By Melissa Burnor
Cade Hayford said he was a little surprised when he read in The Advance a few weeks ago that the village of Blissfield had amended an ordinance prohibiting the tapping of maple trees in the village right-of-way to collect sap for syrup.
The Blissfield Middle School eighth-grade student said making maple syrup is a hobby of his and the maple trees in front of his North Monroe Street Home are just two of approximately 40 — the rest on private property — that he utilizes to make maple syrup for friends and family in late winter. Hayford, spoke to the Blissfield village council May 20 giving another side to the issue.
Council had amended the ordinance after information brought to them by council member Mike Gunter said that tapping the trees damaged the trees and because of the proximity to the street and runoff water, the sap from the trees made it a poor choice for extracting the sticky stuff to make syrup. Hayford disagreed and brought information including a study from the University of Vermont that he shared with council.
For the rest of the story, please see the June 1, 2016, edition of The Advance.