1
WINTER SOLSTICE UPDATE
Dear GIGC Members,
As the year draws to a close, I am feeling enormous gratitude. I thank to the Board for their hard work, made especially onerous in current circumstances, and to Club members for remaining loyal to GIGC during this pandemic. It has been good to see you, even if only on Zoom, over the fall, and it was especially great to see so many of you in person earlier this week at Strawbery Banke. We had a wonderful morning there, and I thank Pat Wilson, the Program Committee and Hospitality for their imagination, flexibility, and lovely hot cider and cookies that greeted us.
Since we will not have a business meeting associated with the January 4 meeting, which is open to the public, I wanted to send you a brief update of recent Club news and activities.
I'm sure you have noticed how beautiful the boat and all the town window boxes and planters are looking, and how well tended the Village Garden, Town Landing and the Rec Center are. Thanks to so many of you who have worked on these projects. I know that the residents of the Town, too, greatly appreciate this contribution.
The Club has done very well on apparel sales, both the mail order sales in November and the follow-up sales during Guild events. Thanks to Deedee Hammer for spearheading the apparel sales, and to those who have helped man the tables at the Guild events. We owe thanks also to the Guild for welcoming us at their sale events and helping to publicize our sale, as we did theirs on our Website.
Sadly (for us), Pam Cullen has resigned as Website Archivist because the Town has asked for her time again this spring. The Club is therefore looking for a new volunteer to archive documents on the Website. If you are interested in this position, please contact Pat Wilson or me.
The Plant Sale has been scheduled for May 21, 2022 and will again be headed by Glicka Kaplan (something else to be thankful for). Glicka will be discussing with the Select Board whether we should again use the Common, or whether we might consider a hybrid model, both outdoors and inside the Rec Center.
The public program on Jan 4, 2022 will be on Invasive Species, an important topic
here in New Castle. We had hoped this could be a hybrid meeting, but with the 2
current levels of Covid, it was decided that we must go to all-Zoom. The Publicity Committee is blanketing the media, and postcards, posters, emails, and other social media posts have already started to go out. Pat Wilson and Wendy Tauber have uploaded information with further details about the program and the presenter on the GIGC Website, and the Website also has the Zoom link.
I wish you all the very best for the holidays, and hope for a healthy and safe New Year.
Barbara
Great Island Garden Club
General Meeting Minutes
November 2,2021
9:30am
Attendance: 47 % of Membership Attended
Program Presentation
-Jana Milbocker from Enchanted Gardens entertained and informed the GIGC Membership
Review and Approve Min. 10/05/2021- B. Moore - Motion 1st J.Page 2nd P. Wood
Opening remarks- B. Moore
be an outdoor tour led by Pat Wilson which will include decorated trees by local merchants. Refreshments are being planned outdoors.
Old Business:
Apparel Sale-Profit of $700 and people can expect their items in a week. There are some Yeti mugs, tee shirts, Caps and blankets still available.
New Business :
Common Clean up on 11/18 &19 before Green up day on11/20 .
Meeting Adjourned @ 11am
- Motion 1st J.Page 2nd M. Briggs
Next Meeting of General Membership- December 14th ( Strawberry Bank
Great Island Garden Club
General Meeting Minutes
October 5, 2021
9:30am
Program
Tovah Martin
Maximizing Space in the Garden
Tovah is a horticulturist, author and lecturer. She’s accredited with NOFA as an Organic Land Care Profession, has published over 4 books and her articles have appeared in publications such as Country Home, Flower Magazine and Yankee. She appears frequently on television and radio – she was a guest on the CBS Sunday Early show, the Martha Stewart Show and the PBS television gardening series “Cultivating Life.”
Review & Approve Sept. 8th Min.
