state OF THE forest 2021
STAFF
Our 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.
Natasha Harrison Executive Director Rachel Holbert Program Director Jon Greenberg Operations Manager Joe Verstandig Living Collections Manager Kristyn Woodland Horticulturist
BOARD Lilly Dick – President
The Newport Tree Conservancy engages our community with public education regarding the
Maureen Cronin Robert Currier
importance of trees in our lives and promoting
Lisa Lewis
improved planting and maintenance techniques.
Susan Ruf Maureen Whitley Scott Wheeler – Ex-Officio Advisor
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NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY
DEAR FRIENDS AND MEMBERS, as I look back on 2020, I am filled with mixed emotions and gratitude. As surreal as it was, I think many people were able to reconnect with the world around them and found some solace in nature; I heard many times how important trees were in that process. At the Newport Tree Conservancy, we were able to stay steady and meet our mission without much interruption. We successfully pivoted and made the best of the situation. Horticulture can be a solitary activity, so our staff was able to propagate 200 new trees, give away 53 free trees and plant 183 public trees with the City of Newport. In addition, we ran programs in every public school in Newport; getting the students outside and away from their screens to learn about trees. We designed and delivered impactful programs, sometimes to a class of 30, just 8 students at a time, in order to keep social distancing. It was worth the effort and the time because of the genuine appreciation from the kids, the teachers and the administration.
In 2020, we were able to stay financially viable and keep our staff busy throughout the pandemic, thanks to our very generous and steadfast supporters. We are thankful to the partners and donors that helped us get through the necessary program changes, remote work and shifting of events. The Newport Tree Conservancy moved forward carefully and successfully throughout the uncertainty and has proven to be resilient and strong. I have no doubt that we will continue to expand our work and serve our community in the coming years and be able to handle anything that happens along the way in a productive and thoughtful manner. Here’s to a very green future!
Natasha Harrison Executive Director State of the Forest 2021
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183 53
3
NEW TREES PLANTED IN 2020
FREE SPECIMEN TREES
40
SPONSORED BARE-ROOT TREES
90
NEW TREES IN MIANTONOMI PARK
NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY
EVERY TREE PLANTED ON PUBLIC PROPERTY IN NEWPORT IS PURCHASED BY THE NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY We aim to provide the highest level of care to the trees that we select and we invite our community to join us through our volunteer programs. Our goal is to engage all Newporters with our work as we protect, grow, and sustain our shared urban forest. In addition to increasing tree canopy throughout the city, our volunteers are now providing early and ongoing care to newly planted trees to give them the strongest start possible. By having a community that is invested in our shared trees we secure the care and maintenance of our urban forest for the future.
Kousa dogwood (cornus kousa) at the Children's Arboretum on the grounds of Claiborne Pell Elementary School.
State of the Forest 2021
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69
VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers Frank, Rich, & Jon (in green) w/ Horticulturist Kristyn Woodland.
345 SERVICE HOURS
VOLUNTEERS In 2020 we launched the Tree Corps, our volunteer team that cares for city trees by mulching and watering newly established trees in Newport. New and seasoned volunteers meet weekly, with larger groups coming together for bigger scale projects around the city. With generous funds from the Champlin Foundation we purchased a truck, trailer, water tank, and tools for the purpose of caring for our community trees and engaging volunteers. 5
NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY
388
NTC NURSERY TREES CARED FOR
TREE CORPS ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
28
PELL ELEMENTARY
93
MIANTONOMI PARK
80
WEEKLY WATER SITES
224
CITY TREES CARED FOR
AQUIDNECK PARK
14
MORTON PARK
18
KING PARK
19
State of the Forest 2021
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NEWPORT’S TREES ARE DOING A LOT OF WORK annual storm water intercepted1
annual co2 sequestered1
2” tree2
10” tree2
142
729
13.8
20
179
9,230
GALLONS
POUNDS
GALLONS
POUNDS
newport’s forest
MILLION GALLONS
TONS
1Estimates based on iTree calculations. 2Diameter at breast-height 7
NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY
TREES PLAY AN INTEGRAL ROLE AS ONE OF THE MANY TOOLS NEEDED TO FIGHT GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE. In addition to the “regular” carbon dioxide (CO2) that we exhale and trees and plants need for photosynthesis, humans produce “rampant” CO2 by burning fossil fuels. This rampant CO2 creates a heat-trapping blanket around the earth, which drives global climate change. Community-level climate solutionslike planting and maintaining trees— especially in urban areas—not only offset CO2 emissions, but also help to cool the surrounding area. While tree shade helps to block the sun’s heat from surfaces, the transpiration and evaporation of water through and around trees cools the air. Newport loses some 150 trees each year due to age, damage, disease and invasive insects. As climate conditions continue to change we must be forward thinking and plant the trees we’ll need tomorrow, as well as today. We are planting for the future and educating the next generation of urban forest stewards and climate change champions, so that they can inherit and maintain a livable city.
