Community Matters Calhoun County
A community interview series focused on Calhoun County, Michigan, featuring voices from Battle Creek, Marshall, Albion and all around the county. Join host Richard Piet to discuss local events, non-profits, local schools, government and community leaders.
Underwritten by Lakeview Ford-Lincoln, Community Matters also airs as a radio program Saturday mornings on 95.3 FM in Battle Creek.
Episodes
498 episodes
(Community Matters 190) Run-Up to Roofsit 2: Helping Remove Obstacles That Lead to Homelessness
This is the second in a series of interviews shedding light on The Haven of Rest's mission and programs ahead of its annual Roofsit fundraiser. The Haven marks its 70th anniversary in 2026.A lot of people talk about homelessness...
(Community Matters 190) Customized Service Dogs to Fit Any Need
A dog that can change a life doesn’t happen by accident and it definitely doesn’t happen overnight. Anne Barea, Chair of the Board at Paws With A Cause and a certified dog trainer, explains how a tiny puppy grows into a custom-trained assistanc...
(Community Matters 190) A Free Family Adventure Day With Trails, Bikes, And Orienteering
A free afternoon outside can do more for a family than another packed schedule, and that’s the heart of Trailblaze Family Adventure Day at Kimball Pines Park. Mark Lelle from the Calhoun County Trailway Alliance lays out what’s happening on Jun...
(Community Matters 190) DBCZ June 2026 Events Update
The Downtown Battle Creek Zine is back to outline a stacked June calendar proving Battle Creek and the surrounding area are anything but quiet once summer hits. Nick Buckley highlights family friendly events, local traditions, and the best ways...
(Community Matters 189) A Community Spelling Bee Anyone Can Join
Technology can fix typos, but it can't replace the experience of staying calm and spelling a word out loud while people watch. Longtime Lakeview High School spelling bee volunteer Barb Galonsky and Lakeview senior Hanish Chintalapati talk about...
(Community Matters 189) Run-Up to Roofsit 1: Helping Unhoused Families Stay Together
This is the first in a series of interviews shedding light on The Haven of Rest's mission and programs ahead of its annual Roofsit fundraiser. The Haven marks its 70th anniversary in 2026.The annual Roofsit, hosted by The Haven ...
(Community Matters 188) Calhoun County's Next Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Set for May 18
What's the best way to get hazardous household waste out of your home without guessing, dumping, or risking your trash pickup rejecting it. Sarah Lundy from Calhoun County lays out what’s accepted at the upcoming Household Hazardous Waste, Appl...
(Community Matters 188) Mark Twain Live on Stage Plus a Summer Full of Local History Events
Returning to Community Matters, Michael Delaware from the Battle Creek Regional History Museum about a packed summer of living history, music, cars, and new exhibits. He also shares info about this year's Del Shannon Weekend - and what...
(Community Matters 188) Wiggly Tail: Meet Asha! The Giant Puppy in Waiting
This time on Wiggly Tail, meet Asha, a fluffy Great Pyrenees mix puppy at the Humane Society of South Central Michigan. HSSCM Executive Director Jessica Gilbert, talks about the what kind of home Asha would thrive in and explains why their sche...
(Community Matters 187) How One Night Of Giving Helps Keep the Lights On at S.A.F.E. Place
$4,800 a day. That’s the operating reality behind a shelter that offers free, life-saving services to survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. We’re joined by Ellen Lassiter Collier from S.A.F.E. Place in Battle Creek to put real n...
(Community Matters 187) Senior Expo Makes Help Easier To Find
You can feel it when a community event is designed with real life in mind. Senior Expo does exactly that. Rebecca de Finta from the Calhoun County Senior Services Office talks to Community Matters about what to expect from this year's Senior Ex...
(Community Matters 187) Get Your Colon Rollin With A 5K And Car Show
Colon cancer screening is one of those topics many of us avoid until we can’t. Michelle Redmond, coordinator for the Five C’s, and Angela Myers from the Battle Creek Community Foundation talk about how early detection and colorectal cancer prev...