B. Moore
Approved Motion-A. Tarlton, 2nd S. MarpleàUnanimous approval
Treasurer’s Report Fiscal Year 7-1 to 6-30
J. Page
Approved Motion- P. Wilson 2nd C. Wilbur Unanimous approval
J. Page requests all members use the Requisition Form for payment of receipts
Corresponding Sec. Committee Reports
A. Weeder and D. Coniglio sent thank-you notes to GIGC
Civic
B. George
B. Reynolds and B. George have coordinated a team of 9 GIGC members to do fall planting (window boxes, town hall)
Members who would like to have the begonias from the plantings for the winter should contact Biggie The Boat
A. Tarlton
MP Gibson
•The NC Select Board, Conservation Commission and GIGC
GIGC will be plantings on Oct
Programs
Nov. Program
Hospitality no report
Website
W. Tauber P. Wilson
• Website is updated to include the apparel sale.
Membership
MP Gibson continues to reach out, however she did not notice any new members on this zoom meeting.
MP refers potential new members to the website.
Apparel Sale
D. Hammer
Atlantic Sportwear, Portland Maine, will produce the GIGC clothing. Deedee will order a variety of samples. The items will also be listed on website and we anticipate meeting our 15 purchase minimum goal. Both the Great Island and GIGC logo will be available.
Web site Shopping starts 10/18 for 1 week only.
Great holiday gifts for family that can be purchased directly on the website and sent to your home within a week.
Daffodil Sale
P. Lenz and K Mathews packaged bulbs for distribution 10/9
New Business
New Castle Garden Tour, perhaps with a plant sale,
B. Moore
Due to Covid, B. Moore will poll GIGC to gauge potential attendance for the Holiday Luncheon.
Board minutes will also be available, and will be posted on the Members Only section of the website.
There is broad membership interest in this.
Moore will send out an invitation to GIGC members to
To celebrate New Castle's 400th year anniversary in 2023 a workgroup/committee is being formed to assess the possibility of running a Garden Tour as a fundraiser in 2023.
Update Mission Statement
B. Moore
Our Mission Statement is 20 years old and we now live in a different world. We may want to consider modifying the GIGC Mission Statement to include caring for environment or other ideas.
Moore will also send out an invitation to members to join a Mission Reassessment workgroup.
Meeting Adjourned @ Motion approved 1st C. Wilbur, 2nd P. Borden Unanimous approval 11:15 am
Agenda Items for consideration next year
Great Island Garden Club
General Meeting Minutes
September 14, 2021
Sept. 14 2021 @ 9.00 AM Social Meeting started @ 10am
Common, Pavilion #2
Total Members (62)
Present (29) 47%
Absent (33) 53 %
Fall Social 9a-10a
Selectman Request-- Dave McGuckin
The Select board is looking for an individual or group to spearhead the Leadership for the 400 year New Castle Celebration which will take place in the Summer of 2023. The Select board are reaching out to multiple town organizations (Historical Society, Church, GIGC, Men’s Club) to engage a leader.
Budget allocation $15,000 to 20, 000
If you are interested in being a key leader for the 400th anniversary let Dave McGuckin know.
Recognition of Past- President, Pat Lenz
B. Moore GIGC presented P. Lenz with a Walter Liff sculpture and bag made by Brenda Scoloro.
Review and approve June 8th and 16th, 2021 Min.
B. Moore Approved Motion-P.Wood, 2nd A.Tarlton Unanimous approval
Treasurer’s Report
Fiscal Year 7-1 to 6-30
J. Page
Budget report presented
Approved Motion- MP. Gibson, 2nd C.Wilbur Unanimous approval
Future Committee to be formed to review overall budget process (allocation of funds, spending, contingency fund, investment policies
Committee Reports
Covid Update D.Coniglio
Diane introduced herself as a Pharmacist who is working closely with New Castle, Health Officer, Kathy Hollister MD to continually monitor and establish Covid guidelines for any New Castle Group/Membership Group. These guidelines will be based on current scientific thinking.
