Muncy designated as a TREE City USA for Third Year
In September of 2005 Muncy, Pennsylvania was designated a Tree City USA. This is a program sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters. Their mission is to provide direction, technical assistance, public attention, and national recognition for urban and community programs.
Muncy Shade Tree Commission was formed to carry out this mission and received a grant from the Arbor Foundation to take care of trees and sidewalks in the Muncy community. Volunteers, students and commission members so far have planted over 200 trees. Muncy is only one of three cities in Lycoming County to receive this honor. More trees are being planted this spring and fall, ” explained Alicia Myers, an active participant and member. “Our goal is to beautify, preserve and maintain our trees. We plant them and protect them,” says Myers. These criteria represent a comprehensive program. We want to preserve trees and replenish them for next generations to come,” she adds.
There are five active members who help with the tree selection and plantings and put in many volunteer hours. They are Vivian Daily, Nella Storms, Alicia Myers, Elaine Hacker and Steve Jaquith, a certified forester. Vivian Daily, borough council president, contributed funding through a grant towards tree pruning and removing hazardous branches. The community will be planting some bare root trees this spring in locations to replace trees that died. “It is also very important that we plant trees in the proper sight for that particular tree and take proper care of that tree,” added Myers. Arborist Bernie Dincher often assists the group with tree identification and helps to evaluate the most hazardous trees in the borough. Hazardous trees are considered those that are at risk of imposing danger or falling down.
The organization also likes to hold workshops to help educate local citizens about trees. There was a workshop in March on pruning trees and shrubs. A future project for the commission will be a session on tips for tree care to help community residents.
Signs have been placed on the north and south sides of Main Street. These signs tell visitors that Muncy is a community that cares about its environment. Most of the funding comes from state grants and private donations from community businesses and citizens of Muncy.
The Shade Tree Commission does not get involved with private property but does maintain lawns and curbs between sidewalks along main streets in the community.
The Muncy Shade Tree Commission also helps sponsor the national Arbor Day Poster contest in the fifth grade classrooms because they feel environmental education plays a big part in the local community.
It helps to get the youth involved and create more awareness to local citizens. Being a Tree City USA helps present the kind of image that most citizens want to have for the place they live, according the Arbor Day Foundation. Other communities who received this designation in Lycoming County are Williamsport and South Williamsport.
Every year each community needs to reapply for the certification and funding to be a Tree City USA. Retaining this recognition is a reward in itself because it gives the citizens of Muncy a sense of pride said the commission. For more information call 546-2234.
Muncy designated as a TREE City USA for Third Year
In September of 2005 Muncy, Pennsylvania was designated a Tree City USA. This is a program sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters. Their mission is to provide direction, technical assistance, public attention, and national recognition for urban and community programs.
Muncy Shade Tree Commission was formed to carry out this mission and received a grant from the Arbor Foundation to take care of trees and sidewalks in the Muncy community. Volunteers, students and commission members so far have planted over 200 trees. Muncy is only one of three cities in Lycoming County to receive this honor. More trees are being planted this spring and fall, ” explained Alicia Myers, an active participant and member. “Our goal is to beautify, preserve and maintain our trees. We plant them and protect them,” says Myers. These criteria represent a comprehensive program. We want to preserve trees and replenish them for next generations to come,” she adds.
There are five active members who help with the tree selection and plantings and put in many volunteer hours. They are Vivian Daily, Nella Storms, Alicia Myers, Elaine Hacker and Steve Jaquith, a certified forester. Vivian Daily, borough council president, contributed funding through a grant towards tree pruning and removing hazardous branches. The community will be planting some bare root trees this spring in locations to replace trees that died. “It is also very important that we plant trees in the proper sight for that particular tree and take proper care of that tree,” added Myers. Arborist Bernie Dincher often assists the group with tree identification and helps to evaluate the most hazardous trees in the borough. Hazardous trees are considered those that are at risk of imposing danger or falling down.
The organization also likes to hold workshops to help educate local citizens about trees. There was a workshop in March on pruning trees and shrubs. A future project for the commission will be a session on tips for tree care to help community residents.
Signs have been placed on the north and south sides of Main Street. These signs tell visitors that Muncy is a community that cares about its environment. Most of the funding comes from state grants and private donations from community businesses and citizens of Muncy.
The Shade Tree Commission does not get involved with private property but does maintain lawns and curbs between sidewalks along main streets in the community.
The Muncy Shade Tree Commission also helps sponsor the national Arbor Day Poster contest in the fifth grade classrooms because they feel environmental education plays a big part in the local community.
It helps to get the youth involved and create more awareness to local citizens. Being a Tree City USA helps present the kind of image that most citizens want to have for the place they live, according the Arbor Day Foundation. Other communities who received this designation in Lycoming County are Williamsport and South Williamsport.
Every year each community needs to reapply for the certification and funding to be a Tree City USA. Retaining this recognition is a reward in itself because it gives the citizens of Muncy a sense of pride said the commission. For more information call 546-2234.
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