By Christy Scott
The Alpine Sun

     ALPINE — Alpine’s new honorary mayor has already come up with a way to help raise money for local schools.
Bob Ring, Alpine Albertsons store manager, was declared the winner of the annual Honorary Mayor’s Race on Dec. 2 at the December Holiday Hot Topics Networking Business Breakfast of the Alpine & Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce at the Viejas Casino’s DreamCatcher lounge. The race by the Alpine Chamber’s Education Committee is one of its key fundraisers to provide classroom needs. Almost $ 5,000 was raised during the latest mayoral contest.

Alpine’s Honorary Mayor Bob Ring.

     “I’m diligently working on a new program to raise funds Apples for Education,” Ring said.
Money would be raised for schools be selling mock apples, he said. A paper red apple cost $1; a green one, $5 and a golden apple, $20.
     “As a mayor I’m a member of the Education Committee,” said Ring. “The Education Committee came up with the idea to involve the schools. It was my idea for the apples.”
     Proceeds would be distributed through the non-profit Alpine Chamber Community Foundation, Ring said. Money distributed through the foundation is tax-deductible.
     The honorary mayor said he’s already talked with Supt. Greg Ryan of the Alpine Union School District and PTA presidents about the fund raising idea.
     “We’ll see what response we’ll get from them,” Ring said.
     Ryan said the district appreciates the fund raising effort, and it will help the schools with smaller things that are needed such as library books, technology and playground equipment.
     The money that was raised during the honorary mayor’s race, donated through the non-profit Alpine Chamber Community foundation, Inc., will be used to purchase classroom materials and programs that aren’t covered by school budgets.
     As the winner, Ring also will help the Chamber’s education committee raise money through the Mayor’s inaugural event, the Annual Luau at the Ranch and Great Duck Race, and the annual Essay Contest Winners Dinner.
     The events, including the Honorary Mayor’s Race, have raised more than $50,000 during the past five years for Alpine’s schools.
     As the new honorary mayor, Ring got to throw the first pitch at an Alpine Pony League baseball game. He said he’s still working out his participation in future education fund raising events.
     “People have seen me involved already,” Ring said. “The Honorary mayor’s position is just a way to draw attention to the (education) program.”
     An Albertsons employee for almost 40 years, he said that as Alpine’s honorary mayor he wants to be known only as an ambassador for the schools.
     “To me the job of honorary mayor is centered on community involvement, promoting Alpine as a place to do business and a place to live, and to help focus people’s attention to our school’s” he said.
     With a family history in Alpine that began in 1923, Ring and his wife, Carmen, have six children, ages 12 to 32. They also have two young granddaughters.