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Tree committee announces annual award
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
WASHINGTON — Yaro and Mary Chmelar are the Washington Tree Committee’s “Supporters of the Year,” the group announced at a City Council meeting last week. The honor is bestowed annually upon a community member that helps support the tree-planting organization.
“There are no words to express our gratitude for their financial gifts and always, their words of encouragement,” Tree Committee Chair Marde McConnell said in a presentation to council members March 18. “Most years, included in the envelope with their check, is a note of gratitude for our tree-planting efforts and an update on their own tree-planting projects. Their ongoing support and caring means so much.”
The group also gave council members their annual update at the meeting, saying the committee gave away or planted 167 trees in 2024, bringing it to a total of 14,250 in its 34-year history. Other activities last year included cemetery tree planning efforts along West Buchanan Street, an Arbor Day Celebration, and grant coordination efforts.
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