We're back in the Kitchen!  It's Kitchen 242 at the Muskegon Farmers Market with Chef LaKisha Harris of L'Soul Filled Catering and very soon, the Soul Filled Eatery in Muskegon Heights as she's out to answer the age old debate on how grits should be served...savory or sweet. 

Today was super exciting getting to know and interview Muskegon's own prosecutor DJ Hilson. DJ grew up in a hard-working two parent household which had strong family values and good work ethics. He knew that at the early age of seven that he wanted to become a lawyer.

It's episode 161 of Fit and Healthy with Becky on the Muskegon Channel!  We've found yet another beautiful corner of Mona Lake.  We're in Lake Harbor park for a few weeks in Norton Shores.  It's a bright sunshine filled day and Becky's busting out the medicine ball, an 8 pounder to add to the work out!

It's an ongoing series we've got with our fantastic sponsor Shon Cook this Saturdays With Shon Feature.  She spends a little time weekly explaining things from the perspective of an attorney when it comes to a very difficult subject in a very intimidating world, the legal system.  From making sense of the jargon we hear sometimes to applying real life experience to situations she encounters, you get to hear first hand how it works and why.

When we think of cooler temperatures and fall weather, we typically think of football, sweater weather, and plaid shirts. However, for foodies like me, fall weather means pumpkin spice lattes, apple cider donuts, and comfort food. By definition, comfort food is "food that provides a nostalgic or sentimental value to someone, and may be characterized by its high carbohydrate level or simple preparation." Pasta came to mind when I thought of the perfect fall comfort food. I was able to sit down with Jeff Church, the Lead Chef and Owner of Nipote's Italian Kitchen, to highlight a couple of their comfort dishes.

We are incredibly fortunate to have the Community College we do here in Muskegon with Muskegon Community College.  It's a leader in the state when it comes to the type of institution they are and education they provide and they set a standard that others strive to achieve.  As we've watched the development of the campus on Quarterline Road as well as the growth of the Downtown Muskegon campus, it's been with great pride that "Watch Us Go" has been very applicable to our educational opportunities here in Muskegon too.

It's a little longer update today. Kathy Moore of Public Health - Muskegon County updates us on the COVID situation locally as well as talks about the report in the New York Times. Then, we transition on to meeting the team that will be working with the area schools this year. Jamie Helsen Hekker and David Martin join to discuss their roles working with the schools.

Who wouldn't love to frolic a little?  Let's be honest, we could all use some frolic.  Well, one of the groups in Muskegon that's synonymous with the amazing ability we always show to make sure the needs of those a little less fortunate than us are met are inviting you to do just that with a fun, themed virtual fundraising event centered around the Orient Express and that organization we're talking about is the Women's Division Chamber of Commerce of Muskegon!

Comcast Xfinity is how we get our word out.  We make no bones about that and going all the way back to the earliest days of the pandemic, we've been welcoming Rob Ponto from Comcast on to talk about some of the outreach that's been going on to help the community.  From the free access to any of their Wi-Fi hot spots anywhere you can find one, to working with people to keep service running and even working with schools to make sure that all of the virtual learning going on continues and students can keep doing the best they can.  It's been an amazing outreach and we're thankful for the time that's been spent sharing the resources with everyone in Muskegon.

Curtis and Bobbie Lowe founded Cadillac Inc. Car Club of Muskegon in April 2015. They started out with 25 members to begin their organization. In the beginning it was hard finding members who were serious about their love for Cadillac cars and youth in our city.

Ok, we're going to see your piggys!  Let's hope those feet have been taken care of and that your nails are clipped and if need be..... polished accordingly.  Not that it will matter to your workout, but you just never know when a foot beauty pageant might break out and to come in second place in that....we can't have that.

Friday was a beautiful day to welcome in visitors from out of town, but then again, pretty much any day is that for Muskegon.  This time however, it was a bit of a red carpet affair as Mike Walsh, Chief of Staff of the Department of Commerce paid a visit to the Grand Valley State University Hub to announce a major grant in support of entrepreneurial growth in West Michigan.

We spent the day Friday with the United Way of the Lakeshore visiting some of the work sites and meeting some of the people who make the Day of Caring what it is in Muskegon County every year.

I had a chance to sit down with the founders of "Making Waves Muskegon" to highlight a goodie box that features locally sourced products.

We hear the term all the time - "I'd like to make a motion....".  Movies, TV, all of the news covering court cases and so on sooner or later, someone is filing a motion.  Sometimes, it's a quick decision to "make a motion to drop all charges" in light of something miraculous happening during a trial.  Of course, we are talking movies and TV here at the moment...so chances are, that motion is more fantasy than reality.  You also hear the term in situations like governmental meetings, and other formal things.  A "motion" is so much more than just words though.  Shon Cook is here to explain.

It's beginning to look a lot like....wait.....that's a little ways off still.  However, it is beginning to get to that point of the year where the community rallies around one of our most important resources to protect and defend those who are abused in our community and how we come together to support the cause is truly a Muskegon one of a kind event!  Power of the Purse 2020 is happening October 8th!  Brace yourself!

