Winter 2021 Volume XLVIII, Issue 1
TREE TIME THE NEWSLETTER OF MOUNT PISGAH ARBORETUM Announcing the Retirement of Site Manager Tom LoCascio by Brad van Appel, Executive Director
For a tree, 40 years is not old, but for humans it is a career. That’s how long Tom LoCascio has served Mount Pisgah Arboretum and our community. As the Arboretum’s Site Manger, Tom has left an indelible mark on this special place. Everywhere you look, from the vegetation and habitats, to the trails, benches, bridges, and facilities you see Tom’s handiwork and dedication, as well as his creativity and ingenuity. Along the way he has also helped craft the Arboretum’s culture and values. He’s engaged thousands of volunteers, won awards for his work with at-risk youth, and nurtured a wide range of community partnerships.
In December Tom retired from his long career at the Arboretum. His unique perspective and dedication to the site, the organization, and our mission will be missed. We Photo from archive wish him all the best with whatever he chooses to spend his considerable In This Issue: energy and talents on next, and hope he • Education Report will always be able to enjoy the fruits of • Publication Schedule his labors at Mount Pisgah Arboretum. • Fundraising Update • Site Report Thank you, Tom!
Photo from archive Board of Directors
Education Report Karen Anderson, President by Jenny Laxton, Education Manager Tim King, Vice President Charlotte Helmer, Secretary Like many outdoor focused non-profits, here at the Arboretum we are all about Charlotte Kreitlow, Treasurer in-person education--touching, seeing, hearing, smelling and occasionally Carl Bybee Chris Culver tasting the world around us. The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged our Rich Kelly ability to do our usual in-person programs, but created opportunities for us to Sally Stender think outside the box. During the fall, we started doing small weekly walks for families and created a kid's "after-school" program for elementary-aged Staff Brad van Appel, Executive Director students. We'll be continuing these programs in the spring, along with the Jenny Laxton, Education Manager return of more frequent walks just for adults. Keep an eye on our online Leisha Wood, Venue Manager calendar for when those walks Patrick Wegner, Habitat & Trails Manager will return (once COVID Connor Reinecke, Facilities Manager restrictions have again eased Julie Hubbard-McNall, Development Coordinator & Bookkeeper in Lane County) and join us to August Jackson, Interpretation get your nature fix! We are also Coordinator continuing to provide virtual Josh Head, Pavilion Custodian offerings with our new Mount Contact Information Pisgah Arboretum YouTube Office Phone: 541-747-3817 Channel. If you can't make it Events Phone: 541-747-1504 out to the Arboretum, or aren't Education Phone: 541-741-4110 [email protected] comfortable with in-person www.MountPisgahArboretum.org walks, checking out our content Photo by Patrick Wegner www.twitter.com/MtPisgahArb there is the next best thing. It's a facebook.com/mountpisgaharboretum great way to learn more about some of the common plants and animals you see during your Arboretum walks. As we start 2021, let's all stay safe, keep getting outside and keep learning however we can!
Mount Pisgah Arboretum is a nonprofit organization with a mission to engage people with nature through interactive learning and stewardship.
Facilities include miles of riverside and forest trails, picnic areas and a pavilion for events. We host outdoor programs to foster appreciation of the natural world.
Thank you for being a supporter!
Photo by Patrick Wegner 2 Saving Paper and Trees! Now booking A change to our publication schedule for 2022! By Brad van Appel, Executive Director For the last several years, we’ve been sending out e-newsletters at least once per month in addition to our quarterly Tree Time publication. More and more, Arboretum members have asked us to send their issues of Tree Time electronically as well. In the interest of saving trees and using more of our limited resources on the care of our site and our educational programs, we will be cutting back on the frequency of Tree Time publication from four times each year to two. After this final winter issue, members can expect to receive Tree Time in the spring and the fall going forward. Please contact our office if you have any questions about the new publication schedule.
Thank You! by Julie Hubard-McNall, Development Coordinator & Bookkeeper
We are grateful to announce that the Arboretum’s year-end fundraiser brought
Photo by Amanda-Meg Photography in a total of $42,000, exceeding our goal of $40,000! More than 240 people participated in the donation drive giving gifts beyond their annual membership Picture your special dues. The past year has been challenging for everyone and many have found event at our beautiful respite here at Mount Pisgah Arboretum. Your support makes it possible for us to maintain the natural habitats, trails, exhibits, and facilities, while also finding White Oak Pavilion new ways to provide environmental education in a changing community. Thank you for joining us to ensure that the beautiful natural legacy of Mount Pisgah Arboretum continues.
