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CTPA Scholarship Applications Now Being Accepted for 2021

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Leeane Marvin is honored as one of the two recipients of the CTPA Arborist Scholarship for 2020.

 

CTPA is seeking applicants for the 2021 Arborist Scholarship.  This $2,000 scholarship is being offered to undergraduate students who are residents of Connecticut studying urban forestry or arboriculture.  Students do not need to be attending college in Connecticut.

The Association plans to offer two scholarships this year.  The due date for applications is December 7, 2020.  The name(s) of the 2021 award winner(s) will be announced at the 2021  Annual Meeting.

Please click on the button to print out the application forms

This is the 20th year in which CTPA has offered this scholarship, with 32 scholarships awarded since 2001.

If anyone has any questions, please contact the CTPA office (203-484-2512 or info@ctpa.org).

American Chestnut Foundation Looking for Help in Climbing Chestnuts

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The following was received from Jack Swatt, President of the CT Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation.  To reach Mr. Swatt, please call 203-592-4686 or email him at jswattchestnut@gmail.com.

From Mr. Swatt:

Our state chapter is currently looking for climbing arborists who would like to help us restore an iconic species which has become functionally extinct since a blight fungus was introduced over 100 years ago.  We are trying to breed a blight resistant American chestnut tree that we can hopefully use to repopulate the eastern forests someday. American chestnut trees growing healthy enough to flower and produce nuts are an uncommon occurrence and we are trying to conserve the genetic diversity of the species by planting nuts from these trees in Germplasm Conservation Orchards. Most surviving chestnut trees that we find are usually stunted and diseased from the blight, so the few that do flower and produce nuts are usually reachable with ladders. Occasionally, we do find some taller trees growing close to roads or trails that we can get a bucket truck close enough to harvest them.  The taller chestnut trees growing out in the forests away from trails are the real challenge for us.  Last year, one of the Eversource arborists that we were working with had mentioned seeing if some climbing arborists could help us with collecting burs from those trees, which led us to this request.

We have contacted some climbing arborists in the Northwest corner of the state who offered to help us with trees in that area.  We are hoping to reach out to climbing arborists in all areas of the state who could help us with trees that are located in their vicinity.  This year we were hoping to harvest burs from trees in Gillette’s Castle SP (East Haddam), Natchaug SF (Pomfret), town-owned conservation land in Plainfield, and on private property in Lebanon.  We are continually being notified about chestnut trees throughout the year and more trees may be added to this list at any time. I understand that you are probably very busy given the recent tropical storm that came through the state. If you would like to help us, please let me know.  We usually start harvesting burs in mid-September.  If you know of any other climbing arborists who might also like to get involved, please feel free to forward them my contact information.

FREE ZOOM Webinars by CTPA

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This year has been unique for everyone. All have been impacted by the virus in some way. We sincerely hope that you are doing well and that the pandemic has not touched you or your family personally. Meanwhile, on behalf of its members, CTPA continues to work to fulfill its educational mission. We know that the workshops we are offering are an incomplete substitute for the Summer Meeting. We firmly believe it is only right to provide these workshops free of charge as a way of thanking you for all your loyalty and support over the years. Of course, we will miss seeing everyone this summer gathered as in the past, at a lively and productive Summer Meeting. We look forward to when we will be able to see everyone again.
Sincerely,
Allan Fenner, President and
the CTPA Board of Directors

Registration for ZOOM Webinars:
• People will be able to view these webinars either live or recorded and receive ceu’s either way.
• All people who wish to participate in these educational sessions live must register in advance,
through ZOOM. The link to ZOOM is posted on the CTPA website (www.ctpa.org).
• Links to the recorded sessions will be posted following their live delivery.
• There are four sessions. Please be sure that you have registered for each session individually.
• Participants in the live sessions will have an opportunity to ask questions of the presenters.
• For those wishing to receive ceu’s, registration with CTPA in advance is important. For the live
version, this means registering through Zoom. For the recorded videos, this means sending an
email to CTPA stating that you wish to watch the videos. Please include your name, address and
license number. Email the request to cathy@ctpa.org. Without this pre-registration, we cannot
guarantee that you will be able to receive ceu’s.
• At the end of each session, whether live or recorded, you will be given the address of a web page.
This web address will take you to a quiz. Take note of this web address. You must complete
this quiz with a passing grade of 80% or greater in order to receive ceu credits. Once you pass
the quiz, the ceu sheet will be mailed to you. Keep this sheet for your records, to be turned in at
the time of your license renewal.
• Please visit the CTPA website (Events Calendar) for details regarding registering and gaining ceu’s.

