Sunday, October 8, 2023
The Connecticut Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) is celebrating the 40th anniversary of TACF this fall. An event will be organized in Lockwood on 10/8 at 1 PM – 3 PM where you can see the movie “Clear Day Thunder” focusing on the work coordinated by TACF to restore American chestnut into the woodlands of North America. Please see the flyer below for details. The event is open for everyone who is interested in chestnuts!
The Connecticut Tree Protective Association presents an Electrical Hazards Awareness Program Workshop
Thursday, November 2, 2023
7:30am – 4pm
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)/5.75 CEU’s, 6 (Rights-of-Way)/ 5.75 CEU’s, ISA/5.75 CEU’s, TCIA CTSP/ 5.75 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. 30th.
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 Membership Book for 2023 is complete and available here: Membership Book – CTPA (Connecticut Tree Protective Association) . The 2023 membership book is lovingly dedicated to Chris Donnelly who has spent countless hours working on this book over the years. We are forever grateful and thankful for all Chris has done for the association. Thank you, Chris, from the bottom of our hearts. The following write up was written by his wife Rita, who also gave many years to the association. Thank you Rita!
Chris Donnelly, Chris is a Bridgeport man, born and raised. It was Catholic schools for him K to 12, same as his 9 brothers and sisters. College was close by in New Haven at Yale where his part time job was scooping ice cream. A variety of jobs followed graduation; as with many of his peers. Notably, he did a stint with UI, first reading meters, then at the power plant (ask him about the intake screens and where his car was in a movie) and later in the engineering office. Another thing about the UI, there was a running team in an industrial league in Shelton with the ITT team. So that is how Chris and Rita met. Running was a big thing and Chris did his first marathon (Ocean State 1982) which led to both of us running the New York, Washington, DC, and Bermuda marathons. Chris also qualified for and ran the Boston marathon which I could never qualify for!
We moved to New Haven and one day when changing the oil on his car with newspapers to catch the overflow, Chris saw an ad by Oscar Stone for an Arboriculture class in New Haven. That was the start of his career in trees.
After a graduate degree from the Yale School of Forestry Chris did some work in Kentucky for the Feds (ask him about Fort Knox). He got a full-time job with Western Wood Products and learned the lumber part of trees. We couldn’t go anywhere now without his identifying all the trees and any lumber grade stamps visible. It was a traveling time for both of us. Chris was on the road to cover the Northeast and I was traveling to Brussels regularly for work. Sometimes we got to accompany each other on road trips in the US and Europe.
When Chris started with the DEP (now DEEP) he was the go-to guy for urban trees, Urban Forestry Council, Tree Wardens, Tree Protection Examining Board and of course for CTPA. Not to mention all the town selectmen or mayors or public works people calling about America The Beautiful grants, general tree questions, or licensing requirements.
Chris is still very involved with the CTPA as a past President, writer of many newsletters, organizer of many summer and winter meetings and organizer and participant in many workshops. He and Bruce Pauley got Arboriculture 101 started (Chris still runs it twice a year and it is always full!). he and Doug Pistawka got EHAP, Electrical Hazard Awareness Program up and running every fall for years.
In retirement from the DEEP Chris is still very busy with Arbor 101 and other CTPA work with the Board and Cathy (Executive Secretary). He is always on zooms for public comments on pending or proposed legislation. Or zooms for urban forest council. So, he is at home but always on his computer! A happy retirement with a new house in Durham and lots of gardens to install. We have done some traveling and are planning lots more!
-Rita Smith
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is pleased to announce the Urban and Community Forestry Planning Grant Program with support from the US Forest Service. This grant program is available to municipalities and non-profit organizations in Connecticut to pursue planning projects such as tree inventories, management plans, or other monitoring programs that will help communities make informed management decisions about their urban and community forests. You can find more details including the RFP and grant application at Urban and Community Forestry Planning Grant Program (ct.gov).
This is just the first of several urban forestry grant opportunities that will soon be available, you can learn more about all of these programs including eligibility criteria at Urban Forestry Grant Opportunities (ct.gov).
September 5, 2023 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
To register for this event, please click here.
Monthly Noonhour (Eastern) Webcast Series returns Thurs Sept 07.
Join Dr. Konijnendijk, Univ of British Columbia, as he outlines the latest research related to the “social perspectives and human health implications of urban trees”.
