One man is dead after a tree fell on a home Thursday morning following a night of strong storms.John Shelton, director of Surry County Emergency Services, said it happened around 5 a.m. on the 100 block of Boeing Lane in Mount Airy.The tree fell on the home near a bedroom, according to Shelton, killing Nicolas 'Nic' Rodriguez.Rodriguez, 20, was sleeping when a tree crashed into his bedroom and killed him. "This tree fell right across the bedroom area. Unfortunately there was no way for him to get away from it. It happened so fast," Shelton said. "He heard a loud bang and thats when he saw the tree," Paulino Galarza said. Galarza is Rodriguez' uncle. Galarza received a call from his brother saying that Rodriguez has been killed. "He couldnt get to him. The tree was pretty huge. So yeah, it was just very unexpected."Rodriguez's roommate was not harmed during the storm.The two roommates played football together at North Surry High School. Rodriguez played linebacker and helped win the team's 2017 conference championship.On Thursday, former teammates visited the site of the crash and posted on social media to share memories and pay their respects."Hed walk into a room. Always be smiling. Always bring a smile to everyones face," Galarza said.Galarza said Rodriguez was studying to become a gym teacher at Surry Community College."It hits me really hard," Galarza said. "Just still in shock like its all just a bad dream."Shelton says tree removal crews raised concerns about other trees in the trailer community in hopes they would be removed before the next big storm rolls through. Nic's uncle has set up a GoFundMe page for funeral expenses.

One man is dead after a tree fell on a home Thursday morning following a night of strong storms.

John Shelton, director of Surry County Emergency Services, said it happened around 5 a.m. on the 100 block of Boeing Lane in Mount Airy.

The tree fell on the home near a bedroom, according to Shelton, killing Nicolas 'Nic' Rodriguez.

Rodriguez, 20, was sleeping when a tree crashed into his bedroom and killed him.

"This tree fell right across the bedroom area. Unfortunately there was no way for him to get away from it. It happened so fast," Shelton said.

"He heard a loud bang and thats when he saw the tree," Paulino Galarza said. Galarza is Rodriguez' uncle. Galarza received a call from his brother saying that Rodriguez has been killed. "He couldnt get to him. The tree was pretty huge. So yeah, it was just very unexpected."

Rodriguez's roommate was not harmed during the storm.

The two roommates played football together at North Surry High School. Rodriguez played linebacker and helped win the team's 2017 conference championship.

On Thursday, former teammates visited the site of the crash and posted on social media to share memories and pay their respects.

"Hed walk into a room. Always be smiling. Always bring a smile to everyones face," Galarza said.

Galarza said Rodriguez was studying to become a gym teacher at Surry Community College.

"It hits me really hard," Galarza said. "Just still in shock like its all just a bad dream."

Shelton says tree removal crews raised concerns about other trees in the trailer community in hopes they would be removed before the next big storm rolls through.

Nic's uncle has set up a GoFundMe page for funeral expenses.

Excerpt from:
20-year-old man killed after tree falls on mobile home in Mount Airy - WXII12 Winston-Salem

If CESC has become the most sought after name in the city, desperation is driving Calcutta neighbourhoods to unparalleled lengths in their effort to catch hold of linesmen.

At Suryanagar in Bansdroni on Sunday morning, a group of CESC workers were repairing cables, surrounded by a group of residents who had not had power over the past four days.

Yards away, a knot of Calcuttans had formed another ring. They were from an adjoining neighbourhood, Pallishree, keeping vigil so that they could ensure the linesmen accompanied them to their locality instead of being hijacked by some other desperate group bereft of power.

We are all camping here so we can catch hold of them, homemaker Gouri Kanjilal said, pointing at the CESC team.

In Lake Gardens on Saturday, a middle-aged woman was grateful and gracious enough to offer snacks to the CESC workers but not before she had taken the universal precaution of grabbing the ignition key from their pick-up.

She tied the key to her sari-end and kept it with her for several hours till late Saturday afternoon, that is, until the repairmen had fixed the lines.

She offered them biscuits and tea. But the keys were with her till the job was done, an eyewitness said.

Scenes of linesmen being chased, cajoled, detained and released from captivity only after the mission has been accomplished have been playing out across a city shaken by the aftershocks of the cyclone.

