What to do with the remains of the Wye Oak?

Gov. Parris N. Glendening posed that question to state residents recently as he formed a task force to decide the fate of the remains of Maryland's oldest oak. The 460-year-old tree - which towered at 96 feet before a storm June 6 toppled it in Wye Mills- left enough wood behind to build an ark. And there has been no shortage of ideas about what should be done.

"I'm thinking a crab mallet would be something that everybody in Maryland could relate to," said Beverly S. Garner, 61, of Fallston.

The Eastern Shore tree, which had a circumference of nearly 32 feet, was the National Champion white oak, one of the most famous trees in the United States. The governor's task force will decide in mid-August what to do with the remains, said Charles F. Porcari, director of communications for the state Department of Natural Resources. For now, the wood rests in a Kent Island warehouse.

The governor's request for suggestions drew 430 responses, including 410 via e-mail.

"We've had suggestions ranging from creating picnic tables to benches, to wooden coins, crab mallets, toothpicks," Porcari said.

Steve Cullen, 51, of Silver Spring suggested that the wood be used to make golf tees. "They could be printed with a slogan, 'The Maryland Wye Oak,' and the date, 'June 6,'" said Cullen. "They can package 20 tees per bag. You're talking some serious golf tees, millions, but they would be sold as mementos, not usable tees."

T.J. Abe, 11, of Cumberland sent an e-mail to the Department of Natural Resources: "I think you should use part of it to make a solid oak desk for the Governor's mansion."

Joe Bures, 51, of Rosedale suggested that the state "take all of the branches, broken limbs, leaves, and split up pieces of wood and grind them all up in a chipper. Then take each piece that has been ground and place them in a plastic little bag, add a picture and history of the tree and send it to each and every person who has paid state taxes."

Julia C. Dumps, 43, of Overlea wrote: "My suggestion would be to process some of the wood into paper for the purpose of printing school textbooks that are greatly needed in our city and county public schools throughout the State of Maryland."

Emily Burns, 10, of Phoenix said the remains should be used to honor victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"I am 10 years old and know how hard the September 11th attacks were on kids," wrote Emily. "I am still very sad and think of how sad everyone must feel to know that your loved one died of stupidity from another person. I think you should somehow make a memorial out of the tree for all of the hard work and dedication the heroes of 9/11 did for our country. All of the strength in that tree was from the heroes of 9/11."

Whatever becomes of the remains, Emily said, she had one request: Don't turn the wood into paper.

"There's no paper shortage," she said. "If we keep making paper, there is going to be a tree shortage, which is a lot worse than a paper shortage. I don't like the idea of trees being made into paper."

Suggestions can be sent by e-mail to wyeoakideas@dnr. state. md.us.