ACNA - Newsletter 2012 06 June Final

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Alpine CommunityNeighbourhood

Association

Alpine Community Neighbourhood Association Newsletter June 2012 Page 1 of 8

Contact: Graham Jeffery, 519-578-9603, [email protected] or

Anne Zeiger - [email protected]


Association

R051912


Association

ACNA NEWSLETTER June 2012CONTACTS: President of ACNA, Graham Jeffery, 519-578-9603, [email protected] or

Vice President of ACNA Anne Zeiger - [email protected]

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

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 vol-

unteer 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 rst 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 Neighbourhood Garage Sale - Reminder

On Saturday June 9th, we have our annual Alpine

Neighbourhood garage sale. Everyone in the Alpine

area is encouraged to have their sale on that date.

Last year we had around 30 households participat-

ing. How many will there be this year?

Your Front Gardens Beautify the Neighbour-

hood - We Recognize The Best!

Just a reminder of our Garden Contest. Front gar-

dens in the neighbourhood will be judged by our

ACNA volunteer judges, picking the best for recog-

nition by ACNA in this newsletter and online. We

will be picking a new winner this year. Previous

winners were at 6 Lucerne (2010) and 112 Geneva

(2011).

The ACNA Earth Day Cleanup Makes a

DifferenceAfter a one day delay due to rain, we held

our annual ACNA Earth Day Cleanup on

Sunday, April 22nd, a month after the start

of Spring, only you wouldn't believe it judging from

the weather - cold and windy. That might have lim-

ited the number of people who turned out to partici-

pate in picking up litter. Even so, their dedication

to the task of cleaning up meant that large areas of

public space in our neighbourhood look so much

better now.

Thank you to the City of Kitchener for providing

supplies and support, and to the Tim Hortons outlet

at Ottawa and Strasburg for free coffee to help keep

our volunteers warm in such blustery weather.Most of all, THANK YOU to those who volun-

teered and picked up the litter.


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Dear Residents,

On June 10, the City of Kitchener will begin to celebrate the most exciting occasion of 2012theanniversary of our 100 years of cityhood! Thats right. In 1912 the town of Berlin, known today

as Kitchener, celebrated its Achievement of Cityhood.

Events to commemorate our history and culture are taking place throughout the year, closing with

a climactic celebration on New Years Eve. A dedicated website has been created to give you allthe latest event details, as well as provide a place for you to share and view pictures and stories of

by-gone years in the City of Kitchener. All this and more can be found at www.kitchener100.ca.

These events plus all the great summer downtown events like the Multicultural Festival in June,

Blues Fest, Craft Beer and Ribfest, Cruising on King, and more, can all be found on the City ofKitchener event calendar at www.kitchener.ca or at www.downtownkitchener.ca.

Visual appeal, location and amenities are only a part of what makes a great neighbourhood to live

in. When we are connected and engaged with our neighbours we create a strong and healthy

community to live and play in. This is why I think it is important to recognize and thank theAlpine Community Neighbourhood Association volunteers for their many accomplishments and

contributions to making the Alpine neighbourhood an even greater place to live over the pastyear.

They keep us up-to-date with four newsletters, an online blog and Facebook group page. They

also organized a Halloween food drive, collecting 742 lbs of food for the Foodbank of WaterlooRegion; organized a community clean-up in recognition of Earth Day in which 20 bags in total

were collected; promoted a successful neighbourhood garage sale; awarded recognition to theresidences with the best front garden and Christmas decorations; were part of the McLennan Park

Movie Night planning group, and more!

Im sure many of you were affected by at least one of these accomplishments, possibly talking toneighbours for the first time, or having the opportunity to meet some new neighbours, or just

being kept in the loop with the neighbourhood goings on.

As we move forward in 2012, I will continue to represent the needs of the Ward 6 community. I

encourage you to contact me with your questions and ward or city wide concerns at the office519-741-2793, by email [email protected], or follow me on Twitter @paulsinghward6.

Sincerely,

Councillor Paul Sin hWard 6


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Our Annual General Meeting

We held our Annual General

Meeting on Tuesday, May 1st

and selected our new executive

team. Last year we had 8 on the executive and we

decided to reduce that to 6 for this coming year.

That way, we can conduct meetings with fewer ex-

ecutive members required to have a quorum.

Of course, all residents in the ACNA area are en-

couraged to come out to our meetings, as all resi-

dents are automatically members of the Neighbour-

hood Association and have a full voice in ACNA.

