PARIS — The 2017 annual meeting of the Oxford County Soil & Water Conservation District will take place on Saturday, Dec. 2, at the First Congregational Church.

Starting at 5:30 p.m., there will be a time for visiting, followed by dinner, awards and entertainment. The special program will be “The Fires of ’47, A Retrospective on the 70th Anniversary of the Fires” and will include a look at the Brownfield area fires, which were the second largest fires in the state and covered approximately 21,000 acres.

Beginning with the first property given to the district in 1950, and following through to the two most recent donations of land, members will discuss the role Oxford County Soil & Water Conservation District has played in developing the Tenmile River Demonstration Forest in the years since the fire.

Award presentations will be made to the following individuals and businesses:

Photo Contest

First place: Curious Kits by Charles Martin.

Honorable mention: After the Storm by Rob Federico, Freshly Hatched Mushroom by Sarah Gaines, Mountain by Kirsten Soucy.

2017 Oxford County Register of Big Trees

American Beech: Riley Woodworth, nomitated by Calvin and Pam Woodworth (Maine Register of Big Trees nominee).

American Elm: Anna Trundy, nomitated by Philip Trundy.

Black Cherry: Alan and Patricia Struck.

Black Cherry: Riley Woodworth, nomitated by Calvin and Pam Woodworth.

Green Ash: Town of Oxford, nomitated by Merle Ring.

Hawthorn: Linda Hooker (Maine Register of Big Trees nominee).

Mountain Paper Birch: unknown, MacKenzie Federico (Maine Register of Big Trees nominee).

Red Spruce: Riley Woodworth, nomitated by Calvin and Pam Woodworth. 

Scarlet Oak: SAD 17, nomitated by Michele Windsor (Maine Register of Big Trees nominee).

Staghorn Sumac: William and Laurie McKenney, nomitated by Makayla Federico (Maine Register of Big Trees nominee).

Striped Maple: Dave Severance (Maine Register of Big Trees nominee).

Trembling Aspen: Town of Oxford, nomitated by Howie Munday.

Conservation Award winners

Forestland Conservator: Robert Hughes, Tenmile River Demonstration Forest.

LakeSmart “Golden Pond” Award: Worthley Pond, Dave Clement.

Partnership Award: Sal Girifalco, Lakes Association of Norway.

Award for Continuing Support of Educational Programs: Norway/Paris Fish & Game, Oxford Hills Honeybees, Norway Police Department, Norway Fire Department, Oxford Police Department, Responsible Pet Care, Judy Smith, storyteller.

Volunteer of the Year: Trailhounds 4-H Club.

There will also be a ticket auction. The 2017 OCSWCD annual reports will be available online by early December.

Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. Reservations are required by Thursday, Nov. 30.

FMI, reservations: 207-744-3119, oxfordcountyswcd@gmail.com.

Spruce Mountain Envirothon Team member Jordy Daigle takes a DBH measurement as part of a 2015 tree survey while fellow team member Natalie Luce and arborist Mark Ingrisano observe. (Pam Harnden/Sun Journal stock photo)