by  Neil W. McCabe

The state representative for the 26th Middlesex District,
which includes East Somerville, announced March 9 the
city received a grant from the state to grow and protect the city trees.

“Tree maintenance and preservation are easy ways to sustain the beauty of Somerville and our quality of life here,” said State Rep. Timothy J. Toomey Jr.

“I am extremely proud that we were awarded this grant money,” he said. The program is run by the state’s Department of Conservation and Recreation

People in Somerville worried the environment will rejoice over this grant, he said. The grant, called the Targeted Inner City Planning and Education Grant, amounts to $20,000 for the city and was awarded to only four municipalities this year.

The grant will be used to hire a consulting arborist who will appraise and assist in the management of existing public trees, he said.

Toomey said the grant will also help organize and support the development of a community forest network by identifying and reaching out to the community through “Eco Clubs” and by paying for the design of a school-based curriculum to educate children about the importance of urban forests.