Peekskill's Oakside Blooms Thanks to Scouts

PEEKSKILL, NY -- Oakside Elementary School has a spacious interior garden courtyard, but no designated staff to maintain the trees, plantings, and furnishings there.

So principal Mary Foster was delighted this summer when Andrew Barbaretti proposed working on the garden for his Eagle Scout project.

“The courtyard has been on my to-do list for so long,” said Foster. “There are always more urgent needs around the school and grounds. Having Andrew come here was just a wonderful opportunity.”

Oakside teacher Liz Barbaretti suggested the project to her son Andrew, who is a senior at Lakeland High School and a member of Boy Scout Troop 238. Andrew and all his fellow scouts helped in the project, as did his Scoutmaster Steve Scott and Andrew’s father, Dave.

The project included weeding and pruning, and refinishing the wooden benches that surround the central garden.

“This was a fun project and I enjoyed seeing the improvements we made,” said Andrew, who is planning on majoring in communications with a preference for sports broadcasting.

Donations of mulch and tools were made by D’Agostino’s Supermarket and Whispering Pines. 

“It was wonderful to have the garden looking so nice for the children on the first day of school,” Foster said.

 

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