The ANNOUNCER August 2023

The Announcer is delivered to you as a free monthly publication serving Allendale Township. It is brought to you by the Allendale Area Chamber of Commerce.

WEBSITE: www.allendalechamber.org

OFFICE HOURS: By Appointment

ADS SENT TO: Christie Tidd at allendaleannouncer@gmail.com

ALLENDALE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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August Calendar of Events

*Please

Build It! (ages 6-18) at the Library from 2 - 4pm

Junior Firefighters (all ages) at the Allendale Community Park at 6:30pm

8th Annual Rust N Dust Steam + Gas Show at 80th and Taylor starting at 9am 3 - 6

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Popsicles + Splash Pads with LifeKids at the Allendale Community Park at 9:30am

Graphic Novel Book Club (ages 6-10) at the Library at 6:30pm 3

Frantic Kingdom Band Live at Main Street Pub at 7:30pm 4

Movies in the Park: “Puss in Boots - The Last Wish” at the Allendale Park at 9:30pm 4

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8th Anniversary Celebration at Trail Point Brewing Co at 1-11pm

Valley Church VBS: Mission Deep Sea at the Allendale Park (reg required on FB event pg)

Creative Dance (ages 0-6 wtih caregiver) at the Library at 10am

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8 Crafty Night Out at the Library (adults and registration required) at 6:30pm

Card Games at the Library (adults) at 2pm

Coffee + Crafts at the Library (adults and registration required) at 10am 15

Knitting for Allendale (all ages) at the Library at 2pm 15

OAISD Play N Learn (ages 0-5 with caregiver) at the Library at 10am 17

Allendale Back to School Fair at the Allendale Park from 5-7pm 17

Card Games at the Library (adults) from 2-4pm 22

Adult Book Discussion (adults) at the Library at 6:30pm 24

Friends of the Library Meeting (adults) at 7:30pm 24

WEEKLY EVENTS

Walking Fit with Ivy Rehab at Life Stream starting at 5:30pm

Trivia at Trail Point at 7pm

Karaoke at Main St Pub starting at 8:30pm

Trivia at Main St Pub starting at 8:30pm!

Senior Fit Time at Allendale Community Park at 11am, all abilities welcome!

Trivia at Farmhaus Cider starting at 7pm!

Live Music at Main St Pub - Check their FB for time

Trivia at Embassy Bar and Grill starting at 8pm

Food Trucks

Karaoke at Embassy Bar and Grill at 9pm

Trail Point: Tuesday - Sunday

Farmhaus Cider: Thursday - Saturday

APS

Leprino Foods is the number one supplier and manufacturer of mozzarella in the world. That's right, in the whole world! Every day, they process the milk of over 45,000 cows, turning it into delicious cheeses, whey protein, and other products that you and your family love.

And guess what? We have a location right here in Allendale, Michigan.

I was very lucky to sit down with Plant Operations Manager, Bon Holliday, and HR Manager, Julie Suarez, to discuss Leprino Foods and its impact on our Allendale community, including its dedication to its team members and being a champion of climate-conscious food manufacturing.

INTRODUCING LEPRINO FOODS, ALLENDALE!

I bet you didn’t know that almost every cheesy slice of pizza that you eat may have Leprino Foods mozzarella on it. That’s because Leprino Foods supplies cheese to a significant portion of the U.S. pizza market, including many of the top pizza chains across the country.

“Here in Allendale, we process nearly 3 million pounds of milk a day,” says Plant Operations Manager, Bon Holliday. “And we get all of our milk locally.”

How do they manage all that milk?

Since 1989, Leprino Foods’ Allendale location has been right here off 48th street, working closely with the Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) and Dairy Farmers of America (DFA). With their help, Leprino Foods ensures that our local Allendale farms and cows are treated well and measure up to all regulations.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

But it’s not just the cows that Leprino Foods cares about. Leprino Foods’ community outreach is almost entirely employee-driven, with many of the 300+ amazing workers showing up and giving back to our Allendale community. Recently, employees donated over 18,000 items in the Love Inc. canned food drive.

