Third Thursday Lecture: Trees, Trees, Trees

It has been said many times over many years that “Mandarin residents LOVE their trees!” Thanks to the Scenic and Historic Corridor ordinance introduced by former Council Member Mary Ann Southwell, the tree canopies along Mandarin, County Dock and Loretto Roads were protected in the heart of Mandarin. We are proud of the stately live oaks and dripping Spanish moss that define our community.

For this reason, May’s Third Thursday Lecture will be of great interest to everybody who desires to maintain this appearance. The lecture will be presented by Joe Anderson, a utility forester for JEA.  Anderson’s primary responsibility is to ensure that the power of Jacksonville can be found in the canopy of trees.

In this talk, Anderson will be branching out from the discussion of electrical, water, and sewer services to talk about trees.  As green infrastructure, trees provide valuable services and benefits to a community – comparable to the essential services and benefits received from the gray infrastructure of roadways, sidewalks, and electrical, water, and sewer utilities. He will discuss his role in providing safe and reliable electrical service while maintaining a healthy and abundant tree canopy.

Anderson holds a BS degree in Forest Resource Management from the College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, N.Y. He is a Certified Arborist and serves on the Florida Urban Forestry Council. Prior to JEA, Joe hiked, climbed, canoed, and camped as a Park Ranger for twenty years within the forests of New York, Minnesota, Missouri, and South Carolina – to include the Park Manager for the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area, inside the SC State Parks. 

The Mandarin Museum & Historical Society presents Third Thursday Lectures quarterly in partnership with the Mandarin Community Club. This event will be presented on Thursday, May 19 at the Mandarin Community Club, which is located at 12447 Mandarin Road. Refreshments are at 6:30 pm with the presentation at 7:00 pm. It is free and all are invited and encouraged to attend. For more information, call 268-0784.

Learn about Mandarin Museum activities at www.mandarinmuseum.net.