What's Up Big Rapids?

This week we welcome Laura Currie, Executive Director of The Comfort Home, to talk about hospice care, the work the Comfort Home is doing for local families, and how the community helps make it all possible. In just a few short years, they've helped nearly 200 people, and Laura shares some insight into the important work of end-of-life care.Plus, we celebrate Veteran’s Day, congratulate the Big Rapids Cardinals and Ferris Bulldogs, check out some upcoming community events, and look ahead to episode 100. And in the world of weird internet discoveries, Dom finds a jet suit, a deer wreaks havoc in a laundromat, and robots are directing traffic in China.- 0:00 Intro & welcome- 1:00 Happy Veteran’s Day! Parade, AMVETS and hotdog lunch- 3:00 Thanks to Commander Spicer & good luck to the hunters- 4:30 Big Rapids Cardinal Volleyball congratulations; Pat adds semi-pro basketball coach to his resume- 8:41 High Strung Steel on WOOD TV8 tomorrow! Catch them live or at the Sawmill Saturday with The Waxing Gibbons- 10:45 Featured Creature: Jackson’s chameleon from E&E Tropical Fish- 13:30 Welcome Laura Currie, Executive Director of The Comfort Home- 16:25 What is hospice care, and how did the Comfort Home get started?- 21:45 Nearly 200 people helped in just a few years- 23:10 What end-of-life care teaches you- 24:30 How the Comfort Home operates: fundraisers, donors and grants- 29:30 How to donate or volunteer at the Comfort Home- 33:30 Four episodes until number 100! Favorite moments, questions and future guests- 35:50 Mecosta County Kids Discovery Center opens downtown- 37:00 Ferris State Bulldogs tie the NCAA Division II win streak- 37:40 Banded Raccoon Indoor Market this Saturday- 39:00 Free choral concert featuring five local choirs- 40:35 Outdoor Holiday Market coming November 20- 41:25 Just 50 days left in the year!- 41:40 Robot News: robots directing traffic at a marathon in China- 43:05 Dom discovers a jet suit and dreams of flight- 44:40 A deer turns a laundromat parking lot into a disaster zone- 46:30 Outro & goodbye#WhatsUpBigRapids #BigRapidsMI #ComfortHome #CommunityCare #VeteransDay

This week we're welcoming AMVETS Post Commander Jake Reichert to talk about the changes happening at the local post and the effort to make it a more welcoming place for veterans, families, and the entire community.Jake shares the story behind his time in the Marine Corps, the improvements happening at the post, and some creative ways to honor veterans—including custom-painted ceiling tiles. We also talk about their affordable weekly food specials, community events, and the upcoming Veterans Military Ball.Plus, Chris brings home his second consecutive Pumpkin Rolling Championship trophy, Pat sets a Skeleton Skurry personal record, Video City may be getting a pretty major makeover, and Dom discovers that household robots are apparently ready to start handling knives.⏱️ Timecodes0:00 – Intro & welcome1:25 – Thanks to Dena Durante & Danette Doyle2:00 – Pat's Skeleton Skurry PR & Chris sees Poltergeist at the theater5:20 – Chris wins back-to-back Pumpkin Rolling Championships! $500 for Artworks 🏆9:45 – Lions update & good news about Jack Campbell11:18 – E&E Tropical Fish gets a new look! Find them in Roger's Heights 🐠13:00 – A reminder about Hope House Free Medical Clinic14:30 – Welcome AMVETS Commander Jake Reichert16:00 – Making the AMVETS post welcoming to veterans, families & the public18:00 – Custom-painted ceiling tiles to honor veterans22:00 – New children's area, outdoor concert space & horseshoe pits25:00 – Mexican food, wings & burger nights at the post30:00 – Jake shares his story of service in the Marine Corps40:00 – All Services & Veteran Military Ball – Friday, November 645:00 – Watch the Lions, Bulldogs & Cardinals at the AMVETS46:52 – Video City plans a major transformation into an at-cost grocery