Governor Proclaims March 7 Arbor Day
Statewide Arbor Week Poster Contest Winners Unveiled
Sacramento – Just as trees across the state are beginning to blossom for spring, California’s Arbor Week is highlighting the importance trees have on communities and their residents. Today, Governor Edmund G. Brown proclaimed the start of California Arbor Week, and to kick off the celebration, officials from CAL FIRE and California ReLeaf, an organization working to preserve, protect and enhance California’s urban forests, announced the winners of the statewide Arbor Week poster contest.
“Arbor Week is a time when we encourage tree planting in our neighborhoods and teach our children the value trees have on life,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, CAL FIRE director. “We were so excited to see so many school children show their understanding of the value of trees through their creative artwork.”
Students from across California in grades 3rd, 4th and 5th were asked to create original artwork based on the theme “The Trees in my Community Are an Urban Forest”. Over 800 posters were summited.
This year’s poster contest winners were 3rd grader Priscilla Shi from La Rosa Elementary School in Temple City, CA; 4th grader Maria Estrada from Jackson Elementary School in Jackson, CA; and 5th grader Cady Ngo from Live Oak Park Elementary School in Temple City, CA.
One of the 3rd grade entries was so unique and artful that a new award category was added – the Imagination Award. Bella Lynch, a 3rd grader at West Side School in Healdsburg, CA, was given the special recognition award to recognize the talent and creativity of this young artist.
During an event unveiling this year’s Arbor Week Poster contest winners at the California State Capitol, Pimlott, who also acts as the State’s forester, stressed why Arbor Week is so significant, “Trees are an essential part of California’s climate and are vital to improving air quality and conserving water, and we must take every step possible to protect our state’s valuable natural resources.”
“Trees make California’s cities and towns great. It’s that simple,” said Joe Liszewski, Executive Director for California ReLeaf, the organization spearheading California Arbor Week activities. “Everyone can do their part to plant and care for trees ensuring that they are a resource long into the future.”
California Arbor Week runs March 7-14 every year. To view this year’s Arbor Week poster contest winners visit www.fire.ca.gov. For more on Arbor Week visit www.arborweek.org.
Watch a short video message about California’s Arbor Week: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyAN7dprhpQ&list=PLBB35A41FE6D9733F
# # #