Latest news with #arborists
CBC
6 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
Calgary arborists still busy cleaning up damaged and downed trees after Sunday's storm
There is no rest for arborists in Calgary right now. They have been buzzing around the city dealing with trees that were damaged or fell during this past weekend's storm. All of this during what can already be a busy time of year.
CTV News
04-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
The city wants your help to protect its trees
The City of Edmonton is launching a new program to train residents on how to become tree experts to protect its urban forest. The Urban Forest Ambassador Program will teach residents how to detect threats to trees, like Dutch elm disease and emerald ash borer. Training begins next Thursday from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Lois Hole Library, and more sessions will be scheduled this summer. Space is limited and registration is required online. Edmontonians who become Urban Forest Ambassadors will contribute to the reporting of the long-term health of elm and ash trees and raise awareness in their neighbourhoods as key community contacts. How to spot Dutch elm disease The city is also reminding people not to bring firewood from other communities back to Edmonton because it could have insects that spread Dutch elm and other diseases. Tree owners are asked to prune diseased, dying and dead branches from elm trees from October to March. To dispose of it safely, burn it, bury it, chip it or take it to the Edmonton Waste Management Centre, the city said. People who see signs of Dutch elm disease – brown staining in the sapwood or leaves that wilt, droop or curl from late June to mid July – are asked to call 311. Dutch elm disease was spotted in Killarney last August. The infected trees and a number of nearby elms were removed to control the spread. The city hired six new arborists after that to help monitor the disease. There were no new cases over the winter. Elm trees make up nearly 22 per cent of Edmonton's forestry, the city said earlier this year. For more information on Dutch elm disease and the city's efforts, click here.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Homeowner sued by King County says tree cutting was about safety, not views
The Brief A viral video of a tree tumbling toward an Issaquah neighborhood led to a King County lawsuit against three homeowners for allegedly cutting over 140 trees for better views. One homeowner claims the tree-cutting was for safety, not views, and says King County gave verbal permission after a county-owned tree damaged his home. King County officials call it a severe timber trespass, with trees cut without permits, destabilizing the hillside, and filed a civil suit seeking damages. The homeowner cited damages to their home from a falling tree in the area in their decision to hire arborists. ISSAQUAH, Wash. - You've probably seen the viral video: a massive, missile-like tree barreling down a hillside toward an Issaquah neighborhood. That video is now at the center of a King County lawsuit accusing three homeowners of illegally cutting or damaging more than 140 trees — allegedly for a better view. Big picture view But one of the homeowners named in the lawsuit tells FOX 13 it was never about the view — it was about protecting his family and property. He says King County gave him permission for the work. Chain saws buzzing through the forest isn't unusual for Issaquah resident Alex Brown. "We're in a rural area. People cut firewood all the time," Brown said. But what his motion-triggered trail camera caught on March 22 stunned him. "It was flying," he said, describing a massive tree tumbling down a 500-foot slope toward his neighborhood. The tree's limbs were stripped bare, neighbors say they're lucky it wedged under another log. Officials confirmed that had it veered just slightly, it could've crashed into nearby homes — or even the interstate. Brown and his neighbors, Caitlyn and Fred McNulty, followed the destruction uphill. "Closer to the top of the hill, we found the site where many, many more trees had been cut and kind of left lying in that steep ravine," Brown said. He filed a complaint, King County officials now describe their find as one of the most egregious cases of timber trespass in memory. In early June, the county filed a civil suit against three homeowners, accusing them of cutting or damaging at least 142 trees in Grand Ridge Park — a 1,200-acre protected forest in an environmentally critical area. "We heard from a few officials that it was the worst damage they'd ever seen in decades of work with the county," Brown said. He says county officials called it a "massacre." Trees were cut, topped, and delimbed without permits — potentially destabilizing the hillside and harming the ecosystem. "We sit right below that landslide hazard area, so we're very concerned about that," Brown said. "Especially, you know, once we get back into the rainy season. There's a lot of trees missing that were helping stabilize that really steep slope." The damage is visible from I-90, where what was once thick forest now reveals a sweeping view — what the county refers to as a "substantially improved view" of West Tiger Mountain. "These trees belong to everyone," said Caitlyn McNulty, whose yard the tree landed in. "It's not something that people have the right to just take because it benefits them." King County's Department of Natural Resources tells FOX 13 the tree-cutting