Vandals attack beautification efforts

Springfield police are investigating widespread vandalism to beautification efforts in the downtown.
http://rutlandherald.com/article/20130803/NEWS02/708039911

Vandals struck in downtown Springfield, knocking over planters and destroying gardens, on Thursday night. Photo: PROVIDED PHOTOPublished August 3, 2013 in the Rutland Herald Vandals attack beautification efforts By SUSAN SMALLHEER Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD — Springfield police are investigating widespread vandalism to beautification efforts in the downtown. Springfield Police Chief Douglas Johnston said police had some leads into who committed the vandalism late Thursday night on Main Street. “They have an idea who did it. They know who was in the area but they didn’t see him doing it,” the chief said. “It’s under investigation.” The vandalism took place before midnight and after 11 p.m. Plantings, either gardens or planters, were destroyed from the Springfield Town Library down to the Springfield Senior Center, according to Marita Johnson, a member of the Springfield Garden Club, which maintains much of the downtown landscaping. In some cases, the vandals just pulled out the plants and threw them in the road or sidewalk, or tipped them over. The police chief said there were no known surveillance cameras at the buildings affected to catch the vandal or vandals. Johnson said members of the Springfield Garden Club would be back downtown today at 8:30 a.m. to replant as much as possible. Johnson said garden club members went on a field trip Friday morning and as they drove through downtown Springfield they saw the destruction. “It’s a shame someone did this,” said Johnson, who added club members are assigned to individual planters and they are maintained on a daily basis. Johnson said some of her planters were among the casualties of the vandalism. Other community landscaping damaged included the large clay pot planters in front of the Springfield Congregational Church, the front gardens at the Springfield Library, Gallery at the VAULT, the Springfield Savings and Loan, and the Springfield Post Office and the Springfield Senior Center. The bank also had its signs broken or pulled up, according to the chief. Town Manager Robert Forguites said a crew headed by Renford “Shorty” Freeman from the Public Works Department helped sweep up the spilled soil and salvage as many plants as they could. He said the crew had picked up Main Street and the sidewalks before 8:30 a.m. Johnson said a resident of the Huber Building told her that he heard something late Thursday night and called 911. “He said they were a bunch of brats — that’s the word he used, brats,” said Johnson, who added she and the owner of Heads Up, the beauty salon, had tended the boxes and had recently added more plants. Johnson said the garden club had been on a field trip to a nursery in New Hampshire that produces specialty plants. She said Sunshine Acres had donated some new plants for the planters. She said the club had been tending the planters “for years and years.” Johnson said the garden recently created at the library in memory of D.J. Fusonie appeared to have escaped damage. Anyone who wishes to make a contribution for the restoration of the plantings can send a donation to Springfield Garden Club, Barbara Riotte, 152 Fairground Road, Springfield, VT 05156.