Naval unit does some yardwork at Cinnamon Street in Newport

By ARCHIE MOUNTAIN

NEWPORT — A group of 12 U.S. Navy personnel got to do some spring yardwork recently at Cinnamon Street Early Education and Childcare Center in Newport.

“This was a great opportunity to show our appreciation for teachers during National Teacher Appreciation Week. It’s good to give back to the community,” said Command Senior Enlisted Leader Richard Baumert who resides in Newport with his family.

Baumert’s wife, Judith, is President of the Board of Directors at the Guild center.

“It’s our way of giving back, Baumert revealed.

In addition to sprucing up the grounds, the reservists also straightened the fence at the parking lot that had lost a battle to a snowplow during the winter.

“We enjoy doing things like this,” Baumert stated.

At first glance, the Naval personnel looked like a crew from a nursery, giving the grounds in front of the Cinnamon Street building a new spring look. And when their job was completed, that goal had been reached.

Several of the Naval reservists performing the task have ties to area communities.

In addition to Baumert, a Newporter, others included YNC Sunyatia (Sunny) Hubbard, Grantham; BUC Tom Salmon, Bellows Falls and BU1 Ryan Harrington, Springfield, Vt. HM2 Jaime Ferrer has tries to the Philippines and PS2 William Martindale comes from Cape Coral. Fla.

Other members of the group included CDR Erik Lavoie (Commanding Officer), PS3 Raymond Dalope, PS2 Anthony Giordani, LS2 Jonathan Luna, HM2 Adrian Nunn, and MA1 Elizabeth Rex.

Kneeling down in the dirt as they worked, Salmon and Harrington recalled their high school days and discussed sports. “We had the best football team,” said Salmon, while admitting Harrington and Springfield were tops on the soccer field.

The reservists, based at White River Jct., cover all of Vermont and northern New Hampshire