FAIR HAVEN – The Garden Club of Fair Haven (GCFH) was awarded Garden Club of the Year by the Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc., at its annual meeting in Bridgewater.
The state garden club’s top award is given annually to a club that has the highest level of participation and accomplishment in garden club projects and objectives on community, state and national levels.
The Garden Club of Fair Haven also received a presidential citation for its dune restoration work in Sea Bright.
In 2013, Terry Simboli, club president, organized a coalition of six local garden clubs and raised more than $20,000 in grants and donations to help restore Sea Bright’s dunes and business district, that were 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.
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.
The Garden Club of Fair Haven held its installation luncheon June 4 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.
The newly elected officers are busy planning the programs and committee focus for the coming year. The first meeting is scheduled for Sept. 3 to be held at the Fair Haven Community Center. Meetings are open to the public.
Those interested in attending may call Mary Humphreys at 732-747-4636.
