2022 2023 Rake and Hoe

THE RAKE & HOE
GARDEN CLUB, INC.

OF
WESTFIELD, NEW JERSEY

2022 - 2023

Members
54 Active Members

(incl. 5 Life Members)
12 Associate Members
2 Sustainer Members
2 Friends
8 Junior Members

Affiliations
National Garden Clubs, Inc.
Central Atlantic Region - State Garden Clubs
Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc., District V
www.rakeandhoegc.org

Organized May 1952
Federated October 1954
Incorporated April 2004

— Volume LXX —

1

GENERAL INFORMATION

Board Meetings
First Monday of the month at a board member’s home.

General Meetings
Second Wednesday of the month at the
Shady Rest Golf & Country Club, Scotch Plains.

By-Laws
By-laws are available from the Vice-President, or can be
viewed on the Club website, (www.rakeandhoegc.org)

On-going Service Projects:
-Community Gardens-

Blue Star Memorial Garden (as needed)
Claire Brownell Memorial Garden (as needed)

Miller-Cory House Museum
(September, April, May, June-August)
Mindowaskin Park Urns (seasonal plantings)

Shadowlawn Park
(November, May, as needed)
Train Station - North Avenue
(October, April, May, as needed)
-Garden Care by Juniors-
Shadowlawn Butterfly Garden (May)

-Community Projects-
Jardine Academy - seasonal projects

(November, March, May)
Lyons Veterans Hospital - thanks & recognition

to our veterans (November)
Westfield Mobile Meals - flower arrangements for Seniors

(September, February, May)
Nursing Homes - flower arrangements for Seniors (ad-hoc)

2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DTH Information inside covers

General Information 2

Affiliations & Contact Information 4

President’s Message 6

Officers and Executive Board 7

Committee Chairs 8

Standing Committees 10

Service Committees 14

Community Gardens 16

Community Projects 17

Wildflower of the Year 18

Bird of the Year 19

Awards 20

Contributions 23

Member Education & Accreditations 21

Garden Club of NJ Calendar 24

Monthly Program Calendar 26

Programs 28

Club Presidents 38

Membership Directory 39

Friends of R&H 50

Acknowledgements 50

Meeting Locations 51

FRONT COVER: This year marks our Club’s eleventh
‘Deck the Halls’ holiday house tour, as introduced in
1986 in its current form. Earlier house tours, often with
boutique, began in 1954. A number of these were
springtime events. All told, Rake & Hoe has presented
20 house tours over the years. (For more information,
visit the Club Archives on our website.)

3

AFFILIATE CONTACTS

"Plant America . . .
Play Outdoors!”

National Garden Clubs, Inc. (NGC)

4401 Magnolia Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63110-3492

www.gardenclub.org
[email protected]

President Mary Warshauer

"Plant America . . .
Let’s Get Growing! "

Central Atlantic Region of
State Garden Clubs, Inc. (CAR-SGC)

10659 New Biddinger Rd., Harrison, OH 45030
www.car-sgc.org

Director Betty Cookendorfer (2021-2023)

"Plant Trees . . .
Nature's Unsung Heroes"

Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc. (GCNJ)

Holly House
126 Ryders Lane
East Brunswick, NJ 08816-1331
Shirley French, Office Manager 732-249-0947
www.gardenclubofnewjersey.org
President: Cecelia Millea

4

"Coming Together Again"

Rake & Hoe Garden Club, Inc. (R&HGC)

P.O. Box 2702
Westfield, New Jersey 07091-2702

www.rakeandhoegc.org
President Beth Siano

R&HGC Mission

The mission of the Rake and Hoe Garden Club of
Westfield is to provide education, resources and
opportunities to nurture the love of gardening,
nature and artistic natural design, and to promote
related civic and environmental responsibilities.
The following Vision statements strive to meet these
goals:
To study and advance the art and science of

gardening, horticulture, floral design, and
nature photography for our members and the
public.
To encourage beautification of community gardens,
perform community service projects, and aid in
the conservation of our natural resources.
To sustain and grow membership by offering
educational programs and activities.
To raise funds to support the vision and mission of
the Club.
To maintain a permanent and accessible record of
the Club, its history and ongoing activities.
To accomplish the Club’s mission in the spirit of
friendship, fellowship and community.

Each year, coordinated and complimentary themes
are adopted by the four tiers of our affiliated garden
club organization. Through close association with the
GCNJ (state), CAR-SGC (regional), and NGC
(national), Club service projects and activities serve
as a means to extend and apply the broader missions
of our umbrella organizations.

