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Community Corner

Larchmont's Bark for the Park a quiet event

Trio of bald cypress trees to soak up runoff at Constitution Park

For the 29th year in a row, Larchmont has been named a Tree City USA, recognition that "In the Village of Larchmont, we care a lot about trees," Mayor Josh Mandell told the small group gathered in Constitution Park to mark Arbor Day 2010.

"Bark for the Park" is an event created by the Village Parks and Trees Committee 10 years ago to draw attention to the Village's parks, educate about the role trees play in the environment and encourage children to learn about how to plant and care for trees. This year's event, however, held at the rear of Constitution Park near Village Hall, failed to attract more than a handful of children who were on their way home from school. Fortunately, there were a good number of local officials on hand to enjoy the ice cream donated by Longford's Ice Cream Store.

But before moving to the ice cream there was work to be done.

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Several toddlers enthusiastically set to work shoveling dirt and watering the new tree, a beautiful bald cypress, including Bella and Aiden Wasserman, who came prepared with their own tools.

David Seigerman brought his children Dylan, 4 and Maia, 5, to the Park to help plant the trees.

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"Trees make the whole world pretty," Maia said as she daintily ate the chocolate ice cream.

Her brother piped in with his own reason to care for trees. Trees are where a lot of animals live, including the birds who have made four nests in the trees in front of their house, he said.

Jan Feinman, chair of the Parks and Trees Committee, said the bald cypress is one of three that will be planted in the area at the back of Constitution Park.  The trees were chosen because they soak up water and this area of the park has a lot of runoff from the property behind it.  Three trees will be planted, she explained, because the tree does best when it's in a grove. The roots intertwine, adding stability to the tree.

The Village expects to plant 30 to 40 trees on Village property this year as it wages the never-ending battle to replace the old trees that must be taken down because of disease.  In fact, as the Village was planting the tree in Constitution Park, tree surgeons were removing a large elm in Vanderburgh (Turtle) Park which had Dutch elm disease.

Before reading a proclamation that urged village residents to protect trees and plant them on their property, Mandell spoke about how throughout history, people have been chosen to care for items cherished by the society.

He compared the members of the Village Parks and Trees to the rabbis and priests who guarded the scrolls and artifacts in ancient times and the librarians and curators who care for books and museum collections today. Noting the knowledge and concern that Feinman and others on the Committee have for the trees, "We've put our trust in them to care for our trees," he said.

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