
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – On Saturday, March 25, hundreds of Brentwood residents crowded into the John P. Holt Library for the city Tree Board’s popular Arbor Day celebration.
“I’m really proud to have so many people here, participating,” Lynn Tucker, chair of the Brentwood Tree Board, said. Tucker used a microphone that morning so her voice would carry over the enthusiastic crowd.
The celebration began with families browsing among the different environmental-related vendors, picking up free tree seedlings or lining up in the parking lot for free grilled cheese sandwiches, courtesy of Middle Tennessee Electric, and free ice cream at the Bradley’s Creamery truck. The crowd quieted down around 11:30 a.m., when Brentwood Girl Scout Troop 28 led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
During the ceremony, the city dedicated a tree from H.G. Hill Realty in honor of Regina Smithson, a long-time city commissioner and Tree Board member who passed away last summer.
“My one request is as we see this tree grow, and some of you will one day sit under the shade of it, is that you capture some of her spirit for community service,” Brentwood Mayor Rhea Little said. “It is with great emotion and great honor that we present this tree in honor and memory of Regina Smithson.”
The Tree Board also recognized the winners of this year’s poster contest and writing contest. Sixty-nine children from local elementary and middle schools participated in this year’s poster contest, and the library will display the winning posters throughout the month.
Poster Contest Winners
Third Grade
- First Place – Amelia Ly, Edmondson Elementary
- Second Place – Anna Claire Weiss, Scales Elementary
- Third Place – Mallory Montag, Lipscomb Elementary
- Honorable Mention – Zoe Siricilla, Edmondson Elementary
- Honorable Mention – Olivia Ridinger, Edmondson Elementary
Sixth Grade
- First Place – Sydney Liffert, Brentwood Middle
- Second Place – Major Anding, Brentwood Middle
- Third Pace – Carter Spradlin – Brentwood Middle
- Honorable Mention – Matthew Flippin, Brentwood Middle
- Honorable Mention – Oliver Sheldo, Brentwood Middle
Writing Contest Winners
- First Place, Logan Brownfield, Brentwood High School
- Second Place, Evan Hostetler, Ravenwood High School
- Third Place, Maddie Joyce, Ravenwood High School
- Honorable Mention, Aayan Usman, Ravenwood High School
- Honorable Mention, Addie Corn, Ravenwood High School
Saturday’s celebration ended with a special presentation by Nick Pietrzak, Water Quality/Forester for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Division of Forestry. On behalf of the National Arbor Day Foundation, Pietrzak honored Brentwood’s longstanding commitment to the stewardship of its tree canopy by naming it a Tree City USA for the 34th year in a row. He mentioned that he has visited several cities across the state this month to celebrate Arbor Day.
“This is the largest Arbor Day I’ve been to,” he said. “It’s really cool.”
Mayor Little also commented on how fitting it was for Brentwood to earn this designation.
“Brentwood is the most beautiful city in the world, so it’s only appropriate that we would be a Tree City USA,” he said.
For information on Brentwood’s Arbor Day celebration, visit https://www.brentwoodtn.gov/your-government/volunteer-boards-commissions/tree-board/arbor-day.