Volume 1, Issue 28 DECEMBER 8, 2023
YOUR LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE
Walkerville Community Assessment yields excitement By Sharon Hallack The Oceana Echo Community Contributor
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A Walkerville Community Assessment and town hall meeting that took place Thursday, Nov. 30, facilitated by the Community Foundation of Oceana County, was not only very well attended but also very productive. “It was a fantastic day,” Oceana Community Foundation Executive Director Tammy Carey said. The assessment team, made up of OCF staff and facilitated by Julie Hales-Smith of North Coast Community Consultants, toured the area, then spent the day with five different focus groups, including youth, business, service providers, elected officials and seasonal residents. Hales-Smith commented in her opening remarks at Thursday evening’s town hall event, “What I heard today was, ‘Let’s get going!’ People are ready to make change and to work together toward prosperity.” Folks from the Village of Walkerville, Colfax and Leavitt Townships and beyond gathered to learn more about the assessment and share their ideas. Hales-Smith asked the group to close their eyes and envision what they would like Walkerville to look like in five
A busy Saturday in Hart It was busy Saturday at the fairgrounds corner in Hart. Old Newsies were selling this year’s edition for the Goodfellows, and the 4-H had the market steer weighin. • Paul Erickson/Echo
years. “What is happening? How does it feel?” she asked. “I see a revitalized downtown with businesses open and cars lining the streets,” said Bob Abbott, pastor of the Walkerville Wesleyan Church. More housing, including single-family homes and apartments; a thriving park; community events; a public library and community center; landscaping; and more music, drama and sports offerings at the public school were other things people envisioned. When asked what threatens those visions, the group listed the economy, available volunteers, dilapidated downtown structures, lack of an online presence, lack of employment opportunities and housing, and diminishing community pride. Another threat discussed was the lack of zoning. Because it can be expensive to implement and people have been resistant in the past, the village has no formalized zoning ordinance. HaleSmith gave some hope and reassured the group that there are options out there to help with zoning. When asked what the community would like to see changed, people mentioned more housing, a community center, more students in the school, more work opportunities for youth and a greater sense of belonging and community pride. Lastly, Hales-Smith asked, when think-
ing about Walkerville, what did they want to preserve and protect? Overwhelmingly, the community agreed they wanted to keep and grow the school, protect and promote the area’s natural resources, keep regular traditions alive and keep the businesses and services they already have. On a positive note, with the ongoing installation of Great Lake Energy’s TrueStream internet, more and more households are getting connected. “That’s a huge selling point,” Carey said. Carey shared some of the processes other local communities have gone through, saying that while there were some stumbling blocks, there have been some easy wins, and through it all, everyone has learned a lot and each community is continuing to work toward and reach their goals. “I feel really good about today. I’ve heard some very doable things. You’ll find your way,” she said. Walkerville’s community assessment was the fourth community assessment conducted in Oceana County in the past five years. Shelby was the first community to participate in 2018, followed by Pentwater in 2019 and Hesperia in 2021. “We’ve noticed that even in smaller communities, people show up,” Carey said. When the assessment is complete, Walkerville will own it and be able
to use it to set goals and move the community forward. “The Community Foundation is your partner and cheerleader. We’ll be able to help you find grants,” Carey told those assembled at Thursday evening’s town hall meeting. A formal roll-out of the assessment’s findings will take place sometime in January. Walkerville is one of the oldest settlements in Oceana County, with a rich history. “At one time, it was the biggest town in Oceana County,” County Commissioner Paul Erickson said. And from the participation at last Thursday’s meetings and the ideas generated, it is evident Walkerville isn’t going anywhere. They are ready to move their community forward and are excited for the future. Following the meeting, Carey said, “We were very impressed with the participation and feedback provided at each of the five focus groups and the town hall. It was clear that the Walkerville community is passionate about their hometown and is eager to put all their great ideas into action! We appreciate everyone’s commitment to this process and the investment of Lake-Osceola State Bank in partnering with the Foundation to support this community assessment.” In the meantime, the community is encouraged to get involved and continue the discussion at upcoming Walkerville Village Council meetings, which take place every third Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Upcoming meetings will be Thursday, Dec. 21 and Thursday, Jan. 18 at the village hall, located at 121 S. East Street in Walkerville.
Consider the gift of art this Christmas By Tom Rademacher The Oceana Echo Community Contributor Sure, you could pick up a last-minute Christmas gift from a convenience store, but then you’d have to deal with your sweetie, who waited all year only to receive a Chia pet. Here’s a better option: Visit the legendary Stony Lake Inn the afternoon of Dec. 17 and score a one-ofa-kind piece of handmade art. And revel in the oohs and ahhs your sweetie will give you then. More than a dozen artists will be on hand – some hailing from as far away as the Grand Rapids area – from noon until 5 p.m. that Sunday. The pop-up show will feature works rendered by painters, potters, woodworkers, jewelry makers, printmakers, photographers and more, all eager to showcase and offer their wares to lakeshore residents. It’s being touted as the First Annual “Market at the Inn” presented by the newly created “Lake Effect Artists’ Collective,” which came together during the past year as a way to meet other artists and increase their impact on the burgeoning art scene in Oceana and neighboring counties. “We’re open to virtually any artists interested in promoting their art,” says Jan Naimo Jones, one of the group’s organizers. “We only number about a dozen now, but we’re slowly building a community, and we’re excited about that.” If you’re an artist interested in participating, there are spots still open, and at just $10 a pop, that’s far less than what larger and more established art shows charge for a booth. Attendance is free of charge, and if you’ve ever been to the Stony Lake Inn, you know there’s plenty of free parking, too. Artists seeking more information are encouraged to reach out to Naimo Jones at janjones387@gmail. com or text her at (616) 466-3699. The Stony Lake Inn is located at 4722 Scenic Drive, about five miles west of U.S. 31, roughly midway between Muskegon and Ludington.