Episode #72: Feeney Talks With The West Hartford Tree Project (Bill, Ted & Helen)

Show Notes

#BeAGoodFriend and check out episode #72 of #FeeneyTalksWithFriends featuring The West Hartford Tree Project.

It was great to sit down, talk and learn about the importance of trees with Bill, Ted and Helen. 

We talked about:

Matt Conway, RiseUP Group, episode #71 (minute 1)

Helen Rubino-Turco, Director of Social and Leisure Services for the town of West Hartford (minute 3)

Ronni Newton, episode #39 (minute 4)

Reasons to have trees (minute 6)

The Seedling Project  (minute 8.20)

West Hartford Tree Project on Facebook (minute 14.20)

Seedling pick up on April 22nd - Earth Day (minute 15.24 )

“Right tree, Rig​​ht place.” - John Phillips, Tree Warden (minute 16)

Westmoor Park field trip and Education centers (minute 17)

North Central Conservation District in Bloomfield minute 18)

Elizabeth Park (minute 21)

Liz Pang owns Luna Tree Care (minute 22)

W.S. Merwin Poetry Laureate (minute 24)

Feeney’s tree named, Steve (minute 26)

Bill & Ted’s Favorite Tree, Black Tupelo Tree (minute 30)

Helen’s Favorite Trees - White Oak & Tula Poplar Tree (minute 34)

Trees at Sedgwick Middle School (minute 37)

Podcast Sponsors (minute 40)

3 Keys (sponsored by West Hartford Lock) to being The West Hartford Tree Project (minute 41)

Books: Can You Hear the Tree Talking? & The Giving Tree (minute 48)

Recommendations (minute 53)

Incohearent with Feeney (minute 55)

Marsha’s Podcast Outro (minute 59)

Links from Podcast:

West Hartford Tree Project - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070103132268

Connecticut’s Notable Trees - http://oak.conncoll.edu:8080/notabletrees/

North Central Conservation District - https://conservect.org/northcentral/

Luna Tree Care - https://www.facebook.com/Lunatreecare/

Westmoor Park - https://www.westhartfordct.gov/town-departments/leisure-services/westmoor-park

Elizabeth Park - https://www.elizabethparkct.org/

Friends of Fernridge Park, Inc. - https://www.facebook.com/friendsoffern/

Bringing Nature Home - https://www.amazon.com/s?k=bring+nature+home&hvadid=174238217476&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9003237&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=992441132181355099&hvtargid=kwd-6875656661&hydadcr=22536_9636733&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_dasbendlj_e

Podcast Sponsors: 

Donut Crazy - www.donutcrazy.com

The Fix IV - www.thefixivtherapy.com

West Hartford Lock - www.westhartfordlock.com

Keating Agency Insurance - www.keatingagency.com

GastoPark - www.thegastropark.com

Goff Law Group - www.gofflawgroup.net

Luna Pizza - www.lunapizzawh.com/lunas-menu

Creators and Guests

Host

Eric Feeney

After teaching for nearly a decade at his alma mater in Waterbury, in 2014, Eric Feeney began teaching at Wolcott Elementary in West Hartford. Shortly following, Sam Sohn, the father of one of his students, passed away suddenly from a heart attack. He left behind four beautiful children and a loving wife, Nancy Wallace-Sohn. Eric saw first-hand the toll this took on the family as they navigated their way through this unthinkable tragedy. The following year, Rashad Collier Sr., another father of a student in Eric’s class, passed away in Hartford as a result of gun violence. Rashad left behind two fantastic children and a loving wife, Denise Villegas. The impact of these tragedies weighed on Eric and motivated him to build an organization that could provide assistance for similar situations. With that, Friends of Feeney was born. In 2019, Friends of Feeney Inc. became an official 501©(3) nonprofit organization, allowing more funds to be raised and expanding the range of services provided to children and families in need. Today, over a decade since Eric’s idea to build a community organization dedicated to supporting our friends in need, Friends of Feeney has burgeoned into a reputable and recognized organization capable of providing financial and resource support to numerous families and individuals across greater Hartford and beyond. Through this work, an incredible community of children and families has been recognized, who care for and appreciate each other’s kindness.

Producer

David Chmielewski

David started his video career in the early 1990s working on video crews as an independent contractor for such companies as Martha Stewart Living, IBM and Xerox. After graduating Southern Connecticut State University with the degree in Corporate Communications, David continued his video production career and accepted a position at WFSB in Hartford, CT. Within a few years the news and production studios became his charge and David designed, installed and maintained the televisions sets for the various programs at the station. At the end of 2013 David founded DirectLine Media, a video production company that specializes in creating memorable and compelling video content for businesses.

What is Feeney Talks With Friends?

Eric Feeney talks with #friends! Eric is the founder of the nonprofit organization Friends of Feeney. Their mission is to help children and families who need assistance after heartbreak and tragedy. www.friendsoffeeney.com