Seedling trees available to county landowners

The Douglas County Conservation District has seedling trees available for residents owning 2 or more acres of land. The program promotes planting seedling trees for various conservation practices such as windbreaks, wildlife habitat, erosion control, shelterbelts, etc.

Trees are sold on a first-come, first-served basis, and the deadline for ordering trees is March 15. Information and order forms are available at www.dcconservation.com, by requesting a form via email at pam.brewster@co.nacdnet.net, or by calling the district office at 303-688-3042 ext. 100. Distribution of the trees will be done April 5 in Castle Rock just in time for spring planting.

In areas of high winds and blowing snow, windbreaks can reduce the amount of effort spent on snow management. The design of your tree planting should be done with your needs and winter condition in mind. Windbreaks can also support wildlife which adds beauty and pleasure to our lives.

You want to be sure to choose trees and shrubs that have wildlife benefits but are adapted to the local climate. Generally, native species are the best bet because are adapted to the site.

Society offers scholarship to Colorado survivors

There are very few times in a person’s life more traumatic than the day they hear the words: “You have cancer.” In an instant, their lives turn upside down and they are faced with myriad decisions, questions and fears.

Now imagine hearing those words and being a young child whose only concerns should be too much homework or when they can play with their friends.

For those young people who have gone through the trauma of a cancer diagnosis, the American Cancer Society has developed a program that will take some of the concern from their shoulders as they approach their college years. The society’s Cancer Survivor College Scholarship Program is designed to help students who have been diagnosed with cancer pay for part of their tuition.

The Cancer Survivor College Scholarship Program is designed to provide financial assistance for young cancer survivors as they pursue their post secondary education. The possible lifetime award is up to $10,000 per student, offered in increments of $2,500 per academic year. Applications from qualified Colorado students are being accepted now through Feb. 25. Application packets can be obtained by calling 866-500-3272 or 1-800-ACS-2345.

The scholarships may be used for enrollment and attendance tuition, fees, and books required for course instruction at an accredited college, university, community college, or vocational/technical school or visit cancer.org.

To be eligible to apply for the scholarships, the students must be cancer survivors diagnosed before the age of 21 and age 25 or younger at the time of submitting the application, graduating from a high school and/or continuing college in the upcoming school year, a U.S. citizen and resident of Colorado, have a 2.5 GPA, and will be a full-time student. If selected to receive a scholarship, the money will be awarded in May 2011. Past scholarship winners need to reapply for the scholarship each year.