Tree board seeks volunteers
by ELIZABETH TAUFA Reporter

The Village of Williamsville has been fortunate in the year since the October Storm to receive funding and grants to replant trees throughout the village.

It has not, as noted by Tree Board liaison Brian Geary, been so lucky with volunteers.

Recently, 20 trees were received by the village to plant in the right of way. Geary, former Village Trustee Rich Sweeney and Tree Board Chairman Nick Roth planted them alone.

"Everybody wants a tree, so we need everybody to come forward and volunteer to help plant," Geary said. "We have more trees coming, and we need people. We're willing to teach and train anybody."

The Tree Board is particularly seeking individuals with grant-writing experience, as the tree grants have become fewer and farther between.

"That kind of scares me," Geary said of the grants.

Members of the Tree Board and volunteers have been looking into alternative options, such as Re-Tree WNY. Though Geary noted that the commitment for that organization is hefty, it is something that would be beneficial.

While the village sustained a sizeable loss of trees in the October Storm, this past summer's drought has also taken its toll on the village's greenery, possibly resulting in tree loss comparable to that of the storm itself.

"Trees are important for keeping out noise and pollution and erosion," Geary said. "They're important for any community, and they should be top priority."

The tree grants that the village has already received specify exact locations where the trees should be planted, but Geary noted that the Tree Board is searching for ways to aid residents with replacement of missing trees in their back yards.

"We've had a lot of calls about planting in the right of way," Geary said. "It's all right for (residents) to plant their own, but they can only go off the DEC list (of trees) at Village Hall, and they have to get permission."

If residents are interested in helping the Re-Green the Village effort, money can be donated in honor of late village firefighter and longtime Planning Board member William Wutz Jr.

"This village meant everything to Bill," Geary said.

The Lehigh Memory Trail also suffered substantial damage during the storm.

"There's been a million questions about the memory trails," Geary continued. "We're suspending the plantings until we can figure out what to do with the trees that came down."

Geary said that due to the cost and potential budget issues next year, the memorial trees will most likely not be replaced and neither will the plaques that were destroyed.

"We're going to do what we can, but we're talking 20 plaques at $250," Geary said. "The tree replacements sucked up the money really fast, and that area was just obliterated."

Those interested in volunteering for the Tree Board in any capacity or contributing financially to its efforts should contact Geary at 632-1312 or by e-mailing northernlightsland@netzero.net.

e-mail: etaufa@beenews.com