WNZR caught up with staff members from Knox Starting Point ahead of their 2024 Spring Banquet!
We spoke with Jenn Furay (Executive Director), Jess Kirby (Development Director), Abbey Ernst (Client Services Director), and Heather Lanzer (Ultrasound Services Director.)
Everyone shared with us the different ways Starting Point is making an impact in our community. We are proud to partner with this important outreach!
Listen to our full conversations below or by clicking HERE.
In a world where relationships often define our experiences and shape our identities, there’s a special bond that stands out: the bond between siblings. National Siblings Day, celebrated annually on April 10th, offers us a moment to pause and honor the unique connection we share with those who have been our partners in mischief, confidants in secrets, and pillars of support throughout our lives.
Siblings are our first friends and our built-in playmates. From shared childhood adventures to navigating the complexities of adulthood, they walk alongside us through life’s journey, offering companionship, understanding, and unconditional love. Today we shared 12 Creative Ways to Celebrate National Siblings Day!
Find all the different ways HERE and see some examples below!
1. Memory lane
Spend the day reminiscing about shared experiences and telling stories that bring back the warmest memories of your childhood adventures. Recall the laughter and the mischief that’s made your bond stronger over the years.
For kids, have them write down some of their favorite memories to create a book of shared stories they can decorate or fill with family photos. They can draw portraits of each other, craft a poem or picture using the letters in their names, or best of all: Let them dream up their own way of celebrating with their sibling.
3. Heirloom cook-off
Host a friendly cook-off where each sibling showcases their culinary skills by preparing a dish from a favorite family recipe. Let the aroma of nostalgia fill the kitchen as you recreate flavors passed down through generations, savoring the taste of tradition and love. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to introduce these recipes to your kids! If they’ve got siblings, have them whip up each others’ favorite treats.
7. Siblings trip!
Embark on an exciting adventure together with a vacation or outing to a place you both love or have always wanted to visit. Explore new landscapes, create new memories, and deepen your connection as you journey together.
10. Recreate a childhood photo
This one’s perfect for parent gifts or to hang on your family photo wall. Pick a favorite sibling photo from childhood and make a modern version! Strike the same poses, wear similar outfits, and capture the essence of your bond in a new pic that shows how far you’ve come and how much closer you’ve grown.
Prayer is important and powerful, and the Bible tells us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Praying for our children in school is also important!
We shared 8 prayers from Crosswalk.com writer Sarah Frazer who shared these prayers that she loves to pray over her children. Sarah says that “I know that God uses my prayers to accomplish good things in their lives. These are some of the prayers I’ve prayed for my children each day. Use these prayers as a way to start. Tailor them to fit your child and each unique situation. I might not pray all of these every day, but at least a few of these quick prayers will help us stay connected and speak into our children’s lives – even as they are at school.”
Things you can pray for include children making good choices, good friendships, protection, remembering what they’ve studied, adults who speak life to children, fun and laughter, courage, and calm for anxious hearts.
Click HERE to see all of the prayers.
WNZR spoke with Wendi Fowler and Debbie Ruggles, Kiwanis Club of Mount Vernon, to share about the upcoming Mother’s Day Celebration Brunch on Saturday, May 11th at the Glenn A. Gallagher Centre.
Wendi shared the details for the event, how to get tickets, what activities will be taking place, and more! She also spoke on how this fundraiser will benefit Kiwanis Club of Mount Vernon.
Event info:
Join us to celebrate Mother’s Day! Use the link below to purchase your tickets now. They will go fast!
All profits benefit projects of the Kiwanis Club of Mount Vernon. Sponsored by Park National Bank, Mt Vernon Ohio, the Kenyon College Office for Community Partnerships, and Kokosing Construction
Purchase your tickets here: https://tinyurl.com/55jhkp6e
Listen to their conversation below or by clicking HERE!
MVNU President, Dr. Carson Castleman, spoke with WNZR for our monthly Presidential Update.
