Fairhaven Tree Warden Don C. Collasius is joined by workers from Eversource, Fairhaven town officials, and local volunteers on 5/7/21 as he speaks about planting 12 trees to celebrate Arbor Day. Photo by Beth David.
By Beth David, Editor
Fairhaven’s new Tree Warden, Don C. Collasius, has kicked off his term by planting 12 trees to celebrate Arbor Day. On Friday, 5/7, Mr. Collasius and a crew of Eversource and public works employees planted three different types of trees on Laurel Street near Our Lady’s Haven, and at Cooke Park.
Mr. Collasius said he consulted with arborists and Eversource to be sure to pick trees that would grow well, look good, but that were also “power line friendly.” They planted on the side of the street without power lines and were careful to choose spots that had not lines crossing over, at least for the larger trees.
Eversource donated eight of the trees, said Mr. Collasius. The crew planted 12 deciduous trees, including two Kwanzan Cherry Trees at Cooke Park. The other trees included the Lacebark Elm, which has exfoliating, or mottled bark, colorful leaves, and is disease resistant.
Walkers along Laurel Street will also notice a few red Thundercloud Plum trees. The plums are not necessarily great to eat, said Eversource Arborist Kyle Barry, but the birds will like them. However, an online search quickly brought up several recipes for jellies, jams and pies for humans to enjoy the fruits of the Thundercloud Plum.
Mr. Collasius said it was a good way to “kick off” his tenure as tree warden. They chose the spots carefully, he said, working closely with Eversource’s arborist.
A Thundercloud Plum is one of the trees planted on Laurel Street near Our Lady’s Haven in Fairhaven on 5/7/21 to celebrate Arbor Day. Photo by Beth David.
“This is tree school for me as far as planting goes,” said Mr. Collasius, noting that they planted on the side of the street with fewer power lines, and spots that looked like they needed trees along Laurel Street.
And, the residents of Our Lady’s Haven will be able to enjoy them as they grow and turn colors in the fall.
He said he wants to plant thousands of trees in town.
“It’s a start,” he said. “I’m pretty excited. It’s really inspiring to see them go in.”
He added that “so many people helped” (see note below).
In his remarks to the public, which were recorded by Fairhaven Community Access TV (www.Fairhaventv. com), Mr. Collasius acknowledged that Arbor Day was, actually, the week before.
“But the trees don’t know that. I think we’re okay,” he said, adding that trees add to the environment, in this case the urban environment.
The whole project was a classic example of people coming together to get something done, he said and rn of a litany of groups and individuals who helped make the project happen.
Selectboard member Bob Espindola also said a few words, noting that the project showed that being tree warden was not only about cutting down trees, but restoring trees, too.
Eversource Arborist Kyle Barry explains that the tree just planted on 5/7/21 near Our Lady’s Haven in Fairhaven, is a Lacebark Elm that is a medium size tree that will not outgrow the site and is power line friendly, but is also a beautiful disease resistant elm with colorful leaves and a distinctive, exfoliating bark. Photo by Beth David.
A note from the tree warden
From: Don C. Collasius Town of Fairhaven Tree Warden
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in the May 7th Arbor Day Tree Planting by Our Lady’s Haven nursing home and Cooke Park. With the help of numerous companies and individuals we were able to plant a total of 12 trees, 10 by Our Lady’s Haven and two at Cooke Park. It took quite a lot of cooperation and generosity from a wide variety of groups to pull this off in such a short amount of time. With that I would like to thank the following:
• Eversource for providing eight of the trees and much of the legwork and expertise. Special thanks to Paul Sellers and Kyle Barry for holding my hand on what is the first planting of my term. As well Eversource provided the strong young backs to plant the trees, Alex, Jordan, Nick, Mike and Kevin.
• Vinny Furtado and John Charbonneau of the Fairhaven BPW for their support and patience with the new Tree Warden.
• The Fairhaven Police department who provided Phil the traffic officer who kept us all safe during the event.
• The Fairhaven BPW crew who provided the heavy equipment and logistical support, George, Chuck and Matt.
• Howe Allen Reality provided mulch for this project and was represented by Kyle Bueno.
• The Fairhaven Improvement Association for providing the fertilizer and was represented by Frank Fostin.
• Selectman Keith Silvia was kind enough provide the stakes used to support the plantings for the first growing season.
• Selectman Robert Espindola, Fire Chief Todd Correia and School Board Member Stasia Powers were on hand to help celebrate this occasion.
And most of all a big thank you to the folks in the Town Hall who have offered so much support in the first weeks of my education in how town government works.
Let’s do this again soon.
•••
Support local journalism, donate to the Neighb News with PayPal.
Click here to download the entire 5/13/21 issue: 05-13-21 TreeWarden
