When the late Mayor, Warren Ross, was in office from 1990-93, a committee was headed up by Hope Walsh to keep the village beautiful by planting young trees.

I was one of the many who contributed to buy a tree ($500). My only request was that it be planted where the Rye Sweet Shoppe, owned by my parents, Mildred and David Silverman, once was. There was a dedication by all the others that did the same.

Over the years, we/I decorated the tree. The first one didn’t survive. Several years later, we lost the second. Even the dedication plaque vanished twice — during snowstorms.

I no longer decorate the tree because I now live in Florida, but when I come back it always gets a hug, not only by me but my granddaughter, Gabby. She and her parents still live here and love Rye.

In November I was on Purchase Street and although I miss all the mom and pop stores, Gabby and I gave our tree a hug.

Rye was a wonderful place to grow up and raise a family. I come back when I can because my heart still lives here.

— Terri Silverman-Jessen