Palomar College | San Marcos, Calif.

The Telescope

Issue Date: 4/24/06

Doing a good deed for Mother Nature

By Leslie Simpson

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Media Credit: Stephanie Tombrinck

Students, faculty, staff and community members will grab hoes, shovels and rakes during the Cabinet and Furniture Technology-sponsored Arboretum Beautification Day. Located on the north end of Palomar's San Marcos campus, the Arboretum features plantlife from all over the world, particularly Austrailia.

Palomar's sprawling arboretum offers a natural outdoor setting for classwork, exercise and lunch breaks. But weeds have overgrown the benches, and trails are hidden beneath a layer of dead leaves.

Not for long. With free donuts and barbequed sausage fueling their labor, volunteers will weed, rake and chip branches to beautify the on-campus nature preserve. Students, staff and community members can join forces from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 29 for the Fifth Annual Arboretum Beautification Day, hosted by the Cabinet and Furniture Technology Department.

Volunteers should bring their own rakes, shovels, gloves, hats and sunscreen. They will meet at the arboretum entrance on Comet Circle, north of the Library.

The date corresponds with Arbor Day - the last Friday in April - set aside nationally for celebrating and cultivating trees. Russ Filbeck, event organizer and woodworking instructor, said he chose the date hoping that trees would be planted or at least cared for. Filbeck said there is an inherent connection between the arboretum and woodworking classes.

"It's a natural thing for us to nurture living plants and trees because that's what we work with," Filbeck said. "We make beautiful things from wood."

As many as 100 CFT students have signed up for the project, Filbeck said. College president Robert Deegan, members of the board of trustees and staff members have also submitted RSVPs, said Filbeck. He asked that volunteers contact him ahead of time at (760) 744-1150, ext. 2812 so he can bring enough food.

Rick Kratcoski, Palomar's grounds supervisor and president of the Friends of the Palomar College Arboretum, said he hoped more staff and students get involved this year. He said he would like to see students from various backgrounds participate, especially those in student government.

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