Trees will take center stage today

The Daily Inter Lake

Several events across the valley today will celebrate Arbor Day:

Whitefish

Whitefish celebrates Arbor Day today at Depot Park. Festivities are scheduled rain or shine from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. beginning with the presentation of the 2009 Tree City USA Award to Mayor Mike Jenson.

Fifteen aspen trees will be planted, along with a planting of aspen and larch by students at Memorial Park.

Local food, arts and crafts vendors and Smokey Bear will be at the park. Tim Torgerson will provide music. Everyone is welcome.

Columbia Falls

Columbia Falls will be the site of the official Montana Arbor Day celebration today.

Festivities take place beginning at 12:45 p.m. at Marantette Park. The city will be presented with its TreeCity USA Award at 1 p.m.

The Girls and Boys Club will present a special Arbor Day play and trees will be planted for each of the schools. Smokey Bear also will make an appearance.

Kalispell

n The Kalispell Street Tree Commission is hosting an Arbor Day celebration today at Elrod School.

The video, "It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown" will be shown at 12:40 p.m. A TreeCity USA flag raising will take place at 2 p.m. in front of the school, followed by a tree planting at 2:30 p.m. in Gallagher Park next door.

Parents are invited. For further information, call Bette Albright, 752-4836.

n From 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. today, volunteers from the Montana Conservation Corps and Glacier High School will plant 25 trees at Westview Park within Westview Estates north of West Reserve Drive and east of Stillwater Estates.

For more details, call Lisa Simmer at 758-7715.