[StBernard] Baby trees given away for Arbor Day

[Westley Annis]

Baby trees given away for Arbor Day
Wednesday, January 16, 2008St. Bernard bureau
Free tree saplings will be distributed today at Chalmette High School to
commemorate Arbor Day. 

St. Bernard Parish officials, in conjunction with the St. Bernard Parish
school system and Southern University of Baton Rouge Department of Urban
Forestry, will celebrate Arbor Day at 11 a.m. at Chalmette High School, 1100
E. Judge Perez Drive. 

Newly elected state Commissioner of Agriculture Mike Strain will be the
keynote speaker. There will also be a tree planting. 

The tree planting will mark the beginning of work financed by a $99,500
grant from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture to replace lost tree
canopy from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. 

The event will fulfill part of the requirements for St. Bernard Parish to be
declared a "Tree City," St. Bernard Parish officials said in a news release.
The trees will be planted at several sites throughout the parish, said Jerry
Graves Jr., director of community development. 

In addition to today's distribution, St. Bernard residents will be able to
pick up seedlings donated from the U.S. Forestry Service on Saturday from
noon to 2 p.m. at the new temporary St. Bernard Parish Library, 7709 W.
Judge Perez Drive, Arabi. 

Arbor Day in Louisiana is observed on the third Friday of January.