December 2007 Newsletter

Next meeting: Tuesday, December 11th at 6:00 pm at the Manor House

Hostesses: Margaret Doerr, Dorrie Hansen and Carol Dickson
Note: Hostesses need to coordinate with each other desserts, creamer, and decorations for the table. Please arrive at 5:30 so you have plenty of time to set up before the meeting. Thanks!

Program: Holiday Party and Decorating the Manor House

VGC Blog: Get all the latest news and gardening tips at our new blog website. Go to http://vgcstonykill.blogspot.com/ from any internet connected computer.

YEARBOOK: If you haven’t received yours yet please see Gail Whitefield. Please note this update: Rita Dalton’s new email address is: rdalton1377@peoplepc.com

Notes for Party and Decorating: Please gather at 6 PM for dinner. Those arriving late due to commuting home from work, call Gail Whitefield or Diane Sedore so that a plate can be set-aside for you.

Supplies members need to bring to the December decorating meeting: scissors (for cutting ribbon), wire, wire cutters, glue gun and glue sticks. Donations of artificial decorations, candles and candleholders, and ribbon are welcome as well as any fresh greens (holly, boxwood, bittersweet, other evergreens) for use outdoors. Call Gail Whitefield and leave a message as to what type of fresh greens you have available as she will soon be buying greens for outdoors.

Harvest Festival: Each venue chairperson for the Harvest Festival is asked to complete a report: include comments on set-up, expenses, income, supply sources and cost, top sellers, what didn't sell, and any other information that would be helpful for next year's festival. Be sure to get your report to Karen Vitek who is typing up the annual Harvest Festival Report.

Cookie Exchange: Barbara Marcello is hosting her annual cookie exchange on Tuesday, December 18th at 7:00 PM. Barbara invites any garden club member to participate in the cookie exchange and socialize over coffee and cookies. Let Barbara know by December 11th if you will be joining the cookie exchange.

Step into Spring: The reservation and payment deadline for the "Step Into Spring" Breast Cancer Dinner has been extended to December 11th. The dinner is Monday, April 28th at Anthony's Pier 9 in Newburgh, NY. If you are not going to be at the December meeting, you need to mail your payment of $50 to Diane Sedore.

DEC Camp: Applications are being accepted for our scholarships for two summer campers to one of four New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Summer Camps. If you need information please contact:
--DEC's website at www.dec.ny.gov;
--call 518-402-8914,
--e-mail edcamps@gw.dec.state.ny.us or
--call Joyce Banner at 896-5283.
This year's camper scholarship deadline is February 9th. Campers, boys or girls, age 12-14 can choose from one of four camp locations. and campers, boys or girls, age 15-17 must attend Camp Pack Forest. Returnee campers are welcome, with certain weeks set aside for returnee campers only. Campers must meet the age requirement during the week they attend camp. Campers choose from 8 one-week camp sessions with week 1 being June 29 thru July 5 and week 8 being August 17 thru August 23
Check with your children, neighbors, co-workers, and friends for a teenager who would like to be sponsored by us. We sponsor two campers each summer. The camper and his or her family are responsible for transportation to the DEC camp. If you know of an interested camper, call or e-mail Joyce. Additional camper information will be distributed at the December meeting.

November Meeting Notes:

Speaker: Jim Heron historian from the Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estruaries.
He wrote the book “Denning’s Point: A Hudson River History.”

The Beacon Institute was the brainchild of Governor Pataki. The first small building is almost finished. Eventually there will be laboratories and classrooms on the scale of the Woodshole Institute.

Denning’s Point is just south of the train station. There will be sensors from Manhattan to Troy. He started by just being asked to make a pamphlet about the history of Denning’s Point. He ended up doing research and writing this book.

Barbara Marcello is having the Cookie Exchange on the 13th of December for club members. Please contact Barbara if you plan on attending.

(Thanks to Dottie Bell for continuing to take the following notes!)

Joyce talked about education – birdhouse instructions, etc.

Rita Dalton’s husband is in the hospital.

Advised to keep kids pumpkins for painting separate from the other pumpkins at Harvest Fest.

It was asked that members hear of price reductions first at Harvest Fest.

December Meeting: Decided to go wit the large sandwiches for dinner. Diane Sedore will order them. Dorrie and Margaret will keep the desserts simple. Dinner will be at 6:30 followed by decoration of the Manor House. Reba asked us to do less decorating in the Manor House and more in the new addition.

Open House is December 27th from 12:00 to 4:00.

Ideas for decorating were discussed.

Help is needed to straighten the storage room. Items cannot be brought downstairs until day of meeting. Angie, Diane and Karen will work in Sue’s office. We need to get permission to move the displays on the mantels and windowsills. Barbara and Gail will work on tree. Evelyn and Nancy will work on the coffee room. Pat Broun and Pat Lyman will work on the library. Joyce Banner will work on the children’s room.

Barbara Marcello, Diane Sedore and Joyce Banner are on the nominating committee.

We’re looking for campers to sponsor.

“Step into Spring” reservations now due.

***Thanks to members for understanding the absence of the November newsletter as I was hospitalized at that time. I’m feeling better now and hope to have it stay that way! ~ Karen

A quote especially for December~

"Nature has undoubtedly mastered the art of winter gardening
and even the most experienced gardener can learn from
the unrestrained beauty around them."
Vincent A. Simeone, in "Wonders of the Winter Landscape"