(Community Matters 186) Battle Creek Consolidates Voting Precincts Ahead of May 2026 Election
Voting logistics rarely make headlines until something feels different on Election Day, like a new polling place, a shorter line, or a smoother process than you expected. Battle Creek City Clerk Victoria Hauser unpacks what changed and why, usi...
(Community Matters 186) An Annual Spring Morning of Prayer and Unity Returns in Calhoun County
An icon event in Battle Creek returns this month. Battle Creek Community Prayer Breakfast Co-Chairs Ryan and Esther Leonard share why the event has become one of the city’s most enduring gatherings: a room filled with neighbors choosing prayer,...
(Community Matters 186) Your Guide To The 2026 Battle Creek Farmers Market
$20 can become $40 at the farmers market, and that’s only one of the reasons we get excited for market season in downtown Battle Creek. We sit down with Maeve Feindt, who oversees operations at the Battle Creek Farmers Market, to map out what’s...
(Community Matters 181) DBCZ May 2026 Events Update
May gets busy fast in Battle Creek, and we love that. Annie Kelly from the Downtown Battle Creek Zine returns to discuss what to do, where to go, and how to make a full day of it downtown. If you’ve been searching for Battle Creek events, Cinco...
(Community Matters 185) Disc Golf Event to Benefit Lakeview Marching Band
A disc golf tournament with a music pun might sound like a small thing, until you see what it’s really funding. Julie Green from the Lakeview Band Boosters talks about their upcoming fundraiser, Treble On The Fairway, and the behind the scenes ...
(Community Matters 185) Mayor: Longer Terms Could Mean Better City Policy In Battle Creek
Two years can fly by in local government and not in a good way. Battle Creek Mayor Mark Behnke and City Commissioner Jim Lance break down the May 5 election ballot question that would extend the mayor and city commission terms from two years to...
(Community Matters 184) Celebrating Youth Art with the Battle Creek Optimist Club
Kay Parker and Marsha Heath from the Battle Creek Optimist Club discuss how their Optimist Excellence in Art Competition grew into a 900-student showcase across Calhoun County. They talk to Community Matters about how the judging works, w...
(Community Matters 184) Fun, Food and Philanthropy: An Evening to Support Charitable Union
A fundraiser can be flashy and still be deeply practical, and Giving Table is built to do both. Teresa Allen from Charitable Union sits down with Community Matters to unpack the newly named event at FireKeepers Casino and Hotel and the real rea...
(Community Matters 184) A Talk with Battle Creek's New Fire Chief
Battle Creek’s new Fire Chief Bush McCarthy talks to Community Matters about what he thinks about leadership, service, and the real work behind the sirens. He breaks down what the department responds to most, why new fire station upgrades matte...
(Community Matters 183) Inside Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center And How Camp Changes Kids
Your kid can do archery anywhere. The real question is whether they can look someone in the eye, handle a little boredom, and build friendships without a screen in their hand. Zach Klipsch, CEO of Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center, talks to Comm...
(Community Matters 183) Black Squirrel News Seeks to Rebuild Calhoun County Local Reporting
The team behind Black Squirrel News is taking a cooperative approach to rebuilding trustworthy local reporting in Calhoun County through a volunteer-powered, community-led model. Jeremy Andrews, Nick Buckley and Lucy Hough talk to Community Mat...
(Community Matters 182) The Brass Band Of Battle Creek to Perform in South Korea This August
The Brass Band of Battle Creek recently landed a major invitation to perform at the Jeju International Wind Ensemble Festival in South Korea. Jerry Rose, Executive Director of the Brass Band Battle Creek, talks about how the invite came togethe...
(Community Matters 182) Impact Day: Pick A Project And Make A Local Difference
Folks may want to help their community, but may not know where to start or how to make it fit into a busy week. Kara Beer from the Battle Creek Area Chamber talks about Community Impact Day on May 13, a three-hour burst of hands-on service desi...