Dr. Castleman starts with sharing about his recent inauguration that happened on Wednesday. He also shares messages for the community, students, staff, and faculty about what God is doing at MVNU.
Dr. Castleman also gave updates and details on different projects and programs at MVNU.
Dr. Castleman wrapped up with sharing his top priorities for the rest of the semester and for the summer. He also tells us how we can pray for MVNU, for him, and for his family.
Listen to the full conversation below or by clicking HERE.
The Morning Thing co-hosts shared their favorite thing that happened this week for our Friday Favorites!
What was your favorite thing that happened this week? Share your answer by emailing wnzr@mvnu.edu!
Listen to their Friday Favorites below or by clicking HERE.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University’s theatre program will perform “Meet Me in St. Louis,” March 22-24.
WNZR’s Alyssa Sidle spoke with director Zach Sherman and four cast members: Alex Pittman, Naomi Painter, Destiny Fullerton and Mallery Thompson!
Listen to the full conversation below or by clicking HERE.
The play is based on the book by Sally Benson. It is presented by special arrangement with Dramatic Publishing Inc., as adapted by Christopher Sergel.
“Meet Me in St. Louis” is a three-act play that follows the Smith family. It is 1904, and the World’s Fair is about to begin. For the five Smith children, this is the event of the century. But when their father announces that he has taken a job in New York, the family bands together to stop the move. Hilarity ensues as the children move from one disastrous plan to the next, in hope of staying in the city they love.
The cast list includes:
Mr. Smith — Alex Pittman
Lon — Nasir Cousin
Tootie — Mallery Thompson
Grandpa Prophater — Zane Menzie
Katie — Kelsey Keppel
Rose — Destiny Fullerton
Esther — Marhin Chismar
Mrs. Waughop — Ashley Farrar
Mrs. Smith — Naomi Painter
Ida — Grace Maddux
Fred — Nick Cline
Agnes — Kara Jenkins
John Shephard — Tyler Maddux
Lucille Pentard — Chloe Hall
Mr. Dodge/Conductor — Josiah Holloway
Duffy — Ashlynn Scott
“Most people are familiar with the musical adaption of Meet Me in St. Louis. However, I have always had a soft spot for this iteration of the story. It is a fun comedy with a great ensemble cast, and it has been a joy seeing the students step into their various roles. I can’t wait to share this with the Mount Vernon community,” said Director Zac Sherman (’14) and coordinator of Theatre at MVNU.
Performances are Friday, March 22 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, March 23, at 2:30 p.m.; and Sunday, March 24 at 2:30 p.m. All performances take place in The Thorne Performance Hall located inside the R.R. Hodges Chapel/Fine Arts Building at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, 800 Martinsburg Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for MVNU students and anyone under 18. Tickets for all performances may be purchased online at theatre.mvnu.edu or at the box office beginning one hour prior to show time. Seating opens approximately 30 minutes prior to show time. This production is suitable for all audiences.
For more information, visit theatre.mvnu.edu, email theatre@mvnu.edu, or call the MVNU Theatre coordinator at 740-397-9000 ext. 4235. Follow MVNU Theatre on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with the latest program news and events.
MVNU President, Dr. Carson Castleman, talked with WNZR for our monthly MVNU Presidential Update.
Dr. Castleman starts with sharing his thoughts on the first two months of the spring semester, he then talks about exciting new additions to MVNU’s staff.
Dr. Castleman discusses the new Director of Traditional Enrollment, Sarah Alexander, and the new Director of Graduate and Professional Studies Enrollment, Rachel Neal.
He also shares about the addition of Johnna Vanover, the new Vice President of Enrollment and Marketing, to his cabinet.
Dr. Castleman wraps up with sharing his top priorities for MVNU, a message for the students as they come back from Spring Break, and how we can be praying for him and his family.
Listen to the full conversation below or by clicking HERE.
Today for our Friday Favorites the co-hosts shared their favorite Dr. Seuss book in honor of Read Across America Day!
What is your favorite Dr. Seuss book? Email your answer to wnzr@mvnu.edu
Rise and Shine 