Inside this Issue:

Fall Leaf Drop-Off
Water Quality Report
Lost & Found
Guide to Cold
Weather Practices
Winter Reminders
Mailbox Policy
Candle Advice
Wireless Internet
Connection
Used Book Sale
Book Discussion
Group
Classic Reads,
Classic Rides
Friends of the Library
Holiday Parade

STATE	CONGRESSIONAL	LEGISLATIVE
GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FOUR Year Term VOTE FOR not more than ONE (1)	UNITED STATES SENATOR SIX Year Term VOTE FOR not more than ONE (1)	REPRESENTATIVE IN STATE LEGISLATURE 90th District TWO Year Term VOTE FOR not more than ONE (1)
Dick DeVos Ruth Johnson REPUBLICAN Jennifer M. Granholm John D. Cherry Jr. DEMOCRATIC Douglas Campbell David Skrbina GREEN Bhagwan Dashairya Carl G. Oehling U. S. TAXPAYERS Gregory Creswell Scotty Boman LIBERTARIAN	Michael Bouchard REPUBLICAN Debbie Stabenow DEMOCRATIC David Sole GREEN W. Dennis FitzSimons U. S. TAXPAYERS Leonard Schwartz LIBERTARIAN	Bill Huizenga REPUBLICAN Clay Stauffer DEMOCRATIC
		STATE BOARDS
		MEMBERS OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION EIGHT Year Term VOTE FOR not more than TWO (2)
	REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS 2nd District TWO Year Term VOTE FOR not more than ONE (1)	Tom McMillin REPUBLICAN Eileen Weiser REPUBLICAN Reginald Turner DEMOCRATIC Casandra E. Ulbrich DEMOCRATIC Kevin A. Carey GREEN Jacob Woods GREEN George A. Emerson U. S. TAXPAYERS Gall M. Graeser U. S. TAXPAYERS Erwin J. Haas LIBERTARIAN Ernest A. Whiteside LIBERTARIAN Debra Hayden NATURAL LAW
SECRETARY OF STATE FOUR Year Term VOTE FOR not more than ONE (1)	Peter Hoekstra REPUBLICAN Kimon Kotos DEMOCRATIC Ronald E. Graeser U. S. TAXPAYERS Steven Van Til LIBERTARIAN
Terri Lynn Land REPUBLICAN Carmella Sabaugh DEMOCRATIC Lynn Meadows GREEN
	LEGISLATIVE
ATTORNEY GENERAL FOUR Year Term VOTE FOR not more than ONE (1)	STATE SENATOR 30th District FOUR Year Term VOTE FOR not more than ONE (1)
Mike Cox REPUBLICAN Amos Williams DEMOCRATIC Charles F. Conces U. S. TAXPAYERS Bill Hall LIBERTARIAN
	Wayne Kuipers REPUBLICAN Scott W. VanderStoep DEMOCRATIC Marcia Ortquist LIBERTARIAN

