Large Crowd Attends Dedication of Roberts Mural

Sarah Cannavo loves painting murals—has ever since she graduated high school, when she completed her first.

But the highlight of her experience on the wall of the library was the children who came in day after day to watch her work, listening to the girls debate who the princess in the painting was (Belle of Beauty and the Beast, perhaps Sleeping Beauty) and the boys discuss whether the dragon was a good dragon or a bad dragon.

"This was something that was so cool for me," she said. "It was so much fun."

Cannavo completed the mural just before Thanksgiving. Wednesday night, she finally received the recognition so many felt she deserved when the school held a special ceremony to dedicate the mural.

Principal Frederick Johnson said staff at Roberts had wanted a mural for some time. Cannavo, a Roberts parent, caught wind of this and eagerly offered her services.

"We gave her something broad, and then she just took it," said Johnson. "It's a credit to her studying her craft ... This is one of our parents and she has a passion and a drive for it and it shows."

For Johnson, Cannavo's creation—with its classic images of dragons, princesses, castles, pirates and beanstalks—perfectly captures the idea that books can take a child on a journey.

The Home and Schol Foundation paid for the mural—which was mostly a break-even project for Cannavo—and Roberts chair Stephanie Morrison thanked anyone who bought school merchandise from the foundation, because "without you, we would not have been able to pay for that."

Now Morrison said she's looking for more projects for Cannavo, who received a standing ovation from a packed gymnasium of students, parents, teachers and administrators. 

"I'm overwhelmed ... I'm very honored," she said.