Lehighton's quest to plant 150 trees in honor of the borough's upcoming Sesquicentennial Celebration is set to get underway.

A group of over 40 volunteers will gather at the pavilion along Lehigh Drive on Saturday. The group will start the planting around 9 a.m. and hopes to finish with lunch at the pool at 2 p.m.The rain date is the same time Sunday.About 110 trees have been donated so far, according to Mark Hoffman, chairman of the Lehighton Shade Tree Commission.Hoffman said the goal Saturday is to get as many of the 150 trees planted as possible."There are certain businesses planning on helping, and they will be wearing matching shirts to promote their business," Hoffman said. "We also have Boy Scouts and church groups as well."Hoffman said trees were offered to honor or memorialize a loved one for a donation of $50, and the community rallied around the idea.He said, "this is one of the most rewarding and feel good projects" he has ever been involved with. "The members of the shade tree commission are astounded by the support they have received from the community allowing this idea to take root and flourish."Hoffman said that beyond the individual donors of trees, the members of the Shade Tree Commission have been "overwhelmed by the support of professionals and businesses within the community."He said many have stepped forward and contributed $500 or more to help purchase a "memorial tree" that will be in the hallway of borough hall.Hoffman said the brass leaves of this tree will bear the names of tree donors, along with the names of those whose honor or memory the tree was donated in.He said the group hopes the tree will be hanging in borough hall in time for the sesquicentennial celebration.Once that initiative is completed, Hoffman said the Shade Tree Commission will continue to offer the memorial tree program as it had in the past, however the cost will go back to $150 to cover the cost of the tree and plaque that gets placed at the base of the tree."During this project, the Shade Tree members got to talk to a lot of community-minded citizens, and they recognized the pride these residents had when talking of their town, along with their memories of growing up in Lehighton and surrounding areas," he said. "As much as the Shade Tree Commission is looking forward to Lehighton being a little more greener after this project is completed, they are also looking forward to this 'community pride' to be a little more 'rooted,' allowing our younger generations to have the same pride in their community as our current and past generations have of their town, and the many fond memories and opportunities awaiting them."Hoffman said other members of the Shade Tree Commission whose guidance, direction and hard work helped this idea become a reality include Kenneth Leffler, Scott Wingert, Sara Wingert, Diane Hoffman, Bobby Strausberger and Mason Strausberger.He said the idea to plant 150 trees in honor of the borough's 150 year anniversary was originally suggested at a Lehighton Shade Tree meeting last summer.The eight-day celebration will take place fromJune 25 throughJuly 2.Anyone still looking to donate a tree for $50, or to help with the planting on Saturday, may contact Hoffman at 610-377-5275.