Longer Days and Warmer Nights: Summer Starts Here!

Welcome back to Haven 444. We're so glad you're here. This is our community podcast about all the things that are taking place in Lynhaven. This city of 21,000 and growing. This week we're just going to take a little bit of a pause and look at the fact that we launched the podcast in April. And we have been just a little bit then uh more than delighted with those of you who have downloaded the podcast, loved it, keep returning. And the amazing thing is this check this out. The small community podcast. This little thing we call our community, our neighborhood, right? It has now been downloaded and listened to in 10 countries and 68 cities. And yeah, we're a little proud of that. Not only that, people keep coming back. They're not listening to just one episode, they're coming back for more. So whether you're originally from one haven and you're living in another city, or you have grandparents, or grandchildren that live here, or just friends that live here that you'd love to come visit. We just appreciate you being part of our community also. So for the locals, thank you for returning and spreading the word. And for those of you who are a little bit farther down the road, thank you also for being a part of our life and our living in this city by the bay. It's amazing how many things that we have covered in just the few short weeks that we've been recording. We'd been able to visit with our local historian and share a few of his memories.

I'm Jack Owen Cutchins. My parents moved here, myself and my sisters, in December of 1949. My aunt, she was actually an artist. She painted a huge mural that's at Harry Jackson Lodge, and she painted governor's images that are around in some city Lynnhaven mayors. She painted portraits for them. And also she was the first lady to run for mayor of Lynhaven. My earliest recollection is living there and then walking down the middle of Oho Avenue to go to school and not having to worry about traffic.

We've also talked about our canopy and how we lost so much of that during Hurricane Michael and how it affects our infrastructure, how it affects our stormwater. How our ground needs, yes, it needs roots, and we need those trees. So we've covered the tree giveaway where we had our community just turn up in droves first come, first serve, grab trees, go plant them, and then listen to stories of locals who said, You see that tree over there? I was a boy and I climbed that tree. And they come back and bring their children and grandchildren to stand in front of that tree and take a picture with them. Those are neighborhood moments that, yeah, we're a little fond of. And yes, it's golf cart friendly, the old Bailey Bridge, which is now our walking bridge. And so there are people having a great time in their golf carts and doing things together, and we're looking forward to visiting with them and upcoming shows. Also, we have some incredible storytellers that are going to be sitting down with us talking about their earliest memories of Lynn Haven next week. But all that going on this past spring, all those wonderful things that took place, the opening day of baseball. Wonderful. And seeing all those kids, those little leaguers out there, those little tots playing baseball and loving it. If you haven't seen the photographs from that, please go to our Facebook page, City of Lynnhaven, and look at the wonderful pictures that Ty Ferris, our director of Parks and Grands, who also is a masterful photographer, go look at the pictures of those happy faces. You can't do it and not smile. So if you weren't there for opening day, or you haven't been to Bayou Preserve, or you haven't walked the Bailey Bridge, or maybe you haven't grabbed a tree at a tree giveaway, just stay with us and find out things going on in the community that you can be a part of. And here's a few other things that you have to look forward to. Friday night. Yes. It's called the Rainchuck Revival. And the Will Thompson Band. One of our favorites is playing the makeup show. You'll be in Sheffield Park June 5th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Yes, it's a concert. Yes, it's free. Yes, there are food trucks. And there's also going to be people there in the community that are every age. Everyone's out. Kids, babies, grandparents, parents, friends, old acquaintances, and the people who call this place home. Another great event that we have coming up this weekend is June 6 on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. This incredible program called Play It Forward. It's a youth sports equipment swap and community day. We are delighted for those who come to join us for a fun day filled with games, activities, food, and free sports gear and equipment. Did you get that? Free sports gear and equipment. Now I also want to shout out to our sponsors for making this possible for children to receive the sports equipment that they otherwise might not be able to obtain and would not be able to participate. So it is hosted by Coastal Waste and Recycling, United Way of Northwest Florida. It's presented by Pepsi. We'd like to thank the St. Joe Community Foundation, HCA Florida Gulf Coast Hospital, and Dick Sporting Goods for contributing and making all of this possible. Please come out, please join. Even if you don't have a youth who needs equipment, you're going to enjoy seeing them have a good time and be probably just a little excited to be laying hands on sports equipment they've needed and wanted. So please come out, join the community for something that is another event that Lynn Haven's very proud to host. If you're new to Lynn Haven, you may not realize that we have an incredible sports complex with programming for adults and for children of all ages. Right now there's just a few days left to register for the adult softball leagues. There is a Men and Women's Co-ed League, a Women's League, and a men's league. So be a part of something that's going to be a lot of fun. Even if you're not playing, showing up and watching is going to be a great time. There's also basketball programs going on, the pickleball courts are open, life is good, people are active, and the community is involved. So this episode has been just a pause to think about where we've been, what we've learned about our community. The things we didn't even know that we had this great Sherman imitational golf tournament that's been going on for 99 years. So next year, the Hundred. We hope that so many more people in Lynnhaven will know about this treasure. There's something powerful about understanding where our community has been. And the stories of yesterday shape the experiences of today. They remind us that every generation contributes. Another chapter to the story of Len Avon. Of course, summer on the Gulf Coast brings more than longer evenings and family gatherings. And June also marks the beginning of hurricane season. Preparation has always been a part of life along the coast, and one of the simplest things we can do is make sure our trees are healthy and storm ready before the peak of the season arrives. It's practical advice, and you'll find more of that every week on the City of Lynnhaven Facebook page. Just tips and reminders of things to do to prepare in case another storm, a serious storm, fights us. And preparations are underway for one of our favorite traditions, the 4th of July. From the city's parade to the fireworks, Independence Day remains one of those special moments when our community gathers together to celebrate both country and hometown. Whether you're attending a concert, cheering from the sidelines, enjoying a walk through one of our parks, or simply spending time with family and friends, this summer has a way of bringing people together. Now, before we close, we'd like to introduce a new Haven 444 feature. We're calling Postcards from Home and Away. When we realize so many of you were listening, we're delighted to discover listeners from Well Beyond Lynnhaven. We don't know how it started or who you are, but please just drop us a postcard to City Hall. Address to Haven 444, and it'll find us. You can also email us at haven444 at cityoflenhaven.com. Tell us where you're listening from and what brought you to Haven 444. Community stories have a way of traveling farther than we expect, and we'd love to hear yours. We hope you take time this summer to enjoy the places, people, and traditions that make Lenhaven special. Whether it's concerts or ball games, parks or fireworks, or just quiet moments by the water. These are the threads that we weave together that make up the story of our community. Thank you for joining us for another episode. We hope you enjoy the longer days and warmer nights. And we'll see you around town. Our city, our story.