By KEVIN NEVERS

It must be spring because the Town of Chesterton is about to receive its 11th annual Tree City USA designation.

So Tree Committee President Jeff Cernick informed the Town Council at its meeting Monday night.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources will present the honor to the town during its Arbor Day celebration from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at the southeast corner of Eighth Street and West Morgan Ave. by Chesterton Middle School, Cernick said, and everyone is invited.

As part of that celebration three memorial trees will be planted, one donated by the Tree Committee to the memory of Ruth Gibbs Ton, Cernick said, and two by the Duneland United Resale Shop to the memories of Robert Inherst and JoAnn Ruppenkamp.

In addition the Tree Committee will staff an information table for Dunelanders with questions about pruning and planting and redbud and river birch seedlings will be distributed.

Later in the meeting Street Commissioner John Schnadenberg gave the council an indication of what exactly it means to a municipality to win a Tree City USA designation. Last year, he said, the Street Department planted 68 trees, removed 33 deemed hazards, and pruned 50. More impressively, crews devoted a total of 3,000 man-hours to brush collection in 2007, or the equivalent of two employees’ doing nothing for six months but shoving sticks into a chipper.

Meanwhile, members did their part, voting 5-0 to officially designate the week of April 21-26 “Urban Forestry Days” in the town and April 26 Arbor Day.

“Whereas,” that resolution reads, “the Chesterton Town Council promotes civic pride and projects benefiting the community,” whereas “Arbor Day is observed throughout this country and the council recognizes that trees affect the general appearance of the town by beautifying this community, increasing property values, and enhancing the economic viability of the business areas,” and whereas “the Chesterton Town Council wants to recognize the efforts of its residents to beautify the town and encourage other residents to do the same,” the council therefore resolved to observe Urban Forestry Week and Arbor Day.

CHIP Cleanup Day

In other business, the council took receipt of a letter from the Chesterton Hometown Improvement Project (CHIP), which has scheduled its annual cleanup day in the Downtown for Saturday, May 17. Among the projects:

•The ceiling and lighting of the bandstand in Thomas Centennial Park will be repaired. The bandstand will also get a fresh coat of paint.

•A section of decorative black fencing will be installed at the northeast corner of Thomas, similar to the fencing installed last year at the southeast corner of Ind. 49 and East Porter Ave.

•The current fencing along the north side of Thomas will be replaced.

•Plantings in the Downtown and along the bridge on East Porter Ave. will be refreshed.

•A mulch walking trail around the pond at Dogwood Park will be laid.

•The intersection of Indian Boundary Road and North Calumet Road will be landscaped and cleaned.

As always, CHIP is looking for volunteers and hopes to raise $6,500 for the cleanup efforts.

For more information or to volunteer or contribute call Charla Norgaard at 983-1600, extension 1624.

The Firecracker 5K

The council also took receipt of a letter from the Duneland Health & Wellness Institute, which will be holding its second annual Firecracker 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, June 28, starting at 7:30 a.m. Businesses in the community interested in donating bottled water or refreshments or in contributing items to the goodie bags to be presented to participants should call 983-9832, extension 278.

Posted 4/16/2008