Alger Heights Neighborhood Association Newsletter - Winter 2020

Winter 2020 ALGER HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

January • February • March Happenings

Inside the Newsletter Meet Your Neighbor Nancy DeBack

Meet Your Neighbor..........................1 Nancy and her husband Ken have lived on Raymond Street since 1976. They purchased
Church News....................................2 the house from her grandparents in 1975 and spent time fixing it up before they moved
Winter Library Events ......................3 in after they were married in January 1976. They were married at Seymour Church and
Meet the Owner................................4 have been attending there ever since. Nancy was roommates with Ken’s sister and that’s
GR Recycling Information.................5 how they met. Nancy and Ken raised their two children in the neighborhood. Nancy loves
Handy Websites...............................5 that they can walk to church and that she can walk to work. Nancy worked at Old Kent
Preventing Crime..............................5 Bank right out of high school. She would take the bus from the neighborhood right to
Winter Preparedness Guide..........6-9 work. The bus routes made it so easy to get downtown and you didn’t have to worry about
Abigail’s Beef Stew.........................10 parking.
Pay it Forward................................ 11 Nancy has been a fixture at what is now Alger Hardware since 1984. After their daughter
Crime Prevention...............................11 was born Nancy took a job at the hardware store helping her mom with the bookkeeping.
Block Captain Updates...................12 Because of the location of their desk customers would often ask Nancy and her mom where
products were located in the store. Nancy later took a job stocking shelves, answering
customer’s questions and even took on-line class in hardware to learn the ins and outs of
all the different products to serve customer’s needs better.
Nancy currently works part-time doing a variety of things but mostly processing the weekly
stock order, to ensure they have the correct price and quantity. Since she lives so close,
she can easily fill-in when people call-in sick or take vacation time. She can’t say enough
about the community and how their loyalty is key to the success of Alger Hardware. She
has always enjoyed customer projects (she especially loves to help people figure out a
problem or help kids with school projects). She enjoys sharing knowledge, joking around
and all the familiar faces.
At home, Ken and Nancy enjoy their church and neighborhood. Ken has been running
for 40 plus years and is a pacer for many races around the Grand Rapids area. He
also volunteers with the No Surrender Running Club. Once they both retire, they plan to
purchase a trailer and travel around the U.S. so Ken can participate in different races
around the country.
Next time you are in Alger Hardware be sure to say ‘hello’ to Nancy and see if she can help
you with your next project.

AHNA - PO Box 7809, Grand Rapids, MI 49507 1

Church News
Alger Park Church 2655 Eastern Ave. SE Classes available for ages 3+
(616)452-9686 Worship: Sundays 9:30am
CLASSES
WATCH A WORSHIP SERVICE: NOW ON BEGINNING

Visit algerparkchurch.org and click on WATCH & LISTEN. Also on JANUARY 6TH
the website you’ll find details on upcoming events, Bible studies
and programs. Better yet, come join us for worship on Sundays at Now enrolling for
9:30am. We are a church for our friends and neighbors. WINTER 2020!

Seymour Church 840 Alger St. SE seymourchurch.org BALLET, JAZZ, CONTEMPORARY,
(616)245-8726 Worship: Sundays 9:30am TAP, PRESCHOOL, AND MORE!

Introducing Website: overthetopdance.com

Coffee Lab at Seymour: Co-working Community - We will be Email: [email protected]
opening our doors every Wednesday from 9-1 for neighbors looking
for a change of scenery while working. We will provide coffee, an Phone: 616.245.7333
occasional snack, and a quiet work space/environment. Feel free
to stop in and check it out, or better yet, bring your work and stay 2423 Eastern Ave SE Grand Rapids, MI 49507
awhile! If you have any questions, please contact Seymour Church
at 245-8726.
Wednesdays Alive at Seymour (WAS)
February 5, February 19,
March 4, March 18 and April 1.
Join us for a free community meal at
5:30pm followed by children’s activities
like Cadets and GEMS, as well as bible studies for adults. All
activities are finished by 7:45pm. All are welcome to attend!
Wings of Hope - Widows Group The 2nd Monday of every month
we offer a support group for widows from Noon-2pm. Our next
meeting date is February 10.
Seymour Playdate Connection
Seymour Church invites you to bring your children to the fun play
areas of our church during the Seymour Playdate Connection. We
open up these play areas on the mornings listed, with coffee and
pastires ready at 9:00am, feel free to stay until 11:00am Watch
our Facebook page and the AHNA Facebook page for updates and
more information.

• February 12 (Wednesday) & February 27 (Thursday)
• March 11 (Wednesday) & March 26 (Thursday)
• April 8 (Wednesday) & April 23 (Thursday)
• May 13 (Wednesday) & May 28 (Thursday)

Drop- In Yoga Nights - $5/Minimum Donation per Session
• Gentle Yoga - Mondays 6:00 - 7:00pm
• Vinyasa Flow Yoga - Mondays 7:15 - 8:15pm

Blood Drive - March 18 - . If Versiti calls you to donate, please
request an appointment at Seymour. If you have any questions,
please contact Linda Williams at [email protected] or
245-1796.

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Winter Events at the Library

Events at the Seymour Branch Library Other GRPL Events at Other Branches

Baby & Me Storytimes One Book, One City for Kids All library locations
• Thursdays, January 16 - April 30 at 10:30am • January – March, 2020

Bring your baby, 0-18 months, and bounce along to fun stories, One Book, One City for Kids is an annual reading program that
songs, and rhymes. Baby & Me is a 15-minute story time followed encourages all 5th graders in the city to read and discuss the
by a relaxed playtime where you and baby will meet new friends. same book. The program also strives to encourage a lifelong love
Toddler Time of reading among students, to inspire readers to bring story ideas
and themes to life through discussion, and to build collaborative
• Wednesdays, January 15 - April 29 at 10:30am ties between public libraries, school libraries, and area schools.
Bring your toddlers, ages 18 months to 3 years, to share fun This year the entire city will be reading Harbor Me by Jacqueline
stories, songs, and rhymes and learn together! Toddler Time is Woodson.
a 25-minute long storytime followed by a hands-on activity and Taste of Soul Sunday
playtime designed to help your child’s brain grow. Main Library - 111 Library St NE
Let’s Play!
• Sunday, February 16, 2020, 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm
• Saturdays, January 18 - May 2 at 12:30pm Join us as we celebrate African American history and culture at Taste
Children 0-5 are invited to a playdate at the library! Let’s Play of Soul Sunday. Sample African American art, music, literature,
focuses on child-driven play using STEAM (science, technology, history, and food. Performances by Kevin Murphy, Lady Ace Boogie,
engineering, art and math) toys to ignite the imagination. Serita’s Black Rose, and The Gospel Believers. Presentations by
Caretakers are invited to enjoy a cup of coffee while meeting new We Are Lit, Dr. Randall Jelks, the Ebony Road Players, and New
people and learning helpful early literacy tips. Drop in for an hour Hope Baptist Live African American Museum. Free food samples
of friends and fun. provided by: Daddy Pete’s BBQ, Savor the Flavor, Boston Soul Food
Cafe, and Flavorful Pound Cakes. Free and open to the public. Visit
Seymour Branch Library www.grpl.org/tasteofsoul for more information
2350 Eastern SE, Grand Rapids, MI Hustle/Step Soul Line Dance Party with DJ Andre Posey
Main Library - 111 Library St NE
616-988-5413
Regular Hours • Tuesday, February 18, 2020, 6:30 pm
Monday – Tuesday 12:00pm – 8:00pm Want to learn how to Hustle/Step? DJ and dance instructor Andre
Wednesday – Thursday 10:00am – 6:00pm Posey will lead participants through both simple and complicated
Saturday 10:00am – 6:00pm hustle soul line dances. Soul line dances are unpartnered line
www.grpl.org dances that are easy enough for anyone from kids to seniors of all
shapes and sizes to join in on the fun. Soul or urban line dances
such as the wobble, cupid shuffle, cha cha slide, and zydeco slide
are similar to other line dances except they use soul, funk, r&b,
gospel, hip-hop or contemporary pop music. Refreshments will be
served.

