Politics & Government

Westhampton Beach Celebrates Arbor Day [VIDEO, PHOTOS]

Village designated as Tree City for the 24th year.

On Thursday afternoon, in celebration of Arbor Day, the was once again designated as a Tree City by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. This is the 24th year in a row that the village received the honor. 

During the ceremony, Mayor Conrad Teller read a proclamation declaring May 24 Arbor Day in the village with Heather Amster, of the DEC's Division of Land & Forst, presenting the village with a tree city award.

Village Trustee accepted the award for the village, thanking members of the village’s beatification committee and students from theCURE group for their hard work.

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CURE president Olivia Percoco, a junior, read a poem in honor of Arbor Day and expressed the importance of planting trees saying, "There is an emotional and spiritual connection that you can have with a tree."

CURE advisor Jok Kommer, echoed Percoco's sentiments, saying, "When you plan a tree you become part of it's life."

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Kommer also explained that to be designated by the DEC as a tree city, the village was required to not only maintain trees in the village and provide a tree walk, but to also plan a tree each year. 

This year, a tree was planted at Mortimer Park by members of the Westhampton Beach Department of Public Works. 


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