Thanks to Williamson, library gets a new look
GLENOLDEN >> Out with the old and in with the new was the theme of the week on the grounds of the Glenolden Library. Volunteers from the Williamson College of The Trades in Middletown teamed up with local business owner Frank Boninu of F.A.B. Landscaping in Secane, Williamson Class of 2012, to remove old shrubbery and trees on the library’s lawn and replace them with fresh, more modern-looking plants and landscaping.
The project was part of Williamson College of The Trades’ second annual Week of Service, May 1518. About 40 nonprofit organizations in the Delaware Valley benefitted after about 250 students and almost 50 faculty and staff donated full days to lending a hand to improve local communities.
With the help of Boninu of Ridley Township, Williamson students Steve Royer of Glenolden, a Power Plant major, Henry Cellini of Norwood, a horticulture major and Eric Thomas of Norwood, a carpentry major, pulled out over ten bushes and shrubs that were beyond 70 years old, including an eight-decadesold Dogwood tree, and replaced them with Soft Touch Holly, Cherry Laurels, Golden Mops, a Red Bud tree and a variety of blooming plants and other greenery.
“It was really nice to be able to come back to my own community and work on a project that made our library look so much nicer,” Royer remarked.
Additionally, the volunteers weeded, mulched, edged flower beds and spruced up the entire yard of the library. They also moved the original 1910 footing of the Ashland Avenue Bridge, weighing several hundred pounds, from in front of the library building at 211 S. Llanwellyn Ave. to its side yard facing Knowles Avenue for better visibility and to improve the aesthetic design of the property. Bill Davis of Morton, Williamson Class of 2015, is donating a bench that he built, to be placed next to the footing.
The idea for the 2017 Glenolden Library Beautification project came from members of the Glenolden Historical Commission who were there to oversee its progress. The commission has its office, meeting space and archives in the basement of the library. Commission Chair Caroline Fairfield and members Rich and Donna Rothe, raised $3,200 for the project from its Community Day and holiday fundraisers and through the generous donations of Bart Cavanagh of Norwood, Bob and Norma Weinand of Glenolden and Ray and Joan Maxie of Conroe, Texas.
Cavanagh, who stopped by to admire the project, said that he was proud to donate to the cause. “Glenolden Park and Glenolden Library are exactly as they were 70 years ago because they are well taken care of and nurtured. I have wonderful memories of when I was a child here growing up, especially playing in Glenolden Park,” he said.
Community business donors, who provided signs, lunch each day and drinks, included Shop Rite of Glenolden, Dunkin Donuts of Collingdale, Italian Style Pizza and Pasta in Folcroft, the Glenolden Borough Maintenance Department, Simco Sign Studios in Folcroft and Save-A-Lot in Folcroft.
All three students and commission staff praised F.A.B. Landscaping owner Boninu who led the crew in orchestrating the project.
“Frank donated his time and his talent for service to his community,” Rothe said gratefully. “He learned the core value of service and giving back while at Williamson and he was accommodating throughout the entire project. I believe every one of these students learned from the experience they had here and from Frank’s knowledge and leadership.”
Greg Lindemuth, executive vice president and COO of Williamson, estimates that with about 300 workers putting in four full work days, Williamson provided about 7,000 hours of service to local communities.
“These students were very professional and a real pleasure to meet,” Fairfield remarked. “They were polite and never complained once. They knew how to handle all of the tools. We were very impressed by their knowledge and their professionalism. We love the way everything looks — fresh and upgraded. This was truly community helping community!”
Donna Rothe, who works as a business assistant at Williamson, said it was nice to see the students in a capacity outside of the school.
“I usually only see the students in the hallway,” Rothe commented. “As part of the Williamson family, I felt proud when I saw them up close and personal exhibiting true professionalism and character outside of the school.”
Some of the other nonprofits who were helped by Williamson students during Service Week included the Roosevelt School, Tyler Arboretum, Elwyn Institute, Hedgerow Theatre, Ridley Creek State Park, the Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia, the Never Forget Foundation in West Chester, Good Works in Coatesville, and Middletown High School in Middletown, Del.
President Michael Rounds said, “We are excited that so many Williamson people devoted an entire week to our core value of service. Not only did Williamson help many charitable organizations, but the week instilled in its students the importance of giving back to their community, a trait that, hopefully, they will carry with them the rest of their lives.”
After working from 9 to 4 each day in last week’s warm temperatures, the crew, accompanied by Michelle Martella, Williamson director of annual fund and events, took a few minutes to admire their work before departing on the final day of Service Week.
“It was very rewarding to work on a project that didn’t look good when we started, but looked great when we finished,” Thomas said. “During the entire time we worked, people in the borough would walk by and tell us how beautiful it looks. It was really nice and encouraging to get that feedback as we went along.”
“We couldn’t have picked a nicer project than the one here,” Cellini remarked. “The people couldn’t have been nicer to work with and I feel that we made a genuine difference. The yard was an eyesore when we came and now we made it a nicer place for the people in the community.”