The executive for the period of May 1, 2012 to

April 30, 2013 is:

President - Graham Jeffery

Vice-President - Anne ZeigerSecretary - Colleen Coulson

Members-at-Large - Jeff McKinnon, Dennis Haid,

Peter Kahner

Cat Was Lost. Cat Was Found!

Sandra and Jeff's cat "Kao" ran away

from their Roberts Crescent home

around the middle of April, and about

three weeks later was found under a deck at an Al-

pine Road home. Now that Kao is home, Sandra

and Jeff wanted to make sure that our Alpine Road

neighbour was thanked and recognized. It's great

when a neighbour helps out!

Kitchener's 100 Years of Cityhood. Let's Join In The Celebration.

In 1912, the town of Berlin's (now Kitchener) dynamic growth and prosperity meant it was ofcially

time to be recognized as a city. This year, we celebrate that milestone. Here are some events we can

participate in....

June 10 (Sunday) - The Centennial Kickoff event. A Street Party on King Street between College and

Gaukel. Noon to 5 p.m. Activities and Demonstrations; including Mental Floss, Kitchener Fire Depart-

ment, Waterloo Region Museum, bands, other musical acts, food vendors, etc. It's going to be big.

July 15 (Sunday) - Guinness World's Longest Picnic. Help break the current record. Bring your ownfood or buy some there, and sit down at tables lining King Street from Water to Frederick, then up Duke

Street. Some downtown restaurants will be taking orders for box lunches. Come at 11:00 a.m., as the

ofcial Guinness measurement will take place at noon, so we have to be in our seats at that time.

More details on each of these events will be posted online closer to the event date - at kitchener100.ca

You can nd information about other Kitchener events at the same site, or keep an eye on our blog and

Facebook pages for updates.

Something for Everyone

I changed my iPod's name to Titanic. It's syncing

now.

When chemists die, they barium.

Jokes about German sausage are the wurst.

I know a guy who's addicted to brake uid. He sayshe can stop any time.

How does Moses make his tea? Hebrews it. (contd)


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Eco spring cleaning

After being cooped up in a stuffy house all winter long, its nally time

to ing open the windows, shoo away the cobwebs, and take on your

annual spring cleaning. But often, the chemicals found in conventional

cleaning products can be more dangerous than the dirt theyre intended

to clean. And the way we clean (with lots of disposable paper towels)

isnt exactly earth-friendly. Thankfully, there are many alternatives available that can help you make your

home squeaky cleanand green.

Green cleaning products

The last thing you want to do is dump toxic chemicals into the environment in the name of cleaning, right?

These days, you dont have to make a special trip to the natural foods store to seek out environmentally-

sensitive cleaning products. Seventh Generation, Method and Biokleen are three companies that make full

lines of household cleaners, and you can nd them in just about every store. These products work just as

well as their conventional counterparts. Or you can stock your natural cleaning kit with homemade clean-

ersmaking them yourself is super easy.

The basic supplies youll need to make your own green cleaners include:Distilled white vinegar (sold in the cooking section of most supermarkets)

Baking soda

Olive oil

Borax (sold in a box in the laundry aisle)

Liquid castile soap (like Dr. Bronner's brand, found in most natural foods stores)

Essential oils (super concentrated natural plant oils found in natural foods stores, usually in the

cosmetics section)

Microber cleaning cloths

Newspaper

Here are a few basic recipes and techniques to get you started:Glass: Mix 1/4 cup vinegar with 1 quart of water in a spray bottle. Spray on glass and wipe clean with old

newspaper or a lint-free cloth.

Countertops and bathroom tile: Mix 2 parts vinegar and 1 part baking soda with 4 parts water. Apply with

a sponge, scour, and wipe away.

Floors: Mix 4 cups of white distilled vinegar with about a gallon of hot water. If desired, add a few drops

of pure peppermint or lemon oil for a pleasant scent. After damp mopping the oors, the smell of vinegar

will dissipate quickly, leaving behind only the scent of the oil.

Wood furniture: Mix equal parts of lemon juice and olive oil. Apply a small amount to a cloth, and rub

onto the furniture in long, even strokes.

Toilet bowl cleaner: Sprinkle a toilet brush with baking soda and scrub away! Occasionally disinfect yourtoilet by scrubbing with borax instead. Wipe the outside of the toilet clean with straight vinegar.

