Westcott Center Bulb Planting Project

Press Release 9/9/04

Don’t miss the opportunity to support beautifying your neighborhood. Now is the time to do so!

Last year 2,300 bulbs were planted in the neighborhood. This year our goal is to have 4,000 bulbs planted. We have secured three grants to date to supplement neighborhood support.

Saturday, October 2 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm the Westcott Community Center will make available a dozen free bulbs (daffodils and crocuses) to individuals from the Westcott neighborhood. Bulbs are available on a first come basis until they run out.

Free Compost, courtesy of Toad Hollow (655-4756) is also available as well as planting instructions.

Syracuse Farm Supply, a locally owned store for 60 years, will still provide us with bulbs even though they are unfortunately closing their doors this fall.

Last year 2,300 bulbs were given away. There was a steady stream of individuals through the WCC for 4 hours. Bulbs were also planted at the Petit Library and the WCC.

We request that people plant the bulbs in a space where they can be viewed by all from the neighborhood to enjoy. We provide high quality bulbs, planting instructions and compost to insure that the bulbs are planted in a timely fashion and will survive and multiply in the spring.

We chose daffodils and crocuses because squirrels, which are common in city environments, do not like them.

In addition to individuals who plant the bulbs throughout the neighborhood at their homes, there

are four community groups who will be involved in planting bulbs in the neighborhood.

* The Kids’ Club, an after school youth (ages 9 -14) program at WCC, has offered to plant bulbs at the homes of senior citizens in the neighborhood who would like some additional flowers in their front yards. If you are a senior citizen and interested in this, contact the WCC (478-8634) and ask for Paul.

* Students in classrooms at Ed. Smith School will have a chance to flex their muscles in the garden this fall as the Healthy Kids committee of the PTO joins the Westcott Neighborhood Fall Planting Project by planting bulbs at their school in flower beds near the playground, main entrance and by the school sign.

* Junior Girl Scout Troop 383 at Ed Smith school will plant bulbs at a designated site(s) in the neighborhood. These service hours will go toward earning their Bronze Award

* Porches Plus, a project of East Side Neighbors in Partnership, in conjunction with SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry urban planning and landscape students and local residents will landscape 5 houses in the Westcott neighborhood. A dozen daffodils and crocuses will be planted at each house.

Each organization will send a report once the bulbs are planted to help us evaluate for next year.

Look for us at the Westcott Street Cultural Fair this year. We will have a table at the fair to help publicize our project.

You will also soon start to see our beautiful poster appearing in the neighborhood designed by Laurie Cronin who graciously offered her services.

Checks should be made out to the Westcott Community Center and mailed to 826 Euclid Ave., Syracuse NY 13210. Make sure you write in the memo line Westcott Neighborhood Bulb Project. All contributions are tax deductible.

Patrons ($75 or more) will be invited to a dinner party in the fall hosted by Jane Tretler.

For more information see the Westcott Community Center web page at www.westcottcc.org; or contact Peter Wirth, pwirth@accucom.net , 476-3396; or Margot Clark and Mark Rupert at 476-8590.