should never have happened. The land is protected — and only the county can authorize such work. The other side But one of the homeowners being sued says the situation is being misrepresented. He asked not to be named due to legal concerns but shared his story exclusively with FOX 13. "Everything that is existing that's problematic is not on our property. It's on King County's property," he said. He and his wife moved into their Issaquah home in September 2024 with two children and another on the way. Within months, he said, a tree owned by the county struck their home. "Our house was struck by a tree that was owned by King County, causing north of $100,000 worth of damage to our home three months after we moved into the house," he said. His daughter was asleep in the room that was hit. Water seeped through the ceiling during what was supposed to be their first Christmas in the new home. He says starting in January, he repeatedly reached out to King County — with no response — until March 2025. That's when he says he spoke with a county employee who gave him verbal permission to proceed with the work on public lands. He also heard a recording on the county line referencing tree-cutting code 16.82, which he interpreted as permission to proceed. He hired an arborist to assess and begin work on what he considered hazardous trees. "We were told that by cleaning these trees, they're less likely to fall," he said. "We're removing dead trees. We're ensuring that the trees are more aerodynamic, that the branches aren't falling off onto your house and things of that nature. So our intention was not to create a view. It was just to make sure that the trees that surround our home are healthy and less likely to fall." According to the homeowner, extreme windstorms made the situation worse. "We're talking about gusts of 70 to 80 miles an hour. It's alarming, and it's scary," he said. He pointed out dozens of leaning and fallen trees on the property — and claims around 100 more still need attention. "We didn't want to cut anything down — the trees that were cut down were clearly diseased, dead or problematic," he said. "We're still looking at hundreds of trees, and I wouldn't say that we have an improved view because of it. This has all been in an effort to protect our families and our home. In my opinion, they're healthy — healthier than what they were before, and our hope is that we can make the rest of them healthy too." He says when he learned about the tree that slid into the neighborhood, he shut everything down immediately. "We were very alarmed," he said. "In fact, the day that we heard of that news was when we completely stopped all the operations because we wanted to ensure that there was no potential threat or safety concern to any of the homes around us." The homeowner, a luxury real estate agent, was asked whether he should have known better. "I don't think that's a direct correlation, because I'm a home expert. I'm not a tree expert," he said. "Anytime I see a situation where my clients could face potential danger with trees, we guide them — we have arborists look at properties, he said. "As much as I'd like to think I know what I'm doing with trees, I don't. I'm a real estate professional. I specialize in buying and selling houses." The homeowner said he's open to apologizing to neighbors impacted by the work. "I would love to be able to have a conversation with him and apologize for what has happened," he said. "I recognize why that individual might think what we're doing was an effort to enhance views. Our only focus was to protect our family." The homeowner says he remains open to working with King County — but claims no one from the county has yet assessed the trees near his home. What's next The trial is scheduled for June 2026. The county is seeking treble damages and civil penalties. Criminal charges may also be considered. "We believe that we have permission to do this work," he said. "And we recognize that we were prioritizing our family's safety." The Source Information in this story came from original FOX 13 Seattle interviews. Climate experts sound alarm on AI's hidden environmental costs $79M Seattle-area home is now most expensive listing in Pacific Northwest WA's first In-N-Out close to opening in Ridgefield Kent man charged with supplying chemicals in CA bombing dies in jail Suspect in deadly Edmonds ferry dock crash faces murder charges To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
Vogue
23-06-2025
- Vogue
Visiting the Hamptons This Summer? Take a Moment for the Trees
Now, face-to-trunk with the most maudlin tree I've ever met, I realize I've taken my hometown's fragile flora for granted. On the heels of our driest season on record, the gadflies about town are buzzing not about the traffic, but about the pests, diseases, and climate concerns threatening the trees. A cadre of local arborists, eco-artists, and tribal leaders are protecting the primeval superstars that made the Hamptons the Hamptons in the first place. So, this summer, take the road less traveled and visit these less-touristed herbaceous haunts in support of its (hopefully) flourishing arbol future. Shinnecock Nation On any given summer day, 38,000 commuter cars inch across the Shinnecock Canal, and past the oldest Hamptonite: a 300-year-old beech that has miraculously resisted rampant Beech Leaf Disease. Due to the Shinnecock Nation's advocacy, the now-designated heritage tree's colossal presence is protected for future generations. 'All Shinnecock have our own unique relationship with the trees,' says Rebekah Phoenix Wise, the Shinnecock Nation's communications manager. 'We're foragers, scientists, and land-use attorneys—but above all, we're stewards of nature.' She recommends keeping 'an eye on the Nation's Instagram to hear about impromptu nature and foraging walks offered by community naturalists.' Until the indigenous plant garden reopens, Wise touts 'Little Beach Harvest, an innovative concept shop run by the tribe where you can learn more about our connection to traditional plant medicine.' Shop for handcrafted sage oils or enjoy art exhibits, live concerts, and film screenings. LongHouse Reserve
