Town and school officials and staff, students, parents and residents gathered together to celebrate Arbor Day with the planting of a new tree on the lawn of Fletcher Memorial Library. Amelanchier ‘Canadensis’, also known as “June berry”, “service berry” and “shadblow” is a native tree with snow-flake like flowers in the spring, summer fruits, and brilliant autumn foliage.

Bruce Spaman was once again the “Master of Ceremonies” of a program which included stories and poems from elementary school students, speeches from representatives of Eversource and Goodwin State Forest, and a Proclamation read by Selectmen Bob Grindle and John Tillinghast. Mr. Spaman thanked Fletcher Memorial Library, the Recreation Commission, the boards of Selectmen and Education, the Conservation Commission, and the Department of Public Works for their contributions to the program, and the Willimantic Food Co-op and North Windham Walmart for their donations to the children’s “goodie bags” which contained tree-related items. Each child also left with a Kousa dogwood sapling to plant.