Students plant Red Ribbon Week legacy

Next spring, when Red Ribbon Week is a distant memory, students at Geneva Middle School North will receive a bright reminder of what it stands for, thanks to a few dedicated classmates.

Last week, as part of the annual celebration that promotes safe and healthy decision-making by today's youth, eighth-graders Angelo Gelfuso and Rian Kormos, and sixth-grader Joey Leone took on the enormous task of planting 200 red tulip bulbs around the grounds of their school. The bulbs were donated by Geneva's Home Depot.

"It contributes to the school's legacy," Angelo said.

The event, which was officially part of the Red Ribbon Week celebration, was called "Plant a Promise." Students from Fabyan Elementary School in Geneva also took part in a similar project.

The boys didn't seem to mind taking on such an enormous task, and enjoyed the opportunity to give something back to their school.

"I enjoy coming out and helping," Rian said. "I enjoy gardening, and I like the school."

Although the students will not see the tulips bloom until after the winter snows have melted, they will bloom the same bright red as the ribbons that were displayed throughout Geneva all last week.

"It's kind of like a reminder for them that everything you do has consequences," said Paul VanDorn, liaison officer for the Geneva Police Department. "This is a choice they are making to do this, and it will have a good consequence when the flowers come up in the spring."