Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Tree Planting With Kiwanis Club of San Bernardino

Volunteer crew, including representatives of the Downtown Kiwanis Club: Bruce Schmidt, Carrie Schmidt, Rex Ramsey, Jeff Martinez, Richard Bueermann, Bob Jenkins.Photo by Chris Sloan

  
Among those digging holes for many trees planted recently at Delmann Heights Community as part of San Bernardino’s Bicentennial Celebration were volunteers Bruce Schmidt, Carrie Schmidt ( a member of Downtown Kiwanis) and Jeff Martinez. Photo by Chris Sloan


 
Volunteer Jeff Martinez, Downtown Kiwanis board member Richard Bueermann and Downtown Kiwanis Club Rex Ramsey finish planting a tree at Delmann Heights Community. Photo by Chris Sloan

 
Bicentennial Celebration Committee Chairman Hillel Cohn, volunteer Bruce Schmidt, Downtown Kiwanis Club President Rex Ramsey and Downtown Kiwanis Club member Carrie Schmidt position a tree in place at Delmann Heights Community. Photo by  Chris Sloan

Bicentennial Celebration Tree Planting Committee Chairman Nick Calero, volunteer Jeff Martinez and Downtown Kiwanis Public Relations Chairman Bob Jenkins operate a post hole digger to plant a tree at Delmann Heights Community. Photo by Chris Sloan

Second Ward Councilman Jason Desjardins operates his personal backhoe to dig a hole for trees planted at Delmann Heights Community recently. Photo by Chris Sloan
 Volunteer Bruce Schmidt, Downtown Kiwanis board member Richard Bueermann and Downtown Kiwanis Club Member Carrie Schmidt finish planting a tree at Delmann Heights Community. Photo by Chris Sloan

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (April 5, 2010) – Jason Desjardins, Councilman, Second Ward; Rabbi Hillel Cohn, Bicentennial Committee Chairman; Nick Calero, Bicentennial Tree Planting Committee Chair; Rex Ramsey, President of the San Bernardino Downtown Kiwanis Club; Kiwanis members and other community members all helped plant trees at Delmann Heights Community as part of the city’s Bicentennial celebration.

“Once the planting is completed, the 200 trees will be a lasting tribute to San Bernardino’s 200th birthday,” said Nick Calero, Bicentennial tree planting committee chair. “Each tree represents a year of San Bernardino’s existence and each type of tree shows the diversity within our city.”

 Trees planted include pines, crape myrtles, sycamore and Chinese flame.

Adding to the green space of our city is quite meaningful. Knowing that children and adults of the future will enjoy the beauty of these trees is especially rewarding” said Rabbi Hillel Cohn.

Councilman Desjardins provided and operated the Bobcat to break through the tough dirt and prepare the holes for the trees. Bicentennial tree plantings have taken place at Secombe Lake Park, Tom Minor Park, Delmann Heights Community Center and Perris Hill Park as well as other locations throughout the city.

“We ask the people of San Bernardino to come join us in planting the roots for our future,” said Calero.

To volunteer or for more information on the Bicentennial Committee’s planting of 200 trees throughout the city contact Nick Calero at (909) 240-5691 or email sbtrees200@yahoo.com

Other upcoming Bicentennial Celebration Events:

April 12 will take a look at “Indigenous Pre-Hispanic People of San Bernardino” at the University’s Pfau Library.

On May 1, the San Bernardino Symphony will perform a “Celebrate America” concert at the California Theatre of Performing Arts in honor of the city’s birthday as well as the centennial of the Community Hospital of San Bernardino.

More music will be performed at California State University San Bernardino on May 7 and 8 with an adaptation of Mozart’s opera “Cossi Fan Tutte” at the University’s P.A. Recital Hall.

May 8 and 9, the celebration debuts Railroad Days at the San Bernardino History and Railroad Museum at the historic Depot.  The historic Santa Fe 3751steam locomotive will be brought to San Bernardino for this event,

May 15th will find current and former residents joining together at an elegant gala at the National Orange Show Events Center, with the 16th capped by a Bicentennial Mayor’s Run and Safety Expo at Arrowhead Credit Union Park and a Festival of Faiths at the Western Region Little League Stadium.

There will be a Centennial Monument rededication as well as a Bicentennial Monument dedication on May 20 at Inland Center Drive and “I” Street with a reception to follow at the California Welcome Center – San Bernardino.

June 19 will see another unique event when the city introduces the “San Bernardino’s Got Talent” competition at the Sturges Theatre.  Auditions will take place at the San Bernardino Feldheym Library on April 24 and April 26.

The Bicentennial festivities continue on July 4th at the 66ers Stadium in the Arrowhead Credit Union Park, the 4th of July Extravaganza with a fireworks display unlike any the city has previously seen.

The Stater Bros. Route 66 Rendezvous, the Western Regional Little League Tournament and other events taking place in the latter part of 2010 will also feature a tie-in to San Bernardino’s Bicentennial, keeping the celebration alive throughout the year.

Rabbi Hillel Cohn is the chairman of the Bicentennial Celebration Committee, and Erin Brinker is the chair of its Public Relations & Marketing and Independence Day Extravaganza committees. Other Bicentennial Celebration Committee members are Jim Smith (chair of the Community Engagement committee), Cheryl Brown (chair of the Youth Council, Intergovernmental and Arts committees), Beverly Bird (chair of the Legend of the Arrowhead committee), Steven Shaw (chair of the History committee), David Smith (chair of the Finance committee), Jane Sneddon (chair of the Parade committee) and Martha Pinckney (chair of the Gala committee.) The mayor and members of the San Bernardino Common Council appointed these members.

Additional community volunteers who have taken on leadership of other committees are: Trudy Freidel (Festival of Faiths), Edward Martinez (Leadership Cabinet), Peggi Hazlett (Mayor’s Run), Dr. Charles “Skip” Herbert (Coloring Books for Schools), Karen Blanco (Media) and The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire (Design).

For additional details, contact Erin Brinker at (951) 323-9337 or go to http://sanbernardino200.org


  Picture Slide Show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQ9nE2tllEI
-end-