Day set to plant tree seedlings

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- Westminster College Field Station invites the community to help plant several hundred white oak and American beech seedlings from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 24-29, or after 1 p.m. April 30.
Dr. Clarence Harms, professor of biology emeritus and field station director, said, "Sterling Morton, a pioneer newspaper man, first proposed a tree-planting holiday called Arbor Day in April 1872.
"This year we are renaming Arbor Day as 'Sandy Day.' What we are planning is a tree planting blitz to honor the memory of Sandra May Edmiston, a 2005 Westminster graduate who was a regular volunteer at the field station and helped many children plant trees. Sandy died in a rock-climbing accident in August 2005."
The event is free and open to the public. First-graders from Mohawk and Wilmington, as well as Lawrence County Head Start and Pack 733 Cub Scouts, have already reserved times to plant trees.
Seedlings will be available to anyone who comes to the field station at 937 Fayette-New Wilmington Road, but to be sure a seedling is reserved for each person, including children, call (724) 946-8520 and leave a message or e-mail Harm at harmsc@westminster.edu.
"When you plant a tree, you are an optimist. You believe there will be a future," Harms said.