By Dave Warner

The volunteer group “Friends of Canal Place” planned another cleanup event in Sterzinar Park last Thursday evening.

Jayne Ritz had contacted an arborist about the magnolia trees in the park. “We have a scale infestation on the magnolia trees. One is particularly bad, but they all have it. We contacted Bartlett Tree Services in Syracuse, they sent an arborist who looked at the trees and confirmed our suspicions.”

“The treatment consists of two sprays. One between now and the Garlic Festival and another a few weeks after that. That should get the problem under control. We have some beautiful magnolias,” she explained.

He also made other suggestions for the park, such as pruning and especially the spread of the sycamore maple.

She said Thursday’s project was to clear around the trees, but they went overboard. “We ended up clearing around a beautiful Judas tree. We’re looking for someone with a chainsaw to come help us one evening to trim some of the other trees and restore the park.”

Ritz said ideally they want people to be able to park, see the shops and see all the way to the brewery and power plant.

The group is trying to raise the $1,200 needed for treatment and has raised $700 so far.