Beloved live oak tree is reborn
Posted On: May 28, 2020
The diseased live oak tree that was removed from the grounds of the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center in DeLand has been reborn – as a bench.
The tree, which provided shade at the administration center for 30 years, had been in decline due to a fungal disease. Because efforts to save the tree were unsuccessful, the tree was removed last year and replaced with another live oak tree measuring about 30 feet tall.
Using an abundance of creativity and resourcefulness, Volusia County Tradesworker Ben Muni crafted part of the old tree’s trunk into a rustic bench so employees and residents can enjoy the shade of the replacement tree. Muni, who has worked for the county since 1996, worked on the bench part time for a month using a mix of power and hand tools. He’s a seasoned carpenter with nearly 30 years of experience.
The Volusia County Council and staff will unveil the work of art at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 3, outside the Thomas C. Kelley Administration Center, 123 W. Indiana Ave. DeLand.
