West Michigan Weekend (A Public Affairs Program from iHeartradio)

On this episode, host Phil Tower welcomes Scott Graham, Executive Director of the Michigan Brewers Guild. Scott joined us for an update on the state of breweries and brewing in Michigan and to preview one of the biggest beer events in Michigan: the 19th Annual Winter Beer Festival presented by the Michigan Brewers Guild, on Saturday, February 22, from 1 to 6 p.m., LMCU Ballpark in Comstock Park. F...

On this week's episode host Phil Tower welcomes back Skot Welch, M.M., Co-Founder & Managing Partner with New Community Transformation Fund. Scott gave an update on the New Community Transformation Fund, and told us of a recent affiliation agreement with Michigan Capital Network .  Under this agreement, both organizations will remain as stand-alone entities and will continue to operate under t...

On this week's program, host Phil Tower speaks with Elton Andres Knight, CEO of Mahou USA. Knight became CEO of Mahou USA in February 2022. Mahou USA is a combination of three brands…Avery Brewing, Founders Brewing, and Mahou Imports. Mahou specializes in complex, in-your-face ales with huge aromatics and tons of flavor, and it is among the top 10 largest craft breweries in the U.S. Internationall...

In this segment, host Phil Tower welcomes  Bill Morris, author of    The Lions Finally Roar: The Ford Family, the Detroit Lions, and the Road to Redemption in the NFL. Bill Morris is the author of the novels Motor City and Motor City Burning, along with the family memoir The Age of Astonishment, available from Pegasus Books.  Bill's great new book tells the epic and tumultuous story of the Lions,...

In this episode, host, Phil Tower, welcomes Andy Balaskovitz, Managing Editor, Crain’s Grand Rapids Business.  Andy joined us for a recap of some of the biggest business stories, impacting West Michigan, in 2024, including the major construction projects in downtown Grand Rapids...the new Amphitheater construction, the expected construction of the newly named Amway soccer stadium, and the DeVos &a...

On this episode, Phil Tower welcomes Kerry Lynch, Director of Sales at Shorts Brewing Company in Bellaire, Michigan. The first Shorts Pub was opened by entrepreneur, Joe Short in Bellaire, Michigan in 2004.  Since then, The Shorts Pub has grown to include five storefronts, including a Shorts store and a private dining space, The South End. Kerry joined us on this segment to unveil a perfectly time...

On this episode host, Phil Tower welcomes back one of our favorite guests, Patrick DeHaan, Head of Petroleum Analysis at GasBuddy.com Patrick is the leading source for reliable and accurate information on gas price hikes.  In this segment, Patrick joined us to discuss the impact of the new incoming Trump administration on oil prices globally and the domestic price of gasoline in the United States....

In this segment, host Phil Tower welcomes Christy Walcott, Director of Marketing and Communications, Gaylord Area Convention and Tourism Bureau, and Brad Jacobsen, Director of Ski Operations at Treetops Resort. Christy joined us to talk about Gaylord as a prime destination for snow lovers of all ages! The Gaylord area is a popular spot for travelers in the mood for snowmobiling, skiing, snowshoein...

On this segment, host Phil Tower welcomes  Micah Herrboldt, waste reduction educator at the Kent County Department of Public Works.  Micah joined us to announce that the Kent County Department of Public Works has released its 2024 Holiday Recycling Guide…it’s full of helpful information for county residents on the safe disposal of batteries, holiday decor, and more. The annual guide is focused on...

In this episode, host Phil Tower welcomes  Katie Bower, director of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP).   Michigan seat belt use rate fell again in 2024. However, the Hands-Free Law has helped reduce handheld device usage by 1.2 percent. For the second year in a row, Michigan’s seat belt use rate fell slightly, according to the results from a grant-funded direct observation stud...

On this episode, host Phil Tower speaks with  Dr. Jordan Taylor, D.O., a UM Health-West neurologist. Dr. Taylor joined us to discuss the importance of stroke prevention and awareness, as we recently marked October 29th as World Stroke Day. As an expert on strokes and stroke prevention, Dr. Taylor joined us to discuss stroke prevention, trends, and treatment innovations. We know that strokes are a...

In this episode, we speak with Shannon Hills, a R egional Administrator at the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services. Shannon walks us through signing up for health insurance through healthcare.gov. Open Enrollment is the time for people without health insurance to find an affordable, quality plan. Millions of people lack health insurance and now is the time to take advantage of the excellent...

