Village plants 25 new trees with Consumers Energy grant

DPW supervisor Brent Jones with one of 25 new young trees planted in the village through a grant from Consumers Energy.

The Village of Manchester has been awarded a $2,500 grant as part of the 2021 Consumers Energy Community Street and Boulevard Tree Planting Grant Program. This funding will be used in addition to budgeted funds for annual tree planting, removal, and maintenance to plant 25 young trees to beautify our neighborhoods. Trees of varying species were planted on Torrey St., Hibbard St., E. Main St., W. Duncan St., S. Clinton St., Glenwood Cr., E. Duncan St., W. Main St., Schaffer Ct., S. Macomb St., Territorial St., S. Washington St. and Beaufort St.

DPW supervisor Brent Jones and Account Clerk Jessica Clark worked together on this project to obtain the Consumers Energy Grant. This was the first year the village has applied, Jones said, but it likely won't be the last. The program is an annual one through Consumers Energy and is an easy way for the village to add to the budgeted funds to plant trees throughout the community to provide shade and beauty in years to come.

Trees were selected according to places where other trees had previously died or been removed, with some smaller species being chosen due to the location of wires on the properties.

Village DPW crews spent most of last Monday planting all 25 trees, along with two larger trees in the downtown district that had been removed.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.