Photo by Will Nielsen Photography
Contact Leisha Wood, Venue Manager [email protected] 541-747-1504
3 Site Report By Patrick Wegner, Habitat and Trails Manager; & Connor Reinecke, Facilities Manager
Happy New Year! As the days get longer, it is a great time to pause and reflect on what has been accomplished and what to begin to look forward to. It has been a busy past few months for site staff at the Arboretum. Our shop received a new back deck for tool storage and the Zig-Zag Trail got an improved switchback that will make for easier walking while also better protecting the trailside vegetation.
A large blackberry removal project took place in the upper bowl and removal has started along the Buford Trail between the tree round and the stone bench built by Tom LoCascio. Four of our honorary benches were repaired and refinished including the Scherer bench and Photo by Patrick Wegner The Zig-Zag Trail gets a reconstructed the Aten Bench. switchback, armored with boulders. This portion of the Zig-Zag Trail had become difficult to navigate, particularly for those We said goodbye to our trusty 1981 Kubota tractor and finally cleaned up our with mobility issues. woodshop. The welcome winter rains have revealed a clogged road culvert and some wet spots on our roads, and we have been hard at work clearing ditches and draining potholes. This phase of drainage improvement is a little messy at the moment, but will save us future headaches and maintenance. The Patricia Baker Wildflower Garden is looking great as we prepare for new plantings and spring blooms.
Look out for new roofs on some of our buildings in the coming year. In our parking lot, expect to see a wider lower tier, new connecting trails, and even an electric car charging station. At the main trailhead we will be installing a handrail and removing the gate. This should really help with navigating the steep section between the pavement and the kiosks. A big shout out to the Mavens for helping us clear leaves from trails this fall and winter. Photo by August Jackson The Palmer bench, located under the The trails are looking great and we hope to see you around! shade of a legacy white oak, is one of several benches to have received some much-needed restorative attention.
4 Heather Wolford Kristie Long Patricia Bryan Hillary Haslip Kristin Doak Pavel Gubanikhin Contributions Honore Scribner Kristina Schneider Pete Mandrapa Sep. 20, 2020 to Jan. 17, 2020 Ian Glass Kyle Logan Robert Stephenson Jack Fortune Laura Anderson Rose Heising James Livingston Laura Kemp Ruth Tabak Carrie Janes Jane Straub Lily Serrao Sarah Henley Charles Farrington New Members Janet Madrone Linda Burns Sarah Hodge Colleen Cunningham Jean Lytjen Lindsay Selser Sarah Marie Merritt Agnes Glover Cory & Kelsay Jeff Anderson Lois Woltag Sarah Vujcich Alex Weston Rychener Jeffrey Schenck Lucy Lynch Spencer Doidge Allan & Trudy Crispin Shelley Jess Eldridge Lydia Hale Stefan Pasymowski Hughes Dana Smith Jessica Gentzkow Makayla Estill Stephanie Luiere Alysha Shipley Daniel Dixon Joan & David Brown Mallory James Stephen Bischoff Amanda DeLong Danielle Stricklin John Sharrer Marcus Pope Sumitra Rosella Amy & Kevin David and Judy Berg John Tworek- Marian Talen Susan Turpin Rowland David Maloney Hofstetter Martha Evans Synthia West Ann & Chuck Gibson Dean Walton Josie Brosnan Mary Meredith Drew Teague Cohen-Bond Aricha Smith Deborah Morrison Judith Benson-Shank Mary Milo Theresa Drulard B. Grace Bullock Debra Levy Kate Lange Matt & Claire Keeler Timothy Smith Barbara Ann Moore Denny & Jenny Ellis Katelyn Eldridge