Birds, Burgers & Big Rapids Boom

Patriotism, Progress & Proud Traditions

Happy (almost) Fourth of July! This week on What’s Up Big Rapids, we celebrate America's 250th birthday, recap a fantastic ArtStock weekend, talk summer heat, golf, weddings, and all the events filling up the calendar. Our guest is Mark Brejcha—retired military officer, longtime educator, and Director of Michigan Boys State. He shares his remarkable journey from Big Rapids to military service and explains how Boys State has been helping shape future leaders for generations. Plus: Dunkin' is finally open, Spirit Halloween is back, the Dog House keeps taking shape, and Dom somehow finds himself discussing travel-sized ranch dressing. 0:00 – Intro & welcome 🇺🇸 1:02 – Happy 250th Birthday, America! World Cup talk ⚽ 3:30 – ArtStock recap 🎨 4:40 – Chris plays a friend's wedding (and the nerves that came with it) 🎶 9:57 – Pat's golf-filled summer ⛳ 11:34 – Birthday celebrations at home 🎂 12:10 – Heat wave & thunderstorms ☀️⛈️ 12:34 – Featured Creature: African Cichlid 🐟 14:25 – Library events coming up 📚 16:40 – Guest intro: Mark Brejcha 🎖️ 17:14 – Military career & retirement 17:35 – Why he chose military service 18:30 – The path that led him there 19:45 – Growing up in Big Rapids 20:45 – His family story 22:20 – Becoming a middle school teacher 25:55 – What Boys State is all about 30:03 – Famous Boys State alumni 30:45 – The history of the program 32:45 – Inspiring young leaders today 34:08 – Goals as director 35:55 – Building the next generation of volunteers 37:35 – How to get involved 38:38 – VFW vs. AMVETS vs. American Legion 41:30 – Big Rapids' incredible participation in Boys & Girls State 43:11 – Thanks to Mark for joining us 43:50 – Spirit Halloween returns 👻 44:34 – Labor Day Festival announcement 🎡 45:25 – Red Fox Market celebrates 10 years 🎉 46:25 – Whipped & Dipped grand opening 🍦 48:07 – Ferris' new "Dog House" dorm update 🏗️ 49:35 – Dunkin' officially opens ☕ 50:27 – Pocket Park concert (July 3) 🎶 51:15 – Independence Day celebration 🇺🇸 52:37 – AMVETS & American Legion BBQ 🍔 55:31 – Five Below grand opening 🛍️ 58:17 – Coon MMA opens new facility 🥋 1:00:00 – Fair week is almost here 🎡 1:00:47 – Angels of Action Chicken BBQ 🍗 1:01:55 – Thursday Night Concerts begin 🎵 1:02:50 – Bandshell concert rescheduled due to heat 1:03:44 – Hustle Our Buts Off basketball camp 🏀 1:04:30 – Quantum Wellness Summer Bash 1:05:04 – Eagles 80th Anniversary Open House 1:06:13 – Pork for a Purpose 🐖 1:08:03 – Happy Bobby Bonilla Day 😄 1:10:02 – Tiny bottles of ranch dressing 😂 1:12:26 – Dom's viral moment of the week 1:14:44 – Outro & goodbye #WhatsUpBigRapids#BigRapidsMI#SupportLocal#CommunityStrong#SummerInBigRapids

Cats, Concerts & Community Spirit

This week on What’s Up Big Rapids, we're squeezing the show in early before one of the busiest weeks of the summer. Chris is headed off for his 20th straight year serving with Through the Roof Disability Ministry, Pat is filling his calendar with golf outings, and Big Rapids is packed with events as we head toward Independence Day. Our guests are Jennifer Thede and Bonnie Clark from TNR Mecosta, who share the incredible story behind their Trap-Neuter-Return program and the impact they've had on the local cat population over the last decade. Plus: ArtStock, AirFest, concerts, fairs, fireworks, and a surprisingly passionate discussion about ear wax. 0:00 – Intro & welcome 1:11 – Recording early for a packed week ahead 3:15 – Through the Roof camp, audiobooks, and windshield time 🚐 4:54 – Pat's charity golf marathon ⛳ 6:50 – Featured Creature: Super Pastel Ball Python 🐍 9:45 – Thanks to Tyler Schuberg 10:15 – Guest intro: Jennifer Thede & Bonnie Clark (TNR Mecosta) 🐱 11:40 – What is Trap-Neuter-Return? 13:45 – Nearly 1,500 cats helped in 10 years 15:10 – How locations are selected 16:30 – Bonnie's journey into TNR 18:55 – Wiener Wednesdays at the Sawmill 🌭 20:45 – Why this mission matters 22:20 – One cat can become 11,000 😳 23:25 – How to get involved 26:20 – Scooter's fundraiser on June 30 ☕ 27:15 – Monthly meetings and volunteer opportunities 27:45 – New menu items at Gypsy Nickel 🍜 28:29 – Admiral stations become Citgo locations ⛽ 29:40 – The pool is open! 🏊 30:55 – Theater update: Toy Story 5 & Spider-Man 🎬 32:10 – Bandshell concerts every Wednesday 🎶 33:10 – Hand of Giants at Pocket Park & ArtStock 🎸 34:00 – ArtStock nearly sold out 🎨 37:15 – Tennis in the Park 🎾 37:35 – AirFest at Roben-Hood Airport ✈️ 39:10 – Mecosta County Free Fair update 🎡 40:50 – July 3rd celebration & fireworks 🇺🇸 42:00 – Special Olympics garage sale & ice cream social 🍦 42:53 – Chris vs ear wax 😄 45:00 – Will Cottage Inn open this week? 🍕 47:30 – Thanks to TNR and Jeremiah 48:05 – World Cup excitement ⚽ 50:45 – Next week: our favorite librarian returns 📚 51:15 – Outro & goodbye #WhatsUpBigRapids#BigRapidsMI#SupportLocal#CommunityStrong#SummerInBigRapids