store47:30 – Mecosta County Sheriff's Department Cabin Raffle48:30 – Catholic Charities works toward a new resource for young children49:45 – Uplifting Moment: A 30-year, 30,000-mile walk finally comes home54:30 – Light Up the Night at the Castle55:35 – Veterans Day Parade – November 11 at 11 AM, followed by lunch58:30 – Pop-Up Vendor Market at The Banded Raccoon – November 1459:00 – Dom's internet finds: A bear stuck in a tree gets some community help 🐻1:00:00 – Robot News: The cleaning robot has discovered knives 🤖🔪1:02:00 – Good pranks vs. annoying pranks1:05:00 – Outro & goodbyeHashtags#WhatsUpBigRapids#BigRapidsMI#Veterans#AMVETS#SupportLocal

Halloween is almost here, and Big Rapids has a busy weekend ahead! 🎃This week we're joined by Dena Durante from Hope House Free Medical Clinic, an organization celebrating 20 years of providing free healthcare to uninsured members of our community. Dena shares how retirement led her right back to helping people, what services Hope House offers, and why more people need to know this valuable resource exists.Then Danette Doyle from the Pioneer Group stops by to talk about the Skeleton Skurry, Halloween festivities, and everything happening downtown this weekend. Chris is preparing to defend his Pumpkin Rolling Championship, and the competition is heating up!Plus, we talk about the Flannel Comedy Tour, a new men's support group, Light Up the Night, flying geckos, power-tool pumpkin carving, and robots that are becoming increasingly difficult to defend.⏱️ Timecodes0:00 – Intro & welcome1:00 – TikTok algorithms & what our spare accounts say about us 📱3:00 – Two months left in 2026. What's your plan?4:10 – Recapping Brendan Lemon's comedy show 🎤6:30 – Pumpkin Rolling Championship preview 🎃8:09 – Thanks to Amy & Bridget from Life Resources9:00 – Featured Creature: Flying Gecko from E&E Tropical Fish 🦎12:00 – Welcome Dena Durante from Hope House Free Medical Clinic13:30 – From retirement back to helping people: Dena's story16:45 – Where is Hope House located?19:00 – Celebrating 20 years of free healthcare for uninsured neighbors ❤️22:35 – Medical care and spiritual support23:30 – How to volunteer or donate to Hope House24:50 – Clinic hours & making an appointment26:40 – Welcome Danette Doyle! Skeleton Skurry & Halloween costumes 👻35:00 – Chris defends his Pumpkin Rolling Trophy Saturday at 11 AM 🏆37:00 – Trunk or Treat starts at 10 AM 🍬38:30 – Artworks banner contest is open40:00 – A new men's group focused on depression & connection41:30 – Light Up the Night at the Castle in Canadian Lakes43:10 – Knicks championship rings? 💍47:30 – A sound-wave fire extinguisher?49:30 – Detroit Lions celebrate a false start in style 🏈50:40 – Carving pumpkins with power tools. Thanks, Dom.52:00 – Robot News: Four-armed flying robots with rifles?! 🤖53:50 – Three-year-old soccer phenom gets ejected ⚽56:45 – Outro & goodbye📣 Hashtags#WhatsUpBigRapids#BigRapidsMI#HopeHouseFreeMedicalClinic#SkeletonSkurry#SupportLocal

We've got two sets of guests, a whole lot happening around town, and Episode 100 is sneaking up on us!First, Amy Grandy and Bridget Roberts from Life Resources Northern Michigan join us to talk about the free services they provide to new and expecting parents. From parenting classes and ultrasounds to diapers, clothing, and other essentials, their organization has been helping local families for decades. This year alone, they've provided more than 1,500 free parenting classes and distributed over 29,000 diapers!Then we welcome comedian Brendan Lemon, fresh from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and headed to Cranker's for the Flannel Comedy Tour. We talk about performing in New York City, the strangest places to do stand-up, and how a guy living in Manhattan ends up doing comedy in West Michigan breweries.Plus, Chris is surviving the real estate market, Pat attempts to explain Rod Wave, Ferris brings home the Anchor-Bone Trophy, and Dom has found robots that look like they're protecting humanity by threatening it.