Friday, Mar. 12, 2010
Trees planted for Arbor Day
Breakfast began day's celebration, new trees planted at park
By Samantha Salas / ssalas@losbanosenterprise.com
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ReprintSouthbrook Park in Los Baños has six new trees thanks to the city of Los Baños. The annual Arbor Day celebration held Friday brought community members and local groups together to honor the city's dedication in providing a simple form of nature that will be shared for generations to come.
The festivities began Friday morning with the annual Arbor Day Breakfast held at the Miller & Lux Building. Members of the Milliken Museum History Society helped prepare and serve the breakfast of pancakes, ham, eggs, coffee and juice. Proceeds went to support the museum, its operation and preserving the artifacts.
Jessie Stoddard, one of the coordinators, said about 300 tickets were sold for the event.
June Erreca, a member of the society, said everything was going well and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves during the meal.
Community members were off to Southbrook Park later in the day where local and county dignitaries began the annual commemoration of two different things: one, the commitment to trees Los Baños has shown being a part of Tree City USA for two decades, and two, honoring Bob Edminster, who instituted the first Los Baños Arbor Day celebration in 1989, with the help of Sheila Campbell, Susan Spevak and Shiena Polehn.
Edminster was honored with a proclamation from the city during the event.
The Los Banos High School choir also performed during the event under the direction of Tom Faria.
Darla Mills of CAL Fire presented the Tree City USA certificate to master of ceremonies Mayor Tommy Jones and shared the program's appreciation for Los Baños' dedication to planting trees.
The city also provided a tree planting demonstration for anyone interested, and those who stuck around to plant their fresh roots.
"It's always nice to come here," Mills said of her Los Baños visits each year.
Mills also said she's always impressed with the amount of youth involvement from the community during the event.
"You have to have it," she said. "If you teach them about it now, they'll continue to help build this part of the community. It's for our future generations, it's for their children's children."
Mills said what makes her more grateful of the event is that Los Baños' youth know they won't reap the benefits of their service immediately and they continue to help each year anyway.
Local Boy and Girl Scout troops attended the event, along with Los Baños Community 4-H groups, to help the city plant the new trees.
Mills said she enjoyed Edminster's recognition also.
"It was so emotional to see that. He's so deserving," Mills said. "Had it not been for him, this would not be possible."
Karla Scott, who attended the event with her son's Boy Scout Troop, said she sees an appreciation in the boys of Troop 58 for Arbor Day.
"We love Arbor Day," Scott said. "It's great for the kids to get a sense of ownership for their community."
Scott said the troop members understand the concept of what it means to plant a tree and how future generations will benefit from their service.
"Especially out here in the Central Valley, the kids are really able to put down roots just like these trees," Scott said.
Arbor Day art contest winners were also annonced at the event. Each student, kindergarten through sixth grade, received one of four tree seedlings for their placements.
Enterprise reporter Samantha Salas can be reached by phone at (209)388-6562 or by e-mail at ssalas@losbanosenterprise.com