We've been so very lucky to have Becky Biesiada with us since almost day one of the Muskegon Channel and here dedication and willingness to continue to innovate and entertain while providing an amazing workout that you don't have to pay a nickle for every week is to be commended and applauded.  

Oscar Osbo has been in broadcasting for a long, long time.  A career in radio that went for years led to his own enterprise of video production and freelance work.  One thing about Oscar, he's done a great job remaining friends with those he's worked with all along the way.

It may come as a complete shock!  Ok, no it won't.  But we tried for an eye popping first line!  Like most everything adapt and overcome had to be the mantra of one of Muskegon's biggest and best showcases every year which features all of our favorite things!  Let's list them.  Food.  Music.  Beverages.  Hackley Park.  Togetherness.  Helping small business.  Marveling at our growth.  Seeing new things.  Tasting new things. Inviting new people in.  Shall I go on?  If you are a fan of Taste of Muskegon, like anything, in 2020, it's going to have a different format, but don't think for a second that all of what you know and love about it is lost!  Far from it.  In fact, it might be a great way to get even MORE out of this event!  

It's an exciting event for us!!  We were honored to be asked a couple years ago to be the first ever to show the Mona Shores Singing Christmas Tree, live from the Frauenthal Center as it happened and as this year has unfolded, and left us all wondering what was next for some of our favorite events and school functions, when Shores asked if we'd be interested in debuting the Spring show too, we didn't even blink before we said "How do we help?"

We've been very fortunate in our working relationship with our area schools!  Two years ago, we had the first chance ever to show the world the spectacle of the Mona Shores Singing Christmas Tree live as the final performance of the season happened and at it's peak during that first year, there were 10,000 plus streams open on every corner of the Earth watching America's Tallest Singing Christmas Tree happen from the beautiful and historic Frauenthal Center in Downtown Muskegon.  It was easily the biggest undertaking we ever went after and we took our end of things as serious as the preparation that went in to the performance of the Tree it self, and it sure paid off. 

Long ago, there was this kid who walked into a radio station one day and wanted a job.  He was willing to do anything and settled on an internship figuring that it was a foot in the door, and that at bare minimum, at least he'd be around radio people to go along with all the weekend dances he dj'd at schools or clubs or wherever he could find a place to play his records and tapes.  CD's were just starting to be a "thing".  He wouldn't leave and after a while, they figured if they gave him $6 bucks an hour for handing out bumper stickers after concerts and staying behind and running the music while the real DJ was doing a live broadcast at some appliance store, well, maybe he'd quit begging for food.  That was 1989 and 1990.

On the staff at the Muskegon Channel you see quite a few of us in front of the camera.  You also hear some of us on the radio.  But as we work to grow and continue to follow our belief that "We've Got a New Story To Tell" about Muskegon, there are some who shy away from the spotlight most of the time.  There are occasional photos that pop up, but like most true artists, and perfectionists our own Derek Wong is generally his happiest making things look awesome and adding the special touches that us "content creators" are kinda busy worrying about other things to notice. 

In West Michigan, we are remarkably fortunate to have the Celebration Cinema Theaters as a spot for gathering to see the movies that make up our lives.  It's a company that recently celebrated 75 years of bringing a premium movie going experience to audiences in our area and they are an industry leader when it comes to technology, amenities and offering programming past just what's on the "now playing marquee.  In Muskegon specifically we're lucky to have Cinema Carousel but we have the sacred grounds of the Getty 4 Drive In which is something that's hard to find anywhere in the country anymore.  We've had an awesome partner in the Loeks family for a long time.

Not long ago, a friend of mine an I were taunting back and forth on Facebook and he called me a "washed up old dj."  It was totally in good fun, but it got me to thinking about some of the stuff that "washed up old dj's have that no one else does.  You know, those things that people seem to love, but somehow got lost in time and as things change, well, those things that made us comfortable and fun...they just fade away.  Well, we hang on to some of that stuff.

Last year, we had our eyes opened up to the world of competitive robotics when the MARS 4004 Rovers team invited us out to do a story on their team and highlight the work and effort the young people from different area schools put in to battle it out in a local, state and regional and national level to see who can build the most competitive machine piloted by the most talented team.  It's all part of STEM learning and the hands on approach for these young people is AMAZING!

Today Paranormal Muskegon sat down with Darren Dykhouse and Jamie Rae of Lakeshore Paranormal, a ghost-hunting team and Paranormal Youtubers in Muskegon. Ghost-hunting has become quite popular and it seems there is no shortage of them in Michigan. Most use a variety of instruments in their search for them but Lakeshore Paranormal is one of the few that rely on their abilities to sense and communicate with the spirit world in their pursuit of the unknown in addition to using devices that pick up ghostly manifestations. Darren Dykhouse is an empath and Jamie Rae is a psychic medium. They agreed to talk with us about their work and shared a few hair-raising stories of the spirits they encountered while on the hunt. 

The advice week in and week out is the same - "Warm up, stretch out and consult your Dr. to make sure if you're ready for this or any other workout".  It's the boiler plate line for any workout program but what is proper stretching?  Becky will show you in episode 135 of Fit and Healthy With Becky on The Muskegon Channel. 

It was a splendid night again at Smash Wine Bar and Bistro in Downtown Muskegon as we rolled out the 14th episode of Muskegon Tonight Live!!  A cold February night didn't keep a decent crowd away as Restaurant Week was kicking off in Muskegon and everyone enjoyed the great food and drink that Smash is known for.

To follow up on some of the stories of ghostly happenings around the Muskegon area, Paranormal Muskegon wanted to ask some experts about it, so we contacted the West Michigan Paranormal Team to see what exactly what, if anything, is haunting Muskegon.  West Michigan Paranormal Team is comprised of Deanna Headley and Candi Hess, have done a number of paranormal investigations in the Muskegon area as well as other states over the last few years. Lovers of everything mysterious, paranormal or ghostly, these brave and personable ladies spend their weekends investigating reports of hauntings and ghostly shenanigans around the Muskegon area, from darkened cemeteries to Muskegon’s iconic historical buildings as well as private residences; all to find some ghostly apparitions or strange phenomenon. 

It's an event that's been building steam and flavor for a few years now.  Tiffany Woods Apartments has been hosting an chili cook off and competition for a few years in their beautiful club house.  It's been well attended by the residents there and every year, a few more pots full of the best secret recipes and family famous chili have come with their game face on to be judged by the blue ribbon panel as well as the attendees of the get together.  

It was a great night to celebrate a couple of things.  First, the one year anniversary of Muskegon Tonight Live!  Yep!  January of 2019 we got things underway in the middle of the "Polar Vortex" we were enduring at the time.  Not many people were out doing anything for a good week at the time, but we had a decent crowd turn out for our first episode and outside of the "little teeny tiny" problem Andy had in December, we've made Hometown Hospitality venues our home since!  Both Smash and Pub 111 in Whitehall have been outstanding and we're going to be back all year at both!