⏱️ Timecodes0:00 – Intro & welcome! Episode 100 is getting close 🎉1:21 – Chris vs. the housing market 🏡1:55 – Hand of Giants at SpeakEZ, Pat's Detroit adventures & Rod Wave3:56 – Ribbon cuttings at Cottage Inn & Tommy's, plus Chamber After Hours6:35 – Featured Creature of the Week from E&E Tropical Fish 🐠8:40 – Thanks to Jon & Kevin from Michigan Works!10:20 – Welcome Amy Grandy & Bridget Roberts from Life Resources Northern Michigan13:34 – Why Amy loves Big Rapids & the free services available to parents15:00 – 1,500+ parenting classes, 29,000+ diapers & memories of early parenthood 👶17:00 – Free ultrasound services & nearly 50 years in Big Rapids20:00 – How to help: Diapers, formula, clothing & donations26:25 – Volunteering and supporting Life Resources28:00 – Music Bingo at Crusted Creations 🎶28:55 – GFWC's 4B's fundraiser at Artworks29:30 – Fall Fest & Skeleton Skurry on Halloween 🎃33:17 – Welcome comedian Brendan Lemon from the Flannel Comedy Tour! 🎤40:00 – From New York City to West Michigan brewery comedy43:20 – The weirdest places to perform stand-up44:45 – Flannel Comedy Tour at Cranker's: Thursday at 7 PM50:00 – Going all-in on comedy, acting & life in Manhattan52:32 – Where to find Brendan Lemon & the Flannel Comedy Tour53:05 – Good Samaritan returns nearly $1 million in misplaced cash 💰54:30 – Robot News: Why do our robot protectors look so terrifying? 🤖57:16 – Ferris beats Grand Valley for the Anchor-Bone Trophy! 🏈58:05 – Outro & goodbye📣 Hashtags#WhatsUpBigRapids#BigRapidsMI#LifeResourcesNorthernMichigan#FlannelComedyTour#SupportLocal

Looking for a job? Trying to hire someone? Or just wondering what resources are available to help local businesses grow?This week we're joined by Jon Eppley and Kevin Welch from Michigan Works! West Central to talk about connecting people with jobs, helping employers find and train workers, and making sure businesses know about grants and programs they might be missing out on. We also get into the changing expectations of today's workforce, the role AI plays in job hunting, and some upcoming opportunities for the community.Plus, Chris celebrates the High Strung Steel album release, Chipotle gets a new opening estimate, we remember a beloved library pet, and Pat somehow discovers a version of fantasy football involving Pokémon.And yes, Chris is preparing to defend his Pumpkin Rolling Championship. Again.⏱️ Timecodes0:00 – Intro & welcome1:30 – Thanks to Melanie & Linda from GFWC2:10 – High Strung Steel album release, indoor markets & Ferris football 🎻4:00 – Lucas Armand signs with the UFC! Pat issues a correction (please don't hurt him) 🥊6:03 – Featured Creature: Blueberry Tetra from E&E Tropical Fish 🐟8:00 – Want to advertise on WUBR?8:20 – Welcome Jon Eppley & Kevin Welch from Michigan Works! West Central10:00 – 10 years of helping people find jobs and businesses find employees12:00 – Connecting employers with grants, training & state resources16:20 – Chris' hiring struggles: Is there a better way?17:45 – Finding qualified workers & teaching workplace expectations19:45 – How important is AI in today's job search? 🤖20:50 – Neighborhood Resources Expo – November 1323:30 – 20 Under 30 nominations are open!25:50 – How to connect with Michigan Works!27:45 – Remembering Quilliam Shakespeare, the library's beloved pet ❤️29:30 – Chipotle opening update: January 2027? 🌯31:10 – Cardinal Basketball K–6 camps begin November 7 🏀31:55 – Mecosta Osceola Victim Services Unit needs volunteers34:00 – MOISD Career Center 50th Anniversary Open House34:30 – New businesses, ribbon cuttings & what's coming to town36:50 – GFWC's 4B's fundraiser at Artworks37:40 – Is Halloween candy getting too expensive? 🍬39:00 – Skeleton Skurry 5K & Downtown Fall Fest – October 31 🎃41:00 – Chris defends his Pumpkin Rolling Championship! 🏆41:50 – Pokémon fantasy football? Pat has reached a new level of nerdiness42:55 – Dom's videos: Hero geese, Meijer & disembodied robot hands46:50 – Ferris vs. Grand Valley & Hand of Giants at SpeakEZ Lounge 🏈🎸47:45 – Outro & goodbye📣 Hashtags#WhatsUpBigRapids#BigRapidsMI#MichiganWorks#SupportLocal#BigRapidsEvents

