Marple Tree Commission Celebrates Arbor Day 2013

On April 26th, 35 people gathered at the Tot Lot on South Malin Road for Marple Township’s seventh Arbor Day celebration sponsored by the Marple Tree Commission and Broomall Giant Food Store, which donated Marple’s 2013 Arbor Day Tree. Diana Breen, MTC Vice Chair, led the pledge to the flag and welcomed guests to the ceremony.
Liz Ball, MTC Secretary, set the stage for the events to follow with a thoughtful reading of the poem, “A Tree is a Wondrous Thing,” which inspired everyone to think about the value that trees add to our daily lives. Then State Forester, Jessica Salter, spoke about the history and significance of Arbor Day, and was followed by Mike Molinaro, Chair of the Board of Commissioners, who read the Arbor Day proclamation. Next, Mark Gregor, Manager of Broomall Giant Food Store, presented the Arbor Day tree to Marple Township as a token of Giant’s commitment to the community and to the environment.
Ten Tree Adopters who watered 12 trees planted at the park over the past 5 years, were recognized by Marianne Price, MTC Volunteer Coordinator. Rick Ray, MTC Chair, Bill Cress and Todd Spiller, members of Marple Township’s grounds crew, and Joey McGowan, student volunteer, were responsible for the culminating event, the planting of an Imperial Honey Locust tree (Gleditsia triacanthos ‘Imperial’). Over the next two years, the managers and staff of Broomall Giant Food Store will care for Marple’s 2013 Arbor Day tree.

Mark Gregor, Broomall Giant Food Store Manager, presents Marple Township with the Arbor Day Tree. 

From left, Liz Ball, Daniel Leefson, Michael Molinaro, Rick Ray, Jessica Salter, Jan Ceton, William Adolph, and Tony Hamaday display Marple’s new Tree City flag.

Rick Ray, Bill Cress, Todd Spiller, and Joey McGowan tamp down the soil around the newly planted Arbor Day tree.