Black Family History Series
Main Library - 111 Library St NE

• Saturdays, February 8, 15, 22, 2020, 10:00 am - 3:30 pm
What parent or grandparent hasn’t been asked where they came
from, what their job was, or how they met their spouse? While these
family history questions are universal, answers can be challenging
to find. This is especially true for African Americans interested
in their family history. Join us for a series of workshops that will
help you learn about and document your family’s genealogical
history. Hosted by local genealogist Joyce Daniels, the series will
help you investigate your roots and connect with others around
family history. Registration is not required, however a lunch will be
provided if you RSVP to [email protected]

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Meet the Owner Alger Heights Barbershop

Throughout most of Dave and his wife Jan’s lives ties to the Alger Heights
community and surrounding area run deep. As a child, Dave grew up in the
Breton and Burton area and attended Grand Rapids Christian High School.
His wife Jan grew up in Boston Square and attended Ottawa Hills. He recalls
shopping in the Alger Heights district back when the Beauty House was a five
and dime. When they were first married they lived in an apartment on Nelson
street. Even when they began having children they shopped for their kids
clothing at the kid’s store that used to be in what is now a portion of Ken’s Fruit
Market. The ties to the area even go further back in time to his grandfathers.
Both of his grandfathers had businesses in the area, one was a home builder
who built a lot of the houses in the Alger Heights area. The other owned Muller
bakery on 28th street just west of Madison.
For Dave and his wife when the opportunity to buy the barbershop came it was
an easy decision. They loved the community of the Alger Heights neighborhood
and opportunity to preserve a business that has been around since the 1950’s.
They purchased the barbershop a little over a year ago and spent a few months remodeling the shop and re-opened in April. Their vision
for this shop is to be a center for the neighborhood. The meeting grounds where fathers with their young sons can come, get a haircut
in a shop that has the clean, whole-some feeling of an old-school barbershop with the extra special touches like a shave and hot towel.
The goal is to make this space reflective of the community, being able to serve the diverse group of neighbors that surrounds the Alger
Heights business district with haircuts and beard grooming services.
Not only with this shop are they offering barber services, they are investing back into the community and are excited about what the
future may hold with more events. The barbershop is a drop off center for donations to Tabitha’s Closet, a ministry of Tabernacle
Community Church which unites neighbors in providing low-cost clothing to the Grand Rapids community. In addition, this past fall
during the Halloween 5K the barbershop hosted a face painting Trick or Treat event, as well as hosting a reindeer display at Holidays
in the Heights. For Dave this brought so much joy connecting with the community and hearing everyone’s stories. This community
connection is central to the dream of the shop and he is excited about finding more opportunities like this to connect.

Do you close before you doze? Your Grand Rapids Fire Department
wants to make sure you close your bedroom door before you go to
bed as a fire safety measure.

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Don’t Forget About These City of GR Recycling Changes

Reminder: We no longer can accept shredded paper and plastic grocery bags in our recycling system. That's because the Kent County
Recycling & Education Center where we take our recyclables stopped accepting these items January 1.
Please don't put shredded paper and plastic grocery bags in your curbside recycling cart. Clean, dry plastic bags can be recycled at
several local grocery stores. Before shredding paper, consider shredding only the sensitive information – your name, address, account
numbers – and recycling the rest of the paper. If you have a compost, you can put your shredded paper there.
If you’re not recycling your paper, glass, and cans, start now by calling the city for a free recycling bin: 456-3232.
Have an item to recycle but not sure where to take it? Visit www.recyclekent.org for locations to accept most household items.

