Suffolk's free tree program honors U.S. milestone and pursuit of healthy environment

Jack Curio’s legacy at the Brentwood school district lives on through the Junior Olympics and Leader Corps programs he helped found.

And now, the legacy of the longtime physical education teacher at Southwest Elementary School, who retired in 2006, will extend another two centuries — through a tree planted in his honor.

The district partnered with Suffolk County for its Planting It Forward to 2276 Program as part of the county’s yearlong celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. For the past month, residents have been planting trees to create a Living Legacy Tree Registry that will be preserved through the county clerk's office.

The county provided free red oak seedlings to anyone interested late last month at county parks.

Participants receive a Suffolk 250 Living Legacy certificate of registration. The county executive’s office and county clerk did not provide an update on the number of trees registered so far.

The goal is to plant 2,500 red oak trees by June 1, “connecting generations for the next 250 years,” according to the county, which has encouraged residents to dedicate their tree in honor of a loved one, family member or future generations. 

“What better way to celebrate a community than planting a tree,” Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine said during a news conference last month to kick off the program on Arbor Day. “Years from now, the tree that you planted that hopefully will grow high and tall will remind people about the history of Suffolk County.”

The county last summer launched its Suffolk 250 campaign, which includes a series of events in partnership with local museums, towns and historical societies. More information is available at Suffolk250.org.

Stacey Brdey, assistant superintendent for elementary education for the Brentwood school district, said the district got involved in Planting It Forward after receiving a flyer outlining the program from the county executive’s office.

Brdey said students will plant a tree at each of the district’s 11 elementary schools.

She said in an interview with Newsday the Planting It Forward program is “another opportunity for students to learn firsthand the importance of caring for the environment, protecting natural resources and allowing them the opportunity to participate in a once-in-a-generation commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary.”

The district’s largest elementary school, Southwest Elementary School, will hold a planting ceremony June 1, where they’ll dedicate the tree to Curio, she said.

Curio designed and directed the district’s Junior Olympics, an annual track and field competition for elementary students that is now named in his honor. He was known for his promotion of fitness and sportsmanship as well as his photography, according to the district.

The district is scheduling additional planting ceremonies at other schools in June, Brdey said.

County Clerk Vincent Puleo said the registry will allow anyone to pinpoint each tree planted and see where it is and to whom it was dedicated. The county provided seedlings for red oak trees at county parks, and Puleo said residents can register any tree of their own that they plant.

Legis. Salvatore Formica (R-Commack) said during the introductory news conference last month that the program will be “everlasting” and a “remembrance” that future generations can look back on.

Legis. Jason Richberg (D-West Babylon), added that the program is a way to say “that in the future we want to ensure that we’re making this place — this planet and our Island — a better place.”

By Joe Werkmeister

joe.werkmeister@newsday.com

Joe Werkmeister joined Newsday in 2022 and covers Suffolk County government and politics. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University and previously worked as the editor of two North Fork community newspapers.

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