5

President
Beth Siano
908-410-4630 (c)

Dear Members,
I hope that after a particularly
busy June with our many
planning meetings you have
had a couple of months to enjoy the summer and your
gardens. With the Monarch butterfly now officially on
the endangered species list, and other bees and
butterflies under stress, our efforts and plant choices,
whether in a few porch pots or a big yard, have
increasing importance.
This year my theme continues to be “Coming
Together Again.” And our quadrennial Deck The
Halls fundraiser gives us a unique opportunity to do
just that. Looking back, participating in a house
committee just a year after I had joined the club was a
wonderful time of really getting to know people,
learning new skills, and enjoying the pleasure that
comes from a successful team effort. I hope that
whether this is your first DTH or your fifth, you will feel
the same. This is the event that allows us to fund key
programs and projects over the next four years. Yes,
it’s a big effort, but not so big if everyone pitches in.
It’s creative, rewarding and fun besides.
After DTH, I hope you can participate in the many
interesting activities planned for 2023. Some of those
had to be postponed last year, so look for flower
arranging workshops and field trips in addition to our
many community gardens and projects events.
As always, thank you for all you do, often behind the
scenes, to make our club work.
All the best,

Beth S.

6

Executive Board

Vice-President
Sharon Shiraga
908-447-2460 (c)

Treasurer
Betsy Chance
908-723-3338 (c)

Assistant Treasurer
Kathryn Ciurczak
908-803-8399 (c)

Recording Secretary
Irene Greenstein
908-337-4505 (c)

Corresponding Secretary
Natalie Peitsinovski
908-803-5272 (c)

Director
Jeanne Marie Ryan

908-654-0271

7

COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Archives Joe DaRold
Artistic Crafts Tracy Criscitiello
Awards Beth Hanscom
By-Laws Sharon Shiraga
Communications Diana Kazazis
Community Projects Betty Gulino
Community Gardens Sue Feldman
DTH 2022 Beth Siano
Finance Betsy Chance
Flower Design Nina Sylvester
Garden B’s Adah Levin
Historian Barbara Mullin
Horticulture Barb Spellmeyer
Hospitality Gayle Lechner
Juniors Alice Cowell, Sharon Shiraga
Long-Range Planning Sharon Shiraga
Membership Sharon Shiraga
Newsletter Joe Da Rold
Photography Margot Partridge
Programs Kris Luka
Publicity Betty Round
Yearbook/Directory Inge Bossert

8

RAKE & HOE GC
COMMITTEES

2022-2023

All ACTIVE members are asked to participate in at
least two Standing Committees and one Service
Committee (Community Gardens; Community
Projects).
Our club is only as successful as the efforts of its
members - more participation is always encouraged!

9

STANDING COMMITTEES

Betty Clark Archives
(Joe DaRold, Chair)

Artistic Crafts
(Tracy Criscitiello, Chair)

Maryfran Annese Faten Mahran
Inge Bossert MaryLou Nolas
Betsy Chance Linda Parker
Kathryn Ciurczak Helen Pasterczyk
Liz Dwyer Lena Peitsinovski
Sue Feldman Natalie Peitsinovski
Irene Greenstein Ginny Puskar
Sarah Kaiser Carolyn Seracka
Diana Kazazis Donna Sevchuk
Joan Kylish Nancy Smith
Adah Levin Joanne Womelsdorf
Kris Luka

Awards
(Beth Hanscom, Chair)

Tracy Criscitiello Margot Partridge
Kay Cross Lee Perry
Joe DaRold

Inge Bossert By-Laws
Joe DaRold (Sharon Shiraga, Chair)

Kris Luka
Beth Siano

Communications
(Diana Kazazis, Chair)

Inge Bossert Lesley Parness
Joe DaRold Margot Partridge
Karen Eardley Jeanne Marie Ryan
Barbara Murphy Beth Siano

Finance
(Betsy Chance, Chair)

Inge Bossert Kris Luka
Kathryn Ciurczak Jeanne Ryan
Kay Cross Beth Siano

10

STANDING COMMITTEES (cont’d)

Flower Design
(Nina Sylvester, Chair)

Tracy Criscitiello Jeanette Pelikan
Kay Cross Richard Pelikan
Diana Kazazis Donna Sevchuk
Faten Mahran Sharon Shiraga
Barbara Mullin

Garden B’s*

(Adah Levin, Chair)

Inge Bossert Joyce Mullen
Jane Christiani MaryLou Nolas
Tracy Criscitiello Lena Peitsinovski
Irene Greenstein Natalie Peitsinovski
Beth Hanscom Lee Perry
Carolyn Klinger-Kueter Martha Savage
Gayle Lechner Barbara Spellmeyer

* Birds, Butterflies, Bees, & Bats

Historian
(Barbara Mullin, Chair)

