On Sunday, March 8, artwork submitted by Old Hammondtown School students was up for display in the Mattapoisett Free Public Library. The presentation/gallery was for the statewide Annual Arbor Day Poster Contest.
The contest is sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, the US Forest Service, and the Massachusetts Tree Wardens’ and Foresters’ Association. The Mattapoisett Tree Committee serves as the local sponsor for the contest. It has been held for over 10 years, with this year’s theme being “If Trees Could Talk.”
At the library on Sunday, thirty-four 5th graders from Ms. Greta Anderson’s art class at Old Hammondtown had their works laid out in the library’s Meeting Room for all to see – and vote on.
Visitors received a ballot where they could rank their favorites as they circled the room and perused the art laid out in a horseshoe pattern.
Last year, there were 28 local entries with Bea Apperson clinching first place.
On Sunday, judges tallied the votes and postmarked them to the DCR by the March 15 due date. The winners of Mattapoisett’s 2026 contest have not yet been announced but will be soon! Winners of the local contest will get a ribbon and a cash prize.
From there, the DCR decides on final, statewide winners. The overall first place winner will have a tree planted on the grounds of their school, as well as art/science supplies provided. The overall second and third place winners from 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade applicants will receive a recognition award as well as school supplies.
This year, Arbor Day itself falls on Friday, April 24. So, a timeless question, why “Arbor Day” and not “Tree Day” you ask? Fun fact: there is a bit of debate on the etymology of the word “arbor.” It’s generally agreed that the word derives from the Latin “herba,” being a place to cultivate crops, shaded by trees. Eventually, the word “arbor” was separated off in Old English to just refer to trees while “herb” remains just referring to the small plants grown.
“Forests are the lungs of the land.” – Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
By Sam Bishop