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Dalton Residents Eliminate Bittersweet at the Dalton CRA

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DALTON, Mass. — Those passing by the house at Mill + Main, formally known as the Kittredge House, in Dalton may have noticed the rim of woods surrounding the property have undergone a facelift. 
 
Two concerned Dalton residents, Tom Irwin and Robert Collins set out to make a change. Through over 40 hours of effort, they cleared 5 large trailers of bittersweet and grapevine vines and roots, fallen trees and branches and cut down many small trees damaged by the vines.
 
"The Oriental Bittersweet was really taking over the area in front of our Mill + Main building," said Eric Payson, director of facilities for the CRA. "While it started as a barrier, mixing in with other planted vegetation for our events help on the lawn, it quickly got out of hand and started strangling some nice hardwoods."
 
Bittersweet, which birds spread unknowingly, strangles trees, and also grows over and smothers ground level bushes and plants. According to forester and environmental and landscaping consultant Robert Collins, oriental bittersweet has grown to such a problem that the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Wildlife Management has adopted a policy of applying herbicide to bittersweet growing in their wildlife management areas.
 
Collins and Irwin also chipped a large pile of cut trees and brush as well as discarded branches. 
 
"We are very grateful to be in a community where volunteers, such as Tom and Robert, are willing to roll up their sleeves and help out," said CRA Executive Director Alison Peters.
 
Many areas in Dalton, including backyards, need the same attention to avoid this invasive plant killing trees. Irwin and Colins urge residents to look carefully at their trees for a vine wrapped often in a corkscrew fashion around branches or a mat of vines growing over a bush that has clusters of orange and red berries in the Fall. To remove them pull the roots as well.
 
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Deadline for CRA's Gib Kitteredge Award

DALTON, Mass. — The Community Recreation Association (CRA) is seeking nominations for the Gib Kittredge Memorial Award, which will be presented at the 31st annual Gib Kittredge Auction and Awards Ceremony on Saturday, April 12, at the Stationery Factory in Dalton. 
 
The deadline for nominations is Friday, Dec. 13.
 
The Gib Kittredge Memorial Award is given annually to an individual who has shown outstanding service and the spirit of generosity to the community, exemplifying the CRA's mission. The award is named after the late Gilbert "Gib" Kittredge, a lifelong resident of Dalton and active community supporter.
 
Nomination forms are available at daltoncra.org/donate/gib-kittredge-auction or at the CRA front desk. Nominations can be submitted by mail to CRA, 400 Main St., Dalton, MA 01226 or via email to CRA office manager Taylor Vreeland at tvreeland@daltoncra.org.
 
For more information, visit daltoncra.org or call the CRA at (413) 684-0260.
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