OFFICE OF CULTURAL AND HERITAGE AFFAIRS

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Atlantic County Commemorates Arbor Day on April 24 with Dedication of Tree to Honor Gary Giberson

Atlantic County will hold its traditional Arbor Day commemoration on Friday, April 24 at 11 AM at the Atlantic County Library/Galloway, 306 E. Jimmie Leeds Road. The program will include the dedication of an Eastern Red Bud tree to honor Gary B. Giberson, a lifelong resident of Port Republic and its mayor for the past 23 years.

Proclaimed as a holiday in 1874, Arbor Day is celebrated annually in communities throughout the world by encouraging tree planting and tree care. In Atlantic County, Arbor Day provides an opportunity to recognize county residents for their exemplary community service with the planting and dedication of a tree.

"Mayor Gary, as he is affectionately known, is the senior mayor in Atlantic County, and certainly one of the most colorful," stated County Executive Dennis Levinson. "He is a dedicated public servant, accomplished artist and craftsman, former volunteer fireman and little league coach, avid fisherman and duck hunter, and Revoluntionary War reenactment leader. And that only covers a portion of his talents.”

Giberson lives in Port Republic on land that has belonged to his family since the 1600s. At age 17 he joined the Port Republic Volunteer Fire Company. At age 18 he became the youngest Civil Defense Director in New Jersey. A year later he became a scout master and continued in that role for 34 years. He was employed by Atlantic City Electric from 1956-1968, eventually leaving to become a full time artist. In 1982 he successfully ran for Port Republic city council and in 1985 he was first elected mayor. In 1991 he served as president of the Atlantic County Mayors Association and in 2000 he was chosen "Mayor of the Year" by the New Jersey Conference of Mayors, the organization that would later name him to its board of directors in 2005.

In between he coached baseball, started the Swan Bay Militia Revoluntionary War reenactment group for boys 10-16 years old, served on the Atlantic County Solid Waste Advisory Council and the Cultural and Heritage Advisory Board, championed legislation to prevent the taking of baby eels from local estuary waters, was recognized as the NJ Outstanding Citizen of the Year by the Sons of the American Revolution and further contributed to his community as a member of the Noyes Museum, the Tuckerton Seaport and the Port Republic Historical Society.

"Mayor Gary has certainly left an indelible mark on Atlantic County, and we are all the better for it," added Levinson.

"I encourage our residents to join in celebrating Arbor Day and recognizing this tireless community advocate. Residents can also honor our commitment to a greener Atlantic County with the planting of their own trees to help beautify our neighborhoods, keep the air clean and provide a renewable resource."