FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Township of
Franklin, Somerset County, New Jersey
CONTACT: Michael Orsini, Franklin Township Shade Tree Commission Chair
732-690-7270
FAX: 908-704-4996
e-mail address: orsinimj@patmedia.net
or franklintrees@patmedia.net
FRANKLIN
TOWNSHIP NAMED TREE CITY USA
FRANKLIN
TOWNSHIP, New Jersey - May 3, 2004 - The National Arbor Day
Foundation has named Franklin Township a Tree City USA in recognition
of Franklin's program to care for community trees. It is the third
year Franklin Township has received this national recognition.
The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation
in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and
the USDA Forest Service.
Franklin Mayor Brian Levine said, "Franklin Township is proud
to have again been designated Tree City USA , and we thank the members
of Franklin's Shade Tree Commission and our residents for their work
in the local forestry program. We also want to thank The National
Arbor Day Foundation for this recognition."
To become a Tree City USA, a community must meet four standards: a
tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a comprehensive community
forestry program, and an Arbor Day observance. This past Arbor Day,
the Commission and volunteers planted 40 trees on Demott Lane and
New Brunswick Road. "This recognition reflects the hard work
the Commission and volunteers have contributed to making Franklin
shade tree program work to the benefit of the community", said
Michael Orsini, chair of the Shade Tree Commission". If we are
doing our job, we should be a Tree City USA every year."
"Trees in our cities and towns help clean the air, conserve soil
and water, moderate temperature, and bring nature into our daily lives,"
said John Rosenow, president of The National Arbor Day Foundation.
"Trees are a vital component of the infrastructure in our towns
and cities, and provide many environmental and economical benefits.
A community, and its citizens, that recognizes theses benefits and
provides needed care for its trees deserves recognition and thanks,"
Rosenow added.
