Charlotte’s Dedicated Tree List Plus October 10 Event
by Larry Hamilton,
August 26, 2010.....

An old African proverb states:
“The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now!”
Good advice, and many Charlotters have heeded it. They have provided funds to establish trees on town (public) land in honor of family members or friends. These have marked birthdays, deaths, graduations or other special occasions. These are recorded on a List of Specially Dedicated Trees and have been located on a GPS system for permanent record. Currently there are 12 such trees planted since 2006 as follows:
1. Memorial sugar maple tree from Katherine Teetor to honor husband, Paul, at Barber Cemetery, central portion near large stump (2005).
2. Memorial swamp white oak from Alden and Andy Pellett to honor their sister Kerri Frost, at Town ballfield parking island (first of three trees going east on Lake Road, 2006).
3. Memorial sycamore from Sarah and Ted Montgomery to honor nephew Paul Rogers, at Town ballfield parking island (first of three trees going west on Lake Road, 2007).
4. Birthday tree for Richard Weed, a Princeton elm, from wife, Joan, in front of The Old Lantern (first tree north of driveway, 2007).
5. Green-up Day sycamore funded by Charlotte Central School class bake sale, guided by Susanna Kahn, at Town Beach Park to provide future shade for parking lot attendant (2008).
6. Memorial black locust from Christina Ellis for Marie-Dennet Murphy McBill at Charlotte Museum to replace one large one that was taken down in 2008 (2009).
7. John Outwater Memorial Tree planted at Thompson’s Point Ballfield, to provide shade, courtesy of Katherine Teetor (2009).
8. Arbor Day apple tree planted at ceremony at The Old Lantern, on grounds south of building in 2009, followed by a party and tree display, organized by Robin Reid (tree obtained by her).
9. Memorial sycamore tree at Town Beach Park beside bench overlooking Lake Champlain, to honor the late “Cowboy” Lewis, our Town Constable for so many years. (Tree was planted in 2008 and dedicated in 2010.)
10. A 90th birthday tree, Freeman red maple, for Robert Tucker (Thompson’s Point), given by longtime friend Katherine Teetor. Planted on corner of Thompson’s Point and Flat Rock Roads (2010).
11. A 95th birthday tree given for Roberta Tucker Clair by Robert and Susan Tucker. A sugar maple planted on Thompson’s Point Road, second tree west of Flat Rock Road (2010).
12. Three swamp white oaks in memory of Will Foster, given by a group of friends, planted at the corner of Holmes Road and Lake Road (2010).
13. A birthday-honoring tree for Dana Farley from many friends who donated generously, thus permitting the planting of several trees. Dana’s tree is a sycamore at the Town Beach Ballpark parking island.
I would like to share with the community the touching message received from a daughter of the late “Cowboy” Lewis, following the dedication of the sycamore tree at the Town Beach to his memory by the Rutter Tree Fund. “ My dad would be so tickled to know that his community loved him so much. For me, the tree represents my “pop” in the following ways: strong roots, still watching out for others and standing tall with pride. He loved his hometown and community. These were his roots, and he gave so generously to his community with all his heart and soul.”
On Sunday, October 10, this year (10/10/10), there will be a community participation event to plant 10 trees to memorialize Virginia Rutter. She was the wife of William Rutter (and mother of Robin Coleburn of Charlotte), who established the Rutter Family Charlotte Beautification Fund with an initial grant of $25,000 in 2005. This gift enabled us to launch the Charlotte Roadside Tree Restoration Project. A second “challenge grant” of $25, 000 was also gifted and was indeed met by contributions from Charlotte residents and friends, in a campaign managed by the Rutter Tree Fund Committee. Over the succeeding years 411 trees have been established along our roadways; two known dead ones will be replaced. The addition of these memorial trees will make 421. Contributions, by the way, are mightily needed for maintenance costs and new sites to plant.
This 10/10/10 event at 9 a.m. (9-10:30) will be part of the Transition Town-Charlotte program (part of a 350.org global happening) to call attention to problems of global warming, through the planting of carbon sequestering trees. It is estimated that each tree will “fix” 30-40 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. The 10 trees will be provided by South 40 Nursery at cost in holes dug by “VJ” Comai of this nursery, plus mulch at something less than cost (thank you, “VJ”). Roughly 20 volunteers with shovels are needed to plant, apply mulch and install tree guards.
Others are welcome to come and witness the dedication and action. Volunteers should contact Ruah Swennerfeld of Transition Town at 425-3377 or e-mail ruah@peaceforearth.org.
Other residents are encouraged to consider tree planting on their own land or to gift a tree for town land to celebrate the life or special occasions of family or friends – the gift that keeps on giving. Plan now for planting this fall.

Larry Hamilton
Tree Warden