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Monthly e-Newsletter | June 2018 Edition
Hello from the Mayor
It is so great to see that summer is finally here. Students are on summer break and it’s “orange cone season”. There will be lots of construction in the region, please be careful, slow down and be safe. 
Once again, Walker celebrated Memorial Day with our annual parade. It was great to see so many people attend this year. We were “wowed” by the vintage planes flying over the parade again this year. Memorial Day is a day off, but it is really a day to honor those who have died in active military service – we honor those who have gone before us and who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
Summer is a great time to get out and enjoy family and friends as well as meet your neighbors. If you are interested in hosting a “National Night Out” event in your neighborhood, please contact me to learn more about how the City can help you with this event. 
Summer also means our annual Walker Standale Summer Concert Series will be starting up. This year, concerts will be hosted again at Walker Community Park – if you have not attended these concerts in the past, check them out – there is music for all ages! Concerts are free and start at 6:30 p.m. This year's line up includes:

June 14 - Brena
June 28 - Paradise Outlaws
July 12 - Straight Shot
July 26 - Kari Lynch Band
August 9 - The Adams Family Band
August 23- Walker Family Fun Night & Movie in the Park

Mayor
Mark E. Huizenga
Walker Standale Summer Concert Series is back!
Location: Walker Community Park (700 Cummings Ave NW)
Thursday Evenings from 6:30 - 8:30 pm
FREE Event for ALL ages

View the lineup on our website.
Upcoming Events:
June 4: Walker Parks and Rec Adult Softball Begins
June 11: KDL Walker Branch Summer Fun Kick Off Carnival at 4:00 pm
June 13: Walker PD Community Watch Meeting for Leonard Gardens/Appletree Estates
June 14: Kick-off for the Walker Standale Summer Concert Series: Brena at 6:30 pm
June 28: Walker Standale Summer Concert Series: Paradise Outlaws at 6:30 pm
FOLLOW OUR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR EVENT DETAILS AND UPDATES!
Clerk's Office: Updates
City Hall Drop Box
Did you know you can drop off ANY document for ANY department to the gray City Hall Drop Box?! The Drop Box is located outside City Hall by the USPS mailboxes.

Absentee ballot applications can be placed in the drop box or dropped in the ballot box inside the Clerk's Office.

Tuesday, August 7th is Election Day!
Register to vote in-person at the Clerk's Office or complete the online form found here.

Please call (616) 791-6865 for more information.
Walker Fire Department:
July 4th Celebration Fireworks Safety Tips
The City of Walker Fire Department urges you to use caution when using fireworks as part of your celebration of the Fourth of July.
Public Act 256 of the State of Michigan allows for the use of consumer fireworks. Use of fireworks in Walker is regulated by Section 38-16 of the City Ordinance. Some of the highlights of the state law and city ordinance are as follows:

  • The use of fireworks is allowed on the day before, the day of, and the day after each national holiday.
  • Fireworks cannot be set off after 1:00 am.
  • You must be 18 years or older to purchase consumer fireworks.
  • Use of consumer fireworks while under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances is illegal.
  • Setting off fireworks on public property, in the street, school property, church property, or any other person’s property without permission is prohibited.
 
Please be aware of your neighbors and the affect that your fireworks use has on them.
 
The Walker Fire Department would prefer that you leave fireworks displays to the professionals and simply enjoy from a distance. But if you choose to set off fireworks as part of your celebration please use extreme caution.
 
For more fireworks safety facts, go to nfpa.org/education .
Walker Police Department: Department News
It is mid-June, so school is out for the summer! Please be mindful that more children will be out playing, riding bikes, etc., so be extra careful in your travels.
Mark your calendars and join us for upcoming events:
Details on Facebook at “City of Walker Police Department”
July 11- Summer Celebration and Copsicles
July 17- Human Trafficking Seminar (RSVP to mharkema@walker.city )
August 7- National Night Out (details below)
August 28- Pop with a Cop
Walker Police Dept. Spotlight
At the Monday, June 11th City Commission Meeting, the Walker Police Department swore-in two new officers and presented two citizen lifesaving awards.

Randall Witten & Jake Al-Kharusy both received lifesaving awards for separate incidents. Randall pulled a motorist from a burning vehicle after a crash and Jake stopped a knife attack on a victim, both actions saving the lives of the victims.

