In observance of Arbor Day on April 28, Greenfield officials gave tree seedlings to local first graders and visited several nursing homes where trees were planted.

Betty Jackman, chairperson of Greenfield Village Council as well as the local Tree Commission, along with Greenfield staff members Margaret Mobley and Ron Coffey, visited first graders of the Greenfield Exempted Village School District to give away approximately 200 Douglas fir seedlings to the students. Jackman and company talked about the importance of trees, which provide many benefits and help beautify the community. Trees are a renewable resource and provide food and shelter for many types of wildlife. Trees give off oxygen, provide a cooling shade canopy, and many varieties produce tasty fruit.

While visiting the schools, Jackman showed students the proclamation she had signed proclaiming April 28 as Arbor Day in Greenfield. In addition to presenting each first grader at Buckskin, Rainsboro and Greenfield elementary schools with a seedling, Jackman noted that the Greenfield Tree Commission has planted trees in the business district as part of its continuing efforts.

Greenfield has been recognized as a Tree City USA community for the past three years in recognition of its activities to beautify the community and promote the importance of trees.

Greenfield officials also visited Edgewood Manor, 850 Nellie St., and Hearth & Care, 238 S. Washington St., where nursing home staff members and residents joined in the celebration by planting trees on their properties as part of a tradition that has been going on for several years.

At Edgewood Manor, administrator John Evans helped staff and residents plant a red delicious apple tree.

As residents gathered at Hearth & Care, administrator Kimberly Morrison brought a crabapple tree to plant in the tree lawn along South Street.

The history of Arbor Day dates to April 1872 in Nebraska City, Neb. when J. Sterling Morton encouraged the planting of trees. As a result, approximately a million trees were planted in Nebraska. In 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt issued an Arbor Day proclamation to the school children of the United States, pointing out the importance of trees and encouraging the teaching of forestry.

For more information, visit www.arborday.org.

Submitted by Ron Coffey, Greenfield city manager.

Hearth & Care residents and staff pitched in to help plant a crabapple tree on Arbor Day, April 28. In alternating years, the nursing home has planted crabapples and Cleveland pears in the tree lawn along South Street.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2017/05/web1_Arbor-Day-pic1.jpgHearth & Care residents and staff pitched in to help plant a crabapple tree on Arbor Day, April 28. In alternating years, the nursing home has planted crabapples and Cleveland pears in the tree lawn along South Street.

Greenfield Elementary School first graders celebrated Arbor Day with a photo on the school steps. Each student was presented with a Douglas fir seedling by Greenfield Village Council Chairperson Betty Jackman and staff member Margaret Mobley.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2017/05/web1_Arbor-Day-pic-2.jpgGreenfield Elementary School first graders celebrated Arbor Day with a photo on the school steps. Each student was presented with a Douglas fir seedling by Greenfield Village Council Chairperson Betty Jackman and staff member Margaret Mobley.