Friends of Owego’s Arbor Day plant Lake Street tree

It was fitting to mark Owego’s Arbor Day on Friday, April 28 with a new tree planted on Lake Street in front of the Sincerely Yours shop. A visiting tourist entering the shop asked the volunteers who were planting if they knew where Arbor Day first began in 1872. The group proclaimed “Nebraska”, and she exclaimed that she was from “Nebraska”. 

A small committed team of amateur, but capable arborists were celebrating the trees of Owego and their remarkable role in making the Village the attractive, healthy and peaceful community it is. 

With the support of the Village Public Works personnel and W & W Nursery, Linda Obie, representing the Early Owego Marketplace; Louise O’Neill, owner of Sincerely Yours; Candy Cerretani of the Village of Owego administrative office; Lori Vogel, owner of Artisan’s Townhouse; and renowned local artist Robert Merwin joined Bob Bassett, president of the Charles H. Bassett Youth Foundation and curator of the Bassett Ah-Wa-Ga Center in planting a new flowering crabapple tree in the empty green space, which now gives the east side of Lake Street nine trees to line its scenic walkway along the shops. 

This tree planting was made possible with beautification funds made available through the Bassett Foundation’s Betty Bassett Beautification Fund, which each year contributes approximately $500 to improving and caring for public green spaces in the Village and Town of Owego. 

Past beautification projects have included the community garden near Tioga Opportunities and the Evergreen and Hiawatha-LaMonte cemeteries. Youth and adult volunteers partner to improve public green spaces, assisting the local Public Works staff on days of service including Earth Day, Arbor Day, Join Hands Day, Make a Difference Day and Family Volunteer Day.

To add an extra flourish to Owego’s Arbor Day, Lori Vogel arranged to have beautiful brightly colored ribbons tied on each of the Lake Street trees to highlight their importance and significant place in the beauty of the Village. 

A hearty thanks to all who care about the community trees.