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Mt. Calvary Cemetery cleanup expected to go deep into 2007
Cemeteries operated by Mount Calvary Cemetery Group did not sustain the extensive damage that other area cemeteries suffered from last month's freak snowstorm, but cleanup and replacement of the hundreds of trees damaged will run well into hundreds of thousands of dollars.
More than 3,000 trees in the five cemeteries operated by the group- Mount Calvary Cemetery, Buffalo Cemetery, Pine Lawn Cemetery, Ridge Lawn Cemetery and the United German and French Roman Catholic Cemetery- were either destroyed or have a 50-50 chance for recovery.
Jeff Reed, vice president of sales for Mount Calvary Cemetery Group, said that 75 percent of the 475 trees in one of the oldest cemeteries have been lost. Some of the trees were estimated to be up to 150 years old.
An arborist told Reed that if 50 percent of a tree's top, or umbrella, has been lost, there is a 50-50 chance for survival come spring.
According to Reed, the damage to trees is estimated at $750,000. Labor for clearing the debris is expected to add another $50,000 to the cost.
Despite the thousands of damaged trees throughout the 360 acres that encompass the five cemeteries, only 18 monuments were damaged or knocked off their foundations.
"Someone from above was watching over us," Reed said. "These trees and branches fell between monuments. We were very fortunate."
Despite the damage, Reed said that the cemeteries never closed.
"That Friday the 13th no one could really move, but at 7 a.m. Saturday, we were in and began to open things up," Reed said.
One of the first tasks was to reopen the roads within the cemeteries. Because of impassable roads and safety considerations, the initial funeral processions were not allowed to proceed to the grave site.
Based on the location within a cemetery, either a funeral director only, or a funeral director along with one car were allowed to proceed to the grave site.
"Everything had to go directly to our chapel," Reed said. "That was because there were still too many branches stuck up in trees. Even today there's a couple of 'hangers' that could come down."
By October 18, the cemetery group was able to accommodate the wishes of all grieving families.
Reed said that Mount Calvary is using a three-phase approach to cleanup.
The first phase was to secure the property by reopening roads and clearing dangerous limbs and branches from the rows of monuments and markers.
"We dragged them to the roadways within the cemeteries," said Reed. "We had to think beyond 'today.' It's going to snow again, and we need to be able to get to each section to open graves."
The group has entered the second phase in three of the cemeteries, which is trimming branches and limbs that are hanging. Crews are using 40-foot hydraulic lifts to reach some of the higher branches.
"At United German and French and Buffalo, where we have the most mature trees, we're still in phase one," Reed said.
The third phase, which will not begin until spring 2007, is taking down trees that cannot be saved, trimming remaining branches, and planting new trees.
"I can't fathom what the strain is going to be on local nurseries come spring," Reed said. "There are cemeteries, parks, office complexes, houses and everything else" that will seek new trees.
Reed praised the cemetery group's employees for their work and dedication after the storm, noting that many had their own storm-related problems at home.
Most of the seasonal employees who work between April and October wanted to come back to help with the cleanup.
Including outside contractor Pace Landscaping, close to 40 people have worked to clean up Mount Calvary's cemeteries.
As a New York State-regulated cemetery, Mount Calvary may petition the state for money to restore monuments or repair those that are vandalized. However, damage from weather is not included in the state funds.
Reed said that the cemetery has declined offers from citizens volunteering their services, noting that safety is a primary concern.
"We would love to be able to accept volunteer help," Reed said. "We've turned our crews into Paul Bunyans."
However, the Mount Calvary Heritage Foundation is soliciting donations from the general public to defray costs.
Persons who wish to donate may call (716) 892-6600 to reach the heritage foundation.
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