In both tree removal often a prerequisite for power cable repairs and the restoration of electricity, there was visible improvement on the ground on Sunday. Several teams of tree cutters, including some from the army, were at work.

The state home department tweeted the names of several places where power had been restored.

CESC today informed the state government that power was restored in Jadavpur, Selimpur, Mukundapur, Survey Park, Patuli, Regent Estate, NSC Bose Road, Behala Chowrasta, James Long Sarani, Silpara, Lake Town, Jessore Road, Nagerbazar, Rashbehari Connector, BB Chatterjee Road (1/2), the tweet said.

(A resident of the main Survey Park told this newspaper at 9.30pm on Sunday that her home was without power for the fifth consecutive evening. She said the army had on Sunday cleared the area of fallen trees, some of which had already been cut down by workers hired by the residents.)

(The state-run) WBSEDCL today informed the state government that power was restored in Garia, Bansdroni, Kestopur, Baguiati, Teghoria, Salt Lake, New Town, Barasat, Tamluk, Egra, Contai, Krishnanagar, Santipur, Ranaghat, Gayespur and Kalyani (1/2), Sonarpur, Baruipur, Rajpur, Narendrapur, Kakdwip and Namkhana, the home department tweet added.

A bus stop away from Suryanagar, in Netaji Nagar Colony, a five-member CESC team that was about to move on after an inspection was held inside a club building from Sunday morning.

Some of the residents said the five would be set free once power returned. We have not misbehaved with them. We just want them to restore the power connection, said Arunabha Basu.

Basus neighbour Ashis Das said boys from the adjoining Sanghati Colony had come and taken away two of the five personnel.

This triggered tension among the residents of the two colonies but both sides had reason to act in such desperation; CESC must mobilise more men, Das said.

CESC has said that several of its staff had gone home to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh because of the virus-fuelled lockdown and have been unable to return at short notice.

At Suryanagar, scores of residents, wearing masks because of the Covid-19 threat, had assembled on Sunday morning around the point where the CESC workers had raised their ladder to disentangle cables from an uprooted radhachura tree.

No one was allowed to pass through the lane lest their movement disrupt the pace of work.

It would not be proper to disturb them. Please wait, Jignesh, who identified himself only by his first name, was heard telling a young man on a bike.

For the Pallishree group, it was a long vigil. Standing a few feet from Gauri, Pradip Majumder said they were taking turns keeping watch. We cannot afford to lose sight of the workers, he said.

The CESC team, which had started on the job on Saturday, worked till 3pm on Sunday to restore power in Suryanagar.

From Suryanagar, they were whisked away to Pallishree, which had its power restored by 6pm.

A doctor in the Rathtala area of NSC Bose Road was left wondering whether her side of the road was paying the price for not protesting on the streets.

The houses on the opposite side of the road had their supply restored today but ours havent. They had agitated yesterday; we only made a formal complaint. Perhaps thats why, the doctor said.

Read the rest here:
City in hot pursuit of power repairmen - Telegraph India

LEGAL NOTICE

Fictitious Names

Notice Under Fictitious Name Law Pursuant to Section 865.09. Florida Statutes

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of Lanza Gallery and Art Supplies located at 23645 W US HWY 27, in the County of Alachua, in the City of High Springs, Florida 32643 intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations of the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida. Dated at High Springs, Florida, this 24th day of February, 2020.

Tina Corbett

Lanza Gallery Inc.

(Published: Alachua County Today Mar. 19, 2020)

LEGAL NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given under and by virtue of Florida Statue Section 713, the undersigned shall 03-31-20 at 10:00a.m., at the address of his business: 4515 S.W. 29th Ave, Gainesville, Florida, 32608, the following:

SCOOTER VIN# LC2U2A027GC00172

For additional information concerning the above personal property for sale you may contact Billy Hart 352-376-0144

(Published: Alachua County Today - Mar. 19, 2020

LEGAL NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE EIGHTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

IN AND FOR ALACHUA

COUNTY, FLORIDA

Case No: 2019 CA 001971

CARRINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES, LLC,

Plaintiff,

vs.

