Farmingville, NY – On April 28, Supervisor Ed Romaine, Highway Superintendent Dan Losquadro, Councilwoman Jane Bonner and Councilman Dan Panico celebrated Arbor Day by planting a Red Maple tree and Bayberry trees in front of Town Hall, following a long standing Arbor Day tradition in Brookhaven. Last year, staff at the Holtsville Ecology Site potted nearly two dozen Bayberry tree saplings, which had been distributed to residents in celebration of Earth Day. Throughout the year, the saplings grew to nearly two feet in the nursery. Today, they were planted at Town Hall in commemoration of Arbor Day. In 2016, the Town was designated as a “Tree City USA” by the National Arbor Day Foundation. Pictured left to right are Highway Superintendent Losquadro, Supervisor Romaine, Councilwoman Bonner and Councilman Panico.
Supervisor Romaine said, “Over the past few years, we have given away and planted thousands of trees throughout the Town of Brookhaven and we are getting close to my goal of 10,000 ahead of schedule. I thank all the residents who have followed our lead to make Brookhaven a greener place to live.”
"Brookhaven Town has a long history of environmental stewardship," said Brookhaven Town Highway Superintendent Daniel P. Losquadro. "I encourage residents to do the same on their own properties -- choose Long Island native and natural plants rather than green grass requiring fertilizer and other pesticides that could disturb our ground water."
Councilwoman Jane Bonner said, “Planting a tree on Arbor Day at Town Hall is a great tradition and I am happy to be part of it again this year. Every tree we plant helps the environment and helps make Brookhaven a greener place to live.”
Councilman Panico said, "Efforts such as these go a long way in helping to make Brookhaven a greener Town. We are well on our way to achieving the goal of planting 10,000 trees, and I look forward to the day that this goal becomes a reality."
The annual planting ceremony is part of Supervisor Romaine’s “Greening Brookhaven” initiative to plant 10,000 trees by 2020, the same goal date for the Supervisor's Green Energy & Sustainability initiative for Town facilities announced in his 2015 State of the Town Address.
Arbor Day has been celebrated around the world since originating in Spain in 1805. The first American Arbor Day was on April 10, 1872 in Nebraska. In 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt brought the event to national attention when he issued an “Arbor Day Proclamation to the School Children of the United States.”
Division of Public Information - Office of the Supervisor
One Independence Hill
Farmingville, NY 11738
Phone: 631-451-6595