Arbor Day in Illinois

On April 25, communities throughout Illinois celebrate an American tradition dating back to 1887: Arbor Day.

Arbor Day is a holiday that encourages people to plant trees. Planting a tree represents the belief that the tree will provide our community with cleaner air, a habitat for wildlife, and natural beauty. Illinois’ first Arbor Day was held in 1887, but not until 1949 did the state legislature legally declare the last Friday in April as “Arbor and Bird Day.” The purpose of the legislation was to plant trees, shrubs and vines about homes, along the highways and on public grounds to show the value of trees and birds and the necessity of their protection, thus contributing to the comforts and attractions of the state of Illinois.

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Celebrating 50 years of Southern Illinois University’s Great Cardboard Boat Regatta

Each spring, thousands of spectators gather around Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Campus Lake to watch hundreds of participants compete in the annual Great Cardboard Boat Regatta.

Starting as a class project in 1974, the regatta, a cardboard boat race, has grown into a university-wide tradition that has attracted people from across the state, country and globe. By 1976, the race was open to anyone, including students from other universities and kids.

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Living Lands and Waters: Cleaning up our rivers

As Earth Day nears, it is important to recognize efforts to keep our planet healthier, safer and viable for the future. One organization, Living Lands and Waters, founded by Chad Pregracke, is a remarkable example of what happens when we come together to make our communities a better place to live.

Pregracke grew up in East Moline on the banks of the Mississippi River, witnessing firsthand the amount of trash and debris collected along the banks of the river from human activity. At 17, he decided to begin single-handedly removing the garbage. A few years later, in 1998, he founded Living Lands and Waters.

Since the founding of the organization, Pregracke, his crew and volunteers have conducted over 1,400 community cleanups on 25 rivers in 23 states, removed a remarkable 13.5 million pounds of garbage and planted over 2.1 million trees in their efforts to reclaim waterfronts.

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Women in Power - Jane Byrne

• Chicago
• women's rights

 First Female Mayor of Chicago

Did you know Chicago’s first female mayor was elected in April 46 years ago? On April 3, 1979, Democrat Jane Byrne defeated Republican Wallace D. Johnson. She was sworn in on April 16, 1979.

Byrne got her start as a volunteer on John F. Kennedy’s 1960 campaign for president, where she met infamous Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. Eyeing Byrne’s enthusiasm and talent, Daley asked Byrne to several positions culminating in chairperson of the Cook County Democratic Central Committee.

She entered the race for Chicago mayor in 1979, challenging incumbent mayor Michael A. Bilandic. Byrne defeated Bilandic 51% to 49% and winning to general election with 82.1% of the vote, the largest in Chicago mayoral election history.

As mayor, Byrne appointed the city’s first African American and female school superintendent, Ruth B. Love and was the first mayor to recognize the gay community. She ended the police’s practice of raiding gay bars and created the first Chicago “Gay Pride Parade Day” in 1981. Byne was a supporter of the arts and funded art institutions around the city and came up with the idea for a unified lakefront museum campus, renovating Navy Pier and expansion of O’Hare International Airport.

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