Most Recent Newsletter
April 2025
Dear Neighbors -
Putting out this Spring newsletter is the greatest pleasure. Our daffodils and tulips are blooming, the City is full of Spring green, and we can again report there are no tree crises on the block and no missing trees. The Trees 78 Foundation continues its work in relative calm.
We remain concerned about the trees that are in and under scaffolding at 170 and 151. It looks as if they are all putting out new leaves, but their branches have been battered by inexpert chopping here and there and being bent under the scaffolds. The longer they are hampered by scaffolding the more stressed they will be, so we can only hope that the masonry work will be wrapped up soon.
Here are some photos from the block this year:
Left to right, the magnolia at 163, one of our pear trees at its best, and, as always, our daffodils and tulips beginning to come out in full.
Soon enough it will be time to turn to summer plantings, and as always, there are choices. A decade ago, our standby flower was impatiens, hugely reliable until a fungal disease began eating them. Among the current options that will grow in both shade and sun, one of the stronger contestants is old fashioned coleus, available in a range of bright reds and greens, as well as our current tried-and-true red angel wing begonias:
And it would also be possible to use a combination of begonias and coleus, as seen last year at a Park Avenue tree well. We find it hard to know whether a majority of you would prefer to continue with what we have done in the past - and the begonias do work really well - or whether you would like to experiment with something new. Will you send us your comments? Just email us at trees78foundation@gmail.com !
And if by chance one of you would like a "guest gardener" role picking the design for future Summer or Fall plantings we would be delighted to support you in that endevor.
In closing, we include, as always, our fundraising information. The way so many of you respond with such kindness and commitment each year is inspiring.
Any checks should be payable to Trees 78 Foundation. Trees 78 Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 charitable organization and donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. They can be addressed to Gary Strauss, our Treasurer, and dropped off with the doorman at 188 East 78th Street (The Empire).
We are so very grateful for your support -
Rodman Paul, 169, President
Gary Strauss, 188, Treasurer
Judith Churchill, Secretary
Susan Goldsmith, 179
Sara Weiner, 151
Isabelle Higgins, 170
Margaret Shute 166
Please see the next page for our list of 2024-25 donors.
2025 Trees 78 Foundation Donors
169 Duncan Sahner*
Terry Steiner & Roger Smith
169 E. 78th Street Corp.
170 William Brennan & Laurie Harris*
Isabelle Higgins
Kate Lindsey
Mark & Anne Mittler
Sarah Ondaatje
Isaac & Jennifer Sitt
Ellen Sykes
Aimee Troyen
Jacqueline J Vincent*
Barbara & Howard Weiner
170 E. 78th Street Owners Corp.
179 Alvan Foote
Ronald Franz & Susan Goldsmith*
Dolores Rasalas
188 David Ash*
Nikola & Allison Barisic
Renee Berger*
Jarlath Johnston
Patricia Kaine*
Lee & Nancy Keet
Richard Linhart & Leora Mogilner
Ralph & Lona Mizrahi
John & Alexandra Porges
Todd & Debra Rosengart
Carlos & Esperanza Ruiz
Julie & Will Sheppard
Gary & Lisa Strauss*
The Empire Condominium
150 Neil De Crescenzo*
Yolanda Johnson-Vogelzang
151 Joshua & Rachel Crane
Brett & Dena Klein
Andrew & Marla Lance
Kathy & Richard Leventhal*
Lisa & Jesse Mark
Robert & Suzanne Schwartz
Sara & Scott Weiner*
151 E. 78th Street Condominium
154 Martin & Lauren Geller*
157 Jeremy Rolph & Seojin Lee
158 Bruce & Melissa Spohler*
161 John Thomson*
166 George Hashbarger
Jonathan Levinson*
166 Tenants Corp.
169 Armin & Lynne Allen*
Carlyne Cerf De Dudzeele*
Constance Chen & Stephen Warren
Judith Churchill*
Warren Fuermann
Gordon & Maggie Gray*
Curtis & Gizell Larson
John & Vanessa Lilly*
Stewart S Manger*
Valerie & Wright Ohrstrom*
Martha O'Neill*
Rodman Paul*
Tracy Pennoyer
Thorn & Sharis Pozen
Pamela Roth*
*WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO THOSE WHO HAVE MADE AN ADDITIONAL DONATION
(Donor List as of 4/21/25)
