The Village of Ada Tree Commission was honored to accept the Tree City USA award in a ceremony on April 9. The Village has earned the Tree City Award for 33 years. Ohio Northern University earned and accept the Tree Campus USA for the 3rd year.

The ceremony was held in Kenton, and was co-hosted by the City of Kenton and the Village of Mt. Victory.

The awards were presented by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry. The Division of Forestry acts as a guiding hand in helping communities become qualified as a Tree City USA.

To achieve the title and honors, a community must meet four standards:
• a tree ordinance
• and active tree commission 
• a comprehensive urban forestry program supported by a minimum of $2 per capita;
• an annual Arbor Day proclamation and public observance.

This year marks Ohio’s 33rd year as the top Tree City USA state.

Ada also earned a Growth Award for the first time. To earn this title and honor, a community must have made additions or significant improvements to the tree program in the past year.

To earn the award for 2013, the Ada Tree Commission hosted over 20 students from northwest Ohio in Ohio Department of Natural Resources Tree Commission Academy, a four-part training for tree commissioners and others interested in urban forestry development.

Ada's Tree Commission also took an active role in the first-ever Spring Event, which was held in the Ada War Memorial Park in April 2013.

Ohio Northern University, under the lead of Dr. Terry Keiser, earned Tree Campus USA designation by meeting five standards:
• campus tree advisory committee 
• campus tree care plan 
• campus tree program with dedicated annual expenditures 
• Arbor Day observance 
• and a service learning project

For additional information about the Tree City USA program or the Arbor Day Foundation,  visit www.arborday.org.

PHOTO IDENTIFICATIONS:
Tree campus: Terry Keiser accepted the 3rd year Tree Campus USA award, on behalf of Ohio Northern University.

Tree city: Don Traxler accepted the 33rd year Tree City Award for the Village of Ada Tree Commission.

Tree City USA 33rd year award: The following Ada Tree Commissioners were on hand for the Northwest Ohio Tree City USA Awards Ceremony: (front row): Terry Keiser, Angela Polachek, Don Traxler; (back row): Monty Siekerman, Jim Meyer, Jamie Hall and Norm Rex.