Press release from the Garden Club of Fair Haven

The Garden Club of Fair Haven (GCFH) was recently named Garden Club of the Year by the Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc., at its annual meeting in Bridgewater.  The state award is given annually to a club who has the highest level of participation and accomplishment in garden club projects and objectives on community, state and national levels.

The GCFH also received a Presidential Citation for the club’s outstanding dune restoration work in Sea Bright. In 2013, President Terry Simboli organized a coalition of six local garden clubs, and raised over $20,000 in grants and donations to help restore Sea Bright’s dunes and business district, all destroyed by Super Storm Sandy.

GCFH was instrumental in forming a Dunes Restoration Committee consisting of Sea Bright officials and representatives from local and national environmental groups and local garden clubs. Mrs. Simboli also spearheaded a group of dedicated local garden club members to replant landscapes and planters along Ocean Avenue in Sea Bright.

The club also received an award of merit for Conservation from the National Garden Clubs, Inc. and an award for the club’s yearbook at the state club’s annual meeting.

On June 4th, the Garden Club of Fair Haven held its installation luncheon at the River House, Rumson.  New officers were installed by Vivian Morrison,  Immediate Past President of the Garden Club of New Jersey.  The new officers are President Barbara Carton-Riker,  Vice President  Kathleen Mullarkey, Treasurer Paula Thorogood, Recording Secretary Richard Biernacki, and Corresponding Secretary Marjorie Kirsh.

After a very exciting and rewarding year, the newly elected officers are busy planning the programs and committee focus for the coming  year. The first meeting is scheduled for September 3rd to be held at the Fair Haven Community Center.  The meetings are open to the public and anyone interested in attending, please call Mary Humphreys at (732)747-4636.