STATE BOARDS	STATE BOARDS	JUDICIAL	STATE PROPOSALS
MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN BOARD OF REGENTS EIGHT Year Term VOTE FOR not more than TWO (2)	MEMBERS OF WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF GOVERNORS EIGHT Year Term VOTE FOR not more than TWO (2)	JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT EIGHT Year Term VOTE FOR not more than TWO (2)	PROPOSAL 06-1 A PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO REQUIRE THAT MONEY HELD IN CONSERVATION AND RECREATION FUNDS CAN ONLY BE USED FOR THEIR INTENDED PURPOSES The proposed constitutional amendment would: Create a Conservation and Recreation Legacy Fund within the Constitution and establish existing conservation and recreation accounts as components of the fund. Use current funding sources such as state park entrance and camping fees; snowmobile, ORV and boating registration fees; hunting and fishing license fees; taxes and other revenues to fund accounts. Establish the current Game and fish Protection Fund and Nongame Fish and Wildlife Fund within the Constitution. Provide that money held in Funds can only be used for specific purposes related to conservation and recreation and cannot be used for any purpose other than those intended. Should this proposal be adopted?
		Marc Shulman Jane M. Beckering Michael F. Cavanagh Justice of Supreme Court Maura Denise Corrigan Justice of Supreme Court Kerry L. Morgan
David Brandon REPUBLICAN Susan Brown REPUBLICAN Julia Donovan Darlow DEMOCRATIC Kathy White DEMOCRATIC Edward Morin GREEN Karen Adams U.S. TAXPAYERS James Lewis Hudler LIBERTARIAN Eric L. Larson LIBERTARIAN Valerie G. Hilden NATURAL LAW	John Akouri REPUBLICAN Andrew G. McLemore Jr. REPUBLICAN Debbie Dingell DEMOCRATIC Eugene Driker DEMOCRATIC Margaret Guttshall GREEN Michael Merriweather GREEN Philip Johnson U. S. TAXPAYERS Robert Van Bemmelen U. S. TAXPAYERS Thomas W. Jones LIBERTARIAN Bob Schubring LIBERTARIAN Tara C. Stegner NATURAL LAW
		JUDGE OF THE COURT OF APPEALS 3rd District SIX Year Term VOTE FOR not more than TWO (2)
		Michael R. Smolenski Judge of Court of Appeals Bill Murphy Judge of Court of Appeals Janet T. Neff Judge of Court of Appeals
		CIRCUIT JUDGE OF THE 20TH CIRCUIT COURT Unexpired Term Ending December 2008 VOTE FOR not more than ONE (1)
MEMBERS OF THE MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES EIGHT Year Term VOTE FOR not more than TWO (2)
	COUNTY	Jon Hulsing Judge of Circuit Court
Dee Cook REPUBLICAN Dave Porteous REPUBLICAN Faylene Owen DEMOCRATIC George Perles DEMOCRATIC Lauren Elizabeth Spencer GREEN Robert Gale U. S. TAXPAYERS J. P. Denoyer LIBERTARIAN David H. Raaflaub LIBERTARIAN Katherine Dern NATURAL LAW	COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 10 TWO Year Term VOTE FOR not more than ONE (1)	OTTAWA COUNTY PROBATE JUDGE SIX Year Term VOTE FOR not more than ONE (1)
	Jim Holtrop REPUBLICAN	Mark Feyen Judge of Probate Court
		DISTRICT JUDGE OF THE DISTRICT COURT 58TH DISTRICT SIX Year Term VOTE FOR not more than ONE (1)
		Richard J. Kloote Judge of District Court

STATE PROPOSALS

PROPOSAL 06-2
A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO BAN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAMS THAT GIVE PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT TO GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS BASED ON THEIR RACE, GENDER, COLOR, ETHINCITY OR NATIONAL ORIGIN FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION OR CONTRACTING PURPOSES

The proposed constitutional amendment would:

Ban public institutions from using affirmative action programs that give preferential treatment to groups or individuals based on their race, gender, color, ethnicity or national origin for public employment, education or contracting purposes. Public institutions affected by the proposal include state government, local governments, public colleges and universities, community colleges and school districts.
Prohibit public institutions from discriminating against groups or individuals due to their gender, ethnicity, race, color or national origin. (A separate provision of the state constitution already prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin.)

Should this proposal be adopted?

PROPOSAL 06-3
A REFERENDUM ON PUBLIC ACT 160 OF 2004—AN ACT TO ALLOW THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A HUNTING SEASON FOR MOURNING DOVES

Public Act 160 of 2004 would:

Authorize the Natural Resources Commission to establish a hunting season for mourning doves.

Require a mourning dove hunter to have a small game license and a $2.00 mourning dove stamp.

Stipulate that revenue from the stamp must be split evenly between the Game and Fish Protection Fund and the Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund.

Require the Department of Natural Resources to address responsible mourning dove hunting; management practices for the propagation of mourning doves; and participation in mourning dove hunting by youth, the elderly and the disabled in the Department’s annual hunting guide.

Should this proposal be adopted?