Global Mozzarella Supplier is an Allendale Community Cornerstone

By: Shelby Sullivan Writer for the AACC

“We believe in the power of giving back and we are proud to have a team of dedicated and passionate employees who are committed to making a positive impact on the community we call home. Through the Leprino Foods Company Foundation and our local Community Impact Teams, we strive to make our community better together,” Bon said.

The Allendale team participates in Giving Trees at Christmas time, plucking the names of children off the tree and donating thoughtful gifts, hats and gloves. This year, Leprino Foods Allendale is proud to sponsor the Hudsonville/Georgetown Little League Junior Softball team which is on its way to the Junior League Softball World Series!

“Leprino Foods also made a contribution to the Guiding Light Mission in Grand Rapids,” Bon continued. “We were able to upgrade their rec room, upgrade their HVAC system, and we even put in a new roof.”

You can learn more about the facility’s 2022 community impact search Leprino Foods Community Impact

Leprino Foods values its employees and their contributions. Both Bon and Julie have been with the company for a very long time – turning jobs into careers.

“We have approximately 320 employees and most of them, though not all, are based in Allendale or the local surrounding area,” says Julie, HR Manager.

She noted that the company has a longstanding commitment to ensuring its culture supports employees’ diverse perspectives, experiences and backgrounds. The company focuses on cultivating positive experiences throughout the career lifecycle -- from rewards and recognition programs to training and development opportunities.

And, we also have a lot of fun together. “We've had a blast organizing various events throughout the years—company picnics, Christmas parties, and an annual golf outing, just to name a few,” Julie said.

Last month they hosted their company picnic at John Ball Zoo!

“During National Dairy Month in June, we held a fun scavenger hunt where we placed stickers of cows all around the plant,” Julie said. “It was a fun activity for everyone to enjoy.”

Every individual working at the Allendale location plays a special role in contributing to the overall success of the company. Leaving a legacy that all employees can be proud of is part of the company’s purpose: to sustainably feed and nourish families around the world.

Supplier Climate Pledge Program “...to build a community of Leprino Foods Company climate-conscious suppliers.” That means some of their transportation and milk production partners are also taking part in the pledge. Way to go, Leprino Foods!

At the end of our meeting, I was outfitted with a Leprino Foods #One-Team wristband in my color of choice (orange of course), and even I, a total outsider, really felt like I was part of something special. Thank you, Bon and Julie, for taking the time to speak with me, it was a treat! Also, if you are interested, Leprino Foods is hiring for some of their local positions, and greatly encourage anyone interested to join their #One-Team staff!

“We offer a wide range of job openings, from entry-level positions to skilled operator roles. We are dedicated to attracting top talent from the area, and our search for exceptional individuals never stops,” says Julie.

If you want to get in touch with Leprino Foods, check out their website and Allendale-specific page for more information.

GREEN INITIATIVES

Leprino Foods has a lot of milk to process every single day and it strives to produce its products in the most sustainable way possible. In 2021, the company announced its Climate Action commitment, which established a “trail map” towards achieving greenhouse gas neutrality by 2050, as well as pledging to be responsible water stewards.

In addition to sustainability initiatives throughout its facilities, the company is also looking to make a difference throughout its value chain. Leprino Foods has launched a

THANK

We believe in the power of giving back and we are proud to have a team of dedicated and passionate employees who are committed to making a positive impact on the community we call home. Through the Leprino Foods Company Foundation and our local Community Impact Teams, we strive to make our community better together.

- Bon Holliday

ON THE MOVE // AUGUST 2023

Owning real estate means more than just having a house and some property. It’s an investment in your future. That’s because real estate is typically a stable and secure asset that tends to increase in value as time goes on.

In a recent Gallup Poll, Real Estate was listed as the #1 Long term investment option.

When it comes to investing in real estate, I tell clients to do what the “super-wealthy” are doing. Generally, they are buying and selling real estate. One of the reasons for this is the fact that stocks are so often manipulated that ordinary American’s find it di cult if not impossible to stand a chance in the stock market except in the arena of safe, low risk, long term 401k type of investments.

Buying and selling real estate can bring large income jumps to your personal wealth portfolio and it can happen in a couple of months rather than over several years or decades. Real Estate, while a great long-term option for the average investor, can yield great returns over 10-30 year cycles; can also provide large flushes of cash when bought and sold in under 36 months. If you are interested in buying or selling some investment real estate, this might be the perfect time to cash in as a seller or jump in as a buyer.

