Sean's Run is the impetus behind the creation of a new partnership of local organizations whose aim is to reduce the numbers of lives lost in Columbia and Greene Counties because of impaired and drunk driving. Sean's Run is joining forces with the Taconic Driving School, Remove Intoxicated Drivers-USA, Columbia Memorial Hospital, Columbia County Stop DWI and Twin County Recovery Services to establish the Columbia-Greene Safety Tree Living Billboard in Hudson. The living billboard, a Blue Spruce evergreen, is now planted near the entrance of the Emergency Room of Columbia Memorial Hospital.
The eight-foot Safety Tree Living Billboard will be decorated with white lights as an anti-drunk driving project originally developed by RID-USA and has now been adopted by communities in 41 states.
The unveiling and inaugural lighting of The Safety Tree Living Billboard will be on Friday, April 1st at 5 PM. This is one month prior to the 10th Annual Sean's Run which is scheduled for Sunday, May 1st at Chatham High School. Over 1,500 participants are anticipated in the 5K run/community walk and Meghan's Mile youth race.
The white lights on The Safety Tree Living Billboard will remain lit every day of the year, signifying that no drunk driving fatalities have occurred in Columbia and Greene Counties since the Safety Tree was planted. It is the sponsors' hope that the tree remains lit solely by white lights for years to come. However, if an unfortunate alcohol-involved traffic fatality does occur in the twin counties, one of the tree's white lights will be replaced with a red light bulb to memorialize the individual whose life was lost. This living, permanent billboard will remind the public that drinking and driving is still a major menace to life and health. In years to come people can look at the tree and see how safe drivers have been in Columbia and Greene Counties.
Last fall the blue spruce was donated and planted by Callander's Nursery of Chatham on the sloping lawn near the Emergency Room entrance of Columbia Memorial Hospital. A special marker was designed and installed by Cantelle's Memorials on a rock provided by A. Colarusso and Son and placed near the tree. Carol Gould, the Vice-Chair of Sean's Run, and her husband David Gould, purchased the lights for the tree. The accounting firm of Pattison, Koskey, Howe, and Bucci, CPAS, PC will host the reception. The public is invited. Reservations can be made by contacting Phil Abitabile 828 1250 or phila50@yahoo.com.
A poster of The Safety Tree Living Billboard and brochures explaining the meaning of the tree are on display in Columbia Memorial Hospital's main entrance lobby.
