SNHU announces fall 2020 president’s list
MANCHESTER, N.H. — Southern New Hampshire University congratulates the following students on being named to the fall 2020 president’s list: Kyle Piccoli of Stafford Springs, Savanah Kyllonen of Brooklyn, Tyler Jorgensen of Tolland, Colin Holmes of Ellington, Xander Williams of Hebron, Paige Webb of Lebanon, Brianna Lebrocquy of Willington, Amanda Bogoslofski of Thompson, Christhine Nicole Ersando of Windsor, Noah Dubitzky of Marlborough, Ashley Thomas of East Granby, Brett Frechette of West Suffield, McKenna Valenti of Tolland, Mia DeMartino of Tolland, and Tanner Giusani of Glastonbury.
USDA no longer regulates Emerald Ash Borer, firewood regulations remain
STATEWIDE — The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) stated the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) will no longer be regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). On Dec. 15, the Agency published a final rule that removes the federal domestic EAB quarantine regulations, which became effective Jan. 14.
The federal program will transition to one that is focused on methods for management of EAB, such as rearing and releasing biological control agents (tiny stingless parasitoid wasps), which has been conducted by CAES in cooperation with the USDA since 2013. The USDA EAB program will continue to provide EAB parasitoid wasps for release for the biological control of the emerald ash borer.
Ash made up about four- to 15-percent of Connecticut’s forests and was a common urban tree. The emerald ash borer has been responsible for the death and decline of tens of millions of ash trees in 35 states from the midwest to New England and south to Louisiana. It is currently found throughout Connecticut and most of New England. Connecticut quarantines for EAB were dropped in 2015 when a Federal EAB quarantine was established throughout the state.
Since there will be no EAB federal quarantine, all previously issued USDA EAB permits, kiln certifications, and compliance agreements are no longer valid and some states where EAB is not yet present will likely enact exterior quarantines against this invasive pest. Federal regulations regarding the Asian long-horned beetle (ALB) remain in place.
Wood-boring insects, such as ALB, will continue to pose a potential threat to Connecticut’s forests and woodlands. Regulations remain in effect on the movement of firewood from out-of-state into Connecticut or within Connecticut. These regulations help ensure that other invasive insects are not carried into Connecticut, or spread throughout New England, through the shipment of firewood.
Permits or certificates from the State Entomologist or the state of origin will still be required to bring firewood into Connecticut.
Visit https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Forestry/Forest-Protection/Emerald-Ash-Borer-EAB, https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/plant-pest-and-disease-programs/pests-and-diseases/emerald-ash-borer, https://portal.ct.gov/caes or https://www.dontmovefirewood.org/ for more information.
Garden Club accepting applications for scholarship
AREA — The East Hartford Garden Club is accepting applications for one $1,000 scholarship to any full or part time student who is a resident of Andover, Bolton, Bloomfield, Coventry, East Hartford, East Windsor, Glastonbury, Manchester, Middletown, Vernon, Storrs and Windsor Locks. The students must be majoring in horticulture, floriculture, landscape design, conservation, forestry, environmental concerns, botany and other allied subjects.
Applications with the submitted instructions are available at the Guidance Department of the attending school. All completed applications must be received by April 1, to be considered.