This week we're joined by Melanie Rey James and Linda Telfer from the GFWC Big Rapids, a group that's been quietly making things better around town for 55 years.We talk about the organization's history, the many local projects and charities they support, and the story behind Ryco the Recycling Fish at Hemlock Park—including how Ferris welding students helped turn the idea into reality. And if Ryco eats enough cans and bottles, he may eventually get a fish friend somewhere else in town.Plus, we recap the Jim Crow Museum opening, congratulate Chad Coon, preview a packed couple weeks of fall events, and Chris discovers he has absolutely no idea what a bonbon is.⏱️ Timecodes0:00 – Intro & welcome1:25 – Beautiful fall weather, Bronner's & library book club 🍂3:20 – Celebrating the opening of the Jim Crow Museum5:00 – Congrats to Chad Coon on his bare-knuckle debut! 🥊7:13 – Featured Creature: Savannah Monitor 🦎9:30 – Welcome Melanie Rey James & Linda Telfer from GFWC16:00 – 55 years of supporting charities & Big Rapids projects19:00 – How Ferris welding students helped create Ryco the Recycling Fish 🐟24:00 – Could Big Rapids get another recycling fish?25:20 – The 4B's fundraiser: Bags, Baubles, Bonbons & Bites27:17 – How to join GFWC & get involved28:35 – Thanks to Melanie & Linda!31:10 – Book club at the library tonight 📚32:25 – Indoor Pop-Up Market at The Banded Raccoon33:00 – High Strung Steel album release party this Saturday! 🎻35:40 – Life After Death Museum & Gift Store opening37:15 – Rhythm & Roots Celebration at Williams Auditorium39:30 – New arcade hours at Crusted Creations 🕹️40:35 – Free Women's Self Defense Class at Ferris41:30 – Skeleton Skurry + Chris defends his Pumpkin Rolling trophy 🎃🏆42:45 – Robots, a Taco Bell ultramarathon & the ageless Al Roker46:15 – A 95-year-old grandfather tackles his bucket list ❤️48:40 – Outro & goodbye📣 Hashtags#WhatsUpBigRapids#BigRapidsMI#GFWCBigRapids#SupportLocal#FerrisState

This week we're learning that the Mecosta-Osceola Intermediate School District is a whole lot more than the Career Center.Superintendent Steve Locke and Assistant Superintendent Amanda Kimball join us to talk about everything happening at the MOISD—from career and technical education to special education, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, creative opportunities for students, and the Career Center's upcoming 50th anniversary celebration. We also tackle the old “trades vs. college” debate and why it really doesn't have to be one or the other.Plus, the new Jim Crow Museum opens, High Strung Steel prepares to release an album, Big Rapids gets a bird walk, the theater is working on Screen 3, and a family of bears steals a Honda for popcorn. Apparently.0:00 – Intro & welcome1:10 – The new Jim Crow Museum opens today!2:10 – Pat's staycation becomes a work-from-home-cation3:05 – High Strung Steel album release party – October 10 🎻4:45 – Thanks to Pastor Ross Scheer5:30 – Featured Creature: Veiled Chameleon 🦎8:30 – Welcome Steve Locke & Amanda Kimball from the MOISD13:00 – The MOISD is much more than the Career Center16:00 – Dolly Parton's Imagination Library & the MOISD's role 📚20:50 – We need more beloved humans. Somebody check on Willie Nelson.22:05 – Career Center 50th Anniversary Open House – October 2026:00 – Technical training vs. university: Why does it have to be either/or?29:00 – Special education, micro-businesses & opportunities through age 2634:00 – Looking for a career change? The MOISD is hiring35:00 – Pork For a Purpose raises another $50,000 for local charity! 👏35:40 – Big Rapids Theater hopes to have Screen 3 ready for the holidays 🎬36:45 – MOTA & WISE team up to Fill the Bus37:00 – Bird walk with ornithologist Joe Lipar 🐦39:00 – Skeleton Skurry supports Angels of Action 🎃39:40 – Homecoming wins for Ferris & Big Rapids!40:40 – Nintendo 64 turns 25: GoldenEye, anyone? 🎮42:50 – Dom's internet: Bears carjack a Honda for popcorn 🐻🍿46:50 – Thanks to our guests & goodbye!#WhatsUpBigRapids#BigRapidsMI#MOISD#SupportLocal#CommunityConnections