To view the broadcast & receive a Free ISA/MCA CEU, join live or pre-register by clicking here or by visiting www.joinwebinar.com & entering: 893-044-643
(Space is limited. Attendees are strongly encouraged to join promptly, the day of the broadcast)
September 8, 2023 9:00am – 3:00pm
We are excited to announce the world’s first Smart Tree Inventory! Smart Tree Inventories bring the advancements in LiDAR & machine learning to enable the digital transformation of tree inventories. Our innovative Smart Tree Inventory system harnesses the power of these cutting-edge technologies to generate dynamic, 4D models of trees. This breakthrough not only delivers an unparalleled level of detail directly to your desktop, but it also paves the way for more precise, data-driven decisions. By integrating this technology into your urban forest management strategies, you can significantly enhance your operations.
Check out the agenda for this Smart Tree Inventory Workshop:
9:00 Coffee and Registration
9:15 Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Urban Forestry – Josh Behounek, Davey Resource Group
9:45 Creating a Smart Tree Inventory – Gabor Goertz, greehill
10:30 Implementing Your Tree Inventory – Brian Breveleri, City of Worcester
11:00 Data-Driven Decisions with a Smart Tree Inventory for Risk Management, Urban Heat Island, and Tree Equity – Josh Behounek, Davey Resource Group
12:00 Lunch (included)
12:30 Equipment Demonstration & Ride-Along (Optional)
3:00 Adjourn
The Smart Tree Inventory workshop is approved for up to 5 ISA CEU’s and includes lunch for only $25.
September 15, 2023 8:00 am – 2:00 pm
For more information, click here:
Tree Wardens’ Association of CT – Tree Wardens in the Field: TWAC Fall Workshop & Picnic (cttreewardens.org)
Friday, September 15, 2023 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. EDT
Virtual and in-person registration is free. In-person attendance includes CEUs, continental breakfast, lunch and closing reception. In-person registration is limited, so register as soon as possible.
Arboriculture 101 is CTPA’s well-regarded class series geared for those individuals who are seeking the CT Arborist License. The class series takes place over 13 weeks, for one night a week, with each class 3 hours in length (6-9pm). Further details regarding the course and what topics are covered are outlined on the Arboriculture 101 page on the CTPA website.
CTPA will hold the Fall 2023 session of Arboriculture 101 in-person, at the Jones Auditorium in New Haven. The Jones Auditorium is a part of the New Haven campus of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station and is located at 123 Huntington Street.
Because of this change in venue, adjustments may also have to be made to the class schedule. While CTPA aims to hold most classes on Wednesday evenings, it may have to move some classes to a Tuesday or a Thursday. A final class schedule will be made available before the start of class.
There are a still few spaces currently available in this fall’s Arboriculture 101 course. To sign up, visit the Arboriculture 101 Registration page. or the view the current class flyer for further details. Please note that this post is intended as an update of the flyer, which was printed and distributed earlier this summer.
To sum up this message:
• Arboriculture 101 will be held this fall, at the CT Agricultural Experiment Station Jones Auditorium in New Haven. Classes will run from September 7 to December 7.
• Full details, including as to how to register for the class, are on the CTPA website. 
CT TCC 2023 Pictures – CTPA (Connecticut Tree Protective Association)
For the event, there were 26 competitors this year. 24 males and 2 females. Fairfield Hills provided an excellent venue for the event and trees that were close together so there wasn’t a long walk between events. The volunteers who helped on Work Day did an incredible job making the trees safe and presentable.
This was the 17th time that the CTCC has been held, although CTPA is calling it the 19th 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 and there was plenty of spectators and friends and family to cheer everyone on.
The results of the competition are listed below, along with a partial list of the volunteers and of the Gold and Silver level Sponsors. The results of the Master’s Competition will be included in a separate post.
