ASCUTNEY The state will delay plans to cut down a beleaguered tree and pay for a second opinion from an arborist as town and state officials seek solutions for a century-old maple that has stirred calls for preservation as the last visible remnant of a farm owned by the late Romaine Tenney.

Selectboard members and state officials with the Vermont Agency of Transportation agreed Monday night that Interim Weathersfield Town Manager Sven Fedorow would contact area arborists and send those names to the state, which would then decide whom to hire for another examination of the tree.

VTrans has agreed to postpone removing the tree until further evaluation, and we will also work with the town on a historical marker (for Tenney), Andrea Wright, the right of way and environmental program manager with the Agency of Transportation, said Tuesday.

The concession to community outcry may help the state stem a controversy that paralleled the events before Tenneys death in 1964. Despite repeated Tenneys repeated refusal to sell the farm, the state seized his property to make way for Interstate 91, after which Tenney burned his farmhouse and took his own life.

Those wounds were reopened for some in the community earlier this year, when an arborist hired by the state determined that the maple tree, which sits on the edge of the park and ride off Exit 8, was mostly dead and could not be saved.

With the pending removal of the last piece of Tenneys farm, a public meeting late last month that was supposed to be about a memorial for Tenney instead became a demand from many residents to save the tree. That was followed by a formal request from the Selectboard to hold off cutting down the tree and an invitation to state officials to come to Mondays meeting, which led to the agreement for a second arborist.

On Tuesday, Selectboard member Dave Fuller, who joined others at the October meeting demanding the tree be saved, said he has softened his position somewhat and has recognized that eventually it will have to come down. About 10 years ago, cables were installed to stabilize the tree, which is more than 100 years old and 80 feet tall.

When it does come down, Fuller and others said, they hope the trees base, about 8 to 10 feet below a large cavity, can be saved. One idea Fuller mentioned Tuesday was an eternal flame placed in a carved-out section of the trunk with a small window.

It could signify Romaine Tenney never left, Fuller said.

The board also discussed removing some of the limbs and branches that pose a danger to vehicles and pedestrians in the park and ride and will have the arborist consider that as well. Fedorow said if nothing is done the state would likely close off about seven parking spaces at the heavily used park and ride to limit its liability.

Losing seven spaces could be problematic, Fedorow said.

Patrick OGrady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.

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State delays cutting down Tenney farm tree, will get second opinion on its health - Valley News

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Lakehead residents said they were concerned about this tree damaging nearby Pacific Gas and Electric Co. power lines.(Photo: Damon Arthur/Record Searchlight)

For the past year, Janeen Pepper has watched a large pine across the street from her Lakehead home slowly die as the needlesturned from green to brown.

So last month, Pepper's neighbor, Brad Church, finally called Pacific Gas & Electric Co. to tell them the tree was dead and may need to be removed because it was near electrical lines and a transformer.

Pepper said she was unable to find out when the tree was going to be removed. With winter approaching, it worried her that wind and snow could break branches off the tree and knock out power to the neighborhood.

"It's dead. Look at it, the limbs are going to start falling off and the snows are going to start coming," Pepper said.

"There's been power outages because of the wind and this is one more dead tree close to a transformer," she said

Pepper said she had been unable to find out when crews planned to remove the tree, but on Tuesday, PG&E spokesman Paul Moreno said the company it hired to remove trees plans to cut down the tree within the next couple weeks.

He said the tree did not pose an immediate threat.

"If we had indeed identified it as a hazard tree it would have been removed that day," Moreno said.

Earlier in the year, the tree was inspected and it still had enough green canopy that it didn't warrant removal, Moreno said.

"But after the customer called us we re-examined the tree," he said."Although we found it to have enough green canopy left, we decided to have it removed due to customer concern and the possibility its condition could eventually make it eligible for removal in the future."

Lakehead residents said they were concerned about this tree damaging nearby Pacific Gas and Electric Co. power lines.(Photo: Damon Arthur/Record Searchlight)

PG&E is concerned about more than just trees in Lakehead this week. The company announced Monday that up to 300,000 customers in 25 counties, including Shasta County, could lose electricity on Wednesday due to high winds forecast for that day.

"Worsening dry conditions and expected high wind gusts pose an increased risk for damage and sparks on the electric system that have the potential to ignite fires in areas with dry vegetation," a PG&E news release said.

However, by Tuesday, PG&E said the number of customers affected by the public safety power outages was downgraded and would likely be around 181,000 people in 16 counties.

In Shasta County, PG&E is estimating 8,940 customers in Anderson, Cottonwood, Igo, Millville and Palo Cedro will be affected by the outages.

The outage will also affect some people living around Redding, PG&E said. However, most Redding residents get their electricity provided by Redding Electric Utility.

