Myrtle Beach plants a tree in honor of former board member for Arbor Day

The city of Myrtle Beach celebrated a soggy Arbor Day with a commemorative tree planting for an “irreplaceable” city board member during a ceremony that also aimed to celebrate the city’s 19th annual Tree City USA award Monday afternoon at the Myrtle Beach Sports Center.

The tree was planted outside the center in honor of the late Sandra Rutenburg, a former Community Appearance Board member who died in February.

“I could always count on Sandra’s very wise counsel,” Myrtle Beach Community Appearance Board Chairman Larry Bragg said at the event. “She was not only soft-spoken in her attitude, but when she wanted to make a point everybody knew what she was saying. We miss her to this day... In my heart and I know in the hearts of all her family members, she is irreplaceable.”

A river birch tree was planted in honor of Rutenburg alongside a retention pond outside the Sports Center after the ceremony.

Myrtle Beach Parks Superintendent Richard Kirby said six river birches will be placed along the pond in the coming days.

The city also received its annual Tree City USA award and recognized the following properties for tree preservation and landscaping achievements:

▪ Myrtle Beach International Airport received the honor for Outstanding Use of the Natural Indigenous Landscape

▪ Myrtle Beach Sports Center earned recognition for Outstanding Landscape Design Incorporating Stormwater Management

▪ Ocean 22 by Hilton Grand Vacations was honored for Outstanding Dramatic Landscape Using Lighting and Building Placement

▪ Radical Ropes Adventure Park received the Excellence in Tree Preservation Through Building Location

▪ Vanderberg residence received the honor for Outstanding Residential Landscape Design and Tree Preservation

▪ Broadway at the Beach was honored with the Community Appearance Board Chairman’s Award

▪ Hollywood Wax Museum earned the Most Improved Property Award

Tree City USA is sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation, the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters. The award recognizes excellence in urban forestry management, according to the city.

This story was originally published December 7, 2015 at 6:17 PM with the headline "Myrtle Beach plants a tree in honor of former board member for Arbor Day."