Association

APRIL 2016

Family
Fun Day
Date: SUNDAY APRIL 24, 2016
Time: 2:00 PM TO 4:00 PM
Where: COUNTRY HILLS COMMUNITY
CENTER, 100 RITTENHOUSE ROAD
The Country Hills Recreation Association
holds its 19th annual Family Fun Day,
featuring many activities for children,
like face painting, KPL Kids, bouncy
castle, midway games, and more.
ACNA is part of the planning & volunteer
team too, so were all invited to come
on out to experience the fun.

ADMISSION: $1 per child over

the age of 1 year
If you can, please
bring non-perishable
food items to support
the Food Bank of
Waterloo Region.

Alpine Community Neighbourhood Association

APRIL 2016

Remembering
Peter Kahner

l to prioritize the programs and services delivered by the city and set direction for the work to be
r. This process includes consideration of the operating and capital budgets, public input, and then final
and 9.2% increase to storm water utility
Greetings Alpine Residents,
t.

rates. I did put forth two different motions

Its a great
privilege
to for
beallable
toservices
rep- thetocity
reduce
but
erations, council
considered
funding
of the
providesthese
as wellincreases,
as funding the
citythey
resent
the
many
different
and
distinct
he proposed budget focused on the consideration of three priorities:
(1) Keep
current7-4
tax supported
city
were both
defeated
by council.
e investment
in arms length organizations.
Increase investment in utility infrastructure.
neighbourhoods
in Ward 6. Im(3)
especially
fortunate to represent Alpine Village.

Its fair to note that the approved

Late last year ACNA member Peter

Kahner passed away. A long time
member, for many years he was our
newsletter publisher and attended our
meetings regularly. We miss him and
remember him as a good friend and a
good neighbour.

ovided with a high-level summary of the Accelerated Infrastructure Replacement Program (AIRP). The
increases are to address the backlog of
The Alpine Community Neighbourhood
rioritize and replace underground city-owned assets (infrastructure) before the end of its ability to deliver

infrastructure that need replacing, but I

Association helps greatly to add vibrancy
still feel it should have been done with
to this neighbhourhood. I encourage
there is limited
to the delivery
of essentialmore
services,
but proactive
maintenance
also and
public
engagement,
dialogue
moredisruptions
residents or
to risk
participate
with ACNA
our underground infrastructure. The increasingly frequent water main breaks are an example of what
in a manner that our citizens could afford.
in the various capacities that are availstments to infrastructure dont occur. Therefore, I have spoken in support of a balanced, but proactive
able.
Residents
can
apply
to
be
on
the
infrastructure.
I was happy that the budget for
ACNA board, be a member at large or
community gardens
increased by
or ward related
matters.
I
can
be
reached
by
email
at
paul.singh@kitchener.ca,
or call mewas
at 519-741-2793.
volunteer with the many different events
$50,000
for
use
in
2016.
These funds
that ACNA plan throughout the year. Find
will
be
used
to
further
develop
existing
their next scheduled meeting date on
gardens or to create new gardens in
their blog at alpine-cna.blogspot.ca.
areas identified by resident interest,
which continues to increase.
At the beginning of this year, council
approved a property tax increase of The budget process allows council to prioritize the programs and services delivered by the city and set direction fo
The cityover
has
able
leverage
1.45%, very close to the 2015 CPI completed
the been
upcoming
year.toThis
process includes consideration of the operating and capital budgets, publ
matching
federal
funding
of
$250,000
review
and
approval
of
the
budget.
average. I supported this increase, as it
from the Canada 150 Infrastructure
was consistent with my ongoing efforts During
the operating budget deliberations, council considered funding for all of the services the city provides as w
Program.
This will help to further expand
to help ensure taxes come in at inflation. provides
to other organizations. The proposed budget focused on the consideration of three priorities: (1) Keep cu
the citys
Wi-Fi
network,
including
locaat status
quo.
(2) Increase
investment
in armsMake
length sure
organizations.
Increaseall
investment
This allows our residents to budget services
you are(3)seeing
of the in utility inf
tions
like
McLennan
Park,
an
initiative
accordingly and ensure sustainability
postings
forofthe
Alpine Community
Earlier
the year,
council wasfor
provided
a high-level
summary
the Accelerated
Infrastructure Replacemen
I haveinbeen
advocating
somewith
time.
and affordability for the taxpayer. The primary
objective of AIRP is to prioritize and replace underground
city-owned
assets (infrastructure)
Neighbourhood
Association
Face- before the en
increase will be a $15.00 annual impact service.
book
group.
Facebook
does
not
I am happy to make myself available to
on the average household assessed
automatically
place
all
the
postings
meet
time and
location
that disruptions or risk to the delivery of essential services, but proac
This
notwith
onlyyou
helpsattoaensure
that there
is limited
at $280,000. This doesnt include the helps
for the people/groups
you Like
in breaks are
to prolong the
cycle
our underground
The increasingly frequent
water main
is convenient
to life
you.
Youofcan
reach me infrastructure.
when the necessary investments to infrastructure
dont
occur.
Therefore,
I
have
spoken
in
support of a b
impact of the Region of Waterloos budget happens
your home newsfeed.
at City Hall 519-741-2793, by email at
approach to investing in our hard infrastructure.
and school board tax rate changes.
paul.singh@kitchener.ca, or follow
Towards the top of the group page,
Please
do Twitter
contact me
about any city or ward related matters. I can be reached by email at paul.singh@kitchener.ca, or c
me on
@paulsinghward6.
Although I was pleased with the tax levy
you will see the word Notifications.
increase, which was the lowest in the Sincerely,
Click on it, and when the drop-down
Sincerely,
Region, I was not okay with, and did
menu appears, click on All Posts.
NOT support, the 7.6% increase to water,
Then youre done.
10.8% increase to sanitary sewer rates,
Councillor
Councillor
PaulPaul
Singh Singh
Ward 6 Ward 6

Dont Miss Any

of our Facebook
Postings

Alpine Community Neighbourhood Association

APRIL 2016

Cleaning Up For
Earth Day
Date: SATURDAY APRIL 23, 2016
Time: 9:00AM TO 11:30AM
Where: ALPINE PUBLIC SCHOOL at the back of the school
(no access to school facilities)
Every year, people in our neighbourhood
volunteer a couple of hours of their time
to help clean up the neighbourhood of
the litter that accumulates over time.
We clean up the publicly-owned areas,
like in the woods of Alpine Park and
along the power line corridor. Please
come out this year and join us!
If the weather is wet on Saturday, we
will clean up on Sunday morning,
same time. Watch our blog and
Facebook page for updates.
We will supply garbage bags and
gloves. If you like, bring your own to
help us manage resources.
Bring your collected garbage back
to the meeting point and we will take
it away for disposal.
We provide water and Timbits.
Thank you gift items too.
Looking forward to seeing you there!

Alpine Community Neighbourhood Association

APRIL 2016

ACNAs Annual
General Meeting
We choose our executive team at the
Annual General Meeting which will be
part of our May 3rd monthly meeting. Our executive team comes out to
meetings and helps direct the events
and initiatives we are involved with. The
time demands are relatively modest.

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.

If you like, you can come out to any

of our meetings to see what we are
all about - you dont have to join the
executive if you dont want to make
that level of commitment. At any
meeting, you can bring up topics of
interest to you.
Below are the dates of the next three
meetings, which are on Tuesdays at
Alpine Public School, 75 Lucerne
Ave. All meetings start at 7:00 pm.
Please be on time as we cannot leave
the schools main door unlocked after
the meeting starts.
April 5th
May 3rd
June 7th

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