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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
The City of Oaks makes a welcome turn toward saving its trees
Raleigh sprouts new apartment buildings, stores and subdivisions at a rapid pace, but what may not be growing in the City of Oaks are trees. It's hard to say exactly how many trees are being lost to development. The most recent assessment came in a Wake County report that measured the change in tree canopy cover from 2010–2020. Countywide, the tree canopy shrank by 3.6 percent, or 11,122 acres. In Raleigh, the decrease was 2.2 percent, or 1,305 acres. But in the more urbanized areas of central and Southeast Raleigh, the loss was greater than 10 percent. With the uptick in development since the pandemic ended, it's likely the canopy loss has continued or accelerated. Losing trees has consequences not only for the city's leafy character, but also for stormwater runoff, air quality, wildlife habitat and the spread of 'heat islands' as temperatures rise with climate change. 'We're losing tree canopy. It's critically important, not only for our brand but our quality of life,' said Sig Hutchinson, a former Wake County commissioner who has supported the expansion of parks and greenways. Now the City of Raleigh is pushing back with a new project called 'Leaf Out.' It is focused on protecting existing trees, expanding the canopy, reducing heat islands and encouraging residents to plant and protect trees on their private property. 'Leaf Out' is a welcome but limited response to tree loss. Its plantings will be only on public land, though its educational efforts could encourage a greater effort by private property owners to preserve and plant trees. The city is surveying the public about ways to protect the canopy and will offer final recommendations in a 2026 report. When it comes to trees, Raleigh has a lot to work with. Despite tree loss, the canopy still covers more than 50 percent of the city. 'There is more canopy here than most cities our size, especially the older ones,' said Zach Manor, Raleigh's urban forester. Hutchinson said visitors who fly into Raleigh-Durham International Airport for the first time often comment to him about the abundance of lush greenery. 'They look down and say, 'Where's the city? It's all a bunch of trees down there,' ' he said. 'Every time I see it, I think, I'm so glad I live down there.' Dave Klemp is committed to protecting the canopy. Klemp, a Raleigh arborist who has a degree in forest management from N.C. State University, founded a nonprofit called Trees for the Triangle. Its website declares its mission as: 'Improving the environmental, aesthetic and economic well-being of the Triangle, one tree at a time.' Trees for the Triangle encourages private property owners to plant native trees. Since launching in 2018, Trees for the Triangle has planted more than 2,200 trees, but Klemp said it's a race against tree loss from development. 'We can't plant faster than in some of these areas where they are wiping things out,' he said. Raleigh's commitment to denser development also leaves less room for trees, he said. 'We're building denser, taller buildings. It's tough to preserve trees with construction going all the way to the property line. The city can't do much about that.' Klemp said the struggle to preserve the Triangle's canopy 'is about a stalemate right now. Development is continuing, but there's what we're trying to do with the Leaf Out program. We need to make a bold push to do what we can to save what we can.' In the push to preserve its canopy, Raleigh should set 'moonshot goals.' Klemp said, 'A lot of tree planting, a lot of tree maintenance.' 'It's easy to be impressed by our tree canopy if you come from places that don't have one. It's something we're proud of,' he said. 'Fifty percent (canopy coverage) is pretty good. If it were to remain, we would be pretty happy with that.' Associate opinion editor Ned Barnett can be reached at 919-404-7583, or nbarnett@
Business Journals
21-04-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
Outstanding Women in Business 2025: Jill Rhoades, vice president of production, Blue Rhino
JILL RHOADES Vice president of production, Blue Rhino Business address: 5650 University Parkway, Winston-Salem Education: BS, industrial engineering, University of Tennessee; master's, engineering, N.C. State University; currently pursuing Ph.D., industrial engineering, University of Tennessee Where are you a native of? San Francisco Why selected: Rhoades demonstrates leadership excellence in a male-dominated industry. She has worked for Blue Rhino for nearly 25 years and oversees 12 production plants and 450 employees across the country, including one in the Triad. Under her leadership, production volume increased by 33% and efficiency increased by 17%. She and her team acquired a production plant in Pennsylvania and managed its reconfiguration. She worked with supply chain, distribution and Ferrell North America to reduce the company's raw materials cylinder inventory by 5%, while volume increased by 26%, saving the company money and enabling the reuse of as many materials as possible. How did you get started in your career? With Blue Rhino in 2010 as a manufacturing and safety engineer What are you passionate about? The success of my employees. I believe in educating and elevating those around me so they can reach their full potential, both personally and professionally. My team members' success is just as important as achieving my own goals. I am also passionate about my involvement in various charitable organizations over the years, including serving on the board of directors at the SciWorks Children's Science Museum, the Junior League of Winston-Salem, Reagan High School's PTSA and St. Leo Catholic High School's PTO. Proudest achievement? Under my leadership, Blue Rhino production volume increased by 33% and efficiency increased by 17%. These improvements allow us to serve more customers when they need it most, including during natural disasters. Blue Rhino propane cylinders are used to fuel portable generators, temporary heaters, grills and more. Next big professional goal? I would like to manage more areas of the business in addition to the operations component. What do you like to do in your spare time? Spending time with friends and family, traveling, running, playing pickleball, golf, skiing and supporting my beloved University of Tennessee Volunteers. Something that would surprise others? I was encouraged by two good friends to train for and completed a half IronMan when I was 50. Someone who fostered and influenced your growth? Ron Sisk, my boss and mentor for 20 years at Jostens Printing. He had a direct approach to continuous improvement, growing the business and building his team. He encouraged growth and development of employees by providing new challenges with the support needed to learn through failures. These experiences early in my career led to a desire to keep doing more. How have you supported other women in career growth? I encourage women to have confidence in their value to an organization and the skills, approaches and experiences they bring to the table. I share my experience with balancing the changing demands of work and life and feel they can be managed to mutually benefit everyone if given the proper environment. Something unusual in your purse, briefcase, laptop bag or backpack? Ticket stubs that are 10 years old, or more. 2025 Outstanding Women in Business Honorees
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
A 17-year cicada brood is set to emerge. Will Michigan hear the big-eyed insects?
This year, Brood XIV periodical cicadas are set to emerge from the ground for the first time in nearly two decades, though you likely won't see this particular group in in Michigan. Brood XIV cicadas will appear in about a dozen states to the south of Michigan once the ground warms up this spring. Michigan plays host to annual cicadas, also called dog day cicadas that appear in late summer, as well as Brood X cicadas, which emerge every 17 years in the spring. "The Great Eastern Brood" last appeared in 2021 in the Lower Peninsula. Some Brood XIII and brood XIX cicadas, other periodical groups, appeared along the southern Michigan border in 2024. Here's what to know. Adult periodical cicadas are black from above, and orange underneath. They have bright red eyes and clear, membranous wings with black veins. They have a 3-inch wingspan, the National Wildlife Federation said. Periodical cicadas spend most of their lives — 13 or 17 years, depending on the species — in larval form, burrowed beneath the soil and feeding on fluids from plant roots. In springtime, they emerge from the soil and complete their final molt into adulthood. Each individual in a brood emerges within weeks of one another. Annual cicadas exist as well. These cicadas live about two to eight years, but because their life cycles aren't synchronized like periodical cicadas, some of them emerge every year. Cicadas are mostly beneficial. They prune mature trees, aerate the soil, and once they die, their bodies serve as an important source of nitrogen for growing trees. Brood XIV is made up of periodical cicadas. Each brood of periodical cicadas has a specific range, but all are found in the eastern and midwestern United States, the National Wildlife Federation said. More: How you can build a bee-friendly garden. What to know in Michigan as bees emerge Brood XIV cicadas can be three-quarters of an inch to 1¼ inches long, according to N.C. State University. But they're typically around 1.75 inches. When cicadas emerge, they're eaten by just about anything with an insectivorous diet, the NWF said. "The fact that cicadas emerge in the millions, however, makes them relatively resilient to predation. Even when a ton of them are eaten, there are still plenty more ready to mate and lay eggs," the NWF said. People that have sampled cicadas often say they taste similar to canned asparagus, the NWF said. Cicadas do not bite because they don't have those mouthparts, pest experts previously told the Indianapolis Star, part of the USA TODAY Network. They instead use a long, straw-like tube to suck the fluids from trees. No, Brood XIV cicadas are expected to emerge in Michigan this season. Brood XIV is one of 15 broods of periodical cicadas that emerge every 13 or 17 years, reported the Cincinnati Enquirer, part of the USA TODAY network. Different broods of cicadas emerge in different parts of the eastern half of the U.S. in different years. Other species will show up every summer. Brood XIV cicadas last appeared in 2008, USA TODAY reported. It depends on the weather and location, but typically the 17-year periodical cicadas emerge in late April to early June, according to The ground temperature plays a big part in when they begin to emerge. More: Hummingbirds are on the move. How long until they reach Michigan? When the ground temperature reaches about 64 degrees 8 inches below the surface, it will signal the cicadas it's time to emerge. If the weather is consistently warm and dry, the cicadas will finish mating sooner rather than later, which would mean a shorter season. Typically, their lifespan is four to six weeks, and they will start to die off in late June. While the Brood XIV cicadas aren't expected in Michigan, you may have a chance to find them in the following states: Georgia Indiana Kentucky Maryland Massachusetts New Jersey New York North Carolina Ohio Pennsylvania South Carolina Tennessee Virginia West Virginia USA TODAY contributed. Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: What to know about Brood XIV cicadas. Will Michigan see them in 2025?
