A Mattituck High School junior is planning to build a garden outside Southold Town Hall to create a long-overdue gathering space as part of her Girl Scout Gold Award project.
Madison Tomaszewski, who has been a Girl Scout since she was 6, hatched the idea after noticing there wasn’t much space to sit or gather outside Town Hall — where her parents, Zac and Michelle Tomaszewski, work.
“I’ve basically grown up out here, I live not far so it’s a nice area to hang out in… but there’s not really a lot of places to hang out or a nice place to sit,” said the 17-year-old.
After pitching her plan to Town Supervisor Al Krupski last November, she received approval to move forward with the project.
The garden outside the Main Road building will incorporate existing daffodils and a white crepe myrtle tree planted on the property near Hortons Lane. Her plan includes pavers and stepping stones, seven Korean boxwood bushes, an arbor with attached seating and a second 12-foot white crepe myrtle tree to mirror the existing planting.
She envisions the space as a place for residents to sit and gather — or as a more picturesque outdoor backdrop for couples getting married at Town Hall.
“I like doing things that make people happy,” Madison, a member of Girl Scout Troop 261, said. “I think it’s just a good project because it gets me outside to do something people can enjoy.”
Town Clerk Denis Noncarrow said the garden will be a “perfect” addition to Town Hall grounds. Typically, when residents want Mr. Noncarrow to officiate their weddings on a pleasant day, they’ll do the ceremony either behind the building or out front near the garden.
“I’ve been always thinking how do we make a nice back drop outside here, so this is perfect,” he said.
Mr. Noncarrow officiates about 30 to 35 weddings each year. Town Justices Eileen Powers and Dan Ross also perform ceremonies for the town.
Source: The Suffolk Times