Decisions on in-person attendance at programs/meetings etc will be made in consult with D. Coniglio and Health Officer K. Hollister
Civic Projects-Town plantings
B. George
Plants in all the gardens did well this year with the expected attrition rate. Biggie reported that even through the tree was cut down, in front of town hall, the shade perennials did fine
Thank- you to the watering and weeding volunteers this summer
The Boat
Ann Tarlton— Plans for the Boat and rocky, craggy area around the boat are going to be addressed next year. The intent is to fortify the soil and plant some artistic grasses/perennials around the boat. A. Tarlton has a vision that the plantings around the boat will represent waves. Perennials and annuals will be in the boat with spots of color.
A Boat Committee Workgroup will be formed (S. Gough, J. Page, B. Brown, A. Tarlton to come up with a creative, inspirational plan.
Town Landing
Select board, Conservation Committee and GIGC worked together to came up with a planting plan. In addition, GIGC is consulting the UNH document called Landscaping at a Waters Edge to guide the decision on the type of plantings ( low maint. drought tolerant, pollinators, seasonal color including bayberries and beach plums) which will allow an unobstructed views and maintain the coastline.
MP. Gibson presented a plan which will be planted by our volunteers in the future.
Request for $4000 for Special Projects in 2021
$ 4000 was allocated for both the Town Landing and the Boat enhancement project.. (Approximate Split ($3,200 Landing) ($800 The Boat)
Motion approved 1st S.Griffin, 2nd I.Bush. Unanimous approval
Hospitality
A. Weeder— Thank-you S. Griffin and P. Cullen for today’s hospitality
All the slots have been filled for the rest of the year
Membership
MP Gibson—A family membership for $75 dollars was suggested by Mary Pat, Individual Membership will remain at $60.
Publicity
no report
Website
Wendy Tauber-Pat Wilson
Website is being streamlined
The Calendar has been removed. It was repetitive since the programs and plant sale were already on the website.
There has been an addition of Member’s gardens.
The 2021-22 program information has been added and will change as needed.
We are working on bringing the archives up to date.
The print booklet feature is not currently available.
Outreach
B. Moore All recipients sent us Thank you notes
G. Kaplan Monarch School in Rochester NH
Last year we provided funds for Monarch’s therapeutic garden
Monarch is a day school that serves children ages 5 – 21, with significant physical, medical, developmental, behavioral and emotional disabilities. GIGC members have been invited to tour the Garden. G. Kaplan will send out an invitation
Nominating
VP Nomination of J. Thomas
Motion approved 1st SA. Weeder, 2nd P. Lenz. Unanimous approval
Other
Daffodils Arrival expected 9/26 for pick up on 10/8 and 10/9 ( details on web site)
Sold 4500 daffodils last year
Sold 1900 this year
P. Lenz looking for help to package this year. There may be a few extra this year if anyone wants to purchase
Agenda Items for consideration next year
B. Moore Review our budget, finance processes
Review our Mission Statement
Minor revisions to by- laws
Proposed Garden tour for the 400th anniversary
Need a workgroup for 400th Anniversary
Recreation Center
Susan Gough Recreation Center clean up Sept 16th @ 10am
Apparel Sale
DeeDee Hammer will coordinate apparel sale this year
Meeting Adjourned @ 10:55am
Motion approved 1st G.Kaplan, 2nd,A.Tarlton. Unanimous approval
Linda Patchett, Secretary
GIGC 2021 Summer Update
Dear GIGC Members,
Since quite a lot has been happening this summer, I thought I would send out an update.
1) Club Meetings and Covid Protocols:
I have spoken with Kathy Hollister, M.D., the New Castle Health Officer, about whether the Club should hold an indoor "social" meeting, as we had planned, on September 14. She is clear that we should meet outside. Claudia has reserved a pavilion for September 14, with a rain date of September 15 as a backup plan. Please mark both in your calendars.
I am very disappointed, as I know you are as well, that we have not yet become free of this pandemic, and we must hope that numbers improve over time. Until they do, we will be following CDC guidelines, and taking the advice of the Health Officer. Fortunately our Program Committee has demonstrated their flexibility and their ability to provide excellent alternate programs when needed, and I thank them.
