Honor Shawangunk Garden Club

April 8, 2017 WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to honor those illustrious individuals and organizations of the State of New York whose purposeful endeavors serve to enhance the quality of life in their communities; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend the Shawangunk Garden Club upon the occasion of its 90th Anniversary celebrated on Saturday, April 8, 2017, at the Hunt Memorial Building in Ellenville, New York; and WHEREAS, To recognize this momentous occasion, the 75 members of the Club dressed in period attire and offered tea and home-baked treats to visitors, amongst beautifully decorated table-top garden vignettes; and WHEREAS, On April 8, 1927, eight ladies gathered at the Napanoch, New York, home of Mrs. Chester Young; the women discussed the establishment of a social club, one with the mission of beautifying the town and village of Ellenville, both literally with gardens and flowers and figuratively, through civic involvement; and WHEREAS, For nine decades, the devoted members of the Shawangunk Garden Club have worked diligently to keep their town and village beautiful through lovely hanging baskets along Liberty Square in the center of Ellenville, or the colorful flowers planted in the whiskey barrels on the village's Center and Canal Streets; and WHEREAS, According to its yearbook, the Club "is responsible for planning, planting and providing funds for gardens and plantings throughout the community"; since the 1920s, that has taken the form of tree planting along the Route 209 corridor between Ellenville and Napanoch, the establishment of a garden at Ellenville Regional Hospital, shrubs planted at the Hunt Memorial Building, flowers at the Ellenville Public Library & Museum, and gardens throughout the hamlets of Wawarsing and at the Fantinekill Cemetery; and WHEREAS, Even when the wind is blowing and the temperatures are approaching freezing, the Shawangunk Garden Club continues to meet each month at the Ellenville Library where the members discuss the intricacies of planting in Upstate New York; they also plan garden layouts, purchase plants locally, and get to the real business at hand, tilling soil and making Ellenville more beautiful; and WHEREAS, In addition to beautifying the village, the Shawangunk Garden Club donates funds to worthy charities, and creates spectacular centerpieces for the hospital's big annual gala event each fall, and the Noonday Club's Senior Citizen Dinner; and WHEREAS, On May 13th of every year, the Shawangunk Garden Club hosts its popular Mother's Day Plant Sale in the gazebo at the corner of Main and Canal Streets; and WHEREAS, The ladies are available to answer gardening questions at the Blueberry Festival each August; a couple of months later, club member and master gardener, Helene Glatt leads a discussion entitled "Let's Get Down & Dirty" about various soils and Ph balancing for our gardens, followed in November by the Club's holiday decorations all around the village; and WHEREAS, Through the years, the Shawangunk Garden Club has been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades for their flower shows, yearbooks, and civic projects; in 1977, the Club received the Noonday Club's "Citizen of the Year Award," and in 2016, it was honored for its steadfast community service by the Ellenville Regional Hospital Foundation; and WHEREAS, It is the practice of this Legislative Body that when organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commend the Shawangunk Garden Club upon the occasion of celebrating its 90th Anniversary on April 8, 2017; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the Shawangunk Garden Club.