Associated Press
20-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Fontana's Timber Pros Tree Service Earns Top Ratings for Reliable, Customer-Focused Tree Care
Timber Pros Tree Service, based in Fontana, CA, just landed a top rating across the board. Folks in Fontana already knew the name but now? It's official. Timber Pro Tree Service is making waves for all the right reasons. Whether it's a storm hit or yard needs refreshing, this local crew delivers. Fast. Safe. No surprises. For being reliable, responsive, and genuinely easy to work with, locals showing their love online and offline, giving them top ratings. Not just for routine tree trimming or emergency removals, Timber Pros Tree Service has become the go-to team for anyone needing honest, quality tree service of any kind. To learn more visit their website at: Serving Fontana and Beyond Rooted right here in Fontana, California, Timber Pros Tree Service operates all around California. They deliver expert level of craftsmanship to Ontario, Rialto, Riverside, San Bernardino, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, Lakewood, Chino, Jurupa Valley, Colton, Bloomington, Loma Linda, Highgrove, Muscoy, Grand Terrace, Corona, and so on. Whether it's a regular tree pruning or massive tree crash, in both cases Timber Pros Tree Service is at your service with their certified arborists and experienced tree doctors, making you feel safe and sound. They not only take care of all of your tree hassles but also leave your property neat and clean. The best part is , each and every project no matter how big or small it is, they handle it with utter professionalism, making them more competent and trustworthy. Additionally, every service is customizable while maintaining the company standards and safety precautions. What Makes Them Stand Out Earning praises like 'life-savers' or 'worth every penny' from Fontana homeowners can't happen accidentally. Ask Maria Rordriguez over near Sierra Lakes: 'After that nasty windstorm last month? My giant oak split right over the driveway. Called Timber Pros Tree Service at 7.00 A.M. By noon, it was gone and didn't get a single scratch on my pavement. They even mulched the branches! True professionals, I would say!' It's not just the quality of their work that gets noticed—it's how they do business. Timber Pros Tree Service puts a lot of value on communication and treating customers with respect. Every job starts with a clear quote and ends with a clean yard. Homeowners often mention how stress-free the whole experience is. Community Involvement & Eco-Friendly Approach Timber Pros Tree Service not only care about trees but they care about the community and the planet. They take the time to recycle wood when possible, and dispose of debris the right way. To avoid noise pollution during projects, they keep noise and disruption to a also helped out with local cleanup efforts after windstorms, and even volunteered time at parks and public spaces over the past few years. Their team takes pride in keeping Fontana's green spaces safe, tidy, and beautiful. Recognition & Ratings Timber Pros Tree Service has earned consistent 5-star ratings on Google and other platforms thanks to satisfied clients who appreciate their dependable, straightforward service. From first-time customers to long-time clients, reviews highlight the same strengths: fast response times, no-nonsense estimates, and work done safely and thoroughly. This growing list of positive feedback shows that the team's hard work and friendly approach are really resonating with Fontana homeowners. 'We treat every yard like it's our own,' said the company's owner. 'People trust us with their property, and that's not something we take lightly. We focus on doing the job right, keeping people safe, and leaving things better than we found them.' About Timber Pros Tree Service Timber Pros Tree Service is a locally owned business who are well aware of the local weather and obstacles. They serve both residential and commercial clients throughout Fontana and the surrounding areas. Their crew handles a full range of services— tree trimming, pruning, removals, stump grinding, lot clearing, crown raising, crown reduction, palm tree skinning, emergency tree services, and even storm damage cleanup. Using the right equipment and a hands-on approach, they combine professional skill with neighborhood know-how. If you're in Fontana and need tree work—whether it's a quick trim, a stubborn stump, or a tree leaning the wrong way—Timber Pros Tree Service is ready to help. Get in touch, ask questions, and see why so many locals are recommending them. Location: Media Contact Company Name: Timber Pros Tree Service Contact Person: Tovar Email: Send Email Phone: 909-587-3953 Address:7405 Cherimoya Court Ct City: Fontana State: CA 92336 Country: United States Website: Source: King PR