2) Coastguard Park
Volunteers removed invasive sumac and bittersweet from the back corner of the Coastguard Park earlier this summer. The sumac stumps were then leveled to the ground so the area can be mowed. Mary Pat is working with Brenda Reynolds, Pat Wood, and Jim Rini (Conservation Commission representative) to plan a landscape design for this corner of the Park. The intent is to plant native plants that will manage water flow from the parking lot and protect of the river. The group hopes to complete the project by mid-October.
3) The Boat
I'm sure you will have all seen the Boat near the Causeway. VJ and Craig Strehl have planted the Boat Garden for a number of years. During the summer they asked if the GIGC would take over, as they now spend most of the summer at the Lakes. The Board agreed to take on the Boat Garden, and Bonnie Brown, Mary Pat Gibson and Jane Page undertook the planting. It is looking beautiful, and makes a fitting entrance to the Great Island. Ann Tarlton is already at work planning permanent plantings, mainly drought-tolerant perennials that will require little regular attention.
4) Daffodils
Pat Lenz reports that the Daffodil web store was closed on July 31, 2021. Van Engelen will ship the order to her house during the week of September 27. The bulbs will be repackaged and labeled and will be ready for pick-up by customers on Friday, October 8 and Saturday, October 9 from 9AM - 11 AM at her home.
************************************************************
I am attaching the schedule of meetings for the year for your calendars. More information about the programs will be found on the GIGC website.
I hope you are all having a relaxing and enjoyable summer, seeing family and friends. And I look forward to seeing you in person on the Common, hopefully on September 14.
Barbara
WINTER SOLSTICE UPDATE
Dear GIGC Members,
As the year draws to a close, I am feeling enormous gratitude. I thank to the Board for their hard work, made especially onerous in current circumstances, and to Club members for remaining loyal to GIGC during this pandemic. It has been good to see you, even if only on Zoom, over the fall, and it was especially great to see so many of you in person earlier this week at Strawbery Banke. We had a wonderful morning there, and I thank Pat Wilson, the Program Committee and Hospitality for their imagination, flexibility, and lovely hot cider and cookies that greeted us.
Since we will not have a business meeting associated with the January 4 meeting, which is open to the public, I wanted to send you a brief update of recent Club news and activities.
I'm sure you have noticed how beautiful the boat and all the town window boxes and planters are looking, and how well tended the Village Garden, Town Landing and the Rec Center are. Thanks to so many of you who have worked on these projects. I know that the residents of the Town, too, greatly appreciate this contribution.
The Club has done very well on apparel sales, both the mail order sales in November and the follow-up sales during Guild events. Thanks to Deedee Hammer for spearheading the apparel sales, and to those who have helped man the tables at the Guild events. We owe thanks also to the Guild for welcoming us at their sale events and helping to publicize our sale, as we did theirs on our Website.
Sadly (for us), Pam Cullen has resigned as Website Archivist because the Town has asked for her time again this spring. The Club is therefore looking for a new volunteer to archive documents on the Website. If you are interested in this position, please contact Pat Wilson or me.
The Plant Sale has been scheduled for May 21, 2022 and will again be headed by Glicka Kaplan (something else to be thankful for). Glicka will be discussing with the Select Board whether we should again use the Common, or whether we might consider a hybrid model, both outdoors and inside the Rec Center.
The public program on Jan 4, 2022 will be on Invasive Species, an important topic
here in New Castle. We had hoped this could be a hybrid meeting, but with the 2
current levels of Covid, it was decided that we must go to all-Zoom. The Publicity Committee is blanketing the media, and postcards, posters, emails, and other social media posts have already started to go out. Pat Wilson and Wendy Tauber have uploaded information with further details about the program and the presenter on the GIGC Website, and the Website also has the Zoom link.
I wish you all the very best for the holidays, and hope for a healthy and safe New Year.
