The City of Romney proclaimed May 15 as the town’s annual Arbor Day — a yearly date set aside for the planting of trees that is also dedicated to the memory of a beloved late community volunteer: Bob Shilling.
City Administrator Eileen Johnson said it was only fitting to dedicate the city’s first arbor day to the former council member.
“I think the city’s happy we can honor two special events,” said Johnson. “We established an Arbor Day for the city to recognize and celebrate now and for all generations to come, and for the first planting we used the service berry tree in recognition of the service Bob Shilling provided for the community and the roots he established.”
Arbor Day, first established in 1872 by J. Sterling Morton (who proposed the event to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture) is a observed throughout the nation and the world.
According to the Romney Arbor Day Proclamation, trees are a “renewable resource that reduces the erosion of our precious topsoil, moderates temperature, cleans the air, produces life-giving oxygen, and provides habitat for wild life, as well as increases property values, enhances and beautifies our community.”
Shilling — besides being a former council member — was a member of the city building commission, Hampshire County Board of Health, Office of Emergency Services, Hampshire County Central Dispatch 911 System, Romney Rotary Club, City of Romney Parks & Recreation Board of Directors, Romney Volunteer Fire Company, Romney Presbyterian Church and the Hampshire County Public Library
“Bob consistently demonstrated through civic participation and community service trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, compassion, and good citizenship,” said Johnson. “Through selfless acts of service, Bob has improved and enhanced our neighborhoods, our community and our lives.”
The City of Romney has taken a proactive approach in beautifying the city during the final phase of the sewer improvement project in which they focused on replacing the green infrastructure displaced during construction.
With the assistance and expertise of Jennifer Brashear, Urban Forestry Technical Specialist with the West Virginia Division of Forestry, the city has worked hard to replant countless trees and bushes — most notably several small flower trees such as dogwood, redbud and cherry, as well as some butterfly and lilac bushes.
Other ornamental species such as rose bushes and bulbs were also planted for the spring season.
ROMNEY, W.Va. —