Horticulture
(Barbara Spellmeyer, Chair)

Cathy Becker Adah Levin
Inge Bossert Joyce Mullen
Jane Christiani Barbara Mullin
Kathryn Ciurczak Barbara Murphy
Tracy Criscitiello MaryLou Nolas
Joe DaRold Linda Parker
Susan Dinan Margot Partridge

Sue Feldman Martha Savage
Irene Greenstein Peggy Smith
Beth Hanscom Joanne Womelsdorf
Gayle Lechner

11

STANDING COMMITTEES (cont’d)

Hospitality
(Gayle Lechner, Chair)

Tula Alhashim Sarah Kaiser
Joan Barna Martha Savage
Dorothy Camilletti Beth Siano
Diane Genco

Juniors
(Alice Cowell & Sharon Shiraga, Co-Chairs)

Tula Alhashim Carolyn Klinger-Kueter
Joan Barna Nina Sylvester
Betty Clark

Long-Range Planning
(Sharon Shiraga, Chair)

Cathy Becker Beth Hanscom

Inge Bossert Diana Kazazis
Tracy Criscitiello Gayle Lechner

Joe DaRold Kris Luka
Irene Greenstein Margot Partridge
Betty Gulino Beth Siano

Membership
(Sharon Shiraga, Chair)

Dorothy Camilletti Beth Hanscom
Tracy Criscitiello Kris Luka
Joe DaRold Margot Partridge
Betty Gulino Nancy Smith

Newsletter
(Joe DaRold, Chair)

Inge Bossert

12

STANDING COMMITTEES (cont’d)

Photography
(Margot Partridge, Chair)

Maryfran Annese Barbara Mullin
Inge Bossert Jeanette Pelikan
Kathryn Ciurczak Richard Pelikan
Joe DaRold Lee Perry
Liz Dwyer Betty Round
Sue Feldman Carolyn Seracka
Irene Greenstein Donna Sevchuk
Beth Hanscom Peggy Smith
Diana Kazazis Barbara Spellmeyer

Inge Bossert Programs
Joe DaRold (Kris Luka, Chair)
Diane Genco
Beth Hanscom Diana Kazazis
Joan Kylish
Barbara Mullin
Peggy Smith

Publicity
(Betty Round, Chair)

Joe DaRold

Yearbook/Directory
(Inge Bossert, Chair)

Kay Cross Martha Savage
Joe DaRold Carolyn Seracka
Barbara Murphy Beth Siano
Betty Round

13

SERVICE COMMITTEES

Community Gardens
(Sue Feldman, Chair)

Claire Brownell
(Jeanne Marie Ryan, Coordinator)

Kay Cross Beth Siano
Linda Parker

Miller-Cory House Museum
(Sue Feldman, Coordinator)

Tula Alhashim Sarah Kaiser
Joan Barna Barbara Mullin
Inge Bossert Lesley Parness
Betsy Chance Margot Partridge
Kathryn Ciurczak Betty Round
Tracy Criscitiello Carolyn Seracka
Kay Cross Nina Sylvester
Irene Greenstein

Mindowaskin Urns
(Lee Perry, Coordinator)

Kathryn Ciurczak Jeanette Pelikan
Tracy Criscitiello Richard Pelikan
Barbara Murphy Beth Siano
Irene Greenstein

Northside Train Station
(Beth Hanscom, Coordinator)
Inge Bossert Helen Pasterczyk
Kay Cross Lee Perry

Barbara Murphy Donna Sevchuk
Jeanette Pelikan Nancy Smith
Richard Pelikan Barbara Spellmeyer

Shadowlawn Pocket Park
(Adah Levin & Martha Savage, Coordinators)

Joan Barna Beth Siano
Alice Cowell Joanne Womelsdorf
Faten Mahran

14

SERVICE COMMITTEES (cont’d)

Community Projects
(Betty Gulino, Chair)

Maryfran Annese Kris Luka
Cathy Becker Faten Mahran
Dorothy Camilletti Joyce Mullen
Jane Christiani MaryLou Nolas
Betty Clark Margot Partridge
Kay Cross Lena Peitsinovski
Joe DaRold Natalie Peitsinovski
Susan Dinan Jeanette Pelikan
Irene Greenstein Richard Pelikan
Diana Kazazis Lee Perry
Carolyn Klinger-Kueter Betty Round
Joan Kylish Jeanne Marie Ryan
Gayle Lechner Sharon Shiraga

15

SERVICE to State & National
GCNJ District Flower Show. Club members will be
participating in the planning and execution of the GCNJ
District IV/V Flower Show when it is rescheduled.

