OXFORD - The Oxford Village Tree Board will be holding its 32nd “Tree City USA” and Arbor Day Celebration on Saturday, April 26, starting at 9 a.m., at the LaFayette Park bandstand. Plans (rain or shine) include a proclamation, Tree City USA flag and plaque presentation, and a giveaway of seedling trees and shrubs.

The Oxford Village Tree Board encourages families and individuals to have a planting celebration of their own on Arbor Day.

The very first Arbor Day was founded 150 years ago by J. Morton Sterling. On the centennial of the first Arbor Day observance, in 1972, the National Arbor Day Foundation was created. Since then, they have become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, making an impact through conservation and education programs.

The National Arbor Day Foundation has named Oxford a "Tree City USA", for the thirty-second year in a row! One of the standards for that designation is that the community must have a tree board, which the village has. The Oxford Village Tree Board members are Courtney Emerson, Gray Stevens, Jeanie Petersen, Sandy Dain, David Branham, Leslie Renfrow, and John Godfrey, emeritus. Accepting the Tree City USA flag and award from the DEC Forester, Brian Burlew, will be the honorable Village of Oxford Mayor Terry M. Stark.

Another standard that the Foundation requires is observing an Arbor Day event. The Village Tree Board enjoys coordinating this ceremony with a tree giveaway. The North American native seedling trees that were chosen are: Frasier Fir, a hardy evergreen “Christmas” tree; Sugar Maple, the primary source of maple syrup; and native White Birch, noted for its attractive smooth white bark. The Board has also opted for some colorful flowering deciduous shrub seedlings: Lilac, Rose of Sharon, and the Eastern Red Bud as part of the giveaway. The seedlings will be wrapped in moist newspaper. All you will need to do is pick a spot and dig a hole. Don’t be late though, rain or shine, quite often the seedlings are gone in minutes!

The Oxford Village Tree Board and National Arbor Day Foundation encourage you to “plant, nurture and celebrate trees!” Visit http://treeboard.oxfordny.com/ to learn more about the Village of Oxford Tree Board. Contact the Tree Board through the Village Hall at: (607) 843-2512 or email:vgoxford@stny.rr.com