A new elm is taking root outside Dover Intermediate School, and the Westlake fifth graders who helped plant it will have the chance to watch it grow right along with them.
On Friday, May 8, 2026, Westlake’s fifth-grade students gathered at Dover Intermediate School for the city’s annual Arbor Day tree planting and award ceremony. The event, sponsored by the Westlake Tree Commission, has been held at the school for the past 24 years and once again brought together students, city leaders, and tree advocates for a celebration of history, creativity, and community stewardship.
This year’s tree carried special meaning. The Liberty Elm was planted in honor of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States, connecting Westlake students to one of the country’s earliest symbols of independence. The original Liberty Tree was an elm in Boston that became a gathering place for colonists protesting British rule before the American Revolution. Planted in 1646, it was nearly 130 years old when British Loyalist forces cut it down and burned it during the Siege of Boston in August 1775.
It was meant to end as a symbol. Instead, the idea spread. Towns and cities throughout the thirteen colonies began naming their own Liberty Trees, turning a single elm into a lasting emblem of freedom, resistance, and American identity. Now, as communities across the country prepare to mark the nation’s 250th birthday in 2026, Westlake has added its own living tribute.
The ceremony was led by Chris Stuhm, Westlake’s Service Director; Stan Barnard, Urban Forestry Manager for the City of Westlake; and Mary Beth Schneidler, Chairperson of the Westlake Tree Commission. Barnard and the Westlake Service Department prepared the planting site and showed students the proper way to plant a tree, turning the ceremony into a hands-on lesson in both history and environmental care.
Several weeks before the planting, Schneidler and Tree Commission member Ken Sadd visited the fifth graders and invited them to take part in the annual Arbor Day poster contest. This year’s theme asked students to create posters showing “Why trees are important to me.” During the visit, students learned about the value of trees in Westlake and were given time to create artwork reflecting their ideas.
More than 65 posters were submitted. The entries were judged by Tree Commission members Mary Beth Schneidler, Richard Sebold, and Diane Morris, along with Barnard and Stuhm. Five students were selected as winners: Fiona Levet, Vivian Lang, Luke Williamson, Daniel Abdah, and Isabelle Kaplafka.
Each winner received a ribbon and a signed proclamation from the Mayor, recognizing their achievement and declaring a special “Day in Westlake” in their honor. Isabelle was recognized on Monday, May 11; Daniel on Tuesday, May 12; Luke on Wednesday, May 13; Vivian on Thursday, May 14; and Fiona on Friday, May 15.
After the awards were presented, students who submitted posters were invited to help plant the Liberty Elm in front of the school. A special plaque was placed near the tree in remembrance of the 250th anniversary of the nation. The new elm now stands alongside several previously planted trees, which were in bloom with deep pink flowers during the ceremony.
Arbor Day has deep roots of its own. The first Arbor Day in the United States was held in Nebraska in 1872, when one million trees were planted. The word “arbor” comes from the Latin word for tree. In 1970, President Richard Nixon recognized Arbor Day as a national holiday, celebrated on the last Friday in April, though some states observe it at different times because of their growing seasons.
Westlake’s commitment to trees extends well beyond one day each year. The city has been designated a Tree City USA for 35 years and continues to plant, protect, and care for trees throughout the community. The Westlake Tree Commission, working with Barnard and the city’s urban forestry efforts, has also begun a citywide tree planting plan to keep Westlake filled with healthy, beautiful trees for future generations.
Arbor Day at Dover Intermediate has become one of Westlake’s quieter traditions — no parade, no long speeches, just students, a young tree, and a lesson that reaches back to the birth of the nation. In a hundred years, if the elm is doing its job, someone may be standing in its shade, looking up at a living reminder of both American history and the students who helped plant it.