Tuckahoe Village Departments

TUCKAHOE TALK
With Mayor John Fitzpatrick

'Tis the Season

December 1, 2008

In the recent past the Generoso Pope Foundation has been gracious enough to donate a large tree in Tuckahoe Village for the Winterfest celebration in Depot Square. This year, instead of the Pope Foundation purchasing a tree from a nursery, a decision was made to borrow the tradition used by New York City’s Rockefeller Center. Similar to the Rockefeller model, solicitations were placed on our website and TV for members of the town to donate a fir tree from their property. Lighting one of our own resident’s trees to begin the holiday season seemed like a wonderful idea. As we embarked on our holiday experiment we even envisioned saving a few bucks for our benefactor. Unfortunately, as you will read, any thoughts that this endeavor would cut costs were soon dashed.

Rockefeller Center started their tradition in 1931 when construction workers building the first part of the office complex erected a twenty-foot balsam in the mud and rubble. This year the Rockefeller tree will be a 77-foot Norway Spruce, and for the first time will feature the use of LED lights to save energy. With 10,000 lights spread on five miles of wire, the daily consumption of electricity for this tree is equal to powering a 2,000 square foot house for a month. The expenses associated with this event are funded by owner Tishman-Speyer, hoping the visiting crowds patronize Rockefeller Center’s many stores. This year, after the massive tree is taken down, it will be cut into lumber to be used in houses built by Habitat for Humanity.

Tuckahoe’s tree requirements and plans were not quite as extravagant. We sought a 30 to 40-foot specimen of any pine variety. It only needed to be fairly symmetrical since we embrace nature’s way of adding slight imperfection for individuality. It didn’t take long for three generous Tuckahoe families to answer the call, and our Public Works Superintendent Frank DiMarco photographed and inspected each tree. While all would have proven acceptable, the closest to Depot Square was chosen.

The selected tree is a 35-foot Norway Spruce from the Baldassara Family of Circuit Avenue. In the past, the nurseries claimed to have delivered Tuckahoe 25-foot specimens, however, many have questioned these claims. The Baldassara family’s contribution would undoubtedly be the largest the square has ever seen. However, the past advantage of the smaller nursery trees that were delivered to the site by the nursery and erected by our DPW, had just slipped away. Removing this year’s tree from the backyard of the Baldassara residence was going to be a mighty undertaking. Once the tree was chosen it was immediately apparent that more donations were needed: primarily a rigging contractor with a crane and a flatbed truck. Gratefully, Gino Secchiano of MVM Contracting stepped forward and put this project back on track. Without his company’s timely assistance the initiative would have ended.

Adding to the challenge it poured rain the day of the relocation, but this only proved bothersome during the most critical parts. During the removal portion of the effort, minor damage was done to the Baldassara’s fence and backyard and to the neighboring Joseph home as well. Any damage that did occur was graciously taken in stride by all parties concerned and was corrected shortly thereafter. The police were also required to escort the crane with its suspended tree down Columbus Avenue. No wires or lampposts were hit, but traffic was disrupted for a little while. By the time Channel 12 News showed up I figured we had either stirred up all of Tuckahoe, or there was simply no news in Westchester that day.

When I got back to my office at Village Hall that evening I informed our employees that while this was a great idea, next year all concerned parties should consider returning to the old plan. However, Village Clerk Sue Ciamarra pointed out that another contractor had already (a whole year in advance) indicated willingness to donate their service for next year’s rigging and transportation. So maybe next year Tuckahoe will be shopping for another tree in the yards of our village.

Our DPW crew has now finished preparing the Baldassara - Secchiano tree in Depot Square in anticipation of the Winterfest Celebration. Approximately 10,000 decorative lights adorn the tree in our Village Square. Winterfest kicks off this Saturday night, December 6th, at 6:00pm with the lighting of the tree. Many thanks need to be extended to David Pope and the Generoso Pope Foundation for providing an entire weekend of entertainment to top it all off. This will, of course, include music and skating Saturday night and on Sunday ice-skating, reindeer, pictures with Santa, and a horse-drawn carriage ride through the Village. Lastly, a special thanks to the Tuckahoe Beautification Committee, because no holiday season is complete without their donation of wreaths that hang on the lampposts throughout the Business District.

P.S. Don’t forget to join us New Years Eve at 11:30 pm in Depot Square as we ring in the New Year.