Documents › Board Of Trustees, 2022-07-05

memo 1 page

To: From: Date: July 1, 2022 Re: Merwin Oak As you know, the Village lost its beloved Merwin Oak in Vassallo Park one month ago. The tree, at least 235 years old, was a fixture in the community and a beloved icon. A communication was sent out on the Village’s email list on June 15 asking for opinions from community members about the future of the tree and its former location in Vassallo Park. Almost 50 emails were received with various ideas and thoughts about the Merwin Oak. Some of the more popular ideas are listed below: • Create benches and picnic tables from the wood of the tree to be placed in Vassallo and other parks. • Use a slice of the tree’s trunk to create a memorial of the tree; the rings of the tree could be marked to denote important events in both Croton’s and the country’s history. • Cut lumber from the tree into pieces to give/sell as commemorative mementos. • Create an art installation of some sort from the remaining wood of the tree. • Plant new trees as a memorial to the Merwin Oak. Prior to the completion of this comment period, I met with Superintendent of Public Works Frank Balbi, Superintendent of Recreation Mark Duncan and Assistant General Foreman John Bouchard to understand our operational capabilities regarding the Merwin Oak. We have already begun to save lumber from the tree to be used in future projects. Furthermore, the Croton Girl Scouts have generously offered to plant a new tree at Vassallo; this offer has been graciously accepted. I look forward to hearing the Board’s thoughts on the above ideas. Thank you. Mayor Brian Pugh Trustees Ann Gallelli Sherry Horowitz Alejandro Rosales Len Simon Village Manager Bryan T. Healy Treasurer Daniel Tucker Village Clerk Pauline DiSanto Village of Croton-on-Hudson New York Stanley H. Kellerhouse Municipal Building One Van Wyck Street Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520-2501