Today is...
Summer Solstice

For people who live in the Northern Hemisphere of the world, today is the longest day of the year and the first official day of summer. In the Arctic Circle, there will be 24 hours of daylight!
The summer solstice occurs when the Earth’s axial tilt is closest to the sun. This occurs in late June for the Northern Hemisphere and late December for the Southern Hemisphere. The summer solstice is a significant time for many religions and cultures. Today, people all over the world will mark this important milestone in the year with festivals, gatherings, and rituals.
To celebrate the summer solstice, grab your sunglasses and head outside to enjoy the extra hours of daylight! Happy summer!

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Today is also Go Skateboarding Day & International Lambrusco Day & National Flip Flop Day & Take Your Dog To Work Day

June is Great Outdoors Month

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History for June 21 1788 - The U.S. Constitution went into effect when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it. 1939 - Lou Gehrig quit baseball due to illness. 1942 - Ben Hogan recorded the lowest score (to that time) in a major golf tournament. Hogan shot a 271 for 72 holes in Chicago, IL. 1945 - Allied forces captured Okinawa, Japan. 1981 - "Raiders of the Lost Ark" opened. ______________________________________________________ "You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you’ll discover will be wonderful. What you’ll discover will be yourself." --Alan Alda

Today is...
National Ice Cream Soda Day

Take the time to enjoy this frothy drink, comprised of a few scoops of ice cream in any carbonated beverage. It’s the perfect thing to cool you off on this June day.
Ice cream sodas were invented by Robert Green in 1874 during Philadelphia's sesquicentennial celebration. Legend has it that Mr. Green added vanilla ice cream to the soda he sold after he ran out of ice (though Mr. Green claims he had dreamt up the innovation prior to the event). Intentional or not, it was a delicious way to keep the sodas cold, and they were an instant hit. Green was so proud of his creation that he even had the phrase “Originator of the Ice Cream Soda” engraved on his tombstone!
These days, there are many delicious variations of the original ice cream soda, including root beer floats, Boston coolers, and purple cows. To celebrate National Ice Cream Soda Day, all you need is soda, a few scoops of ice cream, and a straw!

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Today is National Vanilla Milkshake Day

June is Great Outdoors Month

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History for June 20 1793 - Eli Whitney applied for a cotton gin patent. 1950 - Willie Mays graduated from high school and immediately signed with the New York Giants. 1963 - The United States and Soviet Union signed an agreement to set up a hot line communication link between the two countries. 1966 - The U.S. Open golf tournament was broadcast in color for the first time. 1967 - Muhammad Ali was convicted in Houston of violating Selective Service laws by refusing to be drafted. The U.S. Supreme Court later overturned the conviction. 1973 - American Bandstand celebrated its 20th anniversary with a 90-minute television special. ______________________________________________________ "The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination." --Carl Rogers

Today is...
National Martini Day

Although the exact origin of the martini is unknown, this iconic drink has earned a permanent place in the pantheon of classic cocktails. The first printed recipe for a “Martinez” cocktail appeared in a bartending manual published in San Francisco in 1887. However, historians disagree over whether the beverage actually originated on the West Coast. In 1911, a New York City bartender named Martini di Arma di Taggia began serving a cocktail made with gin, vermouth, orange bitters, and an olive garnish. The martini gained widespread popularity among Manhattan socialites, and has been associated with New York ever since.
Today, 50% of all cocktails are served in a martini glass. Some of the most famous (historical and fictional) martini lovers include: John D. Rockefeller, Humphrey Bogart, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Clark Gable, Ernest Hemingway, and James Bond.
To celebrate National Martini Day, enjoy a refreshing martini in the company of friends. Mix up the classic or try this lemon basil martini recipe. Cheers to that!

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Today is also Juneteenth

June is Great Outdoors Month

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History for June 19 1586 - English colonists sailed away from Roanoke Island, NC, after failing to establish England's first permanent settlement in America. 1862 - U.S. President Abraham Lincoln outlined his Emancipation Proclamation, which outlawed slavery in U.S. territories. 1910 - Father's Day was celebrated for the first time, in Spokane, Washington. 1973 - Pete Rose (Cincinnati Reds) got his 2,000th career hit. 1976 - Wild Cherry released "Play That Funky Music." ______________________________________________________ "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the triumph of great achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those timid souls who know neither victory or defeat." --Theodore Roosevelt

Today is...
International Picnic Day

Today we celebrate one of the greatest ways to enjoy the summer season—an outdoor picnic with friends, family, games and activities, and delicious food.
During the Victorian era, picnics were very important social occasions. They offered the rare opportunity for young men and women to spend time together in the great outdoors. They were also quite elaborate. A picnic for twenty people might feature cold salmon, lamb, veal, chicken, ham, pigeon pie, sandwiches, fruit, a selection of cheeses, and a variety of baked goods! The modern-day picnic is much less complicated. In fact, the phrase “it’s a picnic” means “it’s easy.”
To celebrate International Picnic Day, invite your friends and family to a summer picnic. Find a suitable location at a local park or field, and sit back and enjoy an al fresco meal in the company of your loved ones. Happy International Picnic Day!

