For many years, Sherry and Dennis Shinn have quietly tended the small island of green at the intersection of Washington Street and Lockwood Lane. With steady dedication, they’ve planted, watered, weeded, and beautified the spot on behalf of the Village Gardeners Garden Club.

On Monday, September 22, the couple’s neighbors and fellow gardeners gathered to show their appreciation in a lasting way. A bench, newly placed on the island, was dedicated to Sherry and Dennis as a surprise tribute for their years of service.

“Sherry has been a longtime member of the Village Gardeners, and she and Dennis have given so much of their time and energy to this little corner of our town,” says Susan Koniares of the club. “We wanted a way to say thank you that others could enjoy as well.”

The bench now offers a quiet spot to pause and take in the flowers and greenery that the Shinns have nurtured season after season. For the couple, who never expected recognition, the dedication was a heartfelt reminder of how much their care means to the community.

It is a small piece of Topsfield, but one that reflects the town’s spirit of volunteerism and neighborly pride. Thanks to the Shinns, and the Village Gardeners, the island at Washington and Lockwood will remain a place of beauty and rest for years to come.