WESTWOOD, N.J.—The borough’s green thumbs had extra cause to celebrate this Arbor Fest season: a surprise delivery of two new street signs recognizing Westwood’s 20th consecutive year as a Tree City USA community.
The signs arrived during a recent Shade Tree Advisory Committee meeting, where members also announced continued community partnerships—including Columbia Bank’s donation of an oak tree to be planted at Nugent Park on Monday, April 14 at 2:30 p.m. Columbia Bank has donated one tree annually to Westwood, and committee members hope to grow that effort into a full “sponsor-a-tree” program that encourages broader community beautification.
The milestone comes as Arbor Fest 2025 gets underway with tree plantings scheduled every Saturday in April. On April 5, the borough kicked off its third annual Arbor Fest with the planting of two Freeman maples in the Fairview Avenue Municipal Parking Lot.
Department of Public Works (DPW) liaison Michael Murtaugh demonstrated how to score the roots to avoid girdling and promote healthy growth. The DPW had pre-dug the holes and delivered fresh wood chips. The trees were planted in brand-new sidewalk tree pits, installed as part of recent improvements to the lot.
The event was hosted in partnership with the Westwood Parking Utility, with parking enforcement officer Tony Gatti attending on behalf of Carol Knubel, who also provided cookies and cupcakes for volunteers and guests.
Local officials and community leaders were on hand, including Mayor Ray Arroyo, councilmembers Erin Collins (shade tree liaison), Cheryl Hodges (parking liaison), Beth Dell, and Rob Bicocchi; DPW superintendent Rick Woods; pastor JerQuentin Sutton of Lebanon Baptist Church; Garden Club members Ann Molina and Victoria Luppino; and Shade Tree Committee members Dan Zambrano, Fred Rella, and Christine Blaney.
The next Arbor Fest planting was set for Saturday, April 12 at 10 a.m. outside Borough Hall, in partnership with the Westwood Volunteer Ambulance Corps. The event includes a “Touch a Truck” ambulance exhibit and free blood pressure screenings, rain or shine.
Each Arbor Fest planting pairs a tree dedication with a tribute to a volunteer board or community partner. Free tree seedlings, courtesy of Bartlett Tree Experts, are available at each event, while supplies last.
(For the full story, see “Saturdays in April spring free trees: Westwood Arbor Fest celebrates local volunteers” by John Snyder, posted March 31, 2025.)
To request a free curbside shade tree, visit the borough’s website.
The Tree City USA Growth Award from the Arbor Day Foundation, received alongside the borough’s annual Tree City USA designation, recognizes higher levels of tree care, education, and civic engagement. According to the application, Westwood earned 13 points across four qualifying categories: a budget increase for tree-related activities, continuing education efforts, involvement with local service organizations, and the hosting of a community tree festival.
Zambrano and Fred Rella, now serving as secretary, worked together to prepare and submit the application. “This is a first for us,” Zambrano told Pascack Press. “It reflects the growth of our committee, governing body, partner volunteer organizations, and residents who enthusiastically participated in our tree planting festivals and promotional events over the past three years.”