Damon Arthur is the Record Searchlights resources and environmentreporter. He is among the first on the scene at breaking news incidents, reporting real time on Twitter at@damonarthur_RS. Damon is part of a dedicated team of journalists who investigate wrongdoing and find the unheard voices to tell the stories of the North State. He welcomes story tips at 530-225-8226 and damon.arthur@redding.com. Help local journalism thrive bysubscribing today!

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With wind on the way Lakehead residents worry about dead tree near power lines - Record Searchlight

HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pa., Nov. 18, 2019 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) Researchers are still learning about the Spotted Lanternfly, an invasive insect attacking trees and causing property damage across Pennsylvania. Penn State, along with the PA Department of Agriculture and the USDA, has been researching the habits and life cycle of Spotted Lanternfly since it first appeared in Berks County in 2014.

One thing is certain: the Ailanthus Tree (or Tree of Heaven) is a magnet for these pests. The experts at Giroud Tree and Lawn explain why if homeowners have an Ailanthus tree on the property, removal may be the best way to avoid an invasion of Spotted Lanternfly.

Why Is Spotted Lanternfly Spreading So Fast?Spotted Lanternfly came from Asia, where natural predators keep the species from multiplying too quickly. Unfortunately, here in the United States, its spreading rapidly because those known predators arent around to keep it in check.

What Can Homeowners Do toControl Spotted Lanternfly?Although this insects population is growing exponentially each year, there are many things homeowners can do to control it:

What is an Ailanthus Tree?The main host tree for Spotted Lanternfly is the Ailanthus Altissima, or Tree of Heaven. Ailanthus trees came to the U.S. fromChina around the 1780s. Classified as weed trees, they reproduce by both seed and root sprouts. Shoots can sprout from the trees roots from as far away as 5o feet around the tree!

Ailanthus trees can grow up to 100 feet tall and the trunk can be nearly 6 feet in diameter. They have a great canopy and often thrive easily in conditions other trees dont. In fact, an Ailanthus tree may be viewed as an important part of the yard and homeowners may be hesitant to remove them. However, if there are any other valuable trees on the property, the Ailanthus will attract Spotted Lanternfly and the insects could also swarm other trees.

Spotted Lanternfly have been known to attack other types of trees, including Black Walnuts, Maples, Birches, Willows, and many more.According to the PA Department of Agriculture,they feed from more than 70 species of trees, and 25 of them are found in Pennsylvania. Keeping an Ailanthus tree is like inviting Spotted Lanternfly to a buffet in the backyard!

How to Remove Ailanthus TreesIf homeowners have an Ailanthus tree or are not sure if a tree is an Ailanthus, they should call an ISA Certified Arborist to evaluate the tree look for signs of Spotted Lanternfly. Giroud Tree and Lawn recommends removing Ailanthus trees and grinding the stumps down as deeply as possible.

After removing the Ailanthus tree and stump, sprouts may still pop up on the property.The good news is they are easy to remove! Grab the shoot by its base and pull upward gently to remove the young tree and all of its roots. To see how to identify and remove an Ailanthus tree, watch this video with Giroud Tree and Lawns ISA Certified Arborist, Mike Chenail.

Giroud Tree and Lawn specializes in tree service, lawn care and mosquito and tick control programs that make customers love doing business with the company since 1974. Serving Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties, the company offers professional tree and lawn evaluation, tree pruning, tree removal, insect and disease control, fertilizing, stump removal, traditional and 100% organic lawn programs and mosquito and tick control.

Giroud Arborists are certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and have the knowledge and experience required to properly diagnose, treat and maintain trees and lawn health. The company is Accredited by the Tree Care Industry Association and Better Business Bureau. Giroud has also been awarded the Angies List Super Service Award every year since 2005. The Giroud Treework for Charity program donates free tree care services to parks, historical sites and other non-profit organizations located in the Companys service area.

For more information, visit the company website at http://www.giroudtree.com or call 215-682-7704.

News Source: Giroud Tree and Lawn

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Giroud Tree and Lawn explains homeowners should remove Ailanthus trees, the host plant for Spotted Lanternfly - Send2Press Newswire

Bexley residents have compared the council removing a swathe of trees to fires tearing through the Amazon rainforest.

Lorraine Sheen, who has lived adjacent to the River Shuttle in Sidcup since 1964, said she was devastated to see Bexley council undertaking tree clearing work near her home this week.

Theyve completely cut them down to the ground, she said of the trees which had lined the River Shuttle along her street.

She added the vegetation acted as important cover for local wildlife such as kingfishers and hedgehogs, as well as adding much-valued privacy for residents along the road.

I moved here in 1964 they were what sold me the house, she said of the formerly leafy surrounds.

The houses here are sold as soon as they come on to market. Those trees were a major part of that.

A spokesperson for the council said the tree clearing work on Berwick Crescent, Sidcup, was essential and proactive work being carried outto remove and prune trees that are potentially dangerous or are growing in unsuitable locations.

