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ACTC In The News: News Stories and Press Releases

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May, 2012	"Snowflake Tree Is Designated As A Centennial Witness Tree" Arizona Journal, May 16, 2012 A thornless honey locust tree in Snowflake has been designated as one of 11 centennial witness trees in the state. James William "Bill" and Pearl Gibson arrived in Snowflake between 1880 and 1885, and in 1905 they began building their homestead, though the property was first recorded under their name in 1903.
May, 2012	"Girl Scouts celebrate 100th anniversary with tree-planting ceremony" Ahwatukee Foothills News, May 13, 2012 The Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC) celebrated its 100th anniversary with a tree-planting ceremony in honor of Arbor Day on April 27. This planting was part of the Girl Scouts' Centennial tree planting project: Celebrating the Past, Planting for our Future, a partnership between GSACPC and the Arizona Community Tree Council (ACTC). Through this partnership, 100 trees have been donated to local Girl Scouts to plant in their communities.
March, 2012	"Restoring Ponderosa Pine Forests" Northern Arizona University Brad Blake and Philip Patterson are Northern Arizona University's own Johnny Appleseeds—but rather than dispersing non-native apple seeds, they are collecting local ponderosa pine seeds from high-risk wild fire communities and banking them until they're needed to restore a tree or forest.
July, 2011	"Mesa Arborist Makes Career Out of Tree Climbing" Arizona Republic, July 15, 2011 Climbing trees isn't just for hyperactive kids. On a Monday morning at a city park, the task is serious. The feat takes two duffel bags of gear, a harness, four or five ropes sturdy enough to lift a truck, and plenty of pulleys and carabineers. UPDATES Dan places 2nd Place in Worldwide Belayed Speed Climb (Details) (Video) Dan place 6th overall in Worldwide Competition (Details)
June, 2011	Telemundo report on Arizona Community Tree Council (en Español)
April, 2011	As centennial nears, state honors trees of history Arizona Republic, April 30, 2011 Scottsdale founder Winfield Scott died two years before statehood, but an olive tree he planted in 1896 took root as his legacy to 21st-century Arizona. The 25-foot tree, unremarkable except for its age, was dedicated in a ceremony Thursday as Arizona's first Centennial Witness Tree, meaning it was already shading dusty Second Street on Statehood Day, Feb. 14, 1912.
April, 2011	"If Trees Could Talk" ... about the day Arizona became a State Feb. 14, 1912 Sonoran News, April 27, 2011 The Arizona Centennial Commission (www.AZ100YEARS.org) in conjunction with the Arizona Community Tree Council (www.AZTrees.org) today dedicated the first Arizona Centennial Witness Tree, an olive tree planted by Chaplain Winfield Scott in 1896, in the area today known as 'Old Town Scottsdale.'
March, 2011	Glendale Green Festival Arizona Republic, March 22, 2011 Environmentalism and education converge this weekend at Glendale Public Library. In Glendale's award-winning Xeriscape Botanical Garden, the fourth annual Green Festival promises to teach eco-conscious visitors about conservation through lectures, workshops and booths.
February, 2011	Desert Gardening 101 Phoenix Home & Garden Healthy, well-sited trees form the backbone of any landscape. Follow these simple guidelines for tree selection and you will be on your way to designing an attractive, low-maintenance yard.
January, 2011	Putting Tree Workers To The Test Arizona Public Media Each year, a group of grown men climb some of Arizona's tallest trees for fun, sport and safety. They're tree workers by trade, making their living cutting and pruning trees for landscaping or utility crews. Every January, they meet in a public park to test their tree climbing skills at the Arizona Tree Climbing Championship.
January, 2011	ACTC Canopy Club Member Art Daley prepares for the WCTCC in January KPNX TV Video
January, 2011	Taking to the Treetops The Desert Leaf On a chilly morning last March, not long after daybreak, several fellows from Tucson learned a thing or two about climbing trees. For that matter, they also acquired new information about descending trees and about ascending and descending ropes suspended from trees.
January 7, 2011	Arizona's best will show there's more than 1 way to climb a tree The Arizona Daily Star [Tucson] It's an event you might not logically expect in the cactus country of Southern Arizona: a tree-climbing competition. Never mind logic.
Oct. 30, 2009	Arizona Community Tree Council presents Chandler Parks with award for conservation initiative The Chandler Parks Division was recently honored for its efforts to preserve more than 250 native trees by transplanting and utilizing them for multiple park beautification efforts.
Oct. 30, 2009	Chandler parks official saves 256 native trees by Edythe Jensen, The Arizona Republic A Chandler parks official who was disturbed by the destruction of mature desert trees when land was cleared for new recreation areas spearheaded a salvage operation that saved hundreds and brought statewide recognition for the city.

ACTC Press Releases

April 26, 2012	Girl Scouts Organization will Receive 10 Trees in Honor of 100th Anniversary Secretary of State Ken Bennett will read proclamation and 10 trees will be donated to Girl Scouts at Arbor Day ceremony on Friday, April 27th
April 24, 2012	ARIZONA ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION – Friday April 27, 2012 at 9:00am The Arizona State Forester, Scott Hunt and the Arizona State Forestry Division (ASFD) will celebrate the 140th National Arbor Day on April 27, 2012 at 9:00AM in collaboration with the Arizona Nursery Association, Arizona Community Tree Council, and the Arizona Cactus-Pine Girl Scout Council. The public is invited to join in the festivities.
February 29, 2012	Girl Scouts Organization Celebrates 100 years, Plants Tree to Commemorate On March 3, Girl Scouts will gather to plant a desert willow in honor of 100th anniversary
January 3, 2012	Arizona Centennial and Arizona Community Tree Council Announce 'Centennial Tree-Planting' Matching Grant Program Salt River Project Contributes $10,000 Seed Funding Building a 'Canopy for the Next Century' Supporting Educational Events & Projects to Recognize Arizona's 100 Years of Statehood
December 10, 2011	Tucson Tree Care Workshop Tucson residents eager to learn about caring for their trees, or in planting new ones, will have a chance to learn from the experts at a free workshop on January 21, 2012.
December 8, 2011	ACTC Counts 7,316 New Trees in Arizona It's the most wonderful time of the year . . . for tree decorating and trees for the planting and more trees for counting . . . Well, that's not exactly how the song goes, but that's how we feel at the Arizona Community Tree Council, where we're in the midst of one of our busiest seasons....
November 30, 2011	Living Christmas Trees Living trees are a perfect choice for those who want to plant a tree after the holidays. Living trees absorb carbon dioxide, supply oxygen, reduce soil erosion, increase property values, reduce energy use and beautify our surroundings.
August 2, 2011	Arizona Community Tree Council Announces Deadline for Early Registration is extended For its 2011 Annual Conference The Arizona Community Tree Council extended the deadline for early registration for its 2011 Annual Conference "Nurturing our Natural Heritage: Developing and Caring for Mature Trees" on Friday, September 23, 2011 at the Prescott Resort & Conference Center in Prescott, Arizona. The featured speaker is Nelda Matheny, founder and president of HortScience, Inc., a horticulture, arboriculture and urban forestry consulting firm she founded in 1983. Visit www.aztrees.org for more information.
June 24, 2011	Trees for Arizona to Replace Trees Lost in Wallow Fire As the Wallow Fire, the largest fire in Arizona history, continues to burn, the Arizona Community Tree Council is initiating efforts to replant trees on residential, commercial and community lands damaged by the fire. The Arizona Community Tree Council estimates more than a half-million seedlings will be planted.
Apr. 28, 2011	First Arizona Centennial Witness Tree Dedicated The Arizona Centennial Commission (www.AZ100YEARS.org) in conjunction with the Arizona Community Tree Council (www.AZTrees.org) today dedicated the first Arizona Centennial Witness Tree, an olive tree planted by Chaplain Winfield Scott in 1896, in the area today known as 'Old Town Scottsdale.'
Feb. 7, 2011	Healing Trees Announces Tree Planting at Creative Living Fellowship to "Offer Remembrance" Creative Living Fellowship will be the site of the first tree planting for Healing Trees, a humanitarian program to plant trees following the shootings in Tucson last month. "This tree planting will heal and unite our community. This is our time to do something significant to celebrate life and promote new growth - like planting trees. Through this a life-giving and earth-serving community act, together we can make a difference," said Annie Loyd of Healing Trees.
Jan. 26, 2011	Young is Winner of ACTC Annual Arizona Tree Climbing Championships Climbing to the top at the Annual Arizona Tree Climbing Competition was Andrew Young of Mesa, AZ and owner of Tree Amigos. Young won the Master's Climb to secure his place as Arizona's best climber. His win secures his spot at this weekend's Western Chapter Tree Climbing Competition at Balboa Park in San Diego, Calif. on Saturday, January 30.
Jan. 7, 2011	ACTC Hires Community Development Coordinator The Arizona Community Tree Council (ACTC) is proud to announce the appointment of Heilee O'Quinn to community development coordinator. According to ACTC President Louisa Ballard, "Heilee will bring great value to ACTC with her previous nonprofit experience, social media expertise and passion to contribute to the 'greener good' of Arizona."
Dec. 6, 2010	Trees Donated and Planted at Alhambra Schools Alhambra School District students learned tree planting techniques and the benefits of planting trees from Arizona Community Tree Council Board Member Gary Kudes last month. "Planting trees give life and legacy, provide cleaner air, expands the existing canopy to keep Arizona cool, improves our quality of life and supports Arizona's wildlife habitat," said Kudes, who spearheaded the tree planting at Alhambra's Barcelona Middle School in Glendale.
Nov. 5, 2010	Four Trees to be Donated and Planted at Alhambra Schools Barcelona Middle School students will do their part to keep Arizona cool by planting a Sissoo tree on the Barcelona campus on Tuesday, November 9. With Phoenix's early November temperature spiking at 94 degrees, Barcelona's tree planting couldn't have come at a better time. "Trees are nature's air conditioner," said Louisa Ballard, president of the Arizona Community Tree Council. "They say the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is now," added Ballard.
Oct. 26, 2010	ACTC Gives Annual Awards at Conference in Rio Rico At the Arizona Community Tree Council's annual Conference on October 8th in Rio Rico, Arizona, 4 Community Awards were given in different categories.
Oct. 13, 2010	2010 Community Challenge Grants Awarded Acting Arizona State Forester, Scott Hunt is pleased to announce the award of 16 federally funded grants. These grants are funded through the U.S. Forest Service and will benefit the community forestry program in Arizona. Organizations and city governments in 10 Arizona communities will match the funds for tree planting, care and maintenance, and educational projects.
October, 2010	Arizona Community Tree Council Launches New Website The Arizona Community Tree Council has launched their new website. It is interactive and a great resource for the public. It includes a membership directory and a brand new function, "Find a Tree Professional" directory. So, how do these new functions work, you ask?
Sept. 17, 2010	ACTC: It's the Best Time to Plant a Tree Even though the temperature in Phoenix is still spiking to 104 in mid September, the calendar tells us fall is in the air somewhere - after all, we welcome fall on September 23.
Feb. 2010	ACTC Announcec 2010 Board of Directors The Arizona Community Tree Council is proud to present their 2010 Board of Directors. Officers: President – Louisa Ballard; President-Elect – Harold Hummer, APS; Vice-President – Jeanne Peterson; Treasurer - Richard Adkins, City of Phoenix; Secretary – Cathy Rymer, City of Chandler.
Nov. 4, 2009	Capitol Christmas Tree 2009 Cutting Ceremony The official United States Capitol Christmas Tree will be harvested on November 7, 2009. A ceremony with White Mountain Apache Dancers, Apache blessing, choral music and Arizona's official historian Marshall Trimble will commemorate the historic event.
Oct. 5, 2009	Local Green Industries Receive ACTC Award On Friday, September 25, 2009, the Arizona Community Tree Council, Inc., in cooperation with the Arizona State Land Department - Urban & Community Forestry, honored 19 individual, civic, and corporate entities for their efforts which beautified the local environment with trees. These diverse projects represented many Arizona cities including...