Festival of Trees Org Awards Scholarships

METHUEN, MA — The Festival of Trees, Inc. held its Annual Meeting on June 20, 2016, at the Searles School and Chapel, to celebrate the work of the Methuen Festival of Trees and its historic preservation mission, according to a press statement. The FOT is the largest contributor of private, non-profit funds to preservation efforts in Massachusetts. To date, the Festival has spent $1.8 million dollars to support well over 140 preservation projects throughout the Merrimack Valley and beyond. The Historic Preservation Grant Program (HPGP) awards matching grants of up to $10,000 to qualified historic preservation projects. Local businesses housed in historic properties, individual homeowners of historic homes, as well as public historic entities are encouraged each year to apply for the Festival of Trees grant program to help fund area preservation efforts.

“We understand the enormous amount of time, effort and money it takes to restore these important historical structures,” said Sharon Pollard, president of the Festival of Trees. “We also know that many projects could not be completed without the commitment of the revenue raised by our organization and hope to continue to increase the number of funded projects yearly.”

This year’s recipients are: First United Baptist Church, Lowell MA; Presentation of Mary, Methuen MA; First Baptist Church, Methuen, MA; Union Congregational Church, Amesbury, MA; Rolling Ridge Retreat and Conference Center, North Andover, MA; East Parish Meeting House, Haverhill, MA; The Searles School, Windham, NH; East Derry Village Improvement Society, East Derry, NH; First Church Congregational, Methuen, MA. “They gave us hope- the dollars and cents don’t mean as much as hope and that’s what the Festival has given to us.” – Spokesperson for the Union Congregational Church, Amesbury, MA.

Every year the Festival of Trees honors an individual or organization that has demonstrated a commitment to preserving the history of the Merrimack Valley with its Preservation Award. This year’s recipients are The city of Methuen and Union Congregational Church Restoration and Preservation Alliance.

In addition to the Preservation Award, Mann Orchards, was the honoree of the Special Friend of the Festival Award. Founded in 1877 by Charles Mann, Mann Orchards is the oldest business in Methuen, MA. Today, Bill and Kathy Fitzgerald and their three children operate the farm stand and store. The Festival of Trees also shares a special connection to the Mann Orchards family. Charles W. Mann, Sr. in addition to his excellence in farming was the superintendent of the magnificent granite wall building of Edward F. Searles.

The Methuen Festival of Trees awarded a $1,000 Festival of Trees Scholarship each, to four deserving area students who have not only shown academic excellence but also volunteered during the Festival and participated in additional community services. This year’s scholarship winners were Methuen Nigh School graduates Catrina Crowe (attending Providence College); Evelina DelMonaco (attending UMass Dartmouth); Salvatore Florio, Jr. (attending UMass Lowell); and Northern Essex graduate Helen Shirpe (attending Salve Regina).

The Festival of Trees will kick off its 23rd year on Nov. 19, 2016 and will run through December 3, 2016.

For more information, please visit methuenfestivaloftrees.com.

Submitted by Kendra Petrone; photos by Nancy Reardon.