A note from from Mayor Brian Turnbull...


** NORTHVILLIANS,
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This week we will touch on both Earth Day (4/22) and Arbor Day (4/28) activities in the Northville area. Last Saturday, the citizens in our community celebrated Arbor Day by participating in an organized seedling giveaway (4 per resident) at Northville Township Hall, sponsored by both the City and Township. Arbor Day is built on three pillars (Act, Innovate and Implement), and festivities like our seedling giveaway are meant to encourage individuals to plant trees for the benefit of society.

Fittingly, I would like to reflect on our local historical conservation efforts. These initiatives include caring for our prize-winning trees in the area, now aided by our Northville Tree Champions group (a 501(c) (3) organization comprised of 40+ members). Many citizens don’t realize that we are a Tree City USA community, and we have had State and National Champion trees in our area throughout our 200-year history.

Before looking at Arbor and Earth Day activities, let's see what's happening today:
4/26, Arbor Day Lecture, “Tree Care”, by Jim Porterfield (ISA Certified Arborist), Northville District Library, starts 7:00 PM. Learn how to care for your trees from a long-time expert. LINK ([link removed])

From the Northville Tree Champions (NTC) – Email a photo of your favorite (local) blossoming tree (it should be visible from a public location). Tell us how it inspires you and be sure to include the location and species (if known). Send to: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) . DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS MAY 24^th. Your favorite(s) could be showcased in the June issue of “The ‘Ville.”

4/15-5/14, Tipping Point Theatre presents: Steel Magnolias. For Info, call 248 347 0003 or LINK ([link removed]) .

5/2, Northville Public Schools Bond Proposal Election – Zero increase to current debt millage rate. Includes support for Infrastructure, Playgrounds, Athletic facilities, and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math) activations at all schools. GET OUT AND VOTE!

5/4, Farmers’ Market Opening Day (7 Mile/Sheldon/8:00AM-3:00PM). Runs May 4 – Oct 26, 2023

State of Community Presentation – Recording of the April 19^th program is available (City info begins at 5:15 minute mark, Township at 27:34, Schools at 43:02). LINK ([link removed])

Ford Field Park Master Plan Survey – The survey takes approximately 5 minutes to complete and will be open until April 30. Click on the following link to take the survey:
[link removed]

Now let's transition to Earth and Arbor Day activities...
We are fortunate in the Northville Community to have a strong relationship and bond between the Township and the School Board, along with having over 6% of our citizens involved with task forces, committees and boards engaging on futuring for the community we love.
EARTH DAY
Earth Day is an annual global event and was established to inspire support for environmental stewardship. First held on April 22, 1970 (53 years ago), it now includes a wide range of events coordinated worldwide. More than 1 billion people in close to 200 countries participated in Earth Day celebrations this year. The official theme for 2023 was “Invest in our Planet”.
ARBOR DAY
Arbor Day (4/28) is an observance holiday during which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant & care for trees. Many countries celebrate this special day. Notably, as early as 1892, The Northville Record printed an Arbor Day Proclamation from our Governor encouraging all Michigan residents to plant a tree, similar to what we did this past weekend with our Arbor Day Seedling giveaway.
* The Arbor Day Foundation has awarded the City of Northville (for multiple years now) the great distinction of being designated a “Tree City USA” community. We have more than 3100 trees on city property, not including our parks. Criteria for being a Tree City: A tree ordinance, a tree Board/Commission, a community forest program with budget, and an Arbor Day proclamation & observance. And today, we have the newly established Northville Tree Champions group to promote tree appreciation, growth and preservation.

* As we celebrate Earth Day/Arbor Day, it’s appropriate to recognize our City of Northville Sustainability Team. They have accomplished a great deal over the past few years in support of a “more sustainable Northville.” Here are just a few of their accomplishments:
+ Creation of a formal Sustainability Plan for the City of Northville.
+ Assisted Wayne County in establishing their own Sustainability initiatives
+ Completed a comprehensive Walkability Study for the City of Northville
+ In partnership with the Riverwalk Task Force, developed a Mobility Network Study analyzing the flow and safety of our City streets.
+ Established the Northville Tree Champions to focus on the care and enhancement of our TREE Canopy.
+ Worked with DDA to implement additional EV Charging Stations.
+ Helped initiate a transition to more efficient Downtown LED Lighting (led by DDA)

* Several Legacy Tree locations have been identified in Northville and are included in the City’s comprehensive tree database. Some standouts are:
+ The Black Walnut on Rogers about 187 inches around
+ The grand Sycamore on W. Cady, also on Cady a magnificent Elm behind City Hall
+ A White Oak on Main Street
+ And a resplendent Silver Maple on Eaton Drive with a girth of almost 200 inches around (16 feet)

* Fish Hatchery Park – I encourage you to walk about the “native-to-Michigan” plants & trees on the river’s edge and experience the rejuvenation of this area. All this was made possible through cooperation and a grant bestowed on the City & the Township by the EPA, Alliance of the Rouge, and the Great Lakes Restoration group. Look for trout swimming in this spring fed cold-water stream, where 17–22-inch brown trout are caught weekly.

* In 1960, Jack Hoffman (Editor of The Record) mentioned that the Northville/Novi area was known for its exceptionally large trees as compared to the state and even the nation. At that time, Northville had TWO National champion trees and FOUR State champions.

* Other local trees of note are the Scotch Pines in Northville’s Cass Benton Park, the giant White Oak in front of Guernsey Dairy, and the Beech Trees at Maybury State Park.

* The Bennett Arboretum (oldest in the State), located in Edward Hines Park between Six & Seven Mile, was established in the 1930’s and still has over 100 of the original 470 specimen trees remaining. It’s a gem in our own back yard, especially in the fall when the colors are changing.

* WHY PLANT TREES? Arborday.org states the benefits of trees are immense and can include increasing property values, reduced energy consumption, reinvigoration & uniting of neighborhoods, benefits to wildlife, reduced impact of climate change, along with creating cooling & cleansing of our drinking water and air.

I encourage you on your next walk to envision what these landmark trees have seen in their time – from our birth as the first milling community in the State in the 1820’s to a century later when Northville ranked #2 in production and GNP in the state. Henry Ford used to walk the streets of our town under its historic tree canopy, and the sounds from our old Opera House would resonate against our forests around town. An entire history of Northville events transpired as our seedlings became mature legacy trees through the passage of time.

As the weather breaks this spring, take time to truly enjoy the greenspaces, waterways, and unique topography of this “Hamlet in the Hills” we call Northville.

Keep that Northville “Arbor Day & Earth Day” Faith!

Brian Turnbull
Mayor – Northville
[email protected] / 248.505.6849

(Reach out to me anytime or forward this communication to others interested.)

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