Community Matters Calhoun County

First Aired April 15, 2023 The Cereal City Concert Band 's spring concert, set for April 30, 2023, will feature some familiar pieces from stage and screen. The concert, called Fantastical Features: Music of Stage, Screen and Imagination" promises symphonic dances from "Fiddler on the Roof", A Disney Spectacular and John Williams' Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, among others...

First Aired April 8, 2023 A W.K. Kellogg Foundation grant to help stimulate the Calhoun County building trades workforce has brought together partners working to do just that. Amy Rose Robinson with the Calhoun County Land Bank Authority and Eric Cunningham with LISC - the Local Initiatives Support Corporation - to discuss upcoming events meant to attract those in the building trades for monthly n...

First Aired April 8, 2023 Ford's BlueOval Battery Park Michigan is expected to open in 2026 at the Marshall Megasite. But, as we hear from Marshall Township resident Glenn Kowalske - part of an environmental conservation group called Seedkeepers - some are against the development. Kowalske says the group is most concerned about a lack of information readily provided to residents, the large si...

First Aired April 1, 2023 As MDOT spokesman Nick Schirripa jokes, Michigan's spring "flower" - the orange construction barrel - has started to "bloom" in Calhoun County. Specifically, construction has begun on I-94 between Helmer and 17 1/2 Mile Roads, where repaving and bridge repairs are the focus. Episode Resources Mi-Drive construction interactive map MDOT construction...

First Aired April 1, 2023 In continuing coverage of the Ford Motor Company Blue Oval Battery Park Michigan  slated for the Marshall Megasite, Community Matters visits, this time, with Ford directly. In this episode, Ford Regional Government Affairs Manager Stephanie Fries discusses several aspects of the project, including employment opportunities and upcoming communication sessions with the commu...

First Aired April 1, 2023 In the first of his periodic check-ins with Community Matters, Rep. Jim Haadsma (D-44th District) discusses his impressions of the Ford BlueOval battery plant slated for the Marshall Megasite. He also discusses recent legislative action in the Michigan House, including repeal of Right-to-Work. Episode Resources Michigan House of Representatives website Rep. Jim Haadsma we...

First Aired March 25, 2023 Jeremy Andrews with Battle Creek's Penetrator Events talks about The Big Cheese Mac and Cheese Fest set for April 15, 2023. He also talks about other events and their inspiration. Jeremy also talks about an upcoming co-op grocery planned for downtown Battle Creek. Episode Resources Penetrator Events website Sprout Co-Op website Food Co-Op Hopes to Bring More People...

First Aired March 25, 2023 Calhoun County Board Vice Chair Steve Frisbie offers a periodic update on commission business on Community Matters . This time, he discusses an ordinance Calhoun County municipalities can elect to enact - or not. As well, he discusses FireKeepers Casino revenue sharing which was recently allocated. Episode Resources Calhoun County Board of Commissioners website Calhoun C...

First Aired March 25, 2023 Calhoun County dementia research and programming organization Miles for Memories plans its annual research update for April 25, 2023 at the Kool Family Community Center in Battle Creek. Lead volunteer Sherii Sherban discusses the intent of the event, as well as when and where - and what folks should do if they would like to attend. Sherii and Richard also discuss the new...

First Aired March 18, 2023 In this discussion, Keiara Gladney with Goodwill Industries discusses the significant connection the organization plays with Battle Creek Central High School. Specifically, she discusses career readiness and summer work programs which connect students with paid work opportunities at Calhoun County businesses. The program is also seeking more Calhoun County business to pa...

First Aired March 18, 2023 One of the concerns about electric vehicles is for owners to have the same confidence in reliability they have with their gas-powered cars. Will we eventually be able to charge an EV just as quickly as we fill the tank with gas? In this episode, Dr. Qingliu Wu, a Western Michigan University researcher working on a federal grant to improve the safety and quality of EV bat...

First Aired March 18, 2023 Krista Trout-Edwards, executive director of the Calhoun County Land Bank, discusses a shift in recent years to fewer demolitions of derelict properties in the county. Instead, she says, they are focused on turning challenged properties around and stabilizing neighborhoods. Episode Resources Calhoun County Land Bank website Land Bank available properties in Calhoun County...

