Made In Walker

A goalie with a record that still hasn’t been touched walks into a community rink and stays for 15 years. That’s the path of Mike Fountain, former professional NHL hockey player and longtime ice manager at the Walker Ice and Fitness Center, and it says a lot about what makes Walker, Michigan feel like home. We talk about Mike’s journey from North York, Ontario to the Grand Rapids Griffins, to hock...

A new public library can be just another building, or it can become the place where a city’s identity comes alive. That’s the question we dig into with Walker Mayor Gary Carey as the new Walker Library rises in full view and creates buzz everywhere from breakfast spots to the grocery store. You can feel the pride as we talk through the “why” behind the project: Walker had the smallest physical lib...

Walker is growing quickly, and growth has a way of turning “city hall” into something personal. We’re joined by Shay Gallagher, the new City Manager for the City of Walker, Michigan, to talk about what the job actually demands and why Walker’s stability and momentum made the opportunity impossible to pass up. Shay shares where he’s from, how his career path led through other communities, and what...

Peppinos is a name most West Michigan locals recognize, but the origin is pure Standale: one shop, a family hustle, and a neighborhood that has transformed around it. We’re joined by Joe DiLeonardo as Peppinos celebrates 50 years in business in 2026, and he takes us back to the earliest days, when the drive felt long, the back lot still had trees, and a kid could grow up learning the rhythms of a...

Your child might know the rules, but would they remember the steps when their heart is racing? Safety Town is finally coming to Walker, Michigan, and we sat down with Jenna Wilmers to explain why this hands-on kids safety program can make a real difference for families. A late-night 911 call from her little brother became the spark, and it turned into a community effort to give local kids practica...

A new all-star cheer gym has landed in Walker, Michigan, and it’s built on a simple idea with big consequences: Family Over Everything. I’m joined by FOE All-Stars owner Tank Johnson and head coach and co-director Brayden to talk about why they opened the doors, what they want athletes to feel the moment they walk in, and how a sports facility can become a real community hub. We break down what al...

A local butcher shop can feel like a utility until you realize it’s also a meeting place, a fundraiser engine, and a thread that holds a neighborhood together. That’s why the ownership transition at Sobie Meats in Walker, Michigan matters, and why we wanted to talk about it while it’s still fresh and real. Host Nicole DiDonato is joined by original owner Tim Sobie and new owner Amy Jones for an ho...

Flooding in Walker, Michigan isn’t one-size-fits-all, and that misunderstanding can lead to costly surprises. We sit down with City Engineer Scott Conners to break down the two flood problems residents actually see: sudden flash flooding that overwhelms streets and catch basins during high-intensity rain, and slower Grand River flooding that can be forecast days in advance as water moves through t...

A city feels different when there’s a place you can walk into with a half-formed idea and walk out with something real in your hands. We sit down with Josh and Chris from Grand River Makerspace to unpack how a shared workshop in Walker, Michigan, is giving people the tools, confidence, and community to make things that matter—from five-foot 3D-printed dragons to a toddler mobility trainer built fr...

Ready to lock in a Social Security strategy you won’t regret later? We sit down with Hillary Hatch from the Social Security Administration to demystify the rules that decide how much lands in your bank account each month. From understanding your full retirement age to weighing early versus delayed filing, we unpack the choices that shape lifetime income, using clear examples and practical decision...

The heartbeat of a great neighborhood is often a single place where curiosity turns into connection—and for Walker, that place might be Siciliano’s. We sit with owners Dan and Tiffany to unpack how a family-owned specialty market evolved into a community hub for homebrewing, wine kits, cigars, and curated pairings, all while honoring the legacy that started it in the 90s. From the first “build you...

A lot can happen between a basement repair bench and a statewide service team. We invited Kara and Will, third-generation owners of Nordyk Business Equipment, to share how a company that started by fixing typewriters now helps organizations manage secure, AI-enabled document workflows without losing the personal touch that built their name. Their story blends legacy and leap: faith-driven values s...

