Arhaus, an artisan-crafted furniture company, has opened a new 5,300 square foot showroom in Greenwich.
“In celebration of the Greenwich showroom opening and in support of its ongoing Green Initiative, Arhaus will make a $10,000 contribution to The Greenwich Tree Conservancy Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the tree and forest resources of Greenwich. To learn more about The Greenwich Tree Conservancy Inc., visit GreenwichTreeConservancy.org.”
GTC Tree Party co-chairs Shari Aser James on left and Ellie Jenkins with their gift certificates of trees to planted in their names. Photo by Bob Capazzo.
By Anne W. Semmes
They came in droves, the tree lovers, over 250, to celebrate the accomplishments of the now 16-year-old Greenwich Tree Conservancy (GTC), surrounded by explosions of color from a host of flowers laid out now for a twelfth year at McArdle’s Greenhouse. Guests were served sumptuous hors d’oeuvres from Happiness Is placed on those tree slice trays, with cocktails offered courtesy of Val’s Putnam Wines & Liquors.
GTC Chairman Peter Malkin and wife Isabel were not present in such a thick gathering but were represented by son-in-law Senator Richard Blumenthal who arrived with his walker having suffered injuries when a “fellow parade goer” tripped and fell upon him.
“I have the honor of representing Greenwich and the rest of Connecticut in the United States,” said Blumenthal, adding, “But more importantly, I am Peter and Isabel’s son-in-law. And so, I have to really mind what I say tonight! I’m so proud to be a Greenwich resident, to call Greenwich home. To have raised four children here with the kind of civic engagement and activism that the Greenwich Tree Conservancy demonstrates. So, please join me in a big round of applause for Urling Searle [GTC President], and JoAnn Messina [GTC Executive Director]. Thank you, JoAnn for your incredible leadership over so many years.”
Messina has presided over the planting of some 5,000 trees in Greenwich, along with the labelling of a thousand trees in the Town’s Arboretum. Add two more as Tree Party co-chairs, Shari Aser and Ellie Jenkins were recognized for their efforts by Searle with two trees to be planted in their names with their choice of where those trees are to be planted in town.
GTC President Urling Searle and GTC Executive Director JoAnn Messina. Photo by Bob Capazzo.
Aser stole a moment in her thanks to share the impact the Tree Conservancy has had on her life. “Exactly 12 years ago tonight,” she told, “I met my husband in this room, at this event.” “Clearly,” she added with a smile, “I had to co-chair the event eventually and plant many more trees… And I’m very glad [husband] Bill James asked me out after the event!”
“What a great night,” declared First Selectman Fred Camillo to the crowd. “It’s a week that we celebrate Arbor Day, daffodils, and Greenwich Tree Conservancy. And it shows that Greenwich is really a green town, and we treasure things like our trees.”
Worth adding here what Blumenthal also shared: “You know there’s an old saying that the sign of generosity is to plant a tree whose shade you will never enjoy. Looking around at this crowd, I think all of you are going to be around for the trees that we are planting – this is a very young crowd.”
So, perhaps the Town’s Tree Warden Dr. Greg Kramer who was present and thanked by our First Selectman for his tree-planting efforts might be the one to consult on tree choices to plant and where to plant. When asked by this reporter what might be his choice of ten trees to plant in Town, he came up with a list of “Top Ten” choices with full descriptions. See his choices listed separately here in the Sentinel!
The Greenwich Tree Conservancy celebrated Arbor Day and its 6th anniversary at McArdle’s Greenhouse Friday night.
Money raised this year will help fund a program that would allow the conservancy to plant trees around parking lots in downtown Greenwich.
“Specifically this year, we are dealing with a new technology called Silva Cell,” said Greenwich Tree Conservancy Executive Director JoAnn Messina. “Which is something that allows us to plant trees in parking lots, on sidewalks, and it can take traffic and the routes don’t get compressed.” Click here to read the full story by Priscilla Lombardi on It’s Relevant.
Arhaus, an artisan-crafted furniture company, has opened a new 5,300 square foot showroom in Greenwich.
