Larry Dominick President at The Town of Cicero | Official website
Larry Dominick President at The Town of Cicero | Official website
On June 11, Cicero Town Hall became the center of a community-driven event aimed at environmental awareness and beautification. The Town of Cicero, in collaboration with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, organized a free tree giveaway. This initiative was led by Town President Larry Dominick, Town Clerk Maria Punzo-Arias, and Cicero Water Department Commissioner Lido Manetti, with support from the Town Board.
Town Clerk Maria Punzo-Arias explained the motivation behind this event: “We were hearing from residents, through President Dominick, that many of their trees were sick and had to be removed,” said Punzo-Arias. “We know how important trees are to our ecosystem—they provide shade, fresh air, and support our environment. So together with the Water Reclamation District, President Dominick, and the Board, we decided to bring in over 200 trees to give away to residents completely free of charge.”
Residents were also encouraged to register for a tree planting assistance program through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) office at 1634 South Laramie. Once registered, town staff would assist those who needed help with planting their new trees.
Punzo-Arias further emphasized the educational aspect: “It’s a wonderful way to care for our environment, and what better way to teach our children about sustainability than by planting a tree?”
Lisa Wieczorek from the Cicero Water Department highlighted additional goals of the initiative: “It’s all of the above—beautification, environmental impact, and shade,” she said. “Trees help cool the area, clean our air, and they simply make everything look better. Instead of just having concrete everywhere, trees bring life.”
Wieczorek acknowledged Water Commissioner Manetti's role in organizing logistics: “He was really involved in ordering the trees, coordinating everything, and focusing on the beautification aspect. He couldn’t be here today but this event definitely has his mark on it.”
To ensure fairness in distribution and participation among families within Cicero's community limits one tree per household. A sign-in sheet tracked participants for follow-up care instructions via email.
The event was regarded as significant not only for current residents but also for fostering a sustainable future within Cicero.
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