STATE OF THE
FOREST
2020
The Newport Tree Conservancy’s mission is to foster a healthy urban forest in Newport, RI through a permanent tree management and planting program for the benefit of present and future citizens of our community. The Newport Tree Conservancy engages our community with public education regarding the importance of trees in our lives and promoting improved planting and maintenance techniques.
Grafted European beech (Fagus Sylvatica). COVER: Camperdown Elm (Ulmus glabra 'Camperdownii') grafted from Eisenhower park specimen. 1
NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY Staff
Community Partners:
Natasha Harrison, executive director Helen Papp, interim executive director ('17-'19) Nick Castrataro, arboreta coordinator & collections curator Jon Greenberg, operations manager Kristyn Woodland, horticulturist
City of Newport Forestry Division FabNewport Miantonomi Park Commission Newport Health Equity Zone Newport Open Space Partnership The Newport Project Newport Public Schools Newport Tree & Open Space Commission Salve Regina University
Board of Directors Lilly Dick, president Jason Black ('17-'19) Maureen Cronin Robert Currier Lisa Lewis Susan Ruf Maureen Whitley Kristyn Woodland ('08-'19) Scott Wheeler, ex-officio advisor 2
Volunteers distribute mulch to newly planted native trees in Miantonomi Park. 3
Dear friends of the Newport Tree Conservancy, 2019 was an eventful and successful year for the Newport Tree Conservancy (NTC). As a newcomer to this fantastic organization, it has been a pleasure to learn about the work that has been going on in support of Newport's amazing trees. I look forward to helping NTC continue to care for the urban forest in Newport, raise awareness about the trees in our city, and serve as a resource for the propagation and planting of trees in our community. In November, I was thrilled to participate in the planting of 30 native trees at Miantonomi Park, a vital effort towards reforesting this important habitat. We partnered with the Newport Health Equity Zone to engage volunteers from the North End of Newport to join us in the planting. It was a warm Fall day and we had over 35 folks from all walks of life working together to improve the park and the environment. It was such a rewarding way to kick off my time at NTC.
I was fortunate to visit several of Newport's accredited arboreta before winter set in. The stewards of these special properties are caring for some spectacular trees and helping us by doing their part to protect and diversify the urban forest in Newport. As I have become familiar with the Heritage Tree Program, I have been impressed with NTC’s highly skilled efforts to ensure that we do not lose the lineage of some of the most important trees in the US, living right here in Newport. These trees are reaching the end of their natural lives, without our efforts to replicate their unique DNA and grow new trees, their character will be lost forever. Currently under propagation are clones and seedlings of the Fernleaf beech from the Redwood Library and AthenÌum, a gorgeous American sweetgum from Morton Park and the venerable Turkish oak from Chateau-sur-Mer. 4
Most impressive to me is the fact that NTC subsidizes every tree planted in public space; our streets, parks and open spaces. I was unaware of this fact until I arrived and hope that we can create awareness about the program and generate interest in volunteering with us to care for our shared trees. I look forward to the years to come and engaging Newporters of all ages with the work that we are doing with the trees that belong to all of us. Sincerely, Natasha Harrison Executive Director
158 New Trees Planted in 2019 Thanks to your support, the Newport Tree Conservancy, in partnership with the City of Newport's Forestry Division, planted 158 new trees in Newport in 2019. In addition to replanting Newport's parks and public spaces, NTC provides free and subsidized trees to residents in order to bolster the depth and diversity of our urban forest.
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trees planted in 2019 BARE ROOT TREE PROGRAM 3 Acer rubrum ‘Redpointe’ 3 Acer x freemanii ‘Autumn Blaze’ 3 Acer x truncatum ‘Ruby Sunset’ 3 Acer x truncatum ‘Urban Sunset’ 3 Corylus colurna 3 Ginkgo biloba ‘Princeton Sentry’ 3 Liriodendron tulipifera ‘Emerald City’ 3 Malus sargentii 3 Platanus x acerifolia ‘Bloodgood’ 3 Prunus x yedoensis ‘Akebono’ 3 Quercus acutissima 3 Ulmus carpinifolium ‘New Horizon’ FALL PLANTING 1 Celtis occidentalis 3 Cornus kousa 2 Gleditsia triacanthos ‘Halka’ 3 Gleditsia triacanthos ‘Skylands’ 3 Magnolia stellata 1 Platanus x acerifolia ‘Bloodgood’ 1 Quercus palustrus 1 Quercus velutina 1 Ulmus americana ‘Princeton’
MIANTONOMI PARK REFORESTATION PROJECT 15 Acer rubrum ‘Brandywine’ 6 Larix larcinia 9 Sassafras albidum SPECIMEN TREE PROGRAM 3 Acer rubrum ‘Franksred’ 3 Acer saccharinum ‘Silver Queen’ 6 Acer tataricum ‘Hot Wings’ 3 Betula nigra ‘Cully’ 6 Cercis canadensis 6 Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’ 6 Cornus kousa ‘Summer Fun’ 3 Fagus sylvatica ‘Dawyck Purple’ 3 Fagus sylvatica ‘Tricolor’ 3 Ginkgo biloba ‘Golden Colonnade’ 4 Hamamelis x ‘Jelena’ 6 Malus ‘Ruby Dayze’ 6 Prunus ‘First Blush’ 3 Quercus alba 3 Ulmus americana ‘JFS-Prince II’ SPRING PLANTING 2 Carpinus betulus ‘Frans Fontaine’ 1 Cornus florida ‘Cloud Nine’ 1 Fagus sylvatica ‘Aurea Pendula’ 6
1 1 1 4 1
Fagus sylvatica ‘Purple Fountain’ Fagus sylvatica ‘Riversii’ Nyssa sylvatica Prunus serrulata ‘Kanzan’ Quercus palustrus
Southern live oak (Quercus Virginiana) seedling. NTC is currently conducting plant trials with a number of different species to determine their suitability for future plantings in Newport. 7
Why Plant Trees? Not only do trees contribute to the beauty and character of our streets and parks, the average tree in Newport does a lot of work for our community: • • • • • • • •
Tree shade can reduce ground temperatures by up to 45° Tree fruit and seeds support a wide range of wildlife Flowering trees serve as key food source for pollinators A young tree can remove nearly 20lbs of CO2 from the air per year A mature tree can provide a day's worth of oxygen for 4 adults The average Newport tree intercepts 90 gallons of storm water runoff per year Trees reduce street noise and absorb wind Trees have been shown to reduce stress and improve health
With all of these benefits and more, trees are a great investment: planting and caring for a public tree yields community benefits of 2-5 times the cost.
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A Citywide Arboretum
An arboretum (plural: arboreta), can be thought of like an outdoor tree museum, a space dedicated to celebrating and learning from trees. The Newport Arboretum encompasses all public trees in our city. NTC earned professional accreditation of our citywide arboretum in 2014, and last year, received enhanced, Level II Accreditation from ArbNet. This new milestone recognizes the professional standards that NTC and the City of Newport continue to implement in advancing the planting and conservation of trees. Because trees are not naturally adapted to city life, our urban forest requires constant monitoring and care. The City of Newport's Forestry Division has a lot on its plate: removing hazardous trees, pruning, monitoring for pests, and grinding up old stumps, as well as planting new trees. Our mission is to support the work of our municipal partners by raising awareness and directing resources towards the protection, care, and regeneration of Newport's urban forest.
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Students from the Newport Project at Rogers High School and NTC Staff bring cloned saplings to the Redwood Library and AthanĂŚum to visit the parent tree, a Fernleaf European beech. 11
139 Genera of Trees Documented In Newport's Urban Forest VARIETY GENUS COUNT
Abies Acer Aesculus Ailanthus Albizia Alnus Amelanchier Aralia Araucaria Arctostaphylos Aristolochia Aronia Asimina Baccharis Berberis Betula Bignonia Buddleja Buxus Calocedrus Caragana Carpinus
8 57 11 1 3 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 19 1 4 5 1 1 11
Carya Catalpa Cedrus Celastrus Celtis Cephalotaxus Cercidiphyllum Cercis Chamaecyparis Chionanthus Cladrastis Clematis Clethra Comptonia Cornus Corylus Cotinus Cotoneaster Crataegus Cryptomeria Cunninghamia Cupressus Cytisus Davidia
3 2 7 1 2 1 5 6 19 2 1 1 3 1 21 3 3 1 6 5 2 4 1 1
Dirca Elaeagnus Enkianthus Euonymus Euptelea Exochorda Fagus Ficus Forsythia Fothergilla Franklinia Fraxinus Ginkgo Gleditsia Gordlinia Gordonia Gymnocladus Halesia Hamamelis Heptacodium Hibiscus Hydrangea Ilex Jasminum
Juglans Juniperus Koelreuteria Laburnum Lagerstroemia Larix Laurus Ligustrum Lindera Liquidambar Liriodendron Lonicera Maclura Magnolia Malus Menispermum Mespilus Metasequoia Morella Morus Nyssa Ostrya Oxydendrum Parrotia
1 1 2 5 1 1 26 1 1 1 1 12 8 5 1 1 2 3 5 1 3 6 19 1 12
3 10 1 2 4 4 1 3 1 9 4 1 1 30 19 1 1 5 1 1 4 2 1 4
Paulownia Phellodendron Physocarpus Picea Pieris Pinus Platanus Populus Prunus Pseudotsuga Ptelea Pterocarya Pyrus Quercus Rhododendron Rhus Robinia Rosa Salix Sambucus Sassafras Schisandra Sciadopitys Sequoiadendron
1 2 1 20 1 26 4 5 22 1 1 1 5 36 9 3 2 5 14 1 1 1 1 1
Sorbus 2 Stewartia 2 Styphnolobium 3 Styrax 5 Syringa 6 Taxodium 4 Taxus 6 Tetracentron 1 Tetradium 1 Thuja 9 Thujopsis 1 Tilia 14 Tsuga 3 Ulmus 17 Vaccinium 3 Viburnum 6 Vitex 1 Weigela 1 Wisteria 2 x Cupressocyparis 1 Zelkova 5
The Newport Tree Conservancy is proud of the growing network of citizens and public institutions that have demonstrated their commitment to high-quality tree stewardship, earning recognition from ArbNet as accredited arboreta: bellevue house · the blue garden · bonniecrest broadlawns · the chalet · clover patch · driftwood cottage east court · frederick law olmsted park & arboretum harbor house · hillside · ironwood · maher-a-lago · miramar the newport arboretum · the newport mansions arboretum oakwood · ocean view · pax et bonum · peace pocket · rose island salt marsh · the arboretum at salve regina university seascape · second wind · somershome · toad hall · villa palona walnut point · weetamoe · the whim
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6 newly accredited arboreta joined our network in 2019:
the blue garden
bonniecrest
clover patch
driftwood cottage
toad hall
villa palona
Aquidneck Island is now home to 31 accredited arboreta, more than any other community in the world. 14
Clockwise from Left: NTC Interns raise a trap to monitor for Emerald Ash Borer. Students from the Newport Project pot up young trees. Campers from FabNewport transplant sweetgum seedlings. 15
The Heritage Tree Center In 2017, we created the Heritage Tree Center, our greenhouse and nursery space on the grounds of Rogers High School. This growing and teaching space allows us to continually expand the depth and variety of engagement opportunities we offer, connecting local students with their community forest. In 2019, we were able to bring on 4 horticulture interns who dove deeply into all aspects of our work. In addition to caring for the hundreds of trees now growing at the Tree House, our interns learned grafting, identification, and propagation skills. 2019 marked the launch of a new collaborative effort with Salve Regina University: the Aquidneck Island Herbarium. A herbarium serves as a visual library of botanical information that has been preserved and organized for easy retrieval by researchers. Our interns identified, pressed, and catalogued plant specimens from throughout our community. This herbarium will continue to serve as a valuable learning and teaching tool as we work to expand its collection.
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Preserving Newport's Heritage Trees The Newport Tree Conservancy is committed to preserving the genetic lines of Newport's most culturally significant trees. At the Heritage Tree Center, we are utilizing two methods of propagation: growing trees from seed and cloning trees through vegetative grafting. Growing from seed produces non-identical offspring, because seeds themselves are produced by sexual reproduction, receiving genes from a male and female form.Grafting, by contrast, creates a genetically identical clone of the original tree. Combing these methods allows us to both support the genetic diversity of our urban forest while also replicating our most special trees so that future generations may also learn their stories and marvel at their grandeur. NEWPORT HERITAGE TREES PROPAGATED IN 2019: grown from seed: Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘JNB’ Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Merrillton’ Quercus cerris ‘Chateau-sur-Mer’ Carpinus betulus ‘Merrillton’ Liquidamabar styraciflua ‘Morton Park’ Cloned Fernleaf European beech (Fagus sylvatica 'Asplenifolia') framed by the tree it was cloned from. 17
vegetative grafted clones: Fagus sylvatica ‘Asplenifolia’ ‘Redwood Library’ Fagus sylvatica ‘Pendula’ ‘Harold Brown Estate’ Fagus sylvatica ‘Wakehurst’ Quercus cerris ‘Chateau-sur-Mer’
Clockwise from top left: Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) with a side veneer graft. Beech trees, (Fagus sylvatica) growing after successful grafting. Scions taken from the Liberty Tree ready to be grafted. 18
America’s Eden
The Newport Tree Conservancy is thrilled to be working with historian John Tschirch to develop a new publication entitled America’s Eden: Newport Landscapes through the Ages. With 300 pages of text illustrated with paintings, drawings and photographs, the book will trace the historic development of landscape architecture and design in Newport. The America’s Eden project is in the writing phase. With the completion of extensive research, John Tschirch is at work on the rich narrative of Newport’s landscape history from colonial times to the present. Contemporary photographs have also been taken of Newport’s “Living Legends,” the surviving specimens of the city’s extraordinary collection of trees, including varieties of beech, oak, linden, sycamore, cedar and many more. The book is divided into sections focusing on: The Colonial Landscape; the Picturesque Victorians; the Gilded Age and the Classical Revival Garden; Gardeners, Landscape Designers and Horticulturists; Garden Architecture; and Garden and Floral Spectacles. The 1780 map prepared for the Comte de Rochambeau shows the most detailed information on the lands of southern Newport, which would become Ocean Drive in the 1860s. 19
Rough Point: A Case Study in the Picturesque In 1887, Frederick William Vanderbilt commissioned Frederick Law Olmsted to design the grounds of Rough Point. Olmsted proposed open grassy meadows maintained by sheep on the southwestern ocean facing part of the property. This elicited so much curiosity amongst both landscape devotees and the general public that it became part of a national debate. While respecting many of Olmsted’s proposals, the Vanderbilts opted for a compromise solution: no formal gardens, but a windswept lawn with site lines focused on the rocky seacoast. TOP: Rough Point. Postcard, ca. 1900. Private Collection. BOTTOM: Flower Car Parade. 1899. Vanderbilt Mansion. Centerport, New York.
Social Spectacle In The Garden: A Floral Car Parade
Mrs. O.H.P. Belmont combined nature and new technology in the most extraordinary way in September of 1899. She hosted a floral automobile parade, which started on the grounds of Belcourt and proceeded to Grey Craig at dusk. Many cars appeared to be pulled by doves and seagulls, which, in fact, were sculpted birds extended in front of the car lights by poles. Mrs. Belmont advocated for women to drive automobiles, a recent invention at the time, as an act of female liberation. Each car was bedecked with flowers, a moving floral feast showing the talents of Newport’s gardeners. 20
2019 Financials It is our pleasure to share this Annual Report, outlining the financial success of fiscal year 2019. Thanks to generous donors and volunteers like you, 2019 was a successful year with many significant accomplishments. Total Income Total Expense 2019 Net Income
Akebono cherry (Prunus x yedoensis ‘Akebono’) awash in spring blooms. 21
$341,806.75 - $328,165.08 $13,641.67
OME
EXPENSE
INCOME
EXPENSE
Other Revenue 1% Earned Revenue 4%
Foundations 35%
Miscellaneous 1%
Annual Appeal 6% Corporations 12%
Evening of the Arboreta 24%
Professional Development 1%
Horticulture 38%
Facilities and Equipment 8% Education 12%
Development 15%
Individual Contributions 18%
Operations 13%
Foundations $118,033.00 Evening of the Arboreta
$82,780.25
Individual Contributions
$61,668.30
Corporations $42,100.00 Annual Appeal
$21,134.00
Earned Revenue
$12,737.19
Other Revenue
$3,354.01 22
Administration 12%
Horticulture $126,393.00 Development $50,557.00 Operations $42,948.87 Administration $37,919.00 Education $37,917.00 Facilities and Equipment $25,419.99 Miscellaneous $4,181.44 Professional Development $2,828.78
Thank You, Volunteers
Our work on behalf of Newport's trees would be impossible without our volunteers. We owe tremendous thanks to all those who have supported our efforts with their time, their knowledge, and their passion. We owe special thanks to two of our most committed and versatile volunteers: Kate Brandeis & Maureen Mooney. From watering at the Tree House, to collecting seeds, staffing events and everything in between, we cannot thank them enough for their ongoing contributions.
NTC Staff and volunteers after planting 30 new native trees in Miantonomi Park.
Maureen Mooney, Joanne Woodland & Kate Brandeis. 23
Thank You To Our 2019 Supporters $50,000 & up
Prince Charitable Trusts van Beuren Charitable Foundation
$25,000 - $49,999 Bartlett Tree Expert Co.
$10,000 - $24,999 EJMP Fund for Philanthropy Susan Ruf & Michael Walsh u
$5,000 - $9,999 Catherine & Christopher Abbate Mary Coleman Virginia Decker u Susan Dye & Oakleigh Thorne Bernard & Sarah Gewirz u Belinda Kielland Helen Walker Raleigh Tree Care Trust National Grid Rhode Island Foundation Suzette Schochet Maureen Whitley & Jeff Singer u Diane Wilsey
$1,000 - $4,999
Dan & Dory Benson Richard & Monty Burnham Sandra Craig Maureen Cronin & Mark Marosits u Angus & Joanna Davis u Lilly Dick u Patrick Dolat Margaret & Bob Duprey David & Pamela Ford u Bob & Veronique Gerber Jean & Sid Gorham S. Matthews V. Jr. & Anne F. Hamilton John Harris & Linda Sawyer Edward Harvey George & Nannette Herrick u Ted & Cheryl Huffman u Stefani Hulitar Lisa Lewis & Bart Dunbar Stephanie McLennan u Samuel & Ann Mencoff Susan Metzger Roderick O'Hanley & Richard Crisson u Diana Pearson Lisa & Paul Perrault George & Susan Petrovas Diana Prince Frank & Betsy Ray Tyson & Kristin Reed u Richard Sardella
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Susan & Dwight Sipprelle Hope van Beuren Robin & Frederick Warren The Weintz Family Harbor Lights Foundation u — Arboretum Steward
2019 Evening of the Arboreta at Clover Patch Arboretum.
$500 - $999
Ella Auchincloss Richard & Barbara Bohan John & Elizabeth Brooks Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Brown Donald Christ Leroy Close Jacqueline B. Colbert & Mark C. Muetterties, M.D. Maisie Dick u Alessandra & Kurt Dolnier Katharine T. Emmet & Jim Peterson Pamela Giroux Pierre & Kathy Irving Michael & Patricia Kidder Didi Lorillard Robert & Heidi Manice Howard Marsh & Ingrid Henrichsen Judy Clagett McLennan u Sue McNally & Doug Sabetti Newport Garden Club Bettie & Jonathan Pardee Kathy Pratt & Turner Scott Pam & Chip Quinn David W. Ray James Richardson & Holly Driscoll Eugene Roberts, Jr. Ernst & Nancy Rothe Maj. Gen. & Mrs. Stephen R. Seiter Jeremiah Shafir Elizabeth Smoler Paul Steinbrenner Teryn & Karl Weintz u
$100 - $499
Richard Casey Casey Tree Specialists Jonna Chewning Kelley Coen Jim & Maria Coffey James O. Coleman Ann Conner Rob Currier Mary Currier Nancy Cushing Evans Eli Dana Discover Newport Liz & Emlen Drayton Harry Eudenbach Dawn Euer Larry & Casey Farley Mohamad & Dorienne Farzan Linda Finn Kathleen Finn Pamela & Ronald Fleming Ronald Lee Fleming u James & Dorothy Garman Alexander Gee Pam Gilpin Lawrence Glenn Leonard Grace Warren & Linda Gray Isabel Griffith Rick Grosvenor June Halliday-Holden John Harmon
Mrs. Charles C. Adams, III Dominique Alfandre & Thomas Palmer M. Therese Antone Aquidneck Land Trust Robert & Linda Armes Brian & Deborah Arnold Melissa Bachelder Blake Banky Karen Barbera Ellen Barnes Dory Benson Karen Augeri Benson Biogen Thomas Bliss Fred & Joan Bliss Andrew & Priyanka Bobenski Robert & Myrna Bocage Steven & Ellen Bowman Katherine Brandeis Nancy & Dick Brickley Brigid Finn Fine Gardening David W. Brown Gioia Browne Mary Bush-Brown Judith Byrnes Ross & Leah Cann Drew Carey Richard Carmichael & Margaret Jones D'Arcy Carr
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Peter Harty Michael Hayes Robert & Angela Healey u Thomas Higginson John Hirschboeck Allan Hodges Robin Hoffman Molly Holland Sally & Bo Huffman Anne Huot Mary Jennings Pamela Kelley Robert & Susan Kieronski Susan King Christina Kryca Leena Langeland John & Suzanna Laramee Elizabeth Leatherman Richard C. Loebs, Jr. Kati Machtley Mary Marwick Gene & Maureen McCabe Elizabeth McMillen Robert Meikle Joseph & Victoria Mele u Pierre FV Merle Constance Metcalf u Carlotta Morris Arthur Murphy Lynn Nicoletta Leonard Nihan
George O'Brien Carol & Robert O'Donnell u Robert Oakley Rochelle Ohrstrom Kristin Parella Christopher T.H. Pell Agatha & Tom Perkins Preservation Society of Newport County u Patricia Presnall Virginia Purviance John Reilly Christa Reise Barbara & Brooke Roberts Jennifer Robinson Janet Robinson Bayard & Pamela Russell Bettie J. Sarantos Turner Scott & Kathy Pratt Sherwood Condo Association Doug Shewring Kaththea Sias Scott Skuncik Dave & Deborah Smith Marjorie Spencer Vivian Spencer Susan Stautberg Paul Strattner Earle Stubbs David Thalmann
Julie Toland John Tschirch Lynne Tungett Bruce Vanicek Geraldine Vitale Betsy & Michael Vitton Robert Walker Brownie Warburton Carol Ward Carla Warner Judith Webb Keith Weld Crystal Williams Joanne Woodland Mark Zeller
Karin Caffi Shayna Camp John & Kathleen Campanini Michael & Jean Carroll Jane Carroll Roderick Cavanagh Samuel Chase Corrigan Financial Jeff Curtis Tina Dolen Mary Emerson Elizabeth Enochs Alan & Doris Feinberg Kristie & Glenn Gardiner Laura Goldstein Deborah & David Grant Harriet Harrington Richard & Phyllis Higgerson Matthew & Terry Judd David Kane Maureen Kirkby Andrea Kramer Bruce & Marilyn Leish William H. Leys Frank Lotito Janet Malkemes Janice Marchetti Dorothea Maxwell Susan & Dennis McCoy
up to $99
Jo-Ann Amadeo Jan Armor Jessica & Blair Bailey Jessica Barker David & Sandra Barnes Nicholas Benson Lloyd & Lisa Berntsen William Boiani Frances Booth Eileen Brown Margaret Bulmer Marilyn Bunnewith
Cheryl McLarney Michael McMillin Beth & Russ Milham Chas & Birch Coffey Miller Robert & Karen Newton Gregory Norden North-Eastern Tree Service, Inc. Barbara Parent Steven Pilz Will Ricketson Marie Robinson Dennis & Beverlee Taber Marvin & Suzanne Thomas Alexander Walsh Daniel & Margaret Warburg Eileen Warburton
In-Kind Donors
Arnold Art Store Blackstone Caterers The Currier Bindery Ron Henderson The Newport String Project Stagecraft Audio T.J. Brown Landscaping
We are grateful for all our generous donors. We can not do this work without you! 26
PO Box 863, Newport, RI 02840 • (401) 324-9204 • Newport Tree Conservancy.org