NATHAN N. GAMBLES, JR.; et al.,

Defendants.

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant the Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated March 10, 2020, and entered in Case No. 2019 CA 001971of the Circuit Court of the Eighth Judicial Circuit in and for Alachua County, Florida wherein CARRINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES, LLC, is the Plaintiff and NATHAN N. GAMBLES, JR.; DARLENE DENSON; LYNN GAMBLES JOHNSON; JUDITH GAMBLES; MALCOLM GAMBLES; GERRALUNDA GAMBLES; MONIQUE DEMPS; UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF JUDITH GAMBLES; UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF MALCOLM GAMBLES; STATE OF FLORIDA; CLERK OF COURT IN AND FOR ALACHUA COUNTY, FLORIDA and FLORIDA CREDIT UNION, are Defendants, J.K. Jess Irby, Esq., the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Alachua County, Florida, will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash http://www.alachua.

realforeclose.com at 11:00 A.M. on May 7, 2020 the following described property set forth in said Final Judgment, to wit:

LOTS EIGHT (8) AND NINE (9) OF WAITS SUBDIVISION, AS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK B, PAGE 92 BEING A REPLAT OF LOTS TWO (2), THREE (3), FOUR (4), FIVE (5), AND SIX (6) OF BLOCK SIXTEEN (16) OF NEW GAINESVILLE, AS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK "A", PAGE 65, ALL BEING IN SECTION 4, TOWNSHIP 10 SOUTH, RANGE 20 EAST, AND ALL BEING OF PUBLIC RECORDS OF ALACHUA COUNTY, FLORIDA.

Property Address: 1325 NE 3rd Ave, Gainesville, FL 32641

Any person or entity claiming an interest in the surplus, if any, resulting from the Foreclosure Sale, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens, must file a claim with the Clerk no later than the date that the Clerk reports the funds as unclaimed. If you fail to file a claim, you will not be entitled to any remaining funds.

DATED March 11, 2020

/s/Jason Ruggerio

Jason Ruggerio, Esq.

Florida Bar No. 70501

Lender Legal PLLC

2807 Edgewater Drive

Orlando, Fl 32804

Tel: (407) 730-4644

Fax: (888) 337-3815

Attorney for Plaintiff

Service Emails:

JRuggerio@

lenderlegal.com

EService@

LenderLegal.com

If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Persons with a disability who need any accommodation in order to participate should call Jan Phillips, ADA Coordinator, Alachua County Courthouse, 201 E. University Ave., Gainesville, FL 32601 at (352) 337-6237 within two (2) working days of your receipt of this notice; if you are hearing impaired call (800) 955-8771; if you are voice impaired, call

(800) 955-8770.

(Published: Alachua County Today - Mar 12 & 19, 2020)

LEGAL NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

IN THE COUNTY COURT OF THE EIGHT JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR ALACHUA COUNTY, FLORIDA

CASE NO.: 2019CC004124XXXXXX

COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION OF SORRENTO, INC.

Plaintiff,

ESTATE OF RANDALL W. DEBORD, OTHERWISE THE UNKNOWN HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, OR OTHER CLAIMANTS BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST RANDALL W. DEBORD; MELISSA JOHNSON, AS APPOINTED PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE; AND UNKNOWN PARTIES IN POSSESSION,

Defendants. ________________/

NOTICE OF SALE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 45

Notice is given that pursuant to the Amended Default Final Judgment of Foreclosure as to Foreclosure Sale Date Only dated July 25, 2019 in Case No. 2019-CC-004124, of the County Court in and for Alachua County, Florida, in which COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION OF SORRENTO, INC. is the Plaintiff and ESTATE OF RANDALL W. DEBORD, OTHERWISE THE UNKNOWN HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, OR OTHER CLAIMANTS BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST RANDALL W. DEBORD; MELISSA JOHNSON, AS APPOINTED PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE are the Defendants, the Clerk will sell the property at public sale on May 12, 2020, online at 11:00 a.m., according to Fla. Sta. 45.031(10), at http://www.alachua.

realforeclose.com, the following described property set forth in the Order of the Amended Default Final Judgment:

Lot 162, SORRENTO PHASE III, according to the plat thereof, as recorded in Plat Book 26, at Pages 5-7, inclusive, of the Public Records of Alachua County, Florida;

Property Address: 5180 NW 21st Drive, Gainesville, Florida 32605.