Disinfectant: Mix 2 teaspoons borax, 4 tablespoons vinegar, 3 cups hot water, and 1/4 teaspoon liquid

castile soap. Wipe on with dampened cloth or use a spray bottle. Wipe clean.

Mold and mildew: Wipe with straight vinegar.

Air freshener: Sprinkle essential oil on a cotton ball, and stash it in a corner of the room. If you have kids,

make sure it is out of their reach as essential oils are very strong and could irritate their skin. Lavender is

a relaxing scent that is great for bedrooms, and cinnamon, clove, and citrus oils are great for the rest of the


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house. You can stash a few in the car tootry peppermint, which may help you to stay alert.And while youre at it, consider these 6 additional ways to green up while you clean up:

1. Hang dry your laundry. Drying your clothes in an electric or gas dryer isnt just hard on your clothes;its also hard on the environment. Dont stop with natural laundry detergent. Stay green every step of theway and install a clothesline in your backyard. If space (or aesthetics) is an issue, look for a retractableclothesline like one from Gaiam. Weather permitting, line-dry your clothes outside to reduce pollution,

cut your energy bill, get more exercise, enjoy the sunshine, and extend the life of your clothes. Plus, theyllsmell like a clean breeze, not a fake clean breeze scent.

2. Add a little greenery. Install a living air lterhouseplants! Some of the most efcient air-cleaninghouseplants include Spider plants, English ivy, rubber plants, and peace lilies. Youll need 15 to 18 me-dium-sized (6 to 8-inch diameter container) houseplants for the average 1,800 square foot house. If thatsounds like a lot, place a few plants in the room where you spend the most time.

3. De-clutter your wardrobe. Donate gently worn items to charity, where theyll get a second life, anddonate torn and stained items (if theyre made of an absorbent fabric) to your rag collection, where theyllreplace wasteful paper towels. And as youre packing up your winter sweaters, replace those stinky moth-balls with a natural and better-smelling version: Stuff a lonely unpaired sock with cinnamon sticks, bay

leaves, and whole cloves and tie it at the end.

4. Paint your walls green. If spring cleaning at your house involves a fresh coat of paint, consider the VOCcontent of the paint when choosing your paint. VOC's, or Volatile Organic Compounds, are chemicalsthat form vapors at room temperature. Some VOCs, like the ones in many paints, contribute to smog andindoor air pollution, and can cause a host of short and long-term health problems. The good news is thatmany paint manufacturers have started making low or noVOC paints. The bad news is that many of thosemanufacturers have simply substituted VOC's with other non-VOC-yet-still-toxic chemicals. For trulyeco-conscious safe paint, check out these products: Eco-Spec, by Benjamin Moore; Clarity, by Dutch Boy;Enviro-Pure, by MAB Paint; American Pride Paint; and BioShield Milk Paint.

5. Swap out your Swiffer. Instead of continually buying expensive single-use mop pads, invest in a reuse-

able mop. Casabella is one brand thats widely available in health food stores and general stores. Theirmop heads can be washed in your washing machine, hung dry, and used again and againwell worth theirmoderate price tag.

6. Ditch the paper towels. Save trees, cash and landll waste. You can buy specially-made, washablecleaning and dusting cloths (in all types of fabrics from cotton to microber). But better yet? Use whatyou already have and give an old piece of cloth (stained towels, ratty sheets and pillowcases, too-smallT-shirts, etc.) a new life. Simply cut or tear your old item into smaller squares (if you want to get fancy,nish the edges with a sewing machine), and voila! Pop them in the washing machine with your laundryto clean, and use them again and again.

Cleaning up your home for spring doesnt have to be dirty work. When you implement some of these ideasand products, you can rest assured that youre beneting your body, your home and the planet all at once.Many of these changes are small ones, but their impact on your health and the environment can really addup over time. Happy spring cleaning!

from : http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/wellness_articles.asp?id=1073............... Submitted by Roberta Ness.


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More of Something for Everyone

I stayed up all night to see where the sun went. Then

it dawned on me.

This girl said she recognized me from the vegetar-

ian club, but I'd never met herbivore.

I'm reading a book about anti-gravity. I just can't

put it down.

I did a theatrical performance about puns. It was a

play on words.

They told me I had type-A blood, but it was a Type-

O.

Why were the Indians here rst? They had reserva-

tions.

Were going on a class trip to the Coca-Cola fac-

tory. I hope there's no pop quiz.

