Lehighton tree commission plans Earth Day events

The Lehighton Shade Tree Commission has planned three activities in conjunction with Earth Day.

Mark Hoffman, chairman of the commission, said the first event will take place at 9 a.m. Saturday, when Shade Tree members, along with many other volunteers and groups from the community, will meet at the D&L Pavilion.

“Their objective will be to help beautify this area of town by putting a fresh layer of mulch around the oaks, maples, dogwoods and Cleveland pear trees that are planted along Lehigh Drive, which leads to the beginning of the D&L Trail,” Hoffman said. “Lehighton has been designated as a D&L Trail Town, which is certain to bring many new guests to our town.”

Hoffman said the Shade Tree Commission decided to focus on that particular area of town this year to support the excitement around the borough being designated as a Trail Head town, and also to support the opening of the recently completed Lehighton Outdoor Center, which will also bring a host of new visitors to town.

Jerry McAward, owner of Lehighton Outdoor Center, has offered the use of his truck and trailer to haul the mulch for the trees.

Along with McAward, other volunteer groups offering to help include employees of Mauch Chunk Trust Company, Lehighton Downtown Initiative, Brownie Troop 3176, Girl Scout Troop 33, Cub Scout Pack 145 and Boy Scout Troop 82.

Hoffman said that along with the mulching of the trees, the volunteers will also spend time picking up litter along Lehigh Drive and Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard.

The group also has Arbor Day plans at the Lehighton Middle School on April 27, as it will spend the morning with Lehighton Middle School students starting at 7:30 a.m.

“This relationship with the middle school to celebrate Arbor Day has been an ongoing event for close to 20 years,” he said.

The event will include science teacher Joe Yescavage, who has been instrumental in creating the excitement with his students getting them energized to support Arbor Day and the planting of the trees; borough Mayor Clark Ritter, who will read the Arbor Day Proclamation; DCNR Bureau of Forestry, which will award Lehighton with their 25-year Tree City USA banner; and PPL Electric Utilities, which donates the money every year for the trees and seedlings that get handed out to all students.

Hoffman said that over the years, well more than 3,500 seedlings have been handed out.

Boy Scout Troop 82 will once again help with the bagging of the seedlings the night before the event, he said.

At 10 a.m. April 28, the commission will plant a maple tree in the upper park in loving memory of Danielle Nicole Walp. The memorial tree was gifted by her mother, sister and grandparents.

Hoffman said Lehighton’s memorial tree program has been extremely successful over the years, with 237 memorial trees currently planted throughout the borough.

Each memorial tree has a plaque at the base of the tree, along with a corresponding brass leaf on the bronze tree hanging in borough hall.

“Planting a tree represents putting down roots and future growth,” he said. “It connects you to the earth. Trees represent resilience, as a tree bends in a storm just as we weather the daily struggles of life.”

Hoffman said what will make the planting of this memorial tree special is the fact that Danielle’s grandfather is an Eagle Scout with Scout Troop 82, and Scouts from Scout Troop 82 will be assisting with the planting of the tree.

Danielle’s grandfather, along with other relatives, have also requested to assist with the planting of this special memorial tree.