Story by Joanne Hillman and Elizabeth Rueda Gynn, Photos by Marianne Salza
The Winthrop Foundation is proud to award a $70,400 grant to Winthrop Loves Trees, Inc. (WLT), a local nonprofit citizen’s group whose mission is to protect and improve Winthrop’s urban forest and urban greening by advocacy, planning, planting, conserving, education and good stewardship.
The Foundation is grateful to Massport for its generous funding appropriation which allows grants like this to benefit our town, and to Michael Vatalaro, Manager of State and Community Relations at Massport, for his ongoing support of the Foundation’s mission. Foundation board members, town officials, and WLT members also greatly appreciate the strong support of both State Representative Jeffrey Turco and Senator Edwards. On Saturday October 8, 2022, an official Citation from the office of Senator Lydia Edwards was presented to WLT by Eric Reidister, a liaison from Senator Edwards’ office, noting the benefits the WLT project will have on the community.
Chairman Russ Sanford of the Winthrop Foundation and all of the Foundation’s board members are thrilled to support WLT. “The tree plantings and greening of our town will beautify Winthrop and benefit the environment for years to come,†said Chairman Sanford.
Also known as Tree Winthrop, WLT/GROW (Gardener Residents of Winthrop) proposed a cohesive, long-term plan for greening the town that was supported by Tree Warden Paul O’Donnell and embraced by Town Manager Tony Marino and DPW Director Steve Calla. With the Foundation’s $70,400 grant, WLT will undertake a complete tree inventory, plant dozens of trees and greenery throughout the town, and expand its volunteer-based “Adopt-a-Tree†watering program. “We have many citizens interested in the program already, and are confident that it will only grow in numbers,†said WLT board President Joanne Hillman.
WLT/ GROW planted a native species pollinator garden at the E.B. Newton School and enlisted many volunteers to water this garden. Tree planting and the Adopt-A-Tree watering program began in September, with five Wild Fire Black Gum Tupelos, two Ivory Silk Lilacs, and three October Splendor Red Maples planted at the Town landing. Volunteers watered the new trees daily to ensure that they’d winter over well. In spring 2023, trees including Copper Beach, Sugar Maple, American Tulip trees, crab apple trees, and birches will be planted at the E.B. Newton and Ingleside Park.
Winthrop can be proud to have such a committed group of citizens stewarding the land and helping ensure a greener, healthier future for its residents. To learn more about WLT/GROW or to become an Adopt-A-Tree volunteer, email [email protected] or visit the Tree Winthrop – Winthrop Loves Trees and GROW Facebook page.
Since its founding, the Winthrop Foundation has provided nearly $400,000 in grants to local projects that strengthen our town. Board members include Chairman Russ Sanford, Clerk Vinny Crossman, Treasurer Brian Leslie, and directors Christine D’Ambrosio, Terrence Delehanty, Vasili Mallios and Gus Martucci. Grant recipients have included Mi-Amore; CASA; Hometown Health Heroes; Little League; WHS Robotics Club; WHS Trades Scholarships; Youth Cheer; and many more.
Tree Winthrop – Winthrop Loves Trees, Inc. and GROW includes President Joanne Hillman, Treasurer Denny Mahoney, Clerk Mikayla Dalton, and Directors Cindi Luppi, Maureen McAdams, Frank Costantino and Michael Herbert. WLT members also include Hugh Mattison, Betty Peabody and David Pfeiffer. The project was endorsed and approved by Tree Warden Paul O’Donnell and Tracey Honan, Town Councilwoman; Harbormaster Hickey was on board with plantings at the Town landing which were approved by Douglas Cameron, Director /Chief Engineer Dept of Fish and Game Office of Fishing and Boating Access.