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Today is also Fishing Day & National Cherry Tart Day

June is Great Outdoors Month

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History for June 18 1155 - Frederick I, Barbarossa, was crowned emperor of Rome. 1812 - The War of 1812 began as the U.S. declared war against Great Britain. 1873 - Susan B. Anthony was fined $100 for attempting to vote for a U.S. President. 1927 - The U.S. Post Office offered a special 10-cent postage stamp for sale. The stamp was of Charles Lindbergh’s "Spirit of St. Louis." 1959 - A Federal Court annulled the Arkansas law allowing school closings to prevent integration. 1967 - The Jimi Hendrix Experience made its debut performance at the Monterey Pop Festival in California. 1975 - Fred Lynn of the Boston Red Sox hit three home runs, a triple and a single in a game against the Detroit Tigers. ______________________________________________________ "One must not lose desires. They are mighty stimulants to creativeness, to love, and to long life." --Alexander Bogomoletz

Today is...
Eat Your Vegetables Day

 Remember how your parents used to tell you to eat your vegetables? They were right: vegetables are essential for living a long, healthy life, and they are also delicious! In recent years, there has been a steady rise in the number of American families that grow their own vegetables. The most popular crops for home gardening are tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet peppers, and beans. 
There are many ways to celebrate Eat Your Vegetables Day. Swap your junk food snack for fresh vegetables, start a container garden on your back porch, make a big salad for your family and friends, or become a vegetarian for the whole day! Enjoy!

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Today is also Bunker Hill Day

June is Great Outdoors Month

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History for June 17 1799 - Napoleon Bonaparte incorporated Italy into his empire. 1837 - Charles Goodyear received his first patent. The patent was for a process that made rubber easier to work with. 1885 - The Statue of Liberty arrived in New York City aboard the French ship Isere. 1928 - Amelia Earhart became the first woman to successfully fly across the Atlantic Ocean. 1950 - Dr. Richard H. Lawler performed the first kidney transplant in a 45-minute operation in Chicago, IL. 1980 - Led Zeppelin began their last tour. ______________________________________________________ "Man pines to live but cannot endure the days of his life." --Edward Dahlberg

Today is...
Flag Day

On this day in 1777 the Second Continental Congress passed the Flag Resolution, which designated the first official American flag. The first flag, which featured thirteen stars and thirteen stripes, has become known as the “Betsy Ross flag,” but it is uncertain whether Betsy Ross actually created the original design. Did you know that there have been twenty-seven different American flags over the course of our nation’s history? The one we use today, which features fifty stars, became our national emblem in 1960.
President Woodrow Wilson designated Flag Day as an official holiday in 1916. However, the idea of an annual celebration of the flag dates back to 1885 when schoolteacher Bernard J. Cigrand held the first known Flag Day.
To celebrate Flag Day, decorate your home with an American flag and start brainstorming party ideas for the 4th of July!

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Today is also National Strawberry Shortcake Day

June is Great Outdoors Month

This week is National Flag Week

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History for June 14 1777 - The Continental Congress in Philadelphia adopted the "Stars and Stripes" as the national flag of the United States. 1900 - Hawaii became a U.S. territory. 1922 - Warren G. Harding became the first U.S. president to be heard on radio. The event was the dedication of the Francis Scott Key memorial at Fort McHenry. 1951 - "Univac I" was unveiled. It was a computer designed for the U.S. Census Bureau and billed as the world's first commercial computer. 1965 - Bob Dylan recorded "Like A Rolling Stone." ______________________________________________________ "The essence of personal mastery is learning how to generate and sustain creative tension in our lives." --Peter M. Senge

Today is...
Sewing Machine Day

Thomas Saint patented the first sewing machine in 1790. Since then, the sewing machine has become one of the iconic symbols of the Industrial Revolution, representing the transition from traditional handmade goods to automated production.
For many decades the sewing machine was a standard household appliance, but it is no longer considered a domestic necessity. Although the heyday of the sewing machine has come and gone, we can still recognize its significance in our history. Without this important invention, the process of making clothing (and any sewn item) would be extremely tedious. Each article would have to be sewn by hand, stitch by stitch!
To celebrate Sewing Machine Day, dig out your sewing machine and start a new project, or sign up for a sewing class to learn this important handcraft!

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June is Great Outdoors Month

This week is National Flag Week

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for June 13 1825 - Walter Hunt patented the safety pin. Hunt then sold the rights for $400. 1927 - For the first time an American Flag was displayed from the right hand of the Statue of Liberty. 1966 - The landmark "Miranda vs. Arizona" decision was issued by the U.S. Supreme Court. The decision ruled that criminal suspects had to be informed of their constitutional rights before being questioned by police. 1967 - Solicitor General Thurgood Marshall was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson to become the first black justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. 1983 - The unmanned U.S. space probe Pioneer 10 became the first spacecraft to leave the solar system. It was launched in 1972. 1984 - The Jacksons' "State of Shock," was released. Mick Jagger did guest vocals. ______________________________________________________ "It must be borne in mind that the tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. It isn’t a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream. It is not a disgrace not to reach the stars, but it is a disgrace to have no stars to reach for." --Benjamin E. Mays