First Aired March 11, 2023 Every month, Community Matters partners with the Humane Society of South Central Michigan to feature a pet available for adoption. Discussions also include a pet-related subject. In this episode, HSSCM Executive Director Jessica Gilbert introduces us to Oreo, a Beagle/Australian Shepherd mix. The discussion also pivots to heartworm and how HSSCM assures its population is...

First Aired March 11, 2023 The Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce "Love Battle Creek" social media campaign brought its greatest participation ever in 2023. The nominating and voting for local businesses in 43 different categories - conducted online - ran from mid-February to early-March. Chamber President Kara Beer brings us up to date in this episode. Episode Resources Battle Creek...

First Aired March 11, 2023 The Battle Creek Area Association of Realtors plans another in its quarterly Homeowners Workshops on March 14, 2023. Others are planned each quarter for the remainder of 2023. BCAAR CEO Amanda Lankerd discusses the intent behind the workshops, as well as some perspective on the current housing market in Battle Creek and Calhoun County. Episode Resources BCAAR website Hom...

First Aired March 4, 2023 In this episode of Community Matters , Dr. Nakia Baylis discusses the intent of Battle Creek's collective of non-profits called The Village Network . Collaborating to achieve equity among Battle Creek's communities of color, TVN has three main pillars: economic justics, education justice and social justice. Click to hear more. Episode Resources The Village Netwo...

First Aired March 4, 2023 A Battle Creek collective of musicians - Blvcksheep - has been invited to perform at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas in mid-March. Their challenge is coming up with the funds to get there. Battle Creek Hip Hop artist James McGee - known as The Allah - talks about his passion for the community, the support from Blvcksheep fans - and the sponsorship o...

First Aired March 4, 2023 *Note: The Michigan Legislature approved a $1.3B spending bill, including $630M for the BlueOval Battery Park at the Marshall Megasite. Read more here . Jim Durian, CEO with Choose Marshall - also known as MAEDA, the Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance - tells Community Matters all land parcels needed for the Ford BlueOval Michigan Battery Plant have been purchase...

First Aired February 25, 2023 In his latest update from the Calhoun County Board of Commissioners, Vice-Chair Steve Frisbie offers his perspective on the planned BlueOval Battery Park Michigan at the Marshall megasite. Episode Resources Calhoun County Board of Commissioners website Calhoun County Board 2023 Agendas, Online Viewing Ford Motor Company press release about BlueOval Battery Park Michig...

First Aired February 25, 2023 Marshall, Michigan Mayor Jim Schwartz offers his thoughts on the planned BlueOval Battery Park Michigan announced for the Marshall megasite location. Among other things, Schwartz encourages residents to gather as much information as they can as details emerge. Episode Resources Marshall, Michigan website Marshall Township,  Michigan website Ford Motor Company press re...

First Aired February 18, 2023 Having existed under various names since 1987, the Cereal City Concert Band has performed many concerts with that moniker for some time, now. And, clarinetist Barb Hibiske tells Community Matters the band is "the best it's ever been" during this discussion about its special "Lift Every Voice" concert. Episode Resources Cereal City Concert Band...

First Aired February 18, 2023 Ford Motor Company's announcement of a $3.5 billion battery manufacturing plant in Marshall, Michigan on February 13, 2023 brought to light the results of a multi-year effort. In this episode, Battle Creek Unlimited President and CEO Joe Sobieralski offers the Battle Creek economic development perspective on this news (and an update on the remodeling of the downt...

First Aired February 18, 2023 Richard visits with Jessica Gilbert, executive director of the Humane Society of South Central Michigan - where the COVID-19 pandemic brought some changes in procedure. Some of those changes have lasted beyond the pandemic. Episode Resources HSSCM website HSSCM Volunteer Program More Community Matters ABOUT COMMUNITY MATTERS Former WBCK Morning Show host Richard Piet...

First Aired February 11, 2023 Battle Creek City Manager Rebecca Fleury checks in with Community Matters, discussing a variety of areas. Those include her perspective on the interim police chief, a study of the Battle Creek public safety service model and the potential for a citizens review board. Episode Resources Battle Creek City Manager Office website (Community Matters 6) Fleury Marks 8 Years...

First Aired February 11, 2023 Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce President Kara Beer visits Community Matters to discuss the 2023 "Love Battle Creek" nominating and voting. The online campaign, started during the COVID-19 pandemic, seeks to spread love to local businesses across Calhoun County by asking for nominations from locals in over 40 categories. Then, residents are asked to vo...