Barbara
Great Island Garden Club
General Meeting Minutes
November 2,2021
9:30am
Attendance: 47 % of Membership Attended
Program Presentation
-Jana Milbocker from Enchanted Gardens entertained and informed the GIGC Membership
Review and Approve Min. 10/05/2021- B. Moore - Motion 1st J.Page 2nd P. Wood
Opening remarks- B. Moore
- - Survey response revealed that there was limited interest in Holiday Lunch
- - President will send out DRAFT minutes prior to meeting and once they are approved they will be
uploaded on the Web
Treasures’ Report- Jane Page
Nothing new to Report and the requistiion t process is working fin:
- Civic B. George
Boat was emptied of fall plantings and perennials were added
- Publicity– N. Borden
Next meeting of this group is 11/3
- Website– P. Cullen, P. Wlson, W. Taube
Posted on the Web is the apparel sale and Guild Pie Sale
- Programs—C .Wilbur
be an outdoor tour led by Pat Wilson which will include decorated trees by local merchants. Refreshments are being planned outdoors.
Old Business:
Apparel Sale-Profit of $700 and people can expect their items in a week. There are some Yeti mugs, tee shirts, Caps and blankets still available.
New Business :
Common Clean up on 11/18 &19 before Green up day on11/20 .
Meeting Adjourned @ 11am
- Motion 1st J.Page 2nd M. Briggs
Next Meeting of General Membership- December 14th ( Strawberry Bank
Great Island Garden Club
General Meeting Minutes
October 5, 2021
9:30am
Program
Tovah Martin
Maximizing Space in the Garden
Tovah is a horticulturist, author and lecturer. She’s accredited with NOFA as an Organic Land Care Profession, has published over 4 books and her articles have appeared in publications such as Country Home, Flower Magazine and Yankee. She appears frequently on television and radio – she was a guest on the CBS Sunday Early show, the Martha Stewart Show and the PBS television gardening series “Cultivating Life.”
Review & Approve Sept. 8th Min.
B. Moore
Approved Motion-A. Tarlton, 2nd S. MarpleàUnanimous approval
Treasurer’s Report Fiscal Year 7-1 to 6-30
J. Page
Approved Motion- P. Wilson 2nd C. Wilbur Unanimous approval
J. Page requests all members use the Requisition Form for payment of receipts
Corresponding Sec. Committee Reports
A. Weeder and D. Coniglio sent thank-you notes to GIGC
Civic
B. George
B. Reynolds and B. George have coordinated a team of 9 GIGC members to do fall planting (window boxes, town hall)
Members who would like to have the begonias from the plantings for the winter should contact Biggie The Boat
A. Tarlton
- Perennials and annuals will be planted in the boat for spots of color.
- Special thanks to Sam Page for rototilling work and to Bonnie Brown, Jane Page, and Susan Gough for planting the boat.
MP Gibson
•The NC Select Board, Conservation Commission and GIGC
GIGC will be plantings on Oct
Programs
Nov. Program
- Bill Graham's program had to be canceled due to illness.
- Plans are being made to present instead the program
"Enchanted Gardens," which will highlight the best public and private gardens in New England.
Hospitality no report
Website
W. Tauber P. Wilson
• Website is updated to include the apparel sale.
Membership
MP Gibson continues to reach out, however she did not notice any new members on this zoom meeting.
MP refers potential new members to the website.
Apparel Sale
D. Hammer
Atlantic Sportwear, Portland Maine, will produce the GIGC clothing. Deedee will order a variety of samples. The items will also be listed on website and we anticipate meeting our 15 purchase minimum goal. Both the Great Island and GIGC logo will be available.
Web site Shopping starts 10/18 for 1 week only.
Great holiday gifts for family that can be purchased directly on the website and sent to your home within a week.
Daffodil Sale
P. Lenz and K Mathews packaged bulbs for distribution 10/9
New Business
New Castle Garden Tour, perhaps with a plant sale,
B. Moore
Due to Covid, B. Moore will poll GIGC to gauge potential attendance for the Holiday Luncheon.
Board minutes will also be available, and will be posted on the Members Only section of the website.
There is broad membership interest in this.
