02/19/2013: “Arbor Day Trees Find New Home”
IG Photo)
San Juan Island’s spirit of cooperation and support was on display once again at the Friday Harbor Community Athletic Fields. Even the weather pitched in with a sunny day on February 17th when 65 Sitka Spruce were planted by volunteers from Friday Harbor Grange 225, the San Juan Lions Club, and with help from local children.
The Sitka Spruce is a fast growing and large tree which should create a stately drive into the athletic field area and parking lot, as well as providing shade and beauty to the facility
Don Galt, the driving force behind the “Field of Dreams,” arranged to have the locations for the trees staked out.
The spruce trees were remnants from last year’s Arbor Day bare root tree give-away that had been potted and nurtured by Alex Gavora for the past 10 months for this use.
Alex’s sister Pauli Gavora began Arbor Day in San Juan county when she decide to organize an annual event for Lopez, Orcas and San Juan; and for the past 16 years she and John Evans organized and donated over 24,000 trees on the three major islands to the citizens of San Juan County.
The new tree-lined drive is a fitting memorial to Pauli, who lost her battle with cancer in 2012.
