STIHL Chainsaw Clinic

Thank you STIHL for a good and timely chainsaw safety clinic.  Last night two chainsaw experts from STIHL came to the Shelton Farmer's Market on Cornell Street to offer a safety class for trails volunteers.  We had been working on a lot of storm damage repair on Shelton trails during the last couple of years, and it's made us think about ways to improve training and safety methods.  

Sheri Dutkanicz talked to Jeff over at the Stihl warehouse here in town, and he put us in touch with their safety experts.  The Company has trained instructors who travel around the region giving talks on how to work better and safer.  Kelly and Andrew were very informative and gave us a good demonstration.  We got to watch a movie, ask questions, play with equipment, learn to maintain the saws, look at safety equipment to wear, and learn how to not get hurt working on trails.
  

We had a good turnout of folks; about 30 people attended from the Trails Committee, trails volunteers, the Conservation Commission, Shelton Parks & Recreation Dept. professionals, the Shelton Land Conservation Trust, and members of the general public.

There is a good article in the Shelton Herald with more photos of all the participants.  Thanks to Brad at the Herald for helping publicize the event and covering it.

Later we got to go outside and a those that wanted to cut a few pine logs on the saw buck.  The Stihl guys were really great and gave us a pair of chainsaw chaps, a sharpening kit, bar oil, gloves, hats, and other goodies.  It was really unexpected and all the gear would be helpful in future work parties.  Thanks to Stihl for offering this community service.  It's great when a local business helps out the volunteers like this.

Some of us then when over to the Ascot Club after the Clinic to do our part in bolstering the downtown business community.  It's tough work but somebody's got to do it.  See you on the trails.