Pennsylvania Forestry Association
News You Can Use
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Dive deep into this month's News You Can Use! Have a great summer from your friends at the Pennsylvania Forestry Association and Tree Farm Committee!
Have news to share? Send it to cwright@versantstrategies.net.
#ForestProud
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Dear PFA Members,
I’m pleased to report that PFA continues to move ahead with the installation of a recently purchased “Member Clicks” association management software package that will help us modernize our invoicing, manage our membership base and committees, manage our meeting registrations, sync with QuickBooks, and streamline our Tree Farm dues billings. We expect to be “on-line” with this new association management software suite by August.
Our 2019 Annual Meeting, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Saturday, October 6th at Toftrees Resort, State College, PA. will focus on headwaters and the impact of forests on water quality. PA Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director John Arway will be our featured Annual Meeting Luncheon speaker.
At its June Board Meeting the PFA Board authorized PFA to take a more significant support role in the 2019 Landowner Conference than in past landowner conferences and to become a “Keystone” ($5000) sponsor of the 2019 Landowner Conference.
Sunday, Oct 7th, the second annual “Walk in Penn’s Woods” will be conducted. PFA along with five other partners will be striving to reach our goal of holding educational walks for the public in all 67 Pennsylvania Counties. Contact the PFA Office (800-835-8065) or visit
www.walkinpennswoods.org to find out how you can host a walk in Penn’s Woods on Oct. 7th.
The above PFA activity makes me proud to be PFA’s elected President.
Richard Lewis
#forestproud #resourcefirst
rlewis7575@aol.com
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PFA Members Recognize Former Association Treasurer, Greg Schrum at Memorial Tree Planting
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The Pennsylvania Forestry Association, in cooperation with the Lower Paxton Township Shade Tree Commission recognized PFA Treasurer Greg Schrum with the planting of a Tulip Poplar at the Lower Paxton Township Municipal Building.
Greg was a dedicated advocate for Penn's Woods and the commonwealth's state parks. His careful handling of the Association's finances will leave a legacy lasting longer than the tree planted in his honor.
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Help us Raise Awareness of Penn's Woods
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All of Pennsylvania’s woods bring us values that we sometimes take for granted. The trees and ground cover provide nutrients for the soil, food and homes for wildlife, clean air and water, wood products that we use in our daily lives, and peace and tranquility for us to enjoy. The woods “work” for us. We want to raise awareness about the importance of forests to our lives and the effort that goes into caring for them.
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On
Sunday, October 7, 2018
, join countless Pennsylvanians across the state as they get out in the woods, as part of the annual Walk in Penn’s Woods. Rural, urban and suburban woods, state and national forests and parks, municipal watersheds, conserved areas, private lands and industry in the state’s 67 counties will hold open houses and guided woods walks showcasing the multiple values and diverse uses of our state’s priceless forest resources.
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These Walks will feature guided walks across the state, providing entrée to land that is not always open to the public along with easy access to expert forest and wildlife professionals. A Walk in Penn’s Woods event may showcase management for wildlife or watersheds, exhibit the results of harvesting or planting, demonstrate the impacts of urban tree cover, showcase riparian buffers, offer children’s activities, or reveal the fascinating innards of a local sawmill. You’ll be able to find information about each individual walk at
www.WalkinPennsWoods.org
, as well as offer to host a walk. We are constantly updating this site as new host sites are offered.
Walk in Penn’s Woods is fortunate to have many statewide partners: all the venues and the resource professionals have volunteered their time and land. But we need your help to make everyone’s introduction to Penn’s Woods a huge success!
For the month of July, we are crowdfunding efforts to get the word out. With your contribution, we’ll be able to advertise all the events, make all the great connections between land, mentors and visitors, and provide terrific take-home material to digest after the introductions.
Visit our crowdfunding site
(http://c-fund.us/g7f)
and help us make this happen!
