EVERETT—Snohomish County PUD Commissioner Dr. Julieta Altamirano-Crosby and PUD mascot Zip joined students with the Mukilteo/South Everett Boys and Girls Club in planting 11 trees at Walter E Hall Park in Everett, on Wednesday, April 9, in honor of Arbor Day.

“Planting trees are an amazing thing that you can do to help our environment,” said Altamirano-Crosby. “
All in all the PUD’s Vegetation Management department, City of Everett Parks Department staff, and the students planted one Galaxy Magnolia, five Parrotias, and five Wildfire Tupelos.
Before the team hunkered down and got dirty, Everett City Councilwoman Liz Vogeli read a poem entitled ‘Memory for a Tree’ as well as the City of Everett’s proclamation officially recognizing Arbor Day.
“Trees can be a solution to combatting climate change by reducing the erosion of our precious topsoil by wind and water, cutting heating and cooling costs, moderating the temperature, cleaning the air, producing life-giving oxygen, and providing habitat for wildlife,” said Councilwoman Vogeli. “Trees are [also] a renewable resource giving us paper, wood for our homes, fuel for our fires, and countless other wood products.”

Snohomish PUD began planting trees for Arbor Day in 2024 with the launch of its TREE Power Grant program, which provides funding for tree planting projects in both green and urban areas.
Typically, PUD partners with local elementary schools, but due to scheduling conflicts and funding issues, reached out to the Boys & Girls Club for volunteers this year instead.
Last year the PUD planted trees, through this program, at Walter E. Hall Park, Centennial Trail in Arlington, and Japanese Gulch in Mukilteo. The Public Utilities District believes that planting trees promotes energy efficiency by reducing heat retention of buildings, pavements, and hard surfaces. With more trees comes a cooler environment and therefore less need for air conditioning, the PUD said.

Andie Allred, Recreation Supervisor for the City of Everett, who also shared some words before the planting began, informed the Lynnwood Times that recreational events such as these truly “create community.”
Arbor Day was first observed in Nebraska in 1871 when more than one million trees were planted. The idea came from J. Sterling Morton who proposed a day for planting trees to address the lack of vegetation in the area. The State of Nebraska declared Morton’s birthday, April 10, as the official Arbor Day date and the holiday is now observed in all 50 states of the U.S. – with some maintaining April 10 as the official date, and others adjusting the date to coincide with ideal tree planting conditions.

The application process for Snohomish PUD TREE power grants for 2025 grants will remain open until June 10. Projects can apply for up to $15,000 in funding. Grant funds may be used for public land that is publicly accessible such as libraries, public parks, public building courtyards, community gardens or school grounds within Snohomish County PUD service area.
Learn about the application process, see the PUD’s Heat Map (identifying areas with the greatest potential for conservation) and list of recommended trees at snopud.com/TREEPower.

Author: Kienan Briscoe