Representatives to GCNJ and NGC (ongoing).
Barbara Mullin is 2nd Vice President and serves on the
Advisory Council. Diana Kazazis is Wildlife/Pollinator
Chair and with Barbara, serves on the Blue Star Memorial
Committee. Kay Cross serves on the Finance and Invest-
ment Committees and is Treasurer of Headquarters and
Endowment Funds. Karen Eardley is Editor of the “News
Leaf” publication.

For NGC, Barbara Mullin serves as Chair of the Penny
Pines initiative, www.gardenclub.org/penny-pines . Margot
Partridge serves on the Photography Committee.

SERVICE to the Community
Community Gardens
Blue-Star Memorial Garden at Shadowlawn Pocket Park
(ongoing). Designed, planted, and dedicated in 2011. The
garden is maintained by members as part of Shadowlawn
Pocket Park.

Claire Brownell Memorial Wildflower Garden (ongoing).
Members redesigned a native wildflower garden located at
the historic Reeve House, restoring and maintaining the
back slope with native plants. Located at Mountain Ave.
in Westfield.

Miller-Cory House Museum (ongoing). Members maintain
period gardens of the colonial era that were designed and
planted by the Club in 2004. Located at Mountain Ave.
in Westfield.

Mindowaskin Park (ongoing). Members provide seasonal
plantings and maintain the flower urns at the entrance of the
central town park. Located at East Broad St. in Westfield.

16

Northside Train Station Garden (ongoing). Begun as
part of “Rake & Hoe Plants Sunshine” in 2007, members
continue to landscape and maintain this small public gar-
den. Juniors also assist in this program. Located at West-
field Train Station, northside.
Shadowlawn Park (ongoing). Established, designed, and
planted by the Club in 2004, this small public garden
serves as home to the Blue Star Memorial marker. It also is
home to a certified Butterfly Garden, planted in 2013 by our
Juniors, and it continues to be maintained by them. Locat-
ed at the corner of Shadowlawn and Rahway Ave. in West-
field.
Community Projects
Jardine Academy. Twice annually, a children’s book is
donated and chosen as theme for holiday tree ornaments
made by members. Members decorate the tree with the
hand-made ornaments, and read to the children at the
Academy. Seasonal crafts and planting are also done with
the special needs students. Located in Cranford.
Lyons Veterans Hospital. Holiday gift bags are donated
to the veterans at Lyons in November, with cards written by
members and Juniors. Located in Bernards Township.
Mobile Meals. (3 times per year). Members make small
floral designs to place on meal trays for Mobile Meals that
are delivered to elderly and home-bound Westfield resi-
dents. Workshops are at the First Baptist Church on Elm
St. in Westfield.
Nursing Homes. Mini-floral arrangements are brought to
residents of local extended-care facilities.

17

SERVICE to Members

A large part of service within our club (and ultimately the
community at large) is the education of our members, in gar-
dening, flower design, the environment, and community
service. This is achieved through monthly programs, certifi-
cation through courses sponsored by the GCNJ and NGC,
recognition awards, and committee activities from the
various interest groups within the Club.

A favorite, longstanding club tradition is selection of a Wild-
flower- and Bird- of-the-Year. Members are encouraged to
plant or attract these natives to their gardens. Annual
Recognition Awards encourage club participation, while
Education Awards and accreditation through State and
National programs encourage members to learn, expand
their experience, and share with members.

Wildflower of the Year

Mistflower (Eupatorium coelestinum)

Mistflower, or hardy Ageratum, is a hardy
perennial that brings welcome blue colors
and texture to the late summer/fall garden,
as well as floral designs. E. coelestinum is common in the
eastern US from New York to Florida and west to Nebraska
and Texas. Plants are indigenous to moist open woods
especially edges and clearings, banks of lakes, rivers, or
creeks, moist meadows, wet prairies, sandy coastal wet-
lands, bottomlands, seeps, fields, roadsides and right-of
ways. Mistflower is a prodigious self-seeder and also
spreads by underground runners. It can be invasive, but is
easily controlled. Deer-resistant and attracts butterflies.