Officer Matt Welch & Officer Logan McIntyre were officially sworn in after being hired in April.
National Night Out - August 7th
For the 11th year, Feyen Zylstra and Living Hope Community Church are teaming up with the Walker City Police Department to host National Night Out here in the City of Walker. National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods a safer, better place to live.

This year’s event will be held on Tuesday, August 7th, from 6:00-9:00pm at Feyen Zylstra, 2396 Hillside Dr. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49544.

The free event includes: prize giveaways, bounce houses, games, crafts, music, hot dogs, and even snow cones. Last year we were joined by our local police officers, fire department, local US Army Officers, and Griff!
KDL Walker Branch
Summer reading starts June 4 this year and runs through Aug. 11.
Sign up online at  READsquared  starting June 1 or pick up a paper form at  your nearest KDL branch . Log your summer reading activity and earn prizes!
Prizes will be available for pickup at your  nearest KDL branch  starting Tuesday, July 3. (If you finish earlier than that, please wait until July 3 to claim your prize.)
In addition, everyone who completes summer reading will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win one of 10 iPad minis!
How does summer reading work?
Babies (Younger than Age 2)
Complete 24 activities based on the  five early literacy practices  that every child needs to get ready to read, listen and write. The prize for this program is a free book. Log your baby's activities online or in print.
Youth (Ages 2-10)
Read at least 20 minutes a day for 30 days. The prize for this program is a free book. Log your reading online or in print.
Teen (ages 11-17)
Earn 500 points by reading (100 points per title), attending KDL programs (50 points per program; visit our  Events page  for our program listings) and/or completing recommended activities (25 points per activity). The prize for this program is a free book. Log your activities online or in print.
Adult (age 18 and older)
Earn 500 points by reading (100 points per title), attending KDL programs (50 points per program; visit our  Events page  for our program listings) and/or completing recommended activities (25 points per activity). Log your activities online or in print.
Special Events at the Walker Branch
Koombah Rain Sticks
Monday, June 18, 1:00 PM
Koo-oom-bah means creativity in Swahili! Join us and get creative using your imagination and a few craft supplies to create your own rain stick!

Ruff Readers
6:30 PM
June 18, June 25, July 2, July 9
Ruff Readers is a unique read-aloud program in partnership with West Michigan Therapy Dogs, Inc. that pairs kids with a trained therapy dog and their handler. Kids read their favorite book and the pooches curl up, listen and enjoy. Arrive 15 minutes early to sign in and secure a time slot.  First come, first served. Sponsored by Bissell.

KDL LAB Experience: Build with K’nex
Tuesday, June 19, 6:00 PM
Use your imagination to build with K’Nex or follow a project guide. KDL LAB Experience events allow children to think creativity, tinker, explore and collaborate while engaging in un-facilitated hands on activities based on STEM concepts.
Bubble Wonders
Wednesday, June 20, 10:00 AM
Experience amazing tricks with a visit to the world of bubbleology. This program is part science, part art, part inspiration and 100% fun. See bubble caterpillars, volcanos and even see a kid inside a bubble. 

KDL Lab Experience: Build It!
Tuesday, July 3 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Drop-in with your friends and make all kinds of creations using the library's building sets.
KDL Lab Experience: Marble Runs!
Tuesday, July 3, 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Drop-in with your friends and build a Marble Run track that twists, turns, races and spins marbles at incredible speeds! Use your imagination to create unique runs and test the laws of physics. 

KDL Lab Experience: Straw Building Bonanza
Tuesday, July 10 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Drop-in with your friends for this unstructured building time, kids can build 2D and 3D geometric creations, vehicles, forts, or whatever! We'll provide all the materials, kids bring their imagination and curiosity.
Teen: Henna
Tuesday, July 10, 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Pre-registration requires. Experience the intricate art of henna tattooing.  
Regular Events at the Walker Branch
Toddler Time
9:45 am to 10:15 am & 10:45 am to 11:15 am
Monday, June 11
Monday, June 18
Monday, June 25
Monday, July 2
Monday, July 9

Nurture your toddler's love of books through music, movement and stories while helping to develop their language, motor and social skills.

Family Storytime
Mondays 6:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Thursdays 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Thursday, June 14
Thursday, June 21
Thursday, June 28
Thursday, July 5

Read and sing together. Enjoy stories, music, movement and rhymes that develop early literacy skills and encourage everyone in the family to share their love of reading.

