Free parks program looks at oak wilt issues

People listen to a workshop on treatment of invasive species by Ari Henson, restoration coordinator of the Allegan Conservation District, on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, at Laketown Township Hall, 4338 Beeline Road. The hall is the site of the Saturday, Feb. 7, program on oak wilt at 1 p.m.

The Laketown Township Parks and Recreation Commission continues its free indoor winter workshop season with a presentation on oak wilt at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, at Laketown Township Hall, 4338 Beeline Road.

Ben Savoie, conservation district forester for Allegan, Barry and Ottawa counties, will discuss oak wilt including the cause, prevention and how to stop the spread of this disease.

Savoie earned a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from Michigan State University, specializing in Resource Management.

About oak wilt

Oak wilt is a fungal disease caused by Bretziellafagacearum that is carried by sap beetles into recently opened wounds to oak trees. It also is transmitted through the grafted root system from one tree to another through the crossed roots of multiple trees.

In red oaks, the disease is fast, killing the tree within 4 to 8 weeks.  White oaks are less susceptible to oak wilt, killing the tree within 2 to 3 years.

Oak wilt can be moved long distances when people move infected firewood   one location to another, according to the Michigan Invasive Species Program website at https://www.michigan.gov/invasives.

For more information on the program, email Laketown Township Parks and Recreation Commissioner MaryJo Bertolino at parks@laketowntwp.org.

Parks winter workshops

The March workshop feature Andy Rozendaal, farm director of Eighth Day Farm in Holland, who will lead a Kitchen Herb Garden presentation with suggestions for using the herbs in cooking by Corey Mitchell from The Beard and The Gal. The date has not yet been set but it will be at the Carriage House at The Felt Estate, 6579 138th Ave.

Rozendaal will be bringing herbs to demonstrate a small kitchen garden planter and gardening information for those who have more garden space.

The parks commission started its winter programs in early 2025 with presentations including hands-only CPR, mushroom identification and butterfly gardens.

This winter’s programs started in November for Native American Heritage Month with a workshop on “Talking Sticks,” an object traditionally used in council circles to designate who had the right to speak. In January, the workshop led by Ari Henson of the Allegan Conservation District focused on techniques to remove invasive species.