There’s a lot being built around Big Rapids lately—and this week we’re talking about one of the biggest projects underway.Our guest is Pastor Ross Scheer from Res Life Church, where construction has begun on a roughly 30,000-square-foot expansion. Ross talks about what’s driving the church’s growth, why the additional space is needed, plans for a 1,000-seat sanctuary that could host touring artists, and the unusual partnership that helped reshape the church over the last several years.Plus, Pat runs a personal-best 5K, Chris picks up trash, Burlington prepares to open, a semi takes an unexpected trip through the Super 8, Ferris celebrates Homecoming, and Dom introduces us to another robot with absolutely no survival instincts.⏱️ Timecodes0:00 – Intro & welcome1:00 – Who should we have on WUBR next?1:30 – Groundbreakings, ribbon cuttings, Pat's fastest 5K & Chris picks up trash4:30 – Thanks to Megan Eppley5:30 – Featured Creature: Crested Gecko 🦎7:20 – Welcome Pastor Ross Scheer from Res Life Church10:00 – Does God care who wins football games? Lions fans need answers 🏈11:00 – What makes Res Life different?12:20 – Breaking ground on a 30,000-square-foot expansion13:00 – 1,400–1,500 people on a typical Sunday morning15:00 – What's behind the growth?17:00 – Why not every church is right for every person18:05 – How long has the expansion been in the works?19:00 – Shoutout to Big Rapids Public Schools20:00 – A 1,000-seat sanctuary & possibilities for touring artists 🎶21:15 – Creating more room for youth programs23:00 – “Church isn't a building you walk into, but a family you belong to.”24:15 – WUBR is looking for a new intern or partner! 🎙️25:00 – An unlikely Texas partnership that changed Res Life30:00 – “You don't need permission to do good.”30:30 – When will the addition be finished?32:30 – Construction means some temporary inconvenience33:00 – Connecting with Res Life from home37:00 – Services, small groups & getting connected39:45 – Ross, Dom & Pat's morning workout crew 💪42:30 – Thanks, Pastor Ross!44:30 – Ferris law enforcement students, Special Olympics & the game-ball run45:50 – A new dog boarding business comes to town 🐕46:50 – Burlington opening + $5,000 for Brookside Elementary47:40 – A runaway semi crashes through the Super 8 😳50:20 – Ferris Marching Band documentary at Big Rapids Theater 🎺51:40 – Ferris Homecoming weekend! 🐶52:12 – Jim Crow Museum grand opening next Wednesday55:00 – Skeleton Scurry, Fall Fest & the Pumpkin Roll 🎃57:40 – Dom's videos: a pet lion & a robot defeated by a doorstep59:23 – Happy Autumnal Equinox 🍂1:00:00 – Outro & goodbye📣 Hashtags#WhatsUpBigRapids#BigRapidsMI#ResLifeChurch#FerrisState#SupportLocal

This week on What’s Up Big Rapids, we're talking about how some of the behind-the-scenes work at City Hall eventually turns into real improvements you can see around town.Our guest is Megan Eppley, grant writer for the City of Big Rapids—and Chris' former co-host from the Live Big Rapids days. Megan explains what a grant writer actually does (after Chris attempts the kindergarten version), how new walking and biking audits could shape future improvements, and how residents can get involved right now.Plus: football, car washes, Chipotle windows, Chalk the Walk, Save the Ponds, the upcoming Jim Crow Museum opening, and Dom finds us two mice boxing in a subway. Journalism.