The United States is one of the few countries in the world that has an official day on which children honor their fathers.
The origin of Father’s Day is not clear, but some say that it began with a church service in West Virginia in 1908. Others say the first Father’s Day ceremony was held in Vancouver, Washington.
Regardless of when the first true Father’s Day occurred, the strongest promoter of the holiday was Sonora John Dodd of Spokane, Washington.
She thought of the idea for Father’s Day while listening to a Mother’s Day sermon in 1909.
Sonora wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart, a Civil War veteran who was widowed when his wife died while giving birth to their sixth child.
Smart was left to raise the newborn and his other five children by himself on a rural farm in eastern Washington state.
After Sonora became an adult, she realized the selflessness her father had shown in raising his children as a single parent.
In 1909, she approached her own minister about having a church service dedicated to fathers on June 5, her father’s birthday. That date was too soon for her minister to prepare the service, so he spoke a few weeks later on June 19.
From then on, the state of Washington celebrated the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day.
States began lobbying Congress to declare an annual Father’s Day.
In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson approved of this idea, but it was not until 1924 when President Calvin Coolidge made it a national event.
In 1966 President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the third Sunday of June as Father’s Day.
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The Wetlands Institute has plenty of summer activities to look forward to.
It is just the place to begin a kayak adventure. After a short orientation about paddling techniques from a trained instructor, kayakers are off for a three-hour tour of the coastal ecosystem accompanied by a naturalist.
Kayaking trips leave from the Institute’s dock Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. during July and August.
Call for reservations; cost is $49.
Help the Institute staff feed the fish and terrapins on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Aquarium feedings are at 3 p.m.; Saturday, it’s 2 p.m.
Free with general admission; members are free.
Wildlife Unlimited offers guided tours aboard the Skimmer, a 42-passenger pontoon boat to view wildlife in the back bays of Stone Harbor with a visit to the Hereford Inlet area.
Tours are Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m., 1 and 6 p.m.; Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Trips leave the Wetlands Institute’s dock.
Call for reservations. Cost is $24.
Check out the Featured Creature program Monday through Fridays at 11:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. during July and August.
On Fridays meet a special Research Creature and learn all about how scientists use microchips, radio tracking and more.
Featured Creature programs are free with general admission.
Paddle the marsh area as the sun sets near the Wetlands Institute during sunset kayaking trips July 10 and 11 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. It’s a great time to see wildlife feeding and birds heading to their roosts.
Cost is $49 single or $54 tandem.
The list of fabulous offerings is much longer, so look for more in next week’s column.
Call 368-1211 for all events.
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will hold their Branch Picnic earlier this year.
Usually held in July, this year it will take place on Saturday, same place, at the Cape May County Zoo.
Plenty of food and fun are in the works.
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MTHS Class of 1985 will hold their 20-year reunion 7 p.m., June 23, at the Abbey Holmes Estate on Route 83 in Clermont.
Cost is $65 per person. Also planned is a family event on June 24.
Send checks to MTHS Class of 1985, c/o 52 Tressler Lane, CMCH, NJ 08210 before June 20.
For more information contact Class president Michael Donohue at micdonohue@comcast.net.
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Avalon Manor Improvement Association, 581 Old Avalon Blvd., Avalon Manor will hold a Pancake Breakfast every Saturday, 7:30-10:30 a.m., now through Sept.
$4 for adults gets you all the pancakes you can eat, plus a sausage link, small cup of orange juice, and unlimited coffee.
Children age eight and under are just $2.50.
Extra sausage, orange juice and milk will be available for 50 cents.
Bring your appetite and a friend.
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Rio Grande Bible Baptist Church on Route 47 will hold their annual Vacation Bible School the week of June 19.
Call 886-9494 for details.
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Peter McPhee Fine Arts Gallery will host an art auction fundraiser on Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m. to benefit the Wetlands Institute.
The auction will coincide with the opening of a new exhibit at the gallery, and the Wetlands Institute will receive a percentage of the winning bid prices on four works including a bird carving by John and Dotty Berner, a colorful pastel by Danielle Mick, a seascape painting by Neal McPheeters, and an oil on linen of the Wetlands Institute by Diane Sivavec.
The art can be previewed on the special events page at www.wetlandsinstitute.org.
The exhibit will also include over 40 new works by these artists as well as more than 200 works created by Peter McPhee Fine Arts artists.
The gallery is located at 9416 Second Ave. in Stone Harbor.
For more information call the gallery, 368-8288, or the Wetlands Institute, 368-1211.
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Tonight, 7 p.m. at the PAC, is the MTHS Baccalaureate.
Graduation ceremonies will take place tomorrow, 6 p.m., at Memorial Field. All are welcome.
In event of inclement weather the ceremony will be moved to the PAC, but tickets will be necessary for admission.
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The Cape May County Historical Museum will hold an “Out of the Ground” Cape May County Vintage Bottle Lecture tonight at 7 p.m.
Guest curator, Ed Runyon, will speak.
Then on Saturday the Museum Kids Club will have a Father’s Day Project event at 10 a.m. A small fee is involved.
To register or for more information call 465-3535.
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Read with a four-footed friend at 6 p.m. on each fourth Monday of the summer months at the Court House Library.
The R.E.A.D. therapy dogs are great listeners and the reading sessions are safe, relaxed, nonjudgmental, and fun.
Dates are June 26, July 24, and August 28.
For more information call 463-6382.
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Happy birthdays go out to Barbara Dolan, Mary Goldenthal, Linda Corcoran and Debbie Olson.
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Have a wonderful Father’s Day!
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Cape May County Duplicate ACBL Bridge Club May 29 overall winners:
Jane Green/Joanne Ryan; Karen Sylvester/Ray Buch; Kay Wade/Diane Rossi; Bob Weber/Bob Sherwood; Norma Jakominich/Carmen DiToro; Mike Mueller/Ron Small.
June 1 overall winners: Carol Kaigan/John Kuharetz; Mike Mueller/Ron Small; Maria Crompton/Natalie Weintraub; Marie Zweier/ Norma Daley; Diane Rossi/Norma Jakominich; Kathleen Vistenzo/Julia O’Neill.
Games are played in our Lady of the Angels Church Parish Hall, Mechanic Street and Garden State Parkway, Court House.
Lower Township – Who are these people that are obvious experts on trash cans and leaf pick-up? Maybe they don't have any trash to put out or leaves in their yard!!
