The City of Fall River with the Street Tree Planting Program held its third annual Urban Forestry Workshop at Government Center on March 19, 2014, in order to increase the skills of those in charge of maintaining the City's urban forest. The workshop was organized by Emily Hamilton of Davey Resource Group and included presentations by Mollie Freilicher of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), Richard Harper of UMass Extension, Alan Fenner of the Davey Resource Group, and David Bloniarz of the US Forest Service. Mr. Bloniarz spoke about the ReGreen Springfield project that has helped to promote the reforestation of Springfield following the tornados of 2011. Louise Kaczynski and Mary Ann Wordell of the Fall River Street Tree Planting Program, were in attendance along with Fall River Water Department Forester Michael Laboissiere and Fall River Department of Community Maintenance Director Kenneth Pacheco. Click here for the slides of the opening presentation. Click here for photos of last year's workshop. Click here for an application form for free trees through the Street Tree Planting Program. For more information about the Street Tree Planting program, contact Mary Ann Wordell at 508-679-8887.

(Top row) U.S. Forest Service speaker Dave Bloniarz talks about the ReGreen Springfield project that has helped to promote the reforestation of Springfield following the tornados of 2011. (Row two) Fall River Water Department Forester Michael Laboissiere, left, listens to Mr. Bloniarz's suggestions for getting local citizens involved in taking care of the City's trees. (Row three) Mr. Bloniarz demonstrates the i-Tree on-line system for estimating the monetary savings from planting trees as Louise Kaczynski, Sandra Elliott and Street Tree Planting Program coordinator Mary Ann Wordell listen and ask questions. (Bottom row, left and right) Fall River Department of Community Maintenance Director Kenneth Pacheco talks with Mike Laboissiere and speaker Alan Fenner talks with Brian Curt of the Niagara Neighborhood Association following the session. (Bottom row, center) Rick Harper of UMass-Amherst Department of Environmental Conservation poses for a photo with Emily Hamilton of Davey Resource Group who put the workshop together.