Past Wildflowers-of-the-Year: Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyl-
lum), Pink Turtlehead (Chelone lyonia), Wintergreen (Gaultheria pro-
cumbens), Fewleaf Sunflower (Helianthus occidentalis), Golden
Coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida), Mayapple (Podophyllum pelta-
tum),Mullein (Verbascum), Golden Alexander (Zizea aurea), Blue-
Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium), White Beardtongue
(Penstemon digitalis), NJ Tea Plant (Canothus americanus), Blood-
root (Sanguinaria canadensis), Swamp Milkweed (Aesclepias incarna-
ta), Fire Pink (Silene virginica), Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum muti-
cum), Golden Ragwort (Packera aurea), Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus
carota), Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)

18

Bird of the Year

Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica )

The chimney swift is the only swift
regularly found in the eastern US. It
spends most of its life airborne, eat-
ing, drinking and mating on the fly. The swift is a
relatively small bird, midway between a sparrow
and robin in size. Its distinct wing profile, like a
stubby cigar with backswept wings, makes it easy
to identify in the air. With a diet of almost
exclusively flying insects, greater use of
insecticides has impacted its survivability in many
areas. When it does land, the swift cannot perch,
but instead clings to vertical walls. Swifts migrate
to South America in winter and return north to
nest and raise their young. The swift nests in
hollow trees, caves and chimneys, where they do
no harm for the short time they are raising their
chicks. Both male and female help with nest
building and raising their young.

Past Birds-of-the-Year: Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata), Northern
Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottus), Yellow Warbler (Dendroica
petchia), White-Breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis), Great
Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus), Red-Winged Blackbird (Agelaius
phoeniceus), Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), Pileated
Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus), American Robin (Turdus mi-
gratorins), Red-Bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus),
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor), Tree Swallow
(Tachycineta bicolor), American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis), Gray
Catbird (Dumetella carolinesis), Black-Capped Chickadee
(Poecile atricapillus), Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)

IDENTIFICATION APPs

Plant ID apps abound.
For a list of the best, free plant ID apps,

visit www.backgarden.org/plant-identification-apps

Cornell University Ornithology Lab offers
a free mobile app for bird identification -

both sight and sound (bird calls).

visit www.cornell.edu

19

AWARDS & CONTRIBUTIONS
Funds generated by Rake & Hoe Garden Club activities are
used to support GCNJ (state) and NGC (national) objec-
tives, through community service, awards, and contribu-
tions. Club recognition awards provide a means to
recognize excellence in members who have contributed to
these goals. Education awards encourage members to
participate in GCNJ courses offered at Holly House. The
COVID pandemic provided even greater opportunities to
participate in online virtual courses, including those offered
by NGC.

CLUB RECOGNITION AWARDS

Agnes Eggimann Award
Betty Gulino

(Expansion of Community Projects)
Judy Kampe Award
Sharon Shiraga

(Fairy House competition)
Leadership Award

(to be announced in September)
Nancy Wallace Award
Margot Partridge

(“Baked Holiday Delights” competition)
Sprouts Award
Sue Feldman

(Always willing to meet a challenge!)

20

EDUCATION AWARDS
& MEMBER ACCREDITATIONS

National Garden Clubs, Inc.
Flower Show Judge

Kay Cross, Emeritus
Barbara Mullin, Master
Margaret Smith
Margot Partridge, Student
Nina Sylvester, Student
Gardening Consultant
Beth Hanscom, Master
Margot Partridge, Master
Barbara Mullin, Margaret Smith
Carolyn Seracka, Student
Landscape Design
Beth Hanscom, Master
Margot Partridge, Master
Tracy Criscitiello, Margaret Smith
Carolyn Seracka, Student
Environmental Study
Beth Hanscom, Barbara Mullin,
Margot Partridge, Carolyn Seracka,
Margaret Smith

Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County
(NJ Agricultural Experiment Station)

Master Gardener
Irene Greenstein, with Gold Pin
Inge Bossert, Tracy Criscitiello, Anna Daurio,
Liz Dwyer, Beth Hanscom, Martha Savage

Master Tree Steward
Irene Greenstein

21

PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS
Interest in photography continues to grow in our club. In
addition to workshops and outings, members are encour-
aged to enter their photography in contests, ranging from
international to national to regional to local.
The number of in-person photo exhibits and competitions
starts to grow as the pandemic is behind us. Several mem-
bers participated in the photography competition of the
Mountain Lakes Flower Show, with 6 ribbons earned, rang-
ing from First Place to Honorable Mention.
A number of members also participated in this year’s photo
contest that has now become an expected part of the annu-
al R&H luncheon. Winners by popular vote in this year’s 3
categories were:

First Place: Linda Parker, Clare Minick, Sue Feldman
Second Place: Barb Spellmeyer, Maryfran Annese,
Barbara Mullin
Third Place: Kathryn Ciurczak, Beth Hanscom, Richard
Pelikan

22

CONTRIBUTIONS
Donations to Local Elementary Schools:

* Funds for new plants & flower patch fundraiser to
Lincoln School.

* Garden maintenance &/or spring planting to Franklin,
Tamaques and Washington Schools.

* Garden supplies to Wilson School for their first grade
garden and outdoor classroom,

* Funds to help defray cost of a water harvesting system
for the students’ garden at Jefferson School.

