Medina keeps up Arbor Day tradition by planting many trees in village
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – These students at the Oak Orchard Primary School helped plant a sugar maple tree at State Street Park thus morning.
The Village of Medina held its annual Arbor Day celebration this morning, and students from oak Orchard again were part of the planting process, shoveling dirt where the new trees are planted.
Medina will plant 49 trees in the village this spring. The locations include James Street and Main Street, Ann Street and West Center Street, West Avenue from James Street to Maple Street, State Street along the park and in State Street Park. Several of the trees are memorial ones that will have plaques.
Chris Dix, an employee with the Medina Department of Public Works, sets a sugar maple in the park this morning.
Medina has been designated a “Tree City USA” by the Arbor Day Foundation for the village’s commitment to planting trees every year. For the past 20 years, Medina has planted about 50 trees every year.
Even with those new trees, the village tends to be at a net negative each year, typically taken down more than 60 a year, including many ash trees in recent years, said Jason Watts, the DPW superintendent.
Mary Lewis, the Tree Board chairwoman, thanks the Oak Orchard Glee Club for performing at today’s celebration. Lewis is joined by Medina Mayor Marguerite Sherman. They announced the Glee Club is this year’s recipient of the “Friends of our Urban Forest” Award.
The Glee Club, led by teacher Andrea Busch, has been performing at Arbor Day the past three years.
Nick Reese, a Medina senior, wrote a new song, “Oscillating Futures,” that was performed by the Glee Club. Reese is headed to Fredonia State College in the fall to major in music composition.
“I will be the future, the trees taller than me. I will be the future. We are the water, the earth and seed. It’s up to me. I will be the future, no fighting, no regret.
“I will be the future, would you believe in me? I will be the future, the trees taller than me. I will be the future. We are the water, the earth and seed. The future’s up to me.”
Serenity Chin, close to center with microphone, and other members of the Glee Club sang at this morning’s celebration.
These third-graders in Mrs. Zambito’s class help plant a sugar maple. The two with the shovels include Emma McGrath, left, and Alana Hoffmeister.
