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Asbury Woods Welcomes Two New Board Members

Asbury Woods welcomes Jane Thornton and Tom Erdman to the Board of Directors.

jane

Jane Thornton

Jane Thornton joined the Asbury Woods board of directors in August 2020. Time in nature and outdoor recreation have been part of Jane’s life for as long as she can remember. She was introduced to sports and the outdoors as a child and it has become a lifelong passion for the health benefits but also for the simple joy of being in nature. Jane is an avid hiker, cyclist, mountain biker, cross country skier and snowshoer. Jane remarks, “Asbury Woods has been important to me for many years. It brings nature and peace to so many people throughout Erie County and I’ve had the delight of introducing many friends to the Woods and trails over the years. I’m thrilled to be on the Board to continue to spread the word about Asbury Woods so more people learn the joy of being outside with nature.”

tom

Tom Erdman

Tom Erdman was elected to the board of directors in July 2020. Tom is retired from the PA Bureau of Forestry where he spent his career working with landowners in Erie County to develop their personal land management and forest management plans. Tom traces his interest in forestry to his childhood growing up at West 22nd and Greendgarden Streets. “At the time, there were less than 10 houses all the way to Pittsburgh Avenue. The rest was reverting to farmland and young forests. The streets were roughed in, but there were no houses. For a child, it felt like the “wilderness” and it influenced my decisions to protect natural places. It’s so important to maintain green areas because as time goes on, they tend to disappear.” Tom’s outdoor hobbies include hunting, fishing, canoeing, biking, planting trees, and observing nature, especially in forests. Tom remarked, “I am excited to join the Asbury Woods board because it gives me the opportunity to pass on some of what I’ve learned over the years, and also to continue learning myself.”