Any Person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the lis pendens must file a claim within 60 days after the sale.

/s/ Alan Schwartzseid Alan Schwartzseid, Esquire

Florida Bar No. 57124

Clayton & McCulloh

1065 Maitland Center Commons Blvd.

Maitland, Florida 32751

(407) 875-2655

aschwartzseid@

clayton-mcculloh.com (Primary)

lfalachua@

clayton-mcculloh.com (Secondary)

Attorneys for Plaintiff

If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Persons with a disability who need any accommodation in order to participate should call Jan Phillips, ADA Coordinator, Alachua County Courthouse, 201 E. University Ave., Gainesville, FL 32601 at (352) 337-6237 within two (2) working days of your receipt of this notice; if you are hearing impaired call (800) 955-8771; if you are voice impaired, call

(800) 955-8770.

(Published: Alachua County Today - Mar. 19 & 26, 2020)

LEGAL NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE EIGHTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

IN AND FOR ALACHUA COUNTY, FLORIDA

CIVIL DIVISION

CASE NUMBER: 2020 CA _

212 ACQUISITIONS, LLC, a Florida limited liability company,

Plaintiff,

PENDER NEWKIRK CUST TC 09, LLC;

all others claiming by, through and under PENDER NEWKIRK CUST TC 09, LLC; and ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES CLAIMING AN INTEREST IN THE SUBJECT PROPERTY,

Defendants.

NOTICE OF ACTION

TO :PENDER NEWKIRK CUST TC 09, LLC; all others claiming by, through and under PENDER NEWKIRK CUST TC 09, LLC; ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES CLAIMING AN INTEREST IN THE SUBJECT PROPERTY

YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action to Quiet Title to the following real property located in Alachua County, Florida:

A tract of land in Section 4, Township 10 South, Range 19 East, Alachua County, Florida, said tract of land being more particularly described as follows:

Commence at a railroad spike found and accepted as the Southwest corner of the Southeast 1/4 of said Section 4 and run North 0100'00" West, along the West line of the East 1/2 of said Section 4, a distance of 2866.48 feet to a rebar cap (P.L.S. No. 4258) set at the intersection of the West line with the Southerly right-of-way line of a 40 foot Alachua County right-of-way and the Point of Beginning; thence run South 3737'04" East, along said Southerly right-of-way line, a distance of 1112.09 feet to a rebar cap (P.L.S. No. 4258) set to the intersection of said right-of-way line with the East line of the West 1/4 of the East 1/2 of said Section 4; thence run North 0101'55" West, along said East line, a distance of 67.11 feet to an iron pipe found on the Southerly right-of-way line of Interstate Highway No. I-75 (a 300 foot right-of-way); thence run North 3737'04" West, along said Southerly right-of-way line of I-75, a distance of 1112.03 feet to an iron pipe found at the intersection of said Southerly right-of-way line with the aforementioned West line of the East 1/2 of said Section 4; thence run South 0100'00" East, along said West line, a distance of 67.06 feet to the Point of Beginning.

PARCEL ID: 06655-200-001

(the Property)

has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to the Plaintiffs Attorney, Andrew W. Rosin, Esq., 1900 Hillview Street, Sarasota, FL 34239, on or before thirty (30) days after the first date of publication of this Notice, and file the original with the Clerk of this Court either before service on the Plaintiffs attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint or petition.

DATED on this 12th day of March, 2020.