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Ribbon-cutting marks reopening of renovated Agricultural Engineering Building
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June 8, 2018
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held today (June 8) to mark the official opening of Penn State’s rebuilt and renovated Agricultural Engineering Building, which houses the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE) in the College of Agricultural Sciences.
The recently completed $44 million project resulted in a 93,500-square-foot building containing new research and teaching laboratories, classrooms, collaborative teaching/learning spaces, a senior capstone project design lab, offices, a green roof, and a state-of-the-art shared fermentation facility.
“The new building provides a great step forward for creating a sustainable future through our teaching, research and extension work,” said Paul Heinemann, professor and head of agricultural and biological engineering. “It has turned out to be a facility of which our faculty, staff and students can be exceptionally proud. The payoff of all the work we invested in the building project is clearly evident.”
The Pennsylvania Forest Products Association donated $104,000 worth of in-kind wood for the building and wood products, which is now BioRenewable systems and will be located in this building.
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Conservation Heritage Project Releases New Documentary
Justice in Chester
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The Pennsylvania Conservation Heritage Project has released its newest documentary,
Justice in Chester. This film chronicles the the Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living's fight in the 1990's. Watch it and other documentaries on Ned Smith, Rachel Carson, Ralph Abele, Gifford Pinchot, Mira Lloyd Dock, and Maurice Goddard by clicking the link below.
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Pennsylvania Forest Heritage Association Seeks Volunteers at Discovery Center
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The summer season is almost here. The PFHA needs volunteers for the Forest Heritage Discovery Center at Caledonia State Park. Our commitment is to be open from Memorial to Labor Day on Saturday and Sunday afternoon from 12 to 5. This is a great opportunity to help visitors learn about the forest conservation heritage of Pennsylvania and meet some very interesting people. We have instructions for volunteers and the exhibits are self-explaining.
Please let me know if you have any questions and concerns. Thank you for your help.
Regards,
Peter Linehan
PFHA President
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Claverack Rural Electric Cooperative Seeks Forester
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The Claverack Rural Electric Cooperative in Bradford, Sullivan, and Wyoming Counties is seeking to hire a forester. After using contracting foresters in the recent past, they are ready to hire one directly. Information on the job posting can be found by
clicking here.
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Ash Tree Photos Submitted by PFA Member Peter Noyes
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The following photos were submitted by PFA Member Peter Noyes. He writes:
The firewood harvest will continue as we have a fair number of ash trees taking what appears to be the worst first, an effort that most likely continue for a number of years. For us here in Longswamp Township, Berks County the Lantern Fly has yet to appear.
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Sizing up one of two large ash trees to cut down.
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Starting the cut of the smaller tree. The other is just to the left and will soon follow.
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The larger ash tree had problems other than just dying.
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Both landed together along the edge of the tree line.
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Support the Commonwealth's Efforts to Expand Broadband Access
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From the Center for Rural Pennsylvania:
The test results will help Pennsylvania State University researchers, led by Professor Sascha Meinrath, to measure actual internet speeds. The test will also provide participants with information about their broadband connection.
If you’d like to help the Center for Rural Pennsylvania and our research partners at Penn State University map broadband access in Pennsylvania, please visit
http://broadbandtest.us/ and take the broadband speed test.
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Looking for PFA Representative to Attend Deer/Forest Strategy Meeting
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The Deer/Forest group is looking for a representative from the Pennsylvania Forestry Association to attend a strategy meeting. In recent months, a number of groups have meet discussing concerns over rising deer numbers. These groups include the Society of American Foresters Deer/Forest Committee, The Forest Health Collaborative, and the PA Forest Stewards Deer Working Group. All have expressed similar concerns; deer over-browsing, the need for increased hunting opportunities, controlling deer that have managed to get inside of deer exclosures, and threats from chronic wasting disease. To that end, all three groups have decided to come together to strengthen their voice and unify their message. A meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 20th from 9:30- Noon, location to be determined. If you are interested in joining this group as a representative of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association please let Dave Jackson (814-355-4897 or
drj11@psu.edu) know as soon as possible. Thank you.
