The annual Staples Arbor Day program will be held in conjunction with the Staples Historical Society’s Planting Party this Saturday at 1 p.m. on the west side of the depot.

People will be welcome to then stay to help Staples Historical Society members plant trees in the area until 6 p.m.

The Staples Historical Society tree planting and landscaping project was made possible by grants received from the Staples Community Foundation and from the Operation Round-up program of the Todd-Wadena Electric Cooperative.

Mayor Chris Etzler will be on hand Saturday to help plant the new maple tree and read the Arbor Day proclamation.

At the same time, for the 18th consecutive year, Staples has been named a Tree City USA by the nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation.

The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service.

Staples has met the four standards to become a Tree City USA community. Tree City USA communities must have a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, a comprehensive community forestry program, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

“We commend Staples’s elected officials, volunteers and its citizens for providing vital care for its urban forest,” said John Rosenow, chief executive and founder of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Trees provide numerous environmental, economical and healthy benefits to millions of people each day and we applaud communities that make planting and caring for trees a top priority.”

Communities that earn Tree City USA recognition not only have taken the time to meet the four standards, they know that trees:

o Promote healthier communities by filtering the air we breathe by removing dust and other particles.

o Moderate climate, conserve water and provide vital habitat for wildlife.

o Reduce the heat island effect in urban areas caused by pavement and buildings.

o Increase property values and reduce energy use and add beauty to our homes and neighborhoods.

More information about Tree City USA can be found at www.arborday.org/TreeCityUSA.