A clear plan, a steady hand, and a community-first mindset—Mayor Gary Carey opens up about how Walker stayed focused through change and turned long-term planning into everyday wins. We talk about the five pillars that guide our decisions, why public safety sits at the top, and how a once-sparse industrial park became the tax base that funds more officers, a full-time fire department, better parks,...

Imagine rolling from your neighborhood straight onto fresh singletrack without loading a car. That’s the promise at Johnson Park, where we’re building a new regional trailhead on the Grand River Greenway with six to eight miles of purpose-built mountain bike trails, a four-season restroom, expanded parking, and welcoming gathering spaces. We’re joined by Kent County Parks and the West Michigan Mou...

Want to see how small grants make big things happen? We sit down with Teresa from the Grandville Walker Foundation to unpack a simple, powerful model for local impact in Walker and Grandville. From funding a refrigerator that expands Senior Neighbors’ capacity at the Walker Center to backing a music garden near the library and exploring support for a Johnson Park-connected bike trail, these $500–$...

A neighborhood salon can be more than a place for great hair—it can be a quiet engine of trust, training, and local pride. We sit down with Seven in Main Salon owner and Downtown Development Authority member Cindy Ludwick to uncover how a thoughtful business model, steady mentorship, and civic service can shape both a team and a city. From the careful story behind the salon’s name to the systems t...

If you’re confused by headlines but serious about finding a home that fits your life, this conversation brings the noise down to human scale. We sit with Scott Zokoe of the Zokoe Team to unpack how Walker’s market evolved from pandemic bidding wars to a steadier, still seller-leaning landscape—and what that actually means for timing, price, and sanity. The goal isn’t hype; it’s clarity you can act...

A bottleneck that lasted decades is finally gone, and you can feel the difference the first time you cross it. We bring together MDOT’s John Richard and Walker City Engineer Scott Connors to unpack how the new Fruit Ridge Bridge and interchange deliver safer travel, smoother access to jobs, and real options for people walking and biking. From two skinny lanes to a five-lane span with a 14-foot pat...

Skip the tired script about success requiring a four-year degree. We sit down with Daniel and Jose Gonzalez of Preferred Flooring to explore how a hands-on trade can become a vehicle for purpose, community, and a resilient career. From weekend gigs as kids to leading complex healthcare installations, their path shows how craftsmanship, discipline, and training turn “just a job” into a calling. We...

Some names turn into anchors for a whole community. Trevor Slot is one of those names. We open the door to his life through vivid memories, honest grief, and the living legacy he left inside the Walker Police Department and within the hearts of his daughters. What you’ll hear isn’t a eulogy—it’s a map for how kindness, humor, and everyday presence can shape an entire city. Captain Brandyn Heugel a...

Every time a police officer responds to an emergency call, a firefighter races to a blaze, or a snowplow clears your street after a winter storm, there's an unsung team of experts making it all possible. In this fascinating conversation with Ben Willcome, Walker's Fleet Services Supervisor, we pull back the curtain on the critical but often invisible work that keeps our city vehicles run...

Mayor Gary Carey delivers his State of the City Address for 2025, highlighting "acceleration" as this year's theme to reflect the increased velocity of growth and development in Walker. Public safety remains a top priority with exceptional community engagement from police and fire departments resulting in a 22% decrease in major crimes over two years despite the city's rapid gr...

The bridges we build, the roads we travel, and the paths we create literally shape how our communities grow and connect. In this enlightening conversation with Senator Mark Huizenga, we dive deep into the infrastructure projects that have transformed Walker from the ground up. When it comes to the Fruit Ridge Bridge project, persistence proved powerful. After eight years of advocacy that spanned f...

What makes someone leave the warmth of the Gulf Coast to lead a fire department in Michigan? For Russell Schoultz, Walker's new Fire Chief, it was the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in a community that immediately felt like home. Chief Schoultz brings an impressive 34-year public safety career to Walker, including extensive experience with hurricane response, disaster management,...

Growing older doesn't mean giving up independence, purpose, and connection. Discover how Senior Neighbors of Kent County is transforming the aging experience for adults 60+ throughout our community, including right here in Walker. Suzanne Callahan, President of Senior Neighbors, takes us inside their comprehensive approach to enhancing seniors' lives through two key service areas: person...