News
RECOGNITION: JUDY WEIGAND
Ken-Ton Weekly Connection
January 29, 2021
This week, I wish to recognize Judy Weigand, who has owned and operated Judy’s Landscaping for 35 years. Judy also operates sign rentals in the town and generously donated two signs to help us promote this year’s Jerry Starr Ken-Ton Schools' SleepOut.
Judy has lived in the town most of her life and was a 1974 graduate of Kenmore West High School, when Jerry Starr was a teacher there. Judy was an outstanding and accomplished athlete at Kenmore West. Judy had the distinction of being a four-sport varsity athlete (soccer, volleyball, basketball, and softball). In fact, Judy was one of the earliest inductees into the Kenmore West High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
Judy is always eager to support local businesses and initiatives through her business, and she didn’t hesitate to help us promote this year’s SleepOut when she learned that we were moving forward with the event to help those in need in our community. You can visit her website at www.judyslandscaping.com.
Thank you, Judy, for your support!
Thank you for reviewing this information. As always, we remain Ken-Ton Proud, Ken-Ton Strong, and Ken-Ton Moving Forward!
For previous editions of the Ken-Ton Weekly Connection, visit www.ktufsd.org/connection
Volunteers offer to snow plow for families of deployed service members
Spectrum News
By Katie Gibas | January 31, 2018 @5:07 PM
It's a love story nearly a decade in the making.
James and Deanna were friends for years before they started dating in 2016, after he joined the Army.
"We got married in September, and this is our first deployment together, so we had no idea what to expect," said Deanna Kerr.
James deployed to Europe about four months ago.
"I never really felt like I was dependent, but I kind of learned that I've kind of lost touch of doing things by myself," said Kerr.
But there's one thing she won't have to worry about: the backbreaking task of shoveling snow.
"A lot of times, people want to do those things by themselves because they can and want to know they can do it. But it gets super stressful, and there's so many other things to worry about," said Kerr.
Thanks to SnowCare for Troops, she doesn't have to worry. It's a national effort to connect local snow plow companies with families who either have a loved one deployed -- or a veteran, with a post-9/11, service-connected disability.
"I've been plowing for 40 years. That's a long time. That's a few winters," said Judy Weigand, who owns Judy's Landscaping.
For Weigand, it was an easy decision to help out, even though all services are provided free of charge.
"I feel it's kind of a small thing I can do really, but if it's one less thing that they have to worry about, then that's great. I'm happy to do it," said Weigand.
“They’re serving our country, and we need to do things at home here for them."
And volunteers don't stop with snow removal in the winter—they come back to take care of the lawn and garden when it warms up.
"She is great. The services are great, and it's one less thing that I have to worry about, especially with the spring coming up and having to clean all the gardens. It will be really nice to have that go and help me," said Kerr.
Any plow or landscaping company wishing to help out can head to this website. BOSS Plow created and sponsors this program in partnership with Project Evergreen.
Volunteers Dig in to Help Families of Service Members
Two landscapers mow grass, plow snow for free through national program
When soldiers go off to war, the responsibilities at home do not go with them.
Loved ones left behind are expected to cover the domestic bases, but it can be a daunting task. That's where some volunteers have stepped in.
In the Buffalo Niagara region, two landscapers have been mowing grass and plowing snow for free through a national program -- Project Evergreen's GreenCare and SnowCare for Troops.
Local military families cannot say enough good things about Joe Mattucci and Judy Weigand.
"My husband and daughter were deployed at the same time this past summer, and I could not have done it all by myself. That is all that there is to it," said Town of Tonawanda resident Lorraine Starr.
Every week, Mattucci's three-member crew mows, trims and edges her lawn.
"When I called Mr. Mattucci to tell him my husband, David, was coming home from Afghanistan and he didn't have to mow the grass anymore, he told me to tell my husband thank you for his service and to rest. He would finish out the season because my husband deserved the rest," Starr said, amazed at Mattucci's kindness.
Mattucci, of Mattucci Design in Kenmore, is assisting three families with lawn care this year and has helped several others in past years.
"It's a good feeling for us to give back to military families," he said. "We try to do as many as we can, and we haven't turned anyone down yet."
When the snow flies, he hopes officials at SnowCare will link him up with military families in need of snow removal.
"Our military needs to know that their families are supported at home while they are on active duty fighting for our freedom and the freedom of others," said Joy Westenberg, who manages the national programs. "To date, there are more than 12,000 military families that have registered and 3,400 volunteers."
Corporate sponsors of the programs are Cub Cadet for the lawn side and Boss Snowplow for snow removal, Westenberg said.
"This is my sixth year, and I have talked to thousands across the nation, and it is such a help. It is a burden lifted," said Westenberg, who lives in Minnesota.
Like Mattucci, Weigand goes the extra mile in assisting families.
Just ask Patricia Richeal of North End Avenue in Kenmore.
When her grandson, Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Adam Brown, was deployed to Afghanistan last year, his wife and infant son came to live with her and her husband, William, who are both 71.
On days with persistent snowfall, Weigand was no stranger.
"If we had a real bad snow day last year, and it did snow a lot, she would be here two or three times the same day. I'll tell you she was good," Richeal said.
When Brown returned home last June, Weigand installed a sign.
"Welcome Home Gunnery Sgt. Adam Brown," read the lighted sign on the Richeal front lawn.
That spurred a blizzard of good will in the neighborhood.
"Everybody honked their horns. People would even drop stuff off, beer, thank-you cards, a lot of thank-yous," the grandmother said.
Weigand, who runs Judy's Landscaping in the Town of Tonawanda, says she learned of the volunteer program when ordering parts online from Boss Snowplow's website.
"I noticed they were looking for volunteers. I just wanted to help," she said.
And what is it like to provide free snowplowing for the families of deployed service members?
"At 3 in the morning, the conditions can be horrible, but I just don't give it a second thought. At the end of last season, I got a beautiful card from one of the families," Weigand said.
To apply for the free services, military families are required to register online. For grass-cutting, the website is projectevergreen.com/gcft; for snow removal, it's projectevergreen.com/scft.