August 13, 2020 12pm – 1pm     3(D) – 1 CEU, 3(A) – 1 CEU, Advanced Certified Tree Warden – 1 CEU
“CAES Updates”- Katherine Dugas and Yonghao Li, PhD. – The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven
Katherine Dugas and Yonghao Li will discuss the latest information concerning insects and diseases of trees.

Click here to Register in advance with ZOOM for this webinar:   https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7VMqLhYnQAeTeUl0cRYoFg

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August 20, 2020 12pm –  3(D) – 1 CEU, Advanced Certified Tree Warden – 1 CEU, TCIA CTSP – PENDING
“Forces at an Anchor When Climbing and Rigging.” – Brian Kane, PhD. – University of Massachusetts – Amherst
Have you ever wondered how much force is at the anchor point when you climb or rig? Does it matter whether you climb on
a stationary or moving rope? Or whether you use a canopy or basal anchor? Or if you use a block or friction rings? In this
webinar, we will present the results of some recent research that measured all of these scenarios.

Click here to Register for the ZOOM webinar in advance for this webinar:  https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_g2-vyJjNSKCEzXKVuO4aKA

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August 27, 2020 12pm-1pm 3(D) – 1 CEU, 3(A) – 1 CEU, Advanced Certified Tree Warden – 1 CEU
“Soil Diagnostics and Management Programs.” -Dr. Kelby Fite – Bartlett Tree Experts
The session will discuss the basics of soil diagnostics and how to interpret soil performance. Basic functions of the essential
nutrients will be highlighted and how their deficiencies impact plant performance.

Register in advance for this webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_idoQUkciTDuAXhsLgAAS-g

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September 3, 2020 12pm – 1pm 3(D) – 1 CEU, Advanced Certified Tree Warden – 1 CEU
“Beech Leaf Disease” – Robert E. Marra, PhD. – The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven
Dr. Robert Marra will discuss the signs and symptoms of Beech Leaf Disease, and current understanding about its development, spread, and management. He will also bring us up to date on oak wilt disease.

Register in advance for this webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wRQIue9AQ3qTJ7VlxhUmcQ

If you have any questions, please call the office at 203 484-2512.
For more information please go to CTPA website – www.CTPA.org

 

 

2020 Summer Meeting Cancelation

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Dear Valued Members, Allied Members and Any Person Interested in the Care of Connecticut’s Trees,

Due to the current situation regarding COVID and the restrictions set by the State of Connecticut, regretfully, the CTPA summer meeting will not be held this year.  In response to the need for continuing education credits, the CTPA is in the process of developing a series of virtual workshops aimed at keeping everyone up to date and current on the latest trends in our industry.  We will send out emails to let you know when they will be happening and how you can participate.  We thank you for your understanding and we will miss seeing you this July.    Stay safe.

Sincerely,

Allan Fenner, President and Board of Directors

Re-Open Connecticut Phase 2

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Governor Lamont’s administration has released documents detailing specific rules that eligible businesses falling under phase 2 of Connecticut’s reopening plans must follow amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The governor has stressed that the decision to reopen is entirely up to the indivudual business owner and they are not required to open, however if a business chooses to open, they must follow the  rules that are prescribed.

Businesses and nonprofits that are planning to reopen during Phase 2 on June 17th will need to visit Connecticut’s Self Certification Website to certify that they are complaint with the reopening rules for their sector.

CAES Adds New Station Scientist Working in Urban Forestry

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The CT Agricultural Experiment Station is pleased to announce that Dr. Susanna Keriö has joined the staff of the Department of Forestry and Horticulture at the Station.  Susanna comes to New Haven by way of postdoctoral work at Oregon State University and after completing her doctorate at the University of Helsinki.  Her Master’s and Bachelor’s degree are from the University of Helsinki as well.  She brings to CAES an expertise in tree resistance to fungal diseases and in the molecular and genetic factors associated with the interactions between trees and fungi.

