Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Robert C. Shinn, Jr., unveiled the new "Treasure Our Trees" preservation license plate, recognized several New Jersey communities for their stewardship and commitment to trees and announced winners of the state's Community Forestry Program's student poetry contest during the 1998 annual Arbor Day celebration held at the Holmdel Arboretum located in Holmdel Park, Monmouth County.

"Every time you see a car with a "Treasure Our Trees" license plate drive by, what you're really seeing is another tree being planted in New Jersey," said Shinn. "The funds generated through license plate sales will go right back to the communities in the form of tree planting and stewardship grants so that locally we can continue to nurture, protect and manage our state's valuable tree resources."

Shinn helped plant four memorial trees during the 10:30 ceremony marking the state's tree planting holiday, and presented national Tree City USA awards to 12 communities and the Naval Weapon Station located in Earle, Monmouth County, for outstanding local forestry programs. The tree species planted were an Oriental spruce, Contorta white pine, Vanderwolf pine and a magnolia.

Six high school students from across the state also were recognized for their winning submissions in the New Jersey Community Forestry Program's Poetry Writing Contest. The contest theme was "Celebrating Community Trees." The first place winner received a $100 savings bond, second place a $75 savings bond and third place a $50 savings bond. Three students received honorable mention award certificates. First place winner, Katie Pictroski of Ringoes, Hunterdon County, read her poem entitled "The Willow Tree," which will be published in New Jersey Outdoors magazine.

In addition to the high school students, approximately 100 fifth graders from Marshall W. Errickson School in Freehold Township, Monmouth County, participated in the day's events, singing several original songs commemorating Arbor Day.

Senator John Bennett, Monmouth County, unveiled the new "Treasure Our Trees" license plate. The license plate was developed under the New Jersey Shade Tree and Community Forestry Assistance Act, which was signed into law in December, 1996. From the $50 initial cost of the plate, $35 will be used to fund elements of the bill, including the promotion, enhancement and development of community forestry activities in New Jersey's cities and towns. Senator Bennett and former Assemblyman John Rocco sponsored the bill.

The license plate design features the red oak, New Jersey's official state tree, and the flowering dogwood, the state's designated memorial tree. The oak tree situated on the left-hand side of the plate is depicted in fall foliage color and the dogwood is in full spring bloom.

The New Jersey Shade Tree and Community Forestry Assistance Act provides immunity protection for public entities that have an approved comprehensive community forestry plan and whose members have successfully completed a training and skills program administered by the State Forester.

Participating partners in the day's event included: New Jersey Community Forestry council, Holmdel Arboretum, Committee for the Advancement of Arboriculture, New Jersey Shade Tree Federation, New Jersey Society of Certified Tree Experts, New Jersey Chapter International Society of Arboriculture, Arborist Association of New Jersey, Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Monmouth County Shade Tree Commission, Monmouth County Park Department, National Arbor Day Foundation, PSE&G and the United States Department of Agriculture.

The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation of Nebraska City, NE. It is administered in New Jersey by the DEP's Division of Parks and Forestry's State Forest Service. The awards are designed to recognize communities for effectively managing their public tree resources and to encourage community tree management. The program began in 1976. New Jersey has 96 Tree Cities and is ranked 10th in the nation for the number of designated communities.

Designed to encourage the planting of shade and forest trees, Arbor Day is observed in ceremonies by schools, civic organizations and municipalities. Gov. Whitman has signed a proclamation officially recognizing Arbor Day in New Jersey, urging residents to mark the occasion by planting trees.

NOTE: Listed below are the winners of the Community Forestry Program's Poetry Contest and the Tree City USA Program.