Today is Friday, April 29, 2022

Today is National Arbor Day!

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Today partly sunny, with a high near 76°.
Tonight – A 20% chance of showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58°.
Friday – A slight chance of showers, with thunderstorms and a high near 76°.
Friday Night – A 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm  with a low around 63°.

Today is National Arbor Day!  Many holidays commemorate some event from the past, but National Arbor Day is about investing in the future. It focuses on the care and preservation of existing trees, as well as on the planting of new ones. Appropriately, it takes place during a time of the year when it is favorable to plant trees in most parts of the United States. Although National Arbor Day takes place on the last Friday of April, some states observe Arbor Day on other days. Many other countries also celebrate Arbor Day—or a similar holiday—on other days.

The holiday’s name comes from the Latin word arbor, which means tree. In 1594, the mayor of the Spanish village of Mondoñedo organized a tree-planting festival—the first festival of its kind. Another Spanish village, Villanueva de la Sierra, held the first Arbor Day in 1805.

In America, Arbor Day got its start in 1872. Julius Sterling Morton, a journalist, and his wife, Caroline, moved to Nebraska City, Nebraska, in 1854, the year Nebraska became a territory. They bought 160 acres of land, which was mostly desolate, and planted trees and shrubs on it. The topography of their land was reflective of much of the land in the Nebraska Territory, and knowing the importance of trees for fuel, building, shade, and keeping soil in place, they set out to help add trees to the landscape.

Julius Sterling Morton began writing about the value of trees in the Nebraska City News, Nebraska’s first newspaper, where he was the editor. He joined the Nebraska Board of Agriculture and at different times held various other positions in the territory—and then state—such as the Secretary of the territory. On January 7, 1872, Morton proposed to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture the idea for a day for everyone in Nebraska to plant trees. The board agreed to his proposal, but they needed to agree on a name for the day. At first, it was going to be called Sylvan Day, but in an effort to include all trees in the day and not just those in forests, Arbor Day was chosen.

On March 12, 1874, Nebraska’s Governor, Robert W. Furnas, issued a proclamation for Arbor Day. The first Arbor Day was held on April 10, 1872, to much success. It is believed that about one million trees were planted in Nebraska on the day. The Nebraska Board of Agriculture gave out prizes to individuals and counties who planted the largest amount of trees correctly. Arbor Day became an official state holiday in Nebraska in 1885. It was designated to take place on April 22, on Morton’s birthday, which also happened to be an ideal tree planting time. On the first official celebration, about 1,000 students planted trees and then marched in a parade to Nebraska City’s opera house, where Morton delivered a speech.

Meanwhile, schools across the country began observing the day by 1882. Birdsey Northrop of Connecticut is known for helping to popularize the day. In 1883, he was appointed by the American Forestry Association to be the chairman of the committee that promoted the day throughout America. That same year, he visited Japan and spread the idea for the day there. He went on to bring his message about the day to Canada, Australia, and Europe. By the end of the nineteenth century, almost all states observed Arbor Day, and by the 1920s, all states had passed laws for Arbor Day or Arbor and Bird Day.

In 1907, at the urging of conservationist Major Israel McCreight, President Theodore Roosevelt gave the “Arbor Day Proclamation to the School Children of the United States,” a statement to the school children of the country about trees and the destruction of forests. In the decades thereafter, Presidents Harding, Coolidge, and Truman issued proclamations for Arbor Day. But it wasn’t until 1970 when Arbor Day became National Arbor Day. Although the holiday had always been held towards the end of April, it was also at this time that the day began being celebrated nationally on the last Friday of the month.

In an era with an unprecedented focus on the environment, when the Environmental Protection Agency was created and the Clean Water Act and the National Environmental Protection Act were passed, Congress passed House Joint Resolution 251, which requested the president to issue a proclamation “designating the last Friday of April 1970 as National Arbor Day.” President Nixon responded by issuing Proclamation 3980, which designated Friday, April 24, 1970, as the day. Two years later, on the 100th anniversary of the first Arbor Day in the United States, Nixon once again issued a proclamation for the day. Similarly, in some subsequent years, Congressional resolutions have been passed and presidential proclamations have been issued.

Although proclamations are not issued every year, National Arbor Day is always observed on the last Friday of April. However, some states celebrate Arbor Day on dates that are more favorable for planting trees in their area. For example, some southern states observe the day in January or February, while some states in the far north do not observe it until May. Around the world, the date of Arbor Day varies depending on the climate and planting season. Additionally, various other names are given to the day besides Arbor Day. For instance, Israel celebrates New Year’s Day of the Trees, Korea marks Tree-Loving week, India observes the National Festival of Tree Planting, and Iceland holds Students’ Afforestation Day.

