Tree Party!

Parents, toddlers, au pairs, park commissioners, arborists, a Daily News photographer, Mayor Holaday and Friends of Newburyport Trees gathered for the First Annual Arbor Day TREE PARTY! A great time was had by all and the weather even cooperated.

As Mayor Holaday read the city's proclamation, children slowly made their way towards the first annual Arbor Day Tree Party at Atkinson Common!

A newly planted memorial Gingko tree provided a perfect gathering spot for everyone. Echo, the beloved lab of Parks Commissioner Jeanine Murphy, was the proud mother of 66 puppies throughout her lifetime.

Jeanine Murphy shares Echo's story and pictures with the kids

Mayor Holaday teaches the sign for tree while Stephanie Pellegrini reads a poem.

 Interactive poetry engages everyone

The closing activity was an elimination game around the Gingko Tree. 

Tree-Shaped lollipops for all upon elimination! 

Jack from Bartlett Trees was on hand to distribute Red Oak and White Dogwood saplings to each guest.

Tranquility before the arrival of the tree partiers

The main activity of the event was finding one's favorite tree in the park, naming and describing it. Here is Red Dino, a 100 year old tree that is as high as a bird can fly. 

For more info about Friends of Newburyport Trees, visit www.fontrees.org
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Other publications by Kim Kudym:
From The Outside, Looking In: Middleton Prison
Letters From Apizaco, young adult memoir of my experience as a high school exchange student in Mexico as told through letters home and journal entries in 1976.