Handy Websites Handy Numbers
Emergency 911
The City of Grand Rapids - www.grcity.us Police: Non-Emergency 456-3400
The Rapid Bus System – www.ridetherapid.org
State of Michigan – www.michigan.gov Silent Observer 774-2345
Get the Lead Out – www.healthyhomescoalition.org
Heart of West Michigan United Way – www.211.org or Call 211

What is 311?

311 is the City’s first stop for all non-emergency City of Grand
Rapids service questions, including water service, property tax
assessments, reports of potholes, the Pay as You Throw refuse
program and hundreds more. Live assistance: 8am–5 pm, Monday
to Friday. Online visit 311.grcity.us from your laptop, computer or
smartphone.

[email protected] Save the Date
616-617-4644
Dumpster Day
[email protected]
616-443-9837 Save the Date: June 27, 2020

GREENRIDGE REALTY 2213 Wealthy St SE Is the date for the Alger Heights Dumpster Day
Grand Rapids for this year. The details will be provided later.
We will need some neighborhood volunteers

again to help the event run smoothly.
Watch for updates and information in

the next newsletter.

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Abigail’s Beef Stew AHNA board member Pam Patterson asked Alger Heights
residents if they wanted to submit a recipe for our newsletter.
A few winters back my husband asked for me to make beef stew. I Abigail Phillips, a neighbor on Merrifield, offered this recipe. She
tried a few different recipes, different textures, the amount of broth replied “I have a healthy living blog that I write, and I thought it
added and flavors. This recipe was developed after many attempts would be fun to be able to feature a recipe! One of my most popular
to get all those things right. Hopefully you find it perfection as my comfort food recipes is my beef stew. Here’s the link to the recipe:
family does. http://aroserestored.com/index.php/abigails-beef-stew/.”
Beef stew is not beef soup, meaning that its thick like roast but a On my pages, I talk about local things and give tips and tricks
bowl full amazing like any of your favorite soup recipes. So, keep for healthy living for the whole family!
that mind when making this, don’t be shocked that there’s not
much broth added for a full crock. Also, do not skimp on the beef aroserestored a.rose_restored
or the garlic. Trust me.

Ingredients: 4 Bay leaves
2+ pound Stew Meat 3 T Minced Garlic
1 Yellow Onion Diced 1 Can Beef Consume
I 16oz Bag Baby Carrots Cut in half 3 T Soy Sauce
3-4 Medium Red Potatoes Chopped 2 T Red Wine Vinegar
1/4 Cup Flour 1 Gallon Sized Bag Instructions:
2T Lawry’s Seasoning Salt
4T Olive Oil

Instructions:
In a gallon sized zip lock bag, add the flour and Lawry’s Seasoning Salt. Add the stew meat and
shake till meat is coated (my kids like to help with that part!)
Add the 3T of olive oil and 2T minced garlic to a skillet and brown the meat (no need to cook
through, just brown the outsides, this helps hold the meat together during slow cooking and seal the flavor in).
Once browned, add the meat to the bottom of the crock pot then add a layer of salt and pepper on top of that meat. Be generous with
the pepper (freshly ground is best!)
Next, Dice the onion and add 1T of olive oil and 1T of minced garlic to the same skillet (do not clean it out after browning the meat).
Sauté the onion and garlic till tender and smells so good. Layer that on top of the meat in the Crock Pot. The layers of this process, I
believe, really add to the flavor of this stew.
Next, add the carrots and then potatoes (cut the potatoes as small as you prefer to eat them).
Lastly add the beef consume, soy sauce, and red wine Vinegar.
Finally, place the 4 bay leaves on the very top (remove those before serving, or leave them in and announce to your family whoever finds
them -wins!) Cook in the crock on low for 6-8 hours.

