Monthly e-Newsletter | August 2019 Edition
|
|
Hello from Mayor Gary Carey
|
|
August highlights the sense of community that we have here in Walker through the numerous block parties happening in our neighborhoods. I recently had the pleasure of attending our annual National Night Out; our largest block party hosted by Feyen Zylstra at their Alpine and Hillside location. The tireless efforts of Feyen Zylstra, Living Hope Community Church, and all our sponsors made this another successful event. As a city, we could not be more grateful to have these organizations take root in our community. These events make a big impact and are necessary for Walker as it shows the ownership and pride the community has in their neighborhoods. There is statistical data that proves that active and engaged neighborhoods have significantly less crime impacting them than those who don’t. If your neighborhood does not currently have some type of gathering, I would encourage you to consider it for that reason and to familiarize yourself with your neighbors. If you do host an event and would like myself, City Commissioners, and possibly our Fire and Police Departments to visit, please let us know. Another reason why I personally look forward to these gatherings is meeting new people and hearing the reasons why you have decided to call Walker home. Sometimes, there are challenges and needs that we might be unaware of, so please don’t hesitate to share those as well.
Along the same lines of neighborhood involvement is that of civic service. Residents who are actively involved in boards and committees, are an essential part of a city enabling it to function well. There are a variety of opportunities to serve in Walker that can make a huge impact on our ability to evolve and grow. We recently reviewed these committees to refine their mission and purpose and we are hoping this encourages participation. If you are not already serving, I would ask you to go to our
City website
and view the different committees and boards available and apply for one. If we do not currently have an opening for something that interests you, we will keep each application on file until a spot opens and review for possible appointment at that time. Because our residents voted for Term Limits in 2016, it is critical that we are always developing our next generation of policy makers for the City Commission. Having spent many years on a committee myself, my committee experience did help make the transition and appointment to a seat in a public office easier. So, whether you have an interest down the road to hold public office or not, we still need your help! Please consider applying today, by clicking the green button below.
As always, whether a resident or business in our community, thank you for making the decision to call Walker home.
Gary Carey, Jr.
Mayor
City of Walker
|
|
August 15:
Car Seat Safety Check, Fire Station No. 2 (details below)
August 17:
Remembrance Car Cruise @ 11 a.m., City Central Park
August 21:
Standale Neighborhood Open House @ 5 p.m., Fire Station No. 2
October 5:
Walker Pumpkin Bash @1:30 p.m., Walker City Hall
FOLLOW OUR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR EVENT DETAILS AND UPDATES!
|
|
Walker Fire Department:
Can We See Your Address?
|
|
If you called 911 for an emergency, could the agency responding find your home or business quickly and easily? If addresses are not prominently posted on mailboxes, posts or buildings, it can be extremely difficult for fire, police or ambulance personnel to find the location of an emergency at a time when every moment counts.
If it is difficult to read your address from the street in front of your home or business, emergency responders, who may not be as familiar with your area, could be delayed in reaching you.
The Walker Fire and Police Departments strongly encourages all Walker residents to post their address prominently on their mailbox, home or business so it is easily seen and recognizable from the road.
WE CAN HELP!
Green reflective address signs, measuring six inches by 18 inches, can be purchased from the Walker Firefighters' Association for $10. The signs can be easily attached to a mailbox post, and their three-inch-tall reflective numbers allow high visibility in the dark. If you would like to purchase a reflective address sign, please call the Walker Fire Department office at
791-6840 Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and on Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.
|
|
Walker Police Department:
Department News
|
|
Summer is certainly in full swing, as we have been attending several community events such as block parties, National Night Out, and Back to School events.
Don’t forget to join us on Saturday, August 17 from 11 am-2 pm, in the park on City Central Complex for the Remembrance Car Cruise & Show.
Cars will stage at Everkept Storage on Remembrance from 930-10 am. At 10 am, they will be led down Remembrance by a vintage Walker PD cruiser and our motorcycle officer. They will parade down the road and into the parking lot of the park, where they will set up for the car show. Please join us and Sobie Meats for the car show and community picnic, where there will be food, beverage, raffles, and t-shirts for purchase. All proceeds go to Thin Blue Line of Michigan, which is an organization dedicated to assisting families of fallen or injured first responders. Spectators can park in the lots surrounding the police department, library, and city hall. There is no cost to enter a vehicle, we just ask you email
[email protected]
if you plan on parking a show car, so we can ensure we have enough spots for everyone!
