MAUMELLE — Trees are a big deal in Maumelle.
Bilenda Harris-Ritter, chairwoman of the Tree Board in Maumelle, said that is because Maumelle is a designated Tree City USA, and has been since 2007.
“To be a Tree City USA, you have to have a tree board or a forester or arborist on the city employment,” Harris-Ritter said, “and a budget where you have a certain number of volunteer hours and city-employee hours that are just for the care of trees.”
Board members are mayor appointed and work to maintain the city’s status and advise the City Council on ways to improve the beauty of the city with trees.
This year, the Maumelle Tree Board decided to draw out the Arbor Day celebration. Festivities began Saturday, as members of the Maumelle Lions Club gathered to plant tree saplings, which were nurtured for several years by the board.
The saplings, mostly red oak trees, can now be seen outside the Maumelle Fire Station and the softball and baseball fields at the Maumelle Diamond Center.
The tree planting will be followed up by a festive Arbor Day Celebration on Nov. 5. The theme is “Trees Are Terrific,” and the celebration will take place from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the Maumelle Community Center.
The event is sponsored by the Maumelle Tree Board, as well as the Maumelle Chamber of Commerce, The Good Earth, the Maumelle Animal Clinic, the Maumelle Country Club and more.
The event will begin with coffee and doughnuts served by the Maumelle Lions Club. Mayor Mike Watson will serve as master of ceremonies for the program, which will include a colors presentation and singing.
“This year, for the first time, the Academics Plus Charter School choir will be singing for us,” Harris-Ritter said. “We are very excited to have them.”
The program will culminate with the ceremonial planting of the Maumelle Arbor Day Tree. The ceremonial tree was donated by The Good Earth in Little Rock. This year will be the first for a ceremonial-tree planting.
The Master Naturalists will be on hand to perform free soil testing for anyone who wants to tote some dirt along to the ceremony. Master Gardeners will be there to answer questions, and various outdoor groups and organizations will attend to share their information with the public.
Smokey Bear will visit with children to teach them about outdoor safety and best practices.
A silent auction, which will include gift certificates, pieces from local artists and more, will benefit the Tree Board. Those who wish to make a donation will be asked to place their cash on a “money tree” at the event.
Harris-Ritter pointed out that while Arbor Day is traditionally celebrated in the spring, late October and early November in Arkansas are much more temperate and give the newly planted trees a better chance of survival.
“I hear from people all the time that they want more trees,” Harris-Ritter said. “People in Maumelle are especially concerned because of people cutting down so many trees during development. Events like this reassure people that the city is doing something right.”
Staff writer Caroline Zilk can be reached at (501) 244-4326 or czilk@arkansasonline.com.
River Valley Ozark, Pages 62 on 10/27/2011