Berch Carpenter, recently retiring member of the Bluffton Tree Commission, was recognized at the Dec. 11 Bluffton council meeting.

Mayor Judy Augsburger presented Carpenter with a plaque reading: "In grateful appreciation of your 10-plus years of service and dedication to the Bluffton Community Village Tree Commmission."

The mayor said that Nancy Benroth was recently appointed as Carpenter's replacement.

The tree commission is a volunteer group in the community that receives funding from the village. Its members are Joanne Antibus, chair, Jon Sommer, Becky Ramey and Jonathan Andreas, with Nancy Benroth coming aboard.