By Khalida Sarwari
The city of Saratoga will gain a new oak tree this week in honor of Arbor Day. The seventh annual celebration is set to take place April 24 outside the Saratoga Library.
This year’s city-sponsored Arbor Day event will feature live music, snacks and a talk by certified arborist Blair Glenn about how to care for trees. Attendees can take home a bag of compost as well as other giveaways. They can also adopt free trees, according to Mayor Jill Hunter.
The winners of the Arbor Day poster contest will be announced during the event. Three $50 gift certificates will be awarded to the winners in three age groups: grades K-3, 4-8 and 9-12. The winners of the contest will be selected by a three-judge panel.
Every poster entry received will be displayed inside that room on April 24 and around town afterward.
This is the first year the city is holding a poster contest to honor Arbor Day, Hunter said. She came up with the idea for the contest to foster a love of trees among youth in Saratoga.
As is customary, elected officials will plant an oak tree at the entrance of the community room, alongside a bronze plaque and rock marking it as an Arbor Day tree.
Last year on Arbor Day, then-Mayor Chuck Page planted an oak at Wildwood Park. Altogether, the city planted more than 83 trees over the last fiscal year and pruned and treated more than 400 trees.
The city of Saratoga is a “Tree City,” which means it is part a national program that receives the framework for community forestry management along with other cities and towns across America. Communities achieve Tree City USA status by meeting four core standards of sound urban forestry management: maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry and celebrating Arbor Day.
Saratoga’s Arbor Day event will take place from 3 to 4 p.m. outside the community room at the library, 13650 Saratoga Ave.
For more information about the Arbor Day event, contact Mainini Cabute atmcabute@saratoga.ca.us or 408.868.1275.
Saratoga to celebrate Arbor Day by planting an oak tree at library
