Oxford’s 18th annual Arbor Day Celebration
OXFORD – “So Listen! From the forest, Each one a message sends, To children this Arbor Day; ‘We trees are your best friends!’” is a stanza from an Arbor Day poem read by 3 Oxford Academy art students during the 18th annual “Tree City USA” Arbor Day Celebration on April 30. The message was delivered loud and clear during the Village ceremony that involved speeches, the giving away of more than 400 seedling trees, presenting prizes to the Arbor Day poster contest winners, and a poster exhibit at 6 On The Square.
The Tree City USA flag could be seen gently waving in the breeze from the flagpole above LaFayette Park. After days of rain, the exceptionally sunny morning was very welcomed for the Arbor Day Celebration. The Oxford Village Tree Board arrived in the Park in front of the bandstand early to set things up, while residents gathered for the 9 a.m. tree give-away. Oxford Village Tree Board members who participated were John Godfrey, Roger Monaco, Gray Stevens, Dale Johnson, and Jeanie Petersen. Marian Godfrey was also there to lend a hand giving away trees. Local dignitaries attending were the honorable Oxford Village Mayor Terry Stark; and Greg Owens, the DEC Senior Forester from Sherburne. Jim Baldwin, an Oxford Lion, had his professional sound system set up in the band stand.
For this special occasion, the honorable Mayor Stark announced an Arbor Day Proclamation for the Village of Oxford. Mayor Stark said, “I urge all citizens to celebrate Arbor Day and to support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands, and further, I urge all citizens to plant trees to gladden the heart and promote the well-being of this and future generations.”
Mayor Stark also explained how Arbor Day was started many years ago. It has been carried on by John Godfrey and other members of the Tree Board to whom he expressed his appreciation.
Senior Forester Greg Owens presented the Mayor with a new National Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA flag and a Tree City USA “leaf” for their plaque (which resides in the Village Hall). Owens proudly stated, “The Village Tree Board is doing everything they can to improve their community forest.”
Oxford Academy fifth graders, winners of the 2011 local Arbor Day poster contest, Elizabeth Fuller, Aaron Rifanburg, and Keriann Velez read famous tree quotes and a lovely poem, “Trees of the Fragrant Forest,” to the crowd alongside their school’s principal, Kathleen Hansen. John Godfrey then presented the 5th grade poster winners with prize t-shirts, with their original art on them, to Keriann in third place, Aaron in second place and Elizabeth in first place. Their posters and all the other poster entries were on exhibit along with a display from the Oxford Historical Society at 6 On The Square.
John Godfrey thanked the honorable Mayor Stark; Greg Owens; Jim Baldwin, who provided the sound system; and 6 On The Square for hosting the exhibit. He also thanked the Oxford Academy students, under the direction of Ag teacher Crystal Aukema, for wrapping up the trees, and the Chenango County Soil and Water Conservation District for donating a great assortment of deciduous tree and shrub seedlings.
Tree planting instructions, printed Arbor Day posters, and USDA warning brochures about the menace, the Emerald Ash Borer beetle hand-outs were available. Last, but not least, hundreds of Frasier fir, white pine, and the Soil and Water Conservation seedlings were given away by the Tree Board members. It was a great day for tree planting.
The Tree City USA flag could be seen gently waving in the breeze from the flagpole above LaFayette Park. After days of rain, the exceptionally sunny morning was very welcomed for the Arbor Day Celebration. The Oxford Village Tree Board arrived in the Park in front of the bandstand early to set things up, while residents gathered for the 9 a.m. tree give-away. Oxford Village Tree Board members who participated were John Godfrey, Roger Monaco, Gray Stevens, Dale Johnson, and Jeanie Petersen. Marian Godfrey was also there to lend a hand giving away trees. Local dignitaries attending were the honorable Oxford Village Mayor Terry Stark; and Greg Owens, the DEC Senior Forester from Sherburne. Jim Baldwin, an Oxford Lion, had his professional sound system set up in the band stand.
For this special occasion, the honorable Mayor Stark announced an Arbor Day Proclamation for the Village of Oxford. Mayor Stark said, “I urge all citizens to celebrate Arbor Day and to support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands, and further, I urge all citizens to plant trees to gladden the heart and promote the well-being of this and future generations.”
Mayor Stark also explained how Arbor Day was started many years ago. It has been carried on by John Godfrey and other members of the Tree Board to whom he expressed his appreciation.
Senior Forester Greg Owens presented the Mayor with a new National Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA flag and a Tree City USA “leaf” for their plaque (which resides in the Village Hall). Owens proudly stated, “The Village Tree Board is doing everything they can to improve their community forest.”
Oxford Academy fifth graders, winners of the 2011 local Arbor Day poster contest, Elizabeth Fuller, Aaron Rifanburg, and Keriann Velez read famous tree quotes and a lovely poem, “Trees of the Fragrant Forest,” to the crowd alongside their school’s principal, Kathleen Hansen. John Godfrey then presented the 5th grade poster winners with prize t-shirts, with their original art on them, to Keriann in third place, Aaron in second place and Elizabeth in first place. Their posters and all the other poster entries were on exhibit along with a display from the Oxford Historical Society at 6 On The Square.
John Godfrey thanked the honorable Mayor Stark; Greg Owens; Jim Baldwin, who provided the sound system; and 6 On The Square for hosting the exhibit. He also thanked the Oxford Academy students, under the direction of Ag teacher Crystal Aukema, for wrapping up the trees, and the Chenango County Soil and Water Conservation District for donating a great assortment of deciduous tree and shrub seedlings.
Tree planting instructions, printed Arbor Day posters, and USDA warning brochures about the menace, the Emerald Ash Borer beetle hand-outs were available. Last, but not least, hundreds of Frasier fir, white pine, and the Soil and Water Conservation seedlings were given away by the Tree Board members. It was a great day for tree planting.
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