Arbor Day

Arbor Day is a nationally-celebrated observance that encourages tree planting and care. Founded by J. Sterling Morton in 1872, it's celebrated on the last Friday in April. It has been over 135 years since J. Sterling Morton founded Arbor Day. His simple idea of setting aside a special day for tree planting is now more important than ever. Keep Akron Beautiful has been celebrating Arbor Day for 20 years. Over 50,000 seedlings and over 1,500 Arbor Day Presentations have been given to 4th grade students since the start of our Arbor Day program.

Arbor Day was held on April 29th, 2011 and Keep Akron Beautiful, in partnership with the City of Akron gave out 2,500 Flowering Dog Wood Seedlings to every public, charter and private school fourth grader in the City of Akron. 

Teacher Connie Kubilus and her fourth graders at Smith School wrote their winning ten word slogan to reflect what their classroom’s New Year’s Eve resolution would be about caring for trees:

 

“Trees are awesome-they deserve to blossom”

 

A panel of five judges chose that slogan as the best one submitted out of 35 in 2011. R.B. Stout. Inc. donated the tree to be planted at the school located at 941 Chester Avenue, while Mayor Don Plusquellic, presented a Proclamation and award certificate to Principal George Whitfield, at the school tree planting and ceremony.

 Pam Ray, Education Specialist for Keep Akron Beautiful, delivered classroom presentations about the origin and importance of this national holiday to fourth grade classes in 57 public, private and charter school in Akron!. The second place winning slogan, Resolve to Grow a Forest…Plant a Tree Today, was composed by a class at Firestone Park Elementary School, under the leadership of teacher Janet Zazo-Delagrange. Vizmeg Landscaping installed a donated tree on their campus at 1479 Girard Street, Akron, Ohio 44301, under the watchful eye of Principal Joan Thompson and Ward 7 Council woman, Tina Merlitti

 Keeping Trees Healthy Gives Us Healthy Air to Breathe, was the third place winner, written by the fourth grade class of Henry Hauenstein at Helen Arnold Community Learning Center, 450 Vern Odom, Akron, Ohio 44307. Principal LaMonica Davis worked with Suncrest Gardens to select the appropriate tree to plant on their school grounds.  Anne Armao, KAB Board of Directors was a judge this year, along with Dorothy Lepp, of the KAB Beautification Board; Polly Kaczmarek, KAB Flowerscape Director; Melissa Adams, KAB Program Manager, and Elaine Murphy, KAB’s CFO.  Bill Hahn, the City Arborist, assists with the packing of the seedlings that are delivered to the schools by the KAB Beautification Board volunteers on April 28, 2011. The City of Akron was awarded its 16th Tree City Award by the Arbor Day Foundation. Ohio has more certified Tree Cities than any other state! We hope the fourth grade students learn to respect living things as they nurture their tree and watch it grow through the years in their own backyard!

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