OBSERVER Photo by M.J. Stafford A Tree For Thee recently planted this tree, dedicated to the Dunkirk High School Class of 1977, on the grounds of the school. Another tree planted by the organization, dedicated to the DHS Class of 1978, is visible in the background.

Dunkirk’s A Tree For Thee project recently planted its final slate of saplings.

The program that pairs new trees with memorial plaques proved popular, much more so than founder Mary Louise McGraw anticipated. Her group of volunteers planted dozens of saplings at the Point Gratiot and Wright parks but there were still some trees left. City of Dunkirk officials balked at letting the group plant any more.

However, McGraw said the Dunkirk City School District let A Tree For Thee plant most of their remaining saplings on Oct. 17. The Dunkirk Lighthouse grounds also got five new trees.

John Rosier, owner of the Forevergreen Nursery, provided the trees. A “traveling tree planting caravan,” as McGraw put it, followed Rosier driving the trees on a trailer. They started on the morning of Oct. 17 at the Lighthouse, then planted five trees at School 5, then four more at Dunkirk Junior/Senior High School. The Japanese flowering cherry trees at the high school are each commemorated with plaques representing the DHS classes of 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1982.

The caravan then planted six maple trees at P-TECH, six sweet gums at School 7 and a pear tree about 30 feet from the flagpole at School 3.

McGraw was critical of city government officials throughout the process of getting her project from plan to plantings. However, she had nothing but praise for Tim Abbey, buildings and grounds manager for the Dunkirk City School District.

“It was so refreshing and rewarding to work with someone who actually appreciated what we were doing and what we were trying to accomplish,” she said. “Tim’s support — accepting our trees, staking out locations, and appreciating our ‘get it done’ attitude — was outstanding, and we will always be incredibly thankful for his partnership.”

McGraw added, “A standing ovation goes to the hard-working, diligent and detailed-oriented volunteers that showed up to make this all a reality. Jamie Galarza, Mick Dunning, Tom Kennedy, Joe Carrus, John Browne, Terry Browne, Bob Maze, Karen Wojcinski, Faith Leasandro, Stacey Lovern, Tammy McCool, Andrew Ellman, and Noel Rodriguez. The conductor of the group of course was John Rosier… more than just a business partner, he was a passionate advocate for our project and always ended conversations or emails with the words ‘Don’t worry, we’ll get it done!'”

City of Dunkirk officials have noted A Tree For Thee was allowed to plant well over 150 trees at the Point and at Wright Park this spring. The city now wants to focus on trees that are coming through a state grant, announced around the time of A Tree For Thee’s initial plantings in the spring.

At one point, McGraw accused city workers of pulling out dozens of her group’s tree location’s stakes at the parks. The incident came after the opening round of plantings and the city held that the new stakes were unauthorized.

McGraw criticized Mayor Kate Wdowiasz and other city officials at a July Common Council meeting for cutting off her group’s plantings.

However, in the end, A Tree For Thee was able to finish up. McGraw is proud.

“This community-based project has planted a legacy that will be enjoyed for the next 40, 50, even 60 years,” she declared. “Despite the many setbacks we faced, we have truly redefined the word perseverance!”