   
Arbor Day celebration set for Saturday
By JOE LAMB
LOG CABIN STAFF WRITER
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 The Conway Arbor Day celebration will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday in Laurel Park.
More than 250 young trees will be available for adoption, and larger trees will be awarded as prizes.
Officials from the Arkansas Forestry Commission will be on-hand and seminars on selecting, planting and pruning trees will be held.
"We're just trying to make people aware that they are the stewards of our city, and part of that stewardship is propagating trees; planting more trees to help the environment of our city," Conway Tree Board chairman Randy Romeo said.
The tree board was created last year in conjunction with Conway's earning Tree City USA status, a recognition given only to cities that have a tree care ordinance, a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita and observe Arbor Day.
According to information found at the city tree board's Web site, www.conwaytrees.org, the city's trees comprise what the board refers to as "the urban forest," and "important asset that requires the same care and maintenance as other items of public property."
The benefits of the tree "canopy" that covers much of the city, especially the older neighborhoods, go beyond its aesthetic appeal, according to tree board member Ouida Wright.
"There are many benefits about trees that involve the fact that htey absorb carbon dioxide and they give off oxygen so it makes the environment more healthy," Wright said. "And also trees reduce runoff from all the development that we have. They absorb the water through their roots so they keep the city's streams and creeks clean and prevent erosion. They also reduce the amount of energy needed to cool our homes through the shade they provide. There are all kinds of studies that show that if there are trees at sites of stores and businesses people will want to park there and shop there. It just makes the community more inviting."
Arbor Day is often celebrated in the spring, but according to Wright, the fall is a better time to plant trees, and so the city has chosen this season to observe Arbor Day.
"Fall is a great time to plant trees; even better than spring in many cases," she said through a news release. "Sometimes, when we plant new trees in the spring they may suffer from a water shortage during the summer unless regular watering can be provided. Fall-planted trees have time to acclimate to their new environment before winter sets in, and there is usually plenty of moisture available during the winter months to keep them healthy and get them off to a good start."
(Staff writer Joe Lamb can be reached by e-mail at joe.lamb@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1238. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)
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