CTPA (Connecticut Tree Protective Association)

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2022 Electrical Hazards Awareness Program Workshop

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The Connecticut Tree Protective Association presents an Electrical Hazards Awareness Program Workshop
Thursday, November 3, 2022
at the Eversource – Berlin Campus
107 Selden Street, Berlin, CT
Cost – CTPA Membership $85.00, Non-Members $100.00.   Price includes lunch.

CEU’s will be available for State of CT 3D (Arborist License)/6.25 CEU’s, 6 (Rights-of-Way)/ 6.25 CEU’s, ISA/5.5 CEU’s, TCIA CTSP/ 7.0 CEU’s and Forest Practitioner / 2.0 CEU’s.

(Please note: This workshop is no longer associated with the TCIA EHAP course. If you need to be certified by TCIA, please take their course online at the TCIA website.)

This workshop will focus on the hazards all tree care workers face when they work around energized electrical conductors. This awareness is an essential part of basic tree care safety. It is recommended that all people who work in tree care take an EHAP course. This one-day workshop will be led by Emmett Shutts, Cheshire, CT. Emmett is a licensed CT arborist and Supervisor of Arborist Skills Trainer with The Davey Tree Expert Company. A tabletop live wire demonstration will be given by Doug Pistawka with Eversource.
During the seminar Doug and Emmett will share information about the electrical distribution system and the hazards associated with working near electrical conductors. Safety standards and best
practices for working near electrical conductors will be discussed.
Line Clearance Qualification for employees can only be certified by the employer however this educational seminar can be part of the training. Mr. Shutts will discuss how employers can implement this training and document certification. CTPA will not be providing this additional training or testing.
CTPA encourages all companies engaged in tree care to have an EHAP program in place for all of their employees.

Cost for this workshop is $85 members and $100 non-members. This price includes lunch, and full day of instruction. Ensure your reservation by Oct. 24th.

OR

If you are requiring certification from TCIA, you will need to take the EHAP course online. This course put on by CTPA, is designed to give education on Electrical Hazards but is not associated with the TCIA certification process.

Please go to the CTPA website – www.ctpa.org to register for the workshop.
Checks are accepted and can be mailed to: CTPA, PO Box 1946, Wallingford, CT 06492
If you have questions, please call Cathy at 203 484-2512
The CTPA would like to thank Eversource for the generous use of their facility and for their support of this program.

The CT Tree Protective Association Makes it to 100!

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One hundred years ago today – on August 16th, 1922 – 32 individuals gathered at Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison in order to initiate the Connecticut Tree Protective Association.  These individuals, under the leadership of Cornelius A. Millane and Francis A. Bartlett and with the strong support of Walter O. Filley and W. F. Britton of the CT Agricultural Experiment Station, took the steps necessary to build a strong foundation for a tree care educational association that remains solid in numbers and accomplishments to this day.

It is intriguing to look back and think about how aware those early arborists were likely to have been as to where their efforts would lead.  It is also powerful to be a part of CTPA and to connect to all of the tradition, effort, progress and vision that continue to be a defining feature of the organization.

100 years – it is quite an accomplishment.  If anyone is interested in exploring this history, the CTPA Timeline has been posted.  Today is a good day to climb a tree or to give one a hug.  Or, just to take a close look at a tree – its crown, its roots, its bark, leaves and trunk – and appreciate how amazing these wonders of nature are.  After all, it was what CTPA members have been doing for a whole century now.

Happy CTPA Centennial!

 

CTPA’s 2022 Arborist Scholarship Recipient Featured in an article in UConn Today

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Alyssa Cleland, who recently completed her first year of study at UConn in the Ratcliffe Hicks Urban Forestry and Arboriculture Program, was highlighted in an article in UConn Today, a newsletter for the UConn community.  Ms. Cleland was also the 2022 recipient of CTPA’s Arborist Scholarship.

The article describes Alyssa experiences working this summer as an intern with Davey Tree Experts, an experience she appears to be truly enjoying.  Alyssa also attended this year’s Summer Meeting as CTPA’s guest and so that she could be honored as this year’s Scholarship recipient.

To read the UConn article, visit UConn Today.

Alyssa Cleland is honored as CTPA's Arborist Scholarship recipient

CTPA President Pat Flynn and Arborist Scholarship recipient Alyssa Cleland at the 2022 Summer Meeting

Beech Leaf Disease at the CTPA Summer Meeting

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This past week’s Summer Meeting was a great success from many vantage points. The number of attendees was excellent, the participation of the exhibitors was great and the educational programs were all outstanding. Even the weather was not that bad.  Well, maybe last point that is subject to debate, but the food made up for it.  Everyone left the meeting feeling it was a day well worthwhile.

