GHS Boosters Give A Boost To Coach's Yard

If you've noticed a flurry of activity on Northampton this week, it's an example of how willing Genevans are to put in "a little elbow grease." Defined by Wikipedia as a humorous way of saying that "some tasks can only be achieved by hard effort and human energy," there certainly was plenty of both. 

The Geneva High School All Sports Boosters organized a yard clearing/beautification project at the home of former girls basketball coach Gina Nolan, who has been battling cancer. Her yard had become overgrown and her house needed a few repairs. 

So when Boosters vice-president Dave Weede was approached by Nolan's neighbors John and Ann Burns about helping her out (their son Kevin is Geneva's mayor), it didn't take much to get the wheels greased, so to speak. Finding volunteers turned out to be pretty easy.

Those helping out this week included the cross-country team, girls basketball, boys football, baseball, girls soccer team, gymnastics team, some of Nolan's Spanish students, and numerous coaches of all these teams. 

"It was a jungle in the back yard," Boosters president Tom Finnberg said. "We're doing more areas of grass, we redid the drainage for the house. We're adding a nice fire pit for her in the back yard." 

Finnberg said they'll fix a broken window, numerous hastas have been removed and once they clear and rake, they'll add some grass seed. There was a call for a rototiller earlier in the week, and one showed up in time to begin the work. 

The landscapers have been supported by several churches in the area who have provided food and Mrs. Burns has made sure everyone has enough to drink.

Anyone wanting to help out during the weekend or to make a donation should contact Brock Chenier at brock.chenier@aol.com.