Spring events in Jackson; bicentennial fun abounds

April will be another busy month in the city of Jackson. The spring/summer schedule for the recycling center starts on Saturday. It will now be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each Saturday. This Saturday schedule will remain in effect through the month of October. Remember to recycle!

* The St. Louis Iron Mountain Railroad will have a bicentennial event focusing on the Civil War from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. There will be many people in period costume, including Union and Confederate soldiers. There will be displays of weapons and toys, old-time music, an encampment scene with a cannon, the Southeast Explorer Mobile Museum and a short historical program on the Civil War Skirmish at the Jackson Fairgrounds.

There is no admission fee to visit the displays. However, there will be two train rides that day at 1 and 3:30 p.m. There will be some old-time entertainment on the train. Discounted admission for the train tours for opening day is $10 for adults, $5 for ages 12 and under, free for children under 2. Some of the merchants on High Street in Historic Uptown Jackson will be offering discount coupons for that day. It promises to be an exciting event.

* Cruisin' Uptown Jackson will be starting its fifth anniversary season on April 12. This popular classic car display will be on Barton Street on the Courthouse Square from 6 to 9 p.m. This event will be every second Saturday of the month from April to October.

* United Methodist Women will be having a bicentennial fashion show of aprons, which will be a Tribute to Aprons Through the Years. This will be at 2:30 p.m. April 13 at the New McKendree United Methodist Church South Campus. Admission is $5.

* Our annual Park Day is scheduled for 8 a.m. to noon April 26. Volunteers who wish to help clean up the park should meet at 8 a.m. at Shelter No. 1 to see what projects they can help with. A group of selected volunteers will be doing the Stream Bank Revetment program again this year. For this project, we need strong volunteers who don't mind getting wet as they will be getting in the creek to stabilize the creek bank. Following our work, a light lunch will be provided. We appreciate the help of all those who come volunteer on this day.

* The 24th Annual Mississippi River Valley Scenic Drive will be on April 26 and 27. In conjunction with that event, the Jackson Heritage Association will have many activities and demonstrations on the lawn of the historic Oliver House Museum on Adams Street in Jackson from noon to 6 p.m. April 26. This event also will have a bicentennial flair as the demonstrations include longbow making, quilting, tatting, flower drying, wool spinning and Plein Aire painting. Many groups and organizations are getting into the bicentennial spirit as we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the founding of the city of Jackson.

Barbara Lohr is the mayor of Jackson.