One educational topic that received a lot of attention was that of beech leaf disease.  CTPA’s meeting organizers invited Dr. Matt Borden from the Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories in North Carolina to provide an update on this new disease that has become one of this summer’s most vexing problems.  Matt’s message was mixed – there is a lot of very good research being done but, so far, no clear answers have arisen.  He provided some very useful background regarding the work that is happening within the Bartlett organization as well as at other research institutions, including at the CT Agricultural Experiment Station and within New York State.

A major question on everyone’s mind was – “what do I tell my clients?”  Dr. Borden suggested using as a guidee a letter written by Margery Daughtrey, Senior Extension Associate at Cornell University’s Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center.  This document provides a good summary of the research that is currently happening and does so in a way that is reassuring for property owners and for arborists.  Dr. Borden also cited the work being done  at the CT Agricultural Experiment Station by Dr. Bob Marra and others.

Dr. Borden has said that his lab will keep arborists in Connecticut informed with respect to their research findings on BLD, including any news that result from potentially promising work being done in Cleveland, OH.  CTPA will also do its best to keep members informed regarding advances in dealing with very damaging tree disease.

Dr. Borden addresses arborists at the CTPA Summer Meeting

Dr. Matt Borden provides a research update on beech leaf disease at the CTPA Summer Meeting

The History of Arboriculture by Oscar Stone

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In honor of CTPA’s 100th Anniversary and just before our Centennial Year Summer Meeting, it is appropriate to publish The History of Arboriculture as written by Oscar Stone.  This is a short article that was originally written by Oscar for inclusion in the New Chapter of ISA’s newsletter.  The date on the article is November 1997.

For those who did not have the good fortune of knowing Oscar, he was one of CTPA’s most active and influential members for a good 4 decades at least – a period of time that ran from the 1960’s right up until the time of his passing, in July 2007 at the age of 94.  He was Secretary for CTPA for many of those years, as well as an instructor in arboriculture who helped many, many arborists in Connecticut their license, and a well-known arborist in his own right

The linked article is a direct scan of the original article as printed out on Oscar’s dot-matrix printer.  In this article, he provides a good summary of where arboriculture and CTPA came from.  Enjoy!

Oscar on a tree walk

Oscar Stone leads a tree walk for the members of the Fall 2004 Arboriculture 101 class.

The Summer Meeting is July 21st!

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The Summer Meeting is Thursday, July 21st at the Farmington Club in Farmington.  This will be an in-person event.

We have a great lineup of topics and speakers as well as opportunity to earn CEU’s.  CT Arborist (3D) 5.0 CEU’s, CT Forest Practitioner – 2.0 CEU’s, Advanced Certified Tree Wardens’ -5.0 CEU’s, ISA – Pending and TCIA CTSP – Hazard Tree Talk/1.25 CEU’s, Line Clearance (IN SPANISH)/1.50 CEU’s.

8:30 am – Registration
9:00 – 10:15 am, repeated at 1:00 – 2:15pm (choose one in each time slot)
Beech Leaf Disease (BLD) and Boxwood Blight. by Matthew Borden, Ph.D., Plant Pathologist,
Bartlett Tree Research Lab, Simsbury, CT – This presentation focuses on Beech Leaf Disease and
Boxwood Blight. Dr. Borden will touch on the cause and control along with current research and management
recommendations.
Hazard Tree Assessment and Risk Mitigation for Field Employees, Emmett Shutts, Davey Tree
Experts and Casey Tresp, Bartlett Tree Experts – When working on or near trees that present a high risk
of failure, field employees need to make informed decisions whether it is safe to proceed with the work. Casey
and Emmett will give guidance on how to make these decisions and on critical techniques to make work safer.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
10:30 – 11:45 am, repeated at 2:30 – 3:45pm (choose one in each time slot)
What is Currently Harming Our Trees? by Rich Cartier, Rainbow Treecare Scientific
Advancements, Minnetonka, MN – Today’s talk will cover the most common issues on landscape trees in
2022 as well as newly emerging pests to be aware of. It will cover various control options for these issues as
well as what results to expect.
Milling Wood from Backyard Trees, by Tom Worthley, Associate Extension Professor UCONN,
Storrs, CT – Tom will present basic log making and lumber making, log and lumber grading, sawing
techniques and lumber drying considerations. He will cover basic, portable sawmill design and operating
procedures as well as provide information about marketing, products, and the relative value of different species
of wood.
_________________________________________________________________________________
**NEW** 10:00 am – 11:15am Safety Talk presented in SPANISH for all attendees.
(Session NOT repeated)
The Incidental Line Clearance and Qualified Line Clearance Arborist – What is the difference?
Regulations and standards for tree operations in the vicinity of electric conductors have changed. Work Rules
and minimum approach distances vary based on experience and training of the tree worker as well as other
factors. This session will cover the key differences and what standards apply to you.
3:45 pm – Adjourn – CEU Certifications Available – **During the course of the day, there is only a
potential to attend 4 talks. Therefore, the number of CEU’s will not exceed 4 talks.

