Post Messenger Recorder -

New Glarus received its twenty-third consecutive Tree City USA award and a total of 28 trees were planted in New Glarus on Friday, May 4th, 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 replacing numerous ash trees throughout the village that were removed due to Emerald Ash Borer damage. The replacement trees consisted of a diverse selection, including Exclamation London Planetree and Decaf Kentucky Coffeetree.

Due to the heavy rainfall throughout the week, the volunteers had to deal with very wet and muddy conditions. That didn't dampen their resolve, and by noon all trees were planted and the sun was shining. The volunteers also took time to rake leaves, prune shrubs and place fresh shredded mulch in some landscaped areas in Village Park by the pool house and the main flag pole at the west side of the park.

At noon the group ate a picnic lunch at Village Park. Funding for the lunch was provided by donations from Tracey Schwalbe and Dan Gartzke, Beth Blahut, Mike and Theresa Colney and the Argue-Ment Golf Course. Other generous community members donated food items for the lunch.

Also during the event, the National Arbor Day Foundation's Tree City award was presented to the community of New Glarus. It is the twenty-third year New Glarus has received this national recognition.

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-two 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 1,030 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.