| NAME OF COMPETITION: | CT Climbing Competition 2023 | DATE: | 6-May-23 | |||||
| Men’s Preliminary Winners | ||||||||
| Aerial Rescue | Overall Preliminary Ranking | |||||||
| Name | Chapter | Score | Name | Chapter | Score | |||
| 1 | Ryan Torcicollo | 0 | 48.33 | 1 | Tim Reynolds | 0 | 156.09 | |
| 2 | Brandon Dobnick | 0 | 48.33 | 2 | Ryan Torcicollo | 0 | 150.82 | |
| 3 | Jake Slade | 0 | 44.67 | 3 | Kyle McCabe | 0 | 133.08 | |
| 4 | Brandon Dobnick | 0 | 127.95 | |||||
| Belayed Speed Climb | 5 | Jake Slade | 0 | 126.00 | ||||
| Name | Chapter | Time (secs) | 6 | Sebastian Slizowski | 0 | 119.06 | ||
| 1 | Ryan Torcicollo | 0 | 26.23 | |||||
| 2 | Kyle McCabe | 0 | 26.42 | Head-to-Head Ascent | ||||
| 3 | Tim Reynolds | 0 | 27.09 | Name | Chapter | Time | ||
| 1 | #N/A | #N/A | #N/A | |||||
| Ascent Event | 2 | #N/A | #N/A | #N/A | ||||
| Name | Chapter | Time (secs) | 3 | #N/A | #N/A | #N/A | ||
| 1 | Ryan Torcicollo | 0 | 14.60 | |||||
| 2 | Tim Reynolds | 0 | 18.08 | Secured Footlock | ||||
| 3 | Andrew Avalone | 0 | 17.84 | Name | Chapter | Time | ||
| 1 | #N/A | #N/A | #N/A | |||||
| Throwline | 2 | #N/A | #N/A | #N/A | ||||
| Name | Chapter | Score | 3 | #N/A | #N/A | #N/A | ||
| 1 | Tim Reynolds | 0 | 26 | |||||
| 2 | Brian Carpenter | 0 | 23 | Masters’ Winners | ||||
| 3 | Sebastian Slizowski | 0 | 23 | Name | Chapter | Score | ||
| 1 | Jake Slade | 0 | 242.33 | |||||
| Work Climb | 2 | Tim Reynolds | 0 | 238.00 | ||||
| Name | Chapter | Score | 3 | Ryan Torcicollo | 0 | 200.00 | ||
| 1 | Tim Reynolds | 0 | 63.67 | 4 | #N/A | #N/A | #N/A | |
| 2 | Ryan Torcicollo | 0 | 61.49 | 5 | #N/A | #N/A | #N/A | |
| 3 | Brandon Dobnick | 0 | 59.25 | |||||
Emmons Tree & Landscaping Service;
Almstead Tree & Shrub Care Co; Stamford, CT
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
RBI / Shelter Tree; North Attleboro, MA
STIHL; Shelton, CT
Bart’s Tree Service;
Acadia Insurance;
KraneWorks, Inc.;
The Tree Company;
All Access Equipment;
HUB Arbor Group;
Tooher-Ferraris Insurance Group;
Crane Solutions, LLC;
Newtown Power Equipment; Newtown, CT
Muench Company; Stamford, CT
Rayzor’s Edge Tree Service; Stratford, CT
Marc Warren; Colchester, CT
Cambridge Landscape; Cambridge, MA
And a special thank you to all the volunteers that came for the day. Without the volunteers, this event could not have been possible. Thank you!
Thanks to Newtown Arbor Services, Emmons Tree and Landscape Services, Northeast Horticultural Services and Bartlett Tree Experts who generously donated the equipment needed to complete Work Day and Set Up Day as well as make Competition Day work as well as it did.
Special thanks goes to the Carl Samuelson and Lauren Ravo from the Town of Newtown, who were invaluable in helping to make the Park ready.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTOS FROM THE MEETING!
The CTPA’s annual Summer Meeting is open for registration. There is a great lineup of speakers! And of course, our exhibitors, food and catching up with friends.
We would like to encourage you to pre-register as the rates have increased again this year due to rising costs of putting on this event.
8:30 am – Registration
9:00 – 10:15 am, repeated at 1:00 – 2:15pm (choose one in each time slot)
Field Diagnostics and Pests to Look Out For. by Jeremy Slone, Ph.D., Research Entomologist,
Bartlett Tree Experts, Charlotte, NC (CLUBHOUSE) – This presentation will cover field diagnostics
and how to look at the landscape and feature trees and plants to assess possible biotic and abiotic
causes and symptoms. He will also discuss some emerging insect pests in the region such as spotted
lanterfly, crapemyrtle bark scale and box tree moth.
Real World Aerial Rescue Considerations. by Kevin Lunnie, Vector Rescue, New Milford, CT and
Shawn Emmons, Emmons Tree Service, New Milford, CT – (SYCAMORE TREE) – Kevin and
Shawn will focus on aerial rescue considerations beyond the practical skills of partner rescue. The
topics covered will include prevention, integration with first responders and common challenges that
tree climbers will face. At the end of the talk, heat exhaustion will be discussed, the symptoms and
practical ways to prevent it.
