Category: News

Experience Mount Vernon hosts their annual Investor & Awards Breakfast

On Friday, 1/31/25, Experience Mount Vernon handed out the 2024 Investor Awards.
WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart and Eric Brown talked with the winners.
Click HERE to hear the conversations.

Congratulations to:
Janis Stone – Walter Rudin Award
Paragraphs Bookstore – Small Business of the Year
TD Landscape – Mid-Size Business of the Year
Park National Bank – Large Business of the Year
Mount Vernon Arts Consortium – Non-Profit of the Year
Knox County Convention and Visitors Bureau – Community Pride Award
Emily Morrison – Spirit of Heritage Award

This prestigious Walter Rudin Award honors an individual who has demonstrated exceptional dedication and impact on the Downtown Mount Vernon community. Janis Stone’s unwavering commitment
to enhancing our city’s vibrancy through the performing arts and fostering a spirit of collaboration has made her a cornerstone of our community’s growth and success.

Janis Stone has played a transformative role in shaping our cultural landscape through her remarkable dedication to the arts and tireless efforts to enrich Downtown Mount Vernon. Her unwavering commitment to downtown Mount Vernon and various arts initiatives has made high-quality, accessible arts programming a cornerstone of our community. Janis’ leadership and vision have brought unforgettable performances to Mount Vernon’s heart and fostered a deeper connection to the arts for residents and visitors alike.

Janis Stone’s influence extends beyond her work with MTVarts. She has actively engaged with local businesses, collaborated with fellow arts organizations, and passionately contributed to Experience Mount Vernon events, all while advocating for the vibrancy of our downtown area. Through her leadership, countless individuals have been inspired to explore the arts, and Downtown Mount Vernon has become a cultural hub that draws people together through shared creative experiences.

In addition to the Walter Rudin Award, Experience Mount Vernon awarded six additional business and community awards at its Annual Investor & Awards Breakfast on January 31st:
● Small Business of the Year: Paragraphs Bookstore, for its outstanding service to the community and dedication to fostering connections in Downtown Mount Vernon.
● Mid-Size Business of the Year: TD Landscape, for its exemplary work in enhancing vibrancy in Downtown Mount Vernon.
● Large Business of the Year: Park National Bank, for its long-standing commitment to outstanding leadership, community involvement, and a commitment to fostering local partnerships.
● Non-Profit of the Year: Mount Vernon Arts Consortium, for enriching the cultural fabric of our city through innovative programming and tireless advocacy for the arts.
● Community Pride Award: Knox County Convention & Visitors Bureau, for unwavering commitment to enhancing the beauty and pride of Mount Vernon and for promoting Mount Vernon as a top destination in Ohio.
● Spirit of Heritage Award: Emily Morrison, for her selfless volunteerism and a deep passion for capturing our community’s spirit through her photography.

Experience Mount Vernon extends heartfelt thanks to the sponsors who made these awards possible: The Mount Vernon Grand Hotel for the Small Business of the Year Award; Dumbaugh Insurance for the Mid-Size Business of the Year Award; Flappers Bar & Grille for the Large Business of the Year Award; Kidwell & Cunningham for the Non-Profit of the Year Award; Griffin Insurance for the Community Pride Award; CES Credit Union for the Spirit of Heritage Award; and Park National Bank for the Walter Rudin Award. Their generosity and dedication to supporting our community’s leaders and businesses help make this recognition possible.

“Each of these award winners exemplifies the best of what Mount Vernon has to offer,” said Lacey Filkins, Executive Director of Experience Mount Vernon. “Their collective efforts contribute to the ongoing transformation of our community into a thriving and inspiring place to live, work, and visit.”

Experience Mount Vernon is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to enhancing the vibrancy of Downtown Mount Vernon through events, programs, and partnerships that celebrate its unique charm and foster community pride.

For more information about Experience Mount Vernon, visit experiencemv.org.

0

January 2025 Spotlight on Mount Vernon with Mayor Matt Starr

Mount Vernon Mayor Matt Starr shared updates on the City with The Morning Thing on Friday, 1/31/25.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation.

Topics included:
A discussion about current construction and maintenance projects for the city. He shares the progress of these projects:
– the Splashpad.
– the Mansfield Avenue Shared Use Path
– the Dan Emmett Community Development Block Grant area.
– Fairgrounds Water Line and resurfacing project.

Mayor Starr gives updates on the Wastewater Treatment Plant project:
He says that other mandated upgrades will have a price tag of $45 million. He says they are trying to find various sources of funding to help with the cost.

Mayor Starr says that City Auditor Pay Mayville has resigned effective February 14.
The Republican Central Committee will be tasked with finding a replacement once he officially leaves office.