On this episode, host Phil Tower welcomes  Dawn Baker, Festival Manager for the Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival. Dawn gave us a final preview of the upcoming Festival, which will return to DeVos Place in downtown November 21-23. Dawn also let us know tickets are still available for Thursday's “Cheers for Charity”  in the Grand Gallery space, benefitting Hospice of Michiga...

On this episode, host Phil Tower speaks with  Gordon Oosting, Board Member and CFO with Mel Trotter Ministries.  Gordon joined us for an update on the impact of the services of Mel Trotter ministries and to talk about the upcoming WOOD Radio & Mel Trotter Ministries Turkey Drop on Wednesday, November 20, 2024. Turkey Drop is an annual tradition in West Michigan. Mel Trotter Ministries, WOOD Ra...

On this episode, host Phil Tower speaks with   Reverend Parris McMurray, Senior Pastor of the Renaissance Church of God in Christ . Renaissance Church of God in Christ on 33rd Street SE here in Grand Rapids is home to a Neighborhood Wellness Center, where residents can go to receive their fall vaccinations. The church partners with the  Michigan Department of Health and Human Services , and they a...

In this segment,  Phil Tower welcomes back Ron Jenkins, Director, and Kateri Schneider, the actor playing the lead role of Dorthy, in LionHeart Productions newest presentation,  The Wizard of Oz Live on Stage …….. November 8-10, 15 & 16, 2024, at Grant Fine Arts Center. LionHeart Productions is a community theater organization based in Grant, Michigan. For over twenty years, it has produced fa...

In this segment, Phil Tower welcomes Ilhiana Rojas Saldana, executive and leadership coach, DEI consultant, bestselling author, and international motivational speaker.  Ilhiana is the featured keynote speaker at Inforum Michigan’s Capstone Dinner on Thursday, November 21, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at the JW Marriott in downtown Grand Rapids. Ilhiana founded BeLIVE Coaching & Consulting and is the c...

Host Phil Tower focuses on elections and preparing for election day with  Kent County Clerk/Register of Deeds Lisa Posthumus-Lyons on this week's program . We devoted the whole program to discussing voting, preparing for elections, and the issue of election integrity. Posthumus-Lyons made it clear that she and her team with the clerk's office have been working overtime to assure that she and her t...

On this  week's full program, Phil Tower welcomes back Chad Livengood, the politics editor and columnist at The Detroit News. In our second visit this year with Chad Livengood on the West Michigan weekend program, we covered a wide range of topics related to the presidential race, Michigan politics, and, specifically, the tight Senate race between Mike Rogers and Elissa Slotkin. Former President T...

On this week's program, host Phil Tower welcomes  Doug Stanton and Anne Stanton of the National Writers Series. They joined us to discuss the fall 2024 season of The National Writers Series in Traverse City, Michigan.  Doug Stanton is a journalist, lecturer, screenwriter, and author of New York Times bestsellers In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its...

On this episode, host Phil Tower speaks with bestselling author Philippa Perry, on her book, The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read: (And Your Children Will Be Glad That You Did) This is an encore replay of our interview with Philippa Perry in February 2020.   In her now million-copy bestseller, leading psychotherapist Philippa Perry shares relationships' vital do's and don'ts. This is a book des...

On this episode, host Phil Tower welcomes  Former Michigan Governor James Blanchard, a board member of the newly formed Michigan Democracy Defense Project. In mid-September, former Michigan governors and top elected leaders from both sides of the aisle announced the launch of the  Democracy Defense Project  in Michigan. Former Govs.  John Engler , a Republican, and  Jim Blanchard , a Democrat, joi...

On this segment of West Michigan weekend, Phil Tower speaks with  Kelli Dobner, Chief Growth Officer at Samaritas Michigan.   Kelli joined us to discuss the new Samaritas “Neighbors Not Numbers” campaign, which is all about breaking down the myths and misconceptions about affordable housing. Many people think it impacts only the unemployed or poor, but in reality, it impacts many people, including...

In this episode, host Phil Tower welcomes  Dawn Baker, Festival Manager for the Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival, and Barbara Anderson,  associate vice president of philanthropy for Hospice of Michigan. Dawn and Barbara joined us for a behind-the-scenes preview of the upcoming Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival, returning to DeVos Place in downtown N...

In this segment, host Phil Tower welcomes back Melissa F. Kaelin…, an author, writer, painter, and Aurora Chaser living in Michigan.  Melissa has led many community initiatives, including founding the Michigan Aurora Chasers, creating the Social Gap Experiment, and co-founding the annual Aurora Summit. Melissa’s Book “Beyond the 45th Parallel” is an expanded and refined 2nd Edition with seven new...