Now is the time to prioritize tree planting and tree care to maintain and grow our city’s urban forest. State of the Forest 2021
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112 HERITAGE TREE OFFSPRING: COMMON
LATIN
COLLECTED FROM
Hornbeam
Carpinus betulus
Merrillton Estate
12
-
Japanese Katsura
Cercidiphyllum japonicum
Merrillton Estate
3
27
Japanese Katsura
Cercidiphyllum japonicum
John Nicholas Brown Estate
3
-
European Beech
Fagus sylvatica
King Park
9
-
Europ ean Beech
Fagus sylvatica
Redwood Library
-
30
Fernleaf Beech
Fagus sylvatica ‘Asplenifolia’
Chepstow
11
-
Fernleaf Beech
Fagus sylvatica ‘Asplenifolia’
Redwood Library
4
-
Fernleaf Beech
Fagus sylvatica ‘Asplenifolia’
The Liberty Tree
12
-
Weeping Beech
Fagus sylvatica ‘Pendula’
Harold Brown Villa
12
-
Copper Beech
Fagus sylvatica ‘Atropunicea’
Broadlawns Estate
6
-
Sweetgum
Liquidambar styraciflua
Morton Park
6
9
Turkey Oak
Quercus cerris
Chateau-sur-Mer
8
16
Turkey Oak
Quercus cerris
Morton Park
-
8
Turkey Oak
Quercus cerris
Rough Point
11
-
Camperdown Elm
Ulmus camperdownii
Eisenhower Park
13
-
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NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY
GRAFTED
BY SEED
At the Heritage Tree Center, we are utilizing three methods of propagation: growing trees from seed, cuttings, and cloning trees through vegetative grafting. Growing from seed produces non-identical offspring, because seeds themselves are produced by sexual reproduction, receiving genes from both male and female reproductive structures. Grafting and cuttings, by contrast, create genetically identical clones of the original tree. Combining these methods allows us to 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.
State of the Forest 2021
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NEWPORT’S NEXT GENERATION Young Newporters hold our city’s future in their hands. Their understanding of how nature and people interact is of the utmost importance. Environmental literacy will empower our young people to grow up to be adults who make decisions that consider the needs of the community, and the well-being of the environment, in an equitable and just manner. Our young Newporters are the future stewards of our urban forest; future decision makers; future supporters of the Newport Tree Conservancy. In 2020, the Newport Tree Conservancy set forth to create new youth programs with the goal of reaching kids in and out of school, as well as across grades K-12 in Newport public schools. We prioritized the schools’ needs by offering outdoor, socially distant programming during the pandemic. Through field trips in city parks, exploration around school neighborhoods, and virtual
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NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY
check-ins, we are inspiring young minds to love the trees around them. Youth at every age level are reporting more awareness of the trees that they once walked by without a second thought. Youth are growing their awareness of trees as homes for wildlife, and beneficial living landscape features. Newport Tree Conservancy youth programs are reinforcing classroom topics, as well as teaching the concept of systems thinking. Newport’s urban forest is an accessible model of the interconnectedness of people, nature, climate, and environmental justice. Connecting young people with their urban forest is essential to the preservation of our trees and the wellbeing of the community itself.
4 YOUTH ORG PARTNERS
5
SCHOOL PARTNERS
70
PROGRAM HOURS
State of the Forest 2021
368
YOUTHS ENGAGED
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INNOVATIVE HISTORIC PRESERVATION THROUGH HORTICULTURE The Newport Tree Conservancy has been carefully selecting Newport’s most historic trees to reproduce using various propagation methods.
At the turn of the 20th century, scientists, horticulturists, and botanists hunted rare specimen trees from around the world to adorn the “cottages” in Newport, built for the newly wealthy summer residents. Renowned landscape architects, including Frederick Law Olmsted, carefully positioned trees to compliment the architecture for decades to come. Many of these same trees still grace Newport's magnificent landscapes, yet most are nearing the end of their life. Our team of horticulturists have successfully grafted several of these venerable specimens including copper beech, fern-leaf beech, katsura, and elm.