PROPOSAL 06-4
A PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO PROHIBIT GOVERNMENT FROM TAKING PRIVATE PROPERTY BY EMINENT DOMAIN FOR CERTAIN PRIVATE PURPOSES

The proposed constitutional amendment would:

Prohibit government from taking private property for transfer to another private individual or business for purposes of economic development or increasing tax revenue.
Provide that if an individual’s principal residence is taken by government for public use, the individual must be paid at least 125% of property’s fair market value.
Require government that takes a private property to demonstrate that the taking is for a public use; if taken to eliminate blight, require a higher stander of proof to demonstrate that the taking of that property is for a public use.
Preserve existing rights of property owners.

Should this proposal be adopted?

PROPOSAL 06-5
A LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE TO ESTABLISH MANDATORY SCHOOL FUNDING LEVELS

The proposed law would:

Increase current funding by approximately $565 million and require State to provide annual funding increases equal to the rate of inflation for public schools, intermediate school districts, community colleges, and higher education (includes state universities and financial aid/grant programs).
Require State to fund any deficiencies from General Fund.
Base funding for school districts with a declining enrollment on three-year student enrollment average.
Reduce and cap retirement fund contribution paid by public schools, community colleges and state universities; shift remaining portion to state.
Reduce funding gap between school districts receiving basic per-pupil foundation allowance and those receiving maximum foundation allowance.

Should this proposal be adopted?

THE POLLING PLACES FOR THE CITY OF HUDSONVILLE ARE:

WARD 1 CITY HALL, 3275 CENTRAL BLVD, CITY COMMISSION CHAMBER
WARD 2 CITY HALL, 3275 CENTRAL BLVD, CITY HALL COMMUNITY ROOM
WARD 3 HERITAGE REFORMED CHURCH, 4995 32ND AVENUE

All polling locations are handicapped accessible. A voter who is physically unable to attend the polls without assistance of another person, who is at least 60 years of age, or who expects to be absent from the community while the polls are open, is eligible to receive an absent voter ballot. If you wish to apply for an absent voter ballot, contact Jan Wiersum, Hudsonville City Clerk at 669-0200, ext. 412. The clerk’s office will also be open until 2:00 p.m. Saturday, November 4 for the purpose of absent voter ballots.

Fall Leaf Drop Off

l has arrived and the leaves are falling! The Department of Public Works will be open on the following dates for city residents to drop off leaves:

Friday, November 3 1 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Friday, November 10 1 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Friday, December 1 1 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Leaves must be bagged in either paper or plastic bags and no brush is allowed.

Residential Only—NO commercial disposal

City residents only—ID will be checked

Water Quality Report

Every year the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality requires water systems to provide a consumer confidence report to its customers. The 2005 report is now available. You can obtain a copy at any of the following locations, Hudsonville City Hall (3275 Central Boulevard), Gary Byker Memorial Library (3338 Van Buren Street), Public Works Facility (5713 Balsam Drive).

Lost & Found

All lost and found items retrieved from the city parks this summer are located at the Public Works Facility. These items will be kept until December 31st. After that time they will be donated to Love INC.

A Citizen’s Guide to Cold Weather Practices

Winter means mounds of snow to shovel and layers of ice to remove from our sidewalks and driveways. We often make the job easier by applying deicers like salt, but besides sodium chloride, many deicers also contain chemicals like cyanide. When ice melts, the salts and chemicals dissolve and flow into street drains that lead directly to nearby streams and lakes, endangering aquatic life. By following a few tips, you can reduce your salt use and prevent water pollution.

Try an alternative.
Calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) was developed as a deicing alternative because it has fewer adverse environmental impacts than salt and doesn’t cause corrosion. Although CMA is more expensive than rock salt, it is recommended for environmentally sensitive areas.
Reduce your salt use.
By limiting the amount of salt you use on sidewalks and driveways, you can reduce the amount of polluted snow melt washing into waterways.
Use that shovel!
The most important step in deicing is to physically remove as much ice as possible before applying salt. Use a shovel to break up the ice before you add another layer of salt to your sidewalk. Adding more salt without removing what has melted can result in over-application, meaning more salt and chemicals end up in nearby streams and lakes. You can also reduce salt use by limiting access to your home to one entrance. For every doorway that is not used, there will be less salt running into the catch basin in your street, and ultimately the Grand River.

