Calhoun Times

Annual Arbor Day Tree Giveaway event set for February

♦ City proclaims Feb. 18 as Arbor Day locally.

- By Blake Silvers

A popular annual event makes its return for 2023, giving locals the chance to help their environmen­t.

In cooperatio­n with the City of Calhoun, Keep Calhoun Gordon Beautiful’s Arbor Day Tree Giveaway is set for Feb. 18, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Calhoun Recreation Department gym, 601 S. River St.

The types of tree saplings

available will be river birch, pecan, American elm, Shumard oak, southern magnolia,

red bud, persimmon, Virginia pine, northern red oak, bald cypress, and white dogwood.

At Monday night’s council meeting, Mayor Jimmy Palmer red a proclamati­on recognizin­g Feb. 18 as Arbor Day in the City of Calhoun. The city has held a Tree City USA designatio­n for nearly 30 years.

Guests at this year’s giveaway event include Jordon Fuquea from the Georgia Soil and Water Conservati­on Commission, Seth Hawkins from Georgia Forestry Commission, and American Chestnut restoratio­n expert Charlie Long.

Volunteers, who will work to set up the event space the Friday before, include KCGB, Calhoun Woman’s Club, Calhoun Elementary

School ROTA Kids, GeorgiaCum­berland Academy, Calhoun and Sonoravill­e high school Interact Clubs, SHS Agricultur­e Class, Gordon County 4-H, and other community members.

Last year’s event drew hundreds of individual­s looking to plant trees on their properties, with 265 locals picking from 4,200 seedlings of different varieties. The most popular at the 2022 giveaway were dogwood (500), Virginia pine (300), bald cypress (300), and tulip poplar (300).

With questions, call 770881-2710, or visit keepcalhou­ngordonbea­utiful.org online.

 ?? Blake silvers ?? Patrons pick tree saplings at the 2022 Arbor Day giveaway at the Recreation Department.
Blake silvers Patrons pick tree saplings at the 2022 Arbor Day giveaway at the Recreation Department.

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