MORE THAN 100 volunteers of all ages recently planted 500 trees at Morgan Run Environmental Area as part of an effort to restore streams in the county.
The volunteers also moved 20 cubic yards of mulch. By the end of the long day, they were tired and sore, but proud.
The venture was organized by Friends of Carroll County Streams, a nonprofit group consisting of resident volunteers who work to protect and restore Carroll County's many miles of streams through education, advocacy and restoration activities.
"We were all exhausted, but it feels good to know that we are making a difference," said Paul Kazyak, a FOCCS member and the ecological assessment program chief the Maryland Biological Stream Survey.
"About half of the streams in Maryland are in poor condition," Kazyak said. "I got tired of documenting the decline for 10 years, so I'm involved with programs like this."
The tree planting Oct. 26 at Morgan Run was the fourth that the environmental group has organized in the past two years.
Volunteers have planted everything from 10- to 12-foot trees to acorns, which are covered with fertilizer and landscaping cloth.
"We are trying to find cost-effective trees that have the highest survival rate," Kazyak explained.
The group and its volunteers have planted 3,600 trees. Instrumental in completing the Morgan Run project was Venturing Crew 202, a coed organization of Boy Scouts of America.
Venturing Crew is composed of teens who focus on environmental science. One, Nicole Rosenthal, helped place the many signs along Nicodemus Road to guide volunteers to the site.
"I joined Venturing Crew after I heard about it from a friend," Nicole said. "I volunteer because I really want to help the environment."
More than 20 students from environmental science classes taught by Dena Owen and Barry Bosley at Carroll Community College also participated.
"Sometimes it's hard to get the college students involved," said Bosley. "But this project was so well-organized, I think that those who came knew they made a positive impact."
The Morgan Run tree-planting project was supported by a grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust. Carroll County government, Chesapeake Bay Foundation and TREEmendous Maryland also donated materials.
Final haunts
The wrappers are still around, if not most of the 14 pounds of candy from your children's Halloween haul. No better time to report some of the most creative costumes in Central Carroll.
The following list was culled from neighborhood gatherings, including Westminster Riding Club's Halloween Party on Oct. 26. Some of the costumed people asked to remain anonymous.
"I wouldn't want anyone at work to read that I looked like this," said the Chick Magnet, an anonymous man dressed in black with Barbie Dolls glued all over his body.
Another personal favorite: Martha Stewart, with monogrammed jail jumpsuit, diamond studded handcuffs, a copy of Cell Living magazine, and recipes for perfect bread and the clearest water.
Folks who didn't mind acknowledging their Halloween costumes: Legos, John and Wendy O'Meally; Austin Powers, Joe Hickey; hippies, Donna and Tom Hoffmaster; black-eyed peas, Mary Pat and Courtney Lowe; Dennis the Menace and Margaret, Rick and Lynn Davis.
"It's fun to see people dressed in such unexpected ways," said Beth Nave, who attended the Riding Club's gala dressed as one of three blind mice. "I loved watching people in costume dance."
Living Treasure
Henry Reiff, Westminster resident and associate dean of academic affairs at McDaniel College, honors Frank Wright as his Living Treasure this week.
Wright, also of Westminster, is a religious-studies major at the college and a senior - in both senses of the word. Wright will celebrate his 79th birthday tomorrow.
"At a time when some people's biggest decision is where is the best golf course or the best place to play bingo, Frank is taking on one of the greatest challenges of his life," Reiff said. "He is a man of tremendous courage. If anyone exemplifies `young at heart,' it is Frank Wright."
Brighten the day of someone who has made a positive difference in your life. Submit the person's name and specific reasons why he or she has been your Living Treasure to: Lisa Breslin, 35 Ridge Road, Westminster 21157.
Lisa Breslin's Central Carroll neighborhood column appears each Monday in the Carroll County edition of The Sun.
