New Trees in Town

Happy Earth Day 2016

     Two new trees have been added to the city's inventory in celebration of Earth Day thanks to the efforts and generosity of some Newburyport residents. Students from the NHS environmental club met with Tree Commissioners Dave Dylewski and Sheila Taintor to break ground for a small Red Maple sapling on Toppans Lane across from the high school. At the entrance of the Little River Nature Trail on Storey Avenue, a White Oak donated by Saltbox Financial was also given its forever home.

 Dave Dylewski from the Tree Commission with NHS Environmental Club students, Annaliese Keller and Sarah Simon

    Dave talked about the function of the Newburyport Tree Commission and walked the students through the tree planting process. He explained that although it is very small right now, the Red Maple will thrive in this wide open location. His only concern was vandalism. Molly Beluk and Sarah Simon are seniors this year and hope to regroup with underclassman Annalise Keller each year on Earth Day to photograph themselves with Charlie Brown documenting its growth. They will take care of its watering needs until mid-September and Annaliese will see to it that the Environmental Club will pick up the reins next Spring.

Molly Beluk, Annaliese Keller, Sarah Simon and Sheila Taintor getting the lowdown on tree planting basics

Planting the Red Maple sapling on Toppans Lane across from Newburyport High School

Staking the Charlie Brown sapling after mulching

Voila! 

 On the other side of town, Cris Miller, Dave Dylewski and  Jim McCarthy and his neighbor, Joe Lamb take turns digging the much bigger hole needed for a White Oak sapling, ten times the size of Charlie Brown. While little was needed to amend the soil on Toppans Lane, the Tree Commission opted for some loam and lime for this tree. Jim McCarthy of Saltbox Financial, the donating institution selected  a White Oak because no other tree rivals its majestic appearance in wide open areas, in his opinion. Also, they can live to be 200 or 300 years old. In a dense forest, it could grow quite tall, but in this wide open location, it will likely be on the shorter end of 50-80 feet with a canopy as wide as its height.

Jim allows his neighbor, Joe Lamb to break ground for his gift to the city while he contemplates how he will truck in water twice weekly for the next five months.

A labor of love!

Almost ready for planting

Dave, Cris, Jim and Joe look like they might be ready for cold adult beverages. 

Thanks so much to the Tree Commission, Newburyport High School Environmental Club, Friends of Newburyport Trees and Saltbox Financial for their time and generosity to add to Newburyport's canopy in honor of Earth Day 2016!

Any corrections or suggestions can be sent to me at kimkudym@comast.net. To contribute funds for more trees, please send to:
FoNT
Box 1155
Newburyport, MA 01950

The FoNT website will be up and running shortly if you prefer to pay through PayPal at www.fontrees.org. Thank you!!

Friends of Newburyport Trees in Action

Help replace me! 

   It's disheartening to know that for every minute of the day we lose the equivalent of forty-eight football fields of trees on our planet. On a brighter and much more hopeful note, the world's largest recruiter to the environmental movement, Earth Day Network has pledged to plant one tree per human being by the year 2020 with their plan:  Trees for the Earth.  In our Newburyport, look for Friends of Newburyport Trees on two big Saturdays coming up, April 23 and 30. Led by the Tree Commission, you will see them on the streets pruning and mulching the newest plantings.  Among the most recent are six Princeton Elms planted at the corner of High and Green Streets. Twenty-eight more are scheduled for planting this Fall on the section of Green Street between High Street and Pleasant Street.

Mary Jo Ficocello pruning in front of City Hall last Spring

Valley Tree Crew at the end of day helping Friends of Our Trees and the Tree Commission

    Friends of Newburyport Trees' mission is to raise funds through donations and grants to support projects above and beyond what is possible within the city's budget. In collaboration with the Tree Commission, FoNT has identified the entryways to Newburyport as potential Gateway projects to be re-landscaped with trees and shrubs.  Project #1 is a small parcel of land adjacent to the Cornelius Doyle Triangle on Storey Ave near the Famous Pizzeria. Jane Niebling submitted a CPA grant to carry out landscape architect Tim Heatwole's beautiful design for this gateway to the city.

Newest planting on Green Street, Princeton Elms

    Just last week three mature trees had to be removed on High Street near State Street. FoNT will be looking to replace one hundred trees that have been removed over the years due to hazard and/or disease all along High Street in hopes of restoring its original beauty. We need your help! Please consider a donation to Friends of Newburyport Trees and send to P.O Box 1155, Newburyport, MA 01950.

A beautiful white oak will be planted in a prominent location very soon, thanks to one generous resident! Stay tuned.

Mayor Holaday Proclamation with FoNT Board Member, Jean Berger

Goodbye Trees!  Thank you for all the wonderful years!

Welcome to Newburyport, Dear Princeton Elm!