State officials last week announced a program to offer a $25 coupon toward the purchase of any native tree costing $50 or more.

Plus, Baltimore County is offering a $10 coupon on any tree with a retail value of at least $25. If you combine the two, you can get a $50 native tree for $15.

Baltimore County's Growing Home campaign features a $10 coupon toward the purchase of a qualifying tree with a retail value of $25 or more. The Web site, www.growinghome.info, has a printable coupon and lists participating nurseries and qualifying trees.

North County area nurseries include Kingsdene in Monkton; Lovely Manors in Jacksonville; Pinehurst in Long Green; and White House in Upperco.

The Growing Home brochure, with the coupon, can also be found at county libraries including Hereford Library, as well as most county offices.

Meanwhile, the state's Marylanders Plant Trees program offers a larger discount, but is more restrictive in the type of tree and number of participating nurseries. Two nurseries in Baltimore County enrolled in that program are Spring Meadow Farms in Upperco and Poor Boys on Old Harford Road. The state Web site, www.trees.maryland.gov, has a coupon and lists recommended trees and participating nurseries throughout the state.

-- Pat van den Beemt

Historical society to host police presentation April 15

The Northern Baltimore County Historical Society will host its next meeting on April 15, 7 p.m., at the Morris Meadows Museum, 1333 Morris Road, Freeland. There is no charge to attend and all are welcome.

At the meeting, an officer from Baltimore County Police will talk about crime rise in the northern part of the county.

For more information, call 410-329-6636.

Success of weight program prompts a few extra STEPS

A 12-week nutrition education and weight-loss class that began last month in Butler has been so popular that organizers have added three more sessions.

Wellness coaches Diane Jenkins and Cary Rutledge are offering STEPS (Shed Those Extra Pounds Sensibly) classes starting Saturday, April 18, at 4:30 p.m. at the Butler Volunteer fire hall.

Another session will be at Maryland Line United Methodist Church starting Tuesday, May 5, at 6:30 p.m., and Wednesday, May 6, 10:30 a.m. All are weekly sessions for 12 weeks.

Participants pay $39, a portion of which is donated to the fire department or church, and $25 of which will be given to those with the biggest percentage of weight loss at the end of 12 weeks. Each week features a weigh-in and a talk on nutritional topics.

The Butler Volunteer Fire Company is located at 15019 Falls Road, Butler. The Maryland Line United Methodist Church is at 21500 York Road, Maryland Line.

Call 410-472-2953 to register or for more information.

-- Pat van den Beemt

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