Tree Planted to Celebrate
Sister Cities Tie with Tiberias, Israel
To celebrate the Sister
Cities affiliation between the Village of Great Neck Plaza and the City of
Tiberias, Israel, a tree was planted in the Ielpi Firefighters Memorial Park
(Jon's Park) on Grace Avenue during Mayor Benjamin Kiryati's recent visit to
Great Neck. Joining in on the ceremony were Great Neck Plaza Mayor Jean
Celender, Mayor Kiryati, Great Neck Park Commissioners Chairman Robert
Lincoln, Jr., Ruth Tamarin and Ivar Segalowitz and Sister Cities Board of
Directors members Albert Nassim and Danny Arbusman. Mayor Celender made a
brief introduction to explain the tree species that was selected by Village
Consultant Harry Perlman. Mayor Celender charged Harry with the assignment
of trying to find a tree species indigenous to both Israel, an arid
desert-like climate and Great Neck Plaza. Not an easy chore. Mr. Perlman
selected a Cedrus Deodara Cedar (Cedar of Lebanon), which is a lovely
ornamental landmark tree and is expected to grow to between 40 to 60 feet
high. Stated Mayor Celender, "Harry did such a wonderful job of selecting
an appropriate tree to signify this budding friendship; a beautiful,
majestic tree and one that is a fine symbol for our Sister Cities
connection." We look to build a living bridge and strong relationships,
with longevity and many remembrances.
Mayor Celender then
recited a Planter's Poem by Lucy Larcom, which reads as follows:
He who plants a tree - plants hope.
He who
plants a tree - plants joy.
He who
plants a tree - plants youth.
He who plants a
tree - plants love.
Gifts that grow are best.
Hands that
bless are blest.
Plant! Life
does the rest!
Heaven and
earth help who plants a tree.
And his
work, it's own reward shall be.
Mayor
Kiryati expressed his appreciation for the tree and its significance for the
Sister Cities relationship. He talked about Cedar of Lebanon trees and
mentioned that they are used extensively around temples in Israel for their
strength and their symbolism of hope. He expressed his wishes for it to
grow tall and strong and to be a symbol for the strengthening of
people-to-people connections between Tiberias and Great Neck.
Chairman Robert Lincoln,
Jr. focused his remarks on the Sister Cities relationship and its emphasis
on community. He expressed the Park District's goal to strengthen ties with
its "sister villages" on the peninsula, including Great Neck Plaza and the
recent master plan embraced by our two entities to refurbish Jon's Park. It
is their hope to build partnerships with all of the peninsula municipalities
to develop plans for park maintenance and long-term improvement programs to
benefit the community. Commissioners Tamarin and Segalowitz also welcomed
the Sister Cities project and expressed their enjoyment to have participated
in the wonderful activities and interaction between the two cities.
To Top