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PA Tree Farm Update
Sharing Great News and Important Tree Farm Happenings
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PA Tree Farmer of the Year(2018) and
PA Inspector of the Year(2018) are being selected.
Stay tuned for the upcoming announcements!
Great News: The American Tree Farm System and its 2018 Outcome Based Grant Program has awarded PATF a grant involving Tree Farm’s
Participation in A Walk in Penn’s Woods!
Please consider hosting a walk on your Tree Farm on
Sunday, October 7, the official 2018 Walk in Penn's Woods day!
The Tractor Safety Training held on June 9 was well
received by all. Under blue skies Dr. Michael Pate, Penn
State Extension, led members of Southwest PA Woodland
Owners(SWPWO) and fellow Tree Farmers through
a case study of a tractor incident and hands on safety
applications. The day ended with a pig roast and more
discussion of a farm tractor’s use as a forestry tool on a
Tree Farm.
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Show Your Pride – Embroidered PFA and PA Tree Farm Apparel Available
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In addition to being able to direct order clothing apparel with the PA Forestry Association logo
here
, you can now also order clothing apparel with the PA Tree Farm logo. (Add links to PFA store and PA Tree Farm store – also send link to Andy to add TF shirt info to PFA website). We now have clothing apparel with the Tree Farm logo for sale. Go to
https://squareup.com/store/tree-farmers
to view/order items. This is similar to the PFA clothing. Sales will generate a small amount of revenue that will be deposited in the Tree Farm account. Small because we want the cost to remain low to be able to show Tree Farm pride.
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Sandy Cochran Award for Excellence in Natural Resource Education
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The Pennsylvania Forestry Association is seeking nominations for the 2018 Sandy Cochran Award for Excellence in Natural Resources Education. This award honors individuals or programs designing, developing, and implementing educational programs focused on the conservation and management of Pennsylvania’s natural resources. Nominations are by letter of support and include background information on the nominee, such as would be included in a vita. As well, the nominator should provide information on program focus (e.g., water, forests, recreation, wildlife), principle audiences affected (e.g., adults, students, youth programs, resource professionals), geographic area targeted (e.g., statewide, region, county, school district), and, if possible, behavior or impact changes linked to the program. Each nomination must also include three letters of support for the nominee. Deadline for application is August 1, 2018.
For more information or to submit a nomination, contact the Pennsylvania Forestry Association, Attention: Cochran Award Chairman, 116 Pine Street, 5th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101 or email: thePFA@paforestry.org.
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Each year at its annual meeting, the Pennsylvania Forestry Association (PFA) recognizes an individual, organization or group’s significant contributions to the public recognition of the importance of Pennsylvania’s forest resources in the same tradition and spirit of Dr. Joseph T. Rothrock. Dr. Rothrock served as the first president of PFA and earned the title, “Father of Forestry in Pennsylvania,” through his untiring efforts to promote the forest conservation movement in Pennsylvania.
NOMINEES FOR THE AWARD WILL BE EVALUATED ACCORDING TO THREE SELECTION CRITERIA
- Value of contributions to the continued conservation of Pennsylvania’s forest resource. (60%)
- Public recognition and stature of the individual in the field of resource conservation. (30%)
- Other Unique or special considerations which demonstrate a long term commitment to conservation. (10%)
Nominations for the award should address these three criteria in appropriate detail.
Nominations are welcome from any interested individual or group. The deadline for nominations is August 1, 2018. Membership in the PFA is not a requirement for the nominee or those submitting a nomination. For more information or to submit a nomination, contact the Pennsylvania Forestry Association, Attention: Rothrock Award Chairman, 116 Pine Street, 5th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101 or email: thePFA@paforestry.org.
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EVENTS - MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
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The Allegheny Plateau Invasive Plant Management Area is hosting an “Invasive Plants of the Allegheny Plateau”
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Learn to:
Identify and monitor invasive plants
Become a citizen scientist to report invasive plants
Workshop topics:
o Invasive plant identification and ecology
o Mapping and reporting invasive plants using
iMapinvasives
o Field demonstration with hands-on identification tips
o Information on how you can join our Citizen Science volunteer network. Free Lunch and ID books provided.
