The Fourth of July usually brings three ‘Fs’ to mind: fireworks, food and friends.

I just got back from a trip out east to visit my sister. She lives in an historic area so our time was filled with visiting museums and national landmarks. On my trip I began thinking about what all of this means and, with the upcoming holiday, the real importance of the Fourth of July.

The most important ‘F’ came to mind: Freedom.

I want to make sure that my children and family don’t forget the real reason we are celebrating the Fourth this year. As we go to the parades, cookouts and our family tradition at the Field of Flight, I’ll make sure to remind them why we shoot off fireworks and time spent with family and friends.

I wish everyone a very happy and safe Fourth of July!

Cassie has been out of town for the past few weeks exploring other parts of the country.

I am the e-Marketing Manager for the Convention and Visitors Bureau and thought that I would take this opporunity to share some of the exciting additions we have added to our web site.

We have a new photo upload system. This allows you to go in and add your own photos from your adventures around Calhoun County. Be sure to leave a brief description of what you are doing!

We also added our County Videos! This is where I go around the county to show you what is really going on. You can check out everything from Cornwell's Turkeyville USA to the Battle Creek Field of Flight!

Our online store is also a hit! Be sure to check out some items you can buy and use on a daily basis - all from Battle Creek!

So if you have any questions - please visit our site at www.battlecreekvisitors.org and check it all out! Feel free to contact as well at info@battlecreekvisitors.org!

This community has many hidden treasures and today, I was able to discover one of them. One of the organizations I work with rented a motor coach and we went on a historical city tour of Battle Creek.

I had no idea the extent of the history in this town. We learned everything from the Seventh Day Adventists, how it affected the creation of cereal and cereal moguls Kellogg and Post, as well as Battle Creek being a stop on the Underground Railroad.

For example, did you know that that there’s an old building by the Federal Center (which was formally the Percy Jones Army Hospital and before that the Battle Creek Sanitarium) where guests of the Sanitarium used to sneak out to? The Sanitarium was basically a health spa so any unhealthy acts were prohibited. This building was an escape for these patients where they would smoke their cigars, play poker and indulge in adult beverages. Dr. Kellogg quickly caught on to them and referred to them and the building as the ‘Sinners Club.’

There is so much unique history in this community that I urge you to take yourself, or your friends and family, to discover how this town came to be. The CVB has a variety of brochures on this history and even a walking tour that provides some information.