Warwick Valley Gardeners sponsor Arbor Day celebration at Sanfordville Elementary School
WARWICK Members of the Warwick Valley Gardeners invited the Warwick Community to join the students in Pie 5s Operation Conservation program in a heartwarming celebration of Arbor Day in the courtyard of Sanfordville Elementary School on Friday, April 27.
This year the Warwick Valley Gardeners had arranged for the purchase and planting of a Dwarf Cherry tree to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the City of Tokyos gift of cherry trees to Washington, D.C.
Arbor Day, the last Friday of April in New York State, is a nationally celebrated observance that encourages tree planting and care. And the Warwick Valley Gardeners has traditionally planted trees in celebration of this event with a planting ceremony. Arbor Day Chair Pat Conroy Reinhardt opened the ceremony by welcoming guests and students, including representatives of the Bellvale Bruderhof Community and local dignitaries.
Stating that one of the objectives of the Warwick Valley Gardeners was to educate, she then gave a short presentation on the history of Arbor Day.
Shade Tree Commissioner Roger Metzger, a 46-year veteran of Warwicks Shade Tree Commission, spoke about the value of trees in the conservation of clean air and water and the preservation of wildlife.
Other speakers echoing those sentiments and those encouraging conservation of our natural resources included Town of Warwick Deputy Supervisor James Gerstner, Mayor Michael Newhard, Jane Hamburger and Thom Woglom.
During the ceremony Grade-5 students from Sanfordville Elementary School gave several special presentations and all the students, joined by children from the Bellvale Bruderhof Community, sang songs, closing with everyone present singing, America the Beautiful.
Every student also received a tree for planting.
Turning to members of the Warwick Valley Gardeners at the conclusion of the ceremony, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Raymond Bryant said, Thank you for making Warwick so beautiful.
- Roger Gavan