FROM: Rosemary Waldorf, Mayor
SUBJECT: Arbor Day 2000
DATE: November 13, 2000
The attached proclamation announces this year’s Arbor Day celebration planned for November 17 and establishes the first Friday after November 15 as the Chapel Hill’s Arbor Day.
The Town’s annual Arbor Day now is observed as the first Friday after March 15. During a budget working session earlier this year, Public Works staff discussed with the Council the advantages of planting trees in the fall instead of in the spring. In summary, the survival rate of fall planted trees is generally better and less maintenance is typically required during their establishment period. Accordingly, we believe that the Town’s official Arbor Day celebration should be changed to a date in the fall.
This year’s Arbor Day ceremony is scheduled for Friday, November 17, will be a special event including the presentation of the Town's 1999 Tree City USA designation from the North Carolina Division of Forest Resources. The Town will receive a Tree City USA plaque, a flag, and a sign to be posted at one of the entranceways into town.
This year’s celebration will include a tree planting ceremony attended by students from Ephesus Elementary School. A (9-foot tall) magnolia tree has been selected for planting at the stone entranceway sign on 15-501 near Eastowne Drive. The existing daylily bed at the sign will be supplemented with pansies and a native yaupon holly.
The Manager recommends approval of the attached proclamation.
WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill values its diversity and abundance of trees; and
WHEREAS, trees create a healthy environment for people and wildlife by controlling erosion, cleaning the air, producing oxygen, moderating temperatures, and providing food and habitat; and
WHEREAS, trees beautify our community, increase property values, and enhance the economic vitality of commercial areas; and
WHEREAS, planting trees benefits generations present and future; and
WHEREAS, Chapel Hill has been recognized as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Rosemary Waldorf, Mayor of the Town of Chapel Hill, do hereby proclaim November 17th, 2000 as ARBOR DAY and urge all citizens to celebrate Arbor Day and to support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands, and
FURTHERMORE, I proclaim that the Town’s Arbor Day shall be established as the first Friday after November 15th of each year.