(3/2022)  2022 Adams County Conservation District tree sale

The Adams County Conservation District is excited to announce that in 2022 we are partnering with the Watershed Alliance of Adams County and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership to supply over 7,500 freenative trees and shrubs to Adams County residents. The only stipulation to request free trees and shrubs is that you be willing to share where your trees will be planted and include before and after photos of your planting.

To request your free trees and shrubs through our online order form visit www.forms.gle/ntnL2kCUn8woszZp6

The order deadline is March 23rd and the pick-up dates are April 7th, 8th, 9th at the

Adams County Conservation District Pole Building, 670 Old Harrisburg Road, Gettysburg.

Trees and shrubs will come in a variety of sizes. Most will be approximately 1-2 feet tall, and be either bare root packed in wet newspaper, or potted in a 3’’ x 3’’ x 9’’ or 1 gallon pot. A five-foot tree shelter and a two-foot shrub shelter, stake, zip-ties and bird-netting will be supplied with each tree and shrub.

We make every effort to fulfill requested species and amounts; however, due to availability and ordering stipulations we can not guarantee exact requests. If a selection is sold out, orders are placed on a first-ordered basis or partially filled. Once we receive our order confirmations from the nurseries, we will email your confirmed species list and pick-up details in the last week in March. Planting labor must be organized by the person requesting the trees and shrubs. Planting projects should be completed by May 31st.

This year’s native tree species being given away include: American Beech, American Plum, Balsam Fir, Basswood, Black Cherry, Eastern Hemlock, Eastern Redbud, Eastern White Pine, Flowering Dogwood, Paw Paw, Persimmon, Pin Oak, Red Maple,

Red Oak, River Birch, Scarlet Oak, Sugar Maple, Swamp White Oak, Sweet Gum, Sycamore, Tulip Poplar, White Oak, and White Spruce.

This year’s native Shrubs species being given away include: American Hazelnut, Arrowwood, Black Chokeberry, Blackhaw Viburnum, Buttonbush, Elderberry, Highbush Blueberry, Nannyberry, Pussy Willow, Red Chokeberry, Red-Osier, Dogwood, Serviceberry, Silky Dogwood, Spicebush, Sweet Pepper Bush, Winterberry, Witch Hazel.

If you’d like to be on our e-mail distribution list, please call Sarah Spencer

at 717-334-0636 or email sspencer@adamscounty.us.

Adams County Community Foundation Names Philanthropic Advisor

The Adams County Community Foundation has announced that Theresa DiLoreto, CFRE has joined its staff as Philanthropic Advisor. Theresa will serve as the Community Foundation’s liaison with legal and financial advisors, connecting them with the Community Foundation’s options for incorporating philanthropy into clients’ lifetime and estate plans.

Community Foundation President and CEO Ralph Serpe says, "In our experience, most clients want their attorney, wealth manager or other advisor to bring up the topic of charitable giving, and the Community Foundation is here to support those conversations. Advisors should think of Theresa and the Community Foundation staff as a charitable planning resource."

Theresa has a broad and deep familiarity with our community and its charitable sector. Prior to joining the Community Foundation, Theresa served as Assistant Director of Donor Relations for SpiriTrust Lutheran and Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator at South Central Community Action Programs, among other positions.

"Helping people to connect with and support our community is what I love doing," said Theresa. "This role at the Community Foundation gives me a new perspective on that mission. I look forward to serving professional advisors who want to support their clients’ charitable goals. The Community Foundation can help with philanthropic planning, adding value to an advisor’s practice and their client relationships."

Theresa will reach out to Adams County professional advisors and those based elsewhere who serve clients in Adams County. To schedule a call, meeting, or presentation, advisors may contact Theresa DiLoreto, CFRE, Philanthropic Advisor at TDiLoreto@adamscountycf.org or 717-321-3212.

State Budget Cuts Funding for Animal Health and Diagnostic Commission

The proposed 2022-23 state budget would eliminate agriculture funding critical to animal health. Wolf’s budget would cut funding for the Pennsylvania Animal Health and Diagnostic Commission, and funding intended to support the information technology needs of the state’s Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services. The commission facilitates in-state research, testing and surveillance of livestock and poultry diseases.

After a historic outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the 1980s that had a devastating impact on Pennsylvania’s poultry industry and economy, efforts to provide for surveillance and mitigation were implemented.

The commission, established by the state Legislature in 1988, provides Pennsylvania farmers with the expertise of animal health specialists, diagnostic testing labs, and the ability to identify disease outbreaks before they spread and reach crisis levels. Having such a resource in-state resulted in the swift and successful mitigation of outbreaks of HPAI here in the 1990s, which saved poultry producers and consumers tens of thousands of dollars.

"As a member of the commission, I am acutely aware of the importance of planned interventions instead of crisis interventions when it comes to animal disease outbreaks," said Rep. Dan Moul (R-Adams), chairman of the Pennsylvania House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. "An outbreak of HPAI was recently identified in a commercial turkey flock in Indiana. HPAI has also been discovered in wild birds along migratory flyways over Pennsylvania. Our surveillance efforts are crucial to a quick response and to prevent the spread of deadly diseases like HPAI.

Pennsylvania’s livestock and poultry industries are the largest sector of Pennsylvania’s agricultural economy, with an economic impact in the billions of dollars.

"HPAI is at our doorstep," said Moul. "African swine fever is in Puerto Rico and we are watching our ports and airports to make sure it does not enter Pennsylvania and wipe out our commercial hog farms. Other diseases remain a constant threat. Since food insecurity is a priority of the Wolf administration, I am baffled the governor is not making the protection of Pennsylvania’s food supply a top priority."

$25 Million to Support Emergency Medical Services Statewide

Building on the effort started two weeks ago to support the state’s health care heroes, the House and Senate have approved legislation to provide $25 million in funding for an Emergency Medical Services COVID-19 Recovery Grant Program. The funding may be used for recruitment and retention; construction or renovation of an EMS company’s facilities; purchase or repair of equipment; debt reduction; training and certification; public education; or revenue loss. EMS companies that qualified for similar grants in the 2019-20 fiscal year would be eligible for these funds through the Office of the State Fire Commissioner. The funding would be divided evenly among all applicants. In late January, the General Assembly voted to provide $225 million in funding to support the state’s health care workers and encourage new nurses to enter the field. A total of $210 million is being directed to hospitals and behavioral health providers to provide recruitment and retention payments to nurses and other employees, while an additional $15 million is being invested in nurse student loan forgiveness.