IF YOU GOWhat: Trees for Dade benefit concert.When: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday.Where: Trenton City Park, 100 Price St., Trenton, Ga.Admission: Free.Phone: 987-1389.
SCHEDULE11:15-11:45 a.m. David JamesNoon-12:30 p.m. Peggy and Patty1-1:45 p.m. The Biddles2-2:45 p.m. Bob De Young3-3:45 p.m. Dalton Roberts4-4:45 p.m. Norman
BEING A TREE CITYFor 26 years, Trenton, Ga., has been recognized as a Tree City, a designation that requires communities to meet four standards set forth by Tree City USA.1. Establish a tree board or department with legal responsibility for the care and management of the community's trees.2. Pass a tree care ordinance allowing the tree board to write and implement an annual community forestry work plan.3. Establish a budget for the forestry program equal to at least $2 per resident.4. Present an Arbor Day observance or proclamation.
A riddle: If a tree falls in the woods, how many bands does it take to replace it?
Apparently, the answer is six, based on the lineup for Trees for Dade, a benefit concert taking place Saturday in Trenton, Ga.
In addition to enjoying a schedule of live performances headlined by Dalton Roberts and Norman Blake, Dade County residents will be able to sign up to receive seedlings to replace trees lost during the April 27 tornadoes.
"The biggest treasure in Dade County is its natural beauty," said Keith Bien, a member of Trenton's Tree City. "Some of the neighborhoods that were most affected [by the storms] were completely changed because of tree loss.
"We would like to do what we can to restore that natural beauty."
Trenton's Tree City purchased about 5,000 seedlings from the Georgia Forestry Commission this August.
Bien said the organization intentionally chose seedlings representing slower-growing but hardier hardwood species native to the Southern Appalachians, including pin oak, sawtooth oak, yellow poplar, green ash, dogwood, crepe myrtle and crabapple.
"People in general have been leery of pine trees, which have not done well with the drought during the last 10 years, and many of them have fallen over," Bien said. "The ones we're planting will all be long-term hardwoods."
Those who sign up will receive seedlings in January. Educational booths at the concert will offer information on forest ecology and demonstrate the proper method for planting. Volunteers also can sign up to help ensure the trees actually make it in the ground.
Trees for Dade was organized in a hurry, and at first, Bien said he expected the event to attract only a handful of local artists.
Norman Blake has not played in public much in recent years, however, and having his name on the bill should increase the concert's draw, Bien said.
"We could see as many as a couple thousand people," he said. "We're excited. It's going to be a fun day."