Red Hook's Brent Kovalchik and Frances Uku

(left to right) NYS DEC Urban Forestry Program Assistant Sally Kellogg with the Village of Red Hook’s Deputy Mayor Brent Kovalchik and Village Green Committee member Frances Uku. The Village has been a Tree City USA for 14 years.

The 9th annual Tree City/Line/Campus USA Recognition Ceremony was held on March 26, 2015 in Albany where over 40 communities were in attendance including the longest-running Tree City USA, Poughkeepsie NY, represented by Tree Committee member Virginia Hancock.

New York State has 110 Tree City USAs, 6 Tree Line USA utilities, and 14 Tree Campus USAs. These programs were created by the Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters to recognize the stewardship of urban forests by communities.

ST JOHNS TC USA

Congrats, St. John’s University, on entering your 4th year as a Tree Campus USA!

Tree City USA is a program that provides direction, technical assistance, public attention and national recognition for urban and community forestry programs in thousands of towns and cities that more than 93 million Americans call home. A complete list of all communities is posted on DEC’s website at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/5272.html.

Speakers for the March event included organizations from USFS, Cazenovia College, and NYS DEC, the NYS DEC Commissioner Joe Martens was also in attendance of the event and showed his support of the programs.

poster winner

Congrats to winning Arbor Day poster artist Nayeon Park, here with her brother and mother and State Urban Forestry Coordinator Mary Kramarchyk (left) and Program Assistant Sally Kellogg (right)

2015bookmarkThe Department also recognized the 2015 DEC Arbor Day Poster Contest winner Nayeon Park, a 5th Grader from P.S. 209 Clearview Gardens School in Whitestone, Queens, New York. The theme of this year’s children’s artwork was Tree-Mendous Trees of New York. Read on for more pics from the event.

 

 

 

 

 

Syracuse City Forester and NYSUFC Board Member Steve Harris accepts Syracuse’s Tree City USA and Growth Award materials. Syracuse has been a Tree City for 25 years.

Syracuse City Forester and NYSUFC Board Member Steve Harris accepts Syracuse’s Tree City USA and Growth Award materials. Syracuse has been a Tree City for 25 years!

Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan spoke at the event. "This Arbor Day, the City of Albany is especially grateful for the $250,000 awarded us through New York State's Environmental Protection Fund to improve Tivoli Lake Preserve, an urban woodland area that is a diamond in the rough," she said. "Thank you to the DEC and to Governor Cuomo as well for funds that will help us clear invasive species, build trails, and make the park more inviting to everyone looking for a woodland oasis in our City."

Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan spoke at the event. “This Arbor Day, the City of Albany is especially grateful for the $250,000 awarded us through New York State’s Environmental Protection Fund to improve Tivoli Lake Preserve, an urban woodland area that is a diamond in the rough,” she said. “Thank you to the DEC and to Governor Cuomo as well for funds that will help us clear invasive species, build trails, and make the park more inviting to everyone looking for a woodland oasis in our City.”

 

 

Nancy Needham and Brian Skinner received the Town of Manlius’s Tree City USA materials. This was their 11th year as a Tree City.

Manlius Tree Commission Chairwoman Nancy Needham and Tree Commission member Brian Skinner received the Town of Manlius’s Tree City USA materials. This was their 11th year as a Tree City USA.

National Grid

National Grid was recognized both for its Tree Line USA status and for its steadfast support of urban forestry in NYS. L-R: Eric Seaborn (NG Mass), Mary Kramarchyk, Brian Skinner, Aric Dicruttalo, James Maloney, Steven Campbell (NG NY), and Sally Kellogg

The Village of Westhampton Beach, Long Island has been a Tree City USA for 27 years! (left to right) Sally Kellogg, John Wernet from DEC in Long Island, Andrew Debruis Arborist for Village of Westhampton Beach, and CCE Nassau County Horticulture Educator Vinnie Drzewucki

The Village of Westhampton Beach, Long Island has been a Tree City USA for 27 years! (left to right) Sally Kellogg, John Wernet from DEC in Long Island, Andrew Debruis, Arborist for Village of Westhampton Beach, and CCE Nassau County Horticulture Educator Vinnie Drzewucki