The Penn State Master Gardeners, Franklin County Recognition Dinner

by Carol Kagan, Master Gardener

A mini-gourd with fresh flower arrangement

Enjoying one of the last mild autumn evenings, Penn State Master Gardeners, Franklin County and guests gathered for their annual recognition dinner and program at Chestnut Landing, Menno Haven.



As usual the Special Events Committee provided beautiful centerpieces for the tables and each attendee was able to take home miniature flower arrangements presented in small hollowed gourds.



George and Sue Weigel (L,Miller)

The evening included a delicious dinner and a program by George Weigel, Central PA Garden Writer, Horticulturist and (per his Website) Certified Gardening Nut. George brought copies of his new book, "Pennsylvania Getting Started Garden Guide," for sale and signing. And also a box full of hyacinth bean seed pods - some were taken to MG homes for next year and the remainder went home with Juanita Kauffman for the greenhouse and plant sale.



John McGinley, MC (L.Miller)

Photographer Larry Miller (Thanks, Larry) held back on the full photo shot of MC John McGinley who wore his signature khaki shorts at the request of the Committee but opted for white shirt and bow tie for a more formal look. After good-natured no-ante betting on if Bill Stead would come in shorts, Bill arrived with Cindy and was wearing long pants.



In introducing our speaker, John related the story of how he, then a features editor and colleague of George at the Patriot-News and a Certified Gardening Wacko himself, one day said to George, “You like to garden, right? How’d you like to write a weekly gardening column?”



George talks about winter problems (L. Miller)

For the evening talk George picked a timely theme about winter problems as we are coming into the first weekend of very cold and maybe frost/freeze in our area.






Donna Scherer (L.Miller)

After the presentation, Donna Scherer, Master Gardener Coordinator for Franklin County, gave a brief recap of the year's highlights. Listed in the 2014 Annual Report for Franklin County it is noted that there were 97 active Master Gardeners who logged 1,078 continuing education hours and 9,630 volunteer hours. It is estimated that those volunteer hours have a time value of $211,282. A number of spouses were recognized for their volunteer time contributions as well.

Nina Redding, District Extension Director, made brief remarks on the accomplishments of the Master Gardener. Donna then handed out both recognition certificates and the coveted MG hour badges with volunteer hours listed (500, 1000, etc.).

The 2014 Master Gardener class was recognized.

(L-R) Verna Rife, Darlene Sord, Donna Scherer, Ruth Young, Cathy Campbell,
Jessica Kauffman, Pat Glasgow, Ron Schlecht (L.Miller) Not present: Jane Birt, Krista Cowan, Trey Gelbach, Walter Wray

 



Master Gardeners who achieved the 100 hour volunteer mark did not get MG hour badges but were recognized with certificates.

Jane Birt  -  David Brashier  -  Cathy Campbell  - Patricia Glasgow  -  Colleen Johnson  -  Jessica Kauffman   -   Paul Luka   -   John McGinley  -  Diane Morgan  -  Billy Morningstar  -  Tom Newcomer  -    Cindy Scanzello   -    Ronald Schlecht   -    Judith Scriptunas    -   Ruth Young

Volunteers with 500 hours

(L-R) Barbara Boyer, Penny Buckus, Jerry Lewis, Carol Kagan, Juanita Kauffman,
Diane Keeney, Georgia Townsend (L. Miller) Not present: Cindy Fair

Diane Fusting and Cindy Stead achieved the 1000 hour status.

Both Linda Horst and Denise Lucas hit to 1500 hour mark.

Denise Lucas and Donna Scherer (L.Miller) Not present: Linda Horst

Still just a bit behind in the race for top hours was Barb Petrucci, snapping at Nancy Miller's heels with 2000 hours.

Barb Petrucci and Donna Scherer (L. Miller)

And Nancy Miller with this year's top number of 2500 hours.

Nancy Miller and Donna Scherer (L. Miller)

 The program ended 15 minutes early and everyone took the opportunity to catch up and socialize before slipping out into a much chillier evening than it was earlier.

20th Anniversary and Awards Banquet

by Carol Kagan, Franklin County Master Gardener

Frederick Olmsted
(aka Kirk R. Brown)

Master Gardeners of Penn State, Franklin County, gathered Saturday, November 16 for a 20th Anniversary and Awards Banquet. Master Gardeners are community volunteers who support Penn State Cooperative Extension's educational programs in consumer horticulture after completing 30 hours of classroom training and 50 hours of apprentice work.

Present at the dinner were two members from the first Master Gardener class- Elmer Greey, Shippensburg, and Nancy Redington, Chambersburg.

Frederick Olmsted
(from Kirk R. Brown Website)

After dinner, Frederick Olmsted, portrayed by Kirk R. Brown, gave a presentation about his life and works. Olmsted is known for his design of Central Park in New York City, the Biltmore Estate in Ashville, North Carolina, and the 1893 Chicago World's Fair as well as the Capitol Building in Washington.

Following the presentation, Greey and Redington presented new Master Gardener badges to some of the 2013 class. Badges with new volunteer hours listed were also given to current Master Gardeners who have worked 500 to 2,000 hours.

Below is the list of badges earned this year.

New Master Gardeners (Class of 2013): Carol Kagan, Judith White,  Paul Luka, Billy Morningstar, Maria Giles and Judith Scriptunas

500 hour badges: Angela Weathers, Bob Hyatt, Diane Fusting, Bill Stead, Jerry Lewis, Mary Donal, Dave Desjardins

1000 hours badges: Peg Bundy, Denise Lucas, Linda Horst, Bill Dornman, Laurie Collins, Darl Hospelhorn, Ray Eckhart

1500 hours: Barb Petrucci and Jane Krumpe

2000 hours: Nancy Miller

MG's in the News

Peace Garden in Shippensburg
Picture by Jill Hudock

Franklin County Master Gardener Jill Hudock sent me a link to a news story noting that Shippensburg's Peace Garden won a 2011 Community Greening Award from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.  This is the same organization that sponsors the spectacular Philadelphia Flower Show every spring.



From their web site:

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society recognizes greening and beautification efforts throughout the region that have benefitted communities.

The Community Greening Award acknowledges the efforts of those who improve their main streets, public parks, train stations, churches, schoolyards, libraries, traffic islands, etc.

The linked news article by George Weigel describes the Peace Garden this way:

The Peace Garden began taking on its current form in 1999 when Master Gardeners Jill Hudock and Sally Boice volunteered to design and plant it.

The garden now features a wooden bridge, vine-covered arbors, benches, a wide variety of flowering trees, shrubs, perennials and groundcovers and a “Gandhi Stone” that reads: “We must be the change that we wish to see in the world."

It’s especially nice – and peaceful – in the spring when the many trees and bulbs are in bloom.

Jill sent me some pictures of the garden in spring.

Peace Garden - Spring 2011
Picture by Jill Hudock

Peace Garden - Spring 2011
Picture by Jill Hudock

Peace Garden - Spring 2011 Picture by Jill Hudock

Peace Garden - Spring 2011 Picture by Jill Hudock

Retired MG Sally Boice (Phillips), MG Roy Burkepile, MG Jill Hudock, and Jill's neighbor Tim Hess Picture by Jim Boice

From Jill's email, "We are very happy we received this award and it's due to Master Gardening that this garden has flourished. Today the garden will host the 4th wedding, that I know about! The public has embraced this garden in many ways, with many personal stories. One never knows what a seed will accomplish."
 
Indeed.  Congratulations to all involved.
 
Back in 2007, The Falling Spring Nursing Home Garden also won a Community Greening Award.