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NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY
These trees stand on properties owned by the Preservation Society of Newport County, The City of Newport, The Redwood Library and Athenæum, The Newport Art Museum, The Newport Restoration Foundation and more. When the parent tree passes, NTC will have trees in our nursery with the same DNA that could replace the lost specimen. Preserving their genetics is vital to maintaining the integrity of these historic landscapes. The preservation of these historic trees enhances the experience of Newport for visitors and residents, and contributes to our city’s historic identity.
Living Collections Manager Joe Verstandig (center), flanked by volunteers Jon & Frank, repotting trees at the Heritage Tree Center.
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PRESERVING MIANTONOMI PARK’S WOODLANDS Roughly 80% of Miantonomi Park’s area consists of mature forest, mostly comprised of invasive species such as black locust, multiflora rose, Japanese knotweed and English oak. With many of the English oaks failing, as well as the aging of many of the native black cherries, Miantonomi’s forest is at a crossroads. Starting in 2019, the Newport Tree Conservancy, in partnership with the City of Newport and local volunteers, has reintroduced native plants back into this threatened forest ecosystem. Species including red maple, tamarack, hackberry, and American hazel have been planted, and a new group of over 100 indigenous trees are set to be planted in October, 2021. Along with extensive efforts to control invasive plants, we are working to establish and encourage native tree populations that will reinvigorate the Miantonomi Park ecosystem for years to come.
RESTORATION AREA 15
NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY
This color-enhanced image makes clear the scale of Miantonomi's canopy decline. Dead and dying trees (highlighted in red) litter the park's woodlands.
90
NEW NATIVE TREES PLANTED IN 2020
# TREES LATIN NAME
COMMON NAME
10
Celtis occidentalis
common hackberry
5
Carpinus caroliniana
American hornbeam
10
Sassafras albidum
sassafras
5
Acer saccharum
sugar maple
10
Ostrya viginiana
American hophornbeam
5
Corylus americana
American hazelnut
10
Betula alleghaniensis
swamp birch
5
Picea glauca
white spruce
5
Larix larcinia
eastern larch
10
Pinus banksiana
jack pine
10
Fagus grandifolia
American beech
5
Populus deltoides
eastern cottonwood
State of the Forest 2021
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NEWPORT COUNTY IS HOME TO MORE ACCREDITED ARBORETA THAN ANY OTHER COMMUNITY IN THE WORLD Our arboreta members are helping to document, preserve and celebrate Newport’s unique and historic tree canopy. In 2019, the Newport Tree Conservancy facilitated the accreditation of the City of Newport as a level II arboretum through ArbNet's arboretum accreditation program. Today, in recognition of our community's diverse and historic tree collections, we have facilitated the accreditation of over 30 historic landscapes, public institutions, and private homes. 17
NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY
ACCREDITED ARBORETA OF NEWPORT COUNTY: BELLEVUE HOUSE • THE BLUE GARDEN • BONNIECREST • BROADLAWNS THE CHALET • CLOVER PATCH • DRIFTWOOD COTTAGE EAST COURT • FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED PARK & ARBORETUM HARBOR HOUSE • HILLSIDE • MAHER-A-LAGO • MIRAMAR THE NEWPORT ARBORETUM • NEWPORT MANSIONS ARBORETUM OAKWOOD • OCEAN VIEW • PAX ET BONUM PEACE POCKET • ROSE ISLAND • SALT MARSH • SALVE REGINA UNIVERSITY SEASCAPE • SECOND WIND • SOMERSHOME • STONYBROOK TOAD HALL • VILLA PALONA • WALNUT POINT • WEETAMOE • THE WHIM
State of the Forest 2021
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MET SCHOOL MIANTONOMI PARK
NTC IS ACTIVATING OUR SHARED COMMUNITY FOREST PELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
ISLAND CEMETERY MLK COMMUNITY CENTER STORER PARK THOMPSON MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS & GIRLS CLUB
QUEEN ANNE SQUARE
TOURO PARK
Utilizing Newport's parks and landscapes, we are working to make our urban forest accessible for all. Our school programs, workshops, tours and volunteer projects are connecting residents and visitors with the trees and environmental systems that are all around us.
