Arbor Day celebration at the Ritzville City Park on April 29

On Friday, April 29, the Ritzville City Tree Board invites the community to celebrate Arbor Day at 10 a.m. at the Ritzville City Park.

The morning festivities include the presentation of colors by Boy Scout Troop 888, an Arbor Day proclamation by Mayor Gary Cook and a presentation of the Tree City USA plaque.

The plaque is presented to Ritzville by Garth Davis, who represents the Washington State Conservation District.

The City of Ritzville has received the Tree City USA designation for six consecutive years.

The top three Ritzville fifth grade essay winners will also read and share what their favorite tree is and why. Each will select a prize as well.

The 16 students in the fifth grade class from Ritzville Grade School will then help plant four new trees in the City Park, allowing them to learn how to properly prepare and install trees.

After working up an appetite the students will have lunch and be given seed packets and Ponderosa Pine seedlings, donated by Umpqua Bank, to plant in their own back yard.

The Tree Board looks forward to seeing community members there and encourages them to enjoy the beauty and benefits trees provide.