A group of Odessa-Montour students marked Arbor Day with more than just recognition — they got their hands in the dirt, helping plant a tree in a ceremony focused on sustainability and community impact.
Four students from the Odessa-Montour School District were selected to participate in the tree-planting Friday at the festival grounds in Montour Falls after submitting ecology-themed artwork.
The students — Graci Stigers, Alexander Shultz, Emerson Leljedal and Waylon Novak — were recognized for their work and took part in planting the tree as part of the village’s annual Arbor Day observance.
Village officials used the event to highlight ongoing sustainability efforts, including Montour Falls’ food scraps recycling program. Compost produced through the initiative was spread at the base of the newly planted tree.
Mayor James Ryan, who attended the ceremony, said the effort reflects a broader commitment to environmental responsibility.
“Sustainable practices such as this emphasize planting for the future, community health, and the civic duty of reforestation,” Ryan said.
Since launching in 2020, the village’s food scraps program has diverted 57 tons of food waste from landfills, converting it into compost used in projects like the Arbor Day planting.
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