Other donations:
The Garden Conservancy, NJ Conservation Foundation,
NJ Land Preservation, Reeves-Reed Arboretum, and
Rutgers Gardens.

Contributions-in-Kind:
(provided through member hours of community service)

Community Projects 328 hrs.
Community Gardens 229 hrs.
Juniors Activities/Education 50 hrs.
State Activities/Programs 50 hrs.

Total Hours of Service: 657 hrs.

23

GCNJ/NGC CALENDAR 2022-2023

(State events are at Holly House unless noted. For most recent up-
dates, contact information, and more awards info, see GCNJ
website.)

September (2022)
19-22 NGC Fall Board Meeting in St. Louis MO
26 GCNJ Board Meeting

October Plant America Grant Applications Due
15 Judge’s Council
6 GCNJ Symposium 2022,
12-13 East Windsor NJ
GCNJ Leadership Conference (virtual)
20 GCNJ Board Meeting
24

November CAR Conference,
2-3 Seven Springs Resort PA
28 GCNJ Board Meeting

January (2023)
23 GCNJ Board Meeting

February Judges Council Meeting
8 Deadline for President’s Project Grant
15 GCNJ Board Meeting
27

March GCNJ Board Meeting
27

April Flower Show School
17-21 GCNJ Board Meeting
24 Judges’ Council
26

May NGC Convention at Greenbrier Resort, WV
1-5 GCNJ Board Meeting
22

June Judges’ Council
1 GCNJ Annual Meeting,Bridgewater NJ
6 GCNJ Board Meeting
26

24

RAKE & HOE GC
PROGRAMS

2022-2023

Club Programs support the annual themes
of our parent organizations:
NGC (national)
CAR-SGC (regional)
GCNJ (state)

25

- 2022 MONTHLY PROGRAMS -
Sept. 14 – Welcome Back Auction! A chance to

showcase your talents. Bring your best
offerings and services, e.g. handmade items,
potted plants, floral arrangements, chits for
meals and/or desserts, yard work, etc. Bring
cash or checkbook.
Oct. 12 – “Beyond the Potted Palm: Victorians and
Their Plants”. New R&H member, Lesley
Parness, treats us to a program on England’s
Golden Age of Plant Exploration. This was a
time when the public’s interest and growing
obsession with collecting (house) plants
flourished.
Nov. 9 – “The Flowering of the Italian Renaissance:
Flowers & Landscapes in Italian Renaissance
Paintings”. Joint meeting with The Garden
Club of Westfield. GCW member Rosemary
Shire presents a slide presentation on the
important role of flowers and plants in art
and landscapes of the period, including their
meaning in paintings. GCW hosts.
Dec. 14 – “Deck the Halls Afterglow”. Come and
celebrate after our Holiday House Tour!
Judy Kampe competition (see December
program for details).

26

- 2023 MONTHLY PROGRAMS -

Jan. 11 – “Brightwood Park History and Rehabilitation”.
Rob Lombard. Rob presents a program on
the history of Brightwood Part, from the resi-
dents who lived on its site before becoming a
park to the current efforts of Friends of
Brightwood Park to protect the park.

Feb. 8 - “Little Island”. Liman Cheng shares his expe-
rience in caring for a public garden in a very
unique environment. The “Little Island” pro-
ject on Pier 55 is part of the new Hudson Riv-
er Park’s ambitious design. After its comple-
tion, Cheng cared for its distinctive garden.
He describes the experience and his journey
in gardening, from private and roof-top gar-
dens.

March 8 - “Expert Advice from Our R&H Scholars”.
R&H members who have taken GCNJ courses
for certification will share valuable tidbits
from what they have learned. Nancy Wallace
competition (see March program for details).

April 12 - “Are Dahlias For You?”. Eustacia Marsales
and Paul Blanton are owners of a cut flower
garden business specializing in dahlias.
(elmgardendesign.com) Their program will
cover all things dahlias - from planting,
maintenance, harvesting, dividing, and stor-
ing dahlias.

May 10 - “Land Conservation in New Jersey”. Dr. Emile
DeVito oversees Science and Stewardship at
the New Jersey Conservation Foundation
since 1989, He develops management plans
for NJCF’s 20,000+ acres of holdings de-
signed to protect and enhance biological di-
versity, so critical in our densely populated
state.