Champions, Chamber Talk & Community Connections

This week on What’s Up Big Rapids, we catch up on summer concerts, birthday parties, movie nostalgia, and a whole lot of community momentum. Our guest is Tyler Schuberg, lifelong Big Rapids resident, fourth-generation business owner, Chamber President, and apparently a seven-time insurance sales champion with a surprisingly good Macho Man Randy Savage impression. We talk about what makes Big Rapids special, what we've lost along the way, what we'd like to bring back, and where the community could be headed next. Plus: Airfest, ArtStock, football camps, concerts, fairs, fireworks, and one very enthusiastic discussion about old tunnels beneath the city. 0:00 – Intro & welcome 1:00 – Pocket Park, Community Band, and birthday parties 🎶 2:05 – Toy Story 5 vs Masters of the Universe 🎬 3:10 – Pat checks out the new Acrisure Amphitheater 4:30 – Scooter crash context (for the newcomers) 🛴 6:45 – Featured Creature: Mooseface Loach 🐟 9:00 – Guest intro: Tyler Schuberg 🏆 9:55 – What excites Tyler about Big Rapids right now? 14:17 – Update on Ferris' proposed indoor training facility 16:50 – Favorite Big Rapids memories growing up 20:10 – What community traditions should return? 22:00 – Remembering the Jaycees 24:00 – Could the Haunted Jail make a comeback? 👻 26:30 – The perspective of a fourth-generation business owner 30:25 – Underground tunnels beneath Big Rapids? 31:45 – Why Tyler got involved with the Chamber 34:25 – How businesses can get involved 36:15 – The upcoming Tyler vs Tyler Chamber challenge 😄 41:00 – Toy Story arrives at the theater 41:30 – Colmus Family Band at Pocket Park 42:30 – Bandshell concert series every Wednesday 🎶 43:15 – Youth football mini-camp 🏈 45:20 – Grab & Go meal program for kids 46:02 – Airfest at Roben-Hood Airport ✈️ 47:13 – ArtStock debuts at the Schuberg farm 🎨 50:10 – Fourth of July festivities 🎆 52:15 – Fair season is almost here 🎡 53:35 – Wellness and life coaching workshop 54:30 – Shoutout to local student musicians 🎺 54:55 – Tennis clinic in the park 🎾 55:25 – Welcome home, Dom! 57:05 – Viral moments: World Cup fans & Messi ⚽ 59:12 – Thanks to Tyler Schuberg 1:00:50 – Outro & goodbye #WhatsUpBigRapids#BigRapidsMI#SupportLocal#CommunityStrong#SummerInBigRapids

