Nine Union County residents have just earned their Master Tree Steward certificate, qualifying them to teach fourth-grade students about the role of trees in the environment: (rear, l-r) Mary Lou Mayfield, Karen Kotvas (class instructor), Mary Krauss; (middle, l-r) Ann Cusack, Kathleen McMahon, Peggy Dendinger, Pat Hudson, Kenneth Ilgavizis; (front, l-r) Tina Helmsetter, Althea Llewellyn. Not pictured: Rebecca Rose of Chatham. Photo Credit:Master Tree Stewards
Union County, NJ – The nine graduates of the 2010 class of Union County Master Tree Stewards will fan out across Union County this winter and spring, visiting fourth-grade classrooms to teach youngsters how trees help reduce air pollution, prevent soil erosion, and contribute to community health.
“Trees play an important role in holiday celebrations, and throughout the year they play a crucial role in keeping our environment safe and healthy,” said Freeholder Chairman Daniel P. Sullivan. “The Master Tree Stewards perform a wonderful service by sharing their appreciation of trees with schoolchildren throughout Union County, and we are very proud of them.”
Master Tree Stewards are volunteers who are trained certified by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Program of Union County, supported in part by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The Freeholder Board also supports tree conservation programs in County parks and roadways, assists the 21 municipalities in planting thousands of local street trees through the “Greening Union County” program, and donates hundreds trees to schools for Arbor Day activities.
To become a Master Tree Steward or to find out more about the program, contact 4-H agent James Nichnadowicz at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, 908-654-9854 ext. 7562, or jnichnadowicz@ucnj.org.
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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj