PRAIRIE TREE COMPANION

Urban And Community Trees Enhance The Quality Of Our Lives

  
 Vol. 11 No. 2      Illinois Department of Natural Resources Urban Forestry Program         April/May, 2002

---

Money Matters

Ongoing Grant Opportunities

K-Mart Fund For Kids and K-Mart Fund For Communities - supporting children's programs and community volunteer groups. www.kmartcorp.com/corp/community/index.stm

Noyes Foundation Sustainable Communities Grant - promoting environmentally sound and economically vital and socially just efforts nationwide. 212-684-6577 www.noyes.org

Belvidere Fund - Grants for Grassroots Environmental Groups - not to exceed $25,000. Contact Catherine Lerza at 202-293-0062 for more information.

National Tree Trust Partnership Enhancement Grant Program - for 501(c)3 organizations has four categories: tree planting/maintenance, education/training, overhead/administration, and national program/project.
www.nationaltreetrust.org/NTTPrograms.htm
E-mail: info@nationaltreetrust.org

FY'02 National Urban and Community Forestry budget: $36 million, $358,000 above last year's level.

Technical Assistance

Morton Arboretum- Bloom'n Color Hotline - explore the Morton Arboretum';s collection of over 3,300 types of plants from around the world. Find out the current color information on the Bloom 'n Color Hotline (630-719-7955) or at www.mortonarb.org

E-Mail Addresses of Interest
For a database on plants:
http://plants.usda.gov/

For a oak tree planting web site:
http://www.geocities.com/acorns_for_america

For information on allergy free gardens:
www.allergyfree-gardening.com

To link to the Community Trees website:
www.Communitytrees.org

For the Seeds of Woody Plants reference in U.S. Agriculture Handbook #450: www.wpsm.net

To view a new e-journal on Land Use and Water Resources Research: http://www.luwrr.com

For over 3,500 images of more than 800 insects, diseases, plants, wildlife and management practices try:
http://www.ForestryImages.org

Publications Available
To order the new Compatible Street Tree Facts Sheets contact: Publications office at 112 Agricultural Admin. Building, University Park, PA 16802. Factsheets On-line. These factsheets were developed by Cornell Extension, Monroe County with funding from the Forest Service, NY State DEC and Cornell. http://www.cce.cornell.edu/monroe/cfep/factsheets/index.html#forestryfactsheets

New Book: Trees and Risk: Reclaiming an Urban Forest. A recently published title by award-winning author Evelyn Herwitz, this book is a case study of Worcester, Massachusetts colonization/growth and examines the impact of urbanization on the (or any) city's forests throughout the previous three centuries. For more information, search: www.chandlerhousepress.com

New Curriculum in Development - Project Learning Tree invites you to help in the development of a new secondary supplemental curriculum called "Exploring Environmental Issues in the Places We Live." This new module will explore the many facets of the theme of community environmental issues, dealing with topics as varied as urban growth, energy use, water quality, transportation, health, land use, and economics. The variety of activities will help students examine the relationships between people, communities, and the environment that define our neighborhoods. To join in the development process and serve as links to local resources log on to: http://www.plt.org/communities/Join.htm. Username: homer Password: treebark

Read about the different sections of the module, submit any local resources that you think would help in the development of the module and/or be useful to other educators as they teach these topics.

Recognition, Awards and Contests

Illinois Arbor Day Poster Winner Champ Wins National Competition
Nearly 1,700 students from 45 schools submitted entries for this year's theme, "Trees are Terrific.... Inside and Out!" Each school submitted its winner to the state competition, which is sponsored by the Department of Natural Resources and the National Arbor Day Foundation, with financial support from the Illinois Chapter of the Society of American Foresters and the Illinois Arborist Association.

Sooah Yoo, a fifth grade student at Woodland Intermediate School in Grayslake, is this year's Illinois Arbor Day Poster Contest winner and the National Arbor Day Foundation's national Arbor Day poster contest competition. "This young lady's entry was very creative, incorporating many wildlife species in the tree's branches and a variety of products that can be made from wood drawn inside the tree's trunk," said Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Brent Manning. To view Yoo's winning poster please visit Illinois Department of Natural Resources web page at http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/education/classrm/poster.htm. Yoo is a student of Rachel Josephson.

