We are fast approaching the “Good Old Summertime,” my favorite time of the year. It is a time of the year for family activities with all the fun and frolics. The first step to having a more enjoyable summer is carving out time for it and putting together a plan. Make weekends real time off from the day-to-day work and activities. Turn off your email on Friday evening and don’t turn it back on until Monday morning. Say no to some time-draining requests. Remember, vacation days should be devoted to deliberate fun. Summer’s best days will be here and gone before you know it.

There are many things you can do that don’t cost a lot of money; you just need to be creative. You can explore your own city and its landmarks. There is a lot of history in our local area, including museums, local parks, hiking trails, bike trails, camping and special summer events. There is our city water park for family fun, and larger bodies of water close by for other water activities.

Start a garden or expand your existing one. Working in the garden can be very therapeutic. It is enjoyable to grow your own produce and enjoy the fresh taste of your favorite vegetables. The “know how” can be very beneficial. During the harvest you can come up with various ways of preparing them. It is amazing how much you can produce and even share with your neighbors. Zucchini squash is always very prolific!

Learn something new; the human brain is hard-wired for learning. You may be surprised to discover how much you love learning when it is a subject that truly interests you. The list of subjects is infinite.

Participate in our upcoming Cherry Days. There will be parades, sport activities, fun rides for the kids, a fun summer play called Once on this Island that is produced by local talent, and fireworks to celebrate the birth of our great country.

All in all, it is a great time of the year to spend with friends and family. I hope your summer will be enjoyable!

-Brent Chugg, Mayor