[NFBWV-Talk] FWD:Article from Hampshire Review Opinion Section 2024 08 28

[karenswauger134 at gmail.com]

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From: Article from Hampshire Review Opinion Section 2024 08 28
Date: 2024-08-28T11:40:15
Subject: publications at nfbnewsline.net
To: karenswauger134 at gmail.com


Letter to the Editor: Speaking for the trees. American poet, Joyce Kilmer, wrote the lyric poem Trees that ends with the lines, Poems are made by fools like me But only God can make a tree Sadly, for trees on the WVSDB campus, all it takes to destroy Gods creations is uncaring humans and their machines. The campus was once known for its tree diversity. Children taking the 4-H Tree Identification project could walk the campus and find an amazing variety of species. I fondly recall playing on the campus as a child some 60+ years ago, standing in the shade of the trees beside the track watching my brothers Little League game, attending 4-H camp there 50+ years ago, taking my own children to play there 20+ years ago, and like many friends, walking the campus throughout my adult life. The state of WV has not been a good steward of the campus: think about the Administration building, the iconic stone wall, and nowmany majestic, old trees. The American Basswood trees along the stone wall were chopped out of existence. Trees across from what was the School for the Blind were replaced with a parking lot. Currently, many old trees (oaks, hickory, walnut, etc.) around the track and in the field across from the Maintenance building are being destroyed. Perhaps removing a few trees with invasive roots close to buildings or the track could be justified, but many have been cut or marked with orange paint indicating their death is imminent. Did anyone in charge of this large scale arborcide even consider consulting with an arborist about which trees actually needed to be removed and which could be preserved? Trees are so important for the ecology of an area. They provide habitat and food for numerous birds and mammals, take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen, and prevent soil erosion and support biodiversity. The WVSDB campus, once a welcoming green haven with many beautiful shade trees, is rapidly becoming a lifeless expanse of concrete and brick. Remember the words of the Dr. Seuss character, the Lorax? I am the Lorax who speaks for the trees Which you seem to be chopping as fast as you please. Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothings going to get better. Its not. Debbie Overholt, Romney o This article is provided to you as a courtesy of NFB-NEWSLINE??? Online for your sole use. The content of this E-mail is protected under copyright law, and is not to be distributed in any manner to others; infringement of our non-dissemination agreement is strictly prohibited. Allowing someone to have access to this material is in violation of the Terms of Use agreement that you electronically signed when you signed up for NFB-NEWSLINE??? Online. Please do not forward this E-mail or its attachments to any other person or disseminate it in any manner. Thank you. The NFB-NEWSLINE??? Team.