September 6, 2000
Memorial garden takes root at school
Girl Scout troop plants trees, flowers at Westwoods
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
When school starts today at Westwoods Elementary School, students entering on their first day will pass a small memorial garden in front. Planted last Tuesday evening by members of Girl Scout Troop 410, the garden is dedicated to the memory of Marla Montcastle, who died ten years ago of cancer, and Tom Eitniear, who passed away last fall in a hunting accident.
A service later this month will dedicate the garden in memory of the two parents, each of whom has students at the school.
Montcastle's daughter, Jenna, just two when her mom died, came up with the idea for the garden last spring. A member of Troop 410 for three years, she found the other girls very receptive to her plan.
"The only thing that is in memory of my mom is her grave," Montcastle said. "I wanted something to remember her by so I suggested this."
After approving the idea, the 17 members of the troop immediately threw themselves into fundraising. They sponsored a can drive and went door to door in the neighborhoods surrounding Westwoods, collecting more than 6,000 cans worth $600 for their efforts.
The community's largesse more than doubled their estimated budget for the garden so they decided to donate the remaining $300 to the college funds of Thomas and Steven Eitniear.
"I am proud of what these girls did," said Julie Burton, leader of Troop 410 for two years. "I brought ideas for them to discuss for a community service project and Jenna thought of this because of her mom. They all wanted to do it."
Troop leaders are also proud of the community, who supported the project with such spirit. Even households that did not have cans to donate gave cash instead.
"I want to thank everyone in the Westwoods neighborhoods who saved their cans for us," said Karen Johnson, a volunteer with the troop.
The girls planned the garden together, including a bench, two lilac bushes, a crimson king maple tree and hostas. The maple tree was planted to match another one nearby and both provide an anchor for the garden. Come spring, dozens of daffodil bulbs the girls planted will bloom around both trees.
While creating the memorial garden had a serious undertone, the girls had fun planting the garden last week, working together as they gleefully dug, raked and packed dirt.
"This did not really seem like community service, it was fun," said Erin Dixon, a member of the troop. "Now people can enjoy this garden every morning."
Working together in support of others is a key theme of Westwoods, said Larry Dobler, principal of the largest elementary school in the Traverse City Area Public Schools system. Despite having more than 400 students under his roof, he makes sure that his building is a home away from home for the kids. When one family experiences a tragedy, as the Eitniear family did last year, the whole school pulls together to support them. The memorial garden is just another facet of that ongoing support, he said.
"This garden speaks to the spiritual sense of community that exists here," Dobler said. "Not in a religious sense, but a community spirit that people really care about one another here. We pride ourselves in that."