Help Out Our Town is a community service project sponsored by the college's Kiwanis Circle K Club.
Westfield State University students volunteer to help clean up the town in the HOOT Day program. Michael J. Flaherty, 18, of Raynham, Edward C. Pascucci, 18, of Lynnfield, and Aerin Andre, 19, of Topsfield, teamed with other students to prune, weed and clean Grandmothers' Garden at Chauncy Allen Park.
Ruby R. Metz, of Harvard, left, and Sharine L. Elliott, of Westminster, both 18, teamed with other students to prune, weed and clean Grandmothers' Garden at Chauncy Allen Park.WESTFIELD – Inclement weather may have put a damper on some activities planned as part of Westfield State University's second annual HOOT Day on Tuesday, but it did not dampen spirits of its coordinators or volunteers.
Help Out Our Town is a community service project sponsored by the college's Kiwanis Circle K Club, and despite rainy weather drew an estimated 185 freshmen and returning students. More than 250 students had registered for the project. Circle K co-presidents Sarah M. Fregeau and Karen A. Renda, both juniors, said they were pleased with the turnout.
"Many kids probably woke up this morning, saw the rain and thought everything was canceled," said Fregeau.
"It is still exciting and this is our biggest project of the year. Despite the weather, some projects were completed," added Renda.
Lisa G. McMahon, executive director of the Westfield Business Improvement District, which benefits from the college project, called the weather very disappointing.
"We had many things planned and there was an awesome student turnout despite the weather. Maybe we can reschedule some things in the future," McMahon said.
About a dozen students ignored the weather as they worked weeding, raking and pulling unwanted bushes at Grandmothers' Garden on Smith Avenue.
Freshman Aerin Andre, of Topsfield, said "HOOT Day is an opportunity to try out some fun stuff and to meet new people.
"We pulled out some bushes to make this area look better and we did anything that needed to be done at the (Grandmothers') garden," Andre said.
Cassie H. Forsman, of Brimfield, manning a rake, said "I love helping out. This is a great way to get to know the community and meet fellow students."
Patricia M. Steele-Perkins, a year-round volunteer at Grandmothers' Garden, said WSU students provided "terrific help. We depend on volunteers to maintain the garden."
At Westfield Athenaeum, freshmen students Rebecca E. Hoff, of Maynard, and Katherine M. Bush, of Westford, were busy clearing tables and dusting off book shelves.
"This is my first time in Westfield and I like it. Today is a chance for me to get a sense of the community and help the library," Bush said.
Hoff said, "This is a good way to get to know the city. I visited here when considering enrollment at Westfield State. So, this is really my first experience and so far I love Westfield."
WSU welcomed 1,144 freshmen along with about 4,500 returning students over Labor Day weekend. First day of classes for the 2011-2012 school year was set for Wednesday.