 

                 

 

CTPA’s Summer Meeting often comes across as part company picnic, part outdoor trade fair, part summer party and, keeping everyone focused, a strong set of educational offerings. Held on the third Thursday in July, the CTPA will often draw over 700 people to this one-day event.

What attendees almost always comment on first is the food – how much there is and how good it all is. Hosted by the Polo Club in Farmington, the event is known, for among other offerings, the chili and clam chowder served starting at 9 in the morning!
More than the food, though, the trade show draws a huge crowd, as the extensive grounds allow vendors to display such large items as aerial lifts, tree spades and large chippers. Many exhibitors also bring a van that they can set up as a mobile store, helping busy tree care workers replenish their supplies mid-season.

It’s not all commercial vendors, as, for instance, one mainstay of the event is the CT Agricultural Experiment Station, which sends several of its staff to help provide updates to attendees regarding the insects, diseases and conditions prevalent during that year’s growing season. Other exhibitors include representatives of various state and federal agencies, other non-profit agencies and Stockbridge School.

The educational portion of the event is also not to be overlooked. Important talks on major issues, such as chipper safety, updates on various insect pests, the nature and properties of ropes and more, have all been presented at CTPA’s Summer Meeting.

 

 

2022 CTCC Master’s Challenge

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2022 CTCC Master’s Challenge

Master’s Challenge Video

On Saturday, May 14th, after the Preliminary Events in the CT Tree Climbing Competition, the Master’s Challenge was held in order to determine the top Connecticut Tree Climber.  In order to participate in the CTCC Master’s Challenge, the climber must be a resident of Connecticut.  Competitors in the Challenge are selected in terms of order of finish, up until there are three competitors.  If a higher placed competitor chooses not to stay for the Challenge, the next highest finisher is moved up to fill the vacant space.

The three competitors in the 2022 Master’s Challenge were:

Tim Reynolds
Kyle Donaldson
Jake Slade

In the Master’s Challenge, three work stations are placed in a large tree, and climbers move through the tree completing assigned tasks. The competitors are scored on the basis of skill as well as speed as they complete the tasks during the Master’s Challenge.  Each competitor has 20 minutes in which to complete his climb (no women climbers competed in 2022).  The competitor’s climb is not considered as completed until all gear, including all ropes, have been removed from the tree.

This year, the Master’s Challenge was held in a large red oak.  The climb was made interesting as, following a day of very cool and pleasant weather, in the late afternoon the sky become increasingly darker, the wind picked up and the air got cool.  It was not until the last competitor, Jake Slade, was ready to climb that the rain actually started to fall.  The judges, after conferring, decided that, until there was concern about lightning in the area, the competition would continue until its conclusion, with Jake climbing in the rain.

The order of finish in the Master’s Challenge for 2022, with each climber score, is as follows:

Jake Slade – 254.00 points

Tim Reynolds – 241.00 points

Kyle Donaldson – 210.33 points

With that result, Jake Slade was declared the 2022 Connecticut Tree Climbing Competition Champion.

Event Chair Bud Neal presents Jake Slade with the Connecticut Tree Climber’s Championship Cup from 2022.

 

 

CT Tree Climbing Competition – Preliminary Events Summary

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Slide Shows from the 2022 Connnecticut Tree Climbing Competition Preliminary Events

Slide Show 1

Slide Show 1a

Slide Show 2

Slide Show 3

Slide Show 4

Slide Show 5

Group Shot of participants.  Competitors are wearing yellow shirts.  Volunteers are wearing blue shirts.

On Saturday, May 14th, the CT Tree Protective Association held its annual Connecticut Tree Climbing Competition in Boothe Memorial Park in Stratford.  The weather for most of the day was overcast and cool, perfect weather for climbers, at least until the end of the day, during the Master’s Competition.  But, that is getting ahead of the story.

For the event, there were 21 competitors this year.  This all, everyone in the competition was male, as no women signed up to climb.  Boothe Memorial Park provided an excellent venue for the event – great trees, well-spaced with open crowns that allowed for excellent viewing for the spectators.  The organizers of the event as well as the volunteers who helped run the competition all did a fantastic job of bring the CTCC back to life.

