Medina’s Releaf Society pleased with donations for new trees, welcomes more giving

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 13 May 2021 at 7:15 am

MEDINA – Medina’s Releaf Society met May 5 to discuss further tree plantings in the village.

Donations have been received for 12 memorial trees, to be placed in Medina’s six parks with accompanying plaques. Parks are Butts Park on South Main Street, Gwinn Street, State Street, Pine Street, Gulf Street and Rotary Park. Cost for a memorial tree with plaque is $300.

Releaf Society chair Kathy Blackburn said while the tree fund drive officially ended April 30, they still welcome donations. She said they could use money for bushes and shrubbery in Butts Park. They would also like to add some greenery along the south side of Rotary Park. In addition, Blackburn said trees are needed in Boxwood Cemetery to replace some of the many old ones which have or will be taken down in the cemetery.

Jason Watts, superintendent of the Village Street and Parks Department, said they won’t be planting any more trees until fall. While he has planted as many as 60 in previous years, he told Blackburn 40 was a more comfortable number.

Blackburn reported that Gary Kent of Albion had donated a variety of saplings, which Mayor Mike Sidari said could be used on the north end of Boxwood Cemetery. Plans are to plant them in the grassy area adjoining the town of Ridgeway.

Blackburn said she had learned from National Grid that they will reimburse the village $50 for any tree which meets its growth requirements for under wires.

She also reported trees were needed on South Avenue and Frank Street, and she would like the village to look at strategically planting some flowering trees, similar to those on State Street.

The Medina Releaf Society was formed last year to work with the Medina Tree Board. The Releaf Society is able to fundraise, while the Tree Board is not. The Releaf Society conducts fundraising, and then the Tree Board steps in and decides what kind and where trees can be planted  and which need to be trimmed or cut down.

Blackburn reminds residents that no one can cut down a tree within the village on the village’s right-of-way. That is the area between the street and sidewalk, she said.

She also explained that before any tree is planted, a sample of the soil is sent to Cooperative Extension for analyzing, to determine which trees grow best in that certain area.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the Medina Releaf Society can send a check payable to Orleans Renaissance Group, P.O. 543, Medina, with a notation for Medina Releaf Society.

Members of the Releaf Society, in addition to Blackburn, are Bob Sanderson, Lisa Tombari and Jake Hebdon.