Walker Police will be participating in a
car seat safety check
, hosted at Walker Fire Station #2 on Lake Michigan Drive on August 15. If you would like to make an appointment for a check, please email
[email protected]
. Time slots are arranged by staff at the children’s hospital.
|
|
To those that joined us for our
Pizza with Police event
at Standale Pizza Hut, THANK YOU! Because of your generosity, we raised over $300 to be used to assist needy families during the 2019 holiday season. Another similar event will likely be held in early November.
To keep up to date on all things Walker PD, please like/follow us on Facebook at “City of Walker Police Department" or by clicking the green button below.
|
|
|
|
|
Welcome to our newest police officer, Officer Tyler Glass
. Officer Glass stared with the Walker Police Department on Monday, July 29. He has been a police officer for almost five years, previously working with Rockford Public Safety where he received numerous certifications. Welcome, Officer Glass!
|
|
Clerk's Department Updates
|
|
|
|
Election News:
November 5, 2019 -
There will be an election for
Ward 3 precincts ONLY
for two Grandville school proposals.
|
|
Alert!
All solicitors must be licensed by the city clerk to canvas within the City of Walker.
If someone comes to your door soliciting, please ask to see their Solicitor License from the City of Walker and proof of employment with the company.
If they refuse to show you their license or they state that they are not licensed, get their vehicle license plate number, name of the individual and the company name. Please report this to the Police Department at (616) 453-5441.
|
|
Passports:
You can apply for a passport in the Clerk’s Office. No appointments are necessary during Passport Office Hours which are Monday – Thursday from 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM and Friday from 7:30 AM – 11:00 AM.
Visit our website for details on passport requirements.
More information
Passports are currently taking longer than usual to process, please allow at least 6 weeks for your passport to be processed.
|
|
Real ID:
The Secretary of States office is rolling out the new REAL ID driver’s license, which will be required after October 2020, to fly domestically. Please plan ahead if you plan to convert your current driver’s license to a REAL ID driver’s license.
You will be required to take your original birth certificate and any certified name change documents, such as your marriage license or court order with you to apply.
|
|
Vote from Home!
Everyone can vote via an absentee ballot (by mail) if you have not contacted us to be put on our automatic permanent absentee mailing list please email us at
[email protected]
.
If you have any questions pertaining to any of this information, don’t hesitate to call us at 616.791.6865 or
[email protected]
|
|
Summer Facility Hours
Mon-Thurs: 5am to 10pm
Friday: 5am to 8pm
Sat & Sun: 7am to 5pm
May 24th - September 2nd.
|
|
|
There’s still time for students to take advantage of our Student Summer Special. This offer ends August 31 – just in time for back to school!
|
|
Cross Ice is available for kids ages 5-13 and features Friday evening practices with in-house scrimmages and Saturday morning games. USA Hockey registration is required. For more information or to download a brochure/registration form, visit our
website.
|
|
Just a Reminder!
Soccer Coach meetings will be….
August 27 for 4 – 8-year-old coaches
August 28 for 9-13-year-old coaches
Soccer practice will start the week of September 3.
Soccer pictures will be September 10 & 11.
We are still in need of VOLUNTEER coaches, please consider this rewarding experience!
We are looking forward to another fun soccer season with all of you!
Contact:
Walker Parks & Recreation at 616-735-6286 or email:
|
|
That's a Wrap!
Adult Softball season is nearing an end, but it’s been a great season! Thank you to all the businesses that sponsored teams this year. We had 37 teams combined in the Men’s, Women’s and Co-ed leagues! We look forward to seeing all of you again next year!!
|
|
Thank you for joining us and celebrating National Parks and Recreation Month!
We had a 'ball' at the Walker Parks and Rec Night event on July 11th. #GameOnJuly
|
|
Income Tax Department:
News & Updates
|
|
Due Dates
Where’s my refund?
We are currently processing 2018 returns that were missing required information. 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, please provide the missing information within 30 days.
You can also call us at 616-791-6880.
|
|
KDL Walker Branch:
Library News
|
|
Have you heard that Kent District Library now offers patrons the opportunity to earn a free, accredited high school diploma? If you know someone who might benefit from this, let them know! Spaces are limited, so be sure to apply as soon as possible. Visit
www.careeronlinehs.gale.com/kdl
to get started.
