Daniel Zuckerman is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the Athens Village Board has unanimously approved the "Standards for the Care of Village Trees" local law. The ordinance focuses on the maintenance, removal and care of trees on village-owned property. A state environmental review was completed before the law was passed. The Friends of Athens group received a $2,500 grant from the Athens Community Center in January to conduct a survey of trees on village-owned property by a certified arborist. That survey will provide a useful inventory, tree committee member Stephan Bradicich said. “We’ve been going out to various arborists, so we should get that kicked off shortly,” Bradicich said. The village tree legislation was first discussed in July with the goal to attract more businesses to the village. “The passion around the tree is really about the passion around growing and improving the village,” he said. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.