Arborist Cassie Sigloh of Redmond is one of four individuals and organizations being honored this year by the Oregon Department of Forestry and the non-profit organization Oregon Community Trees.

Sigloh did not go to school to become an arborist. But during the 16 years she has worked for the city of Redmond, a former supervisor of hers got her interested in tree care. She went on to pass the test to become a certified arborist with the International Society of Arborists. Since then, Sigloh has been helping care for Redmond’s street and park trees through ice, wind and snow events, as well as drought and heat waves.

“Cassie has a pure passion for arboriculture and trees in general,” said Tyler Roth in a press release. Roth is an OCT board member who nominated Sigloh. “She truly doesn’t need to do what she does. Cassie does it because she loves trees.”

The other award winners were Michael Calhoun of Vernonia, the Portland Fruit Tree Project, and the Rivers of Life Center in West Linn.

The Oregon Department of Forestry’s Scott Altenhoff, who manages the agency’s Urban and Community Forestry Program, said the awards recognize the vital contributions committed individuals acting solo or banding together in organizations can make to their communities.

“Urban forests benefit everyone. In turn, those forests benefit when residents and non-profits come alongside city governments to help keep them healthy and vibrant,” said Altenhoff.

Oregon Community Trees Vice President Teresa Gustafson chairs the committee that reviews nominations.

Of Portland Fruit Tree Project’s nomination Gustafson said, “Their newest project seeks to identify, map and score the health, harvestability and yield of Portland fruit trees. They hope to reduce fruit waste and carbon emissions while improving the diets of Portlanders.”

Rivers of Life Center, based in West Linn, works with at-risk youth on nature restoration, enhancement and beautification projects.

While still a student at Oregon State University, Michael Calhoun of Vernonia became interested in obtaining a Hiroshima peace tree for his town. The young trees were grown from seeds collected from trees that had survived the atom bombing of Hiroshima in 1945.

Calhoun worked with city officials to ensure proper sighting for the peace tree. In 2022 it was planted in Ora Bolemeier Park. Calhoun arranged a dedication ceremony for the community, with the Consul of Japan in Oregon as the guest of honor.