Holiday Extravaganza Parade & WinterFUN Fest - FREE

This Saturday, December 4, 2021, join us in Downtown Pontiac for the 40th Holiday Extravaganza Parade!

For more info follow Holiday Extravaganza on Facebook https://m.facebook.com/holidayextravaganza/ or visit their website https://www.holidayextravaganza.org/

Last Spaghetti Dinner of The Year - Don't Miss It!

Winter Tax Bills Available Dec. 1st

Winter property tax bills will be mailed December 1, 2021 and also available online at www.waterfordmi.gov/taxes. Taxes are due February 14, 2022.

ONLINE PAYMENTS MADE THROUGH YOUR BANK
If you initiate your payment through your financial institution, a paper check will be issued. Make sure payment is sent to:
5200 Civic Center Drive, Waterford, MI 48329
Do not send payment to a P.O. Box address which will delay delivery of payment. For ONLINE BANKING through your Bank, please schedule your payment to be delivered 10 business days prior to due date or your payment may be late and interest applied. Please note payments are posted paid the date the check is received in our office by the post office.

ONLINE PAYMENTS MADE THROUGH TOWNSHIP SITE:
Online payments processed through the Township website at:
www.waterfordmi.gov/taxes/ will be posted paid on the scheduled payment date you choose.

RECYCLE YOUR ENVELOPE
We appreciate you bringing your unused envelope when making your payment at town hall.

Join Us December 11th: Holiday Hoopla & Tree Lighting! See Santa & Reindeer, Roast Marshmallows & Much More!

Gather together with friends and family for a Waterford tradition with some exciting changes! Holiday Hoopla is a free, family-fun event right here on Civic Center campus. Bring the children to enjoy crafts, cooking decorating, s'mores, a photo with Santa and his reindeer, and last but not least, the lighting of Waterford's official Christmas tree.
Dress for the weather, because this is an outdoor event! Can't wait to see you there, Waterford!

Monthly Recycling December 11th

MOVED TO BACK PARKING LOT OF TOWN HALL FOR THIS DATE ONLY DUE TO HOLIDAY HOOPLA EVENT!

Waterford Township offers free monthly recycling collection of magazines and cardboard (shipping boxes, cereal boxes, toothpaste boxes, etc, free of food debris and dry.)

This service is provided the second Saturday of every month from 9 am to 1 pm in the parking lot at Township Hall. Waterford residents only, please.

Important "Snowbird" Reminders

Attention all “Snowbirds”! Don't forget to do a few important items before you leave town for your seasonal home away from Waterford.

Assessing: Please contact the Waterford Assessing Department with your forwarding address if you are leaving town for the Winter. Even though you may have your mail forwarded by the U.S. Post Office, property tax bills and assessments notices are not forwarded and are returned to the Township. Please call 248-674-6270 to let us know your Winter address. In the alternative, you may submit an Address Change online at the following link: https://www.waterfordmi.gov/FormCenter/Assessing-15/Address-Change-Form-75

Department of Public Works: Please contact Waterford DPW at 248-674-2278 to schedule to have water turned off to your home before you leave for the winter. Appointments for turn off are scheduled for an exact date and time for a technician to come out.

Turning the water off at the road is a safeguard against frozen pipes and will save you money as billing is suspended while the water is off. A $30 turn off charge is assessed and a $30 turn on charge will be assessed when water is turned back on in the spring.

GFL Curbside Collection: Waterford's designated residential curbside waste hauler program with GFL Environmental includes an option for residents to suspend service for one consecutive period each 12-month period for up to three consecutive months for an invoice credit. To utilize this option for three months while you're at your seasonal residence away from Waterford, please contact GFL at the phone number designated for Waterford customers 248-204-6762.

Put a Freeze on Winter Holiday Fires! Holiday Fire Safety Reminders from the Waterford Regional Fire Department

The top three days of the year for home candle fires are Christmas, New Year’s Day, and New Year's Eve.

Only use decorations that are flame-retardant or not flammable.
Check holiday lights each year for frayed wires or excessive wear.
Don’t link more than three strands of holiday lights.
Never leave a burning candle unattended. Consider using battery-operated flameless candles.
Keep your live Christmas tree away from heat sources and room exits.
Water your live Christmas tree daily to keep it from becoming dry.

Waterford Twp. Public Library December News & Events

Library Service Hours
Monday–Thursday 10:00a–9:00p; Saturday, 10:00a – 5:00p;
Sunday, 1:00p – 5:00p

Holiday Closures
Christmas Holiday – Thursday, December 23 through Sunday, December 26
Regular hours resume Monday, December 27 at 10:00a
New Year’s Holiday – Thursday, December 30 through Sunday, January 2, 2022
Regular hours resume Monday, January 3, 2022 at 10:00a

Waterford Township Public Library Now “Fine-Free”
On Monday, November 8, 2021 the Waterford Township Board of Trustees voted unanimously to eliminate fines on overdue materials, removing a financial barrier to library access. Effective immediately no patron will be charged overdue fines by the library. Existing overdue fines are in the process of being waived from all Waterford Library cardholder accounts. The library will continue to charge replacement costs for lost or damaged items. An item will be considered lost if it has not been returned after 14 days past the due date. Cardholders may not check out additional materials, including eContent, if they have more than one lost item on their record.

