Meeting Minutes

Wednesday July 6, 2022

6PM @ Black Hill Ranger Station

 

Attendees:

Gabrielle Oldham             Michael Morgan                               Katie Kranich

John Bennett                     Ron Anderson                                   Kathie Jarmon

Rob Feldt                             Dori Murphy                                      Matt Spiroff

 

Gabrielle brought the meeting to order at 6:08PM.  

The June minutes were reviewed, and found the “Old Business” section was incomplete.  Rob agreed, and will resend the June minutes for approval.

New Cecil County Forester Matthew Spiroff introduced himself and provided a brief background of his personal life and education.  Forestry Board members introduced themselves in turn.

Treasurer’s report

1)      John reported on the board’s CDs and that rates were recently changing and felt that it would be an option to take a penalty to lock in a much better rate.

2)      John reported no other activity.

3)      John recommended that Matt keep the checkbook at the BH office, now that he is there.  They will meet in the future to have him added to the account.

 

Big Tree Program Update:

John gave the county report, and details are provided below:

No trees were measured or re-measured in Cecil County.  There is a very large mimosa on the NW corner of MD 273 & Lewisville Road (213) at The Corner Garden.  It may well be a Maryland State Champion.  John asked if anyone from the Cecil Board wants to pursue obtaining permission from the owner?  There was general agreement that it could be done.

 

State Report: Nineteen trees were measured/re-measured in June.  Four were re-measurements and 15 were new trees.  Trees were located in Baltimore, Calvert, Carroll, Frederick, Washington and Worcester.  One tree, a sycamore maple located in Hagerstown, became the new State co-champion.  Ten other trees became new county champions.

One of the trees re-measured is the Washington County pitch pine at the Mumma Family Cemetery at Antietam National Battlefield, which was nominated in 2012 by a visiting professor of forestry at Clemson University.  This is the only tree on the MD register nominated by an out-of-state forester, and is fairly well known by Antietam regulars.

One new tree is in Baltimore County--a European larch.  It is growing in a grove of eastern white pines in Gunpowder Falls State Park.  The pines were planted some 50 years ago.  How did the larch get there?  Was it also planted, and if so, was it part of the pine seedlings that somehow got mixed in?

Another new tree of note is a red mulberry in Patapsco Valley State Park.  Red mulberry examples are extremely rare in Maryland (and elsewhere).  It is growing in the McKeldin section in Carroll County.  It is in a grove of 16 red mulberries—relatively small at 108 points.

 

(From left” Pitch Pine, European Larch, Red Mulberry }

 

 


NRCC Update:

Gabrielle gave the NRCC camp update:

·         Gabrielle gave the report on NRCC and that they have 41 people—21 male student and 20 female, and is a good mix of boys and girls.

·         She is still prepping for COVID-19, and they are planning to have everyone tested, and the students will need to test on-site, before the parents leave.  Staff must also.  Students will be advised to test prior to making a potentially 3+ hour car ride to camp. 

·         She’s been emailing everyone to be careful, and to test.

 Website Update:

Ron gave the update:

·         County VA pine is no longer listed as the state champ.

·         There was some discussion about mentioning Noah Day’s passing on the website.

Old Business:

·         Ron and Gabe reported on the visit to the Elkton Commissioner’s meeting and stated that, for some reason, they were not on the agenda!  However, they were permitted to briefly speak, and talk about the board.  The Planning Department contact was given to them as a future Point-of-contact.  The goal is to improve the public awareness of the Forestry Board around the county.

 New Business:

·         The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) Spongy moth (formerly Gypsy moth) report was given, and it’s noted that there is very light moth activity surveyed this year—good news indeed.

·         Ron looked at his White oak and feels there will be a good acorn crop this year.  It’s an offspring of the famous Wye Oak.

·         Rob gave an update of the White Oak Initiative and the need to seed collection this fall.

·         Mike says he sees Spotted lanternfly everywhere now.  Rob has many at his house in Bel Air now too.

The meeting was adjourned approximately 8:30PM.

The next meeting will be held on August 3rd at 6PM.