National Beach Day

Enjoy a Florida summer beach day to celebrate National Beach Day today! National Beach Day was created in 2014 to raise public awareness of the beauty of beaches while also calling attention to keeping them clean and safe. To celebrate yet honor beaches, remember: enjoy the beach, leave nothing behind. See the list below for some suggestions of Pandhandle beaches you could visit:

  • Navarre Beach
  • Henderson Beach State Park
  • Pensacola Beach
  • St. Andrews State Park
  • Seagrove Beach
  • Grayton Beach State Park
  • Okaloosa Island

National Dog Day 2023

Duke, one of Debbie’s furry family members.

National Dog Day was first established in 2004 by pet advocate Colleen Paige. Now, it is an annual celebration of our beloved pets and a day of advocacy for those who are waiting for their forever homes in shelters or foster homes. In honor of our four-legged friends, let’s look at some quick dog facts!

JD, another of Debbie’s dogs.
  • A dog’s nose print is unique, much like a person’s fingerprint.
  • Speaking of noses, a dog’s nose has as many as 300 million receptors! For reference, a human nose has about 5 million.
  • Dogs curl up in a ball when sleeping to protect their organs — a genetic instinct that lingers from their days in the wild when they were vulnerable to predator attacks during sleeping hours.
  • Dogs are not actually color-blind. They can see blue and yellow! 
  • When dogs kick backward after they go to the bathroom, they are not covering their excrement but marking their territory using scent glands in their feet. 

Celebrate Ice Cream

Today is National Soft Ice Cream Day! This annual event celebrates ice cream and all the happy memories it has facilitated. Remember late-night ice cream runs with friends? Enjoying the first cone of the summer? The joy of dippin’ dots when visiting NASA? Ice cream pops up in the happiest of places. 

Ice cream wasn’t available to the general public until the 1800s thanks to the creation of ice houses and other cold storage constructions. Nowadays, it’s a lot easier to enjoy your favorite soft serve. Looking for a creamery to visit today in celebration? While you can find chain creameries such as Baskin Robbins and Dairy Queen almost anywhere, visiting locally-owned ice cream parlors is worthy of a special occasion. See the list below for some suggestions across the Florida Panhandle.

National Black Cat Appreciation Day

Tomorrow is National Black Cat Appreciation Day! Black cats have a long, varied history among the civilizations of the world. Black cats are positive omens for some cultures while symbolizing bad luck in others. Perhaphs the most prevalent lore around black cats here in the USA is their believed connection to witches. This supersition was brought to the United States by the Puritans; they believed that all black cats were shape-shifting witches. The fear was so strong it became common to burn black cats on Shrove Tuesday to protect one’s home from fires. 

Nowadays, black cats are just as treasured and precious as any of our beloved pets. However, they still face predjuce due to centuries of misconceptions; they are more likely to be euthanized at kill-shelters and are the least likely to be adopted. There are a number of studies demonstrating the “black cat bias.”

Celebrate black cats by: 

  • Sharing adoptable black cats on social media.
  • Volunteer time or resources to local shelters.
  • Adopt, don’t shop!
  • Share a fun fact about black cats. 

4th of July (2023)

Happy Fourth of July!

Also known as Independence Day, the 4th of July has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941. The celebration itself goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution. Congress made it a federal holiday in 1870. The 1870 provision expanded to grant paid holiday leave to all federal employees in 1941. Nowadays, people celebrate with food, friends, family, and fireworks! Be sure to celebrate safely; never leave animals or children unattended when setting off fireworks, have a water hose on hand for accidents, and don’t play with fire if you’re drinking alcohol. Have a lovely holiday!

Father’s Day 2023

Happy Father’s Day! Did you know that Father’s Day wasn’t declared a national holiday until 1972? It was first introduced to Congress in 1913 but failed to gain tractor or public favor for quite some time. Public opinion scoffed at the idea of celebrating fathers as they did mothers – there was a perceived softness to mothers that the culture of the time didn’t associate with the more stoic, reserved role of fatherhood. In fact, former President Woodrow Wilson once referred to Mother’s Day as a way to recognize “that tender, gentle army – the mothers of America.”

Father’s Day gained traction in part because of the advocacy of Grace Golden Clayton and Sonora Smart Dodd. The Great Depression and World War II pushed Father’s Day into the cultural consciousness and helped the day become commercially important. Additionally, the changing roles of fathers clinched the deal for Father’s Day; the modern role of a father is growing evermore removed from its historical roots. Now, the day is spent celebrating fathers and father figures who provide critical support during a child’s life. There is a growing field of study showing the direct and indirect effects of fathers on children’s well-being. 

National Homeownership Month

June is National Homeownership Month! It celebrates the value that owning a home brings to families, communities, and neighborhoods across America. It helps spread the joys of being a homeowner and encourages others to achieve the same thing. Did you know that most Americans had no way of owning a home in the 1800s? Mortgages became common after the U.S. banking system came into being as a result of the 1860s National Bank Acts.

Arbor Day Tree Giveaway Event

Next weekend is Arbor Day! First celebrated in Nebraska in 1874, Arbor Day is dedicated to planting trees and celebrating their various roles in the world. Trees do a lot including but not limited to boosting our mental health, eating greenhouse gases, cooling the areas around them, supporting wildlife, and cleaning the air!

To celebrate, Panama City Quality of Life is working with IFAS to give FREE trees to Bay County citizens. This offer is only good while supplies last, so come out early to secure your River Birch or Red Maple! The tree giveaway will be held from 9am-1pm at McKenzie Park. There will also be a free kid craft and tree planting kit at Oaks by the Bay Park from 10-11am while supplies last. Learn more by visiting the Facebook event page here

National Pet Day 2023

Duke, one of Debbie’s furry family members.

Today is National Pet Day! Founded by Colleen Paige in 2006, it’s an annual opportunity to celebrate our animal friends. Paige is an animal welfare advocate and pet-and-family lifestyle expert who wanted to bring attention to the growing needs of many unhoused pets who are waiting to be adopted from shelters.

One of many sweet kitties who live with Debbie.

These animals include more than the standard dogs and cats; rabbits, pigs, birds, and many reptiles are often taken in by shelters or rescue organizations. The phrase “Don’t Shop! Adopt!” is the holiday’s motto. Celebrate National Pet Day by doing your furry family member(s) favorite things, volunteering at an animal welfare organization, or donating resources to no-kill shelters or rescue centers in your area. 

JD, one of Debbie’s furry family members.

National School Librarian Day

National School Librarian Day is observed internationally on April 4th. The importance of school librarians is often overlooked by the general population. However, since 1992, school library impact studies have consistently shown positive correlations between high-quality library programs and higher student achievement (Gretes, 2013; Scholastic, 2016). School librarians help keep libraries well-stocked, organized, and clean. They’re also a key resource for students; they assist in research, provide a safe space to study, and often more. Support your local libraries and librarians by donating books and time, and supporting politicians who prioritize library sciences.