LOTS MORE PHOTOS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS STORY.

The Ada Tree Commission once again celebrated Arbor Day with Ada Elementary 3rd grade classes on Friday.

Students learned about Arbor Day, Tree City USA, and Tree Campus USA, all the while wanting to know if they were getting their own trees!  Each student did receive their own Dawn Redwood tree to take home to plant.

Also on the agenda was talk of ‘elephant snot’, things that are good for trees, and effects the Asian Longhorn Beetle could have on Ada’s trees if the infestation spreads to Northwest Ohio.  The beetle has currently only be reported in Southwest Ohio.  Students took part in the fun by wearing Asian Longhorn Beetle headbands throughout the celebration.

Students also heard from Kiwanis President Myrna McCurdy, who presented the Tree Commission with a donation.  McCurdy told the students the Ada Kiwanis Club have helped support the Ada Tree Commission with donation totals of $16,500 over the past 30 years.

The Tree Commission is very appreciative to the Ada Schools, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, The Arbor Day Foundation, The Ohio State University Extension, and the US Department of Agriculture.

PHOTO IDENTIFICATION:

• Ada 3rd graders sport Asian Longhorn Beetle headbands.

• Mayor Dave Retterer stands with the place winners of the Mayor’s Arbor Day Art Contest.  First place went to Nate Hall; second place went to Madison Park, and third place went to Adison Lutz.  Pictured with Retterer are Hall and Park. 

• Ada Kiwanis President Myrna McCurdy presents Don Traxler, chair of the Ada Tree Commission, with a donation from the Ada Kiwanis Club.

• ONU student Ray Foster talks to the 3rd graders about Tree Campus USA, a program that recognizes college campuses that show commitment to urban forestry practices.  Foster is an environmental and field studies major.

• Ada 3rd graders learn about the importance of proper placement of mulch around their new trees.