NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA — Newtown celebrated Arbor Day on Friday with the help of first and fifth-grade students from Goodnoe Elementary School.
Held at Brian Gregg Memorial Park on Congress Street, the town's annual celebration of its trees, presented by the Newtown Borough Recreation Board, included learning stations, music, games, and lots and lots of animals.
Eco-man (Philadelphia educator Richard McLaughlin), an Arbor Day mainstay, returned this year to lead the children in songs about the environment, including what has become Newtown Arbor Day’s unofficial anthem - “Reduce. Re-use. Recycle.”
Eco-Man leads a group of children in song at the event. (Jeff Werner/Patch)
The kids check out some of the animal skins on display at the Churchville Nature Center station. (Jeff Werner/Patch)
At the Newtown Rotary table, kids colored bags to take home free herbs for their gardens. (Jeff Werner/Patch)
The kids decorate bags with Arbor Day themes at the Newtown Rotary Club station. (Jeff Werner/Patch)
This year’s event not only celebrated the trees, it also showcased many of the animals that live in and among the trees, including turtles, tree frogs, and an exotic parrot.
Nick from the Aark Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center introduced the kids to a tree frog named Trey and a turtle named Pugsley and spoke about how to build their own tree frog hotel in their backyard.
Just a few feet away, Newtown resident Bill Salvadore was talking about his favorite subject - worms - and their importance to the environment. He brought a box filled with compost and worms to give the kids a close look at the dirt and tree dwellers.
“When they dig all those tiny little holes, it helps the rain water get into the ground,” he tells the kids. “They also help fertilize the ground. They love to eat. They eat half of their body weight every day. They are also super strong. They have five hearts, but no eyes and no lungs. And they have been around for millions of years.”
Charis Matey from the Peaceable Kingdom Petting Zoo brought a handful of animals, including a Patagonian Cavy; a redneck tortoise; Doodlebug, a marmoset monkey; and Ruby, a green-winged macaw, to show the kids. The kids listened intently as Matey spoke about each animal, sharing information about their native habitat and what they like to eat.
Charis Matey with her green-winged macaw. (Jeff Werner/Patch)
The Peaceable Kingdom Petting Zoo brought Doodlebug, a marmoset monkey, to show the kids. (Jeff Werner/Patch)
Nick from the Aark Wildlife Rehabilitation Center shows off Pugsley the turtle. (Jeff Werner/Patch)
The "Worm Man," Newtown resident Paul Salvadore, shows off his box of worms. (Jeff Werner/Patch)
Newtown Borough Mayor Tara Grunde-McLaughlin reads the Arbor Day proclamation. (Jeff Werner/Patch)
Shane from Davey Tree Co. shares information about trees with the kids. (Jeff Werner/Patch)
Chrissy Deegan reads a story to the kids. (Jeff Werner/Patch)
The kids also heard from Shane, an arborist from Davey Tree Co., who gave each child a free Juniper sapling to take home and plant; Chrissy Deegan, from the Newtown Library Company, who brought storytime to the park; and Tanya Oznowich, an education outreach specialist at the Churchville Nature Center, who displayed animal skins and skulls.
As a reminder of their Arbor Day experience, each of the youngsters who attended the event was given herbs to take home and plant in their yards.
The Newtown Rotary Club donated funds to purchase the herbs and handed them out to the youngsters at the celebration. The herbs were grown by students from the Council Rock Achieve program.
At the end of the two-hour adventure, the kids gathered on the lawn to continue the celebration of the environment with songs, poster awards, and the presentation of Arbor Day proclamations.
The ceremony included participation by Mayor Tara Grunde McLaughlin, Council Rock Director of Education Nicole Crawford, park and recreation board member Tracey Osecki; and guest speakers representing State Sen. Steve Santarsiero, State Rep. Perry Warren, and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick.
The mayor read the official Newtown Borough Arbor Day proclamation, urging all citizens to join in the Arbor Day celebration by “planting trees, caring for and protecting our growing trees and supporting the Newtown Borough Shade Tree Commission.”
Newtown’s Arbor Day celebration was started by the late Peter A. Chesner, who was a longtime member of the Newtown Borough Shade Tree Commission. He was responsible for planting the Bradford Pear trees that continue to bloom every spring along historic State Street.
Following the proclamation, Nicole Crawford, Council Rock's director of elementary education, stepped to the stage to recognize the fifth-grade winners of this year’s poster contest, presenting each with a certificate and ribbon.
The first-grade winners are O'sman Mars, Fiodar Vasileauski, and James Giletto. The fifth-grade winners are Rutvik Solipuram, Lia Ortiz Saunders, and Tiffany Wu.
The borough invited Goodnoe Elementary School first- and fifth-graders to create posters to help promote Arbor Day. The entries were judged by Parks and Rec board president Joe Michelin, Newtown Borough Chief of Police James Sabath and Newtown Borough Mayor Tara Grunde-McLaughlin.
Council Rock's Director of Secondary Education, Nicole Crawford, with the winners of this year's Arbor Day poster contest from Goodnoe Elementary School. (Jeff Werner/Patch)
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