I didn't like my beard at rst. Then it grew on me.

Did you hear about the cross-eyed teacher who lost

her job because she couldn't control her pupils?

When you get a bladder infection urine trouble.

Broken pencils are pointless.

I tried to catch some fog, but I mist.

What do you call a dinosaur with an extensive vo-

cabulary? A thesaurus.

England has no kidney bank, but it does have a Liv-

erpool.

I used to be a banker, but then I lost interest.

I dropped out of communism class because of lousy

Marx.

All the toilets in New York's police stations have

been stolen. The police have nothing to go on.

I got a job at a bakery because I kneaded dough.

Haunted French pancakes give me the crpes.

Velcro what a rip off!

A cartoonist was found dead in his home. Details

are sketchy.

Venison for dinner again? Oh deer!

Submitted by Dennis Haid

Great One-LinersWhat do you call a sheep with no legs?A cloud

What do you call a camel with 3 humps?Humphreys

What do cows do for entertainment?They rent moovies !

What does a sh say when it runs into a wall?DAMN!

If a turtle doesnt have a shell, is it naked or home-less ?

How do you stop a sh from smelling?Cut its nose off

What do you call a sh with no eye ?FSH !

What do you call a deer with no eyes ?I have no I-Deer

What is invisible and smells like carrots?Rabbit farts.

What is a dogs favourite school subject?"Dog-Ruff-E "

Why are there no aspirins in the jungle?

Because the parrots-ate-them-all.


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Enjoy and Learn More About Nature in Kitch-

ener This Summer

The Kitchener Natural Areas Program offers free

events for the whole family - all ages welcome.Here are three that will be taking place this summer.

All About Bats

- Learn about these fascinating mammals and their

amazing lives. This event will feature an indoor

presentation and a night-time outdoor hike.

- Saturday June 16, 2012; 8-10 p.m. at Huron Natu-

ral Area, 801 Trillium Drive, Kitchener. Meet in

Alpine Community Neighbourhood Association

Meeting Dates and Locations

We will have our regular monthly meetings on the

following dates this coming Fall 2012. All meet-

ings are at 7:00 p.m.

- September 11th at Country Hill Community

Centre

- October 2nd at Alpine Public School

- November 6th at Alpine P.S.

- December 4th at Alpine P.S.

We offer snacks at each meeting!

the School Portable & bring a ashlight if you have

one. REGISTRATION REQUIRED! Call 519-

741-2600 ext 4177 or email [email protected] to

register.

Huron Natural Area Buttery Count

- Join volunteers and naturalists in the annual Hu-

ron Natural Area Buttery

Count. Participants will learn about the amazing

variety of buttery species found living in the Hu-

ron Natural Area and will assist with the count and

inventory. Be prepared to be outside for the after-

noon. Suitable for people of all ages and skill levels.

- Saturday July 7, 1-4 p.m. at Huron Natural Area,

801 Trillium Drive, Kitchener. Meet at the Picnic

Shelter/Washroom Building REGISTRATION RE-

QUIRED! Call 519-741-2600 ext 4177 or email

[email protected] to register.

Life in the Pond

- We will take our nets and buckets and try to nd

and collect some of the incredible creatures that live

in the ponds of the Huron Natural Area.

- Saturday July 28, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Huron Natu-

ral Area, 801 Trillium Drive, Kitchener. Meet at the

Picnic Shelter/Washroom Building

Last of the Great One-Liners

Why was the Energizer Bunny arrested?

He was charged with battery.

What do you call two Mexicans playing basket-

ball?

Juan on Juan.

Why do gorillas have big nostrils?

Because they have big ngers!!!!!!!!!


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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 andno more than a few dozen for each person to deliver.

Call Graham at 519-578-9603 or email [email protected] for details on

any of these.

Quickies .................... City of Kitchener Bylaw FAQs

Projects that do not require a Building Permit

Structure less than 108 square feet measured from the outside

face of walls (that does not contain plumbing)

Gas replace

Fence (but must comply with zoning regulations)

Water softener

Painting, wall papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar nish

work

Door and window replacements (within the existing opening, where no structural

members are changed)

Installing new shingles on existing roof

Removing a non-load bearing wall in a single, semi-detached or townhouse dwell-

ing

Replacing a plumbing xture (i.e. toilet, bathtub or sink) with a new xture in the

same location

For more information, please call 519-741-2433.

ACNA - Newsletter 2012 06 June Final

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