Woodswise Wire

Oxford County Soil & Water District Announces Annual Award Winners

The Oxford County Soil & Water Conservation District would like to announce the Award Winners for 2014. All of the winners will be recognized at the Annual meeting on December 6th.

Award for Leadership in the field of Agriculture, Forestry, Soil or Water Conservation - Merle Ring

Merle Ring, in addition to serving as board chairman for the Oxford County Soil & Water Conservation District, is a District Forester for the Maine Forest Service, covering Oxford County. His office is in West Paris. Merle also does private consulting forestry on his own time. He is past president of the Western Maine chapter of SWOAM and is currently serving as vice-president. He serves as chair of the Education Committee for the Maine Association of Conservation Districts. Merle has been a state District Forester for 33 years, joining the Maine Forest Service shortly after graduating from the University of Maine at Orono in 1976. Merle is a native Mainer, born and growing up in Bryant Pond.

Partnership Award - Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District

Watersheds don’t always follow county divisions so when it comes to watershed projects there is often some overlap in jurisdiction.  Over the past 4 years there have been at least 4 joint county projects in which Cumberland County SWCD took the lead, inviting Oxford SWCD to take a partnership role, to perform a watershed survey or carry out an NPS implementation grant project.  Michele Windsor has had the pleasure of working with several of the Cumberland County staff, on both types of projects in the Moose Pond and Crooked River watersheds.  Cumberland County staff members are extremely talented, knowledgeable and hardworking. They take on large and challenging projects and produce some of the best outcomes in conservation in the State of Maine. We are currently working with Cumberland County SWCD on the Crooked River 319 Implementation Project, led by Heather True, CCSWCD Project Manager.  In 2010 Michele assisted Heather with Watershed Survey Project on Moose Pond, and in 2012, the Moose Pond Watershed Implementation Project   We have a great deal of respect and admiration  for what Cumberland County SWCD is able to accomplish and enjoy an excellent working relationship with them.  They are a great organization to partner with.

Volunteer(s) of the Year – Oxford Hills Christian Academy

Those amazing teens at Oxford Hills Christian Academy have done it again! When asked to help out during Agriculture & Conservation Day this year, Miss Hladik asked if her students could have the Learning Station information ahead of time, so that they could study, research and present their topic on AgCon Day. They did a fantastic job! Subjects covered included: The Two Bugs That Are Changing Our World, Balsam Sachets, Agriculture & Conservation 20 Questions, Backyard Poultry, How Long Does It Take to Decompose?, Nature Bingo, Outdoor Games, How to Make a Basic First Aid Kit and What Types of Things Does Maine Produce? In addition, they provided our photographer and a personal assistant for the day. We’re very proud of these teens!

In addition to these awards OCSWCD will take a few moments to recognize some even younger folks. The winner of the Children’s Photo Contest was Kelsey Wood of Norway with her creative photograph titled “Inside a Tree”. Honorable Mention went to Aaron Nason, also of Norway, for his photo of “Maine Lady Slippers”. Both of these winners are 10 years old! The last youngster to be awarded recognition is 12 year old Samantha Paradis of Dixfield. Samantha is a member of the Norway/Paris Fish & Game and participated in Agriculture & Conservation Day at Oxford County Fair by demonstrating archery to over 900 attendees! She did a great job and was a favorite amongst the students.

The OCSWCD Annual Meeting is open to the public and will be held on December 6th at 5:30 pm at the First Congregational Church of South Paris. Lorraine Taft, Forest Pest Outreach Project Coordinator, will be the guest speaker and she will be updating us on the recent Emerald Ash Borer quarantine of Rockingham County, which lies on the western border of Maine. She will also talk about the possibility of a Municipal Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan. This program will be of interest to all who care about the future of Maine’s trees. Reservations for dinner are 10.00 per person and there is a choice of chicken pie or vegetarian quiche. If you would like to attend the Annual Meeting and support any of these winners, please call Jean Federico at 743-5789, ext. 111.