Hamburg’s getting shady: new trees planted in village
A total of 70 new trees are now in the ground in the Village of Hamburg.
In a continuing effort to beautify the village and create a shaded canopy for its streets and parks, the village has gone forward with a tree-planting project spearheaded by the Village Environmental Commission and its liaison from the village board, Trustee Michael Cerrone.
The 50 red oak trees and 20 red sunset maple trees were planted on Pleasant Avenue between Hawkins Avenue and Lake Street, on Prospect Avenue between Hawkins and Lake, along Sickmon Avenue and in the bird sanctuary in Glen Meadows Park in the Forest Glen neighborhood.
"Trees are essential to our village," said Cerrone, who noted one of the reasons he ran for office two years ago was to help start a tree planting program. "The tree canopies over our streets lend a grace and beauty to our village that makes us one of the most desirable places to live in Western New York. "
Cerrone said that his desire to plant new trees in the village had been sparked by the lose of so many over the years to age, disease, and storms.
“Unfortunately, for too long we have been cutting down trees instead of planting them," said Cerrone, adding that the 2006 “October Surprise” storm only accelerated that process.
Cerrone said he believed the only way to reverse that trend was to re-create a tree planting program, which the village had not taken part in since 2002.
"We were not replacing the trees we were losing and were in danger of being a village without trees if we didn't start planting now," Cerrone said.
After conducting a village-wide survey in fall 2007, the Environmental Commission determined which streets were in most need and then concentrated its efforts in those places.
The village sent out letters to those residents who lived on properties with a lack of trees.
One of those residents was Anne Alessi of Pleasant Avenue, whose 80-foot wide double lot has suffered the loss of three dying maple trees in the past three to five years, leaving the large property very bare looking.
"The village decided to retree a section of the village and thought my property needed them and I had no objection," Alessi said. "When they grow, they'll be real nice. The village has done a good job with encouraging regrowth."
Cerrone noted that the species of trees planted were determined by the recommendation of commission member and arborist Ed Drabek, who chose them for their beauty, hardiness and traditional shadiness.
The village plans to plant another 50 to 100 next year in places strategically planned through assessments made from the survey.
Cerrone credited Environmental Commission members Mark Colmerauer, Adrienne Punteriero and Stuart Wheaton for their assistance and also pointed out that Drabek's expertise was essential.
Cerrone also said the village’s Public Works Department, led by Interim Superintendent Harley Moses, worked very hard to plant the trees at a time when they were also very busy handling other maintenance issues that arise every spring.
Email Michael J. Petro
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