Moore will send out an invitation to GIGC members to
To celebrate New Castle's 400th year anniversary in 2023 a workgroup/committee is being formed to assess the possibility of running a Garden Tour as a fundraiser in 2023.
Update Mission Statement
B. Moore
Our Mission Statement is 20 years old and we now live in a different world. We may want to consider modifying the GIGC Mission Statement to include caring for environment or other ideas.
Moore will also send out an invitation to members to join a Mission Reassessment workgroup.
Meeting Adjourned @ Motion approved 1st C. Wilbur, 2nd P. Borden Unanimous approval 11:15 am
Agenda Items for consideration next year
- Review our budget, finance processes
- Minor revisions to by- laws
Great Island Garden Club
General Meeting Minutes
September 14, 2021
Sept. 14 2021 @ 9.00 AM Social Meeting started @ 10am
Common, Pavilion #2
Total Members (62)
Present (29) 47%
Absent (33) 53 %
Fall Social 9a-10a
Selectman Request-- Dave McGuckin
The Select board is looking for an individual or group to spearhead the Leadership for the 400 year New Castle Celebration which will take place in the Summer of 2023. The Select board are reaching out to multiple town organizations (Historical Society, Church, GIGC, Men’s Club) to engage a leader.
Budget allocation $15,000 to 20, 000
If you are interested in being a key leader for the 400th anniversary let Dave McGuckin know.
Recognition of Past- President, Pat Lenz
B. Moore GIGC presented P. Lenz with a Walter Liff sculpture and bag made by Brenda Scoloro.
Review and approve June 8th and 16th, 2021 Min.
B. Moore Approved Motion-P.Wood, 2nd A.Tarlton Unanimous approval
Treasurer’s Report
Fiscal Year 7-1 to 6-30
J. Page
Budget report presented
Approved Motion- MP. Gibson, 2nd C.Wilbur Unanimous approval
Future Committee to be formed to review overall budget process (allocation of funds, spending, contingency fund, investment policies
Committee Reports
Covid Update D.Coniglio
Diane introduced herself as a Pharmacist who is working closely with New Castle, Health Officer, Kathy Hollister MD to continually monitor and establish Covid guidelines for any New Castle Group/Membership Group. These guidelines will be based on current scientific thinking.
Decisions on in-person attendance at programs/meetings etc will be made in consult with D. Coniglio and Health Officer K. Hollister
Civic Projects-Town plantings
B. George
Plants in all the gardens did well this year with the expected attrition rate. Biggie reported that even through the tree was cut down, in front of town hall, the shade perennials did fine
Thank- you to the watering and weeding volunteers this summer
The Boat
Ann Tarlton— Plans for the Boat and rocky, craggy area around the boat are going to be addressed next year. The intent is to fortify the soil and plant some artistic grasses/perennials around the boat. A. Tarlton has a vision that the plantings around the boat will represent waves. Perennials and annuals will be in the boat with spots of color.
A Boat Committee Workgroup will be formed (S. Gough, J. Page, B. Brown, A. Tarlton to come up with a creative, inspirational plan.
Town Landing
Select board, Conservation Committee and GIGC worked together to came up with a planting plan. In addition, GIGC is consulting the UNH document called Landscaping at a Waters Edge to guide the decision on the type of plantings ( low maint. drought tolerant, pollinators, seasonal color including bayberries and beach plums) which will allow an unobstructed views and maintain the coastline.
MP. Gibson presented a plan which will be planted by our volunteers in the future.
Request for $4000 for Special Projects in 2021
$ 4000 was allocated for both the Town Landing and the Boat enhancement project.. (Approximate Split ($3,200 Landing) ($800 The Boat)
Motion approved 1st S.Griffin, 2nd I.Bush. Unanimous approval
Hospitality
A. Weeder— Thank-you S. Griffin and P. Cullen for today’s hospitality
All the slots have been filled for the rest of the year
Membership
MP Gibson—A family membership for $75 dollars was suggested by Mary Pat, Individual Membership will remain at $60.
