Buds, Twigs, and Bark: How to Identify Trees and Shrubs in Winter

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Join Chelsey Simmons of Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) for the February Berkshire Green Drinks virtual event to explore the buds, twigs, and bark of common trees seen in the New England landscape. 
 
It may be surprising, but winter is actually an excellent time to learn how to identify woody plant species. The absence of leaves allows for the opportunity to take a closer look at the characteristics that are often overlooked, like the subtle features of a twig, the arrangement of buds, and the overall form and structure of a tree. Chelsey will go over the steps to tree identification, break down twig morphology, and give helpful hints on remembering one species from another — all of which will aid in tree and shrub identification year-round.
 
The presentation will be live-streamed via Zoom at 6 PM on Wednesday, February 14. Registration is required to receive the meeting link. Register at: http://tinyurl.com/Feb2024-Berks-Green-Drinks
 
Chelsey Simmons is the programs director for Berkshire Environmental Action Team, a nonprofit based in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. As part of her work for BEAT, she leads numerous naturalist walks throughout Berkshire County year-round. For the past few years, she's been working on an identification book of trees and shrubs found in western Massachusetts, meticulously drawing and painting each page by hand and sharing those pages with the public through BEAT's "Tree of the Month" series with the hope of getting people excited about trees and interested in the native species found in our region.
 
Berkshire Green Drinks (formerly Pittsfield Green Drinks) is an informal gathering that takes place once a month. A guest speaker talks for about 30 minutes beginning at 6 PM, and the presentation is followed by a discussion and Q&A. These nights are free and open to everyone with any environmental interest. 

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Letter: Board Balance Needed on Dalton Public Safety Advisory Committee

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

I share Dave Martindale's concerns about appointing individuals with actual or perceived conflicts of interest to the newly formed Public Safety Facility Advisory Committee leadership. Several committee members either represent departments that would occupy and directly benefit from the proposed facility or have personal connections to those individuals, raising concerns about the committee's ability to impartially balance a best-in-class facility against a cost-conscious solution.

While their perspectives are valuable, the committee would benefit from a more balanced membership that includes independent residents focused on affordability, long-term planning, and the town's broader financial obligations.

I support the town's decision to explore a combined public safety facility. However, the police station needs assessment should be revisited before the town advances a specific plan. The assessment projects a 32 percent increase in total call volume and a 68 percent increase in staffing by 2045. Those projections are unrealistic based on historical call volume, crime statistics trends and the town's financial outlook — particularly when future budget constraints may require staffing reductions.

The town has already invested considerable time and money pursuing a standalone police station after previously rejecting a combined facility. Now that a joint facility is again under consideration, residents deserve a transparent process based on realistic projections and a cost-conscious evaluation of the town's actual needs.

The town manager and Select Board should consider adding neutral community members to the committee and designating the police chief and interim fire chief as non-voting advisers. They should also revise the needs assessment using supportable staffing, call volume, and population assumptions. A public safety facility is a significant long-term investment, and the town should ensure that the final proposal balances public safety needs with fiscal responsibility.

Amy Lennin
Dalton, Mass.

 

 

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