At our 20th reunion, a couple of classmates were catching up, and one mentioned
that a friend of theirs had suggested that someone should make our old high school more beautiful. You
know - plant trees, shrubs, etc. and generally clean up the old alma mater.
What an idea! And leave it to the Class of 1982 to take it one step further. Ever since our reunion in 2002, our class has been undertaking annual beautification projects. We even
became an official charity, a 501(c)3, incorporating as the SHS 1982 Beautification Fund, Inc. The purpose of the corporation is to engage in the following activities:
“For improving and ornamenting the schools, streets and public squares of the Town of Stoneham, Massachusetts by planting and cultivating ornamental trees and also otherwise improving the physical
aspects of the town and furthering the recreation and enjoyment of the inhabitants of the town.”
To date, we have undertaken four incredibly successful beautification projects and we are
planning our next. Click on the links below to see each year's project!
Over the years, many classmates have contributed financially to these worthwhile projects, and we couldn't do it without their help.
Others have gone above and beyond, lending their time and professional services to our team.
Each year we have a ball meeting and working together on these projects. If you're interested in joining in on the fun, let us know!
2007 Beautification Project
Stoneham High Refresher
For our 5th project, we decided to tag onto the very first project we did
by making a difference at our old High School. The front, quite frankly, seemed a little unloved.
So, with some some work, we cleaned up, painted railings, installed new trash barrels, built new stone
planters in the front and installed trees. We continue to go back to the school a couple of times a year,
to add flowers and repaint the main sign at the front.
2006 Beautification Project
Flowers Barrels for Stoneham Square
For 2006, we purchased and installed 30 full-size
whiskey barrels in the Stoneham Square area on Main Street, from
Montvale Ave. to the Library. To date, we have raised enough money
to keeps these planted and maintained through 2011.
In the fall of 2006, we decorated the Square with holiday greens
and berries in the barrels. As spring approached, we planted pansies
to carry us through the early Spring, and then planted beautiful
summer flowers at the end of May. Since that first planting in
2006, we have continued to plant flowers/greenery several times
a year. In September 2008, we even planted vivid yellow mums to
usher in Fall.
Stoneham Square needs a lot of attention, and our project has
hopefully brought some vibrant color and distinction to the area.
Please click
here for more information on all of our projects and how to
donate or get involved.
2005 Beautification Project - Middle School Facelift 101
In 2005, the SHS 1982 Beautification Fund, Inc.,
completed a facelift of the front of the Stoneham Middle School.
It’s was in dire straights, and the budget cuts left no money
to improve the façade. As part of our project, we installed a
heavy-duty circular bench around the flag pole, purchased a few
straight benches and installed a professional-looking trash barrel.
The cafeteria's exterior walls were an eyesore with peeling paint
that desperately needed some attention so we worked in repainting
the front of the school also. We also built a retaining wall and
planted greenery and trees.
We could not have completed this immense project without the help
of Joe Shannon from Shannon Painting and Frank Capone of Capone
Landscape. Joe and his crew worked with us to paint the entire
front of the school (with paint donated by Spartan Hardware on
Main Street). Frank and his crew installed a decorative retaining
wall and oversaw all of the plantings.
The 2005 committee consisted of Robin (Lusardi) Boivin, Elena
(Reis) Doucette, her husband Paul, Noreen A. Nicholson, John Skistimas
and Chris Onechuck. Other committee members were Diana (Covino)
Headrick and her husband Ron, Frank Capone, John Dalimonte, Michael
Doucette, Bill Frongillo and Bobby Shannon. In addition to the
help from our classmates, we received help from the elementary
and middle school parents, residents and businesses. This group
is dynamite to work with and last year we proved to the Town of
Stoneham that “we can move mountains!” Click
here to learn more about this latest beautification project.
2004 Beautification Project - Holiday Tree for the Town Common
Our second beautification project in 2004 was in response to a suggestion
by a classmate, John Skistimas. John had commented that each year
it seemed as though the town had a 'Charlie Brown Christmas Tree'.
One year, I believe, it had even fallen over!
Well, we couldn't have that.
The town needed a real Holiday Tree; one that would grow for generations of kids. So we started fund raising, tree shopping, and planning.
Committee members appeared before Stoneham town governmental bodies and met with various parties,
culminating in permission to donate and install a gorgeous 16 ft. Douglas fir tree that will grow to
60 feet in height at maturity in 30 years. John's idea grew into a magnificent project which won our little non-profit group the honor of being named
Citizens of the Year by the Stoneham Chamber of Commerce, check it out by clicking here.
2003 Beautification Project - Flowering Trees for Stoneham High
The first such project was undertaken in 2003 at the Stoneham
High School. The Class of 1982 donated funds, sweat, a Saturday,
and solicited landscaping help to install 12 new flowering trees
on the drive up to the front doors of Stoneham High School. Please
check out all the great work at the
SHS Beautification Section of the site which includes a Picture
Gallery.
We welcome any suggestions regarding these projects or ideas for future projects. Just fill out the handy
dandy contact us form.
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