Henrico County VA
facebook twitter email rss
Click here
to read
the print edition

State quarantines movement of walnut trees, related products from Henrico

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) today placed a temporary quarantine on the movement of walnut trees and plants, as well as plant parts of walnut (including logs, stumps, firewood, roots, branches, mulch and chips) out of Henrico County, Chesterfield County and the City of Richmond following the detection of Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD) in Henrico and Chesterfield.
(Richmond was because of its proximity to the two counties.)

VDACS Commissioner Matthew J. Lohr announced the temporary quarantine in an effort to prevent the artificial spread of TCD, a disease complex that attacks walnut trees. The fungus Geosmithia morbida is vectored by the walnut twig beetle, causing small cankers under the bark of the tree. The beetle introduces the fungus while it tunnels beneath the bark. As more beetles attack the tree, the number of cankers increases until they coalesce to girdle twigs and branches, restricting movement of nutrients and eventually killing the tree. Neither the beetle nor the fungus is native to the eastern U.S. Thinning or dead branches initially will occur at the top of the tree, which will die from the top down. Trees may be infested for many years before showing symptoms. There is currently no preventive or curative treatment for the disease.

TCD has been present in the western U.S. for years; this is the first detection in Virginia and the first time it has been found east of Knoxville, Tenn., where it was detected in August 2010. Once established, TCD has the potential to spread to uninfested areas, either through natural means or through the artificial movement of infested articles. VDACS employees in the Office of Plant Industry Services are surveying the affected areas in an effort to determine the extent of this infestation and the source of TCD in Henrico and Chesterfield counties. The actual source may be difficult to determine, officials said, since the infestation likely occurred several years ago.

The disease poses no harm to humans or animals.

For details about the disease in the Eastern United States, visit http://www.fs.fed.us/foresthealth/fhm/sp/tcd/tcd.shtml


Community

Weekend Top 10

Shrimp, barbecue and ice cream definitely go together this weekend in Henrico! The kids might even enjoy a tea party with Alice and the Mad Hatter. Other fun events for the family are Imagination Richmond and May Play Day. For all our top picks this weekend, click here! > Read more.

Indian flair

Children perform during the India Spring Fest, held April 27-28 at the Hindu Center in Glen Allen. The event featured traditional Indian food, shopping and entertainment for children and adults. > Read more.

Spirit of Habitat

Spirited Art Richmond held a painting class May 5 for Hanover Habitat for Humanity families to paint their own artwork as a final touch for their new homes. Among first-time homeowners painting The Klimt Circle tree (which doubles as a ‘family tree’) were (left to right) Janet Payne, Gwen Stockman of Hanover Habitat and Payne’s daughter, Ashley Payne. Spirited Art is located in Short Pump at West Broad Village. > Read more.

Page 1 of 97 pages  1 2 3 >  Last ›

Entertainment

Restaurant watch

Find out how your favorite dining establishments fared during their most recent inspections by the Virginia Department of Health. > Read more.

Wine, for the win

Popular Short Pump spot offers upscale comfort, flavors
The Wine Loft opened in West Broad Village in January 2010, offering a full bar with wine, beer, spirits and a kitchen with tapas-style snacks. It offers a seasonal patio area along Whittall Way. Its walk-in wine “humidor” in plain view from the bar offers more than 85 wines by the glass ($6-$65) and about 250 by the bottle ($28 and up), with some emphasis on Italian wines. Culinary trained chefs plus partnership with Culinard (Culinary program of Virginia College). > Read more.

Restaurant watch

Find out how your favorite dining establishments fared during their most recent inspections by the Virginia Department of Health. > Read more.

Page 1 of 43 pages  1 2 3 >  Last ›







 

Reader Survey | Advertising | Email updates

Classifieds

SAVE on Cable TV-Internet-Digital Phone. Packages start at $89.99/mo (for 12 months.) Options from ALL major service providers. Call Acceller today to learn more! CALL 1-888-686-5081.
Full text

Place an Ad | More Classifieds

Calendar

Innsbrook After Hours 2013 continues with Thompson Square at 6:30 p.m. The band consists of husband-and-wife duo Keifer and Shawna Thompson. Gates open at 5 p.m. General admission is $20.… Full text

Glen Allen Weather

Henrico's Top Teachers