The Village of Flower Hill celebrated Arbor Day on May 8 in a ceremony at which the village was named “Tree City U.S.A.” The designation was awarded by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the National Arbor Day Foundation.
The village earned the award largely as a result of its “tree give away program” instituted after Hurricane Sandy. The village offered residents a free tree, provided that they plant it on a village right of way and choose from a list of preapproved species that would be successful in the environment. Flower Hill has given away approximately 75 trees as part of the program.
In one of the ironies of the celebration, the village honored PSE&G for its plantings on several islands on Port Blvd. PSEG is currently suing The Town of North Hempstead over the requirement that warning signs be posted on the new utility poles throughout the Town. The Town alleges that the new poles are made of toxic materials. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in January. Both parties have filed motions for summary judgment that are pending before the court.