Dr. Jeff Ward, Department Head and Chief Scientist within the Department, encourages CTPA membership to welcome Dr. Keriö as she adjusts to life in Connecticut.  Jeff also looks forward to the many contributions that she will make regarding the health of Connecticut’s trees.  Jeff describes how in her research at CAES, Susanna will be applying her detailed knowledge towards developing innovative management strategies that will reduce tree stress and support tree health.  Her research focus will be in urban environments.

To learn more about Dr. Keriö’s background, see attached.

Welcome, Susanna.

Update on Arboriculture 101 Registration

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In a normal year, about now, the CTPA would be opening registration for the Fall Session of Arboriculture 101.  The Spring Session would have been over since early April.  An opportunity for people in the class to take the written exam would be scheduled for mid-May.  We would be expecting several people from the class to be qualified in time to take the oral exam, to be given in early June.

Needless to say, this is not a normal year.

Right now, our plans for the Fall Session are up in the air.  We don’t know what to promise people.  The preferred scenario, that we fill our small classroom with 40 or so committed students and hold the classes as per usual, does not seem likely.  More likely options are to hold the class with a fewer number of people, perhaps in a larger space, or to hold the classes electronically.  While the second option, putting the classes on Zoom, might seem the most realistic, there are downsides.  We wonder about class quality and how much is missed without the classroom experience.  For instructors, it is much easier to give a 3-hour class with a live audience than it is to stay focused and engaged while staring at a computer screen.  The same is just as true for the students.

Fortunately, we do not have to make a decision right now.  In order to ease the minds of those people interested in enrolling in Arboriculture 101, we are now accepting registrations for the Fall Session. We do this with the clear caveat that we don’t know even if we will hold the Fall Session, much less what form they will take.  PLEASE NOTE – WE ARE ASKING PEOPLE NOT TO SEND MONEY WITH THE REGISTRATION FORM.  We are asking people not to send money for two reasons.  The first is the uncertainty about the class.  The second reason – in these difficult times, we don’t want people to feel pressured to set aside money they might have a need for right now.

All of this is spelled out on our On-Line Registration page.  We do encourage people to sign up.  Depending upon how many people sign-up, we will make every effort to include those people in the next class.

As for completing the Spring Class – since the lock-down occurred before the class finished, that too is on hold.  We are committed to completing those classes as soon as we can – students in that class are aware of our plans.

Currently, no written Arborist Exams are being given by DEEP.  That is a big factor in our planning.  The Tree Protection Examining Board is planning to hold the June tree ID and oral exams as scheduled, but with social distancing measures in place.  Only people who had qualified by early March, the time the last written exams were given, will be eligible to take the June TPX exams.

This will be over at some point.  When it is, we will have a lot of catching up to do.  We mean that in several different ways.

Everyone, be safe and be careful.

Celebrate Arbor Day 2020!

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Just because we cannot celebrate Arbor Day as we would normally does not mean that we cannot celebrate Arbor Day!  And, with the weather not cooperating – there is all the more reason why an on-line Arbor Day might be just the thing.

So – how can you celebrate Arbor Day 2020?

The CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has some suggestions.  Visit their Arbor Day 2020 page to learn more – including on how you can contribute to an Arbor Day celebration on Facebook and Instagram.

The City of Hartford also has a suggestion.  The City’s internationally-recognized Forester, Heather Dionne, talks about why urban trees matter, our changing climate zones, and how the City is taking steps to protect its magnificent canopy now and in the future despite dramatically changing weather and invasive pests.  You are invited to hear Heather’s talk on Protecting Hartford’s 560,000 Trees in the premier showing of her video on Arbor Day.  The video will go live at 11:30, at: www.facebook.com/CapitalForestCT

Another exciting program, especially for folks with school-age kids at home, is Connecticut’s Tree School.  This series of activities, organized by the CT Forest and Park Association, offers great ideas for young people and families, to help people young and old learn about trees.  The free, tree-related activities of the Tree School will continue throughout the spring.

