Dr. Claire Rutledge is looking for birch infested with bronze birch borer for research.
She needs infested trees with living beetles, and, due to federal laws, needs for those trees to be in Massachusetts. As beetles are emerging soon, it would be ideal to find them in the next 2 weeks. If you are removing infested trees from a property please contact her at Claire.Rutledge@ct.gov or (203) 974-8484 and she will meet you at the job site to take the material.
We still have some availability for our trip to Plum Island. The trip will take place on August 23rd, and is free for CTPA members and their guests.
Please contact Michael Gaines at 203-705-8694 by June 1st to sign up.
See a list of the Sponsors of the 2017 CT Climbing Competition.
Each year, it takes a leap of faith followed by a small miracle for the CTPA climbing competition to take place. True, there is the solid leadership provided by Bud Neal and the excellent organizing work of the Climbing Competition Committee, with Bud, Charlie Iselin, Sandy Ingellis, Kevin Wyatt and Cathy Dvorsky aboard. They all do great work.
Still, there are a lot of pieces that need to mesh on competition day. The day does not happen if not for the volunteers who come out to help and the generous support of the sponsors. For the approximately 25 climbers who participate each year, somewhere between 25 to 35 volunteers are needed so that the individual climbs go safely and successfully, and the scores and times are properly recorded. Volunteer duties range from the jobs of Head Judge and Head Technician (Bruce Duffy and Danny Rodriguez, respectively, this year), to the individuals who orders the food and make sure the tents get set-up properly (mostly Sandy and Cathy).
Judges and Timers watching Matt Reynolds set his line during the Master’s Competition.
For each event, there is at least one judge and more than one timer – so there may be as many as 4 or 5 officials at an event such as the work climb. Additionally, both the work climb and the aerial rescue events require an in-tree tech, largely for safety reasons. For the speed-climb and the footlock events, someone needs to run the belay lines, while back at the scorer’s table, there is the crack, ‘A-team’ of scorekeepers, entering the results as they come in and posting them for an audience that gets more eager as the day goes along.
Pulling such a team together of volunteers together is not easy, particularly when the jobs themselves require a high degree of knowledge and attention to detail. This is where we go back to the leadership, and the hard work of the Committee in making sure all of the pieces are brought together – and aware of what they need to be doing on the day of the competition.
As in-tree tech for the work climb, Emmett Shutts helps a competitor get set to go.
However, the day still cannot occur successfully without the sponsors. Registration pays some of the costs, but there are also such expenses as the ropes used in the competition, the food and drink and, not the least, all of those cowbells. The generous support of the sponsors is critical to the event happening.
The sponsors fall into 3 classes. The Gold Sponsors donate $500 towards the event and, in return, get their logo placed on the climbers’ and volunteers’ t-shirts. Silver Sponsors donate $100 and are noted as the sponsor of one of the climbing events. Bronze Sponsors donate $50 and are listed in the CTCC program booklet, along with all of the other sponsors. All are appreciated deeply.
See a list of the Sponsors of the 2017 CT Climbing Competition.
The generosity and enthusiasm of so many people is a large part of what makes the CTCC such a great event. We are happy to take a moment to thank them for all that they contribute.
Behind the competitors is a strong team of volunteers and sponsors.
The 13th Annual Connecticut Climbing Competition, held this past weekend on May 6th, was a great success. This year, the competition took place at Harrybrooke Park, a beautiful private park in New Milford. 24 Climbers took part – 3 women and 21 men.
The lineup of the participants of the 2017 CTCC
The full results of the competition have been published. Tim Reynolds was in the lead in the men’s division coming out of the morning preliminary rounds. He, his brother Matt and Kyle Donaldson were then invited, as the three top Connecticut finishers, to compete in the Master’s Challenge.
After Master’s Challenge was held in a great American sycamore. After each challenger had climbed, Matt Reynolds was determined to be the winner, and 2017 Men’s Connecticut Tree Climber Champion, by a narrow 5.57 points over 2nd place Kyle Donaldson.
The three men finalists – Tim, Kyle and Matt. Matt holds the championship mug.
Because there were no Connecticut-resident female climbers, the Women’s Master Challenge was not held.
Many people are deserving of special thanks for this great CTPA tradition. Bud Neal, most of all, as the main organizer and helmsman throughout, but also Charlie Iselin, Sandy Ingellis, Cathy Dvorsky and all of the individuals who served on the organizer committee and/or participated as volunteers on the day of the event. The day cannot work without planning or without judges, timers, score-keepers, the registration table, the logistics team and more.
There are two people that CTPA would particularly to mention. The first is Sean Emmons, whose company, Emmons Tree and Landscaping Service of New Milford, contributed so much to allow the day to happen. The second is Billy Mo Buckbee, Executive Director of Harrybrooke Park, who was unfailingly generous, supportive and helpful throughout – and who shared so many interesting tidbits of history about the park.
