Loudoun County's annual Arbor Day Celebration was held at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve Saturday, April 9. The day's activities kicked off with a parade in celebration of trees that included Arcola Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Leesburg Tree Commission, Arbor Artists, Virginia Department of Forestry, Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners, Boy Scouts of America Troop No. 1159, and several other groups and individuals.
The day included special exhibits, children's activities and hay rides around the Preserve. Dennis Desmond from the Northern Virginia Reptile Rescue was the keynote speaker and a there was presentation of "Tree City USA" to the towns of Leesburg, Lovettsville, Middleburg and Purcellville by Carol Evans, area forester, Virginia Department of Forestry. The Arbor Day Tree Dedication was made by Dana Malone, urban forester, Loudoun County Department of Building & Development, with the selected tree a "Dwight Eisenhower" Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica).
Winners of the photo contest were recognized by Max Peterson, chief emeritus, U.S. Forest Service. First place winner was Barbara Sample, second was Neelan Henderson, third was Hilary Cooley, fourth was Corinna Meige and honorable mention went to Frank Gilchrist.
Edgar Hatrick, superintendent, Loudoun County Public Schools, recognized the poster contest winners: kindergarten, Ryan Basinger; Allen Dzaferagic; Cassidy Harrilal; Margaret Huettner; Katie McGroddy; Macie Marinetto; Azza Mohamed; Alexus Nalls; Lauren Nunley; Nicole Reque; Hannah Rutti; Maddy Turcotte. First grade, Mary Elaine Boland; Ann Curcio; Henry Feil; Jorge Ibarra; Hugo Sandoval; Laura Tafur. Second grade, Hannah All; Kyle Galambos; Rocelia Flores Godoy; Robert Howe; Jose Ibarra Mendoza; Alexius Sims; Cory Singh; Cole Smith; Darya Tahan. Third grade, Whitney Bengwah Amo; Bernadette Boland; Jhasmin Calicho; Kimmy Gaston; James Sasai; Ariana Satina; Jake Singh; Rachel Smith; Gregory White. Fourth grade, Carolynn Boutivas; Deborah Cadenas; William Criswell; Leigh George; Christopher McGrath; Anna Pope; Morgaine Smith; Ford Wyatt. Fifth grade, Chloe Passarello; Omar Sandoval; Anna Smallwood; Courtney Yates. Sixth grade, Margaux Wegeng; Ester Yang. Seventh grade, James Pope. Eighth grade, Ramsey Chapin; Kelsey Knutson. Tenth grade, Elizabeth Van Winkle. Eleventh grade, Virginia Phillips.