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Pay it Forward

If you or someone you know on your block is interested in
helping neighbors shovel this year, please contact Sam Evans
at [email protected] or 540-2107. We are always happy to
welcome more volunteers to the group. Requests for help are
carefully vetted to determine the actual need. If you see a neighbor
struggling to keep up , you could check with them to see if there is
a need for help.

Crime Prevention

Please leave your outside porch and side lights on at dusk as this brightens the surrounding areas. Also please check on your street
lights and make sure they are on at night, if not then contact 311 or do it on line to have the city replace the bulb.
Please lock your outside doors to you home and garage as well as your vehicle. Do not leave any valuables in your vehicle. Do not leave
your vehicles running with the keys in them either warming up your vehicle or just running into you home for a quick minute.
Don’t leave your snow shovels or snow blowers outside either. There have been several vehicles hit parked in the street by passing cars
when the streets are icy or slick. If possible park them in your driveway.

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Block Captains or Temporary Volunteers Needed

We have lost a few block captains due to them selling their homes and moving. Nelson St. (Homes Only)
(Kalamazoo to Burton) 2 needed
Block Captains Needed are for the following blocks:
Nevada (Brooklyn to Almont)
Aleda (Alger to Mulford) Griswold (1200/1300 Block) Nevada (Almont to Blaine)
Belfast (Alger to Nevada) Hazen ( Eastern to Blaine) 2 needed Nevada (Blaine to Eastern)
Eastern ( 2400 thru 2500 Block) Hazen (Blaine to Nelson) 2 needed Ottillia (Blaine to Nelson) 2 needed
Eastern (2600 Thru 2700 Block) Hoyt (Blaine to Nelson) 2 needed Raymond (Alger to Nevada)
Edna (Eastern to Blaine) Jennings (Kalamazoo to Oakfield) Raymond (Nevada to Walsh)
Edna (1000 Block ) Joslin (Eastern to Blaine) 2 needed
Edna ( 1100 Block) Louise (Kalamazoo to Oakfield)
Edna (1220/1300 Block) Merrifield (Eastern To Blaine) 2 needed
Griswold (1000 Block) Merrifield (Blaine to Nelson) 2 needed
Griswold (1100 Block) Merritt (Blaine to Nelson) 2 needed

The general requirements for a Block Captain are to be friendly, welcome new neighbors, be the eyes and ears of your block. We do
give you training and materials that will be helpful for you in this fun role for your block. We will also work beside you for introductions.

If you are interested, please contact Sam Evans at [email protected] or Ginny Hartger at [email protected].

AHNA Board Meetings algerheights.org
• Alger Heights Discussion Group
AHNA board meetings are on the second Tuesday of every • Alger Heights Neighborhood Association
month, at 7:00pm, at Seymour Church (840 Alger SE – use south • Alger Heights Neighborhood Watch
entrance, the building is handicap accessible). Anyone is welcome • Garfield Park Neighborhood Association
to attend to see what we do and bring any questions or concerns
to the board.
[email protected]

Alger Height Neighborhood Association

2020 Newsletter Ad Price List thru December 2020

Ad Size Single 4 Continuous Changes Made to Ads (Done by AHNA) - $30.00 per issue
Issue Issues Inserts (Furnished by Customer) - $75.00 per issue
Business Card • Winter Issue – Covers: January, February, March
3.7”W x 2.0” H $35.00 $120.00 • Spring Issue – Covers: April, May, June
• Summer Issue – Covers: July, August, September
Savings of $20.00 • Fall Issue – Covers: October, November, December

Double Business Card $55.00 $190.00 Contact: Sam Evans at (616) 540-2107 or [email protected]
3.7” W x 3.9” H
Savings $30.00

¼ Page $95.00 $325.00
3.7” W x 4.9” H
Savings $55.00

½ Page $165.00 $560.00
7.5” W x 4.9” H
Savings $100.00

Please submit ads as high resolution .jpg or .pdf files.

Visit Alger Heights Neighborhood Association at

www.algerheights.org

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