We got to sit down with Terry Schulz and Sarah Scott from Habitat for Humanity! They tell us all about Habitat’s mission and goals to help in our community.
They also highlight their new Welcome Home Ohio Project which is in the works right now and will help numerous people. There is a lot of work going into right now and it is for a great cause!
To stay connected with their ministry, click HERE!
Today on The Morning Thing, we had mixed feelings about sharing some back-to-school content! It is always a bittersweet moment.
We had the opportunity to share some great tips for you and your kids when it comes to getting back in the groove of things. Today, we highlighted how to deal with anxiety and how to make the first day of school easier, as well as how to develop good sleep habits for your young students.
We will share more of these on the show tomorrow!
To see the full list of tips click HERE!
Marcy got a chance to speak with some very special people: Jen Odenweller from Friends of the Dog Fountain, Wynne Morgan from The Annex, and Alisagrace Raynak who is an artist that participated in the exhibit! They all talked about the famous dog fountain and the amazing exhibit that is being shown right now downtown. Go check out the Schnormeier Gallery and The Annex downtown to get in on the fun!
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio — Twenty-seven dog-fountain-inspired artworks from 16 community artists are now on display at the Schnormeier Gallery. The Dog Fountain Exhibit is the Friends of South Main Plaza’s free community art show, running from July 28-August 28, 2025 at the Schnormeier Gallery, in celebration of the fifth anniversary of downtown Mount Vernon’s beloved dog fountain.
The special community anniversary celebration also involves an additional fountain-inspired exhibit in the making at The Annex, where community members can visit and create their own dog masterpieces to be placed around a large watercolor fountain created by Annex instructor and professional painter Jim Leitz.
This free community art show honors the whimsical spirit of South Main Plaza, home to hand-painted, cast aluminum sculptures of 18 dogs, one cat, two pairs of birds, a pony, an apple, and the cherished golden dog bone. Recently voted “2025 Best City Street Art in Ohio” by Midwestern Traveler Magazine, Mount Vernon’s dog fountain has been a joyful community hub where residents and visitors have gathered over the past five years for friendly conversation, memorable photos, and creative inspiration.
The exhibit is made possible through the collaboration of Schnormeier Gallery, The Annex, and the Ariel Foundation — partners in the Friends of South Main Plaza initiative. Special recognition is given to Phil and Mary Samuell of Gambier, the original visionaries behind the fountain. Inspired by the late Claude Cormier, the internationally renowned landscape architect who designed the original Dog Fountain in Toronto’s Berczy Park, the Samuells brought their dream to life in Mount Vernon through a unique community partnership.
About Schnormeier Gallery Located at 221 S. Main St., Mount Vernon, on the first floor of MVNU’s Buchwald Center, Schnormeier Gallery is dedicated to showcasing diverse artistic expressions. The gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 1-5 p.m., Friday from 1-7 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Admission is free, and all are welcome to experience the transformative power of art in this vibrant community space. For more information, contact the Schnormeier Gallery at artgallery@mvnu.edu.
About The Annex Located in a restored storefront at 12 E. Gambier St., Mount Vernon, The Annex is an extension of Kenyon College’s teaching museum, The Gund. Through programs informed by The Gund’s growing permanent collection, we reimagine what it means to “learn with art” as a community. We invite neighbors, families, students, and lifelong learners to discover new connections to art, ideas, and each other through free workshops, creative activities, and events.
We are very excited that our MVNU Update is back!
Marcy got to talk with Colleen Derr, MVNU’s new Executive Vice President! They go over her background and what she does here. Colleen also shares her vision for our great university and her messages to students and staff.
Xander got to talk multiple members of the Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival Board! They tell us about their involvement with the MVMAF and give us details on different events that are going on this year. They also tell us some advice and what they are looking forward to. This is going to be an amazing event and a special year!
Come on down to the MVMAF and see all these great events!
For more information click HERE!
For this weeks Friday Favorites, our hosts kept it simple. They shared their favorite things that happened this week and try to stay appreciative for the current moment!
The Mount Vernon Music Festival kicks off today and runs through Sunday.
Click HERE to hear all of Thursday’s Interviews!
We talked to a number of folks associated with the festival about the entertainment, music, food and fun:
Click HERE to learn more about the Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival!
Marcy got to chat with two wonderful women, Debbie Ruggles and Noella Nzishura, both are members of this years Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival Board!
Debbie tells us about the different vendors they will have at this years festival, as well as the many food options there will be.
Noella describes how great it is to be a volunteer and she highlights her journey from volunteer to board member. She will also be participating in the West African Percussion performance on Saturday at 4pm!
For more information on the festival, click HERE!
Today was an exciting day at the Salvation Army in Mount Vernon. A group of Women United joined together to pack 300 backpacks for the Salvation Army. Women United is an affinity group of the United Way of Knox County Ohio comprised of passionate women who offer their time, talent and treasure to improve lives throughout Knox County.
After packing backpacks for local students, the ladies had the chance to tour the new Salvation Army 13,270-square-foot childcare center called “The Learning Lighthouse”.
Captain Christine Moretz shared a timeline for opening the new center, plus an update on fundraising.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation or click on the link below. Pictures from the event are also included below.
The 167th Hartford independent fair kicked off Sunday and runs through August 9th, packed with family-friendly fun events every day.
WNZR’s Eric Brown spoke with Fair Manager Roger Smith about fair.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation.
On Saturday, Kylie Holman and Ethan Goodwin were crowned the 2025 Hartford fair queen and king.
This week’s big attractions include the high-energy monster truck show on Wednesday and the ever-popular rough truck contest on Friday night.
Admission is $10 at the gate or $9.50 online, with weekly passes also available.
The fair takes place at the Hartford fairgrounds on Fairgrounds Road outside Croton (or Hartford, depending on who you talk to).
Click HERE for the full schedule and details
Rise and Shine 