Adult Book Discussion:
Tuesday, June 18
10:00 am to 11:00 am
Join us for an informal and lively discussion of Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave.

Tuesday, July 10
10:00 am to 11:00 am
Join us for an informal and lively discussion of  Leaving Time  by Jodi Picoult.

Babytime
9:30 am to 10:15 am
Thursday, June 14
Thursday, June 21
Thursday, June 28
Thursday, July 5

Delight and stimulate your baby with songs, a story and playtime. Get to know other families and help your baby develop listening and language skills.
Walker Ice & Fitness Center: 20 Years Strong at WIFC
Join us as we Celebrate 20 Years Strong in the Walker Community!

Summer Celebration

Wednesday, July 11, 2018
5:00 – 7:00pm
              
FREE Family event
Ice Skating, Fun Games, Dance Party and More

For more detail visit our Facebook page or www.WalkerIceAndFitness.com
2018 Soccer Season
2018 Soccer season has come to an end. Thank you to all our volunteers, soccer officials, field supervisors, parents and players for helping us complete another great season! We hope everyone had fun! See all of you again in the Fall 2018! Registrations will start July 1st !!!
Adult Softball
Adult Softball games have started! Check out the game schedules online at www.walkericeandfitness.com and come out and cheer on your favorite team!
Memorial Day Parade 2018
Thank you to all the participants and to the spectators for joining us on a very hot day! It was another great Memorial Day parade this year! A special thank you to Drone Views for putting together an awesome video of our Memorial Day Parade 2018! Check it out at https://youtu.be/kdGE_V80vMc
Stick and Puck and Free Style Skating
WIFC is offering Stick and Puck on Fridays 6-7:30 p.m. and Saturdays 2-4 p.m. for the Month of June (nothing on June 22/23). Cost is $8.
WIFC is also offering Free Style Skating on Saturdays from 10-noon for the month of June. Cost is $8/hr, $10/1.5 hr and $12/2hr.
Indian Mill Creek Steambank Study
Do you know what watershed you live in? If you live in the central or northeast part of the city, chances are you live in the Indian Mill Creek Watershed. If you own property along the creek, you may have recently seen some GVSU Students conducting research. This field crew of four are on a mission to study soil erosion, sediment pollution, and streambed substrate issues within the creek. The study began in the spring of 2017 and has continued into 2018. So far, researchers have determined that sediment pollution and soil erosion have had negative effects on fish (especially trout) and other aquatic species. So how severe are these problems and what can be done to solve them?
Using a combination of technology and equipment the field crew can survey the streambanks to collect data that will determine the rate of soil erosion and study the effects of sediment pollution. These results will then show overall effects on stream habitat. Researchers hope the results will help towards restoring the trout habitat that the creek once had. As of May 18 th, final streambank erosion measurements along Indian Mill Creek were completed. Within the next couple months, the crew will be processing data to hopefully find information that will help watershed managers restore order in Indian Mill Creek. The City of Walker along with the GVSU research team would like to thank the friends of Indian Mill Creek for their cooperative efforts towards restoring the creek.
To find out more about the study go to https://indianmillstudy.wordpress.com and follow their blog!
If you want to learn more about the watershed in your area please visit https://www.lgrow.org/
Walker Chamber of Commerce Upcoming Events
Quarterly Meetings are held at:
Walker City Hall
4243 Remembrance Rd.
Walker, MI 49534
Held quarterly the second Tuesday of the month

Tuesday August 14, 2018
Noon ­ 1:30 pm
Personal Development Panel
Join our Experts and learn how to set goals and to realize and maximize your potential!
Presenter is Lorraine A. Medici from Express Employment Professionals

Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Noon ­ 1:30 pm
The Travel & Tourism Industry
Th e travel and tourism industry is one of the world’s largest industries with a global economic contribution of about $8 TRILLION!
Among our Speakers you will hear;
Jim Gill, CEO, Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority
Gentle Fur in Action
Margie Lenau, Owner, Wonderland Family Vacations, LLC

If your business would like to host an Walker After Work Event, please let us know!
Follow our Facebook Page for announcements on our upcoming Walker Standale Summer Concert Series and Family Fun Movie in the Park Night!
Created by the Walker Youth Commission and adopted by the City Commissioners, this exciting video highlights the main attractions of the City of Walker, from Millennium Park to beautiful neighborhoods. This video was presented to the Walker community and soon-to-be citizens on how Walker is such a great place to live, work, and grow.