Clinton Township Newsletter

3 a p r i l 2 0 2 6 Happy EASTER! 5 DAYS TO KEEP IN MIND Wednesday April 1 APRIL FOOLS DAY! Wednesday April 1 Passover Thursday April 2 Autism Awareness Day Friday April 3 Good Friday Sunday April 5 Easter Sunday April 5 Gold Star Spouses Day Saturday April 11 World Parkinson's Disease Day April 12, 1861 : The American Civil War began with the Confederate forces' attack on Fort Sumter in South Carolina. April 14, 1865: Assassination of Abraham Lincoln Wednesday April 15 Jackie Robinson Day Wednesday April 15 Tax Day Thursday April 16 Emancipation Day April 21, 1898: The Spanish American War began Wednesday April 22 Earth Day Thursday April 23 World Book Day Thursday April 23 Take Your Children to Work Day Friday April 24 Arbor Day from CarolBeder ' s Although this is the April issue, I'm writing this column at the beginning of March, right after we've endured a winter full of snow and ice, and is cur- rently finishing up with a week of rain. Two thoughts come to mind. First: with all this bad weather, we should be due for a spectacular spring, right? Second: at the very least, drought will not be a topic of conversation around here anytime soon. Hopefully, by the time you're reading this, the sun is shining, the birds are back, and the only ice you're seeing is in a glass. April, of course, is a busy month. Easter, Passover, Earth Day... Tax Day... plenty to celebrate and reflect on. But, when it came to designing this month's cover (and choosing many of the quotes inside), I decided to lean into the very first day of the month: April Fools' Day. There are several theories according to Google, (which is never wrong, except when it is) about how April Fools' Day began: • Ancient Roots: Some scholars suggest the day is linked to the ancient Roman festival of Hilaria (in late March), which involved dressing in costumes and playing tricks. It may also relate to the vernal equinox or the start of spring, a time for joyous celebration. • The Calendar Shift Theory: A popular, though not universally accepted, theory is that April Fools' Day originated in 16th-century France. When the country shifted from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar, those who continued to celebrate New Year's on April first, instead of January first, were mocked and dubbed "April fools". • Medieval Connections: It may be linked to the "Feast of Fools" or a 1508 reference to poisson d'avril (April fish) by French poet Eloy d'Amerval. • Hoax Origins: Interestingly, a commonly cited origin, that the holiday began during Emperor Constantine's reign, was actually an April first prank played by a professor on an Associated Press reporter in 1983. • Cultural Tradition: The day is celebrated globally as a lighthearted, often mischievous, day for jokes and hoaxes. Now, I know I promised y'all I wouldn't get political in this publication. You already keep up with the daily news, and the last thing you need while enjoying your morning coffee (or your evening adult beverage) is another reminder of it. But it does seem, at times, that there's quite a lot of… well, foolishness might be the polite way to put it. Let's call it a surplus of ill- considered decisions happening in this country and around the world. When I think about it, I often come back to a simple question: How much of this can I actually control? I can vote, and I do. I can try to be a good parent and grandparent, a good neighbor, an engaged member of the community, and someone who works hard to bring you info about the great things hap- pening locally and the needs within our community. And beyond that, I try to accept the things I can't change, appreciate each day as it comes, and maybe keep a sense of humor about the rest. My wish for you this month is simple: may your days be full of felicity, low on folly, and may your April be absolutely amazing. -Julie Flunn

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