Cherry Tree Removal: Changes Begin at the NBGC
October 6, 2026
For more than a decade, the Nantucket Boys & Girls Club's facade has been embellished by two sister cherry trees, that welcomed our children through our doors.
Today, however, those trees were thanked for their many years out front and removed as one of the first visible steps in the Club’s Safety, Security & Clubhouse Renewal Project.
Along with changes to the main entry, a new gym entrance, and modified preschool entrance, this multifaceted project encompasses upgrades to equipment and currently underutilized spaces. Together these improvements will allow the Club to expand enrichment programs, offer additional space for Club Jr. Preschool, and provide a safer, more functional Clubhouse for our members and community.
In 2015, when the Clubhouse at 69 Sparks Avenue underwent its last major renovation, Trustee Emeritus John Loose generously gifted the Club two cherry trees to frame the main entry. For the 11 years since, the sister trees have grown alongside the Club and become a signature part of its facade.
While the change may require some getting used to, the removal of the trees has already revealed a much clearer view of the Club and its sign from Sparks Avenue. It's a fitting start to a new chapter for the NBGC, bringing greater visibility to the Club as we prepare for the improvements ahead through the Safety, Security, & Clubhouse Renewal project.
We look forward to sharing more of the improvements taking shape throughout the Clubhouse and for those who are wondering about the future of the familiar cherry trees:
"They will be replaced," says Mr. Loose.
To read more about the Safety, Security, & Clubhouse Renewal, click here.
October has arrived at the Nantucket Boys & Girls Club’s Club Jr., and our preschoolers have been fully immersed in the fall with the first theme of the season being apples. Under the direction of Preschool Director Carly Peixoto and Assistant Teacher Brie Carr, Club Jr.’s youngest learners have been exploring apples through dramatic play, early literacy and math, science, and cooking. While the classroom was filled with plenty of fall fun, each activity was designed to build skills through hands-on learning. This season's unit began at the Club Jr. Apple Market , where children picked apples from the classroom tree, sorted them by color, filled their baskets, and took turns shopping and working the market. It may look like play, but there is plenty of learning happening behind the counter. Dramatic play gives young children an opportunity to practice communication, cooperation, problem-solving, counting, sorting, and decision-making while stepping into different roles and creating stories together.
The Nantucket Boys & Girls Club has been awarded $765,180 through the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources’ Advancing Massachusetts Power (AMP) Energy Storage Grant Program , part of a statewide investment aimed at strengthening energy resilience and expanding energy storage across the Commonwealth. The Club was selected through the program’s Community Resilience track and is one of 28 community resilience projects receiving funding across Massachusetts. The state identifies the Club’s project as a 250 kW / 522 kWh battery energy storage system . Other recipients include schools, community centers, affordable housing developments, public works facilities, and other critical community infrastructure. For the Nantucket Boys & Girls Club, the investment builds on existing clean energy infrastructure. Paired with the Club’s solar panels, the new battery system will allow energy generated on-site to be stored and available for use when needed, improving the reliability and resilience of the facility. Greater energy independence will help the Club remain operational when the grid goes down, reducing disruptions to programs and services while strengthening the facility as a resource for Nantucket’s children, families, and broader community. The award is part of more than $40 million announced by the Healey-Driscoll Administration for 36 energy storage projects across Massachusetts. According to the state, the investments are intended to help critical facilities maintain power during outages, expand energy-storage safety and education, and advance longer-duration storage technologies. The AMP program is administered by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources and is designed to accelerate the deployment of safe energy storage systems throughout the Commonwealth, with investments focused on resilience as well as broader clean energy, economic, and public health benefits. The Club extends a special thank you to Lauren Sinatra, Energy Coordinator for the Town of Nantucket , whose guidance and support were instrumental in navigating the process and bringing this project forward. “This investment strengthens not only the resilience of our building, but our ability to continue showing up for the Nantucket community,” said Jamie Foster, Chief Executive Officer of the Nantucket Boys & Girls Club. “We’re grateful to the Commonwealth and to Lauren Sinatra for helping make this project possible.”