Mayor Starr Mayor Starr gives an update on other city departments.
– He gives an update on the city filling potholes and if someone sees a pothole to report it to the street department at 393-9501.
– He gives kudos to the plow drivers for going above and beyond their normal duties during snow events.
Park and Pavilion reservations are now available online at the city’s website at (currently) mountvernonohio-dot-com
– They will also be launching a new website soon and re-doing the city’s business videos on their website.

Mayor Starr talks about the listening tours for the new facilities.
– There has been concern about how the facilities will look.
– He says the public comment period for the new police department will end February 23.
– More listening tour dates are planned in February and March.
– He adds that there is an online survey for the public to see if they would like to give input.

Mayor Starr talks about the happenings of Liberty Crossing, the major development on Newark Road.
– Result in 230 apartments, 90 townhouses and 43 patio homes and 93 traditional homes.
– He says that this project has been in the works for quite a while.

Mayor Starr shares updates from Mount Vernon City Council:
– Oppose an ATT tariff revision that shifts the cost of relocating lines to the city.
– He says if the revision would have been approved, the city and taxpayers would have had to pay for the re-location.
– He says they have 80 volunteers to serve on committees and boards for the city.
– They had a second reading for re-zoning at 0 Parrot Street. He says the decision could be precedent setting in the state of Ohio.
– The city received permission from the council to apply to the Federal Community Project Funding program to find funding for buildings and other pieces of infrastructure.

Mayor Starr shares an update from the Mount Vernon Police Department
– He says they are updating information regarding the public comments for the new facility.
– He says the police department is fully staffed.
– He says the Police Department’s award ceremony is tomorrow.

Mayor Starr shares an update from the Mount Vernon Fire Department.
– He says that they are constantly working on training including completing ice rescue training.
– He adds that the entire department is fully staffed. 
– He also gives award recipients from the Fire Department Award Ceremony.

Mayor Starr shares his immediate goals for February:
– He is proud that they did not use an interim budget. They passed the budget which allows decisions to be made now as opposed to waiting for an interim budget to be finalized.
– He wants to have the design team picked for planning the new buildings
– He says they also will be releasing an employee handbook and handbook for board members for the first time in the city’s history.

Mayor Starr shares his goals for 2025:
– He wants to make sure that the auditor’s office runs smoothly
– He says they are in the process of property acquisition for the South Sandusky Street Corridor Project.
– He says the buildings in Memorial Park are being replaced.

Mayor Starr gives some calendar events for February.
– Groundbreaking on Liberty Crossing on February 5.
– The Mount Vernon Arts Consortium will give an update on the season February 8.
– There will also be a joint meeting of Mount Vernon Council, Knox County Commissioners and regional planning commission meeting to talk about the comprehensive plan.

He also shares the way you can pray for him and the city.

To stay in touch with the City, go to:
Website – http://www.mountvernonohio.org
Facebook – The City of Mount Vernon
X – CityMV1805
YouTube – The City of Mount Vernon
LinkedIn – City of Mount Vernon, Ohio

0

WNZR talks with John Cooper from Skillet about WinterJam 2025

It’s WinterJam Week on WNZR. Each day, we are sharing conversations with the artists that are taking the stage for this year’s tour.
We talked with John Cooper from Skillet. Click HERE to hear the full conversation.
He talked about growing up to become a rock musician in a house where rock music was not allowed. He also discusses Skillet’s creative process to blend hard rock and biblical truth.

John shares about the band’s history on the WinterJam Tour. He also talks about their new album “Revolution”.

After 30 years of writing, recording and touring, John breaks down what keeps him and the band going.

0

Behavioral Health Care Partners of Central Ohio Preparing for a New Extension

Click HERE to Hear the Full Conversation!

Dr. Kate St. James talks about her role as President and CEO of Behavioral Health Care Partners of Central Ohio. She has been with the group for 8 years and she helps determine how they move forward with serving the community. She talks about the organization’s mission to improve and save lives of those who are experiencing challenges with mental health or addiction.

Kate talks about the organization wanting to build an 18,000 square foot extension within the next year with a $5.8 million dollar fundraising goal. She adds that they have already raised 80% of the goal. The Ariel Foundation has promised a matching gift up to $100,000. She talks about how someone can donate at bhcpartners.org

0

Make Sure to Plan Quality Time with Your Family

Which month tends to be the most hectic for you? Our schedules often become cluttered with enjoyable activities, responsibilities, and tasks we prefer to avoid. However, we should also consider whether we’re making time for what truly matters. It’s essential to consciously set aside time for family priorities; otherwise, it can easily disappear.

Here are a few things you should do by the end of 2025.

Take a family holiday:  A family holiday is a meaningful occasion set aside to celebrate the importance of family. Select a date that doesn’t overlap with any birthdays and add it to your family’s calendar. Research shows that a strong connection between parents and children can help decrease risky behaviors in teenagers, and a strong family identity plays a vital role in fostering a child’s self-esteem.

Date nights: Regardless of whether you plan for a date night once a month or once a week, if you don’t schedule them in your calendar, they are likely to be overlooked when life becomes hectic. Take some time this weekend to open your calendars and choose your date nights! Make a note of who will be in charge of planning each one.

Nothing: When is nothing not truly nothing? According to author Abby Watts of iMOM, when it contributes to balance. This is precisely what having white space in your calendar achieves. We aren’t designed to constantly push forward; taking a step back enables our bodies and minds to relax and rejuvenate.

Click HERE for the full article.

0

The Morning Thing Talks about Ways to Celebrate Life!

It’s a new year, and many people think about resolutions like losing weight, getting healthier and improving finances.

However, January is Celebration of Life Month where you want to focus on the great things in life. On the Morning Thing, we talked about the ways you can pause, reflect, and become a better Christian and thus a better person in 2025!

Some of the topics covered included remembering who you, taking time to spend with your family and friends and laugh.

Remembering who are helps you re-focus on making sure to separate work with your life. Work is one way to pass the day, but you should leave work concerns at work.

You should also take time to spend with family and friends with a dinner and movie, just a simple lunch date to catch up or a weekend getaway.

You should laugh…..a lot! Tell a silly “dad” joke, watch your favorite sitcom or comedian.

BTW…One great comedian to check out is Tim Hawkins who is coming to MVNU on Saturday, March 22 for two great shows.

Click HERE for more information on Celebration of Life Month.

Click HERE for 50 simple ways to celebrate and enjoy life.

0

Big Things Are on Tap for Mount Vernon in 2025!

On the Morning Thing today (Friday, December 27), Mayor Matt Starr talks about several things that residents in Mount Vernon can look forward to in the new year.

Click HERE to Hear the Full Conversation.

Mayor Starr starts with infrastructure updates including sidewalks on the south side of town which will make school zones safer, the State Route 13 relocation that is in progress and improvements to the Splash Pad.

One of the biggest items on the city’s agenda surrounds the upcoming Listening Tour to discuss the development of new municipal facilities—including a police station, a city hall annex, and a municipal court building.

Mayor Starr also gives an update on what the City Council, Police and Fire Departments are up to in 2025.

Click HERE to visit the City of Mount Vernon’s website.

0

The Morning Thing talks about Positive Mental Health

The Morning Thing talked about Positive Mental Health today, Thursday, December 26th.

The holidays are filled with the happiness and joy surrounding the birth of Jesus.

However, its is always important to remember to pay attention the mental health of yourself, family, friends, and co-workers during this time of the year.

We have provided a printout that you can use for mental health, sleep hygiene, and a list of core emotions associated with mental health awareness.

Click HERE to find some helpful hints from Focus on the Family.

Click HERE for a Emotional Checklist.

0

The 2024 Food For The Hungry Drive was a huge success!

We are recapping the 2024 Food For The Hungry Drive held on Friday, December 13th.

Click HERE to hear the full conversation!

The Volunteers and WNZR crew share their thoughts, feelings about the drive and how every single donation whether food or monetary impacts the Knox County community.
Don’t forget the Food For The Hungry drive continues through the end of 2024.

Click HERE to see how you can still make a difference in a Knox County resident’s life in 2024!

0

It’s the Final Push for Food For The Hungry!

Food For The Hungry Executive Director Kathy Brechler and Digital Content and Marketing Director Olivia talk about the excitement around the Food For The Hungry Live event!

Click HERE for the full conversation!

Olivia gives a stat that 14,000 folks do not have enough food in the home to feed their family while Kathy talks about her first time in her role with the event.

Olivia talks about the different events that were held beginning in the summer all the way through today including the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving raising $1,600 and over 600 cans of food.

Kathy talks about the Centerburg Wreath Silent auction that closes today at the Park National Bank location at 12pm. The Danville Wreath Silent Auction at Park National branch closes at 2pm.

Olivia adds the Knox County Career Center auction features almost 20 items including over a dozen baskets and ends today at 3pm.

Olivia and Kathy that totals from the Food For The Hungry Live event will not be announced until next Monday, but more importantly, the entire Food For The Hungry campaign does not end until December 31st.

Click HERE to find out more about Food For The Hungry!

0

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