This was the 16th time that the CTCC has been held, although CTPA is calling it the 18th Annual Competition, to include the 2 year pause for COVID.  The enthusiasm among the climbers and volunteers was obvious.  Of particular note were the many past climbers who returned this year as volunteers, helping to maintain the safety lines that are needed in several of the competitions, time events and serve as judges.  The events all ran smoothly, with all of the skill, camaraderie and spirit that has characterized all previous CTCC’s back on display in 2022.

The results of the competition are listed below, along with a partial list of the volunteers and of the Gold, Silver and Bronze level Sponsors.  The results of the Master’s Competition will be included in a separate post.

Preliminary Round – Points per Event

Ranking Competitor Aerial Rescue Speed Climb Ascent Event Throw Line Work Climb Score Total: Preliminary Round
1 Derrick Martin 42 11.31 22 17 65.67 157.98
2 Kyle Donaldson 37.5 13.7 16.12 22 62.25 151.57
3 Kyle McCabe 47.5 15 13.03 20 53.97 149.50
4 Ryan Torcucollo 46 11.92 16.05 6 65.17 145.14
5 Tim Reynolds 38.5 12.13 20.4 12 60.19 143.22
6 Jake Slade 33.5 12.16 15.88 10 59.16 130.70
7 Sam Schunk 25.5 12.51 17.70 14 55.56 125.24
8 Brandon Dobnick 18.5 7.03 19.1 3 66.83 114.45
9 Daniel Severino 29 6.55 3 2 50.79 91.34
10 Brian Carpenter 20 5.91 3.36 10 45.35 84.62
11 Sebbastian Slizowski 20 7.35 3 4 46.65 81.00
12 Arthur Shaw 13 0 14.65 3 45.43 76.08
13 Patrick Richardson 14.5 4.1 2 8 36.48 65.08
14 Brendan Dodd 10.5 3.80 4.38 14 22.33 55.02
15 Jesse Reynolds 10.5 8.46 1 8 13 40.96
16 Joe Dubray 7.5 1.03 0 10 16 34.53
17 Jacob Hochman 7.5 9.73 2 5 8.33 32.56
18 Valentin Brito 8 4.11 0 0 20 32.11
19 Andrew Avalone 11.5 8.04 0 1 9 29.54
20 Patrick Koulick 6 0 0 6 10.33 22.33
21 Dave Meszaros 8 0 1 3 9.33 21.33

Sponsors:

Gold Level Sponsors

Almstead Tree & Shrub Care Co; Stamford, CT
Arbor Services of CT, Inc.
Bartlett Tree Experts; Southampton, NY
Davey / The Care of Trees; Hamden, CT
Emerald Tree and Shrub Care; West Harrison, NY
ESSCO Distributors of CT; Milford, CT
Ferguson & McGuire; Wallingford, CT
Grimshaw Tree Service, Windsor, CT
RBI / Shelter Tree; North Attleboro, MA
SavATree; Bedford Hills, NY
Southbury Tree Service; Southbury, CT
Stihl; Shelton, CT

Silver Level Sponsors

Blueprint Benefit Advisors; Branford, CT
Emmons Tree & Landscaping Services, New Milford, CT
Rayzor’s Edge Tree Service; Stratford, CT
Survival Group; North Haven, CT

Bronze Level Sponsor

Marc Warren; Colchester, CT

Volunteers:

Ricardo Ac
Eric Barber
Laura Barnard
Cassandra Bryant
Chris Donnelly
Bruce Duffy
Cathy Dvorsky
Shawn Emmons
Brian Fain
Allan Fenner
Christopher Happ
Charlie Iselin
Leo Kelly
Kelly Kerrigan
Al Krivickas
Malcolm Littlefield
Greg Lukos
Bret MacKay
Steven Martinez
Bud Neal
David Neal
Russell Plumb
Matt Reynolds
Leo Roland
Dave Ross
Claire Rutledge
Tony Sabas
Alexander Seriakov
Emmett Shutts
Casey Tresp
Elias Vincente
Dan Weise
Doug Williams

Thanks to Rayzors Edge, Arbor Green Tree Services and the Town of Stratford, who donated the equipment needed to make the day work as well as it did.

Special thanks goes to the Kelly Kerrigan, Amy Knorr and others from the Town of Stratford, who were invaluable in helping to make the Park ready and who turned out to see what a success it turned out to be!

