Arbor Day Tree Planting in New Glarus
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Sue Moen
After a lunch provided by community donations, a Musclewood tree was dedicated in memory of former New Glarus Village President, Erwin Zweifel who passed away in 2015. Erwin's widow, Kay Zweifel, and his sister-in-law, Naomi Meland, attended the dedication.
New Glarus received its twenty-first consecutive Tree City USA award and a total of 15 trees were planted in New Glarus on Friday, May 6, as part of the village's annual Arbor Day tree planting.
Adult volunteers and New Glarus High School students, under the direction of Dan Ziegler, joined Village Forester Paul Jennrich in planting trees throughout the village.
This year's planting included a major renovation to the landscaped area on the west end of Village Park. Overgrown shrubs were removed and new Green Velvet Boxwood and landscape roses were planted in their place. In addition, the volunteers spent hours pruning shrubs, cleaning, weeding and mulching the area.
At Noon, the group ate a picnic lunch at Village Park. Funding for the lunch was provided by donations from Dan Gartzke and Tracey Schwalbe, Beth Blahut, Mike and Theresa Colney and Paul Gabriel. Other generous community members donated food items for the lunch.
After lunch, Village President Roger Truttmann led a short ceremony to dedicate a Musclewood tree planted in memory of former Village President, Erwin Zweifel, who died last September. Village employees purchased the tree and a plaque noting his years of serving as Village President. His wife, Kay, and neighbor, Naomi Meland, attended the lunch and ceremony. The tree and plaque are located in Village Park, north of the shelter.
Also during the event, the National Arbor Day Foundation's Tree City award was presented to the community of New Glarus by Brian Wahl, of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. It is the twenty- first year New Glarus has received this national recognition.
Sue Moen
The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation, in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service.
New Glarus has met the four standards to become a Tree City USA community: a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a comprehensive community forestry program, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
For twenty years, the village has been planting park and terrace trees in celebration of Arbor Day as part of its urban forestry program. Adult and student volunteers have planted over 1,000 trees in the village since the planting program began.
Anyone wishing to purchase terrace trees for next year's planting, volunteer for next year's event or provide a donation to help fund tree planting may contact Village Forester Paul Jennrich at (608) 527-5833.
