Senate Resolution No. 2261

BY: Senator BONACIC

COMMENDING the Shawangunk Garden Club upon the
occasion of celebrating its 90th Anniversary on
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.