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Williamstown, Vienna celebrate Arbor Day

Photo by Jeffrey Saulton Barbara Lewis, a member of Williamstown City Council and chairwoman of the tree committee, spoke Friday with Williamstown Elementary School fifth-grade students about trees and how they are an important part of life on Earth.

WILLIAMSTOWN — Trees and what they do and how they are part of our lives was the focus of Arbor Day in Williamstown.

It was also the celebration of the city’s 33rd year as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation, West Virginia’s first and longest running Tree City.

This year due to a threat of bad weather, the ceremony was moved inside the city hall council chambers. Barbara Lewis, a member of Williamstown City Council and chairwoman of the tree committee, said due to an error at the West Virginia Division of Forestry there was no tree to plant.

“They didn’t order the trees in time,” she said. “So there are no trees to plant today for Arbor Day.”

However, that didn’t stop a discussion of the role played by trees in the Earth Ecosystem.

Photo by Jeffrey Saulton Working on planting a tree in Jackson Park during the Vienna Arbor Day celebration Friday are, form left, Jack Mathers, Vienna forester; Norm Harris, city parks superintendent; Vienna Police Lt. Kevin Parrish; Linda Kern, tree commission member, and Police Chief Mike Pifer.

“How many of you think the trees are a big deal?” Lewis asked the 79 fifth-grade students from Williamstown Elementary School. All of them raised their hands to her question.

“That’s wonderful to hear, that’s wonderful,” she said. “Who wants to tell me why?”

Their answers ranged from providing fresh air, cooling through the shade they provide and also a role in cleaning groundwater.

Lewis led the students to think of more things trees do.

“What kind of foods can you think of?”

Answers from the students ranged from apples to pears to oranges.

“What crunchy foods do you have to split open?”

That question had students thinking of walnuts and chestnuts.

Lewis distributed information for the students to give to their families to guide them on the type of tree best suited for the property. She pointed out how trees that are too tall can interfere with electrical, telephone and cable lines and how, if they are planted too close to a sidewalk and street their roots can damage them, making them unsafe.

A few students were able to point out a small number of examples across the city.

Craig Minton, forester with the West Virginia Division of Forestry, said keeping a Tree City program running, especially one as long as Williamstown has, takes a lot of work.

“Tree City USA in the state of West Virginia depends on everybody,” he said.

Mayor Jean Ford had praise for Lewis and the other members of the tree committee at the celebration, David George and Jared Bedekovich. Ford said this year was her 20th Arbor Day as mayor of the city.

Ford read a proclamation naming Friday as Williamstown’s Arbor Day, in accordance to the National Arbor Day standards.

“Trees in our cities increase property value, enhance economic vitality of business areas and beautify our community,” Ford read from the proclamation. “Wherever trees are planted, they are a source of joy and spiritual renewal.”

Ford said the city intends to keep up its urban forestry program.

In Vienna, a small ceremony in Jackson Park took place for the planting of a Pin Oak nearing the large dog park. Linda Kern, a tree committee member, said the tree for Arbor Day 2017 was donated by Scots Landscaping.

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