Brownie Troop Celebrates Arbor Day Planting

Arbor Day Celebration at the Post Office...

Medfield's Brownie Troop 82076 took center stage on the grassy area in front of the Post Office on North Street during the Arbor Day Celebration on Wednesday, June 3rd.

This Brownie Troop is comprised of thirteen 3rd grade girls, led by Troop leaders Pamela McCarthy and Kate Holmes.

Unfortunately, as has been the case for many planned activities during this year, Covid-19 restrictions didn't allow the Troop to enjoy some of the "Right of Passage" Brownie Troop traditions. Both the Museum of Science overnight and camping at one of the local Girl Scout properties were not going to happen this year, so the Troop was left to decide on what to do and how to spend their hard earned Girl Scout cookie sales money.

Back in February, the Troop celebrated "World Thinking Day" along with Girl Scouts from all over the world and the theme this year was Peacebuilding. The girls talked about this with their Troop leaders which led to the girls being asked, "What does a peaceful space look like to you?" and several of the girls mentioned open air, green spaces with trees and plants and expressed great concern about deforestation.

They all agreed that the funds should be put to good use. Troop leader, Pam McCarthy stated, "If we couldn't use it [money] for ourselves, we wanted to do something meaningful, and service-oriented."

With Arbor Day on the horizon, McCarthy and Holmes reached out to Select Board member, Pete Peterson to find out how they could get involved in Medfield with Arbor Day plans and Peterson put them in touch with Town Administrator Kristine Trierweiler and DPW Director Maurice Goulet.

The Arbor Day plans were in place to plant two flowering cherry trees in the space on North Street in front of the Post Office and with the added involvement of the Brownie Troop funding, it was made even more meaningful for all.

The two trees were planted by the DPW crews in early May and the celebration was set for June 3rd. These trees will continue to be maintained by the DPW as they mature and need pruning.

In addition to the Brownie Troop and leaders, the Arbor Day Celebration was attended by Town Administrator Kristine Trierweiler, Select Board member Pete Peterson, Select Board Chairman Mike Marcucci, DPW Director Maurice Goulet, DPW Highway Supervisor, Bobby Kennedy Jr., U.S.P.S. Medfield Postmaster Barbara Hynes and many parents.

Brownie Troop 82076 - 3rd Grade girls

Josie Frascella, Ella Lavina, Jaclyn Callender, Addie Holmes, Cece O'Flaherty, Rosie Fink, Chloe McCarthy, Harper Bates, Sopia Perisic, Zora Brewer-Rogers, Amelia Maxymillian-Wheeler, Brooke O' Neill and Shelby Jones.

The "Proclamation" was read by Select Board Chairman, Mike Marcucci, followed by the "Ceremonial" mulching of the tree. DPW Highway Supervisor, Bobby Kennedy, Jr., supplied two shovels and a barrel full of mulch so that each girl had an opportunity to spread some mulch around the base of their tree!

The Troop also had a plaque made which will be permanently installed as a flat marker on the grass in front of the tree.

After the celebration, McCarthy stated, "The girls felt special, and so happy to get together (in person, hooray!) as a group to do something meaningful for the town. Those beautiful cherry trees will be there for years to come and I'm sure each time they drive by, they will fondly remember [this day] and their trees."