- December 7, 2025
Laura Cook's second grade class at Ormond Beach Elementary help plant a new tree in front of their school on Friday, Jan. 18. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Anthony Carloni talks about tree rings to his classmates during the Arbor Day tree planting in front of OBE on Friday, Jan. 18. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Leisure Services Director Robert Carolin opens the Arbor Day tree planting ceremony in front of OBE on Friday, Jan. 18. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington, Assistant City Manager Claire Whitley, guest speaker Marjorie Giuffre clap as Commissioner Susan Persis blows a kiss to the students on Friday, Jan. 18. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Guest speaker and EDC volunteer Marjorie Giuffre holds up a bag on mulberries from her tree during the Arbor Day tree planting ceremony in front of OBE on Friday, Jan. 18. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Students get ready to plant a new cathedral oak during the Arbor Day tree planting ceremony in front of OBE on Friday, Jan. 18. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Students shovel dirt to plant a cathedral oak during the Arbor Day tree planting ceremony in front of OBE on Friday, Jan. 18. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Teacher Laura Cook helps her students plant the new cathedral oak during the Arbor Day tree planting ceremony in front of OBE on Friday, Jan. 18. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Marjorie Giuffre, Mayor Bill Partington and City Commissioner Susan Persis help plant the cathedral oak during the Arbor Day tree planting ceremony in front of OBE on Friday, Jan. 18. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Tiffany Anderson completes a craft during the Arbor Day tree planting ceremony in front of OBE on Friday, Jan. 18. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Braylen Smith and Camryn Tejera complete crafts during the Arbor Day tree planting ceremony in front of OBE on Friday, Jan. 18. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Jayda Cooper shows off her tree-themed craft during the Arbor Day tree planting ceremony in front of OBE on Friday, Jan. 18. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
At the start of the city's 2019 Arbor Day tree planting ceremony, Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington asked a group of Ormond Beach Elementary second-graders if they had ever read a book under a tree.
Some piped up with enthusiastic yeses, while others shook their heads.
“If not, you should try that," Partington said. "Trees are so important, and the city puts a lot of importance on trees.”
In commemoration of the holiday, the city chose Ormond Beach Elementary as the location to plant a new cathedral oak. Students from Laura Cook's second grade class helped in the effort. They shoveled dirt around the tree and in return, the city thanked them with donuts.
Partington began the Arbor Day event — which is traditionally celebrated in April on a national scale — by asking the students what trees do for us. The students gave him an array of answers, including how trees provide oxygen, food and wood for pencils.
The mayor read a proclamation dedicating Friday, Jan. 18 as a day to celebrate Arbor Day in Ormond Beach, which has been named a tree city 28 years in a row. The tree was donated by Yellowstone Landscape.
Environmental Discovery Center volunteer Marjorie Giuffre was the event's guest speaker. She talked about the mulberry and walnut trees in her yard, and entertained the students with stories about the animals that eat her trees' fruit.
"While I watch the adventures of the squirrel, and bird, and deer and turkeys so nearby, I am aware and in awe of nature and so appreciative of the trees that have provided, not only bounty of food for these delightful animals, but also joy and and peace that comes to me as I observe their antics," Giuffre said.
