Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

The emerald ash borer beetle is already in Randolph, New York, now it’s closing in on the area from the east, too. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation confirmed that an ash borer beetle was found in a purple trap box in Pembroke in Genesee County, New York. The beetle has been confirmed in several counties in New York and Pennsylvania. Last week, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources added 31 counties to the quarantine list. That brings to 43 the number of counties where movement of ash, including firewood, is restricted. http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/fpm_invasives_eab.aspx

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation says more trees in the Randolph area have been infested with emerald ash borer, a tree-killing beetle first confirmed in New York last year. DEC foresters have detected emerging insects on private woodlands south of Interstate 86, but within the previously established quarantine area. The emerald ash borer is a small but destructive beetle that infests and kills North American ash tree species, including green, white, black and blue ash. Since it was first discovered in Michigan in 2002, the emerald ash borer has spread to 13 states, including Pennsylvania, and two Canadian provinces and is responsible for the destruction of 70 million trees in the United States alone. After the insect was discovered in Cattaraugus County last year, a multi-agency effort was undertaken to attempt to control its spread. An informational meeting was held last night in Randolph and DEC officials say property owners, and communties, should be read...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Foster Township Police Chief Jeff Wolbert is hoping to retire next year. Wolbert made the unofficial announcement during Monday’s Foster Township supervisors meeting after a question by Interstate Parkway resident Joe Piganelli. Piganelli said, because they know he attends the township meetings, several people asked if he knew anything about Wolbert retiring. Wolbert said he hopes to retire in January. He’ll be retirement age in November. Piganelli then asked if the supervisors had a plan to name a new police chief. “We’ve had some discussions” supervisor Chris Wolcott said. Piganelli asked if the discussions would be just among the supervisors, or if the public would be involved. “I don’t see that the public needs to be necessarily involved at this stage,” Wolcott said, adding that the supervisors are willing to take comments and suggestions. “We don’t even have a plan right at the moment,” Wolcott said. “We’ve had some discussions but, actuall...

More trees in the Randolph area are now infested with the Emerald Ash Borer beetle. In mid-June of last year the New York Department of Environmental Conservation announced that the destructive beetle had infested about 30 trees just south of Interstate 86. Today, DEC said more trees in the same area are infested. Foresters have detected the insect on private woodlands south of Interstate 86 in an area where trees are already quarantined. The beetle infests and kills North American ash tree species, including green, white, black and blue ash. So far, it’s spread to 13 states and two Canadian provinces and is responsible destroying more than 70 million trees. The invasive beetle was first detected in Pennsylvania in the summer of 2007 in Butler County, and subsequently was found in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Indiana, Juniata, Lawrence, Mercer, Mifflin, Washington and Westmoreland counties. Emerald ash borer traps (those purple boxes hanging from trees) can be seen throughout...

Emerald Ash Borer beetles have been found in Juniata County, bringing to 11 the number of Pennsylvania counties where the ash tree-destroying pest has been identified. Acting Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding says a state-imposed quarantine is being expanded to include Juniata County. He's reminding people to use only locally harvested firewood, burn all of the firewood on-site, and not carry it to new locations. The invasive beetle was first detected in Pennsylvania in the summer of 2007 in Butler County, and subsequently was found in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Indiana, Lawrence, Mercer, Mifflin, Washington and Westmoreland counties. It's also been found in Cattaraugus County, New York, near Randolph. http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/agriculture/cwp/view.asp?A=390&Q=153457

New signs are now in place across the Allegheny National Forest as a reminder to visitors – burn it where you buy it! The purple panel trap in the upper right is one of many across the forest. These traps are monitored throughout the summer to detect emerald ash borer. The emerald ash borer continues on its relentless move across the United States, but only with the help of people moving firewood. A weak flyer, the emerald ash borer, can normally only expand its range less than ½ miles per year on its own. But, this disastrous critter has been hopping from state to state in firewood being transported from home to camps, or vice-versa. It has recently been found in Randolph, New York, near Allegany State Park. Please leave your firewood at home over the Fourth of July weekend if you plan to come to the Allegheny NF. If you do buy or collect firewood once you arrive on the forest, burn it where you buy it. Protect your forest.

The emerald ash borer has been found in Cattaraugus County. The destructive beetle that infests and kills North American ash tree species has been found Randolph. The infestation was first reported on June 15 after US Department of Agriculture employees recognized damage on trees just off Exit 16 of Interstate 86. About 30 trees have been affected. The purple boxes people see hanging from trees in the region are emerald ash borer traps.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) is hanging purple panel traps in trees along roadsides and other open areas in the forest to survey for emerald ash borer (EAB) beetles. The color of the purple traps is pleasing to EAB beetles; the traps contain Manuka oil which, to an EAB beetle, is a pleasant scent that mimics that smell of an ash tree. Insects attracted to the purple panel traps become stuck on the panels. The panel traps are surveyed on a schedule to identify insects on the trap. Pennsylvania crews will be driving crew-cab pickup trucks with yellow magnetic signs identifying them as PDA Plant Pest personnel. These crews will also be completing visual surveys and sweep netting of brush to potentially catch a beetle. Placement of these traps is part of a much larger EAB management strategy that includes quarantines, closure orders, tree harvesting, surveys, and bans on the movement of firewood to slow the spread of EAB. Since 2002, the EAB beetle has killed 50...