Members of the CHS Class of 1976 came together to beautify a section of the school campus on Saturday, February 24.
The 11 Tiger alumni and several spouses worked together for almost three hours to improve 1,200 square feet of ground under 300 linear feet of bushes adjacent to the sidewalks surrounding the CHS office — including the main public entrance — by installing weed barrier cloth, 150 bags of attractive red mulch, and landscape timbers to frame the mulch.
The cost of the materials was donated by classmates and friends using a GoFundMe page, which hit its target in only four hours online. Leann Stuart, manager of Lowe’s in Rockledge, generously supported the project by providing a discount and by arranging delivery of the mulch, which created a temporary small mountain at the foot of the school library.
Class of 1976 alumnus Bill Macheras led the project, which had been recommended by CHS Athletic and Activities Director Mark Carstens. Other ‘76 classmates working at the site were David Baker, Curtis Baldwin, Tim Bollinger, Robert Bourne, Mike Knight, Roger Patton, Fred Skrobot, Bret Steadman, Rodolfo Taylor, and Cecil Walker.
Later that day, 55 classmates gathered for a picnic and 48-year reunion at Merritt Island’s Rotary Park, including a Tiger-paw orange and black cake. Reunion organizer David Baker said, “Even though it’s been a few years since we walked those sidewalks as students, we hope our sidewalk beautification project shows the students, teachers and staff how much your alumni treasure this very special place called Cocoa High School.”
