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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/

 

2022 Climbing Competition Needing Sponsors and Volunteers!

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The Climbing Competition Committee is excited to start working on the 2022 Climbing Competition.  The plans are picking up where they left off and the competition will be held at Boothe Park in Stratford on May 14th.  This is an all day event and people are encouraged to attend to support the climbers that have been patiently waiting for restrictions to lift.

The committee is reaching out to sponsors and volunteers.  It takes many hours of dedication and effort to put this event on and it could not happen without the help of sponsors and volunteers.

If you are interested in either you can sign up online or mail in the form.

If you are interested in being a volunteer, please call Bud Neal (203)577-8144 (cell)
or Cathy in the office (203)484-2512.

2022 Proposed Legislation

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To all CTPA members:

There are two bills that have been proposed in the legislature that CTPA members may be interested in. Public hearings for each of these bills will occur later this week.

The bills are:

HB 5116 – An Act Requiring the Creation of Utility Company Tree Planting Fund. This is in the Energy and Technology Committee. The Public Hearing is Thursday, 2-24.
Text of the Bill
Bill status page

SB 117 – An Act Concerning Tree Removals on Properties Under the Control of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. This is in the Environment Committee. The Public Hearing is Friday, 2-25.
Text of the bill
Bill status page

The first bill, HB 5116, pretty much as its title suggests, requires each of the larger electrical distribution utilities to allocate funding for tree planting and to set up a process for distributing that funding to the municipalities in its service territory.

The second bill, SB 117, on tree removals, creates a process similar to that in the tree warden law to apply to Connecticut State Parks and campgrounds. It requires that each State Park have an arborist who is part of every decision to remove a tree in that State Park or campground and that, in non-emergency situations, that the trees to be removed be posted in advance.

Public Hearings will be held on Zoom by the associated Legislative Committee for each bill.  They may be viewed as they occur via YouTube Live.

Details on Thursday’s Public Hearing for the Energy and Technology Committee, to include HB 5116, can be found at E&T Public Hearing Agenda.  Those who wish to speak must register by Wednesday by 3 pm.

Details on Friday’s Public Hearing for the Environment Committee, to include SB 117, can be found at Environment Public Hearing Agenda.

Registration for the Virtual 100th Annual Meeting

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Click here to register for CTPA’s virtual 100th Annual Meeting:  

When:  Thursday, January 20, 2022

Where: Online, via Zoom, from 8:45 am to 2:15 pm

CEUs available:  4.00 for Connecticut Arborists (Category 3D),  CT Forest Practitioners are eligible to receive 2.0 credits, while TWAC members will receive 4.00,  and ISA Arborist CEUs – 4.5 CEU’s.

The TCIA CTSP program is not offering credits.  Details on the process to followed to receive CEUs are listed at the end of this announcement.

How to Register: Online, via the CTPA web site

Registration Fee:  $45 members, $60 non-members.  Members may register non-members at the member rate.

Recordings:  This meeting will be recorded.  Only people who have registered may access the recording.  People will only need to register once.  People who attend the meeting as it occurred may also access the recorded version after the meeting based on their pre-meeting registration.   People who did not register before the meeting and did not attend it live may register after the meeting and view the recording.  The registration process post-meeting is the same as it is pre-meeting, as are the registration fees.

Meeting Details

8:45 to 9:00 – Annual Business Meeting

During the Business Meeting, Officers and Board Members for 20221 will be elected.  The Slate of Candidates has been announced.  Also during the Business Meeting, the 2021 finances will be reviewed.

9:00 – “The CTPA – 100 Years Old and Just Beginning”.  This talk will look back at how CTPA was founded and what has guided it for the past 100 years, as well as encourage a look forward towards the future. Dr. Kirby Stafford III, CAES, Chris Donnelly and Emmett Shutts, Davey Tree Experts.

10:15 – Updates from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, DEEP and UCONN

Dr. Jason White, Director of the CT Agricultural Experiment Station, will present highlights from the Station’s activities during 2020.  This is also CTPA’s opportunity to welcome Dr. White as Station Director.  Diane Jorsey from DEEP will give updates from the Pesticide Program and  Dr. Jason Vokoun from UCONN will give updates on the program sponsored by CTPA.

10:50 – Scholarship Award

11:00 – BREAK

11:30– “Nature’s Best Hope” Dr. Tallamy will show us how current landscape designs have not been fully effective at sustaining the plants and animals in the landscape. He will talk about how to create landscapes that enhance local ecosystems rather than degrade them and the positive impact it will have to the natural world.  Dr. Douglas Tallamy, University of Delaware

12:30 – BREAK

12:45 – “The Nature of Oaks” Oak trees are superior landscape trees throughout most of the US because of their many ecological and aesthetic attributes.  In this talk Dr. Tallamy will compare oak species to other popular shade trees in terms of their ability to support animal diversity, protect watersheds, and sequester carbon dioxide. Dr. Douglas Tallamy, University of Delaware

2:15 – Conclusion

A Note on CEUs

DEEP Supervisory Licenses ( 3D)

Only individuals who have registered either for the meeting or to view its recordings may receive CEUs.  Registration may be before the meeting or, for those who just want to view the recordings, after the meeting.  Those who register to attend the meeting will not need to re-register.  The registration fee will be the same, whether registration occurs before or after the meeting.  If you wish to receive CEUs, be sure to register under your own name and have provided your DEEP license number.

In order to receive CEUs, attendees and recording viewers must pass a quiz for each section of the meeting.  There will be 3 quizzes total.  Quizzes will be made available through a link that will provided on the last slide of each of the three educational sessions.    Each quiz will consist of 10 questions.  The passing score for each quiz is 80%.  Individual may re-take quizzes that they did not pass.  Quizzes may be taken at any time and must be submitted to CTPA for scoring.  Attendees will only receive CEUs for the quizzes they take and pass.  Attendees do not need to take all 3 quizzes.

 

Non-Pesticide Certifications

For CT Forest Practitioner and ISA Arborist, be sure to include your certification in the form when you register.  The registration list will be sent to the appropriate organization.  Proof of attendance slips for CT Forest Practitioner will be sent out following the meeting.

If there are any questions, please contact the CTPA office.

 

100th Annual Meeting Update!

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The CTPA Board of Directors has been monitoring the situation with COVID in Connecticut and has become increasingly concerned about the current increase in cases due to the omicron variant.  Out of concern for the health and safety of our members and all who would be attending our Annual Meeting, we have decided to hold our Annual Meeting virtually, through the use of an on-line platform.  We know this disappoints some people – we are disappointed ourselves.  But, as Board Members, we have a responsibility to look at the bigger picture and do what we feel is right.  We do have to put first the health and safety of those who would be attending the meeting.

We are committed to holding the Annual Meeting in some format and are in the process now of working out the details.  At the moment, we are looking to hold the on-line meeting on January 20th, with people to be given the option of viewing in the meeting then, as it is being recorded, and/or viewing a recorded version at a later time.  CEU’s will be made available for those who participate in the meeting in either format.  People participating in the meeting on the 20th will have the opportunity to ask questions of the speakers.

Beyond that, we do not have any additional details.  We are hard at work making the arrangements and will let people know as soon as we have the details worked out.

We are especially disappointed as this is the 100th year of the association and we wanted to kick off the year right.  Nonetheless, the organization has always risen to meet the challenges of the times and we will do so now.

Please stay tuned to the website and emails for future updates.  Those who have already registered will have their checks returned and will be given the opportunity to re-register for the on-line meeting once we have set that up.

With regards,
Pat Flynn, CTPA President
Cathy Dvorsky, CTPA Executive Secretary

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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