For our Friday Favorites today, The Morning Thing hosts shared their favorite food choices for the Independence Day Holiday! Let’s EAT!
Click HERE to hear from Marcy, Eric, Olivia, Ethan and Daniel or click on the link below.
Lacey Filkins, Executive Director for Experience Mount Vernon, stopped by The Morning Thing to talk about tonight’s exciting event – July First Friday.
She shared a highlight of all the fun activities and how the downtown business district will celebrate this theme – Party Like it’s 1776!
Lacey shared details on parking, food, entertainment, the Experience Mount Vernon Passport and how your family can have fun tonight.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation or click on the link below.
WNZR will be there tonight! Look for Big Blue near the Dog Fountain on South Main Street.
Click HERE for more details about tonight’s event and our prize basket for tonight.
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 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.
As food costs continue to rise, a new partnership in Knox County is working to provide extra support for local seniors.
WNZR’s Eric Brown recently spoke with Carolyn Fergus about a new food assistance opportunity available through Interchurch Social Services of Knox County.
Click HERE to hear the full interview!
Interchurch is partnering with Mid-Ohio Food Collective to offer the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which provides monthly food boxes to income-qualified adults age 60 and older.
According to Carolyn, the program is designed to help seniors stretch their food budgets while still receiving nutritious food items each month. Seniors who qualify will receive boxes filled with a variety of staple foods, including cereal, oats, pasta, rice, canned fruits and vegetables, dairy products, and protein sources. The contents of the boxes will vary from month to month, but the goal remains the same: helping supplement a senior’s diet with reliable food assistance.
Carolyn explained that participants will need to provide identification and proof of residency during the sign-up process, while income is self-reported on the application. She encouraged seniors who may qualify to begin signing up now ahead of the first shipment, which is expected to arrive in early June.
While the first delivery is expected to include around 90 food boxes, Carolyn says there is room for growth if community demand increases. She emphasized that the program is meant to serve as an additional resource for seniors and does not replace Interchurch’s regular pantry services.
In fact, she encouraged eligible seniors to continue utilizing the Interchurch food pantry, which offers fresh foods, frozen meats, and other grocery items throughout the month. The organization hopes the new program will provide even more stability for seniors facing rising grocery costs and financial pressures.
Food distribution will be available not only at the Mount Vernon office, but also through Interchurch locations in Centerburg, Fredericktown, and Danville, making the program more accessible to seniors across Knox County.
Carolyn also asked the community to continue praying for Interchurch, its staff, volunteers, and the families they serve as food assistance needs continue to grow throughout the county. She noted that volunteers are always needed to help distribute food and support daily operations.
For more information about the Commodity Supplemental Food Program or other Interchurch services, residents can call 740-397-4825 or click HERE!
For our Friday Favorites this week, we are celebrating the 50th Annual Utica Ice Cream Festival. The hosts shared their favorite ways to enjoy ice cream.
Click HERE to hear from Marcy, Eric, Olivia, Daniel and Ethan OR click on the link below.
Valentine’s Day is a special opportunity to show love in meaningful, tangible ways—whether you’ve been together for months or many years. While some couples enjoy a simple dinner out or chocolates and flowers, and others go all out with big adventures, celebrating your love doesn’t have to be expensive—especially with rising costs.
WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart had six great date night ideas from Crosswalk.com
The most important thing isn’t how much you spend, but how intentionally you connect. With a little creativity, you can make the day truly special and deepen your bond without breaking the bank.
Looking for inspiration? Here are a few fun and meaningful Valentine’s date night ideas:
💖 A relaxing home spa day
🍽️ A cozy dinner with friends
🎬 A classic movie night at home
No matter how you celebrate, the goal is the same—spend quality time together and show the one you love just how much they mean to you
Click HERE for more from Crosswalk!
February is National Hot Breakfast Month. Today for our Friday Favorites, The Morning Thing hosts shared their favorite hot breakfast selections. This month, you are encouraged to take a little extra time to eat a hot breakfast with your family and friends. It is a perfect way to warm up in the winter weather.
Click HERE or the link below to hear what The Morning Thing hosts enjoy for breakfast.
It is a question and decision that we all have to face daily – What’s for dinner?
We are here to help! We found a list of 15 Casseroles for your 9×13 Pan – those recipes that are just like Mom used to make. These are the yummy comfort food recipes that are perfect for a cold winter night. So try 1 or 2 and enjoy some time around the dinner table with your family!
Click HERE to find the full list of recipes from AllRecipes.com
Here are the recipes that Marcy shared today on the show.
Buffalo Chicken and Roasted Potato Casserole
Awesome Broccoli-Cheese Casserole
Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole
Today on The Morning Thing, we wanted to share some warm ideas as the cold season ramps up! So these are some simple and tasty soup recipes for you and your family!
Our hosts favorite:
Black Bean and Salsa Soup
Ingredients:
Directions:
Click HERE to view the rest of the soup ideas and how to make them!
Rise and Shine 