Companies in the News: Case dealer supplies equipment for Habitat for Humanity project; Arborjet treats series of trees; PERC recognizes National Park & Recreation month with online resources updates

A piece of Case equipment helps in land-clearing project. (Photo: Case Construction Equipment)

Case Construction Equipment dealer Ina Store supplied a compact track loader and grapple bucket to Team Rubicon for a land-clearing project in Baldwin, Mich.

The site will be developed by Habitat for Humanity of Lake County Michigan into a new Veterans Village development that provides 850- to 1,000-square-foot homes for qualified veterans, active military and spouses of those who have served.

Team Rubicon deployed sawyer teams and heavy equipment operators to clear the area, allowing the first phase of the project to move forward. In the years to come, the partnering agencies expect the overall operation to be a multiyear endeavor.

“We live, work and have raised families in this region of Michigan, and the opportunity to give back to an ambitious project that will help bring important services to our military veterans was a no-brainer,” said Dean Smallegan, vice president at Ina Store. “We look forward to seeing this project come to life in the coming months and years.”

Arborjet and Dave Sutton of Tri-City Tree Doctor recently treated a series of trees at Sanford Village Park in Sanford, Mich.,  almost 30 years after they first worked to rehabilitate the same trees, which were originally in danger from stress, and later infestation from the highly invasive Emerald Ash Borer.

“My son, Dustin Sutton, first worked on this project back in 1988 as an Eagle Scout candidate with his local troop,” said Dave Sutton, owner of Tri-City Tree Doctor. “We worked with Joe Aiken and Joe Doccola, director of research and development at Arborjet, who initially donated the treatment as a scientific trial, fortunately it worked, and today all 36 trees are thriving.”

Arborjet donates treatments like this all across the country as part of its “Saving America’s Iconic Trees” program, the company’s latest initiative to ensure the health and longevity of U.S. trees. The campaign targets America’s most beloved trees, often located in public parks and gardens and other historic sites, offering complementary treatment to prevent insects, disease and poor health.

In recognition of National Park & Recreation Month, the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) updated its online resources to help parks and recreation officials learn how propane-powered maintenance equipment can reduce local emissions and save fuel and operating costs.

“The savings and environmental benefits of using propane make the fuel a great choice for municipalities determined to keep their communities healthy, clean and safe,” said Jeremy Wishart, PERC director of off-road business development. “We’re seeing increasing interest from municipal fleets in using clean-burning propane equipment to reduce emissions and costs. By highlighting these resources, we hope to connect parks directors and fleet managers with the information they need to support those goals.”

National Park & Recreation Month — started in 1985 by the National Recreation and Parks Association — promotes the importance of parks and recreation in health and wellness, conservation and social equity.

The municipal resources webpage features several case studies and testimonial videos showcasing the success of fleets currently using propane mowers and propane autogas vehicles across the United States. A fact sheet is also available on the site.