Clerk of the Court

See more here:
Legal Notice Advertising from the week of March 19, 2020 - Alachua County Today

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A* FLOOD WARNING FOR...ROGERS COUNTY IN NORTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA...SOUTHEASTERN OSAGE COUNTY IN NORTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA...CREEK COUNTY IN NORTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA...SOUTHEASTERN WASHINGTON COUNTY IN NORTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA...SOUTHEASTERN PAWNEE COUNTY IN NORTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA...TULSA COUNTY IN NORTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA...* UNTIL 730 PM CDT THURSDAY.* AT 737 AM CDT, DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATED THAT BETWEEN 2 AND 3 INCHESOF RAIN FELL ACROSS NORTHERN CREEK AND TULSA COUNTIES OVERNIGHT.WHILE SOME SPOTTY SHOWERS AND STORMS ARE POSSIBLE, THE HEAVY RAINSHAVE FOR THE MOST PART ENDED. HOWEVER, FLOODING FROM THESE RAINSWILL LIKELY LINGER FOR MANY HOURS. ONE PARTICULAR AREA HARDEST HITIS IN THE COLLINSVILLE AREA, NEAR HORSEPEN CREEK. THIS CREEK ISFLOODING WEST OF THE CANEY RIVER, WHICH IS ALSO FLOODING.* SOME LOCATIONS THAT MAY EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...TULSA... BROKEN ARROW...SAND SPRINGS... CLAREMORE...OWASSO... SAPULPA...JENKS... GLENPOOL...SKIATOOK... CATOOSA...COLLINSVILLE... VERDIGRIS...MANNFORD... DRUMRIGHT...CHELSEA... SPERRY...KELLYVILLE... OOLOGAH...OILTON... DEPEW...THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 44 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 178 AND 235, ANDBETWEEN MILE MARKERS 238 AND 260.IF HEAVY RAINS REDEVELOP OVER THE REGION, AN UPGRADE TO A FLASHFLOOD WARNING MAY BE NECESSARY FOR PORTIONS OF THE AREA.PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...TURN AROUND, DON'T DROWN WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED ROADS. MOST FLOODDEATHS OCCUR IN VEHICLES.&&

Read the original here:
Where did the term "March Madness" come from? - Tulsa World

Beginning Thursday, tree removal work on Bridge Avenue will require the intermittent closure of Bridge Avenue to allow the safe removal of large trees, according to a press release. The tree removal contractor will work in the general area between Hawthorne Avenue and Marshall Street on Bridge Avenue.

The public is asked to honor the detour and follow the signed route to ensure the safety of both the public and the crew working on the trees.

The road closures will be lifted at the end of each working day so that Bridge Avenue is open to traffic in the evenings and overnight. The work will take about a week and half, weather permitting.

Anyone with questions about the closures or nature of the work can contact Phil Wacholz, assistant director of Public Works, at 507-377-4378.

Read more:
Tree removal work begins on part of Bridge Avenue - Albert Lea Tribune - Albert Lea Tribune

GENESEE COUNTY, MI The removal of trees as part of preparation for a road widening project will impact a section of Hill Road for several days.

The Genesee County Road Commission announced trees will be removed beginning Monday, March 2 in the right-of-way on Hill Road, between Saginaw and Center roads in Grand Blanc Township.

Daytime lane closures are scheduled from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. March 2 and Tuesday, March 3.

Motorists are advised to slow down and allow additional time to reach their destination.

The same portion of road will be fully closed to all thru traffic from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. each day beginning Wednesday, March 4 for approximately one week, per the county road commission.

Motorists will need to seek an alternate route.

Gerrad Godley, the county road commissions construction department manager, said the widening project is scheduled to begin in April and be completed by end of August.

He noted the work is being done as the portion of Hill Road is heavily traffic, a main thoroughfare for Grand Blanc Community Schools, two cemeteries in the area, and experiences a high volume of commuter traffic to and from Interstate 475.

Visit link:
Tree removal to impact traffic along Hill Road in Grand Blanc area - MLive.com

Dear Editor:

I am deeply upset and disturbed by the removal of numerous trees recently on the lot at the corner of Glenside Road and Route 22 in Scotch Plains. Many residents in the neighborhood, which is also my neighborhood, have approached me and asked why these trees were removed, as they had been there for as long as we could remember and provided a sound barrier from the Route 22 traffic.

The answer, provided by the state, is that ONE person complained about visibility. I am confused as to how one persons complaint can result in the removal of dozens of trees that have been there for decades. While I acknowledge that there were some downed trees from storms in the past, I dont know why so many had to be cut down, and the tree stumps are still on that lot as of March 1, 2020. I understand that the state is possibly changing landscaping contractors, but I implore you to provide us with trees for that lot as soon as possible, and we, the residents of Scotch Plains, will plant them ourselves.