Matthew Tyler Tom & Peg Neudeck Berit Shaver Dre Chinn Kathi Holst Melissa Koval Tory Heldt Beverly Ringger Elise Stengle Katrina Decker Michelle Rindy Tracy McGeehan Bliss Cheatwood Elizabeth Wadsworth Keely McDaniel Core Michelle Watkins Tyler Viles Bob Warren & Mary Elliott Grey Keith & Celeste Miriam Bolton Vanessa Ferrell Maggs Emilie Beath Dickey Mitchell Sherwood Victor Richenstein Brady Walker Erin Holman Keith Bucher Morgan Miller Wayne Anderson Brian Killingsworth Grace O'Brien Kent Smith Nancy Novitski Wendy Friedman Camilla Carter Greg Lobissen Kristen Layton Nicole Piehl Whitney Huston Carol Ipsen Hallie Miller
Cheryl Hunt Doreen Vaughan McCutcheon Cheshire Mayrsohn Eliza Schmidkunz & Gregory & Heather Year-end Giving Christine Moats Glen Gibbons Nieckarz Connie & Michael Elizabeth E. Wood Gretchen Miller Adrienne Borg Bill Klupenger Manley Elizabeth Havens Helen Cannon Alethia Hostetter Becki & Bill Christine Mitchell Elizabeth Van Buren Hugh Townsend Amber Kelel Montgomery Clyde Quam Emily Steel & Paul Hyla Rosenberg Anita McAnear Birgit & Michael Coleen Leibmann Gordon Ingrid Wendt Ann & David Musheno Craig Cherry Emily Gattis Ivy Goldman Fidanque Bob & Jeannie Cynthia Orlando Emma Kim James Lasseter Ann Muller Friedman Dan Luoma & Joyce Eric Lundberg Jane & Tim Holloway Anne Forrestel Bonnie Radomski- Eberhart Ernie & Greta Janet Moelzer Anne Turner & Steve Conley Daniel Hagen Pressman Janet Reed Kuzma Brenda Bailey Daphne Stone Fred Tepfer Janet Sherman Ariana Fancher Brian Price David & Judy Berg Frederick Maurer Janice Morrow Arlene Weiner Brigit Musheno David & Joan Brown Gary & Esther Tepfer Jaye Stutz Audrey Weiss Bruce Heldt David & Margaret Gary & Kathleen Jeanne Miller Barbara Frerichs Carole & Milton Conover Herse Jeff Anderson Barbara Moore Quam David von Hippel & Gary Ladenes Jeffrey A. Morey & Barbara Roberts Carolyn Manley Victoria Singer Gary & Janet Reiber Gail Harris Barbara Schomaker Carolyn Schabel David Ashley Gayle Faust Jen & Eric Vortriede Barbara Shirk Catherine & Luke Denis Biesecker George Cardenas Jennifer Doane Bea Fontana Roth Diana Barkelew Gerald Jacobson Jennifer Hess Beth & Fred Maurer Charles & Sarah Butler Dianne Cunningham Gloria Crenshaw Jennifer Gerger Betsy Hartzell Charles & Elizabeth Diane Kurz Gordon Christianer Jennifer Lippert Bette Bauer Search Dianne Dugaw & Grace O'Brien Jennifer Radcliffe Betty Taylor Charlotte & Bryan Amanda Powell Greg Pitts Jessica Best Bill & Mary Karp Kreitlow Dixie Colgan Gregory & Lynee Jim Northrop
7 Joan & David Brown Kasubhai Melinda Grier Ron Saylor & Pam Steven & Esther Foss Joan Harvey Lann & Melody Leslie Michael & Marilyn Whyte Pringle Joan Peterkin & Marty Laura Sogge Kelley Ronald & Cecilia Steven Engel Janosch Lee Darling Michael Mattick Head Sue Goldfish JoAnn & Mike Libby & Paul Peppis Michael & JoAnn Rose Ahearn Susan Archbald McCabe Wadsworth McCabe Ruth Anne & Bob Susan Jurasz Joe Millon Liz & Jeffrey Kurtz Nancie Fadeley Fraley Susan Rankin John & Denise Smith Lori Stern Nancy McCollum Saelon's Studio Susanne Twight- John & Gwynn Lorraine & Mason Pam Smith & Tim Sally & Patrick Knox Alexander Ostrom Davis Whitley Sandra & Hugh Suzanne Cieutat John A. Lewis Lorraine Boose Pam Wooddell Townsend Sydalee Lang John Garrett & Ruth Luke & Catherine Pat & Dennis Murphy Sandy Atkinson and Teressa Trusty Kaminski Roth Patricia Baker Jack Williams Terri L. Brown John O'Donnell Lynn David Larsen Patricia Esch Sandy Poinsett Terry Biggs John Votipka Madronna Holden Patricia Moore Sarah Lorge Butler & Terry White/Eugene Joyce