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Garrett County Forestry Board News

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Centennial Tree Planting Held at Herrington Manor -

CENTENNIAL TREE PLANTING HELD AT HERRINGTON MANOR STATE PARK

Shown above planting the tree left to right: Fred Holliday, Charles Hoffeditz, Dave Beard, Karin Miller, Ken Jolly and Paul Shogren.

OAKLAND, MD (April 28, 2006) -- The Garrett County Forestry Board celebrated the Centennial of the Maryland Forest Service and the Maryland Park Service on Friday, April 28, 2006, by planting an oak sapling on the grounds of Herrington Manor State Park. The sapling was planted adjacent to the monument commemorating the beginning of the Maryland Forest Service in April 1906. Charles Hoffeditz, Chairperson, Garrett County Forestry Board, introduced the guests, Dave Beard, County Commissioner, Fred Holliday, County Commissioner and Forestry Board member, Karin Miller, Forestry Board member, Paul Shogren, Forestry Board member, and Ken Jolly, Associate Director, MFS, Annapolis. Ken Jolly pointed out that the MD Forest Service had its beginnings in Garrett County, when the Garrett Brothers gave the state land to begin the Forest Service. During the first 100 years the Forest Service was tasked with promoting forest conservation, fire protection and raising the awareness of the public of our forests. As we look forward into the 21st century and the next 100 years, the need to promote forest conservation and public awareness will be even greater as competing land uses such as development bring even more pressures on our forest land.

Several retirees from the Maryland Forest Service and MD Park Service attended the tree planting. Charles Thomas, retired Park Manager, HMSP; Bob Friend, retired Park Naturalist/Park Ranger HMSP; Kent Burrell, retired Park Ranger Deep Creek Lake SP; Offutt Johnson, retired Park Ranger; Joe Mechem, retired Forest Manager, Potomac – Garrett State Forest.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ERNIE METZ (301) 334 3296