AQUIDNECK PARK
School Program KING PARK
BALLARD PARK
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NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY
MORTON PARK
ROGERS HIGH SCHOOL
Tour/Workshop Volunteer Project
Clockwise from left: tree walk in Ballard Park. Campers from Bike Newport exploring Miantonomi Park. Volunteers Elise and Aaron sprucing up mulch rings at King Park. State of the Forest 2021
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2020 FINANCIALS INCOME Individuals 29%
Foundations 36%
Earned Income 16% Special Events 10%
Government Grants Corporations 3% 6%
Education 26% Horticulture 34%
Development 11%
4%
Administration 12%
$197,700.00
Individuals
$158,440.00
Earned Income
$87,028.47
Special Events
$55,802.66
Corporations
$34,150.00
Government Grants
$17,500.00
Total Income
EXPENSES
Facilities Facilities
Foundations
Operations 13%
$550,621.13
Facilities
$15,550.00
Development
$42,760.00
Administration
$46,648.00
Operations
$50,535.00
Education
$101,072.00
Horticulture
$132,170.00
Total Expenses
$388,735.00
Cones of Sargent's weeping hemlock (Tsuga canadensis ‘Pendula’).
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NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR GENEROUS 2020 DONORS: $25,000 + Bartlett Tree Experts The Champlin Foundation Helen Walker Raleigh Tree Care Trust Fund Lisette Prince van Beuren Charitable Foundation $10,000 - $24,999 Duncan & Barbara Chapman EJMP Fund for Philanthropy The Gruben Charitable Foundation Prince Charitable Trusts $5,000 - $9,999 Mary Coleman Virginia Decker Lilly Dick Bernard Gewirz Hartfield Foundation Susan Ruf & Michael Walsh $5,000 - $9,999 Aquidneck Land Trust: Merritt Neighborhood Fund
Dory & Dan Benson Maureen Cronin & Mark Marosits Brittain & John Damgard Lisa Lewis & Bart Dunbar Juliette McLennan R.I. Department of Environmental Management The Weintz Family Harbor Lights Foundation Maureen Whitley & Jeff Singer
$1,000 - $2,499 The Blue Garden Dick & Monty Burnham Jacqueline B. Colbert & Mark C. Muetterties, MD Christina & Igor Kryca Bob Gerber Jean & Sidney Gorham Matt & Anne Hamilton John D. Harris, II & Linda L. Sawyer George C. Herrick & Nannette C. Herrick Stefani Hulitar Katherine Kirk Robert & Heidi Manice Edith McBean Stephanie McLennan
Ann & Samuel Mencoff Maureen Mooney Newport County Fund OLB Foundation, Inc. Bettie & Jonathan Pardee The Petrovas Family Philanthropy Fund Jim & Ginny Purviance Kristin & Tyson Reed Sagecrest Mrs. Jay R. Schochet Sarah Schochet-Henken & Darrah March O’Connor
Susan & Dwight Sipprelle Swinburne Row Retail Associates, LLC Julie Toland
$500 - $999 Bank Newport Barbara Benson Frances Booth Sandra & Grenville Craig Robert Evans & Nancy Cushing Evans Edward Harvey Stephen Johnson Pam Kelley State of the Forest 2021
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THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR GENEROUS 2020 DONORS: $500 - $999 Belinda Buck Kielland Newport Garden Club Roderick O’Hanley & Richard Crisson Lisa Perrault Diana Prince Frederick & Diana Prince Foundation Pamela Quinn Frank & Betsy Ray Janet Robinson Lorna & Jeremiah Shafir Jocelyn Sherman William & Alison Vareika Diane Wilsey Mark Zeller
$250 - $499 John & Elizabeth Brooks Donald Christ Liz & Emlen Drayton Warren & Linda Gray Robert & Angela Healey Mary Joan Hoene Lucy Kinsley Didi Lorillard 23
NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY
Sue McNally & Doug Sabetti Victoria Mele Thomas Palmer & Dominique Alfandre Diana Pearson Pamela & Bayard Russell Maj. Gen. & Mrs. Stephen R. Seiter Paul & Carole Steinbrenner David & Hilary Stookey Rev. Laurel Phelps Tower Margaret & Gerry Vento William & Kathleen Wallace
Up to $250 A4 Architecture Leith Adams Montana & Shawn Alexander Charles Allott Amaral Landscaping Kristie Anderson Mary Anthony Therese Antone Robert & Linda Armes Brian & Debbie Arnold Meg Arpin Melissa Bachelder