Thank you all! More Pictures are available on the Results Page.
The three women climbers – Becky, Bear and Maria
Congratulations after a great climb!
Dear Members of the CTPA,
I wanted to take the opportunity to extend an invitation to our membership to enjoy a tour of Plum Island NY on August 23 of this year. The trip will begin at the ferry dock in Saybrook in the morning and return mid afternoon. It will include an educational discussion describing the purpose and function of the island and facilities in the morning. Afterward we will venture outside and tour the island, taking a few short walks offering several opportunities to observe the indigenous flora and fauna. We will see fabulous views and enjoy the day in conversation and curiosities.
To register call Mike Gaines BEFORE JUNE 1 at 203-705-8694 and he will provide you with more details!
The trip is limited so call soon and reserve your space. Remember the deadline is JUNE 1!!!
Thank you,
Mike Gaines
And, consider attending yourself! Especially if you have not been to a CTCC before.
On Saturday, May 6th, CTPA will host the 13th annual CT Tree Climbing Competition. 25 climbers from Connecticut and the region around the state will compete. These climbers represent the range of people in professional tree care who climb trees – men and women, advanced climbers ‘in the peak of shape’ and much less experienced climbers – all fit in well at an event that is as much about camaraderie as it is about shaving seconds off of a timed event.
And, for an audience, the skill, athleticism and passion of the climbers can be highly engaging. This is a great showcase for what goes into tree care and professional arboriculture.
The 13th Annual CTCC will be held at Harrybrooke Park in New Milford – 100 Still River Dr, New Milford, CT 06776. CTPA members, especially those who live or work in the New Milford area, are encouraged to spread the word on the competition. CTPA has produced a poster and a press release to help in letting folks know about this event – please share these with anyone (a local fire department, the local newspaper) who might be interested.
Thanks for helping to spread the word.
Foot Locking
Work Climb
Work Climb
CTPA has received an email from Dr. Rich Cowles at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, asking for assistance with his research on honeybees. Please, if you can help him locate wild bee hives, let him know:
Dear CTPA Members,
I have a favor to ask – would you please contact me when you encounter a bee tree (a tree housing a wild honeybee hive)?
I currently have a CT Dept. of Agriculture grant to work on improving the genetics of honey bees being kept in our state. One of the sources for superior genetics may be from feral bees. The thought is that these bees are maintaining their health and surviving, without needing the various treatments beekeepers have to use to maintain the bees in typical hives (protecting them from varroa mites, hive beetles, etc…). If so, they could represent particularly healthy stock that might provide good candidates for a breeding program.
The goal is hardier, managed colonies that do not have to be re-queened or replaced (due to the whole colony dying) as frequently.
There are two methods that I may use to obtain these feral populations. If a tree is not being taken down, then I may place a swarm trap nearby to intercept any swarms “thrown off” by the parent colony. If a hollow tree containing bees is being removed, I would be interested in having the colony being brought down intact, so that I may rescue the colony by hiving the bees.
This project will be active this year and through next year, too. Arborists should contact me directly when they find feral bees. My work phone number is given below. If it is extremely urgent (in the midst of tree removal and a colony is discovered!) then please call (860)683-4977 and ask for Rose. She can provide to you my cell phone number.
Thank you,
Richard S. Cowles, Ph.D.
Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
Valley Laboratory
Windsor, CT 06095
(860) 683-4983
Richard.Cowles@ct.gov
Winter is ending and spring is nearly here! During the winter, we may do only a reduced amount of tree work or take a break from it completely. The skills acquired from tree work are just like any other skills in life. If you don’t use them, you lose them.
As you return to getting outside and doing field work you may find it helpful to do a quick review and skill check. Skills used in tasks like chainsaw handling and knot tying will deteriorate if not practiced regularly. As you head back to work, take some time to review your skills and practice them with co-workers or employees. Do this before getting back into potentially hazardous work situations. Practice should be in a controlled environment. Participants should be given the space to focus on the skill they are practicing.
A little time invested in the early season can boost safety and productivity!
Give yourself time to practice your skills – don’t assume you still have it all from last year. And, do a safety check as well!
In preparation for what may be another year of rising gypsy moth infestations, two state agencies have been preparing web resources to help inform the people of Connecticut. CTPA members and others are encouraged to check them out:
DEEP Gypsy Moth pages: www.ct.gov/deep/gypsymoths
CAES Gypsy Moth pages: www.ct.gov/caes/gypsymoth
Please feel free to share widely. CTPA did have a role in assisting with pulling together, especially, the DEEP pages. CTPA will also be a part of the press event on Thursday (March 23) announcing DEEP and CAES interest in getting information out regarding the gypsy moth.
