Connecticut news

2009 Annual Meeting

This is a reminder to mark Saturday March 14th on your calendar for the annual meeting of the CT Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation. The meeting will be held in Guilford, CT. The program is free for both members and non-members, as is lunch for those who advance register. To advance register simply call, or preferably e-mail to indicate your interest in attending.

We'll be presenting 2 1/2 hours of scientific lectures about the American chestnut. We'll also provide an update on both TACF's, and the CT Chapter of TACF's progress toward growing blight resistant trees. Those members collecting credits for the CT Arborists License can earn 2.5 CEUs for attending the program. The necessary paperwork will be available when you check in in person.

The presentations will be followed by operational meetings attended by those of you with an interest or business in attending. We hope you'll take advantage of this fantastic opportunity to hear Dr. Dane and find out more about the The American Chestnut Foundation vision and success. You are welcome to attend just those sections of the meeting that interest you as outlined in the agenda below.

Agenda

9:30am Opening Reception

10:00am Introduction – Chapter President Bill Adamsen

10:15am Keynote – Dr. Fenny Dane – Evolutionary history of American Castanea species

11:15am Sara Fitzsimmons – TACF Goes to China and propagation techniques used by TACF

12:00pm Lunch

1:00pm Kendra Gurney – Cold Tolerance for American chestnut. Plus TACF Operational Updates.

1:30pm Chapter Business (Bylaws, Elections, and then close of Annual Meeting)

2:00pm CT-TACF Board Meeting – Open to All!

4:00pm Expected close of Chapter business

alternate About Our Keynote Speaker

Dr. Fenny Dane earned her B.S. at Wageningen in the Netherlands, her M.S. at New Mexico State University and Ph.D. at Colorado State University.

Dr. Dane's research program is geared toward unraveling stress tolerance mechanisms in plant species, and to the investigation of the phylogeny and biogeography of Castanea species. Dr. Dane discovered that chloroplast (cp) DNA sequence data set patterns were geographically structured, and has used cpDNA patterns to explain hypothesized migration and dispersion for chestnut and chinkapin.

Home page of Fenny Dane at Auburn

Migration of Castenea Article

Meeting Location

Nathanael B Greene Community Center — 32 Church Street, Guilford

Driving Directions

I-95 northbound: Take exit 58 — Keep right off the ramp and turn right onto Church Street/CT-77 southbound. Follow for .7 miles, through one traffic light. The Community Center will be on your right.

1-95 southbound: Take exit 58 — Turn left onto Church Street/CT-77 and follow for .8 miles, through one traffic light. The Community Center will be on your right.

Parking

There is parking at the community center. For directions day of the event (in case you're lost) call the Community Center at — 203.453.8068

Reservations

E-mail or call 917.796.4284 to reserve (for the free) lunch.


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15 hours ago

A major milestone for conservation science.

Our Director of Science, Dr. Jared Westbrook, has published new research in “Science” showing how genomic tools can transform endangered species recovery. By using recurrent genomic selection, we can predict resilience earlier, shorten breeding cycles, and build a restoration system that grows stronger with every generation.

This model doesn’t just help the American chestnut, it could guide restoration for threatened species across the world.

Read the full article: www.science.org/eprint/SBHDH76BXDK366UMHU44/full?activationRedirect=/doi/full/10.1126/science.adw...

#ScienceResearch #ConservationScience #americanchestnut #restoration #conservation #science #nature #explorepage #chestnuts
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A major milestone for conservation science.Our Director of Science, Dr. Jared Westbrook, has published new research in “Science” showing how genomic tools can transform endangered species recovery. By using recurrent genomic selection, we can predict resilience earlier, shorten breeding cycles, and build a restoration system that grows stronger with every generation.This model doesn’t just help the American chestnut, it could guide restoration for threatened species across the world.Read the full article: https://www.science.org/eprint/SBHDH76BXDK366UMHU44/full?activationRedirect=/doi/full/10.1126/science.adw3225#ScienceResearch #ConservationScience #americanchestnut #restoration #conservation #science #nature #explorepage #chestnutsImage attachment

5 CommentsComment on Facebook

Across the world...is that like around the world?

Anyone have any links or information about Iodine use soil/spray and duration for eradicating or postponing the fungal infection? All the research I've done shows Iodine could cure the infection if using science.

Would this work for the American elm tree?

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We’re honored to be highlighted in this AVLtoday feature on the American chestnut’s story in Western North Carolina.

While the path to restoration is long, moments like this remind us how many people care about bringing this tree back to the landscape it once defined.

Thank you to everyone who continues to help this story grow.

Read the article: avltoday.6amcity.com/chestnut-tree-wnc

Photo curtsey of Audrey Snow Owen of PA/NJ TACF

#americanchestnut #explorepage #restoration #conservation #environment #nature #asheville #chestnuts
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We’re honored to be highlighted in this AVLtoday feature on the American chestnut’s story in Western North Carolina. While the path to restoration is long, moments like this remind us how many people care about bringing this tree back to the landscape it once defined.Thank you to everyone who continues to help this story grow.Read the article: https://avltoday.6amcity.com/chestnut-tree-wncPhoto curtsey of Audrey Snow Owen of PA/NJ TACF#americanchestnut #explorepage #restoration #conservation #environment #nature #asheville #chestnuts

1 CommentComment on Facebook

Is the photo a back crossed hybrid of American chestnut and Chinese chestnut?

Freedom seekers—enslaved Africans and African Americans who escaped slavery in pursuit of freedom—faced hunger, exposure, and unfamiliar terrain as they journeyed north.

Black History Month provides an important opportunity to honor the past while also recognizing how Black knowledge, leadership, and community continue to shape the present. From histories rooted in land and survival to modern platforms and outdoor spaces where connection and representation matter.

Throughout February, we will share a series of four stories that explore Black relationships to land, legacy, and community, looking at both historical foundations and contemporary expressions.

Read more about Freedom Seekers: tacf.org/black-history-and-the-american-chestnut/

#BlackHistoryMonth #americanchestnut #explorepage #chestnuts #BlackHistoryMonth2026 #restoration #Conservation #history
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Freedom seekers—enslaved Africans and African Americans who escaped slavery in pursuit of freedom—faced hunger, exposure, and unfamiliar terrain as they journeyed north.Black History Month provides an important opportunity to honor the past while also recognizing how Black knowledge, leadership, and community continue to shape the present. From histories rooted in land and survival to modern platforms and outdoor spaces where connection and representation matter.Throughout February, we will share a series of four stories that explore Black relationships to land, legacy, and community, looking at both historical foundations and contemporary expressions.Read more about Freedom Seekers: https://tacf.org/black-history-and-the-american-chestnut/ #blackhistorymonth #americanchestnut #explorepage #chestnuts #blackhistorymonth2026 #restoration #conservation #historyImage attachmentImage attachment

3 CommentsComment on Facebook

Hopefully they will be developing a mold resistant tree.

That's a really interesting perspective. I think a lot of woodcraft and other types of knowledge about the natural world, like astronomy, had to be shared. Also, marine skills.

Chestnuts?

January might feel like the quiet season, but at our research farms it’s already time to get growing. This month, we’re sowing chestnut seeds that will be used in upcoming research and breeding efforts. Starting seeds in January gives us a valuable head start on the growing season, allowing seedlings to establish early and be ready for genotyping in the spring and summer. Each seed represents an important step forward in our research, helping us better understand growth, resistance, and performance across chestnut species and hybrids. #AmericanChestnut #RestorationInProgress

#ChestnutResearch #ForestRestoration #MeadowviewResearchFarms #ChestnutSeedlings
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