Hugging trees at Arbor Day celebration
University Heights celebrated Arbor Day on Nov. 6 by having a community tree planting on Vernon Road. The celebration included a speech by Mayor Beryl Rothschild, who had given the very first Arbor Day speech when the city first began observing the day.
At this year’s celebration, children from Wiley Middle and Gearity Elementary schools read poetry, helped plant the trees and later joined in a group tree hug. Walter Stinson, the city’s community coordinator, led the group of officials, members of City Beautiful and neighborhood residents in singing "America the Beautiful."
University Heights and Cleveland Heights share the honor of being among the oldest cities in Cuyahoga County to observe Arbor Day. This year’s event marked University Heights’s 32nd Arbor Day celebration. The city received a designation of Tree City USA in 1978.
Following a day of poetry, song and tree planting, participants and attendees were treated to hot chocolate and cookies at Whole Foods Market. Mustapha Ceesay, the manager on duty, believes the city’s success in building community with events like this is what makes University Heights special. He noted that Whole Foods supports the event and looks forward to participating next year.
Although the November Arbor Day celebration has become a tradition here, in 2010 it will be celebrated on the last Friday in April, according to Chris Vild, city service manager for University Heights. To learn more about participating in Arbor Day celebrations, contact Vild at 216-932-7800, ext. 215 or visit the Arbor Day Foundation at www.arborday.org.
Anita Kazarian is a freelance writer and University Heights resident.