Fourth Graders Celebrate Trees on Arbor Day

Niles officials and Culver School fourth graders spent an hour celebrating the virtues of trees Friday during the village's Arbor Day celebration.

The students and their teachers gathered, along with the mayor, trustees and members of the public, on the school's front lawn on Oakton Street Friday morning for a short program.

Niles village attorney Joe Annunzio affably handled emcee duties, introducing students' speeches and songs. Students Sydney Schroeder, Mizbah Ali and Kaitlyn Arnold took the microphone to tell those assembled about what trees do for the environment, and the history of Arbor Day. 

The kids also sang tree-themed songs, accompanied by two musicians on guitar. 

Jeffrey Batara, external affairs manager for Com Ed, told the audience that the tree being planted, an Autumn Serviceberry, is a type of tree that will not interfere with electrical wires as it grows.

Then Mayor Robert Callero, Batara, Acting Village Manager Steve Vinezeano, Patrick Byrne of the District 71 board, Principal Peggie Maniscalco, Superintendent Amy Kruppe and Annunzio took to the shovels to pitch some symbolic dirt on the new tree, and then came another part of the day the students were very excited about--refreshments.

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