GRIP released the following remarks: "Coordinated by Gila Resources Information Project, the Southwest New Mexico Community Forestry Project aims to plant trees and provide technical support to community partners in southwest New Mexico to ensure that our trees are cared for like the valuable resources we know them to be. We are working in Silver City, Santa Clara, Hurley, Bayard, Deming and Lordsburg over the next five years to grow each community's tree canopy by providing planning, logistics, and planting assistance to improve the health of our community trees.

"Funded by the USDA Community and Urban Forestry Program, the project also provides funding to Western New Mexico University (WNMU) to develop a certificate program aimed at providing green jobs training and continuing education in arboriculture. This addresses workforce needs and economic development in the growing industry of tree care within New Mexico and beyond. Building upon its Tree Campus USA designation, WNMU is creating an arboretum and teaching garden to provide hands-on training for students and for community members wanting to care for the trees in their own yards."

The Rotary Club will meet at noon this Tuesday, Dec. 17 in the HMS main conference room at 1007 N. Pope Street. There is a brief "meet and greet", a short business meeting and then the speaker has the floor. The club welcomes members of the public to the meetings.