First of all -- we're sorry. We didn't mean to take off two episodes, but forgive us, the City of Auburn was dealing with a bit of uh...flooding, if you will. Perhaps you remember? It was a busy three-week stretch for us. SO, we had to put this on the backburner for a bit but...we're back!

For this episode, we're saying goodbye to the person behind the look and feel of Auburn's brand and printed communications -- Mr. Kevin McCoy! Kevin has been with the City of Auburn Communications Division since early 2023 and has had a hand in creating some of the city's most iconic brands and materials, like the Postmark Center for the Arts logo and the look and feel of the Auburn Magazine. His work can be seen throughout the city from hanging banners over Main Street, postcards in the mail, graphics on social media and websites, and so much more.

Oh also, we're happy to WELCOME BACK ANGEE! Angee has finally returned from her honeymoon and is back making all sorts of content on City of Auburn socials -- if you don't follow us, I recommend ameliorating that immediately because she's already going viral on Facebook and Instagram.

Well lads, we did it -- we got the big guy in red in the studio. It didn't take much, really, just a few well-placed milk and cookies sweet treats. We did have to make the breakdcrumb stretch from the north pole to Auburn, but as you can see and hear, it was all worth it. Santa joins us to talk about the OTHER City of Auburn Santa event on the horizon, Breakfast with Santa. He's joined by Parks Coordinator Ashley Gain who alongside Santa, makes sure all the kids and parents are well fed and leave happy and satisfied. While he was here, we couldn't help but ask him about the parade, which is this Saturday -- can't wait to see you along Main Street and City Hall Plaza.

Stick around for more Santa trivia. And breakfast. Cause why not?

Yes, I know, you're thinking -- Santa? Christmas? Boy, it ain't even Thanksgiving yet. Well, just calm down a second because much like Target or Walmart or even Winco, we gotta start preparing for the next season before the current one is over, and yes, that means getting ready for our Lighted Santa Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony. It's right around the corner on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 4:30 p.m. in downtown Auburn, and here to talk all about it is the City of Auburn's newest special events coordinator, Mackenzie Mullen! You might recognize that name because Mackenzie was on our show a few months ago as an intern! Well, she's back and freshly in her new full-time role, ready to talk about the parade and other events coming down the stream. Stick around to the end to test your holiday/Santa Parade trivia and we'll see in December!

Chester and Jonathan are joined this week by Matthew Colpitts, the City of Auburn's newest Emergency Manager! Matthew is a few months into the job and is already in the weeds of making sure the city is well-prepared for any and all disasters. Most accutely, the upcoming fall/winter seasons, namely any heavy rain, wind or snowstorms! Perhaps you remember the past two weekends, when we had atmospheric rivers in the Puget Sound region? Well, Matthew helped us prepare and manage that weather event and had it gotten partiuclarly ugly, would have helped manage the crisis and the clean up. His job doesn't stop there, either -- he's preparing us for the "Really Big One," the lahars from Mt. Rainier's eventual meltdown, and so much more.

Stick around to see if Matthew can Best the Chest on emergency preparedness trivia (hint: yes, probably, right? rightttt?????).

Chester and Jonathan are joined by Kjerstin Lange, the City of Auburn's fitness coordinator! Somehow she'd avoided coming onto the show for over two years but don't worry, we finally caught her. In addition to leading all of Auburn's fitness, she also oversees several large-scale events, including, of course, the Halloween Harvest Festival and Trunk or Treat! It's coming up this Saturday at Les Gove Park, so tune in to learn why you (and your kids, duh) should check it out. Stick around to hear about why you should also check out our low-cost fitness options, and why it's never been a better time to bike in Auburn.

Jonathan and Chester are joined this week by Auburn Riverside High School seniors Narina Pogosian and Ashlyn Holst. These two super incredibly amazingly talented thespians have girl bossed their way through Riverside's theater program and are headlining the production of The Music Man this fall (more info and showtimes and all that available on their Facebook, yes Gen Z still uses Facebook sometimes: https://www.facebook.com/AuburnRiversideTheatreArts/).

Hear about their musical journey from playing a fork in Beauty and the Beast to belting Shipoopi at the top of their lungs. And, their time in Auburn Riverside High School (RPOE).

Stick around till the end to see how they do in trivia and stick around to the VERY end to hear them slay the first 30 or so seconds of "What is this Feeling"? from Wicked.

Welcome back Angee!!!! That's right, our summer interns from 2024 is BACK at the City of Auburn and this time joining our team as our brand new social media and marketing specialist. What's that mean? It means she's taking over the city's social media feeds to bring you all of the information you'll ever need to know. And, she's gonna look great and have fund doing it (sorry not sorry).

If you don't follow us on social media, that's really a shame and there's nothing I can really say execept big yikes. Let's not be weird about it and just follow us before we cyberbully you any further. https://linktr.ee/cityofauburnwa

Listen till the end for some social media trivia and we'll see you in two weeks for episode 54!

This week Chester and Jonathan are joined by a prococious little thespian named Daryl Bartlett, a consistent and opinionated member of the Auburn youth theater camps. Daryl just wrapped up the latest production, Suessical Jr., where she played Yertle the Turtle. You'd be forgiven for not knowing that this version of Yertle was a punk rocker in ripped jeans and a beanie, but after watching this episode, you'll learn why. Stick around for some Gen Alpha trivia and yet another reminder that HOPS AND CROPS IS THIS WEEKEND!!!!

Every summer, over a dozen camp counselors work around the clock at our City of Auburn Parks, Arts and Recreation department to do it all -- look after your kids, teach your kids, mentor your kids, feed your kids, and most importantly, wear them out so they're kind and docile by the end of the day. But really though, City of Auburn summer camps are the bees knees and today we're joined by counselors Maddy Lindsay and Simon Berry, two strapping young Gen Zers who have spent years overseeing camps at the City. We chat about why it's a great program, why the kids have so much fun, and why becoming a slow rapper is every boy's dream.

We finish strong with COA camp trivia, so stick around and test your knowledge of this amazing sumemr program! Keep this page bookmarked for next spring and sign up once camps open! But be quick -- they go fast. https://www.auburnwa.gov/city_hall/parks_arts_recreation/recreation/summer_camps

Want to get notified when things happen? Sign up for email alerts: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WAAUBURN/subscriber/new

Chester and Jonathan are joined this week by Next Step Auburn interns Van Nguyen and Taelor Fry, two loud and proud members of the Gen Z generation. Is there a 100% chance that when they read this descrption, they'll think it's mega cringe? Yep. Do I care? Nope. Taelor and Van share their insights (so far) of the Next Step Auburn internship program and all of the slay things they've learned along the way. They'll get into how they got here, what they're doing, and where they're headed. Also, if there's a way to turn this into a strictly Love Island podcast, they'd gladly return.