Gypsy Moth

CARLISLE, Pa. - On Thursday, Feb. 14, at the Cumberland Woodland Owners Association meeting, Zachary Roeder, service forester for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry, will be speaking about insect pests threatening Pennsylvania forests. Information for woodland owners on identification and methods for controlling forests insect pests such as Gypsy Moth, Hemlock Wooly Adelgid, Emerald Ash Borer, Tent Caterpillars, Scale Insects and Weevils will be presented.

March 6 - Private Applicator Training, 1 to 3 p.m. Washington County Extension Office. Call 301-791-1304 to register. March 6 - Poultry 101, Part II (prerequisite: Part I), 7 to 9 p.m., county Extension office. March 8 - Livestock Quality Assurance Training, 10 a.m., county Extension office. March 8 - Livestock Weigh-in/Tagging Guidelines, 2 p.m., county Extension office. March 8 - 4-H Tailwaggers Club, 2 p.m., county Extension office. March 10 - 4-H Dairy Goat Club, 7:30 p.m., county Extension office.

Plane spraying insecticide to fly over South Mountain A plane will soon fly over South Mountain and spray something, but there's no need to worry, County Administrator Rodney Shoop said at Tuesday's Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting. The plane will spray insecticide to control gypsy moths. According to the Maryland Department of Agriculture, spraying in Western Maryland will begin in a few weeks. Residents in the affected areas will receive notices.

Tyson to close plant; 600 to lose jobs BALTIMORE (AP) - Tyson Foods Inc. said Monday more than 600 workers will be laid off and several dozen poultry growers will be without contracts as it phases out operations at a Maryland poultry complex. Springdale, Ark.-based Tyson said it planned to close the lower Eastern Shore plant by the end of the year, putting an end to its operations in Maryland. The world's largest meat company said it will begin reducing operations immediately at the plant, which employs about 600 people and processes about a million chickens a week.

WASHINGTON COUNTY -- When Kevin Moore was growing up in Fallston, Md., he knew he wanted to work outdoors. For the past 25 years, the Harford County native has lived his dream. Moore was honored recently, not just for his longevity with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forestry Service, but for his accomplishments. Named the 2008 Maryland Ranger of the Year, Moore currently performs the majority of the technical field activities in Frederick and Washington counties.

waynesboro@herald-mail.com FAYETTEVILLE - The stately hemlock, Pennsylvania's official tree, is going the way of the American elm and the American chestnut, both of which were nearly killed off in the early years of the 20th century. The killer of hemlocks is the woolly adelgid (pronounced uh-dell-jed), a microscopic insect that entered the United States in the 1920s, according to state foresters. It attaches itself to the underside of hemlocks near the needles and sucks the sap out of them.

Movies Opening this week "High Fidelity" (R) - John Cusack plays a vinyl junkie whose record shop and love life are in equally sad shape. Lisa Bonet, Joan Cusack, Sara Gilbert and Lili Taylor co-star. "Price of Glory" (PG-13) - Price of Glory demonstrates the quest for excellence through one father's (Jimmy Smits) journey to raise his family and train his three gifted sons to become championship boxers. "The Skulls" (PG-13) - Joshua Jackson of "Dawson's Creek" plays an Ivy Leaguer drawn into a sinister secret society on campus.

The ironic part about Neal Nilsen's story is that he struggled in math and science in his youth. "Go figure," Nilsen said. Now technology is Nilsen's thing. Nilsen has started and operated seven technology companies since 1969 and he has worked on General Motors' development of its OnStar service. Nilsen's current company, Ask Neal Home & Business Solutions, specializes in areas such as "smart home" technology, which focuses on efficient use of energy. Nilsen installed a wireless Internet system for Jefferson County's new community center at Sam Michaels Park and his company has been the technology provider for Jefferson Business Park, which is home to high-technology employers such as the U.S. Coast Guard.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. -- In a nation where students are math- and science-challenged, where will the minds be developed to solve the energy crisis, combat global warming and meet other challenges facing the planet? Apparently, in the Fannett-Metal School District. Students from the pint-sized district have won the senior division for five years running going into last weekend's Franklin Science and Technology Fair. Fannett-Metal has about 600 students from kindergarten through high school, but more than 100 of them were at the Franklin Science and Technology Fair over the weekend at Chambersburg Area Middle School.

Human populations are well established every where that is livable on earth. As we have moved ourselves and our products around the world, many species - some by our choice, some by accident or indifference - have moved with us. Human development and expansion has been somewhat like putting the natural plant and animal communities of the world in a big blender and pulsing the on button. New and unwelcome species seem to turn up almost daily including stink bugs, mile-a-minute weed, Japanese stilt grass and many more.