July 12th, 10am-2pm
Potter County Extension Office
7 Water St., Coudersport, PA 16915
Register online at extension.psu.edu or call 1-877-345-0691
For more information contact Kimberly Bohn (kkb29@psu.edu or 814-887-5613)
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GAME COMMISSION TO PRESENT PROGRAM ON CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE
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The Pennsylvania Game Commission will be presenting a program on Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) as part of its summer wildlife educational series. This program will be held Wednesday, July 18, at 7 p.m. at the Back Mountain Regional EMA building in Dallas.
NE Region Wildlife Management Supervisor Kevin Wenner will present information on the status of CWD in PA, how it affects deer, factors that influence disease transmission, and control measures currently in place.
“Chronic Wasting Disease is a contagious and always fatal infection first detected in captive and wild deer in Pennsylvania in 2012,” said Wenner. “The management of CWD is critical to the long-term health of Pennsylvania’s deer herd.”
The Back Mountain Regional EMA building is located at 3593 Route 118 (a half-mile west of the intersection of routes 118 and 415), in Dallas. No reservations are required.
For more information contact the Game Commission Northeast Region Office at (570) 675-1143.
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MABEX is Heading Downtown!
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The 2018 Mid-Atlantic Bioenergy Conference & Expo is moving to the heart of downtown Philadelphia, in the newly renovated Convene CityView location at 30 South 17th St. (14th floor) Philadelphia, PA. Just blocks from Amtrak, local transit, and a short ride from the Philadelphia International Airport, CityView is an ideal location for MABEX 2018.
Mid-Atlantic Bioenergy Conference & Expo
September 12-14, 2018
CityView, Philadelphia, PA
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Commercial & Public Applicator Pesticide Short Course
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Commercial & Public Applicator Pesticide Short Course will help build a foundation of knowledge about safe and proper handling and use of pesticides.
When
Day 1: Core (Part 1) - Mon., Sep. 24, 2018 (9:00 AM - 3:45 PM)
Day 2: Core (Part 2) - Tue., Sep. 25, 2018 (9:00 AM - 4:00 PM)
Day 3: Category 07 & 23 - Wed., Sep. 26, 2018 (9:00 AM - 3:30 PM)
Day 4: Category 06 & 23 - Thu., Sep. 27, 2018 (9:00 AM - 2:15 PM)
Day 5: Category 10 - Fri., Sep. 28, 2018 (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM)
Where
Penn State Extension York County
112 Pleasant Acres Rd., York, Pennsylvania 17402
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For the last decade, Steve Purich has been searching for others to share his vision for the idyllic retreat he created in an Upper Yoder Township forest. Now the legacy of a nationally recognized child poet may help define the future for Tranquility Gardens, Purich said.... -
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat
(Press Release)
(Press Release)
Pennsylvania has seen cases of Lyme disease rise sharply in the last two decades. Today it is the nation’s leader in an epidemic driven by a scourge of ticks. More than 11,000 cases were reported in 2016, which is nearly a third of the official toll in the United States.... -
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
In Washington County, the Monongahela River is running high and could remain that way for a few days. Prior to the heavy rains, anglers were catching a good deal of smallmouth and largemouth bass. Other recent catches in this section of the Monongahela include catfish and a handful of... -
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
(Press Release)
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has appointed Pennsylvania's first female state forester. Ellen Shultzabarger, 41, of Lancaster, will oversee the 2.2 million acres the department's Bureau of Forestry manages, conserving native plants, promoting timber yields and protecting clean water, plant and wildlife... -
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
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The Pennsylvania Forestry Association | 1(800) 835-8065 | thePFA@paforestry.org | www.paforestry.org
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STAY CONNECTED | #ForestProud
Check out the PFA Facebook page by clicking the icon below. Stay up-to-date with the latest news!
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