Mineola Village Board Plants Tree for Arbor Day

Thursday was an early day for the members of the as they arrived at for the ceremonial planting of a new tree on Arbor Day.

“I don’t know how you guys do this without a cup of coffee,” Trustee Lawrence Werther joked as he sat on the eastern bleachers talking with the other members of the board as they arrived one by one in time for the ceremony which took place at 7:30 a.m.

The sapling was planted in the small patch of lawn in-between the roller hockey rink and the entrance to the pool, just past the bleachers.

“We don’t have any silver ones?” said, handling one of the ceremonial shovels and adding his own brand of humor to the early morning hour. The mayor then answered his own question, saying the shovel blades were silver when they were new but had been put to a large amount of good work around the village.

During Wednesday night’s meeting of the village board, Deputy Mayor Paul Pereira announced that the tree would be dedicated to John “Mr. Mineola” DaVanzo. When he served as deputy mayor, DaVanzo oversaw the construction of the pool and served as pool board chair selling memberships to offset costs and maintenance, making the placement of the tree as well as its dedication seem appropriate.

Though he was not present for the Thursday morning ceremony, DaVanzo appeared gracious and humble, giving a simple nod when the honor was announced at the board meeting.