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1Cherry tree festivals take place all over the world to celebrate the beginning of spring. Andover celebrates spring—and a cherished cherry tree located next to Sam Phil—with cookies! Two years ago, members of the science department handed out some 1,500 cookies to passers-by from beneath its blossoming branches. 2 More than 40 cherry trees decorate campus with color— most of them are pink and do not produce fruit. Each year, 14 ornamental cherries adorn Phillips Street, behind the Peabody Institute.

3The Sam Phil cherry tree is believed to be a Japanese ornamental flowering cherry cultivar, or a Prunus serrulata ‘Kanzan.’ It is more than 50 years old and 30–40 feet tall and wide, according to grounds manager Kevin Block.

4The Sam Phil cherry tree was almost cut down—twice! Once in the late ’60s and again in 2004 because it interfered with campus views of the new science buildings: Evans Hall, constructed in 1963 and since razed, and the Gelb Science Center, built in 2004.

5Tom Cone, emeritus instructor in biology, will forever be known for his love of the cherry trees. In spring 2004, Cone started a movement to save the threatened tree. Upon hearing the community’s concern, Head of School Barbara Landis Chase made the decision to preserve the tree. Shortly after, Cone began the simple annual celebration. To honor his retirement in 2017, Cone’s colleagues planted a cherry tree on the south side of the Gelb Science Center.

View the cherry tree in full bloom and see Tom Cone discuss the tree’s history: www.andover.edu/cherrytree

the BUZZ

Narrated by Common, the documentary A Most Beautiful Thing tells the story of the country’s first all-Black high school rowing team and their recent 20th anniversary reunion. Bill Hudson ’70, who has a long affiliation with rowing organizations, helped provide financial support for the documentary and to establish a companion 501(c)(3) fund to develop more rowing programs in diverse communities.

@ 2019 RICHARD SCHULTZ Massachusetts Congressman Seth Moulton ’97 penned a blistering op-ed published by CNN while sheltering in place January 6 during the insurrection attacks on the Capitol. Moulton was one of several speakers at a special All-School Meeting convened later in January to discuss the impact of these events.