Wayne & Linda Bainton Jane & Dion Bally Bardorf & Bardorf, PC Brian & Mary Catherine Bardorf David Barnes Anne Becker Anne Benson Karen Augeri Benson Nicholas Benson & Alexandra Flood Lloyd & Lisa Berntsen Julie Bisbano Judy Blake Barbara & Warren Blakeley Priyanka Bobenski Khanna & Andrew Bobenski Richard & Barbara Bohan William Boiani Ed Booth & Maggie Hayes Bowen’s Wharf Company Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County, Inc. Kate & Charlie Brandeis Joan & Jim Breakell Timothy J. Brown & Karen A. Mahanke Eileen Brown Maggie Bulmer Diana & Josiah Buntin
David & Mary Bush-Brown Ross & Leah Cann Richard Carmichael & Margaret Jones Mary Jo Carr Stephen & Sally Casey Richard Casey Casey, Richmond & Viking Insurance Roderick Cavanagh Sam & Pat Chase Kan Cheng Jonna Chewning Kelley & Chris Coen Jean Conway Marcie Cummings & Clarkson A. Collins Rob Currier Jeff Curtis Irene Cyr John & Pat Davis John Anthony & Helen de St. Jorre Matthew DeAngelis Matthew & Ramona Delaney Norah Diedrich Gerard DiRuggiero Paul Dolan Amy Dorkin
Alix & Jack Driscoll Victoria Duclos Barrett Margaret Hamilton Duprey Henry Eberhardt John Egan James Peterson & Katie Emmet Elizabeth Enochs Kathleen Enright Dorienne & Mohamad Farzan Kiki Finn Angela & Edwin Fischer Pamela & Ronald Fleming Ronald Lee Fleming Kimberly Fleming Edith Fletcher & Bob Cornett Marcy Fortnow Jo Eva Gaines Charles Gardner James & Dotti Garman A.L. Garrison & T.W. Emmett Pam Gilpin Elizabeth Goddard Gale Goff Architect Peter & Gale Goff Leonard Grace
Sarah Graham Kathleen Greenman Audrey Grimes Terry Grosvenor Ann Guinan June Halliday-Holden Sylvia & Donald Hampton Michael & Anne Hampton Peter Harty Michael & Mary Hayes Frances Stuart Hester Rick & Phyllis Higgerson T.L. Higginson, Jr. John & Mary Hirschboeck Robin Hofmann Henry Holbrook Molly Holland & Olivier David MM Jennings Lilliana Kay Terry Johnson Katherine Field & Associates Inc. Hank Kniskern Yvonne & Gary Lash Elizabeth Leatherman Bruce & Marilyn Leish State of the Forest 2021
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THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR GENEROUS 2020 DONORS: Up to $250 continued Ellen Leys Elizabeth Leys Earle & Rita Lindell Chad Loebs Colleen Lyon Nanci & Steve Lyon Ron & Kati Machtley Shelley Mahood Anne Manice Michele Manning Elizabeth McMillen Elizabeth & Robert Meikle Constance Metcalf Caterine Milinaire Cushing Charles Miller Carlotta Morris Kevin Moss Arthur W. Murphy Dr. & Mrs. Michael Murphy Mary Murphy Rupert Nesbitt Ilse Nesbitt Naomi Neville 25
NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY
Newport Architectural Forum Carol Nicholls Lynn Nicoletta North-Eastern Tree Service Inc. Erin Flynn & Chyleene & Jack O’Connor Robert & Carol O’Donnell Marguerite O’Rourke Lauren Parmelee Christopher Pell Elizabeth Plowden Susan & Jon Powers Marissa Prosser Ann Randall Christa Reise Ellen Retlev Barbara Roberts Marie A. Robinson Pamela Rodgers William Rodiger James & Alice Ross Bettie Sarantos Dante Sassi & Mary Walsh Ricard Scannell Adrienne Shaw
Kathleen Silveira Devin & Carol Skelly Margaret Small Christie & Ed Smith Dave & Deborah Smith St. Michael’s Country Day School Faculty & Staff Mrs. Lorraine P. Steele Elizabeth Stevens Earle & Lisa Stubbs Kevin P. Sullivan David Thalmann Lydia Thomas Fran Van Liew Lynne & Alfred Vietri Geraldine & Gary Vitale Robert Walker Alexander Walsh & Cindy Madden Brownie Warburton Roger & Eileen Warburton Carol Ward Tarleton Watkins, II & Janet Atkins Charles F. Weishar Barbara Winkler & Robert Vitello
THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS: Aquidneck Land Trust
Newport Open Space Partnership
Bike Newport
The Newport Project
The Blue Garden
Newport Public Schools
Boys & Girls Club of Newport County
Newport Restoration Foundation
The City of Newport
Newport Tree & Open Space Commission
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center
The Point Association of Newport
FabNewport
Preservation Society of Newport County
Friends of The Waterfront
R.I. Department of Environmental Management
Island Cemetery
Rhode Island Environmental Education Association
The Met High School
The Redwood Library & Athenæum
Miantonomi Park Commission
Salve Regina University
Newport Health Equity Zone
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
State of the Forest 2021
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PO Box 863 Newport, RI 02840
(401) 324-9204 NewportTree.org