Friends of the Library
ATTENTION! HOLIDAY SHOPPERS - Used Book Sale
Saturday, December 4, 10:00a – 4:30p & Sunday, December 5, 1:00p-4:00p, Community Room
The Friends of the Library are holding a used book sale this weekend. Great reads at sweet prices. Sunday - Bag Sale $5/Bag all day. Payment by cash or check only please.
Monthly Used Book Donation Collection
Saturday, December 10, 10:00a – 1:00p, Community Room
The Friends of the Library accepts gently used books in SALEABLE condition on the second Saturday of each month from 10:00a - 1:00p. Donations will be considered for use in the Library's collection as well as merchandise included at the Friends Used Book Sales.
ITEMS NOT ACCEPTED:

Textbooks
Encyclopedias
Magazines
VHS tapes
Books on Cassette
Reader's Digest Condensed Books.

For a receipt, please bring a count of hard cover and soft cover books with you.
Members Meeting
Wednesday, January 5, 5:30p-7:30p, Community Room
Join members of the Friends for a brief membership meeting and Literary Tea. Amy Vine, owner of Urban Vine, provides a “Tea Tasting Tour.” She will be unveiling her new Literary line of tea and sharing the story of her business that provides jobs for adults with disabilities. Event includes a raffle for which attendees receive 1 ticket for coming to the meeting, 1 for bringing a friend and 1 for joining or renewing your Friends membership. Prospective members welcome! Sponsored by Vibe Credit Union.

Children’s Programs (through age 12)
Family Storytime Indoors
Tuesday & Thursday mornings, 10:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m., in the Community Room
Ages: Babies through preschoolers.
Join us for our Fall Family Storytime. We've moved indoors to the Library's Community Room. Storytimes are about 30 minutes long. Children must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver.
Saturday Take & Make Crafts
Saturday, December 4 & 18,
Ages: 3 & up
Stop by our Children’s Room between the hours of 10:00am-12:00pm and 2:00-4:00pm to pick up a fun project-in-a-bag to enjoy working on at home.
Ready Reads Resume
Ages: 3 & up
Join us for our Ready Reads, our virtual storytime, Monday through Thursday at 11:00am on Facebook. The children's librarian will be reading a story or two for you to enjoy with your child or children in the comfort of your home. Different stories every day! Enjoy previous Ready Reads recordings posted on Waterford Township Public Library YouTube channel.

Teens – Programs
Craft Closet Clean-out
Tuesday, December 28, 2:00p-4:00p, Community Room. No registration required.
Come help with our year-end Craft Closet Clean-out. Tables will be set up with craft supplies and instructions. Drop in anytime between 2:00p & 4:00p and work on as many crafts as you like - at your own pace. No registration required. (NOTE: 6th - 12th graders only. Please be respectful of the tween and teens as they enjoy a library program planned just for them.)

Adults – Enrichment Groups
Knitting Group
Wednesday mornings, 10:00 a.m.-Noon, Conference Room
Share patterns, exchange ideas, show off your projects, and socialize while you knit!
Waterford Writers Workshop
Tuesday, December 7 & 21, 6:30p – 8:30p, Conference Room
Ages 16 or older
Published and unpublished writers are invited to join a community of writers to provide constructive and supportive critiques of each other’s works and to further discuss the craft of writing. Each writer will have the opportunity to read their work to the group. Bring at least five copies of their work (limit of 5 typewritten, double-spaced pages of fiction/non-fiction, poetry/prose, screen plays, etc.) for peer review and discussion. All copies will be returned to the writer with edits, constructive critiques, and suggestions by fellow group members.
Waterford Genealogical Society
Afternoon meeting: Wednesday, December 1, 1:00p - 3:00p, Community Room.
Genealogy is the study of family ancestries and histories. The Waterford Genealogical Society (WGS) meets on the 1^st Wednesday afternoon of the month in the Library’s Community Room. All are welcome to attend.
Evening meeting: Tuesday, December 14, 7:00p – 8:30p via Zoom
WGS also meets virtually on the 2^nd Tuesday evening of the month. If you wish to attend you must register and enter your email address so we can send you the zoom link. Please register before 5pm of the day of the meeting. Host: Julia Hanneman-Schoenbach.
Evening Book Discussion Group
Thursday, December 9, 7:00p-8:00p. Community Room
At this meeting we will talk about books you’ve recently read, or are reading, that you love. We will also share best books you’ve read in 2021, and make suggestions for 2022.
Afternoon Book Discussion Group
No meeting this month. Check Library Calendar of Events for January meeting date.