Winter Reminders

Residents are reminded of snow removal requirements in Hudsonville:

DO keep fire hydrants clear of snow and ice.
DO keep sidewalks clear of snow and ice (the City plows sidewalks as a public service but the property owner is still responsible. In case of extreme snowfall, the streets are priority.)
DO NOT shovel or blow snow into the streets or sidewalk.
DO NOT pile snow to a height so as to obstruct driveway vision.

If you use a private snow removal contractor, be sure the contractor is insured and is licensed with the City. The annual fee is $25 per vehicle. The licenses are available from the City Clerk’s office. Commercial (for hire) plow vehicles must have an oscillating or flashing yellow or amber light. Neither private property owners, nor private contractors may push driveway snow on property, which he does not own, without permission. This includes the curb lawn area which is needed to store snow plowed from the street or the adjacent drive approach area only.

There is no parking on streets between the hours of
2 a.m.- 6 a.m. from
November 1st through April 1st.

Mailbox Replacement Policy

The City will pay to repair or replace a mailbox physically struck by a city vehicle. Street truck plow blades do not extend beyond the width of the street truck; to strike a mail box it would be necessary for the vehicle to accidentally jump the curb. This is a rare occurrence.
The City will not pay for mailbox damage due to snow propelled against the mailbox from snowplowing activities:

Use of the public right-of-way for drive approaches, mailboxes, etc. is permitted; however, this use creates some risk, which property owners should recognize and accept.
Snowplowing of streets and sidewalks is an essential public service.

Most mailbox damage is (but not always) caused when:

The mailbox is not sufficiently constructed so as to withstand the impact of snow being thrown against it.
There is an accumulated volume of snow to contend with. Curb lawn snow is already close to the height of the mailbox. The street plow must have sufficient speed to throw the snow over the snow bank, where it strikes the mailbox. This occurs more often when streets have been salted and the snow is wet and heavy.

Some helpful hints:

Make sure your mailbox is sturdily constructed.

Reduce the height of piled snow in the curb lawn near the mailbox, or dig a cavity around the mailbox and post so that there is some storage space for snow to fly into.

Ask your insurance carrier about reimbursement under your homeowner's policy. In most instances, however, it is not a "covered peril" and the damage is probably far less than the insurance deductible.

A Word of Advice From the Hudsonville Fire Department

In recent years candles have become more prevalent in homes, especially with the development of the scented candle. Although they look nice and smell good, they have become a major source of house fires. Reported home candle fires rose 15% from 2000 to 2001, from 15,700 to 18,000, a climb that began in 1990 when there were only 5,500 candle fires. Here’s a couple examples: one of the deadliest fires in Louisiana history killed 11 members of a single family, including 7 children. Another family lit tea light candles in a bedroom window sill when they lost electricity. The candles started the bedding and mattress on fire. In an attempt to get the mattress outside, they set it down to open the front door and quickly the fire spread to the front room.
Leaving candles unattended was singled out as a serious fire problem by the N.F.P.A. (National Fire Protection Agency). Before 1990, candle fires were not even in the top 10 causes of fires, and now they’re number one: 41% of home candles fires start in the bedroom, resulting in a quarter of the associated deaths, 11% of home candle fires start after someone falls asleep.
We obviously cannot stop everyone from using candles, so if you must, keep these tips in mind:

Place lit candles away from combustibles, i.e. curtains, tablecloths etc.
Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets. Not only for their safety, but also the chance of knocking the candles over.
Purchase candles that are globed or the flame surrounded in glass.
When you leave the house or go to bed, double check that the candles are blown out.
And finally, you don’t have to light the candles to make them look nice. Ask yourself if its worth it!!

On behalf of the Hudsonville Fire Department, we wish all of you a happy and safe upcoming Holiday Season. See you at the parade November 18th.

