Dietrich Appointed to Arbor Resources Committee

By Kim Siebert MacPhail

Melinda Chamberlain Dietrich was unanimously appointed by the Selectmen on Monday night to serve on the town’s Arbor Resources Committee.

A former Lexington resident, Dietrich was the executive director of the Munroe Center for the Arts and a co-founder of John Vinton Architecture. She moved to Bedford a year ago by way of Cincinnati where she served as a member of the mayor’s Green City program. Dietrich is a certified Master Gardner and a strong advocate for sustainable environmental practices on the local, community level.

With extensive knowledge of landscaping with native plants, Dietrich has been both a teacher and a leader, helping to educate the public about garden design of all types, including rain gardens. In 2007, she was the recipient of the State of Ohio Master Garden Volunteer Program Award for Excellence, specifically for creating the Greenacres Labyrinth Walk Herb Garden in Indian Hill,Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati.

Before the Selectmen appointed Dietrich, Bedford Arbor Resources Committee (BARC) liaison Selectman Mike Rosenberg gave a short description of the group’s charter.

“The committee works with the Tree Warden and the Grounds Division of the Public Works Department to ensure the vitality of all public trees and to ensure there’s a long-range plan for strengthening the inventory of public trees. In addition, the committee—through various informational means—promulgates ways in which private landowners can enhance their own arbor resources….[BARC] plays a very vital role toward the quality of life.”

Rosenberg made reference to how impressed he was with Dietrich’s experience, as reflected in the comprehensive resume she included with her committee application. “I haven’t had the chance to finish reading it yet,” he said, jokingly. “I had to take a break.”

Dietrich explained her interest in becoming a member of BARC. “This committee will be, I think, a great way to tie all my interests and experience together. I just feel like this is the place where I can be of the most benefit to the town. Everywhere I’ve lived, I’ve done some kind of community service. To me, that’s a very important part of my life.”