A Japanese Snowbell Grows in Bedford

For the 11th year in a row, the town of Bedford has earned a  Tree City Designation. This achievement was received by Supervisor Lee Roberts and members of the tree advisory board in a ceremony Wednesday morning at the Bedford Hills Community House.

"I think this town has a real commitment to tree preservation, and its partnerships with the community today demonstrate that commitment," said Mary Kramarchyk, liaison to the state forester at the Department of Environmental Conservation.

The distinction is awarded to communities that have met a set of criteria including having a tree advisory board, a tree care ordinance, an active urban forestry program and an arbor day proclamation and observation.

In honor of the occasion, a new Japanese Snowbell tree was planted on the grounds of the Bedford Hills Community House and potted hydrangeas were presented to members of the Bedford seniors program, who attended the ceremony and enjoyed refreshments together afterwards.

Tree advisory board Chairman Michael Serio gave welcoming remarks and read the poem, Trees, by Joyce Kilmer. Bedford Supervisor Lee Roberts read the Arbor Day proclamation, followed by the presentation of the tree city designation by Kramarchyk.

Then Roberts dug in her heels and, along with Serio, heaped shovelfuls of wet earth onto the base of the new tree. TAB members Bea Rhodes and Peter Michaelis participated in the ceremonial planting.

Serio also thanked horticulturalist John Goodman, and Mark Morin, parks foreman, for their support of the town's tree preservation, and William Heidepriem, recreation and parks superintendent, for his help in planning the program and inviting the seniors. 

"We consider many different sites around town for the Arbor Day ceremony, and it was Bill's idea to do it here. Bringing in our seniors was a great way to celebrate," he said.

Serio commits about ten hours a week to his volunteer duties as TAB chairman, in addition to owning a full-time landscaping company, he said.

"My family has lived in this community since the 1940s, so this is about contributing to my community," he said. "It's part of what I do professionally so it's a natural fit."