And, of course, there are the suggestions put forward by the Arbor Day Foundation itself.

These are just a few of the many alternatives out there – I am sure many of Connecticut’s tree care companies have organized of their own that will be fun, engaging, spirited and educational.

Here’s to the day we celebrate trees and all that trees do for us.

Arbor Day – what a concept!

Enjoy!  Celebrate!

Safe Workplaces in Essential Businesses

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On Tuesday, April 7th, Governor Lamont issued his 22nd Executive Order connected to the coronavirus outbreak and COVID-19.  In that Executive Order, the Governor mandated a set of workplace rules, also published on April 7th, for all essential businesses to follow.  This is the Set of Workplace Rules, posted on the Department of Economic and Community Development website.

The DECD website is also the place to go for information on the CARES Act, Coronavirus Business Recovery, SBA (Small Business Administration) Paycheck Protection Program and more.

The exact text of relevant portion of Executive Order 7V is:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, NED LAMONT, Governor of the State of Connecticut, by virtue of the
authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the State of Connecticut, do hereby
ORDER AND DIRECT:

1. Safe Workplaces in Essential Businesses. Every workplace in the State of
Connecticut shall take additional protective measures to reduce the risk of transmission
of COVID-19 between and among employees, customers, and other persons such as
delivery drivers, maintenance people or others who may enter the workplace. The
Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, in consultation with the
Commissioner of Public Health, shall issue legally binding statewide rules prescribing
such additional protective measures no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 7, 2020. Such rules
shall be mandatory throughout the state, for essential businesses and nonprofits and any
other business or nonprofit permitted to operate, and shall supersede and preempt any
current or future municipal order. Nothing in such rules or this order shall supersede
Executive Order No. 7S, Section 1, or the “Safe Stores” rules promulgated thereunder.

In more cheering news, one of CTPA’s members, Kyle DeLucia, founder and CEO of K&J Tree Service, made the cover of the Hartford Courant today for K&J’s efforts to support and rally the hospital workers at Yale-New Haven Hospital.  “I thought over the weekend about what I could do to help. I know they need people to donate masks, but I don’t have masks — so my niece helped me make a sign” Kyle is quoted in the story.

See the full story, including the oversize flag.  Nice going.

COVID-19 Update – Helpful Links

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The CTPA wishes to share with its members these links to resources related to the corona virus and how the COVID-19 situation relates to tree care in Connecticut.

In a previous post, we discussed Governor Lamont’s recent Executive Order on Essential Businesses.  Specific guidance as to what constitutes an essential business can be expected on a State of Connecticut web page specifically addressing “the suspension of non-essential in-person business operations”.   That guidance should be posted by 8 pm on Sunday, March 22.  The Governor has directed the Department of Economic and Community Development  (DECD) to do so.  Any concerns regarding the guidance issued should be directed to the DECD.

Additional information regarding the corona virus and COVID-19 has been posted on the State’s COVID-19 web page.

Connecticut is not the only state seeking to use such serious measures to deal with the corona virus.  The question as to what constitutes essential services is not limited to this state.  For that reason, the Tree Care Industry Association and the International Society of Arboriculture have written a joint TCIA / ISA position statement on essential services.  This position  statement may be useful to Connecticut’s arborists and tree care workers.  However, the statement itself may or may not have any influence over DECD as it considers whether tree care is an essential service.

The TCIA also has an excellent web page on the corona virus and COVID-19 entitled, “What Should Tree Care Businesses Know about the Corona Virus (COVID-19) Outbreak?”  Included on this jam-packed page are model policies and sample messages regarding COVID-19 that can be used in communication with your clients and with your employees.

CTPA members who have questions or comments should feel free to contact the CTPA office at info@ctpa.org.  They may also contact CTPA President Allan Fenner at afenner@savatree.com.

Stay safe, be healthy and keep a watch out for each other.

Contact CTPA

MAILING ADDRESS:
P.O. Box 1946,
Wallingford CT 06492

PHYSICAL ADDRESS:
60 Church Street (Rte 68), Suite 3A,
Wallingford , CT 06492

PHONE: 203-484-2512
EMAIL: info@ctpa.org

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