At the state level, Yoo's Illinois victory earned her a $100 U.S. Savings Bond, National Arbor Day book bag and Taylor's Guide - Trees and Secret's of Monet's Garden books. The national winner will be publically announced on April 26th by the National Arbor Day Foundation at the Washington D.C. opening of the Arbor Day National Poster Contest Art Exhibit. This exhibit is held at the U.S. Botanical Gardens. The national winner, two parents and the art teacher will receive an expense-paid trip to Washington D.C. to participate in the announcement then travel to Nebraska City for the 2002 Arbor Day weekend festivities. First-place prizes at the national level include a $1,000 U.S. Savings Bond, lifetime membership to the National Arbor Day Foundation and a framed color copy of the winning poster. The winner's teacher will receive $200 for educational materials.

The other Illinois contest finalists and the prizes they will receive are:

2nd place - Mignon Rademan, a student of Mrs. Julie Higginbotham at Oakland Grade School, Antioch.

3rd place - Edward Swingler, a student of Ms. Vicki Niemerg at Sacred Heart Elementary School, Effingham.

4th place - Lorraine L. Chow, a student of Mrs. Debra Stapleton at Barkstall School, Champaign.

5th place - Edward Anderson, a student of Mrs. Ann Butcher at Fearn Elementary, North Aurora.

6th place - Blythe Roberson, a student of Diane Loughlin at W. C. Petty School, Antioch.

7th place - Lauren Beaird, a student of Mrs. Darla Tieszen at Ingersoll Middle School, Canton.

8th place - Kristin Pearson, a student of Marcia Meyer at Grand Ridge Grade School, Grand Ridge.

9th place - Kevin Hsiue, a student of Debra Johnson at Country Meadow Elementary School, Long Grove.

10th place - Julianne Shupryt, a student of Cindy Zabilka at St. Michael School, Orland Park.

The following students won honorable mention: Rosie Drosos, a student of Heather Kolosinski at Mann Park, Chicago; Dhara Thakkar, a student of Patricia Bongiorno at Lakeview School, Hoffman Estates; and Jessica Hwang, a student of Mr. Abraham J. Lee at North Elementary School, Des Plaines.

This year's judges included: Ron Coombs, Tree City USA contact for East Peoria; Larry McDaniel, Tree City USA contact for Peoria; Channey Lyons, a writer/editor for Illinois Times and visual arts review for the Times Observer; Scott Bretthauer, University of Illinois Extension Specialist in Urban Forestry; and Brandon Ramirez, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Urban Forestry.

The Arbor Day Poster Contest is open to all public, private and home-schooled fifth graders. Individual schools are responsible for local poster contest judging, with winners of the school contests sent to the IDNR for state judging. The 2003 theme is "Trees are Terrific...from acorn to oak!" Informational packets will be mailed in the fall to all Illinois schools having fifth grade classes. Entries for the 2003 contest must be postmarked by February 20, 2003.

Tree City USA

171 Illinois Communities Receive Tree City USA Honors Making Illinois #2 in the National for the Number of Tree City USA Communities - "Tree City USA" designation is being given to 171 Illinois communities this year for their promotion of urban forestry, Department of Natural Resources Director Brent Manning announced today. "Trees provide economic, health and aesthetic benefits to their urban communities," Manning said. "I commend the cities around Illinois who are dedicated to their urban forests and challenge those who are not currently participating in the program to protect and enhance their city's trees."

Thirteen communities are participating for the first time this year, including Carlinville, Cedarville, Clinton, Forrest, Lakewood, Lincoln, Mackinaw, Momence, Morton Grove, Riverdale, South Holland and Wilmington.

The level of participation in 2001 makes Illinois #1 for the number of Growth Award Communities - This year, 38 Tree City USA communities also will receive a "Growth Award" to recognize additional urban forestry efforts, with Naperville and Urbana each receiving sterling certificates recognizing their participation as growth communities for a decade.

To qualify for a Growth Award, a community must have 1) been designated a Tree City USA participant previously; 2) conducted a variety of urban forestry activities; and 3) spent at least the same amount of money on its program this year as last year.

Tree Line USA - Five utilities will receive a Tree Line USA award including Batavia Electric Utility; Commonwealth Edison; Illinois Power; City of Rantoul Public Works, City Light and Power; and Springfield CWLP. The program encourages utility companies to implement tree care education programs and to sponsor local public education and tree-planting events.

This year's awards were presented March 21st at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle and March 26th at the Northfield Center in Springfield. The Morton Arboretum and Southwestern Resource and Conservation Development, Inc., helped sponsor the Lisle and Springfield events, respectively.

