SWARM seeking Mighty Heroes
The bur oak is a species native to Tuscarawas County.
After a tough year, Sustainable Wildlife Area Restoration Movement would like to thank the people who helped them through.
SWARM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on restoring native pollinator habitat in Tuscarawas County by re-establishing native habitats, raising awareness and providing education on pollinator conservation.
“This is our humble attempt to thank frontline workers, hospital staff, healthcare professionals, EMS, fire, police, maintenance staff thereof, school faculty and staff, grocery store workers, community groups, volunteers and so many others who make our community strong and allow us to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic,” Rome Marinelli of SWARM said.
Those recognized will be given a bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) sapling.
“Honestly, our thank-you gift doesn’t even begin to capture the gratitude we have for all these individuals, but it’s something and the least we can do,” Marinelli said.
The community is invited to nominate local heroes for recognition.
“There should be no wrong answers for someone who wants to nominate an individual,” Marinelli said. “We want to acknowledge all who have helped throughout this pandemic, from the person assisting their neighbors to the hospital staff and everywhere in between. If someone has helped you or had an impact on you, we want to help thank them.”
Nominations can be made via email at SWARMtusc@gmail.com or by mail to P.O. Box 341, Dover, OH 44622. Be sure to provide a contact for the nominee if emailing or mailing.
Nominations also may be made on the SWARM Facebook page on the Nominate a Mighty Hero post. Tag your nominee under the original post, and SWARM will then reach out to them.
The bur oak is a species native to Tuscarawas County.
“Oaks are unbelievably important to our ecosystems. Also referred to as a keystone species, the oak supports 400-plus moth and butterfly species, provides food for birds and other wildlife, sequesters carbon, produces oxygen, and provides shelter for wildlife,” Marinelli said.
The saplings are limited and will be given on a first come, first serve basis. Nominees should be local as they will be responsible for pickup of the sapling; 100 saplings will be given away. They will be available around mid-April, and nominations should be made before that time.
Mighty Heroes are indispensable.
“Much like the keystone of an archway, if this individual is removed, the entire structure collapses,” Marinelli said. “Keystone species are a vastly integral part of a healthy and functioning ecosystem, much like how all our frontline workers are an integral part of our society.”
There are Mighty Heroes people come into contact with every day.
“From hospital and nursing home staff who face this virus head on and manage to suppress the community spread to our local health departments who help to keep everyone educated and working to vaccinate our community,” Marinelli said. “These specific organizations do much more than what I mentioned, of course, but these are the ways that have impacted me. By being vigilant, making sacrifices and working hard, they have helped to minimize the spread to our community. What’s good for my community is good for me.”
SWARM serves the Tuscarawas County area and has been in existence for four years.
“Our accomplishments include re-established native habitat in various areas throughout Tuscarawas County, connecting people to resources, providing education on native habitat and pollinator importance, and raising awareness of pollinator decline,” Marinelli said.
Like others, the organization did have to limit its activities during the pandemic. Unfortunately, the group was unable to have its annual Pollinator Palooza event in 2020, and it will not celebrate it in 2021. The event is held to educate and bring awareness of the importance of the plant-insect balance in the region and encourage growing native species to allow effective pollination.
“We were not able to do most of the things we wanted to do in 2020. We did, however, establish a native habitat and sensory garden for Tuscarawas Central Catholic Elementary School,” Marinelli said.
SWARM is hoping to complete the projects they have planned for 2021.
“As of now, we have scheduled to re-establish native habitat in two areas: Claymont High School, where an underutilized landscape bed will be turned into a research station, and the Panhandle Passage Park in Uhrichsville, where various pollinator habitat will be developed to beautify the area,” Marinelli said. “These two projects are only possible thanks to the support of the Zimmerman Foundation, who saw the value in these ideas and graciously funded our project proposal.”
The group has other projects it is putting the finishing touches on, along with a few COVID-friendly projects it will announce soon.
Anyone interested in supporting SWARM may send donations to the same address above. More information on SWARM can be found on its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SWARMtogether or at https://swarmtogether.org.