More than 50 people assembled Thursday morning in the Lady Lake Commission chambers for the annual Arbor Day celebration.
Parks and Recreation Director Mike Burske acted as emcee. He introduced Mayor Jim Richards, who led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance and then read the annual Arbor Day Proclamation. This was followed by Bob Johnson, of American Legion Post 347, who helps coordinate the Post’s volunteers at the Lady Lake Driving Range. He explained that a tree would be planted for a member, Jack Dirges, who had passed away after years of service at the driving range. The Arbor Day celebration had been scheduled for the driving range located on Rolling Acres Road but was moved due to inclement weather.
The Orange Blossom Lions Club was represented by Doris Turlo, who explained that her club has not only helped the town in its tree planting efforts but has planted more than 100 million trees worldwide in the last two years.
Betty Senter gave a presentation on the history of Arbor Day in the United States, which was founded by J. Sterling Morton on April 10, 1872. She went on to say that at the time the country was founded it was possible for a squirrel to travel from the northeast of the country to the Mississippi River and never touch the ground. By the time Morton went on to found Arbor Day, much of those American forests had been cut. She then went on to conduct along with Mike Burske a tree trivia Q&A with the audience. One question seemed to stump the audience, “What is the state tree of Florida?” Only the mayor had the right answer, which was the Sabal Palmetto/Cabbage Palm.