For a list of Tree City USA communities and the number of years they have participated in the program visit http://dnr.state.il.us/pubaffairs/2002/March/treecity2001-02update.htm

Illinois Tree City USA Special Awards
Tree City USA Special Awards for 2001 presented at the 2002 Tree City USA Conference and Award Ceremonies on March 21 and March 26, 2002 in Lisle, IL and Springfield, IL:

People Who Plant Trees Award (Rev 1/01) - Recipients should be Illinois residents dedicated time to local tree planting efforts and encouraged others to plant trees in their community. This is for a significant contribution over a long period of time.

2001 Rantoul Garden Club - The Rantoul Garden Club initiated a tree planting and education program through the city schools and adult program in April, 1958 and has continued through the years. To date, 95,585 trees and shrubs have been distributed throughout the local area and in some adjoining areas through their schools. The members have planted numerous memorial trees honoring deceased members and placing a plaque at the base of the trees. Members have cared for many of these trees personally. At one school, a class assisted by the Rantoul Garden Club, planted a tree honoring a teacher who';d taught that grade. Rantoul Garden Club alerted local schools, organizations and public in general to the "Vote for the National Tree" program, distributing information through individual letters, e-mails and posters. The Rantoul Garden Club has received may Arbor Day awards through the federated Garden Clubs including outstanding civic, educational and environmental awards. One of their past presidents was honored by the Arbor Day Foundation';s for her tree planting efforts through all the National Garden Clubs.

People who Care For Trees Award - For those (Illinois residents or entities) who have dedicated their lives to protecting, preserving and maintaining the health and integrity of their local community/urban forest.

2001 - 2001 - Vivian Lund - Warrenville Mrs. Lund is a living example of someone who cares about trees. She demonstrates her caring by maintaining a quality city forestry/tree care program, by supporting efforts to preserve open spaces, by starting a city volunteer nursery and getting both public and private entities involved in maintaining the forest resources throughout the community. Through her leadership and those that she empowers, Warrenville citizens have an example of celebrating not only Arbor Day but also celebrating life. She shows her commitment and praises those who were instrumental in these community improvement victories. This only serves to strengthen others caring and commitment to the sustainability of Warrenville's community forest.

Tree City USA "Golden Tree" Award - For exemplary service in helping their community maintain their Tree City USA status.

2001: Wil Ortiz, Tree Board Chairman, Stelle, IL - Wil Ortiz has been the key person promoting Tree City USA in Illinois'; smallest Tree City USA community. Not many communities can boast of getting one forth of its residents to volunteer to plant trees, but Wil can. El trabaje asiduo a mantener la programa de arboles ciudad de unido estados and nosotros apreciur sus obra.

2001: Dan McLaughlin, Mayor, Orland Park, IL - Dan proposed planting "2000 Trees in 2000" to commemorate the new millennium and encourage tree planting. The Village has been named a "Tree City USA"; for fifteen years and spends approximately $150,000 annually on planting. Trees included the Villages 50/50 tree program, in which residents and the Village split the cost of trees planted in parkways. The Village's 2000^th tree was planted on December 19, 2000 at the Century Junior High School.

2001: Ken Anderson, Village Arborist, Lindenhurst, IL - Ken has guided the Village of Lindenhurst in the establishment of it's first forestry program. He has been instrumental in four consecutive Tree City Awards, one Growth Award, two IDNR grants and achieved certified arborist accreditation. Yet his is only the beginning, other key projects Ken has established includes: Development of a Tree Inventory, Tree Management Plan, residential Tree Planting Guide, Tree Permit Process, Tree Ordinance, and Village Standards and Practice Manual. Further he has established a Hazard Tree Assessment Standard, Tree Ordinance, a 7 Year Pruning Cycle and a staff training program. For his leadership and service to instill and maintain the highest standards in urban tree care, improving public awareness, enhancing community and tree city recognition, and implementing a model forestry program.

2001: Barbara Jostes, Mowequa, IL - Mrs. Jostes has been instrumental in maintaining the Tree City USA Program in the community of Mowequa. Her leadership has guided others in the development of a park focusing on native trees. This project combined with the Living Memorial Tree Park tree dedications such as "Come Walk With Me" have added to the quality of life in her community.

2001: Diane Adye, Middletown, IL - Ms. Adye has served as Middletown City Arborist and through this service has helped to beautify the community. Her artistic planting designs inspired the community to plant a Dogwood tree in her honor as a symbol of her love of nature and hard work to make Middletown a better place to live.

Tree City USA Leadership Award (Rev. 1/02) - For providing regional or statewide leadership that enhances urban forest management in Illinois communities while promoting the Tree City USA program throughout the state.

