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04/29/2017 10:43 AMTo celebrate Arbor Day 2017, a beautiful Sugar Maple tree was planted at Sliney Elementary School, with help from kids who may one day see their own children enjoy the shade it will spread over the playground.
The Sugar Maple is among the ten most common native trees in Connecticut, according to Connecticut Tree Protective Association.
The newly-planted tree, situated on a corner of the school's front lawn along Eades Street, is just one of over 39 trees which have been or will be installed around town this spring, Town Tree Warden Diana Ross said. Many trees are being placed in older neighborhoods in the town center, she said.
Since 2009, Branford has been designated a "Tree City USA" by the National Arbor Day Foundation. Through the years, Ross has helped bring multiple "America the Beautiful" grants to town to plant trees. In 2016, Branford received a $3,700 grant. This year, Branford was approved for a $5,590 grant.
At the Sliney tree planting site last week, First Selectman James B. Cosgrove explained a bit about the town's Arbor Day efforts to some of teacher Laurna Worden's Sliney Helper second grade students. The youngsters arrived to help "plant" the tree. The tree was delivered and dug in at its new home with help from members of Branford Public Works.
"Every year, the town plants a tree on town property to celebrate Arbor Day, and for the last few years we've been planting them on school properties. I'd like to thank the kids for coming out and being a part of it," said Cosgrove.
In 2016, a tree was planted at Branford High School on Arbor Day. An Arbor Day tree was installed at Walsh Intermediate School in 2015.
Cosgrove also thanked Ross, members of Branford Public Works, members of Branford's Community Forest Commission, Branford Solid Waste/Recycling Supervisor Dan McGowan, Branford Public Schools Supervisor of Facilities and Grounds Joe Carbone, and the Sliney school community, represented by the students and their principal, Margaret-Mary Gethings, for taking part in the town's 2017 Arbor Day tree planting.
Ross explained to the students they were celebrating one day early, due to another tree event she would need to attend on April 28, Arbor Day 2017's official date. She used an enlarged photo of an expansive Nebraska native prairie to help explain to the kids the origins of Arbor Day.
"It's very dry out there and hard for trees to grow," said Ross. "When people first moved out there, they started planting trees, and then they started to celebrate planting trees, and that was 145 years ago. So every year since then, everyone in the country, and all the states, celebrate by planting trees. Tomorrow, a lot of trees are going to be planted; in fact, millions."
The National Arbor Day Foundation first recognized Branford as a Tree City, USA for the town's commitment to maintaining the local urban forest and tree canopy cover. Since 2009, the designation has been renewed annually, based on the recommendation of the state Dept. of Energy and Environmental (DEEP) Division of Forestry and the State Forester. In April, Cosgrove was notified the Town of Branford was once again designated a Tree City, USA.
"This is a great honor," wrote Chris Donnelly, DEEP Urban Forestry Coordinator, in letter sent to Cosgrove. "Currently, there are only 17 Tree City's USA within the state of Connecticut. This is only ten percent of the municipalities in the state. In achieving this honor, the Town of Branford has established itself as an exemplary community in tree related issues; one that is taking a leadership role in urban forestry."
Donnelly also commended Branford on receiving a Growth Award from the Arbor Day Foundation for the town's work in 2016, noting, "...this award shows that the community went 'above and beyond' over the past year. Well done!"