Upcoming Fundraisers and Events

The location for Name That Tune Remixed is being relocated to Fat Edd’s (upstairs) due to the potential for rain. Everything else is the same.

On Friday, April 29th, beginning at 6 PM, upstairs at Fat Edds Roadhouse will host Name That Tune Remixed! This event will benefit the Metropolis Chamber of Commerce.

NEW; Join the Metropolis Elks Lodge #1428  as they celebrate the return of warm weather and the summer months just around the corner. Bring your friends for a fun night out that’s close to home!

Dine-In or To-Go Pork Burgers and more will be served up from 5pm – 8pm. – Single Pork Burger – $5 – Pork Burger w/ sides – $8

Be sure to wear your favorite beach attire (especially comfortable shoes) as Chad Lewis will be DJing beginning at 8pm. This event is open to the public.

MAY

New; On May 7, the Metropolis American Legion Post will be hosting a meal for all vets and their families between 4PM and 7PM. All veterans are invited to bring their families for burgers, hot dogs, bar

On May 7,  from 7A until 12P the Massac County Home and Community Education will be having a Benefit Sale. The Benefit Sale will take place at the Massac County Community Center on Korte Rd. This will be a great time to select Mother’s Day gifts, special bargains, crafts, and garden plants. All proceeds will go to HCE to help with programs they offer in the community.

Free Advice from an Attorney: Lawyer In The Library, Metropolis Public Library

Each day patrons across Illinois represent themselves in court. Many turn to their local public library to print forms, find legal information, and ask for help navigating legal self-help websites.

Beginning in May, 2022 patrons who wish to represent themselves in court, or have a legal matter to discuss, will have the opportunity for a private, 20-minute, face-to-face consultation with Attorney Julian Valdes through the Lawyer in the Library program offered at the Metropolis Public Library, 317 Metropolis Street in Metropolis, IL.

There is no fee for the Lawyer in the Library and pre-registration is required. Please pre-register with the library in person or online. Please bring any paperwork pertaining to your legal matter, if applicable. The only requirement for participation is the patron must reside in one of the nine counties of the Illinois First Judicial Circuit which includes Alexander, Jackson, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union, and Williamson Counties.

The Lawyer in the Library program will be held 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm on the following Mondays: May 9, May 23, June 6, June 20, July 11, and July 25.

For more information about this program you may call Director Rosemary Baxter at the Metropolis Public Library at 618-524-4312 or Brenda Sprague at the Office of the Chief Judge at 618-997-1234.

Thank you to the following individuals: First Judicial Circuit Chief Judge William J. Thurston and Massac County Presiding Judge Cord Wittig for their support of this program; Attorney Julian Valdes with Reed, Heller & Cannell Attorneys at Law for his service to the community; to the Metropolis Public Library Director Rosemary Baxter for her dedication to the program, helping patrons with legal information, and overseeing this program locally; and the Metropolis Public Library staff members for their help in making this program run smoothly and successfully.

Funding for this program was made possible through a grant from the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice and the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts Access to Justice Division. The Self-Represented Litigant Grant Coordinator is Brenda Sprague, Office of the Chief Judge, First Judicial Circuit.

JUNE

The 2022 Vienna City-Wide Yard Sale will take place on Friday and Saturday, June 3rd and 4th.

On Friday, June 10th beginning at 5AM – The Super Museum Presents Hidden Gems SUPER mini Con Everyone is invited to come out to the Hidden Gems Super Mini Con and meet actors Jeff East, Jack O’Halloran, and Douglas B Myers. The Hidden Gems Super Mini Con coincides with the 44th Annual Superman Celebration. there will be vendors food and all sorts of festivities. Tour the world famous Super Museum and shop Hidden Gems Novelty and Collectibles.

On Saturday, June 11th at 8AM the Superman Bicycle Ride will take place at Washington Park.   10, 40, and 60 mile rides with rest stops and “sag wagon” support. The Superman Bicycle Ride is a tour through historic Massac County in southern Illinois. Come explore the countryside surrounding the Home of Superman — Metropolis, IL, located on the banks of the Ohio River, along I-24, halfway between St. Louis, MO, and Nashville, TN. Parts of the routes follow the old Ohio River bed before the channel changed its course hundreds of years ago. Enjoy the country charm as you pass by this majestic farmland.

Metropolis Art Classes Summer Camp 2022 – Monday, June 13th: Stuffed Pet Camp (morning or afternoon session) – Bring your favorite small (think beanie baby size) stuffed animal to camp! We will be making a home and accessories for your little buddy.

Monday, June 20th: Robot Camp (morning or afternoon session)
Monday, June 27th: Landscapes on Canvas (morning or afternoon session)

-Suggested age: 1st grade and up, $15 per student covers all supplies, Message on Facebook or email kortneykennedy@gmail.com to reserve a spot, Minimum class size of 4, maximum of 9

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