The Morning Thing featured several special guests this week as we prepare to go to the 24th Annual Fredericktown Christmas Walk. Click HERE to hear the conversations. We talked with committee members about this fun event for families. They shared schedule updates, event highlights, how long they have been involved and what they are looking forward to experience at this year’s event. The Walk benefits the Salvation Army and Interchurch Social Services in Fredericktown, along with the Fredericktown Community Relief Fund.
Enjoy the conversation with: Robin McClay – entertainment and the scrumptious live auction Jamie Sanders – NEW Christmas Tree Trimming Contest Carolyn Fergus – ornaments and inflatables Joely Lepley – Committee Chair, schedule highlights Cecelia McClelland – arts and craft vendor at the Presbyterian Church Ellen Hoam – Santa’s visit, good places to park and how to get involved with the event
For full details Click HERE for their Facebook page.
Each Friday, The Morning Thing hosts share their “Friday Favorites”. Sometimes we have a theme. Sometimes we just share something great that happened during the week. Today, we shared about trips to Nashville and Fredericktown. Click HERE or on the link below to hear from Marcy, Xander and Shawn. Are you looking for the blessings all around you today? What is your Friday Favorite?
The Church at Chapel Hill is bringing back their Fall Festival for this weekend. You are invited to this fun and FREE family event. Pastor Jon Whisner and Connie Jackson stopped by The Morning Thing to share details of ALL the activities. Click HERE to hear the full conversation.
The event is from 4pm – 7:30pm. The church is located at 7530 Johnstown Road in Mount Vernon. Click HERE to see a complete list of activities.
Lacey Filkins, Executive Director for Experience Mount Vernon stopped by The Morning Thing to talk about an exciting event coming to downtown Mount Vernon. Click HERE to hear the full conversation. Lacey shared all the exciting details of the annual Johnny Appleseed Apple Festival. She shared the schedule, list of entertainment, food choices, festival location, parking options and more. The festival is Friday, 10/4 from 5pm – 8pm on East Ohio Avenue on the block between South Gay and South Main Streets. Lacey also shared a list of upcoming events for the 2024 Christmas Holiday. For all the details of this event and upcoming events – go to the Experience Mount Vernon webpage – HERE!
For our Friday Favorites this week, The Morning Thing hosts shared their favorite songs from artists coming to Sonfest 2024! We hope to see you on the campus of Mount Vernon Nazarene University on Saturday! Gates open at Noon!
Mount Vernon Nazarene University is excited to be part of September First Friday. Multiple departments will have informational tables set up on the public square. There will be hands-on, interactive activities for kids of all ages.
WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart talked with several faculty members about the exciting plans for First Friday. They each shared about their roles at MVNU and what they were most excited about for fall semester. They also talked about the latest news from their departments.
Featured Faculty: – Dr. Jennifer Ballenger, Assistant Professor of Youth and Family in the Christian Ministries Department – Dr. Jessica Grubaugh, Dean for the Jetter School of Professional Studies (includes Business, Education and Social Work Programs), Education Department Chair – Dr. LeeAnn Couts, Dean for the School of Natural and Social Sciences, Professor of Psychology and Director of Academic Summer Camps – Dr. John Packard, Chair of the Music Department and Band Director – Dr. Colleen Bryan, Professor of Psychology and Department Chair for Psychology, Criminal Justice, Emergency Management and Homeland Security
Stop by the MVNU tables and have some FUN! Psychology—Coloring books focused on: What can I be? Biology—Creepy Crawly Things and More (Plant and Animal Life) Education—Monster Origami Bookmarks and a gently used book plus some book drawings Christian Ministry—Games, Popcorn and More Music—Make your own musical instrument Nursing—Hands on Nursing Activities Fairbanks Center for Global Engagement—Partnership with Kenyon Admissions Table
He shared details of the schedule including a special new grand finale at 5:45pm. All worship bands will join together for a special ending song. Dave also shared how Praisestock will raise money for Food For The Hungry of Knox County. Praisestock will also welcome over 20 local ministries and organizations to setup information tables at the event. Find out more at www.praisestock.org
Here is Sunday’s schedule: 10:00am: Welcome and Community Worship Service (led by First Church of the Nazarene Worship Team), Love Offering, Communion 11:30am: Break 12:00pm: First Church of the Nazarene (Mount Vernon) Worship Team 12:45pm: Set Free Worship Team 1:45pm: Salvation Army Worship Team 2:45pm: Chestnut Ridge 3:45pm: Covenant Christian Church Worship Team 4:45pm: Trinity Church Worship Team 5:45pm: Joint Song (All) to close event. “How Great Thou Art (Until That Day)” 6:00pm: Closing Comments
Between performances, various Christian-based organizations in the community will be featured in an interview-style format. Times are tentative and subject to change. Event will proceed rain or shine (but pray for “shine”)
WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart talked with Jacob Francis, board member for the Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival. Click HERE to hear their conversation. Jacob shared the details of several exciting events on the schedule this weekend – the Wood Auction and the Car/Motorcycle Show. He also talked about his exciting journey from volunteer to board member. Jacob also invited the community to a special Sunday morning breakfast being served by Set Free Ministries.
The Morning Thing is shining the spotlight on the 2024 Music and Arts Festival this week. On Wednesday, we talked with Wendi Fowler from the Kiwanis Club of Mount Vernon. She shared the details about the Kiwanis Club Pie Auction which is a new event to the festival. Click HERE to hear the conversation.
The pie auction will be held in conjunction with the wood auction on Saturday, August 10. Bidding registration starts at 4:30pm. The auction will from 5:30pm – 7pm on the Public Square.
There are 17 pies up for bid. Pies are being made by celebrities. Some of them include: Mayor Matt and Joanne Starr – All American Apple Pie, Bruce and Kathy White (from KCH) – Blueberry, Dr. Carson Castleman (MVNU President) – chocolate pie and Dr. Berry (COTC) – strawberry pie. The Mount Vernon High School Key Club is also involved. Wendi also shared how the money from the auction will be used. The Kiwanis Club supports youth and children in the community: Imagination Library, 4H, Babe Ruth baseball, and the Fredericktown Fire Academy.
If you would like to donate a pie, send an email to Wendi.fowler@parknationalbank.com
Wendi told us more about the Kiwanis Club of Mount Vernon. Some of their programs include: boots and coats for kids, literacy projects and gathering 1,200 books for kids this summer! They also go into the Mount Vernon classrooms to read books to students. Literacy has been the focus for 2024.
Wendi invites residents to visit the next meeting for Kiwanis on Monday, 8/12 at Noon at the Gallagher Center at the Ohio Eastern Star. They meet on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month.
The festival runs on these dates: Thursday 8/8 – 5pm – 10pm (They will have a soft opening on Thursday at lunch time so that people can access the food trucks on the public square) Friday 8/9 – 11am – 10pm Saturday 8/10 – 11am – 10pm Sunday 8/11 – 11am – 3pm
Rise and Shine 