Our newsletter delivers the local news that you can trust.

We do not want to have to wait until the DOT approves a new landscaping contract this fall. In Scotch Plains, we have an active Green Team that is committed to educating residents on how to incorporate more sustainable habits into daily living, and planting trees and conserving our green space (especially near highways) is near the top of the list. Not only do trees absorb the noise from the highway, but they also turn the harmful emissions from vehicles into clean air for all of us to breathe. Having the state come in and remove so many of our trees is contradictory to our mission.

In fact, I was planning to reach out to the state about providing more trees along the adjacent state property that surrounds the gas station. Additionally, we have many deer in the area that rely on the small regions of open space and now that is one less area for them to inhabit.

In the future, I hope that the state will reach out to the Township of Scotch Plains ManagerAl Mirabellabefore infringing on such fragile space. Please advise as to when the stumps will be removed and when we can expect to receive new trees for us to plant in that area. Thank you.

Elizabeth Stamler (and other concerned residents)CouncilwomanScotch Plains

Editor's Note:This letter was sent to the NJDepartment of Transportation advising them of Councilwoman Stamler's (and her neighborhoods) concernwhen trees were removed along Route 22. It was sent on March 2, 2020, via email to Christopher Tomlin, Executive Director of the North region, DOT.

View post:
I Am Deeply Disturbed by The Removal of Numerous Trees in Scotch Plains - TAPinto.net

Ship Bottom officials arent letting any grass grow under their feet, so to speak. For the second consecutive meeting, the governing body has taken steps to strengthen beach and dune protection in the borough after a clear cutting of dune vegetation at a new build on 17th Street, set to play out in municipal court this week.

At the councils Feb. 25 meeting, the council unanimously passed Ordinance 02-2020 C after a public hearing that netted no public comment. The ordinance sets the maximum fine for anyone violating or failing to comply with the boroughs beach protection and bulkhead law at $2,000.

The maximum fine is set by state authority, not local. Ultimately, the monetary fine in a court proceeding is determined by the municipal court judge, Borough Solicitor Christopher J. Connors said during the meeting.

Currently, the monetary fine is set at no more than $1,000, with the possibility of imprisonment for a term not to exceed 90 days or community service not to exceed 90 days, or a combination of the three as determined by the municipal judge. Imprisonment, community service and the discretion of the municipal judge remain the same in the proposed measure.

Prior to the passage of Ordinance 02-2020C, the council discussed putting into play tree trimming regulations similar to those Barnegat Light has established.

I want an ordinance, Mayor William Huelsenbeck said of tree trimming regulations, not a memo.

Councilman Tom Tallon said if the boroughs code enforcement officer needs to be onsite for a tree trimming, then a permit fee should be included in any proposed measure.

Kathleen Flanagan, borough coordinator, said the tree cutting incident on 17th Street was a situation where too many trees were removed than were permitted to be eliminated.

In Ship Bottom, if trees are dead, they can be removed as long as the homeowner or landscaper has the permission of the borough engineer, according to Flanagan.

Someone said he said yes to the clear cutting, Flanagan said of Frank Little, borough engineer.

In January, Judge James Liguori adjourned the case of the cutting of dune vegetation until March 5, allowing the appropriate parties time to develop and submit a plan to restore dune vegetation. Under municipal code, dune restoration requires an application be made that includes a description of the activities to be performed, the equipment to be used and any other information the borough engineer deems necessary to properly review the proposed work. Restoration work cannot begin until a permit has been issued by the borough. The work must then begin within 10 days and be completed within 30 days unless otherwise approved by the governing body, according to municipal code.

At the Jan. 16 court date, the only individual present on the matter was a contractor, who said his sign was on the property, but he didnt remove the dune vegetation. The homeowner and any other individual party to the removal of dune grasses and trees were expected to be issued summonses to appear in municipal court on charges they violated Ship Bottoms beach and dune maintenance laws.

In Ship Bottom, preserving the beach-dune system is the responsibility of the property owner if or when maintenance is necessary on private property, according to the boroughs municipal code. Should the property owner fail to begin or complete the work within the approved time frame, the borough has the right to perform the work. The cost would be assessed to the property owner as a lien and levied as a tax on the land, under municipal code. Restoration work must be finished by May 15 and cannot begin any earlier than Oct. 15 unless approved by the borough council.