The Schaeffer family has been part of the Nantucket Boys & Girls Club community for years. Currently sitting on the Board of Trustees, Justin started chairing the Sam Sylvia Golf Tournament in 2019 and has led it every year since. Claire co-chaired the Tim Russert Summer Groove in 2018 and 2019, putting the couple at the helm of the Club's two largest fundraising events. Both sides of the family have supported the Club since 2018, with Justin's parents, Liz and Peter, and Claire's parents, John and Carol Moriarty, all active givers. As a family, the Schaeffers hosted the Club's inaugural Naples tour, welcoming new friends to the mission and vision of the Club, making a transformational impact on the Club by strengthening the NBGC’s ties to the seasonal community that cares deeply about the island's kids. This summer, that connection took on new meaning when Lily, the youngest of Justin and Claire's three children after Maisie and Auggie, became the family's first Club Kid.
For one night each August, the Nantucket Boys & Girls Club looks a little different. The basketball hoops disappear behind flowers and fabric. The gym fills with dinner tables. Club families, longtime supporters, friends and neighbors come together under one roof for the Tim Russert Summer Groove. This year, more than 600 guests joined us for the 24th Annual Summer Groove, making 2026 the largest seated fundraiser the NBGC has hosted ever before. But the significance of the night goes far beyond what happens inside the gym. Summer Groove alone provides 40% of the Nantucket Boys & Girls Club’s annual operating budget. Those funds help keep our doors open throughout the year, supporting the programs, staff and resources that Nantucket children and families rely on every day. That means an evening of bidding, dancing and celebrating becomes something much bigger. It becomes a preschool classroom ready to welcome our youngest Club Kids in the morning. It becomes a safe place to go after school. It becomes summer camp, athletics, teen programming, meals, mentors and a building where kids can simply be kids.
On Wednesday, July 1, renowned Nantucket author and longtime community member Elin Hilderbrand welcomed guests into her home for the inaugural Five Star Summer Soirée. The evening brought together 74 guests for a memorable night of community, connection, and support for the Nantucket Boys & Girls Club. Guests heard from Board Chair Bess Clarke and CEO Jamie Foster, who shared how the Club continues to provide a safe, supportive environment where young people can learn, grow, and thrive. Club alumna Garvia Lee offered a heartfelt reflection on the lasting impact the Club has had on her life, while Elin Hilderbrand spoke about her own family's connection to the Club, sharing how meaningful it was for her children and why investing in the next generation of Nantucket youth is so important. The success of the inaugural Five Star Summer Soirée would not have been possible without the generosity of Elin Hilderbrand, the dedication of our trustees, and the support of everyone who attended. Their enthusiasm, thoughtful conversations, and commitment to the Club helped strengthen new relationships and inspire continued investment in the future of Nantucket's youth. Stream all episodes of Peacock’s Five Star Weekend now.
On Friday, June 26th, 15 Nantucket Boys & Girls Club Summer Campers left the island behind for one of the most exciting days of the summer — a trip to Gillette Stadium to watch Norway take on France in the FIFA World Cup 2026. The day started early. Club kids convened at the NBGC and traveled to the Hy-Line dock, backpacks packed and energy already high, boarding the 9:55am ferry to Hyannis. The boat ride was half the fun. Groups spread out across the cabin playing Uno and Pick-Up Sticks and buzzing with anticipation for what was ahead. Once they docked, the group loaded into a private van and made their way to Foxborough. Pulling into the Gillette Stadium lot and stepping out into a sea of international flags, jerseys, and fans from around the world was something else entirely. Thousands of people had traveled from across the globe to be there and our kids were right in the middle of it. They walked through the gates together, took in the scale of the stadium, and even ran into fellow Club kids from Martha's Vineyard for a quick photo before settling in to watch France put on an absolute clinic, beating Norway 4-1. Ousmane Dembélé was the star of the show, scoring three goals, known in soccer as a hat trick, in the 7th, 20th, and 32nd minutes. For many of our kids, it was their first time experiencing something on this scale. For all of them, it was a day that reminded them that the world is big, and it is theirs to explore. After the final whistle, the group made their way back to the island, catching the 7:30pm Steamship Authority ferry home, tired, full of stories, and probably still talking about Dembélé. None of it would have been possible without the generous support of Governor Maura Healey, the Massachusetts Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, the Weezie Foundation, and Glidden & Brescher. We are deeply grateful for their belief in our kids and their commitment to creating experiences that go far beyond the walls of our Club. Thank you for giving our kids the world.
