Kent County Arbor Day Celebration Set for April 23

Partners to Name Poster Contest Winners, Provide Free Seedlings

Photo: “Budding Red Bud” by Ashley Stubbs

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is partnering with Kent County Commissioners and the Kent County Forest Board for the annual Arbor Day celebration, at 1:15 p.m. April 23 in the Kent County Courthouse Courtyard, 103 N. Cross St., Chestertown.

As part of the event, partners will celebrate Chestertown’s 38th anniversary as a Tree City USA participant and announce the winners of the county’s 2019 Arbor Day Poster Contest.

Each year, third and fifth graders from across the county are invited to create posters honoring Arbor Day. Third graders showcased “How Trees Benefit Kent County” and fifth graders followed the statewide theme “Trees are Terrific…and Forests Are Too!”  The top five winners per grade will receive cash prizes up to $50 and their posters featured on a T-shirt.

In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held at Garnet Elementary School, 320 Calvert St.

Also in celebration of Arbor Day, Kent County landowners can get free tree seedlings at various times and locations throughout the county the week of April 22. This year, four species of tree seedlings will be given away ─ bald cypress, common hackberry, red bud and white oak. These one-year-old seedlings are approximately 10 inches tall and packaged two per bundle.

Limited quantities are available to be given on a first come, first served basis from at these locations and times:

• Betterton Town Office: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., April 22, 23, 25 and 26
• Chestertown Town Office: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 22-26
• Galena Town Office: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., April 22-26
• Kent County Commissioners office: Weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., April 22-26
• Kent County Parks and Recreation, Worton: 8:30 a.m.to 9:30 p.m., April 22-26; 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., April 27
• Kent Soil and Water Conservation District Office: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., April 22-26
• Millington Town Office: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 22-26
• Rock Hall Town Office: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., April 22-26