Wireless Internet Connection

Jamestown Township now offers free wireless internet connections for their residents. The tower for this connection is on the south side of Hudsonville. Some Hudsonville residents may be able to use this connection. All that is needed is a part that can be purchased at Jamestown Township Offices.
There are a few places of business that offer wireless internet connection in the City of Hudsonville. These are:

Gary Byker Memorial Library
Signatures
Mocha ‘n Music
Burger King
Mc Donalds
Amerihost Inn
Super 8

Used Book Sale

The Friends of the Gary Byker Memorial Library Used Book Sale will be held on Thursday, November 9 through Saturday, November 11, during regular library hours. Usual cost of the items is $1 for adult hardcovers, 50¢ for paperbacks and magazines are 25¢. Children’s items are priced lower. Donations of used books are always welcome.

Book Discussion Group

The adult Book Discussion Group will be discussing Betty Smith's A Tree Grows in Brooklyn on Thursday, November 16, 2006 at 7 pm. Call the library at 669-1255 now to get a copy of the book to read. Refreshments will be served.

Classic Reads, Classic Rides

Introducing our 2007 calendar, “Classic Reads, Classic Rides!” - featuring your friends and neighbors in vintage cars with great reads!

Back in 2004 the Gary Byker Memorial Library produced a calendar featuring the “Byker Chix” – 12 wonderful ladies over the age of 50 who volunteered to put on leather and ride a Harley with their favorite book in hand. We had such fun and raised so much money for books that we’re doing it again – this time featuring automobiles!
John Dykstra Photography has once again provided us with some beautiful shots! Each of the people or groups of people below were asked to come up with $500 in donations for the honor of being in this calendar. An anonymous donor matched each of their donations. We’d really like to thank the following people who either provided vehicles or posed for us:

Kaylee & Deb Walthorn Larry & Faye Gemmen Keith & Marie Ambs Gary & Henrietta Byker Gaylen & Sue Byker Dick & Joyce Van Dyk Bruce & Char Horling Mike & Joan Huffman John & Sharon Blom John Slendebroek Kelly VanderMolen Terry (TJ) Van Weezel Bill & Betty Northouse		Al & Jan Sal Cindy Johnson Gayle Byker Tanya Byker Dale Kleinjans Joanne Klinger Dave Bolhuis Sue Gentry Robby Reminga Barb VanderBie Marcia Wierda Leann Scholten Marshall & Jacquie Elzinga
Kim, Ani & Rosabella Sinclair-Vandyk

Some of the vehicles in the calendar include:

1927 Model T Roadster
1928 Model A
1931 L29 Cord
1949 Chevy Deluxe
1960 Mercedes 300 SL
1957 Chevy Bel Air

1958 MGA
1959 Porsche
1959 Cadillac
1956 Chevy Bel Air
1974 Dodge Dart
1977 Corvette T-top

If you’d like to see the calendar, stop by the library. They are available to purchase for $10 each. Half of the funds raised from this event will go into our Endowment Fund, and the other half will go to purchase books for the library. Thanks so much for supporting your library!

It’s Good To Have Friends

The Friends meet on the second Tuesday of the month at 10 a.m. and are always glad to have new members. Their mission is simple -- to support the library. They do this by raising funds through used book sales, making gift baskets, mending books, and selling tote bags. The money they raise goes to purchase new books, shelving, reading incentives, or anything else that the library may need. If you have a few spare hours per week or per month, come join in the fun. Our group is very friendly and supportive and will be glad to initiate new members into the intricacies of book mending or used book organizing! If you’re at all creative then making the gift baskets may appeal to you! All are welcome and encouraged to join this fun group of women AND men!

Saturday, November 18, 2006 at 10:00 a.m.

32nd Avenue from Highland Dr. to Central Blvd.

Refreshments and time with Santa at the
Fire Station after the parade.

Hudsonville’s Annual Holiday Parade

The City of Hudsonville does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, height, weight, marital status, handicap, disability, or limited English proficiency in any of its programs or activities. The following office has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies: City Manager, City of Hudsonville, 3275 Central Blvd., Hudsonville, MI 49426, 616-669-0200 extension 418.

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