June 14 - ANNUAL LUNCHEON

27

September

Sept. 12 Board Meeting
Noon at Beth Siano home (w/ Kris Luka)

Sept. 13 Community Gardens: Miller-Cory
9 am Fall cleanup** (Sue Feldman, contact)

Sept. 14 General Meeting at Shady Rest CC.
Noon “Welcome-Back Auction”.
Hospitality Team: Diane Genco*
w/ Jane Christiani, Joyce Mullen,
Lena Peitsinovski

Sept. 15 Community Gardens: Miller-Cory
9 am Fall cleanup** (Sue Feldman, contact)

Sept. 21 Juniors: Make ornaments and decorations
3:30 pm for DTH. Meet at Betty Clark home

Sept. 27 Community Projects: Mini-arrangements for
9 am Mobile Meals. Meet at Baptist Church.
(Sue Feldman, Gayle Lechner, contacts)

**in preparation for the
Miller-Cory House Museum 50th Anniversary event.**

28

October

Oct. 3 Board Meeting
Noon at Adah Levin home
(w/ Betsy Chance, Margot Partridge)

Oct. 6 Horticulture: Fall Plant Exchange
10 am at Adah Levin home.

Oct. 10 Awards Committee Meeting
10:15 am at Beth Hanscom home.

Oct. 12 General Meeting at Shady Rest CC.
Noon “Beyond the Potted Palm: How Victorians Gave
Us House Plants”, with Lesley Parness.
Hospitality Team: Dorothy Camilletti*
w/ Joan Kylish, MaryLou Nolas

Vet cards and gift bag prep by members prior to meeting.
(Betty Gulino, contact)

Oct. 17 Artistic Crafts: Making pressed fern notecards.
10 am Meet at Betsy Chance home.

Oct. 18 Community Projects: Planning for Vets’ gift bags
10:00 am Meet at Betty Gulino home.
Oct. 19 Juniors: Holiday cards for the Vets
3:30 pm Meet at Betty Clark home.

Oct. 20 Community Gardens: Northside Train Station
10:15 am Fall Cleanup. (Beth Hanscom, contact)

Oct. 24 Horticulture: Workshop on care and division of
10 am peonies. (Barbara Mullin, contact)

Oct. 27 Community Projects: Holiday Tree ornaments for
10:00 am Jardine. Meet at MaryLou Nolas home.

(MaryLou Nolas, contact)

29

November

Nov. 1 Flower Design: Boxwood topiary workshop.
1:30 pm TBD (Kay Cross, contact)

Nov. 5 Community Gardens: Shadowlawn Fall
9:30 am Cleanup.
(Adah Levin, Martha Savage, contacts)

Nov. 7 Board Meeting
Noon at Barbara Mullin home
(w/ Natalie Peitsinovski)

Nov. 7 Community Projects: Vets’ gift bags
10:30am workshop, Meet at Betty Gulino home

Nov. 8 Community Projects: Deliver Vets’ gift bags
10:30 am to Lyons. Meet at Betty Gulino home.

Nov. 9 Joint Meeting with Westfield Garden Club at
Noon SRCC. “The Flowering of the Italian
Renaissance: Flowers & Landscapes in
Italian Renaissance Paintings”,
with Rosemary Shire.
Host: Garden Club of Westfield

Nov. 16 Juniors: Make ornaments and decorations for
3:30pm DTH. Meet at Betty Clark home.

Nov. 29 Community Projects: Tree decoration at
10:30pm Jardine Academy. (MaryLou Nolas, contact)

30

December

Dec. 1-2 All-Club Activity: DTH setup
all day

Dec. 3 ‘Deck The Halls’ Holiday House Tour &
10am-4pm ‘Mistletoe Market’ Boutique

Dec. 3 Juniors: Help with DTH.
Meet at Habgood/Zanfagna home.
(Alice Cowell, contact)

Dec. 14 General Meeting at Shady Rest CC.
Noon “Deck the Halls Afterglow”.
Hospitality : catered luncheon

Dec. 14 Judy Kampe Competition:
“The Best of DTH Designs”. A popular vote of
photos submitted from this year’s DTH house
tour & boutique.

31

Jan. 2 January
Noon
Board Meeting
Jan. 9 at Beth Siano home
10 am (w/ Joe DaRold, Sue Feldman)
Jan. 9 By-Laws Meeting
11 am at Sharon Shiraga home
Jan. 11
Noon Long Range Planning Meeting
at Sharon Shiraga home
Jan. 18
3:30 pm General Meeting at Shady Rest CC
Jan. 19 “Brightwood Park History and Rehabilitation”,
10 am with Rob Lombard. .
Jan. 25 Hospitality Team: Tula Alhashim*
9:30 am w/ Faten Mahran, Carolyn Seracka
Jan. 27 Juniors: Make fairy doors for garden trees.
10 am Meet at Betty Clark home.

Finance Committee Meeting
at Betsy Chance home.