Some of these trees require regular pruning (coppicing) to ensure they remain healthy and safe for many to years to come.

A small number of residents have expressed concern and we are always happy to discuss and explain why such works are both necessary and so important.

The council added that, following discussions with residents, additional trees would be planted at the site next year.

On 19 November arboricultural officers met on-site with residents and adjusted the programme to soften the visual impact of the remaining works. In addition a commitment was given to plant several new trees in suitable locations in this area early next year.

However, Mrs Sheen claimed the change in plans was due to the council realising theyve made a mistake.

It is like the fires in the Amazon, she said.

Its vandalismthe wildlife that is now gone, the trees that are never going to recoverthe trunks that are a metre around, they wont grow back in my lifetime.

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Bexley tree removal compared to 'Amazon rainforest fires' - News Shopper

The Tpuna Maunga Authority's plan for wairaka Photo: Tpuna Maunga Authority

Were now into the second week of protest over the removal of 345 exotic trees from the slopes of wairaka/Mt Albert, and theres no resolution in sight.

But this is not a surprise thats been sprung on locals. The Tpuna Maunga Authority (TMA) manages 14 of Aucklands volcanic cones returned to mana whenua in 2014 in a Treaty settlement. It has plans to restore and revegetate all the sacred maunga and those plans havent been done by stealth all the proper planning processes have been gone through, with the management plan publicly notified in April 2016. Public hui about the changes have been held over the last year.

Many locals though say they werent aware of the extent of the tree removal until workers arrived en masse, in the early hours of the morning, to start chopping.

And in a city thats lost a huge amount of its mature urban forest through the removal of protection legislation, who wouldnt protest?

Heres a twist in the tale The Tree Council isnt protesting, and nor is Forest & Bird. Both back the iwi.

Tree Council chair Sean Freeman says he spends all his spare time fighting for trees in the city.

Whether theyre individual trees, or groups of trees in parks, roadside trees so of course its difficult and its painful. But if were to manage the urban forest in a modern city, you have to take a rational and logical approach to the way in which you weigh up decisions about what youre going to do, and what youre going to say is fine, and is not fine.

I have that much respect for the passion that people demonstrate when they put themselves in jeopardy by breaking the law so I have no massive negativity towards the protesters at all.

But we stand with the iwi.

There is an opportunity through whats planned to make an immense difference to the environment in this city, and the Tree Council really hopes that that the Tpuna Maunga Authority has the ability to fulfil the plans that its put forward.

The cone of Mt Albert/Owairaka in a postcard from around 1910 Photo: C.O Hawke, New Plymouth

Freeman says if this plan goes to fruition the maunga will be beacons of natural ecosystems located within high density residential areas.

The tihi summit area - of the maunga will be predominantly free of large vegetation, and will be grassed.

One of the keystone elements of healing the maunga is to re-establish the visual connection between the maunga across the city from one maunga to another.

Freeman says communication about what the TMA wants to do clearly hasnt been totally successful.

Hindsights always wonderful its very difficult for any management authority to know with any certainty if it has communicated effectively, and the lack of response is often taken as acquiescence, whereas clearly this is not the case. Its merely the fact that people arent aware.

A letter drop is not the way the planning scheme works, but Freeman says in this case it might have been a good idea.

They certainly tried, with their public hui that they ran following the hearing approval in 2016. But clearly that wasnt effective either in communicating.

Freeman says the Tree Council has received as much support as it has detractors over this issue, but the nastiness on social media has been ridiculous.

Some individuals need to think very carefully about what it is theyre projecting when they say certain things about the Authority, and about their management plan and about their treaty settlement, he says.

And the English-born New Zealand resident of seven years says we should be proud of our treaty settlements, and put them up on a pedestal.

That kind of justice is not common.

Photo: RNZ

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The battle over wairaka is about more than trees - RNZ

The National Capital Commission is vowing to come up with a uniform strategy to protect the trees that cover nearly three-quarters of its lands.

NCC staff told the board of directors Thursday there's currently only a "patchwork" of policies and practices to manage its forests, many of which are stressed by disease andextreme weather.

The emerald ash borer infestation forced the removal of70,000 ash trees since 2013, while thousands of elms have also been lost to Dutch elm disease since 2000.

Trees in the capital regionface other foes, too, including road salt and urban sprawl.

The NCC, along with the cities of Ottawa and Gatineau, recently produced a comprehensive tree survey of the region, and plans to do more mapping to figure out the right places to plant the right trees.

At Thursday's meeting, theboard heard the NCC does a decent job of protecting its forests with limited funds, especially in light of recenttornadoes and flooding.

"I can't tell you how important I think this is," said NCC board member Larry Beasley, who urged staff to make sure the urban areas are planted with diverse species of trees.