If you would like to talk more about your options to sell or buy including timing and values, please feel free to message me for some direction. Gbrown@city2shore.com 1-616-895-8000

IS REAL ESTATE YOUR BEST INVESTMENT OPTION?

[Credit: KCM]

Allendale Eye

Get

Purchase a NAPA Battery and have it installed through August and receive up to a $25.00 prepaid Visa Card.

Bridgestone Tire Sale: May 1, 2023 to September 4, 2023. Purchase a set of four eligible Bridgestone tires and receive a $70 Bridgestone Visa® Prepaid Card by mail, receive $100 if paid using your CFNA card.

Firestone Tire Sale: May 1, 2023 to September 4, 2023. Purchase a set of four eligible Firestone tires and receive a $60.00 Firestone Visa Prepaid Card by mail, receive $90 if paid using your CFNA card.

From Allendale Eye Care (Behind True Value)

Ask the Eye Doctor

KIDS + EYE CARE: ALL YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED!

WHY ARE EYE EXAMS IMPORTANT FOR CHILDREN?

Eye exams are essential for children as they play a vital role in detecting any potential vision problems or eye conditions that may affect their overall development. Identifying and addressing such issues early can prevent long-term visual impairment, learning difficulties, and other associated problems.

AT WHAT AGE SHOULD CHILDREN HAVE THEIR FIRST EYE EXAM?

The American Optometric Association recommends that children have their first comprehensive eye exam at around 6 months of age. This early examination helps to identify any congenital eye disorders or conditions that may impact visual development.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD CHILDREN HAVE EYE EXAMS?

After the initial examination at 6 months, children should have another comprehensive eye exam at age 3. Subsequently, they should have another exam before starting school, around age 5 or 6. After this, it is generally recommended that children have an eye exam at least every two years, unless otherwise advised by an eye doctor.

WHAT CAN PARENTS EXPECT DURING THEIR CHILD'S

EYE EXAM?

During a comprehensive eye exam, your doctor will evaluate various aspects of your child's vision and eye health. The examination typically includes a review of medical history, assessment of visual acuity, eye muscle coordination, binocular vision, depth perception, and an examination of the external and internal structures of the eye.

CAN CHILDREN WITH NO APPARENT VISION PROBLEMS SKIP EYE EXAMS?

No, even if a child's vision seems normal, routine eye exams are still important. Some eye conditions and vision problems may not exhibit obvious symptoms or signs, & early detection is key to preventing potential complications.

WHAT ARE SOME COMMON VISION PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN?

Several vision problems can affect children, including nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), astigmatism, lazy eye (amblyopia), crossed eyes (strabismus), and color vision deficiencies. Regular eye exams can help detect these issues and facilitate timely intervention.

CAN EYE EXAMS HELP WITH ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE?

Yes, comprehensive eye exams can play a significant role in a child's academic success. Undiagnosed vision problems can hinder a child's ability to read, write, concentrate, and participate in classroom activities. Addressing such problems through corrective measures, like glasses and/or vision therapy, can greatly improve academic performance. Overwearing contacts can decrease the amount of oxygen getting to your cornea, as well as increasing the risk of serious eye infections that can lead to permanent vision loss!

WHAT SHOULD PARENTS DO IF THEIR CHILD EXHIBITS SIGNS OF VISION PROBLEMS?

If a child shows signs of vision problems such as squinting, frequent eye rubbing, tilting their head, holding objects too closely, or complaining of headaches or eye strain, parents shouldschedule a comprehensive eye exam as soon as possible. Early intervention can prevent potential vision-related complications.

www.allendale-twp.org

TOWNSHIP INFORMATION

Township board mee�ng dates are August 14 and 28 at 6:00 pm. You can find board agendas and minutes on our website: www.allendale-twp.org.

Summer Tax Deadline

The 2023 summer property tax deadline is September 14, 2023. Our lobby is open to receive payments Monday through Friday from 8AM-5PM, closed 12PM-1PM, or u�lize the parking lot drop box at any �me. If you have ques�ons, please contact us at (616) 895-6295 or email frontdesk@allendale-twp.org.

ALLENDALE TOWNSHIP LIBRARY