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| University at Buffalo student Nathaniel Hutchings, left, and Stephanie Berghash |
Tree planting took place on Nov. 3 on
Pennsylvania Street under the direction of Stephanie Berghash.
Community activist and professional
gardener, Berghash performs environmental acts of kindness such as this daily.
Locally known as the sole person
responsible for the restoration of Gates Circle Fountain, Berghash volunteers
her time to help make the streets of Buffalo look clean and beautiful.
Freshman students in the University of
Buffalo Honors Program were there to help plant the trees for their mandated
community service.
The trees for this project were
provided to Berghash by Re-Tree Western New York.
Berghash contacted Paul Maurer Re-Tree
chairman, about what was needed to reforest the streets in her neighborhood
around Kleinhans Music Hall.
“I visited her and we walked the street
together noting where street trees were needed on Pennsylvania Street and
Prospect Avenue,” Maurer said.
Berghash ordered 31 Honey Locust trees
but received only 19 for that Saturdays planting. She is hoping to plant the
remaining trees in the spring.
The trees were planted along Pennsylvania
Street, Normal Avenue and West Avenue. The planting in the spring will be done
on Plymouth Avenue.
Each tree that the students planted she
allowed the students to name. A nametag was placed on the bottom of each tree.
“The
best part about planting trees and cleaning up the streets is that it goes
beyond my life,” Berghash said. By Crissie Russo and Caitlin Waters