10:30 – 11:45 am, repeated at 2:30 – 3:45pm (choose one in each time slot)
Adapting Your PHC Program to a Changing Climate. by Kevin Brewer, Arborjet, Licensed CT
Arborist, Woburn, MA (CLUBHOUSE) – Environmental stress is one of the leading predisposing
factors that can lead to more serious pest and disease issues. With irregular rainfall, higher than
average temperatures, and stronger coastal storms becoming the norm, we must adapt our PHC
programs accordingly. In the session, we will discuss options to help mitigate these effects on our
urban landscape.
Walkin’ and Talkin’ Trees: A Live and Interactive Monitoring and Assessment Tour. – Tom Ingersall and
Allan Fenner. (WALK STARTS AT REGISTRATION AREA) – Join Tom and Allan for a walk around the
Polo Club property to assess the trees and discuss different management options.
*** Safety Talk presented in SPANISH for all attendees. (Sessions NOT repeated)***
10:00 am – 11:15am (PRESENTED IN SPANISH – AQUADUCT) Overview of Electrical
Hazards, What is Low Voltage? by Leo Roldan, Safety Trainer, SavATree, Bedford, NY – Leo will
talk about the electrical distribution system, secondary lines/service drops, types of electrical hazards
a tree worker is likely to face and how to be prepared when encountering electricity on the job.
2:00 pm – 3:15 pm (PRESENTED IN SPANISH – PINES ) Chainsaw Safety and Operations. – by
Pepe Ramirez, Skills Trainer, Davey Tree Expert Co., Naugatuck, CT – Pepe will talk about and show
attendees the basics of chainsaw safety, starting techniques, how a chainsaw cuts, safety features,
basic maintenance and how to transport and store a chainsaw. He will also cover what the reactive
forces and kickbacks are as well as ergonomics and muscularskeletal disorder.
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
CT Arborist (3D) – 5.0 CEU’s, (3A) 3.0 CEU’s
CT Forest Practitioners – 1.5 CEU’s
Advanced Certified Tree Wardens – 5.0 CEU’s
ISA – 5.0 CEU’s
TCIA CTSP -Real World Aerial Rescue -1.25 ceu’s, Chainsaw Safety (Spanish) – 1.25 ceu’s, Overview Electrical Hazards (Spanish)- 1.25 ceu’s
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.
On Saturday, May 6th, 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 2023 Master’s Challenge were:
Tim Reynolds
Ryan Torcicollo
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 (2 women climbers competed in 2023 but were not from Connecticut). The competitor’s climb is not considered as completed until all gear, including all ropes, have been removed from the tree.
The day was warm and sunny and the Master’s Challenge took place under favorable conditions. All three competitors gave 200% to become the winner of the CT TCC. In the end, Jake Slade was declared the winner by a slim margin with a score of 242.33, followed by Tim Reynolds with 238.00 and Rich Torcicollo at 200.oo. It was a very successful and we are grateful to all the competitors and volunteers who spent the day at Fairfield Hills, CT.
Rich Torcicollo, Jake Slade and Tim Reynolds -Master’s Challenge competitors.
2023 CT TCC Climbers and Competitors.
Arbor Day 2023!
The Connecticut Tree Protective Association was excited to celebrate Arbor Day with the winners of the Arbor Day poster contest “My Favorite Tree”. All fifth graders from the State of Connecticut were invited to participate and there were 96 posters submitted. The Arbor Day Committee had tough decisions to make to bring the winner posters to four. The towns that won were Southington, Northford, Sterling and Wolcott. The kids, their peers, teachers and family were invited to the Rocky Hill Home and Hospital to be a part of the tree planting and celebrate the winners of the poster contest. The tree donated for the planting was a red maple and was generously given by Eversource Energy.
The morning started with Sean Redding, Secretary/Treasurer of CTPA, giving a brief history of Arbor Day and the history of CTPA. The winners of the poster contest were asked to step forward and tell the crowd about their favorite tree and receive a goodie bag of items from CTPA. After photos and well wishes, Bud Neal, Past President of CTPA, led the charge to plant the new tree. Bud showed the attendees how to properly dig the hole and plant the tree as well as advising the importance of watering the tree. The entire event took about an hour and a half. The CTPA would like to thank the students, the teachers and all the families that came and especially and the volunteers that came from The Woodbury Post 155 American Legion and The Bethlehem Post 146 American Legion to help with the planting and took part in Arbor Day 2023.