Publicity
no report
Website
Wendy Tauber-Pat Wilson
Website is being streamlined
The Calendar has been removed. It was repetitive since the programs and plant sale were already on the website.
There has been an addition of Member’s gardens.
The 2021-22 program information has been added and will change as needed.
We are working on bringing the archives up to date.
The print booklet feature is not currently available.
Outreach
B. Moore All recipients sent us Thank you notes
G. Kaplan Monarch School in Rochester NH
Last year we provided funds for Monarch’s therapeutic garden
Monarch is a day school that serves children ages 5 – 21, with significant physical, medical, developmental, behavioral and emotional disabilities. GIGC members have been invited to tour the Garden. G. Kaplan will send out an invitation
Nominating
VP Nomination of J. Thomas
Motion approved 1st SA. Weeder, 2nd P. Lenz. Unanimous approval
Other
Daffodils Arrival expected 9/26 for pick up on 10/8 and 10/9 ( details on web site)
Sold 4500 daffodils last year
Sold 1900 this year
P. Lenz looking for help to package this year. There may be a few extra this year if anyone wants to purchase
Agenda Items for consideration next year
B. Moore Review our budget, finance processes
Review our Mission Statement
Minor revisions to by- laws
Proposed Garden tour for the 400th anniversary
Need a workgroup for 400th Anniversary
Recreation Center
Susan Gough Recreation Center clean up Sept 16th @ 10am
Apparel Sale
DeeDee Hammer will coordinate apparel sale this year
Meeting Adjourned @ 10:55am
Motion approved 1st G.Kaplan, 2nd,A.Tarlton. Unanimous approval
Linda Patchett, Secretary
GIGC 2021 Summer Update
Dear GIGC Members,
Since quite a lot has been happening this summer, I thought I would send out an update.
1) Club Meetings and Covid Protocols:
I have spoken with Kathy Hollister, M.D., the New Castle Health Officer, about whether the Club should hold an indoor "social" meeting, as we had planned, on September 14. She is clear that we should meet outside. Claudia has reserved a pavilion for September 14, with a rain date of September 15 as a backup plan. Please mark both in your calendars.
I am very disappointed, as I know you are as well, that we have not yet become free of this pandemic, and we must hope that numbers improve over time. Until they do, we will be following CDC guidelines, and taking the advice of the Health Officer. Fortunately our Program Committee has demonstrated their flexibility and their ability to provide excellent alternate programs when needed, and I thank them.
2) Coastguard Park
Volunteers removed invasive sumac and bittersweet from the back corner of the Coastguard Park earlier this summer. The sumac stumps were then leveled to the ground so the area can be mowed. Mary Pat is working with Brenda Reynolds, Pat Wood, and Jim Rini (Conservation Commission representative) to plan a landscape design for this corner of the Park. The intent is to plant native plants that will manage water flow from the parking lot and protect of the river. The group hopes to complete the project by mid-October.
3) The Boat
I'm sure you will have all seen the Boat near the Causeway. VJ and Craig Strehl have planted the Boat Garden for a number of years. During the summer they asked if the GIGC would take over, as they now spend most of the summer at the Lakes. The Board agreed to take on the Boat Garden, and Bonnie Brown, Mary Pat Gibson and Jane Page undertook the planting. It is looking beautiful, and makes a fitting entrance to the Great Island. Ann Tarlton is already at work planning permanent plantings, mainly drought-tolerant perennials that will require little regular attention.
4) Daffodils
Pat Lenz reports that the Daffodil web store was closed on July 31, 2021. Van Engelen will ship the order to her house during the week of September 27. The bulbs will be repackaged and labeled and will be ready for pick-up by customers on Friday, October 8 and Saturday, October 9 from 9AM - 11 AM at her home.
************************************************************
I am attaching the schedule of meetings for the year for your calendars. More information about the programs will be found on the GIGC website.
I hope you are all having a relaxing and enjoyable summer, seeing family and friends. And I look forward to seeing you in person on the Common, hopefully on September 14.
Barbara