In good company

REGION — Barbara Yeaman, Tony Waldron and Gail Lowden of the Delaware Highlands Conservancy joined a record number of land conservationists from across the country September 29 through October 2 at the National Land Trust Rally 2001.

The rally is sponsored annually by the Land Trust Alliance (LTA) and featured more than 125 workshops and seminars on land conservation.

Rally 2001 was the most well attended rally in the conference’s history and attracted more than 1,400 people from 48 states and 13 countries.

Registration followed by recreation

HARRISBURG — The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) will begin mailing thousands of new all-terrain vehicle (ATV) registration plates to ATV owners beginning next week, according to Secretary John C. Oliver.

“The new registration plates will help us crack down on illegal ATV riding,” Secretary Oliver said. “Our goal is to help protect state parks and forests, wildlife and their habitat and to assure that other recreational activities in our state parks and forests are not adversely affected.”

There is now a law requiring ATV owners, except those who use their vehicle solely for farming or business, to register with the DCNR.

All registered ATVs will receive a new registration plate within the next three months.

Owners who have not yet registered their ATV should do so immediately.

Applications are available by contacting DCNR’s Snowmobile/ATV Section at Riverfront Office Center, 1101 S. Front St., Harrisburg, PA 17104, 717/783-9227, or by visiting DCNR’s website through the PA PowerPort at www.state.pa.us or directly at www.dcnr.state.pa.us.

For a healthy plant, water is key

REGION — Soil moisture is at an all-time low for the fourth out of the last five years.

This fact leads to high expectations of tree and shrub mortality. Our entire area is shy eight inches of rainfall at this time and newly planted trees and shrubs are especially threatened if they’ve not been irrigated.

The rainfall needed is generally one to two inches every week to 10 days. The use of a rain gauge, either purchased or homemade, eliminates the guesswork.

In the absence of rainfall, water plants weekly until the ground is frozen. Perennials should receive one gallon of water per week, while larger, newly planted trees and shrubs should receive five gallons per week.

For more information call 845/292-6180.