BY MARISOL CALDERON
Special to the Express
The program is set for the March 7 Los Banos Arbor Day celebration at Meadowlands Basin Park from 4-6:30 p.m. The park is located at 2599 S. Creekside Drive near Pacheco High School.
The speakers and participants at this year’s 38th annual Arbor Day celebration will include Mayor Pro-Tem Deborah Lewis, Councilmember Marcus Chavez, Tree Commission Member Laurence J. Byers, Parks and Recreation Commission member John Spevak, West Coast Arborists Inc, and Peninsula Clean Energy.
Our local VFW and American Legion will post the colors and a pastor from Our Father’s House will give the invocation.
Certified Master Arborist Mark Koehler will lead a demonstration of correct tree planting, and members of the Los Banos Girl Scouts, Community 4-H, and Pulse Youth Group will help plant trees at Meadowlands Basin Park. This year we will also have the Creekside Junior High School Band and Choir join us for two special performances during our Arbor Day program.
Arbor Day in the Park celebration begins at 4 p.m. with presentations and awards until about 5 p.m. and continues until 6:30 with activities that include a tree planting demonstration, a bounce house, obstacle course, games, and arts and crafts.
In addition to our Arbor Day celebration, the Milliken Museum Society will also be offering a pancake breakfast at the Community Center on this same date. The Community Center is located at 645 7th Street in Los Banos.
In the morning on March 7 the Arbor Day Breakfast will be served at the Los Banos Community Center (645 Seventh St.) from 7 to 10 a.m. Tickets can be purchased for $10 from any Milliken Museum Society member or at the door on the day of the event. Breakfast will include pancakes, ham, eggs, and a beverage.
All proceeds will go to the nonprofit society that operates the Milliken Museum, which for many years has preserved artifacts of local history. The Milliken Museum, located in a small building in Pacheco Park (905 Pacheco Blvd., set back from the highway), includes many historical photos of trees, among its many documents and artifacts related to Los Banos history.
During the afternoon celebration, the city will also be celebrating its Annual Art Contest and announcing our winners from grades T-K through 6th, so come join us and congratulate our students for their artistic talent and creative writing skills. In addition, Los Banos will be honored, once again as it has since 1991, as a “Tree City USA.”
Arbor Day helps raise awareness about the value of trees and the need to properly care for them. Trees are important for various reasons, which include environmental, health and wildlife benefits. Trees produce oxygen, help reduce air pollution, prevent soil erosion, assist in regulating the water cycle, and help combat climate change.
In addition, trees help enhance the quality of life for people and communities. Trees have been known to reduce stress in addition to increasing the feeling of well-being as spending time in nature can enhance moods and positive thinking.
Being surrounded by trees and nature in general can encourage communities to engage in physical activity, including walking and hiking, which can have positive effects on mental health.
The importance of trees and shade during the summer heat has never been greater. As temperatures continue to go up each year there is a greater need for shade. Trees release water vapor, creating a natural cooling effect on the surrounding air and tree canopies provide much needed shade during the Los Banos summer heat.
Trees assist in reducing the amount of direct sunlight absorbed by buildings, roads, and other surfaces and shade encourages outdoor activities throughout all seasons. Shade is also one of the best ways for us to protect ourselves from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays and reduce the risk of skin cancer.
The City’s Parks and Recreation staff works each year to plant trees in the city, but Arbor Day also encourages community residents and businesses to plant more trees on their property and carefully maintain them. Planting and protecting trees are some of the simplest yet most impactful actions we can take to safeguard our environment and promote a sustainable future.
Arbor Day will be a time to celebrate for both adults and children and also a day to promote education about the importance of conservation and other environmentally-friendly practices.
Arbor Day facts:
Did you know that America’s national tree is the oak? The National Arbor Day Foundation put it to a vote in 2004, and Congress made it official.
Did you know that one tree produces nearly 260 pounds of oxygen each year? The average person consumes about 675 pounds of oxygen per year.
Did you know that some trees are biologically immortal? In the right environment, some tree species are biologically immortal and never die of old age.
Why stop at Arbor Day! Come also join us at our Annual Los Banos Egg Hunt. This event will take place at Oliveira Park (1115 Cardoza Road) on April 12, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The egg hunt will include crafts, vendors, games, inflatables, and free egg hunts and we will also have Mr. Bunny making an appearance. We encourage attendees to bring a basket and prepare to search for lots of colorful eggs and treats.
More events to come will be featured in our Parks and Recreation Guide available soon.
