The City of Monte Vista celebrated Arbor Day on Friday by planting trees on the northeast side of Marsh Park. In keeping with her declaration at the previous city council meeting, Mayor Debbie Garcia greeted celebrating attendees, including students from the Monte Vista Kids Connection. Garcia read the students a poem about the importance of trees and highlighting all of the often unseen miniature ecosystems that trees host, as well as their larger benefits, like providing shade and oxygen. Garcia and City Administrator Rob Vance asked the students when they thought the trees they planted would be large with “about 100 years” being the general consensus. The Kids Connection students eagerly assisted the public works employees in planting two trees and filling in the holes.
Pictured with Vance are Felix, McKinnon, Nikolye and Xavier from the Kids Connection with Kirby Self,  president of the tree board; Lowell Bolt, street supervisor; Ron Dilly and Jesus Juarez of Monte Vista Public Works, Kids Connection Director Anika Velasquez and Kids Connection staff member Mrs. Jacquie.