• Garry Black, Philomath Public Works operations supervisor, watches the various activities at Thursday’s Arbor Day event. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Giana Bernardini, of the Philomath Tree Board, prepares a seedling to be given to a third grader. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Lige Weedman, city arborist, prepares a seedling to be given to a Philomath third grader. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Arbor Day celebration 2025 at Philomath Public Works (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Arbor Day celebration 2025 at Philomath Public Works (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Arbor Day celebration 2025 at Philomath Public Works (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Garry Black, Philomath Public Works operations supervisor, talks to students and teachers during Thursday’s event. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Garry Black, Philomath Public Works operations supervisor, reads the city’s Arbor Day proclamation to students and teachers during Thursday’s event. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Arbor Day celebration 2025 at Philomath Public Works (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Arbor Day celebration 2025 at Philomath Public Works (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Philomath Public Works tree farm (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)

Brad Fuqua has covered the Philomath area since 2014 as the editor of the now-closed Philomath Express and currently as publisher/editor of the Philomath News. He has worked as a professional journalist since 1988 at daily and weekly newspapers in Nebraska, Kansas, North Dakota, Arizona, Montana and Oregon.