Kankakee Valley Community Happenings

In this episode of Kankakee Valley Community Happenings , host Denny Case sits down with Ashley Peterson , the newly appointed CEO and President of the Manteno Chamber of Commerce and Director of Marketing for the Village of Manteno . Ashley shares insights into her new leadership roles and her long-standing history as a fixture within the Manteno community. The conversation highlights the revival...

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with the perfect flavor fusion! In this episode of Kankakee Valley Community Happenings , host Denny Case sits down with Tiffany Bergstresser from our local Taco John’s to talk about the biggest party of the year. Since Cinco de Mayo falls on a Taco Tuesday this year, we are diving deep into the deals, the menu favorites, and how you can bring the party home. What’s Inside...

In this episode of Kankakee Valley Community Happenings, Mike Tomano speaks with Eric Peterson, founder of Project Headspace and Timing. The discussion centers on the organization’s evolution from its 2017 origins to its current role as a vital support system for veterans in Kankakee and DeWitt counties. Peterson shares insights into the group’s peer support networks, their crisis intervention par...

In this episode of Kankakee Valley Community Happenings , hosts Mike Tomano and Rob West sit down with well-known WGN sportscaster and stand-up comedian Pat Tomasulo . The conversation serves as a preview for Tomasulo’s upcoming performance at the Lincoln Cultural Center in Kankakee on May 16th , a special event benefiting the Kankakee Valley Theatre Association (KVTA) . Throughout the interview,...

On this edition of Kankakee Valley Community Happenings , host Mike Tomano sits down with Leslee Schafer , founder and CEO of Our Aging Services , to discuss a vital upcoming event for local families. The "Navigating Together" resource fair is a specialized initiative designed to support residents of Kankakee County who are caring for children, teens, and young adults with disabilities....

In this installment of Kankakee Valley Community Happenings , host Denny Case sits down with Christena Estby and Karen Sorensen, the ownership team behind the new Bricks and Minifigs location in Bradley, Illinois. As the store prepares for its official grand opening, the owners discuss what brought this specialized LEGO franchise to the local community and what makes their shop a unique destinatio...

In this episode of Kankakee Valley Community Happenings , host Mike Tomano sits down with State Representative Jackie Haas to discuss the upcoming Drug Take Back Day and community collection event. Taking place on Saturday, April 25th , at the Bourbonnais Walmart , this initiative offers residents a secure and convenient way to dispose of expired or unused medications, preventing them from falling...

In this episode of Kankakee Valley Community Happenings , host Mike Tomano sits down with Cindy DeGroot from the Kankakee Community College (KCC) Lifelong Learning Institute . The discussion centers on the diverse educational and social opportunities available to older adults in the Kankakee area. Cindy explains how the institute’s curriculum follows the college semester, offering a wide array of...

In this episode of Kankakee Valley Community Happenings, host Roy Gregory sits down with Jim Accurso from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Disaster Recovery to discuss the ongoing relief efforts following the severe storms of March 10. While the initial weather event has passed, many residents and business owners in Illinois and Indiana are still facing the long-term challenges o...

In this episode of Kankakee Valley Community Happenings, host Denny Case welcomes Kevin Kennell , Vice President and CFO of Belson Steel Center Scrap in Bourbonnais. The segment focuses on the long-standing SCORE program (Students Coordinating to Organize Recycling Efforts), which has been operating in the region since 1995. The conversation covers the educational and environmental goals of the in...

In this episode of Kankakee Valley Community Happenings , host Mike Tomano sits down with Mayor Jeff Keast to discuss the latest seasonal updates and community initiatives within the Village of Bourbonnais . As spring arrives, the conversation focuses on the various free services available to residents, ranging from specific waste disposal programs to environmental maintenance. Mayor Keast provide...

In this installment of Kankakee Valley Community Happenings , host Mike Tomano sits down with David Parker from the Kankakee YMCA to discuss the organization’s deep-rooted impact on the local area. Parker explains the philosophy of "community as medicine," detailing how the YMCA serves as a critical pillar for both physical health and social connection in Kankakee. The conversation explo...

In this episode of Kankakee Valley Community Happenings, host Mike Tomano sits down with Bradley Mayor Mike Watson for a comprehensive village update. The conversation covers essential services for residents, including upcoming seasonal maintenance schedules and guidelines for local waste disposal. The discussion also previews the highly anticipated summer event season in Bradley. Mayor Watson sha...