New Concord second-graders help celebrate Arbor Day with annual tree-planting

Heather Sevigny
·2 min read

Second-grade students from New Concord Elementary took part in the annual Arbor Day celebration in the village by planting a tree. The village was once again recognized as being part of the Tree City USA program.

According to the Arbor Day Foundation, "The Tree City USA program provides communities with a four-step framework to maintain and grow their tree cover. It also gives them an avenue to celebrate their work, showing residents, visitors, and the entire country that they’re committed to the mission of environmental change."

Students from Ms. Dolan's and Ms. Pollock's class help plant a Japanese Zelkova for New Concord's recognition as a Tree City, USA designee.
Students from Ms. Dolan's and Ms. Pollock's class help plant a Japanese Zelkova for New Concord's recognition as a Tree City, USA designee.

Joined by Mayor Jennifer Lyle, interim Village Administrator Chris Huebner, Operations Department Manager Trent Johnson, and Village Operators Korey Crawford and Steve Ball, students from Ms. Dolan's and Ms. Pollock's classes first heard an Arbor Day proclamation and then got busy planting.

Village Operations Manager Trent Johnson (right) directs students on how to pitch in with the Arbor Day tree planting.
Village Operations Manager Trent Johnson (right) directs students on how to pitch in with the Arbor Day tree planting.

The proclamation was read by Lyle and stated "Whereas, in 1872, J. Sterling Morton proposed to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture that a special day be set aside for the planting of trees; and whereas, this holiday, called Arbor Day, was first observed with the planting of more than a million trees in Nebraska; and whereas, Arbor Day is now observed throughout the nation and the world; and whereas, trees in our village increase property values, enhance the economic vitality of business areas, and beautify our community; and whereas, trees are a source of joy and spiritual renewal, and whereas, we intend to educate our youth on the importance of tree planting; and whereas, the continuation of our tree planting program will continue to be a shining beacon toward that future; and whereas, the Village of New Concord has been recognized as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation for 43 years and desires to continue its tree planting ways."

The reading concluded with "Now, therefore, I, Jennifer Lyle, Mayor of the Village of New Concord, do hereby proclaim April 25, 2024, as Arbor Day, and I urge all citizens to support efforts to care for our trees and woodlands and to support our Village's community forestry program. Further, I urge all citizens to plant trees to make our community brighter and more beautiful for our current and future generations."

Second-grade students from New Concord Elementary take turns shoveling dirt around the base of a newly planted Japanese Zelkova tree.
Second-grade students from New Concord Elementary take turns shoveling dirt around the base of a newly planted Japanese Zelkova tree.

Students then took turns gathering a shovelful of dirt and placing it around the newly planted Japanese Zelkova. The Zelkova is a tree in the Elm family, is resistant to Dutch Elm disease, and is often used in urban landscapes. The tree was planted on a residential part of W. High St., as opposed to along Main Street.

Lyle noted that the village has worked with an urban forester with ODNR, "She helps make recommendations for trees that are appropriate for these sorts of plantings."

Lyle summarized for the kids by saying, " So all that means is that we love trees. Whenever a tree has to be taken down, we put another one in."

This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: New Concord celebrates Arbor Day with annual tree-planting