The NCC is planning further consultationwith Algonquin First Nations, and will conduct online public consultation in the spring. Its five-year forest strategy is expected to come to the board for approvalin September 2020.

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NCC aiming to fix 'patchwork' approach to protecting trees - CBC.ca

Trees downed for the Stage 2 LRT project. (City of Ottawa photo)

Work for Stage 2 LRT is underway and that has meant tree-clearing in some areas to make room for rail and station construction. Many of these trees will be lost, although some will be relocated where feasible.

Heres a notice from the city detailing how the removal and mitigation is planned:

Area restoration, tree replacement and greenspace re-seeding will be completed as part of the final local area finishing works. An overall average tree replacement ratio of 2:1 (two trees for every one removed) will be replanted along the Stage 2 LRT alignment.

Tree Loss Mitigation and Replacement

The following measures will be taken to mitigate tree loss:

The removal work started in October and is continuing in November with plans to finish it all by the end of this year, to avoid the 2020 bird nesting season. The city said some trees can be relocated rather than destroyed, although most will have to be cut down and the loss compensated for with the replanting program. Tree removal/relocation has to be done before other key construction tasks can be accomplished, such as the cut-and-cover rail trench that will be built along the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway.

You can see detailed maps of the tree-clearing boundary along the line on ottawa.ca.

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City looking to plant two trees for every one tree cut down for LRT extension project - OttawaStart.com

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All our workers are fully insured and bonded and as such, you are safe when you hire us. Trees are the most visible part of your landscape and as such, you should ensure that they are always looking great. Every tree service should be left to the professionals as this could end up being a hazard. Tree removal is one of the most dangerous tree services and this needs to be left to qualified experts.

We are the professionals that you have been looking for in Miramar and we will look out for your best interests. We are committed to ensuring that all our clients are fully satisfied before we move on to the next project. We have been in the industry for more than 15 years and our valuable experience is something that you will love. There is no task which we consider to be too small or too difficult. Call us today and we will discuss your trees.

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Tree Service Miramar FL - Tree Removal, Trimming And More

Pruning is an essential part of tree health and maintenance, but it can ruin the tree if not done correctly. Understanding when to trim and prune your trees is an important part of tree ownership, but youre not alone in figuring it out. We will help you understand tree pruning essentials and explain the best time of year to trim trees in our blog post below!

Before we can explain the best times to trim your trees, youll want to ensure you understand the reasons behind your trimming. Although light trimming can be done any time of year, more intense tree trimming is dependent on seasonality.

Because trees are dormant in the fall and winter, tree pruning is most commonly done during these seasons. Trimming during the trees dormant season has a wide range of benefits including: quick healing time, less risk of disease and pest infestation, and less flowing sap.

Trimming your trees during the fall and winter seasons can also be much easier than trimming in the hotter seasons. The cold ground will give the arborists easy access to the tree, while the sparse tree canopy makes branches and limbs easier to see, creating a more effective tree trimming project.

The best part of pruning your trees in the fall or winter is that you can expect a burst of new growth in the spring, leading to a healthier tree and more beautiful yard!

Its best practice to trim trees after their flowers have bloomed, but before the flowers fade. If you tree blooms in the summer, you will want to prune them during winter or early spring.

Unlike winter pruning which causes a tree to further grow and develop, summer pruning should be used to slow the growth of undesirable branches. This type of pruning results in dwarfing the tree or branches by directing its growth. Summer pruning could be completed after seasonal growth has ended.

Another reason you might want to prune your trees in the summer is for corrective purposes. Defective, dead and diseased limbs can be seen more easily in the summer, allowing you to quickly address the problem.

Now that you understand when you should trim and prune your trees, are you ready to get your project started? Our experts at Brents Tree Service can help you with all your pruning needs. Give us a call today!

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Best Time of Year to Trim Trees - Brents Tree Service

A Tree Removal Permit is required for removal of any significant tree within the City of Redmond regardless of its condition. A tree removal permit is not required for routine maintenance. Routine maintenance includes selective pruning.

For single family properties, the maximum number of healthy significant trees allowed to be removed per year is based upon the size of your lot.

Up to 10,000 square feet - 2 significant trees

10,001 20,000 square feet 4 significant trees

20,001 30,000 square feet 6 significant trees

30,001 square feet or larger 8 significant trees

For new single-family construction or single-family additions, a minimum of 35% of the existing healthy significant trees on the site must be retained.

For multi-family residential, commercial and industrial properties, the maximum number of health trees removed per year is five (5) per acre.

Landmark trees (greater than 30 inches in diameter at 4.5 feet above the ground), protected trees, and trees within a critical area (i.e. Native Growth Protection Easement or a wetland/stream buffer, etc.) cannot be removed unless they are determined to be hazardous, dead, diseased, dying or structurally unsound by a certified arborist.

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Tree Removal | Redmond, WA