The CT Tree Climbing Competition will be held this Weekend – May 14th

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Connecticut Tree Climbing Competition – May 14, 2022
Press Release

On May 14, 2022, the Connecticut Tree Protective Association will hold the 16th annual Connecticut Tree Climbing Championship.  This competition will take place in Boothe Memorial Park in Stratford.  The competition will run all day, from 8 in the morning until mid-afternoon.  The public is invited to attend at no charge.

21 competitors will compete in this year’s competition.  The climbers will show their skills in 5 preliminary events, with the 3 top climbers invited to face off in a Master’s Challenge.  Normally, the competition includes male and female divisions.  However, this year no women signed up for the competition.

All of the competitors are drawn from the ranks of those involved in professional tree care.  Most are from Connecticut, although competitors are also from other New England states, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.  As the competitors demonstrate their skill, insight, knowledge of technique and athletic ability through their tree climbing. they will also be showing an absolute commitment to safety and concern for the well-being of the tree.

The five preliminary events are the:

  • Ascent Event – A timed climb up a climbing line to a specified height (from 40’ to 80’).
  • Throwline Accuracy – A timed event in which the competitor sets 2 different lines in specified parts of the crown of a tree.
  • Belayed Speed Climb – A timed ‘free-climb’ (climber is belayed) 40’ to 60’ up a selected tree.
  • Work Climb – Five work stations are set within a given tree and competitors move through the tree completing assigned tasks.
  • Aerial Rescue – Climbers are timed as they ‘rescue’ a dummy set in a tree.

In the Master’s Challenge three work stations are placed in a large tree, and climbers move through the tree completing assigned tasks.  The climbers are both timed and scored, in that only those tasks completed within a specified time are counted and points are added or deducted based on the skill and commitment to safety demonstrated by the climber.

The Connecticut Tree Protective Association is an educational non-profit dedicated to advancing the care of trees in the state.  This is CTPA’s centennial year, as it was founded in 1922, following the passage of the original Arborist Licensing Law.  Currently, the Association has over 800 members, with approximately 600 of those members being licensed arborists.

Further details regarding the competition are available through the CTPA office, at 203-484-2512, or by contacting Cathy Dvorsky, Executive Secretary, at cathy@ctpa.org.

Interested attendees are also invited to visit the CTPA website at https://ctpa.org.

The CT Urban Forest Council seeks Volunteers to Assist with its Urban Forestry Efforts

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The Connecticut Urban Forest Council recently sent around the following announcement, as it seeks individuals interested in assisting the Council in its efforts on behalf of CT’s urban forest.  It is holding an open house for individuals who might be interested next Thursday, May 19th.  Those interested should contact Hartford City Forester Heather Dionne:


Wanted: Tree Enthusiasts

The Connecticut Urban Forest Council is seeking volunteers who wish to join the Council.  We need qualified individuals to take on a range of very interesting and much-needed assignments.  CUFC, which has been in existence for 30 years, has a major role to play with regards to trees and tree policy in Connecticut.  It is called upon to provide advice and recommendations regarding the State’s urban forestry efforts to the CT State Forester in DEEP and to the Connecticut Legislature.  It also serves as a bridge for urban forestry efforts throughout the state, in that it provides a forum for the discussion of a wide variety of urban tree related issues.  It the host of a successful and long-running fall conference.  Most recently, has become engaged in the administration of two very active urban forestry grant programs.

This is just a part of what the Council does.  On the Council, you will work with representatives from state and local government, non-profit organizations, consultant urban foresters, landscape architects and others.  While there is no monetary compensation for being on the Council, you can expect to find opportunities for meaningful role involvement with urban forestry policy within the state.  The anticipated commitment is perhaps 4 to 8 hours a month on average and varies depending upon availability, opportunity and role within the Council.

We are especially in need of young people with the sort of fresh energy, ideas and enthusiasm that will carry the Council forward and build on its past successes.  We also seek people with specific skills, to take on the role of being the Council webmaster, secretary and serve on the grants and conference committees.

If you are interested, we are holding an open house on May 19th at 3 o’clock.

Our May 19th meeting will be a social hour / business meeting, during which we will establish our plans for the upcoming year.  If you are interested, this will be a great opportunity to meet current Council members and gain an understanding of the work the Council does.

The May 19th Meeting will by held at the Thomas Hooker Brewery at Colt, located at
140 Huyshope Avenue, Hartford CT, 06106.  This Meeting will run from 3 – 6 p.m.

If you are interested in attending, please contact:

Heather Dionne, Council Chair and Hartford City Forester
heather.dionne@hartfordct.gov

The Council website address is: https://cturbanforestcouncil.org/

 

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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