Helping military families is mission for local landscaper

Project Evergreen provides free snow removal and yard care for those in need

By DeWolf Fulton
Posted 2/17/18

For Stacy Bruno, her landscaping and snow removal business is all about paying tribute to active deployed and military veterans like her late father.

George F. Bruno served in Vietnam, lost a …

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Helping military families is mission for local landscaper

Project Evergreen provides free snow removal and yard care for those in need

Posted

For Stacy Bruno, her landscaping and snow removal business is all about paying tribute to active deployed and military veterans like her late father.

George F. Bruno served in Vietnam, lost a kneecap that was replaced, later returned to duty and came home with a Purple Heart to a hostile reception and — after a prolonged battle with drugs, alcohol and PTSD — passed away two years ago.

It was then, with fiancé James Nicolson, that Ms. Bruno set up JSB Landscaping and Property Management, a small East Bay business which has taken on a national mission to help needy families of deployed military as well as post 9/11 and disabled. “If you are willing to lay down your life for your country, when you are in need, that country should take care of you,” Mr. Nicolson said. “You shouldn’t have to come home to a yard that’s destroyed.” The help JSB donates includes snow removal in winter and lawn care or landscaping in the summer. 

JSB participates with Green Care for Troops and Snow Care for Troops, both parts of Project Evergreen, a nationwide organization dedicated to helping military families who need it, such as Amanda Catalano of North Providence.

“Like all military families know, as soon as our spouses leave for active duty, everything breaks,” Ms. Catalano said. “Last year when my husband Joshua was deployed to Egypt, the lawnmower died, and a new one was not in the cards.”

Then she learned about Project Evergren, and JSB came to her rescue. “They have been an absolute Godsend,” she said. “”It’s been a rough deployment for me, and to have someone stop by and help at no cost, because they care about the sacrifices made … it’s unbelievable … beyond words.”

A project manager at Hasbro, Inc. in Pawtucket, Ms. Catalano hopes her husband will be home in a few months, adding he felt better to know JSB had stepped in, taking the lawnmower loss off his plate, giving him one less thing to worry about.

“James was wonderful,” she said. “Very giving and genuine … you don’t see that much these days. He’s different, he knows the hardships, so he’s happy to help … not for the recognition.”

While Mr. Nicolson may not want the recognition, Project Evergreen itself does need more recognition. It’s not well known. Mr. Nicolson said he would like to see more families take advantage of Project Evergreen, and more landscapers to help out, and get the word out. He said hundreds of companies participate across the country, but he knows none in this area.

He currently serves only four families, in North Providence, Johnston and Warwick. He encouraged other contractors to join the effort by enrolling on projectevergreen.org, or contacting him at 401-433-8275 or Ms. Bruno at stacyports@yahoo.com. Beyond its Project Evergreen volunteer work, JSB offers military discounts on all its standard landscaping services.

Mr. Nicolson knew only one individual who has joined the Project Evergreen volunteers: Frank Cote of Warren and Bristol. A boat builder with Newport Shipyard, Mr. Cote said he learned about the project and signed up to help out with his truck and plow.

“I'm sure there’s people out there in need,” Mr. Cote said. “They’ve done so much for the country, it’s the least I can do for them.” He said he has yet to receive a call for help. 

Meanwhile, JSB helps beautify the Vietnam Veterans marker on Market Street in Warren in front of Malik’s liquor store. Mr. Nicolson said he reached out to Judy Fardig of the Warren Association of Vietnam Veterans to help maintain the marker.

“He wouldn’t take any money to do it,” Ms Fardig said, “even to pay for the flowers he places there.” Mr. Nicolson said he was able to get Frerichs Farm of Warren to donate the flowers he uses.

Ms. Fardig said her husband, David McCarthy, is co-founder of the association, which maintains a strict protocol that JSB faithfully observes in caring for the marker and its shrubs, including use of the red, yellow and green colors of Vietnam for floral arrangements.

The work crew at JSB is equally committed to serving the Evergreen Project. Ron Jarvais III, of Warren, called it “a nice thing to do for people who help our country.” He noted his great-grandfather served in World War II, one grandfather in World War II, another in the National Guard and an uncle in Vietnam. His brother Devin is a USNWC graduate and now a U.S. Army Ranger stationed in Texas.

JSB worker Adrien Henry of Newport and now Warren said he went to Rogers High School with Ms. Bruno and enjoys giving back to the memory of her dad through the project. “I do the shoveling and salt,” he said. “When we showed up last week they were glad to see us. James gets real happy, and I do too.”

The inspiration that drives both Mr. Nicolson and Ms. Bruno runs deep. He gives credit to the military members of his family, his uncle Joseph Cruz and his father Jim, who served in Vietnam and Korea earning a Purple Heart. 

He is more modest about his own military service during Desert Storm working supply runs out of Ft Sill, Oklahoma, later with Charlie Battery 1st of the 103rd Field Artillery on Metacom Avenue in Bristol, and proudly driving a Humvee in the Bristol 4th of July Parade. 

While others don’t hesitate to give him credit for his patriotic efforts, Mr. Nicolson holds a more self-effacing and deferential view, bringing attention back to JSB and its cause to enlighten others about Project Evergreen.

“I know I have a good family in Bristol,” he said, “but I don’t want to make this about my family. This all started with Stacy’s father George making sure we give back, no matter what, deployed or disabled, it doesn’t make a difference.”

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