Local show marks 20th anniversary, celebrates swing era with six hour special

Flying Home with Ronnie Paul marked its 20th anniversary on Dec. 5, 2025 with a six hour live broadcast that filled airwaves and screens across Fresno County. The program, which began as a Saturday night radio show before moving to television on Dec. 17, 2005, carried music, guest appearances and retrospectives that traced its evolution and its contribution to keeping big band and swing era music alive in the Central Valley.

The anniversary special aired on Cocola Broadcasting Channel 43.8, on Comcast Channel 378, and streamed online at cocolatv.com, making the program reachable to audiences who rely on over the air viewing as well as those who use cable or the internet. That mix of distribution mattered for older adults and low income households who often face barriers to subscription services, and for musicians and venue workers whose livelihoods are tied to local cultural programming.

Local coverage of the event pointed to longevity and community support as central to the show's persistence. For many long time listeners and viewers, the program has offered continuity through social change, a predictable space for memory and shared musical traditions. Public health researchers and community service providers note that such cultural continuity can play a role in mental health, social cohesion, and cognitive stimulation for older adults, particularly when programming is accessible without high cost or advanced technology.

The anniversary also underscored broader issues of arts funding and media access in Fresno County. Local musicians who perform swing and big band repertoire face shrinking venue availability and limited rehearsal spaces. Community based broadcasters and local programs like Flying Home provide not only exposure for those artists, but also a public good that supports cultural equity by making niche traditions visible across diverse neighborhoods.

As Fresno County looks to support aging residents and build resilient cultural ecosystems, the program's two decades on air suggest the value of investment in local media infrastructure, community partnerships, and accessible programming. The Dec. 5 celebration was a reminder that public access to culture is tied to public wellbeing, and that preserving musical heritage benefits listeners, performers, and the social fabric of the region.