2001: Bill Mitchell, Forester, City of Belleville - Bill has lead the SW Regional Urban and Community Forestry Council for over half a decade. Through his leadership the Council has conducted training sessions, developed a Southern Illinois Tree Planting Guide, established a specimen tree arboretum in partnership with Highland, IL. He has provided statewide leadership through the Council on Forestry Development';s Urban Needs Task Group.

2001: Heather Green, City Forester, City of Park Ridge - Heather serves as the Northeastern Illinois Municipal Foresters coordinator. In her position she facilitates annually a series of luncheon meeting and monthly training sessions. She shares e-mail information regionally.

Tree City USA Partnership Award - For partnerships that serve a model for implementing unique urban forestry projects.

2001: Southwestern Resource and Conservation District, Southwestern Regional Urban Forestry Council, Highland, Il High School CUSD No. 5 and the City of Highland, IL - in partnership developed an Arboretum to showcase the trees designated by the SWRUFC in their Tree Selection and Planting Guide. This effort takes the collective knowledge of local urban forest managers and transfers their knowledge to the public so they can make better informed decisions about tree selection.

2001: Timothy W. Tiedje, Inverness -This partnership award is to acknowledge the numerous partnerships that can be created at a local level between the community and local groups. Mr. Tiedje has been instrumental in forging local partnerships including the Police Department, Fire Dept., Commonwealth Edison, local garden clubs, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Brownies, and Cub Scouts. He has combined these local resources with national and state programs such as American Forests Famous and Historic trees program, ComEd, IDNR Urban Forestry Program and IDOT Roadside Beautification. He is very passionate about trees and his enthusiasm in contagious as he has been able to secure a life long commitment from citizens to plant and care for the trees in their community.

Insects / Diseases  

See April 18^th Dates to Remember for upcoming INSECT AND DISEASE WORKSHOPS.

Partnership Corner

To have your local activity considered for publishing in the Prairie Tree Newsletter send a copy of the newspaper article to: Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Reinee Hildebrandt, 524 South Second St., Springfield, IL 62701.

Tree Planting Partnerships Eddie Bauer Officially Announces Memorial Tree Groves
American Forests Memorial Trees Campaign continues to receive tremendous support from corporations and nonprofit organizations. News conferences were held in both New York City and Washington, DC, on January 31st as part of the national unveiling of Eddie Bauer's Memorial Tree Groves initiative. Specialty retailer Eddie Bauer is pledging to raise $500,000 to support American Forests and its efforts to plant thousands of trees in Washington, DC, and Virginia, New York and Pennsylvania - one tree for every victim of September 11, 2001.

In addition, the trees will honor the policemen, firefighters and other heroes who risked their lives on 9-11. The groves offer people places where they can reflect and connect with nature, and serve as symbols of healing and hope for the future. Eddie Bauer invites customers and store associates to support the campaign by contributing $1 or more at any one of Eddie Bauer's 500-plus stores, online at www.eddiebauer.com, or through catalog purchases. Visit an Eddie Bauer store today and help plant Memorial Tree Groves. Read The Washington Post article at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6219-2002Jan31.html.

Visit http://www.americanforests.org/news/display.php?id=40 to view the press release.

American Forests Memorial Trees Campaign plans to plant memorial groves in communities across the United States. Find more information at http://www.americanforests.org/campaigns/memorial_trees/partners.php.

Planting Patriot Trees with IGA
Some 1600 IGA grocery stores participated this spring in a special Memorial Trees effort titled American Forests Patriot Trees for America Campaign. From April 27 to May 10, IGA cashiers invited customers to make donations toward the planting of American Forests Historic Trees in their community in remembrance of those who lost their lives on September 11th. Every person donating to the program will receive a receipt certifying his or her support. Also, each donation will be represented by a paper tree placed on a wall of the IGA store to show the community's support of this important program. American Forests Historic Tree Nursery grows direct-offspring of trees that have connections to famous people and historic events.

IGA and its customers will be presenting their community with a growing environmental asset as well as a place to reflect on the history of our great nation and some of the patriots who helped shape it. Trees connected to American patriots like George Washington, Martin Luther King, Jr., Clara Barton, and Dwight D. Eisenhower will be included in the groves. Learn more about American Forests Memorial Trees Campaign by visiting http://www.americanforests.org/campaigns/memorial_trees/.

America Plants Tribute Trees
Earth Share and American Forests are teaming up to plant Tribute Trees nationwide. Earth Share, a coalition of more than 450 environmental and conservation groups, has joined with founding member American Forests to plant memorial groves of "Tribute Trees" across America. Tribute Trees are being planted to honor our country's heroes and victims, especially those of the September 11th attack.

