This is a tale of trees, community, and the value of good neighbors.

Recently, About Town chronicled the story of a band of plucky street trees that line the sidewalk on South Orange Avenue.  The trees were planted by the town and nourished by the merchants whose stores they stand in front of.

One of those tree-sitters is Ben Salmon, owner of Kitchen a la Mode, who over three years had grown pretty fond of the flourishing little tree outside his shop.

Imagine, then, his reaction when he came to work one day to find the tree gone – chopped down to a stump. 

A shocked and devastated Salmon posted a photo on Facebook, along with this: “I watered it, talked to it, loved it…I’m heartbroken….I really do feel like a small piece of my shop and dreams died today.”

Salmon reached out to Village Trustee Michael Goldberg, who had helped get the tree planted in the first place.  Goldberg explained that the tree’s precipitous decline – from vibrant to dead overnight – could possibly be a sign of a small, underground gas leak.  The Department of Public Works determined that the tree was simply beyond saving.

This is where the kindness of neighbors comes in.  “I could see the tree had a lot of sentimental value for Ben,” said Elyse Corwin, marketing director of Eden Marketplace and Above Restaurant & Bar.  “I wanted to help brighten his spirit.”

Corwin and her colleagues gave their friend a Money Tree, which is supposed to bring good fortune.  “Ben and his staff are great neighbors and regular customers, and Money Trees are a symbol of friendship,” she said.  “We hope it brings Ben, his family and his store lots of luck and happiness.”

Corwin viewed the gift as paying forward some of the kindness she and her team has experienced.  “A lot of local employees and merchants support us at Eden and Above, and it makes us really enjoy being part of the community.”

Salmon has learned that the town plans to replace his tree in the fall; PSE&G is examining the possible gas leak.  In the meantime, the whole experience reaffirms that community spirit is alive and well in South Orange.