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!
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
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.
Brittany Coon Discusses About the Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities
WNZR’s Eric Brown is joined by Brittany Coon the Public Outreach Manager for the Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
Check out the full conversation HERE!
She discusses her job and what she does. They provide a wide range of support people and families dealing with disabilities; they want to make them all feel included in the community. They want to focus on how connection can’t be done in isolation.
Brittany highlights their award lunch-in with different panelists who focused on what they discussed and how they brought out all that their department wants to do. She talks about the spotlight award and how it recognizes people building independence in their own lives and in the community. She discusses the community partner award and she highlight the winner and how they decide the winner.
She talks about the employer of the year award and how they help those with disabilities. She talks about the heart of support award. Lastly, she talks about the lasting legacy award.
To learn more, click HERE!
Be an Encouraging Spouse, not a Destructive One
Tuesday on The Morning Thing, we spent some time encouraging married couples. Marriage is one of God’s greatest gifts, but if you’ve been married for any length of time, you know it also takes work, commitment, grace, and a whole lot of prayer.
Throughout the morning, thanks to Crosswalk.com, we shared Scripture verses you can pray over your marriage.
Two of the most powerful tools God has given us are His Word and prayer, and we looked at how both can help strengthen our relationships and draw us closer to Him and to one another.
Here are a few of the scriptures Marcy and Eric Shared:
Joshua 1:9
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Prayer: Lord, make us STRONG for YOU.
Psalm 1:1-3
“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.
Prayer: Lord, may our delight be in YOU, may we meditate on Your law day and night. When we do so, our marriage and our family will be like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields FRUIT in its season and whose leaf does not wither.
Click HERE for the entire article from Crosswalk.com
It’s National Say Something Nice Day!
On the Morning Thing, we talked about ways to celebrate and make someone else’s day better!
We also dug into the Bible and shared some verses that talk about showing kindness to others.
- Small acts of kindness can improve your health and others
- Be there for people when listening
- Do small things for those in need
Click HERE for more examples of showing kindness to others!
Click HERE for Bible verses associated with kindness!
Beyond the Cornfields: Knox County CVB Showcases Ohio Golf’s Hidden Gems
WNZR’s Eric Brown recently spoke with Olivia Toth, executive director of the Knox County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, about the growing opportunities for tourism across Ohio and right here in Knox County.
Click HERE for the complete conversation!
Toth highlighted the Ohio Golf Trail, which showcases public golf courses across the state and encourages travelers to experience the diverse landscapes Ohio has to offer. She explained that many people picture Ohio as nothing more than flat farmland, but the state offers much more — including rolling hills, forests, scenic countryside, and unique small-town experiences.
She also discussed how different communities throughout Knox County offer completely different tourism experiences. Areas like Centerburg and Howard provide distinct settings for golf outings, weekend trips, and outdoor recreation, making Knox County an ideal destination for a long weekend getaway.
Toth emphasized that tourism does not always mean traveling far from home. She encouraged local residents to become “tourists in their own town” by exploring attractions, restaurants, trails, and experiences they may not have considered before. She said affordability and accessibility make local tourism especially appealing for families and residents looking for something new close to home.
Another featured attraction was the Knox County Coffee Trail, which includes eight coffee stops throughout the county. Many of the locations are accessible from the Heart of Ohio Trail, creating an opportunity for visitors to bike between destinations while experiencing local coffee shops and small businesses along the way.
Toth also highlighted several summer events coming to Knox County, encouraging both residents and visitors to take advantage of the many outdoor activities, festivals, and attractions happening throughout the season.
Click HERE for the Ohio Golf Guide!
Click HERE for the Knox County CVB!
Local Seniors Can Now Sign Up for Monthly Food Assistance Through Interchurch Social Services of Knox County!
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!
Rise and Shine 