Nominations open for Urban Forest Awards

The City of Sisters Urban Forestry Board is seeking to recognize the individuals, groups, and trees that make our city unique.

The 2010 Sisters Urban Forest Awards recognize an outstanding tree within the Sisters urban growth boundary and individuals, groups, or agencies that have been leaders in the efforts to enhance and maintain Sisters' community forest (trees and related vegetation growing within the city's urban growth boundary) during the past year.

There are two categories of awards: Citizen Forester and Tree of the Year.

The Citizen Forester category seeks to recognize individuals or groups of individuals who have been instrumental in organizing, motivating or participating in community forestry activities in Sisters. Nominees for this award may include civic volunteers, community leaders, students, or concerned citizens. The Urban Forestry Board may select one or more recipients in this category each year.

The Tree of the Year category seeks to recognize a tree within the urban growth boundary that is outstanding because of its size,

appearance, historical significance, or other reason. Trees may be located on public or private property. The Urban Forestry Board will select one tree each year in this category.

Nominations should be submitted to Laura Lehman at the City of Sisters Planning Department. Nomination forms can be found on the city's Web site and are available at City Hall, and can be e-mailed upon request. The city asks that nominations be submitted no later than April 9. Award recipients will be recognized during the Urban Forestry Board's April meeting, being held at Sisters City Hall on April 15, at 5:30 p.m.

Last year's winners of the Citizen Forester award were Chad and Cathy Stadeli of C&C Nursery, who donated at least one tree to the city for Arbor Day every year that the city has celebrated Arbor Day. The Tree of the Year for 2009 was a majestic ponderosa pine located in Creekside City Park, which was nominated by Eva, Nate and Grace Brady.

For more information, contact Lehman, associate planner/ISA Certified Arborist, at 541-323-5214 or e-mail [email protected]