Closed school thrives as Alpine center.

Byline: Karen McCowan The Register-Guard

ALPINE - When this town lost its local elementary school four years ago, residents vowed that the historic building would continue to be a vital community center.

"It offers an enormous array of resources for the community, including a beautiful gymnasium, a certified commercial kitchen, ball fields and classrooms," said Evelyn Moore, a leader of the grass-roots group.

The group now leases the building, at 25114 Alpine Road, from the Monroe School District for $1 a year. More than 50 volunteers offer a growing selection of Alpine Community Center events for residents of Alpine and nearby Bellfountain, Irish Bend, Inghram Island and Monroe.

`With the help of volunteers and donations, the level of activity at the community center is picking up,' said Joyce Long, president of the center's board of directors. `We are seeing a steady increase in participation and the use of the facility."

The group will celebrate the grand opening of its Alpine Community Center Fitness Center today with a 9 a.m. open house with music and free bottled water. Beginning in April, the facility will be open from 8:30 a.m. to noon Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays; from 3:30 to 8 p.m. Thursdays, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. The cost is $2 per visit.

Other planned activities include a 7:30 p.m. Tuesday Chautauqua performance, `The Haunting War - An American Tragedy Revisited.' The free event tells the story of the Civil War in a series of vignettes bound together by period and original music, with historically accurate costumes and props.

On Wednesday the Marys River Watershed Council will move its public meeting to the community center for a 7 p.m. discussion of conservation efforts for the Muddy Creek Watershed.

Moore said the center is being supported by two major fundraisers and grants, including recent awards from Legend Homes and Consumers Power. The center sponsors an annual Holiday Gift Fair each November and a summer biking event, The Alpine Half Century Ride.