During our MCC orientation, 13 other stewards and I volunteered in Augusta alongside our MCC Program Manager for the MLK Jr. National Day of Service. Each of us are now spread out across Maine, serving at different municipal and conservation organizations.
Hello! I’d like to formally welcome you to my Community Tree Steward (CTS) Blog. For those that care to know (or even those that remember), the term “web log” was first used a little over 27 years ago during the early days of the internet. Two years later in 1999, “web log” was shortened to “blog,” and thus it is here that we find ourselves.
My name is Michael Otzwirk, and I will be running this blog to share updates regarding my service in Ellsworth as your CTS. I’ve been an Illinois native all my days, and it is only within the last month or so that I have had the pleasure of calling Maine my home. I’ve moved here alongside my wife Grace – an artist in many mediums – and our cat, Boo.
My service as your CTS will end on November 21st 2025, at which time I will either move away or settle in someplace nearby. It all depends on what Grace and I decide as our time here grows thin. In the meantime, how about I give you the lowdown?
I am a Community Tree Steward, which is a State and National AmeriCorps position within Maine Conservation Corps (MCC). MCC is housed within the State of Maine, Department of Agriculture Conservation and Forestry, and reports to Volunteer Maine the state service commission. This position specifically also reports to the USFS.
My first impressions of Ellsworth were top notch. During my first day, I was greeted by my supervisor, and he gave me a tour of the entire town. We visited the city’s green spaces and other important facilities such as the Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Public Works Garage. I met the employees inside those two locations, and they were exceptionally open with their welcomes. Afterwards, I was left to visit employees at City Hall and the reception was much the same. Everyone has a lot to say about trees! Which is a good thing, because trees deserve to be talked about. They lower summertime maximum temperatures, prevent soil erosion, improve water quality, and reduce ultraviolet radiation loads – just to name a few benefits.
Arbor Commission vice chair Mary Blackstone and I met in City Hall’s Council Chambers. She introduced me to the other members of the Arbor Commission, and they all brought me up to speed regarding our grant funding and our plans for 2025.
On my second day, I met with the Arbor Commission. It was a joy to meet with this group. Their combined expertise regarding trees, forests, and community conservation was intimidating and inspiring! Feel free to come to the next Arbor Commission meeting. The regular meeting takes place at 8:15 a.m. on the first Monday of each month and are held in the Council Chambers in City Hall. I’d like to hear your thoughts on urban forestry.
As far as the existing tree canopy is concerned, Ellsworth has a better start than most of the towns I’ve visited while living in Illinois. Some places are better off than others, while a handful of roads need a lot of tender loving tree care. More remains to be seen. I’ll have a better grasp on the existing canopy when the leaves start to grow and the canopies fully form.
Currently, I am working on a large right of way project and a pruning workshop.
The right of way project relates to forestry objectives in the initial planning phase for tree plantings. Every road in Ellsworth is either owned by the state, by the city, or privately. Knowledge of each street’s right of way width is important for urban forestry because then the city knows how much “wiggle-room”, or grassy area exists on either side of the road for a planting to take place. By accomplishing this research/inventory, it will make the process of talking to public and private landowners that much easier when it comes time to discuss planting permission come summer and fall.
The pruning workshop will happen on Saturday, March 15th. It is open to the public and you are encouraged to attend if you want to become involved as a steward of Ellsworth’s trees. This workshop will cover the basics of pruning trees, along with how to differentiate woody plant species from one another. We are aiming for this event to be the first of many workshops when it comes to tree stewardship in Ellsworth.
Stay tuned in! I will share more information and specifics regarding these initiatives as the weeks go by. Reach out to my email below if you’d like to get involved or if you have any questions!
-Michael
treesteward@ellsworthmaine.gov
