Scout project serves town


Girl Scouts Junior Troop 13 proudly display the new edition to Heritage Park their Butterfly Magnolia tree. Troop leader Debby Dempsey said the project is something the girls will still be able to see years from now. Reminder Publications photo by Natasha Clark

By Natasha Clark

Assistant Managing Editor

EAST LONGMEADOW The Girl Scouts Junior Troop 13 of East Longmeadow is helping keep the town a littler greener.

Last Tuesday the youngsters planted a Butterfly Magnolia tree at Heritage Park. As a part of their community service project, the girls spent the chilly afternoon setting the tree in the soil adjacent to the pond.

In between bursts of song and creative handshakes, the youth managed to also share their love of community service. The troop recently wrapped up volunteering at the East Longmeadow Fishing Derby where they picked up trash and helped out with the fishes.

"It's fun," said one bubbly troop member.

"When people think community service, they think work," another chimed in. "We like helping."

Troop Leaders Debby Dempsey and Diane Shepard helped organize the event.

"The girls came up with the idea [of planting a tree] with the help of one of the mothers," Dempsey said.

She added that the purchase of the tree was made possible thanks to a $100 donation by the East Longmeadow Jaycees.