Saugus middle school beautification project continues

SAUGUS – It was nearly a year ago that Belmonte Middle School teacher Myra Monto held a beautification ceremony unveiling a newly reconstructed courtyard, brand new benches and landscaping that dotted the front and sides of the school.Monto said while it seems like that project was ages ago, it is in fact still a work in progress that recently received another boost.Monto said the Patrolman’s Union has been picking up the tab for the maintenance of the court yard, which has been handled, fittingly it seems, by Belmonte Landscaping. The school is named for Augustus Belmonte, an officer killed in the line of duty.”They’re talking about a memorial in the courtyard for Augustus,” she added.The project also included installing six benches along the walkway in front of the school and three more to casually litter the new courtyard. Sycamore trees planted by the Forestry Department also grace the front of the building while the courtyard has been landscaped with shrubs, flowers and a small cascading tree.Along with all that, the Tree Committee also donated a number of trees planted on the outskirts of the school property. Monto said the Tree Committee was back again last weekend because three of the trees didn’t make it through the tough winter.”The Tree Committee has been great,” she said.Tree Committee Chairman Timothy Hawkes said when he learned three of the trees they had donated to the project died he wanted to make good on the deal. Saturday, during the Tree Farms maintenance day, workers removed the dead foliage and transplanted new trees in their place.Monto said she appreciated the gesture and the work the committee has done to help keep the beautification project going.”I know it’s been almost a year,” she said. “The project is being kept up.”