HAUPPAUGE – With less than two months to go until the historic 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding, all ten towns in Suffolk pitched in on Friday in Hauppauge to “plant it forward.”
The County has encouraged residents to take free red oak saplings from various County parks to be planted anywhere in Suffolk. Each tree will be documented with the County Clerk’s office and each planter will receive a plaque as a commemoration.
The supervisors of Suffolk’s ten towns brought soil from their respective municipalities. Each bag of soil coated the trunk of a cherry blossom tree, each forming a semi-circle around the existing Freedom Plaza.
Additionally, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) planted a separate tree, while Presiding Officer Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville) planted a tree along with Legislators Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset), Steve Flotteron (R-Brightwaters), and Ann Welker (D-North Sea).
Romaine, a former history teacher, briefly described the history of the county. Southold, founded in 1640, was the first town in Suffolk to be established. Later that year, Southampton would be established. East Hampton followed in 1648, Huntington in 1653, Islip in 1683, Brookhaven in 1686, Shelter Island in 1730, and Smithtown in 1788. Riverhead would split from the Town of Southold in 1792, and Babylon would split from Huntington almost a century later in 1872.
“We are very proud of all the towns and 32 villages in this county,” said Romaine, adding that Suffolk County is one of four in the state that have never been subdivided. “These trees represent each of our towns that are united with the County. We work as a team, we work together to benefit the people of Suffolk County. We have two different governmental structures, but we are united in our vision and our commitment to the future of this county and the people who live here.”
Presiding Officer Piccirillo said that the working relationship between the Legislature and the County has “never been better,” owing much of that to the leadership of Romaine.
“We’ve been able to do a tremendous amount of work through our budget process and our general meetings to make sure that we’re moving Suffolk in the right direction,” said Piccirillo. “I look forward to our continued work together.”
Suffolk County Clerk Vincent Puleo (R-Nesconset) rang the ceremonial bell to welcome each planter to their cherry tree.
“I carry with me today the rich soil from the great Town of Brookhaven on behalf of all the elected officials and the 500,000 residents who make up the biggest town in New York State geographically, second by population,” said Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico (R-Center Moriches). “I hope this soil will nourish this tree and we appreciate our partnership with the county and all of the other towns so very much.”
Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter (R-West Islip) was joined by Councilmen Mike McElwee (R-West Islip) and Jorge Guadron (D-Central Islip), while Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R-Kings Park) was represented by Nicole Gargiulo.
A representative for Huntington Town Supervisor Ed Smyth (R-Huntington Bay) and Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaeffer (D-North Babylon) represented the West End, while the East Enders made the trip to Hauppauge: East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez (D-Springs), Southampton Town Supervisor Maria Moore (D-West Hampton Dunes), and Riverhead Town Supervisor Jerry Halpin (D-Riverhead). Southold Town Supervisor Al Krupski (D-Cutchogue) brought soil from his family’s North Fork pumpkin farm, and Shelter Island Town Supervisor Amber Brach-Williams (R-Shelter Island Heights) took the ferry to the mainland to represent the county’s smallest township.
The trees are on display at Freedom Plaza, located just past the eastern parking lot at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge.
