First day of winter solstice – so why the lag between the shortest day of the year and the lowest average daily temperature of the year? According to the Farmer’s Almanac, it’s because the Earth’s thermal mass still retains heat from the summer and cools gradually. The coldest day of winter doesn’t occur for another month and a half.

Three stories of note in today’s news. First, Vancouver’s Terrace House received approval to use mass timber in the top 7-storeys of a 19-storey building; second, Workplace Safety North says substance abuse is a major concern for Ontario’s sawmill industry; and finally, Rome’s mangy Christmas tree is front and centre in the New York Times.

Finally, an early Christmas greeting to all our readers and please note – tomorrow’s Tree Frog News is the last of 2017, barring any breaking news over the holiday. 

— Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor