"Tree Lady" Cole feted upon Providence departure

The Botanical Center at Roger Williams Park, appropriately, was the location for last night's farewell party for Jen Cole, a longtime stalwart of the Providence Neighborhood Planting Program, who is credited with having planted more than 3000 trees in the capital city.

An enthusiastic throng of friends, city officials, and civic do-gooders turned out for the event, and Jen received well-deserved plaudits from Councilman John J. Lombardi and Mayor Cicilline, among others.

I can't remember exactly when and where I first met Jen, a sweetheart with a good sense both of humor and civic outrage, but she will certainly be missed after moving with her husband to Virginia. She formerly worked locally for the Conservation Law Foundation, among other enviro/civic places, and was a regular at the late, lamented Decatur.

A stalwart Red Sox fan, Jen serves notice that she has bought season tickets for the Washington Nationals and secured prime seating for the Sox' visits to Camden Yards in Baltimore this year.