MIDDLEBURG HAS BEEN designated for the third time as a Tree City USA by The National Arbor Day Foundation to honor its commitment to its community forest.

Carol Evans, Virginia Department of Forestry, made the presentation of the award as part of Middleburg's 2004 Arbor Day Celebration, on Saturday, May 8th at Middleburg Elementary School.

This year's celebration included the dedication of the 2004 Middleburg Arbor Day Tree, a 10 to 15 year old 30 foot tall, 8" caliper Pin Oak, donated and planted by the Davey Tree Company on the Middleburg Elementary School grounds. Mayor Dimos, Middleburg Elementary Principal Gary Wilkers and students all participated.

White Oak and Dogwood Tree Seedlings were distributed in memory of Nancy Stettinius, long time Middleburg resident and tree farmer. Mrs. Stitinius's daughters Daphne Dunning and Cathy Zimmerman attended.

Mayor Tim Dimos and Smokey Bear presented awards to this year's Arbor Day Poster Contest Winners. The theme for the contest was "As Trees Grow, Weather Goes" and children in Kindergarten through Sixth Grade participated.

The poster contest winners are as follows:

Middleburg Elementary School
Henry Feil
Mary Elaine Boland
Sam Coolidge
Katarina Bradford
Alexius Simms
Jose Ibarra Mendoza
Nathan Longerbeam
Delia Condon
Sophia Rutti
Caroline Quanbeck
Acey Hotchkiss
Ivonne Gasca
Anna Smallwood
Sarah Gilmore

The Hill School
Cayla Schnebele
Chloe Donnelly
Sarah Weinstein-Bacal
Matt MacMahon
Sarah Dornin
Margaret Lee
Grace Murphy

The Arbor Day Celebration is a community effort enjoying the support of Middleburg Beautification and Preservation, Inc., Loudoun Soil and Water Conservation District, Middleburg Elementary School, The Davey Tree Expert Company, The Hill School, The Care of Trees, The Pruning School, area merchants and town residents.