Livemic Communications Podcast Network

Anna Rogers, Marketing & Communication Engagement Manager at DoubleTree by Hilton in Battle Creek, reflects on the hotel's first year of operation, their successes and the importance of making people feel welcome.

While discussing their event space resources and fine dining options, Anna is excited to announce a new change coming with reservations starting December 1, 2025. Check out the Double Tree by Hilton Battle Creek F...

Tammy Mills, Director of Marketing and Communications for the United Way South Central Michigan (UWSCMI), joins us on Community Matters to discuss their end of year holiday fundraising campaign and how Calhoun County residents can help direct donations to impact their local community. 

Tammy also discusses resources available to residents through the UWSCMI, like the Program Assistance Center, and the launch of their new Community C...

Summit Pointe, the Calhoun County Community Mental Health (CMH) organization which provides behavioral health care to some of the county's most vulnerable residents, is sounding an alarm over potential changes at the state level which could affect how it delivers care.

Summit Pointe CEO Jeannie Goodrich joins Community Matters to discuss changes to how the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) organizes CMH s...

The South Michigan Food Bank - which provides food to the hungry in 8 Michigan counties including Calhoun - continues to respond to a growing need while threats to federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding continue.

The on-again, off-again potential cuts to the largest federal anti-hunger program in the U.S. has the State of MIchigan working to take up the slack. Still, the 2025 federal government shutdown and...

We're not sure it's an actual word, but "floof" seems to describe best our good friend Gadget the cat, the focus of our Wiggly Tail update this time from the Humane Society of South Central Michigan.

Gadget is a young, domestic long hair male cat who is black and white. He's all up to date on his vaccinations and he is neutered. HSSCM Executive Director Jessica Gilbert tells us all about him - and his perfec...

It's a longstanding tradition in Battle Creek: The annual Christmas parade - a gift to the community by the Harper Creek Optimist Club.

Folks line the streets on a Saturday in November (typically the Saturday before Thanksgiving) to watch the procession of local participants stir up the Christmas spirit - along with some hometown pride.

After setting a participation record in 2023, Organizer Stephanie Cornish returns to Communit...

Veterans Helping Veterans in Battle Creek, the organization which cut the ribbon on the gift of a building at 209 East Michigan in summer 2025, has hit its stride helping veterans get set up in new residences after homelessness.

Vice President Rick Stover returns to Community Matters to talk about their organized system of gifting donated furniture, housewares and toiletries to veterans who are reestablishing households after being ...

While its students were settling back into their school-year routines in September 2025, Lakeview School District announced a national honor for Minges Brook Elementary School: The "America's Healthiest Schools" award from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.

At the same time, the district announced its 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient and its 2025 Community Spirit Award recipient. Superitendent Dr. Willi...

Saturday, November 8, 2025 is a good day to give a boost to Battle Creek Central High School Athletics.

Come to Lakeview Ford that day between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM and test drive a new Ford. When you do, Bearcats Athletics will receive $30 and the American Red Cross gets $10. With enough test drives, Bearcats could receive as much as $6000!

Coach and Athletic Director Lorin Granger joins Community Matters to talk about how your test d...

West Michigan-based business Twinkle Holiday Lighting is again seeking a local veteran to receive a holiday light display installed on their home free of charge.

Chuck Barnes, owner of Twinkle Holiday Lighting, returns to Community Matters to encourage nominations of local veterans to receive the gift. He also discusses the legacy behind the award, which carries on from a local veteran who passed away.

Episode Resources
”Operatio...

It was July 2010 when a rupture in Enbridge pipeline 6B spilled oil into Talmadge Creek near Marshall, which feeds into the Kalamazoo River. The result was a cleanup effort along 35 miles of the Kalamazoo River until 2012. Further dredging continued beyond that time.

In 2016, Enbridge paid $177 million in penalties as part of a settlement with the U.S. Government.

In 2025, Enbridge Senior Advisor of Community Engagement Kirstie Stael...

Battle Creek Salvation Army Captains Mika and Grace Roinila return to Community Matters to look back at a record-breaking year of giving in 2024 - along with the plans to help local folks in need in 2025.

That begins with a holiday and Red Kettle Campaign kickoff on November 7, 2025.

Episode Resources
Battle Creek Salvation Army 

ABOUT COMMUNITY MATTERS
Former WBCK Morning Show host Richard Piet (2014-2017) returns to host Com...

Inspired by similar events in other counties, Calhoun County educators have planned a day-long professional development day for November 4, 2025.

Community Matters spoke with Calhoun Intermediate School District Assistant Superintendent Carrie Johnson and Harper Creek Schools Assistant Superintendent Laura Williams about the impact of the event for local educators.

Episode Resources
Calhoun Intermediate School District
Harper...

Community Matters debuts a new monthly events update presented by the Downtown Battle Creek Zine (DBCZ)!

In this update, Nick Buckley shares ideas for local events happening in October and November, 2025.

Episode Resources
Follow DBCZ on Facebook

ABOUT COMMUNITY MATTERS
Former WBCK Morning Show host Richard Piet (2014-2017) returns to host Community Matters, an interview program focused on community leaders and newsmakers in a...

In 2025, Creating Dementia Solutions is looking deeper into what The Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention and care has indicated are ways people can reduce their risk of dementia.

Among those factors: Social isolation.

In this episode, Miles for Memories volunteer Cassandra Lucas-Moore with CareWell Services Southwest discusses the resources in Calhoun County which can help resolve social isolation. She also discuss...

Michigan lawmakers went down to the wire in approving a new budget. In the end, a middle-of-the-night, two-hour shutdown happened - but did not last.

Still, a stopgap spending extension kept the government running before the new, $81 billion plan was passed in the early hours on October 3, 2025.

Senator Sean McCann, a Democrat from Kalamazoo, joins Community Matters for a postgame discussion from his view on how the compromise played...

In his last periodic legislative update on Community Matters, weeks before the threshold of the Michigan budget deadline (the one that would definitively shut the government down), Rep. Steve Frisbie - Republican from Battle Creek - expressed confidence there would be a compromise before the deadline.

He was generally correct, though the House, Senate and Governor Gretchen Whitmer did step slightly over that threshold before the dea...

In September 2025, several organizations, residents and interested parties gathered for a summit on the state of housing in Battle Creek. It's all prompted by the view that there is not enough housing in the area.

Lee Talmidge joins Community Matters to discuss the issue from the view of the organization he oversees: The Battle Creek Housing Commission. The Commission particularly helps those of lower income, elderly or disable...

A longstanding effort to bring resources under one roof for veterans and those experiencing homelessness is returning in 2025 for its 20th year.

The 2025 Project Connect Health fair and VA Stand Down will happen on October 17, 2025 at Full Blast Recreation Center in downtown Battle Creek. The event, a partnership between the City of Battle Creek, Calhoun County Homeless Coalition and the Veteran's Administration, brings togethe...