You're in a pinch, you need to show up with dessert and you want to make a splash!!  It's a panic situation and this isn't one of those occasions when you can just be there with a cake from the store....you need creativity, beauty and delicious taste!  Chef LaKisha Harris from L'Soul Filled Catering is here to the rescue!  

It's not always we get a chance to meet those that have experienced the struggle with civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King and John Lewis.   Not to mention our local public figures right here in Muskegon County.

We've been on you since early Spring to talk about the importance of the US Census!  It happens only once every 10 years and every form filled out brings back $18,000 for the community that you live in over the next 10 years.  It's 9 questions long, it takes 10 minutes to fill it out and if you have not done it yet, it's time to get moving on it and we're going to get you off the couch and going!

If you are an animal lover, and most everyone is, you know that Muskegon is incredibly fortunate to have the care and attention placed into our rescue community that we do.  There are all kinds of agencies out there with the well being of strays, surrenders and emergencies in mind and while COVID has seen a slight downturn in how busy some are, the reality is the work will never end and there will always be the need for animal care between in any number of circumstances.  

How can 3 pounds make a difference?  There's one gal who can show ya and if you've been around a while, you know that Becky can find a way to make just about anything maximize your workout and do it with the most practical and affordable ways!  She's committed to finding you a way to better yourself with diet and exercise equaling fitness and health. 

The Event itself is over, but the show and info is important.  Learn more here.

Tonight, we're proud to present the Hats and Horses Benefit for Pioneeer Resources of Muskegon.  Youll have a chance to learn a little more about the work that Pioneer Resources does and how they enrich the lives of so many.  Their MIssion statement is clear - "Our mission is to help people with disabilities and seniors attain independence and dignity by creating opportunities for participation in the community. People in pursuit of: a place to live affordable housing and specialized homes,  a place to learn vocational training, ABA therapy & community living supports programs, a way to get there transportation services, a place to grow and play camping, recreational programs"

"Unprecedented Times".  If we each had a nickle for every time we've heard that since March, we'd have the National Debt paid off, we'd all be driving Corvettes and lighting fat cigars with $20 bills.  Unprecedented times has meant a lot of things to a lot of people and generally, it's not been favorable however.  It has been a call to action however and a plea to all of us to come together to try and face an enemy we can't even see and that has left it mark on the lives of all of us in one way or another.  Some have been sidelined, some have gotten busier than they ever imagined.  Some, quarantined.  Some forced out into circumstances they would rather not be in.  The other phrase we've heard to ad nausea-um..."We're in this together".  But when isolated and pressed into situations that are so extreme, it sure feels like a one man ordeal.  Out of all of it, the importance of capturing what's happened...well, it's a thought that the artistic among us grabbed, and now, it's on display at City Center Arts in Muskegon. 

Is a "prenup" a way of saying you don't completely trust someone even before you get started?  Well, it depends on how you look at it and as Shon will explain today, it can actually be a couple of things including a healthy exercise in transparency and honesty from the very start.  It might not be the most comfortable conversation you will ever introduce when you do, but when you hear what Shon has to say about the subject. you'll see in pretty short order how it can be beneficial for both parties and save a lot of time and grief down the line should the unthinkable happen to "happily ever after".

"Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first." Who else can relate to this quote? For those that know me, know that I have a sweet tooth. When a friend of mine tagged me in a social media post by Yummy Delights LLC, I knew I had to pay them a visit. The post featured one of their popular desserts, which was a fruity pebble covered New York style cheesecake slice. Yum!

One thing that's been pretty incredible about our work over the last few months is finding ways to connect you with ways to get a hand in a time when those who never once thought that they'd need it.  Even to find out that the hand is there has been pretty amazing and it comes from places who provide the necessities that keep us all going.  Consumers Energy is one of those companies, and today Rich Houtteman joins us to talk about how they go above and beyond in our current times and always for our community.

In a world of virtual fundraisers...one giant organization stands out.  That might be a great opening for a movie if we were in the movie preview business, but we're not.  We are in the business of getting you the information about all of the local organizations that vitally need a hand this year more than ever and be it a virtual fundraiser, or a great day on the links like Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lakeshore has in store for you September 25th at Chase Hammond, we're on board to lend a hand!

By Ron Rop

Muskegon has a long and storied history of hockey.

There were great teams, great coaches and great players. And, one of those names known as being synonymous with Muskegon hockey is Moose Lallo.

Muskegon Surgical Associates is very much a valued sponsor of our work at the Muskegon Channel.  Their support for our work, as well as their extended reach into the community to help other organizations that benefit the community is absolutely one of the brightest spots you might have never head about.  The group of surgeons and their support staff do an awful lot of work for organizations quietly, without a lot of fanfare quite often because their mission after all is to better the health of all of us in Muskegon, and that's not always achieved by the use of a scalpel.

We're back at Kitchen 242 in Downtown Muskegon with LaKisha Harris from L'Soul Filled Catering and she's about to put down something you can't imagine!  We're talking Vegan recipes and before you even think about clicking on another page or not watching this video, I am going to stop you right there and help you avoid a mistake.  Don't let the word vegan get you thinking you're in for some bland, tasteless bean filled protein something or another....you're about to get hit with flavor and texture you can't even imagine until you try it.