Gina G. Scala

ggscala@thesandpaper.net

Go here to read the rest:
Ship Bottom to Consider Ordinance to Regulate Tree Cutting - The SandPaper

Cutting trees can be costly especially if theyre in town open space.

The Board of Selectmen has accepted a $43,000 settlement from property owners and their contractor held responsible for cutting trees on town open space land the third monetary settlement of tree-cutting on open space in eight years.

Together the three settlements have brought the town $153,000 most of it flowing into the towns open space fund, with perhaps $30,000 or $35,000 going to legal fees, Conservation Commission chairman James Coyle estimated.

The cutting down of trees that have been standing for decades has serious and far reaching repercussions, Coyle said to The Press. Trees serve functions in our ecosystem that no other organism can entirely match. Among other functions they reduce CO2, provide oxygen, moderate temperature, provide habitat for wildlife, and reduce erosion. And last but not least, they are beautiful to look at and soothe our souls.

First Selectman Rudy Marconi viewed the legal action that led to the settlement as a stand by the town in defense of its open spaces.

You cant go on town property and cut trees, Marconi said. You should know where your property lines are.

Marconi spoke as the most recent settlement, stemming from tree-cutting in open space off Peaceable Ridge Road, was being considered by the selectmen before their 4-to-0 vote to approve it on Wednesday night, Feb. 19.

In the settlement agreement the property owners deny any knowledge of the removal of such trees until being notified by the Town of Ridgefield Conservation Commission of an open space violation.

Marconi noted that the town had reached settlements in two other cases of tree-cutting in open space one for about $23,000 off Barrack Hill Road and another for $80,000 off North Salem Road.

Coyle said there was more than money to the settlement.

An integral part of this is the property owners agree to clean up the mess they made, Coyle told the selectmen.

But the money is part of it.

Well take part of that settlement and do some replanting, Coyle said.

He gave The Press the background that led to the agreement.

The settlement at Peaceable Ridge Road relates to the cutting down of five large (16- to 24-inch diameter) trees on the towns West Mountain/McManus Section open space, Coyle said. The cut trees were spotted by a Conservation Commission member in the spring of 2019.

The property owner had hired a landscape contractor to do some clearing on his property. Unfortunately the contractor did not respect the property boundary and the five trees were on town open space.

A Notice of Violation pursuant to the Ridgefield Open Space Use Ordinance Chapter 262 was issued in June 2019 for the unauthorized cutting of trees and placement or dumping of waste materials, including cut trees.

Discussion at the selectmens meeting revealed that the contractor was paying $27,500 of the settlement, and the homeowners were paying $15,500.

Colye told the selectmen a lot of negotiating went into the agreement.

We went around and around and did a little compromising, Coyle told the selectmen.

Selectman Sean Connelly asked if the $43,000 was a sufficient amount to discourage similar violations in the future.

Someone says Im going to get a really nice view here. Is that enough of a deterrent? he asked.

Coyle said the value of the trees cut was assigned in accordance with the latest revision of The Guide for Plant Appraisal, as published by the International Society of Arboriculture, Urbana, Illinois which he described as a manual in its ninth of tenth edition.

A lot of factors help determine the trees monetary value.

Its a function of the diameter of the trees, the location of the trees, Coyle said.

This is a number accepted by the courts, he added.

The courts have at times imposed penalties exceeding the value of the trees cut, according to Coyle.

Had this violation proceeded to trial, he told The Press, the judge would have been able to apply a penalty of up to five times the value of the trees cut down.

In one of the largest settlements to date in Connecticut (a court decision relating to a property in Old Lyme), the judge applied a penalty multiplier of 3.5 to the calculated amount (the State Law allows a judge to apply a penalty multiplier of 1-5). This resulted in damages and court costs of $650,000, he said.

Coyle described for The Press the two other significant settlements in Ridgefield concerning tree cutting.

In 2016 a property owner on North Salem Road cut down five trees on town-owned open space property allegedly to improve his lake views. A nearby homeowner informed the Conservation Commission, the cutting was stopped, and an investigation conducted. The town went to court and reached a settlement in 2017 for $85,000.

