April 7, 2004
A girl and boy clasp hands as they soar to new heights, their fingers touching the wings
of the birds above them.
This is artist Steve Myers’ idea for an outdoor sculpture at the Farmington Public
Library. The life-size bronze monument will symbolize the celebration of youth and the
quest for higher learning.
Steve Myers designed the sculpture, and is hoping to make the project a reality. But
before he can begin work, the sculpture’s cost – about $62,000 (half of what Myers
usually receives for similar works) – must be defrayed by the charitable contributions of
the individuals and businesses of San Juan County.
Local businessmen and leaders Cash Smithwick, Steve Kellenears, and Ralph Pugmire
are on board, working to make the project a reality. They will be going to local
businesses and individuals, soliciting help and contributions. Ralph Pugmire is in charge
of printing the brochures and booklets to tell the community about the project.
Contributions are tax deductible, and surplus contributions will go to create a community
art fund. The fund will support youth’s art projects.
The businessmen have asked the Mayor’s Teen Advisory Council to help with the
endeavor. MTAC has drafted a letter asking businesses to contribute, and hopes that
local businesses and individuals will lend their help to this endeavor.
By Alexandria Klepac
"The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year." –
Mark Twain
Did you ever wonder how April Fools Day began? The closest year that historians
decipher April Fool’s Day was in 1582, in France. This is how it is presumed to have
started.
When the beginning of the New Year was celebrated for eight days, starting on March
25, it lasted until April 1. Later Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar and
New Year’s Day was changed to January 1. King Charles IX proclaimed the use of this
calendar instead of the Old Julian Calendar.
(Now there weren't any computers or mail so people who had news had to traveled by
foot to take it to the others, so keep that in mind.) Some people did not receive the news
for several years or some would refuse the change and continued celebrating the New
Year on April 1. These people were called fools. They were ridiculed or sent on fools’
errands or had many tricks pulled on them.
The fools were perhaps given party invitations and when they would go to where the
party was to be held and find out that it was a fake party or a joke they were called fools.
Or maybe they were told to go get a copy of the "History of Adam’s Grandfather," or
bring back some "sweet vinegar" and it was all a joke.
In Scotland they celebrate April Fools Day for two days. The second day is called "Taily
Day". This day is for pranks on the posterior region of the body. This is where the origin
of the "kick me" signs began. A fool is called "an April gowk or April cuckoo". Soon it
became a tradition to trick people on April 1st of every year and to everyone’s victim they
yell "April Fools".
In India the feast of Huli is in March with final day being March 31, celebrated by acts of
mischief.
French people said, "Poisson d’ Avril" ( April fish ), because at that time of the year the
sun the zodiacal sign of Pisces. French children sometimes tape a picture of a fish on the
backs of their classmates and yelled "Poisson d-Avril" when the prank was discovered.
April Fool’s Day came to the United States from France, England, Scotland, Sweden, and
India. The range of pranks on April Fool’s Day goes from saying "You’re shoe’s untied"
or to setting a roommate’s alarm clock back an hour. Practical jokes are common, even
some that last the entire day. Even the news media can get involved.
One time the British media showed a very detailed documentary about "spaghetti
farmers" and how they harvest their crop from spaghetti trees. Another one was done by
Burger King. They advertised "Left handed Burgers" with all of the pickles, tomatoes,
and lettuce placed on the burger counterclockwise. Thousands of people were requesting
these burgers. They even had people requesting "right handed burgers."
Whatever jokes you employ, I hope you have a great April Fools Day filled with laughs!
April Fool’s Day: An Unsolved History
The first of April, some do say,
Is set apart for All Fools’ Day .
But why the people call it so,
Nor I, nor they themselves do know.
But on this day are people sent
On purpose for pure merriment.
-- Poor Robin’s Almanac (1790)
Mayor’s Teen Advisory Council has set the date for our first annual Teen Leadership
Summit. The summit will take place on April 24, 2004. The summit will include
musical and dramatic entertainment, between workshops on everything from filling out
job applications to making your voice heard. The summit will also provide lunch and
have a drawing to close the day. So don’t miss it! You can register on the web at
http://www.infoway.org/TeenZone/index.html Click on Print the Registration Form,
then mail it to the address on the page.