Trees rise for Arbor Day

By Matthew Bernat
Turley Publications Staff Writer

STURBRIDGE -If a tree were planted in town would anyone see it? What about 33 of them?
This month, Sturbridge celebrated 21 consecutive years as an official Tree City USA and if the efforts of local arborists keeps pace there will be many more to come.
“This is the busiest Arbor Day program I have experienced in my 25 years as Tree Warden,” Thomas Chamberland told selectmen at their meeting last week.
Chamberland offered an update of all the various programs occurring throughout the month, including an official ceremony set for Friday, April 30 at 1 p.m. at Tantasqua Regional High School and the planting of 33 trees throughout town.
The 33 trees were ordered by members of the Tree Warden’s Advisory Committee and planted Friday, April 16 at the request of businesses and residents wanting to participate in the free program.
Chamberland said trees have been planted in the past to commemorate Arbor Day, but this year the number planted broke a record due in part to the fact the trees were ordered “bare root” as opposed to ones arriving with roots contained in a bag.
In fact, not everyone who applied for a tree was able to get one because of the high interest in the program, he said. Those who missed out were put on a wait list for next year. Chamberland thanked Joe Kowalski, of Ganesh Tree Care and Calvin Montigny, of Montigny Landscaping Service for their efforts.
Money from town betterment funds and the Sturbridge Tourist Association paid for the program.
Six trees were planted along Route 20’s business corridor.
And there’s another planting on the way. The town officially celebrates Arbor Day at the high school April 30 when members of the senior class will plant a “scholar tree” on school grounds. Students from a conservation class will assist.
The program was established through the work of Principal Michael Lucas, teacher Roberta Dunn and students from her Dynamics in Democracy Class and members of the Tree Warden’s Advisory Committee.
Chamberland also noted a few trees at Burgess Elementary School would be saved courtesy of Northern Tree Service.
Friday, April 23 saw about 15 trees transplanted in order to preserve them during the school’s upcoming reconstruction.
Trees saved include four memorial trees and 11 others “not normally available at local nurseries” according to Chamberland. He said they have been planted throughout the years as part of educational programs at the school.
They will be replanted once the work at the school is done, he said.