⏱️ Timecodes0:00 – Intro & welcome1:00 – Why Chris still loves working in real estate 🏡5:27 – Lions football & Pat's happy place 🏈6:35 – Thanks to Rick Hatkowski & Save the Ponds7:00 – Featured Creature: Albino Gator Gar 🐟9:19 – Welcome Megan Eppley from the City of Big Rapids10:00 – The Live Big Rapids reunion!11:30 – English + fundraising + Big Rapids = grant writer12:30 – Chris attempts to explain grant writing like a kindergartner17:00 – AARP grants & walking/biking audits 🚶🚲18:00 – What has Chris learned scootering around town?19:45 – How do walking audits actually work?23:00 – Spot a bad or missing sidewalk? Here's your chance to speak up25:00 – How today's feedback could shape future city projects26:30 – Big Rapids Walking Passport challenge28:34 – Following city projects & updates29:30 – Want to participate? Megan will even hook you up with BR swag30:30 – Thanks, Megan!30:48 – Former Bulldog Zach Sieler continues making Big Rapids proud 🏈31:15 – New community fitness programs33:00 – Tommy's test washes, Chipotle has WINDOWS & Voter Registration Day 🌯34:21 – Business After Hours at Schuberg's34:55 – A very busy Saturday: Res Life 5K, Rotary cleanup & Chalk the Walk36:50 – Recycle Fish dedication at Hemlock Park 🐟37:40 – Save the Ponds groundbreaking37:57 – Brothers Blue Jean Ball benefiting OBK38:45 – Winter boat & RV storage at the fairgrounds39:14 – Should The Banded Raccoon become a cartoon? 🦝40:40 – New Jim Crow Museum grand opening44:15 – A folding iPhone?! 📱46:50 – Taco Bell Girl, subway mouse boxing & man vs. robot — Dom's internet strikes again51:25 – Thanks & outro#WhatsUpBigRapids#BigRapidsMI#SupportLocal#CommunityStrong#DowntownBigRapids

Labor Day is behind us, football is officially back, and this week we're digging into a piece of local history that goes all the way back to 1881.Our guest is Rick Hatkowski, Chair of the Save The Ponds Committee, who joins us to talk about the past, present and future of the historic Paris Fish Hatchery. We get into the story behind the ponds, those famous red milk cans, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and the years of work that have gone into preserving and improving this unique piece of Mecosta County history.Most importantly, the work is becoming reality: the groundbreaking ceremony is Friday, September 18 at 3 PM, followed by activities from 6–9 PM.Plus, Ferris has TWO #1 teams, Tommy's Car Wash is opening, Liberty Tax is coming to town, Sisterfolk closes out the Thursday night concert series, and Pat tries to convince Chris that professional sports have meaning.⏱️ Timecodes0:00 – Intro & welcome1:34 – Labor Day recap: Bulldogs, sickness, Raised on Radio & hundreds of hot dogs5:50 – Football is BACK! Fantasy report & Chris questions the meaning of professional sports 🏈8:00 – Want to help WUBR with our weekly reels? We're looking for some help!8:20 – Featured Creature: Leopard Gecko 🦎10:25 – Thanks to Pastor Mark Robb & Lisa David11:05 – Welcome Rick Hatkowski from Save The Ponds12:00 – The Fish Hatchery story begins in 188120:00 – Groundbreaking celebration – September 1827:30 – What's the story behind the red milk cans? 🥛30:00 – A romantic afternoon under the Eiffel Tower... in Paris, Michigan 🇫🇷36:30 – Break ground now, cut ribbon later38:10 – How you can support Save The Ponds38:55 – TWO #1 Ferris teams! Volleyball & Football 🐶🏆41:09 – Liberty Tax is coming to Big Rapids44:30 – Tommy's Car Wash soft opening 🚗45:14 – Sisterfolk closes out Thursday nights at Pocket Park 🎶48:03 – Chad Coon's bare-knuckle fight – September 19 🥊49:07 – Dom's feel-good internet finds: bears, buckets & football science52:50 – Western vs. Michigan ends in confusion 🏈55:40 – Another great week in Big Rapids56:00 – Outro & goodbye#WhatsUpBigRapids#BigRapidsMI#SaveThePonds#ParisMichigan#SupportLocal