If you win a few games in a row, it's called a streak. If you win a dozen, you are dominant. And more than 20 would be dubbed a dynasty.

So what do you call being honored in consecutive years for a quarter of a century?

When it comes to being a champion of trees in suburban communities, Belmont is in a category of its own.

For the twenty-fifth year, the nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation this month recognized Belmont as a Tree City USA community to urban forestry.

The Arbor Day Foundation in cooperating with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service sponsors the Tree City USA program.

Belmont has met the four standards to become a Tree City USA town:

• It has a tree board or department,

• a tree-care ordinance,

• a comprehensive community forestry program, and

• an Arbor Day observation and proclamation.

"We commend Belmont's elected officials, volunteers and its citizens for providing vital care for its urban forest," said John Rosenow, chief executive and founder of the Arbor Day Foundation.

"Trees provide numerous environmental, economical and health benefits to millions of people each day, and we applaud communities that make planting and caring for trees a top priority," he noted.

Communities that earn Tree City USA recognition not only have taken the time to meet the four standards, they know that trees:

• Promote healthier communities by filtering the air we breathe by removing dust and other particles,

• Moderate climate, conserve water and provide vital habitat for wildlife.

• Reduce the heat island effect in urban areas caused by pavement and buildings.

• Increase property values and reduce energy use and add beauty to our homes and neighborhoods.

More information about Tree City USA can be found at www.arborday.org/TreeCityUSA

The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit, environmental and education organization of nearly one million members, with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees.