Community Events for Barts Tree Service in Danbury, CT

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Can You Schedule Tree Work on Candlewood Lake?

Property owners on Candlewood Lake in Connecticut are often confused by what tree work they are allowed to do because FirstLight Power Resources owns up to the 440-foot elevation line, also known as the Rocky River Project Boundary.

This confusion can lead to dangerous trees that should have been removed years ago, trees that are lacking proper maintenance, and more.

In this article, we will address some of the questions that Candlewood Lake residents and property owners frequently ask.

What is the 440 line?

The 440 line refers to the 440-foot elevation mark, where FirstLight Power Resources’ ownership begins. In most cases, property owners do not own any land on the water’s edge.

It is now referred to as the Rocky River Project Boundary.

Learn more about waterfront living and the Rocky River Project Boundary here >>

How will I know where this boundary is on my property?

Schedule a land survey to officially locate the Rocky River Project Boundary. In some cases, it deviates from the 440’ elevation line.

Your deed should also reflect that part of your property is owned by FirstLight Power Resources.

Who is FirstLight Power Resources?

FirstLight Power Resources is the owner of Candlewood Lake and the shoreline up to 440-foot elevation. They own the lake, most of the shoreline, the docks, and any trees, plants, or other vegetation within that space.

Learn more about FirstLight on their website >>

Why does FirstLight Power control the shoreline of Candlewood Lake?

Candlewood Lake was created in the 1920s to store water to create electricity and was formed behind a hydroelectric dam. It was owned by Connecticut Light and Power Company until June 2006, when it was sold to FirstLight Power Resources.

“The federal government requires FirstLight to manage shoreline property as part of its licenses issued by the federal government, which are required to operate hydropower stations.”

“Within the project boundaries, FirstLight manages shoreline uses such as the installation of docks and seawalls (among many others) to balance many interests, including power generation, environmental protection, flood control, irrigation, and public recreation.”

“As such, it is FirstLight’s responsibility to manage its lands and waters by reviewing and approving anything that might affect those operations.”

Above text was taken from FirstLight Power’s permit website page.

How Does This Impact Tree Work on My Property?

If you live on Candlewood Lake and have any property below the 440’ elevation mark, you need permission (a permit) to make any changes on that property, including removing or pruning any trees.

If you don’t receive permission, you may receive a “cease and desist” order, be required to replace anything that may have been removed, and/or need to pay a fine. Under certain circumstances, legal action may also be taken.

FirstLight recommends that you have designs, plans, and contractors (such as Barts Tree Service) in place before applying for a permit.

They also state, “Many proposals will benefit from the input of a qualified design professional, and for certain applications, FirstLight requires that you provide surveys, site plans, and other documentation prepared by a Licensed Professional.”

What other things are impacted by FirstLight owning part of my property?

You will need to receive permission for any changes made to areas owned by FirstLight, including:

Clearing vegetation
Building any walls or structures
Changing or replacing a dock

How do I receive a permit to do work on the shoreline?

Shoreline and Land Use Permits can be applied for here >>

You will need to create an account and apply for your permit.

Learn more in the FirstLight Shoreline Management Handbook >>

The handbook covers permit requirements, a plant list, information on stormwater management, and more.

Questions? Contact FirstLight at lake.permits@firstlightpower.com.

Do I need to mention that Barts Tree Service is working on my trees?

If you have hired us to do your tree work, then yes, you would designate Barts Tree Service as your authorized agent on your permit application.

Do I also need to request permission from my town or city to remove a tree?

In most cases, yes. Additionally, any tree removed within 200 feet of Candlewood Lake requires a jurisdictional ruling by the Inland Wetlands Commission.

Five municipalities surround Candlewood Lake

Brookfield
Danbury
New Fairfield
New Milford
Sherman

I just moved to Candlewood Lake/purchased property on Candlewood Lake. Are there any steps I need to take?

If you purchased property that includes sections of the Rocky River Project Boundary, new owners need to apply for a land use permit from FirstLight.

How can I help protect Candlewood Lake?

Check out the Candlewood Lake Homeowner’s Guide to Lake-Friendly Living.

You can also learn more from the Candlewood Lake Authority website.

Did you know?

Candlewood Lake was named after New Milford’s Candlewood Mountain, which was named after the candlewood tree (Pinus rigida). The branches of sapling candlewood trees were previously used as candles.

Contact Barts Tree Service for your Tree Planting, Pruning, or Removal Needs

If you own property on Candlewood Lake and want to schedule tree work, contact us today to schedule your estimate. We have experience working with FirstLight and can help you through the permitting process.

Barts Tree Service Honors Vets in Rocky Hill

Yesterday, Barts Tree Service crews honored Connecticut’s veterans by joining forces with 15 other tree service companies to take down dead and dying trees at the state veterans complex in Rocky Hill. We are deeply appreciative of the brave men and women who serve and have served in our military, making it possible for us to have the freedoms we enjoy every day.

As the Connecticut leader of the nationwide Saluting Branches event, our CEO Matt Bartelme shared the details with a news crew from WTNH (News 8) out of New Haven.

We love giving back, especially to an amazing cause like this, and are already looking forward to next year’s event!

Barts COVID-19 Health & Safety Protocols

Updated March 25, 2020

Barts Tree is still open for business during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and will continue performing tree care services as needed, especially those services related to public safety and invasive insect control.

“Stay Safe, Stay Home”

Under Governor Lamont’s order telling Connecticut residents to “Stay Safe, Stay Home,” all non-essential workers statewide are being directed to work from home, effective Monday, March 23 at 8:00 p.m.

Essential services, including tree care/landscaping work that is done to protect the public health, are exempt from the stay-at-home order under guidance provided by the DECD.

We Perform “Essential Services”

According to the Department of Homeland Security, “essential critical infrastructure workers” include service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences and other buildings or structures.

Many of the work tasks we perform have been identified as essential activities that protect public safety and essential operations, including:

Removal of a dangerous or hazard tree
Pruning dead, dying, broken/hanging, or dangerous limbs
Treatment for invasive insects or diseases which if left untreated would rapidly destroy a tree, causing a hazard (for example, emerald ash borer, spotted lanternfly, Asian longhorned beetle, Dutch elm disease)
Clearance for utility lines, cell towers and communication infrastructure, and road safety
Cabling or bracing a hazardous tree
Mitigating storm damage, removing fallen trees, and responding to tree service emergencies
Treatments to reduce the spread of dangerous and deadly diseases through pests such as ticks, mosquitos, or fleas
Assessment of hazard trees or pest issues for the purposes of removal or treatment as described above

On the other hand, some of our typical work activities are considered non-essential and may be scheduled for a later date. This includes:

Shrub trimming or pruning
Routine tree pruning
Routine tree removal when no abnormal safety issues exist
Vista pruning (to open up your view)
Tree or shrub planting or transplanting
Fertilization
Pest management that does not involve invasive pests, borers, or diseases that can rapidly destroy trees or landscapes

We’re using a bleach solution and backpack blower/fogger to spray down and disinfect all of our equipment daily.

Precautions We’re Taking

To protect the safety of our customers and employees, we’ve put policies and procedures in place to eliminate the need for human contact during this time.

We have three CT licensed arborists on staff who have extensive training and experience maintaining our spraying program. As it happens, the safety precautions for this type of work include many of the same personal protection equipment (PPE), protocols, and equipment used for sanitizing against coronavirus. As a result, we are already trained and well-prepared to keep our employees and clients safe during this stressful time.

For Quotes and/or Work at Your Location

We have implemented a no customer contact policy and are using technology to maintain safe distances (“social distancing”).

On the Barts website, we have a Request an Estimate page that allows you to submit detailed information about the work they’re requesting, including pictures of the affected trees and/or landscape. We typically use Google street view and Google Earthview Pro to zoom in and see detailed views of your landscape; about 40% of the time this is enough to provide an estimate without even stepping foot on your property.

We have a state-of-the-art proposal and invoicing system that can be completely paperless. We send proposals (with maps and pictures) to you via email, and the system allows electronic acceptance of those proposals. We also send invoices by email and accept credit cards online.

When a site visit is required, you can mark or tag the trees to be removed or pruned prior to us arriving. We can then document the site and take pictures, as well as text, email, or talk with you on the phone to finalize the details.

All of our vehicles are equipped with hand sanitizer wipes which the operator uses to sanitize themselves and wipe down all handles, the steering wheel, driver’s compartment, phone, tablet, etc. at each visit.

Additionally, each vehicle is being sprayed inside and out to sanitize it each morning before leaving the shop. We use commercial sprayers and apply a 10% bleach mixture.

If you want to show us something in person (and, of course, at a safe distance), please let us know. We will text or call when we arrive so as to not go to the front door. You can then come out to show us what you want to have done and ask questions from a safe distance.

Our Enhanced Safety Protocols

Barts Tree has put the following safety protocols in place to combat the spread of coronavirus:

We have implemented a no customer contact policy for quoting and tree work.
We have the equipment to spray large and small areas and use our mist sprayers and blowers to treat all of our equipment and facility inside and out with a 10% bleach water mix on a daily basis.
The shop and each vehicle is equipped with hand sanitizer and sanitized wipes.
Our daily morning safety meetings include reviewing CDC, Federal, and State recommendations for sanitizing and safe distances.
If anyone at Barts does not feel well on the job, they are sent home immediately or instructed to stay home prior to coming to work.
We then require a coronavirus test at the Danbury Hospital drive-through testing facility.
If an employee is home or quarantined, we will pay for an external service to deliver essentials and/or food as required to the doorstep of our employees.
Crews are kept at 3 to 4 persons so we are well below the group size recommended by the CDC.

Contact Us

Our hours remain the same, and we can be reached by text, phone, email, and online form. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Text or call: 203-240-1302

Email: info@bartstreeservice.com

Online contact form: https://bartstreeservice.com/request-estimate/

Barts Gives Back to Ridgefield Theaters

Barts Tree Service is proud to be part of the Ridgefield community and, as long-time fans of local theater, we enjoy finding ways to support the arts in this wonderful part of Connecticut.

We’ve sponsored the Ridgefield Playhouse Comedy Series for many years and continue to do so (even if Matt is sometimes the butt of the featured comedian’s jokes!). If you haven’t caught any of the acts yet, we encourage you to check it out – there’s always a good laugh to be had.

Barts recently became a sponsor of Loundsbury House in Ridgefield, CT. This is a non-for profit National Historic site that dates from 1896 and is the cornerstone of Main Street’s architecture. Loundsbury House now holds community events and offers a space to rent out for events and weddings.

Matt Bartelme is a proud supporter of Ridgefield’s Loundsbury House.

ACT of Connecticut is a new theater in Ridgefield co-founded by long-time Barts Tree Service client, Daniel Levine. The theater produces limited engagement runs of well-known Broadway plays and musicals, as well as world premiere plays and musicals by the next generation of writers and composers. In fact, the ACT team is already winning awards for their first two productions!

The latest show is a multi-media musical experience called WORKING that’s based on the work of Grammy and Academy Award winner Stephen Schwartz (Wicked) and features the music of Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton). The adapted musical puts a modern twist on the show about working class people. It even features one of Barts own team members, Oscar, in one of the roles! Daniel did a videotaped interview with Oscar, followed by a film shoot using drones and high tech cameras to capture Oscar climbing. The two actors on stage are wearing Barts shirts, helmets, and chaps while parts of the video play in the background.

Barts Tree Service is also excited to partner with Thrown Stone Theater in Ridgefield for the upcoming productions of Birds of North America and Cry It Out. We always love local theater and a new challenge. In this case, we’re bringing an 18-inch diameter tree into the theater and setting it up from floor to ceiling for the set. It should be spectacular!

Barts Featured on Discover Bethel Podcast

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to be a successful local business, then you won’t want to miss this podcast.

Matt Bartelme was featured on an episode of Discover Bethel! The Bethel Business Podcast produced by the Bethel Chamber of Commerce.

On the podcast you’ll learn:

how Matt started Barts Tree Service,
the difference between a landscaper and an arborist,
what new enemies your trees are facing, and
why you should check out the health of the surrounding trees before buying a new house.

It’s easy to listen – just click the link below.

Green Expo & Shakespeare on the Green – August 12

Did you know that Barts sponsors many of the events put on by the Ridgefield Playhouse? And the upcoming Green Expo and Shakespeare on the Green performance of Love’s Labour’s Lost is no exception.

Join us on Saturday, August 12th at noon for the Green Expo. We’ll be giving out kids shirts, spruce tree saplings and other swag!

Then stay for a fantastic performance of Love’s Labour’s Lost, a hilarious comedy about – you guessed it – love. The play starts at 2pm and it’s FREE!

Both events will be held on the Green right beside the Playhouse at 80 East Ridge, Ridgefield, CT 06877.

For more information and to reserve your tickets for the show, visit the Ridgefield Playhouse website or call the Box Office at (203) 438-5795.

BUGging Kids at South Street School

Did you ever think about the amount of physics, math and biology knowledge needed to be an arborist?

Most people don’t. And if you tell kids what they’ll need to know, many would never choose to become an arborist!

But if you show them how it all works, and make it fun at the same time, then you might just convince a few kids to study arboriculture. Plus, you can help teach them some basic principles of science.

Each year I participate in the Kiwanis Bringing Up Grades (BUG) Program, where I go into 5th grade classrooms to share my experiences as an arborist, help the kids understand more about trees and how they relate to their everyday world, and yes, have a little fun!

The Bring Up Grades or “BUG” program is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club Foundation of Greater Danbury. To participate, students select a subject in which to bring up their grade from the previous marking period grade. The students must continue to maintain their other grades.

Barts tree service - helmet try-ons at bug

Trying out the helmet – always a hot ticket item!

During the classroom visit, I relate physics, math and biology to the kids and talk about how I get paid to climb trees and run big equipment (that usually gets their attention!).

I like to throw out a few vocabulary words and always use “dendrochronology” (a real tongue twister!) which is the scientific study of tree rings and determining dates of events during the years of the tree’s growth. To bring it to life, I put up a picture of giant redwood log with a guy standing next to it. The rings on the tree show its timeline from 550 to 1891 and we can talk about all the major events this tree saw.

I also talk about safety, and especially about power lines that come down in storms and what to watch for to avoid electrocution. We go into step voltage and how it can travel through the ground – that gives us a good excuse to practice the Michael Jackson moonwalk to get away from the wires without lifting our feet!

To really bring the message home, I show them a big chunk of glass that came from the side of the road where 14,400 volt wires came down and heated the sand to 3200 degrees and melted it to glass. Wow.

Then we talk about how a tree produces sap, how it moves around the tree and how maple syrup is made. That leads into a discussion of how arborists give trees injections to help them survive and to control diseases and infestations (just like a doctor does).

Lastly, we get into physics with a discussion of how to gain a mechanical advantage using pulleys and ropes. This is where I break out the “bling bag” full of gear. We talk about how with a fiddle block we can gain a 4:1 advantage. Then I have the two biggest kids grab each end like tug-of-war and the smallest kid in the class pulls the draw rope – the end result is that the smaller kid can effortlessly pull the big kids together. Of course they all want to try that!

We end with show and tell, showing off gear and helmets with bluetooth radios and harnesses, etc. They ask lots of gear questions, wanting to know what each item is and what it does. Kids also want to know how high an arborist can climb in a tree, how much money we make, what we do when it’s snowing or raining outside, and a ton of other questions. Many of them tell me stories of when they saw someone doing tree work by their house.

And then there are the few who after it’s all over say to me “I know what I want to be when I grow up – an arborist.” That always makes my day!

Barts Attends 2017 Winter Management Conference

In February we attended our fourth Tree Care Industry Association Winter Management Conference, held just outside San Juan, Puerto Rico.

This 3-day conference is a gathering of leading arborists and tree care companies from all over the world and is always held in a nice warm location (a welcome escape from the snow and cold of Connecticut).

While you may think it’s just an excuse for a mid-winter vacation, the truth is that it’s the most valuable conference I attend all year.

Each year, TCIA brings in great speakers who really make you think about business-critical issues that we business owners don’t always pay enough attention to. Being able to get away from the day-to-day management of the company gives me a chance to learn new things and reflect on ways to make my business stronger, my employees more engaged and, most importantly, make us all safer.

The conference is also a fantastic opportunity to network and share with tree care companies who are similar to us, learn from the large corporate tree care companies, and provide mentoring to new business owners.

After all of these years attending the Winter Management Conference, we’ve made a lot of arborist friends from all over the country. The friendships are wonderful, and the added bonus is that when there’s some new uncharted area for the business or a question I can’t answer, there’s this awesome network I can hit up any time as a sounding board.

Where else can you spend three days learning new ways to improve your business, catching up with old friends, and trading tips with forward thinking individuals who are pushing the envelope of arboriculture and safety in the industry – all while enjoying a bit of warmth and sunshine in the middle of a frigid winter?

Barts Sponsors Comedy Series at Ridgefield Playhouse

Barts Tree Service is proud to sponsor this amazing comedy series at the Ridgefield Playhouse.

The series starts on September 24 with Janeane Garofalo and wraps up on March 10 with Rob Schneider, with a lot of terrific comedy acts in between.

Tickets are available directly from the Ridgefield Playhouse.

You can see the full line up here.

And don’t forget to keep an eye on our Facebook page – we’ll be giving away free tickets to some of the shows.

We’ll see you there!

Barts Sponsors Saluting Branches

Barts Tree Service is a proud sponsor of the upcoming Saluting Branches event September 21st where arborists across the country will be donating a day of services at veterans cemeteries.

Here in Connecticut we will be at the Spring Grove Veterans Cemetery in Darien.

We are deeply appreciative of the brave men and women who serve and have served in our military making it possible for us to have the freedoms we enjoy every day.

As a small token of our appreciation, we will be providing tree care to ensure a safe and beautiful environment for our veterans in their final resting place.

Please consider making a donation, sponsoring or volunteering for this great event. You can find out more here: www.salutingbranches.org

Call us today at 203-240-1302

Can You Schedule Tree Work on Candlewood Lake?

What is the 440 line?

How will I know where this boundary is on my property?

Who is FirstLight Power Resources?

Why does FirstLight Power control the shoreline of Candlewood Lake?

How Does This Impact Tree Work on My Property?

What other things are impacted by FirstLight owning part of my property?

How do I receive a permit to do work on the shoreline?

Do I need to mention that Barts Tree Service is working on my trees?

Do I also need to request permission from my town or city to remove a tree?

I just moved to Candlewood Lake/purchased property on Candlewood Lake. Are there any steps I need to take?

How can I help protect Candlewood Lake?

Did you know?

Contact Barts Tree Service for your Tree Planting, Pruning, or Removal Needs

Barts Tree Service Honors Vets in Rocky Hill

Barts COVID-19 Health & Safety Protocols

“Stay Safe, Stay Home”

We Perform “Essential Services”

Precautions We’re Taking

For Quotes and/or Work at Your Location

Our Enhanced Safety Protocols

Contact Us

Barts Gives Back to Ridgefield Theaters

Barts Featured on Discover Bethel Podcast

Green Expo & Shakespeare on the Green – August 12

BUGging Kids at South Street School

Barts Attends 2017 Winter Management Conference

Barts Sponsors Comedy Series at Ridgefield Playhouse

Barts Sponsors Saluting Branches

About Us

Services

Resources

Barts Tree Service

Community Events for Barts Tree Service in Danbury, CT

What is the 440 line?

How will I know where this boundary is on my property?

Who is FirstLight Power Resources?

Why does FirstLight Power control the shoreline of Candlewood Lake?

How Does This Impact Tree Work on My Property?

What other things are impacted by FirstLight owning part of my property?

How do I receive a permit to do work on the shoreline?

Do I need to mention that Barts Tree Service is working on my trees?

Do I also need to request permission from my town or city to remove a tree?

I just moved to Candlewood Lake/purchased property on Candlewood Lake. Are there any steps I need to take?

How can I help protect Candlewood Lake?

Did you know?

Contact Barts Tree Service for your Tree Planting, Pruning, or Removal Needs

“Stay Safe, Stay Home”

We Perform “Essential Services”

Precautions We’re Taking

For Quotes and/or Work at Your Location

Our Enhanced Safety Protocols

Contact Us

About Us

Services

Resources

Connect With Barts

Barts Tree Service