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 drives will help.

Episode Resources
Bearcats Athletics

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 and around Battle Creek. Community Matters is heard Saturdays, 8:00 AM Eastern on WBCK-FM (95.3) and anytime at battlecreekpodcast.com.

Community Matters is sponsored by Lakeview Ford Lincoln and produced by Livemic Communications.

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
”Operation Josh’s Lights” Nomination Form

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 and around Battle Creek. Community Matters is heard Saturdays, 8:00 AM Eastern on WBCK-FM (95.3) and anytime at battlecreekpodcast.com.

Community Matters is sponsored by Lakeview Ford Lincoln and produced by Livemic Communications.

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 Staelens joins Community Matters to reflect on the spill, how it has influenced safety protocols and culture at the company - as well as community involvement efforts around Michigan.

Episode Resources
Enbridge

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 and around Battle Creek. Community Matters is heard Saturdays at 8:00 AM on WBCK-FM (95.3) and anytime at battlecreekpodcast.com.

Community Matters is sponsored by Lakeview Ford Lincoln and produced by Livemic Communications.

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 Creek Community Schools

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 and around Battle Creek. Community Matters is heard Saturdays at 8:00 AM on WBCK-FM (95.3) and anytime at battlecreekpodcast.com.

Community Matters is sponsored by Lakeview Ford Lincoln and produced by Livemic Communications.

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 Community Matters, an interview program focused on community leaders and newsmakers in and around Battle Creek. Community Matters is heard Saturdays at 8:00 AM Eastern on WBCK-FM (95.3) and anytime at battlecreekpodcast.com.

Community Matters is sponsored by Lakeview Ford Lincoln and produced by Livemic Communications.

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 and around Battle Creek. Community Matters is heard Saturdays at 8:00 AM on WBCK-FM (95.3) and anytime at battlecreekpodcast.com.

Community Matters is sponsored by Lakeview Ford Lincoln and produced by Livemic Communications.

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 disabled find more affordable living situations.

Episode Resources
Battle Creek Housing Commission

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 and around Battle Creek. Community Matters is heard Saturdays at 8:00 AM on WBCK-FM (95.3) and anytime at battlecreekpodcast.com.

Community Matters is sponsored by Lakeview Ford Lincoln and produced by Livemic Communications.

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 deal was done.

Frisbie returns to Community Matters in this episode with some postgame from the House Republican view on the $81 billion deal.

Episode Resources
Rep. Steve Frisbie House Republicans Website

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 and around Battle Creek. Community Matters is heard Saturdays at 8:00 AM on WBCK-FM (95.3) and anytime at battlecreekpodcast.com.

Community Matters is sponsored by Lakeview Ford Lincoln and produced by Livemic Communications.

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 out - and what stands out.

Episode Resources
Sen Sean McCann

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 and around Battle Creek. Community Matters is heard Saturdays, 8:00 AM Eastern on WBCK-FM (95.3) and anytime at battlecreekpodcast.com.

Community Matters is sponsored by Lakeview Ford Lincoln and produced by Livemic Communications.

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 together nonprofits, government agencies and local churches. The groups provide essential services to those experiencing homelessness, housing instability or other challenges.

The effort is free and open to the community with more than 500 attendees expected.

Event coordinators join Community Matters to explain the goals of the event.

Episode Resources
2025 Project Connect

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 and around Battle Creek. Community Matters is heard Saturdays, 8:00 AM Eastern on WBCK-FM (95.3) and anytime at battlecreekpodcast.com.

Community Matters is sponsored by Lakeview Ford Lincoln and produced by Livemic Communications.