375 New Trees to Mark Wethersfield's 375th Anniversary Click here to view and print order form Our goal: To invite individuals, groups, businesses and institutions in Wethersfield to buy three hundred seventy-five young trees for planting  in Wethersfield this year. The Wethersfield Village Improvement  Association (WVIA) is planning this project as part of the celebration of the 375th anniversary of the community. A variety of appropriate trees will be available. How can you be a part of this project? Find a location for a new tree on your property. If the location is on the snow shelf, approval will  have to be received from the Town of Wethersfield's Tree Commission, to ensure proper location, size and species of tree. This is a great opportunity to buy high quality nursery trees at a discounted price. In addition to beautifying the community, this may also be a great opportunity for a memorial tree. In an effort to promote tree planting in Wethersfield, the WVIA would like to provide a four foot high green fiberboard cutout tree where subscribers have signed up and ask that it be placed in your yard for a period of time. Signs will be numbered so we can see how we are doing in reaching our goal of 375 trees. The WVIA is looking for subscribers with tree plantings to occur in the fall of 2009. A listing of trees will be made available shortly on our website. Traditionally, our streets have been lined with sizable shade trees. Placed at regular intervals, they gave a sense of place to avenues, boulevards and greens. Robert Garrey, WVIA president says: "This past year alone, some 135 significant street trees were cut down. Unless we reverse the trend, Wethersfield streets will lose their definition." Over the past twenty years, hundreds of trees have been removed, for various reasons. During this same period, utilities have been installing increased amounts of fixtures, cables, boxes, wires, and pulleys, etc. This is all adding to visual pollution. The WVIA is excited about reversing this trend. All across the country today cities are making a renewed commitment to rebuilding their tree canopies. They are shown to have great benefits. Apart from their obvious beauty, they cleanse the air, they slow motor vehicle traffic; increase property values, and attract economic development. New York's Mayor Michael Bloomberg has announced a campaign in that city to plant one million new trees. We are hoping that Wethersfield residents will also support a large scale tree planting, beginning in their own yards. Of course, subscribers will receive planting and maintenance guidance. As always, "Call before you dig". So here's a chance to take a small step toward improving our town. We urge you to join this effort. WVIA members will be canvassing the community to sign up participants. For any questions, please email us at RobertGarrey@att.net   Mail form to, WVIA, Att: Robert Garrey, 10 Morrison Ave., Wethersfield, CT  06109 [Click here to view and print order form]