Oxford hosts 19th 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 three Oxford Academy art students during the nineteenth annual “Tree City USA” Arbor Day Celebration on April 28. 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. It was a sunny, but chilly, morning for the Arbor Day Celebration and the crab apple trees were in full bloom as if on cue. The Oxford Village Tree Board arrived in the Park in front of the bandstand 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, 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.”
Senior Forester Greg Owens presented the Mayor with a new National Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA flag, a Tree City USA “leaf” for their plaque (which resides in the Village Hall), and the Tree City Growth Award. Owens proudly stated, “It’s quite an honor this year that Oxford has won this [Growth] award. It’s really a commitment of Tree Board, citizens and Village Government that make this possible.”
The Tree City USA Growth Award is provided by The Arbor Day Foundation, in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service, to recognize environmental improvement and encourage higher levels of tree care throughout America. This award is designed not only to recognize achievement, but also to communicate new ideas and help the leaders of all Tree City USAs plan for improving community tree care.
Oxford Academy fifth graders, winners of the 2012 local Arbor Day poster contest, Drew Golden, Jazmine Brooks, and Megan Smith 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 Megan in third place, Jazmine in second place and Drew in first place. Their posters and all the other poster entries were on exhibit at 6 On The Square.
John Godfrey explained what the Tree Board does and what a “street tree” is. He urged the residents of the Village to let the Board know (by way of the Village Hall) if someone wants a street tree. The Village will make arrangements to plant a tree between the street and the curb. John went on to thank the honorable Mayor Stark; Greg Owens; Jim Baldwin, who provided the sound system; and 6 On The Square (6OTS) for hosting the poster exhibit. Although she was unable to attend, John gave credit and thanks to Charity Gipp, the Middle School art teacher, for her help with the Arbor Day posters. 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 and printed Arbor Day posters were available. Last, but not least, hundreds of Frasier fir and Norway Spruce, as well as the Soil and Water Conservation seedlings were given away by the Tree Board members. It was a great day for tree planting! Visit http://treeboard.oxfordny.com/ to learn more about the Village of Oxford Tree Board.
If you missed the Oxford Academy fifth grade Arbor Day poster exhibit, it will be at 6OTS from May 1 through May 17, before and during performances. Visit the 6OTS schedule page at www.6onthesquare.org to see when they will be open.
The Tree City USA flag could be seen gently waving in the breeze from the flagpole above LaFayette Park. It was a sunny, but chilly, morning for the Arbor Day Celebration and the crab apple trees were in full bloom as if on cue. The Oxford Village Tree Board arrived in the Park in front of the bandstand 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, 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.”
Senior Forester Greg Owens presented the Mayor with a new National Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA flag, a Tree City USA “leaf” for their plaque (which resides in the Village Hall), and the Tree City Growth Award. Owens proudly stated, “It’s quite an honor this year that Oxford has won this [Growth] award. It’s really a commitment of Tree Board, citizens and Village Government that make this possible.”
The Tree City USA Growth Award is provided by The Arbor Day Foundation, in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service, to recognize environmental improvement and encourage higher levels of tree care throughout America. This award is designed not only to recognize achievement, but also to communicate new ideas and help the leaders of all Tree City USAs plan for improving community tree care.
Oxford Academy fifth graders, winners of the 2012 local Arbor Day poster contest, Drew Golden, Jazmine Brooks, and Megan Smith 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 Megan in third place, Jazmine in second place and Drew in first place. Their posters and all the other poster entries were on exhibit at 6 On The Square.
John Godfrey explained what the Tree Board does and what a “street tree” is. He urged the residents of the Village to let the Board know (by way of the Village Hall) if someone wants a street tree. The Village will make arrangements to plant a tree between the street and the curb. John went on to thank the honorable Mayor Stark; Greg Owens; Jim Baldwin, who provided the sound system; and 6 On The Square (6OTS) for hosting the poster exhibit. Although she was unable to attend, John gave credit and thanks to Charity Gipp, the Middle School art teacher, for her help with the Arbor Day posters. 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 and printed Arbor Day posters were available. Last, but not least, hundreds of Frasier fir and Norway Spruce, as well as the Soil and Water Conservation seedlings were given away by the Tree Board members. It was a great day for tree planting! Visit http://treeboard.oxfordny.com/ to learn more about the Village of Oxford Tree Board.
If you missed the Oxford Academy fifth grade Arbor Day poster exhibit, it will be at 6OTS from May 1 through May 17, before and during performances. Visit the 6OTS schedule page at www.6onthesquare.org to see when they will be open.
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