On Monday, April 25, 2016 at 1:15 p.m., in the Kent County Courthouse Courtyard on Cross Street, (if we experience inclement weather the ceremony will be moved to Garnett Elementary School) the Kent County Forestry Board will be announcing the 2016 ARBOR DAY POSTER CONTEST WINNERS AT THEIR ANNUAL CELEBRATION. Each year third and fifth graders from the County are invited to draw a poster honoring Arbor Day. 3rd graders worked to create a poster with a slogan about the “HOW TREES BENEFIT KENT COUNTY” and 5th graders followed the Theme for 2016 as follows: “Trees are Terrific….in cities and towns”. This program is held annually under the sponsorship and cooperation of the Kent County Forestry Board, the Kent County Commissioners and the MD. DNR – Forest Service.
50 total students are recognized with 25 from the 3rd and 25 from the 5th grade being selected for varying prizes. For 2016 the top 5 per grade winners will receive a cash prize ranging from $50, to $37.50 to $25 to $15 and $10 for prizes 1 through 5. In addition, all top 5 prize winners get their posters put on the front of a tee shirt. 20 Honorable Mentions will receive $2 bills and Honorable Mention t-shirts. All participants receive participant ribbons and the remaining posters will be displayed for one week in the Chestertown Town Office along with cooperating store windows.
Immediately following the Arbor Day Ceremony, Chestertown will receive its Tree City U.S.A. award and reflect on their annual Tree Improvement Town Accomplishments.
This years’ ARBOR DAY is celebrated the week of April 25th, 2016 honoring NATIONAL ARBOR DAY but the free tree seedling distribution does not begin until Tuesday 4/26 and lasts through Friday April 29th. (See Listing below.)
To further enhance the 2016 ARBOR DAY celebration, free tree seedlings will be given away beginning on Tuesday April 26th through Friday April 29th, 2016 at locations throughout the county pending office hours of operation.
They are as follows:
1) Chestertown Town Office – M-F 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
2) Betterton Town Office – M/Tu 11:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. & Th/Fri 8am-1pm
3) Kent Co. Park’s/Rec. Worton – M-F 8:30 a.m.to 9:30 p.m. & Sat.8:30 am – 6pm.
4) Rock Hall Town Office – M-F 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
5) Millington Town Office – MWF 8:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.& Tu/Th 1-5pm
6) Galena Town Office – M-Th 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
7) Kent Soil & Water Conservation Dst. Office – M-F 8:00am – 4:00 p. m.
8) Kent County Commissioners – M-F 8:30 am – 4:30 p.m.
This year 4 species of tree seedlings will be given away. They are (1)redbud, (2)red osier dogwood (3) swamp white oak &(4) sycamore. (Courtesy Kent County Forestry Bd.) (Two species of trees packaged two per bundle. 1 year old seedlings/8″ – 10″ tall. There is no charge for the seedlings and no purchases required. Limited quantities per person and first come – first serve.
Everyone is invited to join in on the Grand Downtown Celebration. Come to the Kent County Courthouse Lawn opposite Memorial Plaza (cannon) on Monday 04/25/16 at 1:15 p.m., (inclement weather location will be the Garnett Elementary School Gym) and view the 2016 third/fifth grade ARBOR DAY ARTWORK in downtown store windows and celebrate the 35th year for Chestertown as Tree City USA. New for 2016 will be the added celebration of 40 years for the National Arbor Day Foundation. Maryland’s Arbor Day is always the 1st Wednesday in April and National Arbor Day is celebrated the last Friday in April making the entire month of April 2016 a grand tree-mendous celebration!
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