Friday, October 23, 2026
Scouting America Troop 93 and their families marked another successful year of their annual Mother’s Day Plant Sale, offering dozens of plant varieties while raising funds for camp and local veterans.
The Boy Scouts and their parents sold 35 different varieties of flowers, herbs and vegetables. Proceeds will help fund their summer camp and support Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2718. The first sale was held in 2020.
“It makes sure that all the flowers and love of Mother’s Day is filtered through the Boy Scouts and all the service organizations that help us make that day special,” said Town Councilman Tom Muscarella, who bought impatiens at the sale.
Town Supervisor Don Clavin and Receiver of Taxes Jeanine Driscoll also attended the plant sale.
“Mothers are just like flowers, they’re beautiful,” said Scoutmaster Steve “Smurf” DiTusa. “Anybody could be a dad. It takes somebody very special to be a mother.”
While many parents contribute to the sale’s success, organizers credit Bridget Stavola with leading the effort.
Nick Stavola, Bridget’s son, said she works hard every year to make the sale happen.
Bridget said the work doesn’t stress her out because it’s for a good cause. “It takes an army of parents and volunteers and Scouts, but it’s worth it,” she said.
The Scouts’ share of the funds will cover the cost of their summer camp T-shirts for a trip to Rhode Island this year. Another portion will benefit VFW 2718.
According to Bridget, the Scouts donate funds to the VFW to help cover expenses for building maintenance and hosting meetings.
Throughout the year, Scouts also raise money to support monthly overnight camping trips, fishing and canoeing outings, and the activities required to earn merit badges.
However, it’s not just the funds that benefit the Scouts.
“When they come up from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts, it’s really an opportunity for them to learn what fundraising is all about,” said Deb Talbot, a Scout mother. “And hard labor. Keeping them away from their phones. They have to do service hours when they’re Scouts.”
Scouts say they value the community service aspect. According to Boy Scout Dylan Deede, there’s a purpose to all their work: “To make people happy,” he said.
“It’s always good to help people,” Nick added.
Scout leaders say these activities help shape the Scouts into the kind of men the community wants them to become.
“It’s showing leadership,” DiTusa said. “And leadership is a very important part of Boy Scouts. Sometimes the best way to lead is to follow. We’re trying to make tomorrow’s leaders today.”
Bridget added that the plant sale benefits the community by providing affordable flowers. And, she said, local Cub Scouts bought 10 flats to plant around the VFW.
“It beautifies a great community building,” Bridget said.
Uma Carpenter, a customer at the plant sale, said she enjoys buying the mixed hanging baskets she and her mother call “spinner wheels.”
“I like to support anything locally, instead of going to any other stores,” Carpenter said.
According to Talbot, the community looks forward to the plant sale each year.
“We’re very, very fortunate that the community knows this is a habit that we do every year,” Talbot said.