The tree-cutting on Old Sib Road happened in 2012 and involved the loss of about a dozen trees.

This was settled out of court for around $25,000,. Coyle said.

The Conservation Commission takes great pride in our vast network of open spaces in Ridgefield, he said. We both maintain those open spaces and enforce our Open Space Use Ordinance to protect them.

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Ridgefield tree cutting leads to $43000 settlement - The Ridgefield Press

With spring coming, encouraging residents to FireSmart their homes and properties as they plan their spring cleanup projects was a priority at the City of Quesnels Forestry Innovation Centre open house.

At the open house, held Saturday, Feb. 29, representatives from the Citys Forestry Initiatives Program, the B.C. Wildfire Service and the United Way Fire Mitigation Project were available to provide information about reducing your risk during wildfire season.

The Citys Forestry Initiatives Program has new FireSmart information banners, which will be displayed during the PeeWee provincials and the Central Interior Hockey League Coy Cup, at the Quesnel Library and at the Quesnel Arts and Recreation Centre in the coming months.

The City will also have a booth with FireSmart information at the Quesnel Home and Outdoor Adventure Show April 18-19 and is planning another Forestry Innovation Centre open house at the end of April. The City is also working on organizing a Wildfire Preparedness Day for a date to be determined in May.

FireSmart B.C. tips for homeowners include everything from moving firewood 10-30 metres from your home and cleaning your roof and gutters of leaves and pine needles to having a wildfire evacuation plan with your household and keeping grass cut to less than 10 centimetres.

The United Way Fire Mitigation Project helps seniors and people who face mobility or mental health barriers protect their homes through the FireSmart principles.

The program runs until the end of August, and supervisors Ray Jungaro and Gary Horley say theyve been working pretty much all over the region so far.

Last month, they met with people who live around Troll Ski Resort, and Horley says they will start doing some pruning work there once the snow melts a bit. They are also going to present information about the program at a public meeting April 15 at the Sunset Theatre in Wells, which is being organized by the Wells-Barkerville Community Forest.

Were looking forward to that, said Horley. Its pretty well promoted by their Community Forest. I think well spend quite a bit of time east.

Horley and Jungaro held a meeting in Alexandria last week, and they expect theyll be doing quite a bit of work there too.

Through the United Way Fire Mitigation Project, a crew of four, led by a trained supervisor, will conduct fire mitigation assessments and activities on residential properties, following the guidelines set out by FireSmart Canada and B.C. Wildfire Service.

The crew will do a formal assessment of your property to identify areas where your home may be at risk, looking at everything from the materials used to build your home to the type of vegetation on your property. After the assessment, crew members will do some mitigation activities, such as moving woodpiles and relocating flammable materials to a safer distance, clearing dead organic waste from your property, clearing gutters and basic landscaping maintenance, such as pruning tress and shrubs of their dead limbs and removing tall grasses.

They will also provide recommendations and information on how to have other activities, such as tree removal and thinning or roof replacement, done.

This project is aimed at seniors and community members who face mobility and/or mental health barriers who have difficulty or are unable to complete the activities themselves. For those who meet the eligibility requirements, the service is free.

This winter, Jungaro and Horley and their crew have also been helping clear driveways for seniors who cannot do it on their own.

We were glad we could do that, said Horley.

The crew also recently helped a senior who had been badly hurt by chopping and stacking her firewood.

Jungaro and Horley will be taking part in Local FireSmart Representative training March 25-26, and after that, they will be included in the B.C. FireSmart website.

Jungaro and Horley will be presenting more information about the Fire Mitigation Project April 18-19 at the Quesnel Home and Outdoor Adventure Show.

For more information about the United Way Fire Mitigation Project, contact Ray Jungaro at 250-992-1508 or Garry Horley at 250-991-6143 or email either of them at quesnel@unitedwaytnc.ca.

For more information about FireSmart, visit firesmartbc.ca.

READ MORE: Quesnels United Way Fire Mitigation Project has been a success so far

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Importance of FireSmarting your home highlighted at Quesnel open house - Quesnel Cariboo Observer