Shade Tree Council hosts the annual Arbor Day celebration

The Carson City Shade Tree Council will host its annual Arbor Day celebration on Friday. The hour-long celebration will be held at Governors Field (behind Lowe's) and will begin at 5:30 p.m.

Among those attending will be Smokey Bear who will help the council plant the northern red maple selected by the staff of Carson City's Parks and Recreation Department. The tree planting is scheduled for 6 p.m. The council paid for the tree with money it raised at its annual Fall Tree Care Seminar.

At the celebration, the Shade Tree Council will present the George Washington Ferris Award to Capital Beverages for the trees on the company's property and for the care those trees receive. This award is named for George Washington Ferris who planted many of the trees on the Capitol grounds.

Assemblyman Pete Livermore will make the presentation on the council's behalf. The award will be accepted by Jason Brown, general manager of Capital Beverages.

Gov. Brian Sandoval has issued a proclamation supporting Arbor Day in Nevada. The last Friday in April has been designated as Arbor Day in Nevada state law.

Mayor Bob Crowell will read a proclamation from the Carson City Board of Supervisors, regarding the importance of planting trees and declaring April 29 as Arbor Day in Carson City.

For the 17th consecutive year, the council will receive a Tree City USA Award from the Arbor Day Foundation. Susan Stead, Nevada Division of Forestry, will make the presentation on behalf of the foundation. Carson City is one of 11 Tree City USA-certified communities in Nevada.

The council invites the public to attend this springtime celebration. For more information, call the Carson City Parks and Recreation Department at (775) 887-2262.