The following are ways you can plant Tribute Trees:

- Donate to Tribute Trees through Earth Share. School or communities across the country will be chosen to receive 20 trees from American Forests;

- Purchase a Historic Tree to plant near your home;

- or, send a friend or loved-one his or her own Tribute Tree.

American Forests Historic Tree Nursery grows trees with connections to historic figures such as George Washington, Clara Barton, Abraham Lincoln, Dwight D. Eisenhower and many others, as well as trees related to historic events such as the Civil War and American Revolution. To purchase Tribute Trees or to register to receive a memorial grove for your school or community, visit American Forests Historic Tree Nursery at http://www.historictrees.org.

Recognition Possibilities Dow AgroSciences Awards Program for Utility Vegetation Management
Dow AgroSciences has awards for electric utility companies called Right-of-Way Vistas Lines of Distinction Awards. This honor recognizes excellence in vegetation management practices and procedures. The philosophies of these awards are to recognize the quality and vision that will continue reinforcing the valuable role vegetation managers play in their companies' overall service reliability, customer service and public relations efforts. The Right-of-Way Vistas Lines of Distinction Awards program is open to all utility right-of-way managers, as well as applicators and distributors, who may nominate their customers.

Lines of Distinction Awards are provided in the following categories:

1) Operational integrity - Promoting worker safety and service reliability;

2) Meeting objectives - Achieving company financial and business objectives;

3) Innovation - Innovative implementing of chemical and equipment technologies, as well as labor practices and public relations efforts;

4) Stewardship - Attaining high standards for product stewardship, regulatory/environmental guidelines, employee training, public education, landowner communications and cooperative efforts with cities, municipalities, wildlife groups, garden clubs, commissions, etc.;

5) Biodiversity - Improving plant and wildlife habitat, as well as aesthetics, on company rights-of-way.

For details regarding 2000-2001 winners, or for 2001-2002 entry information, please contact Greg Baldwin at (262) 784-7200 or gbaldwin@bader-rutter.com.

National Tree Trust's "Planting America's Future Awards"
The National Tree Trust, has established an award to honor outstanding achievements in volunteerism and community forestry. Applications are now being accepted for the Planting America's Future Awards, which will be presented to three individuals or organizations that have demonstrated success in mobilizing local citizens, business, government and others in projects to improve their community through the use of volunteers and trees. There are three award categories:

1) Youth Environmental Stewardship Award - The Youth Environmental Stewardship Award category honors an individual under the age of 21. The winning individual will be the driving force behind a tree-related community project that involved use of volunteers and public land.

2) Success in Environmental Education Award - The Success in Environmental Education Award honors a "hands-on" education program that best helps students, K-12, improve their knowledge of trees and their role in our environment.

3) The Trammell Crow Community Partnership Award - The Community Partnership Award will honor an individual community's efforts to improve itself through tree-planting and maintenance. The winning project will best demonstrate the cooperation and partnership of volunteers, consisting of local citizens, local businesses and local government. Applications must be postmarked by May 31, 2002 and can be obtained at www.nationaltreetrust or by calling 1-800-846-TREE ext. 21.

A cash prize of $1000 will be awarded to the winners to be used for operating expenses of the featured program. Winners will also receive an honorary tree plaque.

Prairie Tree Companion Newsletter is published periodically by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forest Resources, Urban Forestry Program. Submit potential copy by the first of January, April, July and October for publishing consideration in the next issue of the publication. Address any inquiries to Reinee Hildebrandt, Urban Conservation Program Administrator and Prairie Tree Companion Newsletter Editor, at P.O. Box 19225, Springfield, IL 62794-9225, or phone 217/782-2361.

GEORGE RYAN, GOVERNOR
BRENT MANNING, DIRECTOR

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources receives federal financial assistance and therefore must comply with federal anti-discrimination laws. In compliance with the Illinois Human Rights Act, Illinois Constitution, Title IV of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, and the U.S. Constitution, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources does not discriminate on the basis of sex, color, race, religion, national origin, age, disability, or other non-merit factors including but not limited to sexual orientation, marital or parental status and/or physical stature. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity or facility, please contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, 524 S. Second St., Springfield, Illinois, 62701-1787, (217) 785-0067. -TTY number (217) 782-9175; Relay number (800) 526-0844

Volume 11, Number 2

[Prairie Tree Companion Homepage]  [Urban Forestry Home Page]  [return to top]