With Father’s Day right around the corner, the WNZR Summer Staff is honoring their dads with some memorable gifts they have given to their dads!
Their comments can be found below!
WNZR Summer Staff Honors Dads!
Founders Food Hall Brings Dining, Entertainment, and New Energy to Downtown Mount Vernon
After nearly five years of planning, renovation, and preparation, Founders Food Hall is ready to open its doors in downtown Mount Vernon.
WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart recently spoke with Sam Filkins, President of the Knox County Area Development Foundation and the Knox County Land Bank, about the project that has transformed the former Mount Vernon News building into a new community gathering place.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation!
Filkins says the journey began in 2020 when the Knox County Land Bank purchased the vacant newspaper building. What started as an effort to revitalize an underutilized property quickly evolved into a much larger vision — creating a destination that would bring more people downtown while supporting surrounding businesses.
The project required extensive work, including clearing out the former newspaper operation, renovating the interior, restoring the building’s exterior, and creating the HW Hub partnership with MVNU. Along the way, Filkins says he and his team found themselves learning everything from demolition and construction to restaurant operations.
Today, Founders Food Hall offers a variety of dining options under one roof. Visitors will find hand-dipped Velvet Ice Cream, pizza by the slice from Slice Mount Vernon, Mediterranean cuisine from Tabbouleh Café, a chicken-focused restaurant, and a Southeast Asian rice bowl concept. Filkins says the goal was to create a place where families, friends, and coworkers can gather while everyone finds something they enjoy.
The building also preserves pieces of its history. Portions of the original flooring and chimney remain, blending the structure’s past with its modern renovation. Guests will also find duckpin bowling and an indoor-outdoor seating area created through large retractable windows.
Filkins says Founders Food Hall is also an example of the broader mission of the Knox County Land Bank. While many people associate land banks with vacant homes and abandoned properties, he says the organization is involved in a wide range of economic development projects across the county. Those efforts include Heartland Commerce Park, new housing construction along Columbus Road, and other initiatives designed to return underutilized properties to productive use.
The official grand opening celebration is scheduled for June 30th at 11 a.m. Vine Street will be closed for a community event that includes tours of the food hall, the HW Hub, and office spaces throughout the building.
Filkins says Founders Food Hall represents what can happen when a long-vacant building is given a new purpose. The hall will be open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., with extended hours until 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Future plans include mobile ordering, duckpin bowling reservations, live entertainment opportunities, and filling the remaining vendor spaces.
Click HERE to find out more about Founders Food Hall!
The Kiwanis club of Mount Vernon is Collecting Books Throughout June
WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart is joined by Wendi Fowler from the Kiwanis club.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation.
She discusses how she’s been involved with Kiwanis for 21 years in Wooster and Mount Vernon. She is a consultant and a former board member of the Kiwanis club. She talks about how a few years ago, they redefined their identity and chose to lean into literacy side of things.
This drive is in memory of Kathie Everhard and she shares her memories about Kathie, she’d been involved for years and she recalls the story about her involvement with Kiwanis and how she was heavily involved early childhood education. She talks about how vibrant she was and how she was such an amazing member of Kiwanis.
She talks about how they collect books and what they do to help literacy by handing books out at summer camps. The collection dates are throughout the month of June, last year they collected 1200 books of their goal of 1000 books.
She tells you that you can drop books off at the Gallagher center at noon on June 22nd as well as going to the front office of the Ohio Eastern star and dropping books off at their front desk. She talks about the categories that they want from infant books, toddler books, preschool books, and graphic novels for the summer camps.
She talks how the better quality books, the better, but they aren’t picky unless they got chewed on by the dog. Upcoming events include their pie auction at the Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival, they have a pancake breakfast on September 12th at Lakeholm Church and she mentions what the funds will be used for. You can become a Kiwanis club member on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month at noon located at the Gallagher center. She talks about their members and who you can contact about getting involved.
Click HERE to learn more about the Kiwanis club of Mount Vernon
If you received a free weekend trip, where would you go?
The Summer Travel Season is here!
If you received a FREE weekend trip right now, where would you go?
The Beach, Mountains, City or would you just stay at home?
The Big Blue Crew shares their thoughts and dreams for summer fun!
Click HERE or click on the pic below to hear from the WNZR Crew.
The Morning Thing Friday Favorites – our favorite weekend getaway memory
For our Friday Favorites today, the hosts shared their favorite weekend getaway memories.
Click HERE or on the picture below to hear from Marcy, Eric, Ethan, Olivia and Daniel.
We hope that you make some memories this weekend!
WNZR Staff Shares Summer Bucket List
WNZR shared their summer bucket lists on The Morning Thing! Check out the conversation HERE!
We shared some examples from Happy and Ordinary that gave us 100 ideas to choose from. Check out the full list HERE!
Here are some ideas to make your summer more fun!
- Fly a kite
- Go fruit picking
- Go to a water park
- Have a spa day
- Watch the sunrise
What is the nicest thing someone has done for you lately?
The Morning Thing asked you a question today – What is the nicest thing someone has done for you lately? The WNZR Staff shared stories of kindness. What will you do today to show kindness to others?
Click HERE to hear from the Big Blue Crew or click on the picture below.
Have you encouraged your adult children today?
Today on The Morning Thing, we shared some advice for empty-nest parents. Did you know that your adult children really need your encouragement?
Here is a list of 10 ideas on how you can start encouraging your kids today!
Click HERE for the full article from CrossWalk.com
Thanks to the author Karen Whiting for this article. Karen is an author of 25 books, an international speaker, and former television host. She’s a mother of five and a grandmother. Her book 52 Devotions for Busy Families makes it easy to practice faith at home. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
1. Encourage their life as an adult.
2. Affirm them.
3. Show approval.
4. Invest time.
5. Encourage with assurance.
6. Ask about their future.
7. Encourage their adaptability.
8. Appreciate them.
9. Coverse on an adult level.
10. Encourage them with questions.
Celebrate National Best Friends Day!
Today on The Morning Thing, we talked about our best friends to celebrate National Best Friends Day!
What is your favorite memory with your best friend?
Here is how you can celebrate National Best Friends Day today!
- Write them a thoughtful letter
- Take them out for coffee or lunch
- Invite them over to your house for a movie night
Learn more about National Best Friends Day HERE!
June First Friday is coming to downtown Mount Vernon tonight!
The Morning Thing shined the spotlight on June First Friday today. We are excited to partner with Experience Mount Vernon for this special event.
Lacey Filkins, Executive Director for Experience Mount Vernon shared all the details of tonight’s event with us.
She gave us highlights on the schedule, parking, food, family activities, bike valet and the theme.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation or click the link below.
Come enjoy a fun summer evening with WNZR. It’s time to “Shake, Rattle & Roll” in downtown tonight!
For more details, go to https://www.experiencemv.org/
You can see a map of the event, list of exhibitors and parking information below.
Rise and Shine 