On the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, Green Bellevue officially introduced itself to the community.
The volunteer group has been meeting since September but chose Earth Day to celebrate its formation, initiatives and accomplishments.
Shortly after Gary Mixan became mayor last summer, he asked Councilman Don Preister to form a “green” committee.
“Don graciously accepted the challenge, and he’s done a marvelous job,” Mixan said during a ceremony Thursday afternoon at Haworth Park.
After Mixan read a Green Bellevue Earth Day proclamation and Environment Champion Awards were handed out, third-graders from Wake Robin Elementary School took part in a tree-planting demonstration led by Green Bellevue volunteer Dave Anson.
The three tulip trees planted Thursday were from the Nebraska Forest Service.
Justin Evertson, with the Forest Service, said the city received a grant for 100 trees, 50 of which will be planted this spring and 50 more in the fall. The trees will be dispersed in six or seven city parks.
Green Bellevue plans to work on such initiatives as a communitywide arboretum, sustainable planting, habitats, trails connecting neighborhoods, recycling and other “green” measures.
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