The Nantucket Boys & Girls Club has announced that Alice “Tish” Emerson will be honored with the 2026 Tim Russert Spirit of Hope Award at its annual Summer Groove celebration. This award honors individuals who demonstrate exceptional dedication to their community through service, leadership, and generosity. Tish is a fitting recipient, having spent decades making a difference on Nantucket and helping strengthen the organizations that serve the island. Since first coming to Nantucket in 1964, Tish has been deeply involved in the community. Over the years, she has shared her time, expertise, and support with many local organizations, helping advance education, preserve Nantucket’s history, and invest in future generations. At the Nantucket Boys & Girls Club, Tish has been a dedicated champion for island youth. She joined the Board of Trustees in 2014 and has played an important role in supporting the Club’s mission to ensure every child has access to opportunities, mentorship, and a place to belong. In recognition of her lasting impact, she was named a Trustee Emerita. Tish is receiving the Spirit of Hope Award for her decades of commitment to Nantucket and the people who call it home. In addition to her work with the Club, she has provided leadership and support to organizations including the Nantucket Atheneum, Nantucket Historical Association, and Nantucket New School, helping these institutions grow and thrive. A lifelong educator, Tish also served as the first female president of Wheaton College, where she led the institution through a period of significant growth and change before continuing her work in higher education through the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. “Tish has spent years quietly making Nantucket a better place,” said Jamie Foster, CEO of the Nantucket Boys & Girls Club. “Her dedication to young people, education, and community service has touched countless lives, and we are honored to celebrate her as this year’s recipient of the Tim Russert Spirit of Hope Award.”
This weekend marks a first for the Nantucket Boys & Girls Club: a couple who met at one of our own events is getting married. Lia Wayman and Mike DeMakos met at Summer Groove in 2024, the same year Lia served as co-chair. After months of a mutual friend trying to get them in the same room, it finally happened that night at the Club. Lia has been part of the Club community for years. In addition to leading Summer Groove, she was a team captain for the inaugural Sam Sylvia Women's Golf Tournament in 2025. Her parents, Jim and Rosalee Wayman, have been longtime supporters of the Club. Mike’s connection is just as strong. His sons, Kolton and Gavin were both Club members, and he spent years on island as the Head Golf Pro at Nantucket Golf Club. They were already part of the same community, just on different paths, until the night of Groove. To celebrate them, the Club sent Lia and Mike a custom blanket in deep navy with cream stitching, designed with small details from that night and Nantucket, including a disco ball, florals, and other island elements elements and staples woven throughout. “We met at Summer Groove” sits at the top, with their names woven in at the bottom. Today, Lia and Mike are based in Florida, but Nantucket and the Club remain part of their story. Lia and Mike, congratulations! We're so thrilled for you both and are proud to be a small part of your forever story.
From left to right: Julian Cyr (State Senator) , Bess Clarke (Board Chair), Jamie Foster (CEO), Thomas Moakley (State Rep)
On February 19th, the Nantucket Boys & Girls Club gathered supporters in Palm Beach for an intimate reception at LoLa 41, generously hosted by Trustee Mark Daley. More than 70 guests were invited to join trustees and Club leadership for the evening. While the setting was Florida, everyone in the room shared a connection to Nantucket. For some, the Club has been part of their lives for years. For others, the reception served as a first time introduction to the work happening every day at 61 Sparks Ave. Board Chair Bess Clarke opened the evening by sharing her personal connection to the organization as a former Club kid. She reflected on what the Club meant to her growing up on Nantucket and why she remains deeply committed to ensuring its strength for future generations. Her journey from Club member to Board Chair speaks for itself. CEO Jamie Foster followed with remarks about the Club’s growing reach and the responsibility of expanding opportunity for young people on Nantucket. He spoke about the role the Club plays in providing stability and exposure to new possibilities for more than 1,300 children each year. Guests were also among the first to hear about several key priorities guiding the organization’s next phase of growth, including investments in infrastructure and long term stability that will ensure the Club can continue serving Nantucket families for decades to come. The evening was thoughtfully designed to reflect the Club’s Nantucket roots. Guests were welcomed with curated materials about the Club’s impact and received gift bags featuring Nantucket Looms soap along with custom Nantucket Boys & Girls Club hats embroidered with “Palm Beach” on the back. The Palm Beach reception reflects a broader effort to stay connected with Nantucket supporters wherever they spend their time throughout the year. As island families and friends gather beyond Nantucket, so too does the community that supports the Club and its mission. We are grateful to Mark Daley for his hospitality and to everyone who joined us for a meaningful evening of connection and conversation.
