Greetings from the Mayor's Office | |
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As we transition to the back side of summer, the start of August is one of my favorite times of the year. Every first Tuesday in August brings National Night Out to our communities, and Walker takes part in numerous ways. The spirit of National Night Out is representative of what we have in our many neighborhoods throughout Walker. There is a strong sense of community in developments, streets, or other neighborhood measurements. National Night Out intends to enhance the relationship between our neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. I would argue that for quite some time we have had that at a high level in Walker. So, you will find community and neighborhood-level events in our City that get residents out of their homes and into neighbors' yards strengthening the fabric that makes Walker strong. Doing so with solid public safety and elected official presence is something that I know we all look forward to. If your neighborhood does not currently have anything like this, this is a great time to start. And, it does not have to always be on the first Tuesday of August. Help us help you strengthen our neighborhoods and relationships with our public safety and elected officials
August is also the end of the summer concert season and our movie in the park event. More details can be found in this newsletter. Please come out and join us for this unofficial end to summer. These two events are in the same vein as National Night Out. It is our community coming together, celebrating as one, and strengthening our relationships with one another. We provide these as a City with a high level of intentionality and purpose.
With another political season kicking into gear, and our residents and sometimes businesses being at odds on supporting someone and/or something, tensions and anger can increase. When November 8, 2022, comes and goes, we will be back to some normalcy. We will need to once again work, live, and grow with each other for the greater good of our community. My ask to each of you in what can be a divisive world is to focus on the big picture. These times shall pass.
As always, thanks to each of you for choosing to call Walker home.
Mayor Gary L. Carey, Jr.
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Contact Your Commissioners | |
Clerk's Department Updates | |
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Election Day is Tuesday
The State Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, August 2. This is to fill seats for U.S. representative, governor, state senator and representative, secretary of state, attorney general, and county commissioner. Polls open on Election Day at 7:00 AM and close at 8:00 PM.
An absentee ballot can still be obtained for this election by the voter at the City Clerk’s office until 4:00 PM today (Monday, August 1).
You can visit the State of Michigan’s Voter Information Center to verify your voter information, including absentee ballot status.
Walker will have one more upcoming State and City of Walker General Election, so mark your calendar for November 8, 2022.
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Did You Know?
By going to MI.gov/Vote you can:
• Request an absentee ballot and vote from home
• Register to vote
• Verify you are registered to vote
• Find your polling location
• Update your address
• Track the status of your ballot
• See what will be on your ballot
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Income Tax Department Updates | |
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Due Dates
Third quarter estimated payments for calendar year 2022 are due September 30. Forms are available on our website.
Missing Information
Did you receive a request for information related to your 2021 Walker income tax return? If we did not receive the information upon request from the taxpayer, deductions and credits will be disallowed resulting in a lower refund or assessment. If you were expecting a refund, but have received a proposed assessment or reduced refund, there is still time to provide the required information. You must send us proof of the credit/deduction within 30 days of the date you received the notice that we adjusted your return. If you’re not sure what we need, please email us at or call 616-791-6880.
Forgotten Returns
If you have past years of Walker returns that you have forgotten to file, contact the tax department immediately at 616-791-6880. If you file prior year returns and pay the tax and interest due, you may request a waiver of penalty. If the tax department contacts you first regarding unfiled returns, you will not be eligible for a waiver of penalty. We are electronically matching State of Michigan returns filed from a Walker resident address with Walker returns filed. If you have forgotten to file Walker returns from prior years, now is the time to get that cleared up before the letters go out from this matching program.
Questions?
If you are not sure if you need to file Walker Income Tax returns, the most common questions are answered on our website. You can also call us at 616-791-6880.
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Stay Safe in the Heat of Summer
The temps in the month of August can sometimes be extreme. Working and playing outside can become dangerous. Knowing how to avoid the scorching summer heat will help to keep you safe!
The signs of heat stress include dizziness, muscle cramps, excessive sweating, high heart rate, and nausea. If you find yourself experiencing any of these symptoms, remember these tips.
Take a break from the sun by moving into the shade or going indoors.
Keep hydrated. You should drink water every 15 to 20 minutes and avoid beverages that contribute to dehydration like soda and coffee.
Wear the right clothing. Loose-fitting, light-colored clothing will help you to stay cool. Also wear a hat to protect your head, face, and ears from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
Take it easy. It can take 7 to 14 days for the body to acclimate to a hot environment. If you are not used to the heat, pace yourself.
