Arbor Day is the day set aside when we celebrate the planting and maintenance of trees. This is the 150th anniversary of the first Arbor Day, which falls this year on Friday, April 29. It’s altogether just and fitting that we, in Main Street Vineland, carry on the tradition of planting a tree.

We’re going to plant the tree that day at 1 p.m., in the downtown mini-park on the southeast corner of Landis Avenue and the Boulevard. The Vineland Environmental Commission helps out with this event and, this year, the fourth grade class from the Gloria M. Sabater Elementary School will also be taking part. We’re also inviting dignitaries from City and County government.

This occasion, however, means much more than the planting of a tree. It’s part of an initiative to plant many more trees in and around center city Vineland. It’s part of a multi-pronged beautification project about which you’ll be reading more in the weeks and months to come.

For now, however, let’s focus on the trees. Trees provide beauty, shade, and serenity to urban areas. Our downtown area has lost quite a few trees and we’ve tracked where trees are missing and where we can plant them. It’s a job that cannot be completed in the short term. In certain cases, remnants of older trees, such as roots and stumps, must be dug up before new trees can be planted in those spots. It’s an ongoing effort and one that we’re making a priority,

As I said, this is just one part of a much bigger residential and commercial beautification project and I’m excited at the prospect of sharing more about it with you in due time.

So for now, mark your calendars for Friday, April 29, at 1 p.m. and head over to The Ave as we celebrate the addition of another tree to our beautiful downtown. This gives you plenty of notice to also spread the word. Join us!

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For more on Main Street Vineland, call our office at 856-794-8653, visit TheAve.biz—or check us out on Facebook. You can also e-mail me at [email protected].