New trees to provide more shade and beauty in the village

DPW Supervisor Brent Jones with one of the 15 new trees planted throughout the village. This one is located on Duncan Street near the Funeral Home.

by Marsha Chartrand

For the second year in a row, the Village of Manchester has been awarded a grant as part of the 2022 Consumers Energy Community Street and Boulevard Tree Planting Grant Program. This year’s grant was for a total of $3,000, an increase of $500 over last year’s funding.

These funds were used in addition to already-budgeted funds for annual tree planting, removal, and maintenance to plant 15 young trees that will beautify our neighborhoods. Trees of varying species were planted on E. Duncan, W. Main, Adrian, S. Clinton, S. Washington, W. Duncan, City, Furnace, Hibbard and Sunset.

DPW Superintendent Brent Jones emphasized that the trees were once again placed by species, according to their growth patterns.

“Trees that are planted under utility lines are smaller, and less likely to get entangled in power wires,“ he said. “We can plant larger trees in areas where there are no utilities in the way.“

The village worked with McLennan Landscape to obtain the trees, which were again placed in areas where older trees had died or been removed or where they could be planted based on underground or overhead utilities, according to Jessica Clark, Account Clerk in the village office. Clark and Jones worked together again this year to obtain the grant and complete the paperwork necessary to fulfill all the requirements.

The program is offered annually 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 both shade and beauty in years to come, Jones added.

Village DPW crews planted all 15 trees earlier this month.

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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.