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Police Department Updates | |
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FREE Family Event
Summer is in full swing and Walker PD continues to be involved in several neighborhood events. The biggest will be TOMORROW, AUGUST 2 at the corner of Alpine/Hillside (Across from Alpine Meijer). It is our annual National Night Out celebration in partnership with Feyen Zylstra, held on their campus. Come out from 6-9 PM for free giveaways, food, bounce houses, games, crafts, music, contests, raffle & more. You can meet our Police Chief and other officers. It is a night of FUN so let’s hope for good weather and we hope to see you there. We will have a lot of swag to hand out!
Recruitment Team
As we place a focus on continually finding & hiring quality officers, Walker PD has created a “Recruiting Team.” Six officers were selected to be on the team based on several factors such as department seniority, assignments and specialty roles within the department, academy affiliation, and community engagement skills. They will be responsible for attending career fairs, assisting area police academies, coordinating ride-alongs, and other officer recruitment tasks. Congrats to Officers Campbell, Harkema, Kremers, Stahr and Stevens, as well as Cpl. Ritzenhein on their assignment to this new and important team.
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Special Assignments
Walker’s Special Response Team added one new member recently, Officer Pasternak. Our Mobile Field Force Team also added two new members, Officers Harkema and McIntyre. Officers Bindus and Campbell are finishing up a lengthy traffic crash reconstruction training course, and have been added to our Crash Investigation Team, which is responsible for investigating all serious injury or fatal crashes inside Walker.
| For more safety tips, department news, and upcoming community engagement, follow us on Facebook by liking “City of Walker Police Department-Michigan.” | |
Walker Ice and Fitness News | |
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Registration Now Open
Our Cross Ice program is perfect for kids aged 4-14 who want to develop their hockey skills. No previous hockey experience needed. Kids just need to have basic skating ability and we will take it from there! At WIFC, players get to progress at their own pace and the emphasis of Cross Ice is on making hockey fun! Friday night skill-based practices start at 5pm and the Saturday 11am sessions have skill skates and game day. The season begins on Oct 8 and runs through March 11, 2023.
If you have questions about Cross Ice, please contact our Hockey Director, Mike Fountain. Register online today!
If you have questions about registering for our Ice Programs, please contact Gillian.
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HAWK Hockey
The new season of HAWK Hockey begins in September! There’s still time to register for our house teams. We are accepting players at the Mite, Squirt, Pee Wee and Bantam levels. You can sign up or learn more at www.hawkhockey.net. If you have questions, please reach out to our Hockey Director, Mike Fountain.
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Skating and Hockey Lessons at the WIFC
Our new season of Learn to Skate, Learn to Play Hockey, and Snow Plow begins on Septe,ber17. Registration is now available. This six-week session runs through October 22 and costs $85.
Learn to Skate: LTS provides a fun way for skaters of all ages to learn to fundamentals of ice skating. Skaters are divided among our instructors based on experience, so the program is great for beginners and more advanced skaters. Masks are required for Learn to Skate. Contact Coach Brooke with any questions. Learn to Skate also offers Adult classes – remember, it’s never too late to learn to skate!
Learn to Play Hockey: LTP is a great way for boys and girls to start and develop their hockey playing skills. It's important for Learn to Play Hockey that participants have basic skating skills. Players are not required to have masks on the ice. Full equipment is required. Contact Coach Mike with any questions.
Snowplow: Snowplow is for boys and girls 5 years and younger who've never skated before. It teaches kids the basics of skating in a fun and safe environment. Helmets and masks are required for Snowplow. Contact Coach Brooke with any questions.
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New Month New Merch
The Pro Shop is restocked and ready for the new hockey season! Check out all the latest equipment from Bauer, CCM, and Warrior, including:
- Bauer Vapor and Sticks new Bauer Supreme skates and Nexus sticks
- Vapor Gloves and other equipment from Bauer
- CCM Jetspeed sticks and CCM Tacks gloves and equipment
- Warrior Alpha Sticks and Equipment
Any time the Walker Ice and Fitness Center is open, our Pro Shop is too!
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Thank You!
We appreciate everyone who came out to join us in celebrating Parks and Recreation Month with us! It’s been awesome having so many people stop by and see what our parks have to offer! Walker Recreation offers programs, events, and park rentals throughout the year. Visit us online for up-to-date information.
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Summer Wonder Bash
KDL will be offering many wonderful programs this summer! Visit our Events page for more information.
We will be celebrating our summer of reading and learning with a party called Summer Wonder Bash! There will be yard games, bubbles, face painting, activities, crafts, and a special visit from Critter Barn. Join us on Tuesday, August 9 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
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The Rapid launched a new service in Walker in that provides a public transit option near the 3 Mile Road area. This service, called RAPID CONNECT, allows customers to book rides that connect to our regular bus system in real-time via mobile app! | |
Friends of Walker Trails News | |
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Are you following the Friends of Walker Trails on Facebook? Follow along for updates and news on our lengthy network of trails right here in Walker!
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