NEWS RELEASE
City of Morgantown
389 Spruce Street, Morgantown, WV 26505
Phone: 304-296-8356 Fax: 304-296-8357
Website: http://www.morgantown.com
USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
180 Canfield St, Morgantown WV 26505
Phone: 304-285-1503; Fax: 304-285-1505; Web Site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/

City of Morgantown

Date: Contact:	September 4, 2007			Release No. MFO-09-07
	Jeff Mikorski Anne Cumming Devin Wanner	phone:	(304) 284-7404 (304) 285-1504 (304) 285-1596	E-mail:	mikorski@morgantown.com acumming@fs.fed.us dwanner@fs.fed.us

Arbor Day Festivities in Morgantown Scheduled for September 15

MORGANTOWN, WVa— The public is invited to participate in Morgantown’s annual Arbor Day Fair on Saturday, September 15, from 9 a.m. until noon at the Municipal Parking Lot on Spruce and Fayette Streets in downtown Morgantown.

Morgantown Mayor Ron Justice will celebrate the day’s activities by reading the city’s Arbor Day Proclamation. Bob Hannah from the West Virginia Division of Forestry will present the city with the National Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA Award, which Morgantown has received for the past 10 years. Flowering cherry trees will also be planted at various locations on Pleasant and Walnut Street.

“Morgantown is proud to be receiving its 10^th Tree City USA Award. Over the years we’ve seen how important trees are to the city and to the residents. Trees not only provide beauty, but also provide services such as shade for cooling, and help increase air quality,” said Assistant City Manager Jeff Mikorski.

Cooler weather in the fall provides excellent tree planting conditions. Shorter days and mild temperatures are less stressful on newly planted trees. Autumn planting gives trees a chance to establish new roots that will supply water and nutrients to the plant in the spring. Trees planted in the fall also tend to have a greater survival rate than trees planted in late spring or summer. Fall and winter are also a good time to prune trees. Removing dead, low-hanging, or crowded branches is recommended at this time of the year.

The Tree City USA award is sponsored by The National Arbor Day Foundation, USDA Forest Service, and the National Association of State Foresters. The award provides direction, technical assistance, public attention, and national recognition for urban and community forestry programs. More information about The National Arbor Day Foundation can be found at www.arborday.org.

Other Arbor Day Fair activities include a farmer’s market, distribution of free tree seedlings from the Mon County Master Gardeners while supplies last, displays and activities by local environmental groups, and free pest and disease information provided by the WVU Extension Service.