"Green Fest" celebrates Arbor Day April 30

On Saturday, April 30, and Sunday, May 1, SUNY Fredonia’s Academic Community Engagement (FACE) Center will be working with Dunkirk’s Academy Heights Neighborhood Association and NRG Energy to plant more than 200 trees in honor of Chautauqua County’s Bicentennial, one day following this year’s April 29 Arbor Day observance. Students, faculty, and staff are invited to be part of the historic celebration, which is being dubbed locally as “Green Fest.”

“Green Fest” will give students a chance to do something good for the planet and give back to the surrounding community, which has been their home during their time here at Fredonia.

Those involved will plant 100 Chokecherry and Katsura trees in the Academy Heights area, which runs from Lucas Avenue to Second Street and from Central Avenue to Robin Street. Another 25 significant native species trees will be planted in parks and public areas.

Tree-planting workshops will be held at the Dunkirk Middle School parking lot (525 Eagle Street) at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 30, and at noon on Sunday, May 1.

The workshops will provide volunteers with practical planting advice, while highlighting the important environmental, aesthetic, and energy-savings benefits of trees. After the workshops, volunteers will then work in small teams planting trees at specific neighborhood locations.

Transportation to and from Dunkirk will be provided for each of the three workshops and planting sessions. Volunteers who need transportation should meet in the Houghton Hall parking lot at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Saturday and at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday.

This event is sponsored by a grant from NRG Energy, and organized by SUNY Fredonia’s FACE Center and the Academy Height Neighborhood Association.

To learn more or to volunteer, contact Dr. Christina Jarvis at 716-673-3430 or jarvisc@fredonia.edu.