By Darlene Brace
Vince Liuzzo is a native of Jamestown and a certified arborist with a deep-rooted passion for trees that extends beyond their basic care. He has built a strong reputation in the community, not only for his tree care, but also for his captivating chainsaw wood carvings, which he showcases live at local events. He is now known as “Vince the Tree Guy.” In addition, Vince is a devoted husband and proud father of four, and he enjoys coaching some of their sport’s teams. Vince is also both an artist and an art teacher. Interestingly, he also works as a hotdog salesman. Vince truly is a man who “wears many hats.”
Years ago, he was working as a simple tree and brush removal laborer. He eventually fell in love with trees. He began to educate himself all that he could about trees, and he learned about their care and best practices. In 2018, he became an ISA Certified Arborist and currently runs Vince Liuzzo Arborist Services. He specializes in tree health assessments and offers a full spectrum of tree care, as well as services for new build projects. He can assist you with any needs you have regarding your trees.
While he was doing tree removals, some customers would ask if he could carve something from the stumps instead of removing them. The first request he received was to make chairs out of two adjacent tree stumps. After that, he was asked to create a table, a bird bath, an angel, and more. Word of mouth spread, and Vince’s chainsaw carving work began to take off.
The next thing he knew, he became known as “Vince the Tree Guy” because of his tree care as well as his chainsaw wood carvings. He has performed live chainsaw carving demonstrations at events like the Panama Rocks Fall Foliage Festival, JCC’s Earth Day event, and the Mayville Ice Castle Winter Festival. At some of these events, Vince sometimes sells his work, but more often he and the event organizer hold a 50/50 raffle to benefit the organization or local nonprofits. Additionally, Vince accepts custom orders for smaller carvings, perfect for holiday projects and special occasions.
Vince also has been doing his work for public installations. The Roger Tory Peterson Institute has several of his wood carvings along their paths, and JCC has some of his work in the Arts and Science Building. His work is also displayed at the Lakewood Golf Center, Coppola’s in Bemus Point, and at the Chautauqua Christian Academy, where his kids go to school.
Some time ago, when Vince was involved with the Mayville Ice Castle Winter Festival, Nick Andriaccio proposed that Vince use his skills to create a snow sculpture of the Buffalo Bills, who were in the NFL playoffs that year. Vince built the sculpture near Andriaccio’s family-run restaurant. Since then, Vince has carved a snow sculpture in front of the restaurant during the Bills playoff season.
Vince has also been involved with the Infinity Visual Arts Program in Jamestown on and off for quite some time. Years ago, he played a big role in starting the visual arts program and at some point, held the title of director. Now years later, he is thrilled to be involved again as an art teacher, teaching Intro to Art and Art Exploration as private lessons, while his daughter is taking piano lessons.
You would probably be surprised that Vince is also a hotdog salesman, as the owner of Weiners on the Water. It’s basically a floating hotdog stand on a pontoon boat. Since 2022, he has been selling hotdogs, as well as water, snacks, and some merchandise. Weiners on the Water can be found on Chautauqua Lake on Saturdays and special event days in the summer. It is usually found at Ashville Bay, Long Point, and Sandy Bottom in Mayville. They also do private dock parties.
Vince stated, “I am involved in a lot of things. I feel like Chautauqua County is the land of opportunity. If you have a good idea, you should get motivated and pursue it. Put yourself out there, and if you find a network that will help and support you, anything is possible. I am thankful for the support that the community has given me in all my endeavors.” Vince also noted he is lucky because he can make his own flexible schedule, and that he always makes sure he finds ways to prioritize time with his family.
Vince is a multifaceted man, and is dedicated to all aspects of his life. He leaves a lasting impression on everyone he meets, and his story is one of creativity, commitment, and a genuine love for his family, community, trees, and his crafts. “Vince the Tree Guy” is truly an inspiration. If you have tree service needs or are interested in his chainsaw wood carvings, visit “Vince the Tree Guy” on Facebook.