Plantings mark Arbor Week in Dover-Foxcroft

DOVER-FOXCROFT — For the sixth consecutive year the town of Dover-Foxcroft recognized Arbor Week, observed in 2018 from May 21-25 or the third full week of the month, with a ceremonial planting on May 23. This year a pair of clethra ruby spice or summersweet shrubs were placed in front of the newly-opened The Commons at Central Hall on East Main Street.

Tree and shrub plantings have taken place across the community over the last half dozen years to help ensure Dover-Foxcroft lives up to its designation as a Tree City USA Community by the Arbor Day Foundation, an honor bestowed upon towns that demonstrate excellence in forestry management. Since earning the recognition six years ago, the community has made an effort to plant new trees, replace aging ones and encourage other organizations to plant in order to help raise awareness about forestry and beautify the community.

Town officials have worked with groups including the Foxcroft Academy Key Club, SeDoMoCha Elementary School and the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC)/Miosac Club to plant trees at community parks and on school campuses.

“Originally there were two trees, one on each side,” Chris Maas, treasurer of The Commons at Central Hall board of directors, said pointing to the engraved brick-lined walkway leading from the sidewalk to the building. The left lawn is where the clethra ruby spice shrubs will go and on the right lawn is a maple tree.

“This tree is dying and we have been advised by experts it’s dying so in the next month or so we will replace it,” Maas said.

“It’s not as healthy as it looks,” Town Manager Jack Clukey said.

“So we will prepare the ground and plant a tree that hopefully will last another 130 years,” Maas said in an approximate age comparison to the The Commons at Central Hall structure.

“We are putting the two on either side of the water line,” Maas said. He explained shrubs were chosen for the left lawn instead of trees to avoid potential problems with roots growing into the water line in the decades to come.

“The flowers that are in we recently planted those and I think they are doing more planting,” he said about a line of plants in front of the building across both lawns.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
ARBOR WEEK PLANTINGS — A pair of clethra ruby spice or summersweet shrubs have been planted in front of The Commons at Central Hall on East Main Street in Dover-Foxcroft in recognition of Arbor Week in the community. Taking part in the ceremonial planting on May 23 were, from left, Chris Maas and Dr. Richard Sweet of The Commons at Central Hall, Town Manager Jack Clukey and Karen Maas.