Golden Glizzies, Summer Nights & Small-Town Surprises

Summerfest is in the books, the Golden Glizzy has a champion, and Big Rapids is rolling full speed into summer. This week on What’s Up Big Rapids, the guys take a breather from guest interviews and catch up on everything happening around town. From the massive success of Summerfest and Back to the Bricks, to new businesses taking shape, summer concerts kicking off, and some truly questionable viral videos, there's plenty to talk about. Plus, after months of requests, Chris finally shares the infamous scooter crash footage. 0:00 – Intro & welcome 0:52 – Summerfest recap and community appreciation ☀️ 2:20 – The first-ever Golden Glizzy Award 🌭🏆 5:23 – Banded Raccoon vendor show + Quinn's Music success 6:55 – High Strung Steel at Pocket Park & Canadian Lakes 🎶 9:20 – Pat's family-filled weekend 11:15 – The meeting he wasn't invited to 😬 12:25 – Life changes everywhere lately 13:25 – Weekend plans: America and charity percussion 🇺🇸🥁 14:30 – Thanks to Sarah Dixon and Jennifer Jones 16:30 – Back to the Bricks was HUGE 🚗 17:25 – Guestless and winging it this week 😄 18:45 – Featured Creature: Ferrets! 21:25 – New kitten + Scary Movie discussion 🐱 22:45 – Date-night movies at the theater 🎬 24:55 – Chipotle construction update 🌯 26:30 – Which new business opens first? 29:15 – New jiu-jitsu, karate, and MMA options 🥋 32:30 – Pocket Park concert series every Friday 🎵 34:10 – ArtStock arrives June 27 🎨 35:05 – Angels of Action Summer Block Party ❤️ 37:15 – Free summer meals for local kids 38:55 – Youth football camp announcement 🏈 40:25 – Artworks Road Trip program 🚐 42:03 – Bandshell concert season begins next week 43:15 – Fourth of July celebration plans 🎆 44:50 – Chris struggles without a guest or intern 😄 46:45 – Fireworks truck explosion video 🤯 50:22 – The scooter crash footage finally appears 🛴💥 54:50 – A moment of gratitude ❤️ 56:22 – Pat lands the plane and wraps up the show #WhatsUpBigRapids#BigRapidsMI#SupportLocal#SummerInBigRapids#CommunityStrong

Birthdays, Business & Big Summer Energy

Summer has officially arrived in Big Rapids, and so has one of the busiest weekends of the year. This week on What’s Up Big Rapids, we celebrate Dom's 50th birthday, preview Summerfest, debate the upcoming hot dog eating contest, and welcome Sarah Dixon and Matt Schneider from the newly formed Regional Chamber. We dig into why the new Chamber was created, what it hopes to accomplish, and how local businesses and community members can get involved. Plus, there's plenty of talk about upcoming events, local developments, live music, and a jewelry heist that has everyone talking. 0:00 – Intro & welcome 1:25 – Pat's latest home projects 🏠 2:19 – Chris plays his first contra dance 💃 3:29 – Summer concert season & Worship in the Park 🎶 4:27 – Thanks to Jennifer Jones for joining us last week 5:02 – Featured Creature: African Killifish 🐟 7:35 – Could E&E Tropical Fish bring live animals onto the show? 9:02 – Happy 50th Birthday, Dom! 🎂 9:45 – Chris reveals Dom's birthday gifts 🎁 11:25 – Dom's plans for the next 50 years 12:05 – Pat's birthday gifts for Dom 13:29 – Guest intro: Sarah Dixon & Matt Schneider (Regional Chamber) 🏛️ 15:02 – Why create a new Chamber? 16:45 – Community leaders, consultants, and fresh ideas 19:09 – Matt's perspective as a board member 20:35 – Chris reflects on rebuilding Summerfest after COVID 21:53 – Challenges of launching multiple initiatives at once 23:00 – Pat gets a chance to settle his "beef" with Reed City 😄 23:45 – Chamber kickoff breakfast recap 25:25 – Remembering names and building relationships 27:16 – Sarah's background 28:49 – Chris and Sarah remember the Save the Ponds effort 29:59 – What's coming next? 31:10 – The pitch to potential investors 34:35 – Pat's summary of the Chamber vision 35:15 – Matt on the benefits of Chamber membership 36:03 – Ways to get involved 37:08 – Where to find the Chamber 38:12 – Thanks to Sarah and Matt 39:57 – RIP Hometown Pharmacy 41:11 – Site plans approved for a new homeless shelter 41:52 – New Schuberg's menu released 🍔 42:36 – Big Rapids Computer Repair moves locations 💻 43:37 – The local jewelry heist story 💎 46:04 – Back to the Bricks (June 5) 🚗 47:00 – Free Worship Night at RezLife 🙏 48:25 – Ferris Community Concert Band kickoff 🎺 48:42 – Summerfest arrives June 6 ☀️ 51:55 – Hot dog eating contest predictions 🌭 54:00 – Chris remembers the early post-COVID Summerfest years 55:00 – Pocket Park hot dog showdown details 55:55 – Stop by the Banded Raccoon during Summerfest 56:15 – Hand of Giants at the Sawmill Saloon 🎸 57:49 – Chamber plans for Summerfest 58:15 – WUBR T-shirt design contest reminder 🎨 59:44 – Dom's viral video & local student success story 1:02:24 – Joey Chestnut and the hot dog world record 🤯 1:04:18 – Outro & goodbyes #WhatsUpBigRapids #BigRapidsMI #SupportLocal #CommunityStrong #SummerfestBR