Published Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Newnan city officials to celebrate Arbor Day at local elementary schools

In celebration of Arbor Day, the Beautification Department of the City of Newnan, the Newnan Tree Commission, and Mayor Keith Brady will be visiting each of six public elementary schools in the Newnan city limits.

They will meet with each schools' kindergarten classes to emphasize the value of trees. This is the ninth year the program has been in existence.

Brady welcomes the students to the tree planting ceremony and introduces special guests. Labor Supervisor Mike Olmstead with the Beautification Department leads an interactive discussion with the students on the importance of trees, different types of trees, and how to plant and care for trees.

A tree is then planted on the school grounds in honor of that kindergarten class, and a plaque is installed to commemorate the date and the class. The students are encouraged help take care of the tree and to watch the tree grow as they grow.

School visits at Coweta School System schools in the city will include Newnan Crossing, Atkinson, Jefferson Parkway, Ruth Hill, Elm Street and Bobby Welch elementaries. All students are given a small Red Bud tree to take home and plant. Smokey Bear, with representatives from the Georgia Forestry Commission, also attends the ceremonies and visits with the children.

A tree planting ceremony will also be held near the proposed new pool area at Lynch Park in which the City of Newnan will receive the Tree USA award by the National Arbor Day Foundation for the 20th consecutive year.

"Arbor Day hopefully brings the beauty and significance of trees to the public's attention. Learning at such a young age, and the tree planting ceremonies held at the local elementary schools are events that we look forward to each year. The kids are quite enthusiastic, and it's a lot of fun," said Mike Furbush, the city's landscape architect and arborist.

Arbor Day is celebrated in Georgia on the third Friday of February.