Also the Walker Branch is offering drop-in tutoring on select Wednesdays and Saturdays, available to adults 18 and up enrolled in any of the following programs: High School Diploma, English as a Second Language (ESL), Adult Basic Education (ABE), High School Equivalency (GED) and Career Technical Education (CTE). Questions on all subjects are welcome. Tutoring is hosted by Sparta Adult Education. These sessions will be offered on Wednesday, August 14 from 4:00-8:00 P.M. & Wednesday, August 28, 4:00-8:00 P.M
|
|
New Items added to the collection:
VOX Books
combine outstanding picture books and non-fiction with audio recordings that capture children’s attention and make learning and literacy development fun. Not only can your child use VOX Books on their own, but studies have shown that VOX Books users improve their reading comprehension by 75 percent and improve their reading accuracy by over 50 percent.
Playaway Bookpacks
bring together an audiobook and a print version to deliver a fun and educational read-along experience to people of all ages. Bookpacks are a great way for emerging and struggling readers, auditory and special education learners and ESL patrons to develop literacy skills.
|
|
Mission Reads Booster Packs:
Have you picked up a Mission: Read Booster Pack from your
local KDL branch
yet? These packs include several books, reading games and activities, and are designed to help kids grades K-3 sharpen their reading skills while also having fun.
|
|
Reoccurring Regular Programs
Toddler Time
Nurture your toddler's love of books through music, movement and stories while helping to develop their language, motor and social skills.
For children ages 3 and younger with an adult.
Mondays, 9:45 a.m. & 10:45 a.m.
Family Storytime
Read and sing together as a family. Enjoy stories, music, movement and rhymes that develop early literacy skills.
Mondays, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Baby Playgroup
Get to know other families and help your baby develop listening and language skills while you gather and play. We provide the space and a variety of sensory and play activities. Each playgroup also includes 15 minutes of stories, rhymes and songs. For babies from birth to 18 months with a caregiver. Older siblings welcome!
Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Rhyme Time Music and Movement
Move and groove together with action rhymes, songs, games and hands-on musical activities that will help children develop motor, listening and literacy skills.
Fridays, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
|
|
Monthly Programs
Travel Tales – Caribbean
Wednesday August 21, 2019
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Listen to fellow “travel bugs” each month as someone will share a story of a memorable travel trip and why it was special. Speakers will share pictures and mementos from their trips with a chance for Q&A. Lite refreshments will be provided thanks to Wonderland Family Vacations, who will also have a travel agent in attendance to help answer any travel related questions.
Did you have an awesome travel experience you would like to share? Are you willing to talk to a group of people about this experience and share some pictures? If so consider signing up for one of our future travel tales by contacting Walker Branch staff.
Adult Book Discussion: Transcription
Tuesday, September 10, 2019 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Join us for a fun, informal book discussion. This month's selection is
Transcription
by Kate Atkinson.
Visit KDL.org Events for a current schedule of programs at the branch.
|
|
Friends of Walker Trails News
|
|
Celebrating the last few weeks of summer, Friends of Walker Trails got out for a group ride on Monday August 5th. We met at the Walker Ice & Fitness Center, rode down to Millennium Park and back, with plenty of time to visit Double Dip Depot before the sun set! We even had some new friends join us from Mel's Biker Gang!
In other news, our fun run committee had its first meeting and we are off to a solid start with planning what we hope will become an annual event. If you’d like to be involved in helping get this event off the ground, contact
[email protected]
Join the Friends of Walker Trails Facebook page to join our next group ride!
Happy Trails!
|
|
Walker Chamber of Commerce Upcoming Events
Quarterly Meetings
are held at:
Walker City Hall
42
43 Remembrance Rd.
Walker, MI 49534
Held quarterly the second Tuesday of the month
Next Meeting:
August 13
"Finding & Retaining Quality Employees"
|
Inaugural Community Expo and Job Fair
In conjunction with Kenowa Hills Public Schools
Saturday, September 28
10 AM - 3 PM
New Zinser School Gymnasium (Leonard & Kinney)
If your business would like to host an Walker After Work Event, please let us know!
|
|
The City of Walker is now on Instagram!
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