What Can Your Library Card Do for You?

Check out more than books: DVDs, music CDs, audio books, book club kits and magazines are also available.
Use our public computers for searing the Internet and information databases, as well as suing Microsoft Office products
Access downloadable eContent and information databases remotely, 24/7/365
Get discounted admission to the Detroit Zoo and over 400 museums, science centers, state parks and historical sites.

Need a library card? Stop by the Library or apply online on our website, www.waterfordmi.gov/library
.

Two More Days to Donate - Through December 3rd!

Last Board Meeting of 2021

The Waterford Township Board of Trustees will hold its last regularly scheduled Board Meeting of the year on Wednesday, December 8th at 6:00 PM in the auditorium of Town Hall at 5200 Civic Center Dr.

The meeting will also be broadcast live on Municipal Channel 20, which can be found on Comcast channel 20, and AT&T U-Verse channel 99. The meeting will also stream from the Waterford Township website from the link on the homepage "Channel 20 Live" www.waterfordmi.gov

The meeting agenda can also be found on the Waterford Township website at www.waterfordmi.gov under "Agendas and Minutes". The 2022 annual budget will be presented to the Board and voted on at this meeting.

GFL - Yard Waste, Snowbirds, & Holiday Reminders

Yard waste:Waterford Township Residential GFL Customers receive curbside collection of an unlimited number of bags/cans of yard waste through the second full week of December each year under our contract. The week of December 13-17, 2021 will be the last week for yard waste collection by GFL in Waterford. Simply place your yard waste at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your regular collection day that week, and that will be your last pickup of the season.

Snowbirds - Heading out of town for the Winter? Don't forget to contact GFL at 248-204-6762 to place a hold on your service.

Holiday Schedule: Please remember that when a holiday falls on a weekday, service is delayed by one day and does include Saturday collection. For 2021, Thanksgiving Day is Thursday, November 25^th, so Thursday and Friday customers that week will experience one-day delays in collection. Thanksgiving is the last holiday change for collection in 2021 as Christmas falls on a Saturday this year. There is also no change in the collection schedule for New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day.

GFL Holiday Schedule - no further delays in 2021

2022 Waterford Calendar - Highlights

Check your Winter 2021 tax bills (mailed December 1st) for your copy of the 2022 Waterford Events highlights calendar featuring just some of Waterford Township’s abundant opportunities to connect with your friends, neighbors, and community!

We know that in a fast-paced world with busy schedules it can be a challenge to find time to make these vital connections. We also believe that Waterford is made better when the people who live, work and play here have the chance to meet up and share common interests in recreation, activities, education, volunteering, support of charitable organizations, community meetings, and more.

Visit the Waterford Township website in the Community tab for more information and an overview of events for 2022, then be sure to check back throughout the year for calendar updates!

Personal Property for Business

ATTENTION BUSINESS OWNERS:

Waterford Assessing Department staff will be out canvassing for business Personal Property during the month of November. Personal Property Statements will be mailed at the end of December and are due by February 20, 2022.

Office & Library Holiday Closures

The Waterford Township offices will be closed December 23, 24, 30 & 31 for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

The Waterford Township Public Libray will close: Christmas Holiday – Thursday, December 23 through Sunday, December 26
Regular hours resume Monday, December 27 at 10:00a
New Year’s Holiday – Thursday, December 30 through Sunday, January 2, 2022
Regular hours resume Monday, January 3, 2022 at 10:00a

Emergency services remain available during these administrative closures.

On behalf of the Waterford Township Board of Trustees and all of us here on Team Waterford, we wish you a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season.

Santa Letters Mailbox At Town Hall Through Dec. 16th

Waterford Parks and Recreation and their buddy Flash are happy to announce the return of the direct connect mail to Santa Clause himself! Now through December 16th, stop by the front of Town Hall to mail your letter to Santa.

Tickets Now Available: Chamber Annual Meeting & Awards Dinner "Snowball Soiree Cocktail Party"

The Waterford Area Chamber of Commerce invites you to the 23rd Annual Meeting & Awards Dinner. Join us for a fun evening featuring live music, cocktails, and dinner as we recognize the accomplishments of our peers and celebrate the abundant relationships built throughout the year.

Thursday January 20, 2022 at 5:30-10:00 p.m.
Fountains Golf & Banquet
6060 Maybee Rd
Clarkston, MI 48346
Cost: $50.00 per person
Table of Eight: $380.00
Purchase Tickets from the Chamber of Commerce website

Snowball Soiree Annual Dinner & Awards Event