Trawle Margaret Essenberg Patrick Morgan Charles Butler True Value Judith & Peter Watt Margaret Yokum Peggy Dame Sarah Ulerick Timothy Bradshaw Judith Benson-Shank Margie Aten Pepper Miller Sarkis Antikajian Thomas & Barbara Julie Daniel Margrit Hermes Peter Daugherty Sasha Salko Roberts Julie Hulme Marie T. Bennett- Professors Forell & Seleucia Sivad & Tom Beatty Julie Staub Setchko Hildreth Michael Charlton Tim & Pamela Smith Karen Perkins Marie Dochnahl Rebecca Hazen Sharon Franklin Whitley Karen Silfies Marilyn Mangus Reverdy Nicholson Sharon Schuman Timothy Bradshaw Karyn Kaplan Mark & Lori Stern Rhea Irvine Simon & Pauline Tom Prugh Katherine Reinecke Mary Ann McDonnell Rick Ahrens Thaler Vicki Reed-Levine Kathie & Eric Mary Bishop Rich Locus Simrat Kaur Annski Victor Steuber Lundberg Mary Darold-Tanner Ritta Dreier Williams Virginia Donohue Kathryn & Mark Mary Huynh-Watkins Rob & Janet Barnes Sorrel & Christopher Viriam Khalsa Heerema Mary Parthemer Robert Murray Arends William Karp Kathy Fairchild Mason Davis Robin & David Stephen Bischoff William Klupenger Kernutt Stokes LP Matt Steinberg & Kelly Tiedeman Stephen Jones William Waddel Kevin Shanley Loughary Robin Cochran Stephen Medlar Willy Hart Kristin Lee & Mustafa Melanie Wayne Robynne Whitney Stephen Quinn Wilma Roche
George Cardenas Lacey Jarrell Patricia Adams General Contributions Glenn Buchanan Levi Strauss Rich Branchik Howard Bonnett & Foundation Richard Glover & Aaron Pierce Chris Kleine Judi Horstmann Louise Reinka Tabitha Buzby Andrea Mull Deborah Robinson Howard Griffiths Marcella Easton Robert J. Cummings Angela Montoya Don Wirtala Jennifer Bouton Mary & Tom Foust Sarah Mattan Ann Miller Dottie & James Jewelee Bell Matt Ribkoff Sumo Sushi Anne Forrestel Dougher Jim & Laura Marshall Meredith Allen Talya Horowitz & Sam Audrey Garrett E. Anne Van Ryzin Judith Carter Michael & Patti Ach Barbara Dumbleton E. Francone Karen Anderson McNutt Thomas and Julie Carol Higginbotham Elliott Grey Karen Silfies Monica Van Appel Carpenter Cascade Crest Trading Gary Davis Khan Pitts Oliver and Sandy Dain Tim Bishop Cathy Russell Gayle Faust Kirsten Wert Pam Brills & Chris Tim Halverson Chris Culver Gayle Smith Kyra Scadden Wesely
Thank You Virtual Mushroom Festival Sponsors!
8 Commemorations In honor of Allie Jacobson --Gerald Jacobson In honor of Amy Doane and David Waltz --Jennifer Doane In honor of August Jackson --Rebecca Hazen In honor of Colin & Carolyn McDonnell --Mary Ann McDonnell In honor of Gery Sorg, on his birthday --Tim Sorg In honor of Janie King --Marie T. Bennett-Setchko In honor of legendary hiker Janet Jacobsen’s 80th birthday --Jim Northrop In honor of Leisha Rae Wood --John A. Lewis In honor of Martina Salisbury --Ingrid Wendt In honor of Ms. Becky, Edgewood Kindergarten Teacher -- Helen Business Memberships Cannon In honor of Rio Salazar --Sean and Steven Hellickson Coast Fork Farm Stand Mountain Rose Herbs In honor of the fire and all affected by Covid-19 --Mary Bishop Dwyer Williams QBooks Help, LLC In memory of Aife --Nina Dockstader Cherkoss Attorneys, Scherer Investment Co. In memory of Anita Belt --Vicki Reed-Levine; Nancy McCollum PC Sperry Tree Care Co. In memory of Bill Rankin --Susan Rankin Emerald Empire Sundance Natural In memory of Carolyn K. Smith --Barbara Bruns Kiwanis Club Foods In memory of Congressman Jim Weaver --Betty Taylor; Thomas Eugene True Value ThermoFIsher Klonoski; Katie Mason; Pam McQueen Hardware Scientifc In memory of David Craig --Sarah Lorge Butler & Charles Butler Morning Glory Cafe Unwind LLC In memory of David Schuman --Sharon Schuman In memory of Debra Kurz --Diane Kurz In memory of Edward P Thompson --Terry Biggs Purchased Gift Memberships In memory of Freeman Rowe --Meredith Allen; Connie & David Wagner; Cheshire Mayrsohn; Dan Luoma & Joyce Eberhart In memory of Gloria Jean --Mary Darold-Tanner Ann & Chuck Gibson Mary G. Brogdon In memory of Gretchen Matsuoka --Gary & Kathleen Herse; Beverly Ringger Melinda Allbaugh- Margery Eriksson & JT Nelson; Rhea Irvine Carol Rychener Jones In memory of Joan Benson --Emily Gattis Catharine Lindsley Patricia Dunn In memory of Joan Dochnahl (mother) & John Dochnahl Catherine Heising Rachel Rosen (brother) --Marie Dochnahl Christopher Hale Richard Glover & In memory of Jody Milliman --Carol Milliman Dre Chinn Tabitha Buzby In memory of John B. Hogan --Elizabeth Rottger James Adney Rob Castleberry & In memory of Larry Aten --Margie Aten Jane Krauss and Paul Joyce Thomas In memory of Lorrie Hong --Emma Kim Bloch Sheryl & Richard In memory of Mrs. Louise Behnke --James Lasseter Kent Smith Rosenberg In memory of Paul Alan Snyder --Jeanne Miller Linda Dawson Sumitra Rosella In memory of Paul O’Brien --Grace O'Brien Linda Jo Eldridge Vyann Logan In memory of Randy Thomas --Richard Silverman in memory of Tamba --Ellen McQuilkin In memory of Tasha Dog --Brenda Bailey Donations to Programs In memory of the trees that died in the fires --Elizabeth Van Buren In Memory of Alice Kocyan --Amanda Grimaldi; Andrew Botello; Sponsored Family Anderson Bailey Sturtevant; Briana Hughes; Connie Turcott; Memberships: Judy & Gary Carter Cornelia Wagner; Dean Stavroula; Devin Werner; Don Monica Van Appel Patricia Baker Jones; Elizabeth Randleman; Ellen Wetmore; Heather Robin & Mark Richard Silverman Nolan; Heather Solisz; Jacqueline Przytula; Winfree-Andrew Tim Sorg Janet Stein;Joyce Schachter; Kelly Zimmerman; Lea Vanlue; Leah Scott Pengelly Stein; Lynn Stapes; Marc Klein; Michele Grimaldi Stein; Michelle Interpretation Hildreth; Randal Mooney; Sarah Chalmers; Scott Johnson; Sean Education Program: Program: Duyck; Sherry Finkle; Sokol Jwana Bill & Becki Anne Forrestel Montgomery Janice Morrow A special thanks to Elizabeth Hall Sarah Hale Jim & Laura Marshall Sarah Ulerick Evergreen Members & John & Kathy Shirley Marie Raven Renewing Members! 9 NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID EUGENE, OR PERMIT NO. 624
34901 Frank Parrish Road Eugene, OR 97405-9673 Address Service Requested
Discover Your Place in Nature
Yes, I want to support the Arboretum! Membership Dues Sponsor Kids' Nature Field Trips! Student/Senior/Guide $40 Individual $50 We're excited to welcome kids back on field trips in the Family $60 fall of 2021! Many schools can no longer afford these field trips, and the financial impact of the pandemic will make Sponsor $75 them depend even more on scholarships from people like Supporting $100 you. A $10 donation to Discovery Tours brings out one Sustaining $250 child. $250 can bring out a whole classroom! Business $100-$1,000 - call! I want to help children discover nature Other Contributions with a gift of $ ______Sponsor a Family Membership $60 Membership $ ______+ Donation $ ______= Total Contribution $______Unrestricted Interpretive Program Name: Endowment Fund “In Honor of” or “In Memory of” Address: Name of person receiving tribute ______City, State, Zip: Please mail your membership and/or contributions to: Phone: Mount Pisgah Arboretum 34901 Frank Parrish Road • Eugene, OR 97405 Please keep my donation anonymous. All contributions and dues are tax-deductible. IRS #23-7345974