Elm tree planted at Elm Drive School on Arbor Day

MILLBROOK — Students enrolled in Grades K-2 at Elm Drive Elementary School filed out to the playground on Friday, April 26, to help with the planting of an elm tree in honor of their school and the annual observance of Arbor Day.

Although the town had done the bulk of the planting work, there was still work to be done by the children.

Town Trustee Mike Herzog and tree grower Dennis Gendron, who had donated the straight and sturdy tree, encouraged each student to shovel a bit of soil around the base of the tree. Gendron of Twin Brooks Farm has been donating trees to the town for 20 years.

“Arbor Day is the most awesome day of the year,” Herzog told the children. “It’s about trees,” he explained.

The tree selected for the school playground perimeter is a Valley Forge Elm, a descendent of an elm tree that had stood at Valley Forge in the 18th century. Gendron noted that the tree is resistant to Dutch Elm Disease.

“This is a strong dependable tree being planted by the Village of Millbrook, but it’s going to need your care,” Herzog told the children who were attentive and willing to take on the responsibility.

After the ceremony Herzog commented on the recent tree removal work along Franklin Avenue, indicating that replacement trees will be planted. He said that there will be two elms and two red maples, both native varieties, and one Japanese Velcova that can withstand stresses represented by an urban setting.