by David Flint
Stephentown’s Town Hall is looking a lot nicer thanks to a group of public spirited citizens. Burt Swersey, who is closing out his Shadowbrook Nursery, made it known some weeks ago that he was ready to donate hundreds of plants, shrubs and trees to beautify the village central area of the Town. He also was willing to lend his expertise in getting them planted properly and to help with organizing and assisting volunteers to maintain them. The Town Board endorsed the idea and formed a volunteer Beautification Committee, stipulating that maintenance and care would be the responsibility of the Committee.
[private]Kevin Carpenter, who has taken a leading role in the civic group Community Stephentown (Stephentowncommunity.wikispaces.com), volunteered to head up the Beautification Committee. The Stephentown Community group carried out a beautification project last fall, planting 1,000 daffodil bulbs at various locations around town.
The initial focus of volunteers of the newly formed Beautification Committee was the grounds of the Town Hall. Under Swersey’s supervision they planted about 25 plants and shrubs and a couple of trees. Then Andrew Schrump of Andrew’s Property Maintenance donated garden fabric, and he and his associate Gunnar Hanson cut out the planting beds, laid the fabric and spread mulch. Volunteers have been taking good care of the plants, and they are thriving. Some additional planting has also been done on Grange Hall Road at a recently purchased Town property adjacent to the Town Garage, at private homes and at the Library.
Swersey has more plants, shrubs and trees to donate. His vision is to line the properties along Route 43 from the intersection of Route 22 up to Garfield Road with beautiful flowering shrubs and trees. The Beautification Committee will seek the necessary permissions from property owners and develop a plan for permanent volunteer maintenance of all the plantings. Carpenter right now has four to six people he can count on. More help is needed. People along Route 43 who want trees or shrubs and people who are interested in being actively involved in this project should contact Carpenter at 518-423-4859 or at treeguy@taconic.net.
Monetary donations are welcome too to help pay for mulch and keep the plants maintained. Carpenter said that the not-for-profit Wyomanock Center (wyocenter.org) at 68 Wyomanock Road, Stephentown, NY, 12168, will be the fiscal agent for donations for the Beautification Committee. The word “Beautification” should be written in the check memo.[/private]