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.”