Artistic Crafts: Epoxy tray workshop.
Location TBD. (Betsy Chance, contact)

Photography: Winter Show & Tell Zoom.
(Margot Partridge, contact)

32

February

Feb. 2 Awards Committee Meeting
10:15 am at Beth Hanscom home

Feb. 6 Board Meeting
Noon at Jeanne Ryan home (w/ Nina Sylvester)

Feb. 7 Community Projects: Mini-Arrangements for
9:00 am Mobile Meals. Meet at the Baptist Church.
(Kris Luka & Sharon Shiraga, contacts)

Feb. 8 General Meeting at Shady Rest CC
Noon “Little Island” with Liman Cheng.
Hospitality Team: Martha Savage*
w/ Betty Clark, Donna Sevchuk

Feb. 8 Juniors: Valentine’s Day Floral Arrangements
3:30pm for Nursing Home Residents. Meet at Betty
Clark home.

Feb. 14 Principles of Flower Design, Part I
1 pm with Kay Cross. Venue TBD.

Feb. 28 Garden B’s: Movie night with pot-luck dinner.
6:00 pm Meet at Beth Hanscom home.
(Adah Levin, contact)

33

March

Mar. 6 Board Meeting
Noon at Sharon Shiraga home (w/ Betty Gulino)

Mar. 7 Community Projects: Jardine Spring Tree
10:30am Ornament Workshop. Meet at Maryfran

Annese home. (Maryfran Annese, contact)

Mar. 8 General Meeting at Shady Rest CC
Noon “Expert Advice from Our R&H Scholars” .
Hospitality Team: Jeanette & Richard Pelikan*
w/ Ginny Puskar, Linda Parker

Nancy Wallace Competition:
“Remembering Johnny Appleseed”. (in honor
of National Johnny Appleseed Day). Delectable
treats with apple.

Mar. 14 Principles of Flower Design, Part II
1 pm with Kay Cross. Venue TBD.

Mar. 15 Juniors: Botanical jewelry workshop. Meet at
3:30 pm Betty Clark home.

Mar. 23 Breakfast Bird-Watch at Watchung.
9:00am Bring a bag breakfast and meet at the
pavilions by Master Gardens at
Trailside. (Adah Levin, contact)

Mar. 28 Photography: Photo-editing with your
10:30 am smartphone. Meet at Inge Bossert home.

Limited to 10.

34

Apr. 3 April
Noon
Apr. 11 Board Meeting
1 pm at Tracy Criscitiello home (w/ Inge Bossert)
Apr. 12
Noon Flower Design: Principles of Design, Part III
with Kay Cross. Venue TBD
Apr. 13
9 am General Meeting at Shady Rest CC
Apr. 19 “Are Dahlias For You?”,
3:30 pm with Eustacia Marsales and Paul Blanton.
Apr. 20 Hospitality Team: Joan Barna*
10:15am w/ Lee Perry, Nancy Smith
April 26
10 am Community Gardens: Miller Cory
Apr. 27 Spring cleanup. (Sue Feldman, contact)
10:30am
. Juniors: Make bee houses for Shadowlawn
garden. Meet at Betty Clark home.

Community Gardens: Northside Train Station
Spring clean-up. (Beth Hanscom, contact)

Horticulture: Spring Plant Exchange
at Barbara Spellmeyer home.

Community Projects: Bows for Jardine plant
workshop. Meet at Betty Gulino home.
(Betty Gulino, contact)

35

May

May 1 Board Meeting
Noon at Beth Hanscom home (w/ Barb Spellmeyer)

May 9 Community Gardens: Shadowlawn
9:30 am Spring cleanup.

(Adah Levin, Martha Savage, contacts)

May 9 Community Projects: Mothers’ Day Plants with
10:30am Jardine Students. Meet at Jardine Academy.

(Betty Gulino, contact)

May 10 General Meeting at Shady Rest CC
Noon “Land Conservation in New Jersey” , with Emile
DeVito, PhD, (NJ Conservation Foundation).
Hospitality Team: Cathy Becker*
w/ Kay Cross, Barbara Murphy, Lesley Parness

- Garden B’s: Bird Count Tally -

May 11 Artistic Crafts: Clay Frogs
10 am Meet at Tracy Criscitiello home

May 15 Community Gardens: Miller-Cory Spring
9 am cleanup. (Sue Feldman, contact)

May 16 Photography trip to Cross Estate.
9:30 am Meet at Inge Bossert home to carpool.

(Margot Partridge, contact)

May 17 Juniors: Garden cleanup and install bee
3:30 pm houses. Meet at Shadowlawn.

(Sharon Shiraga, contact)

May 18 Community Projects: Mini-Arrangements for
9 am Mobile Meals. Meet at Baptist Church.

(Kay Cross, contact)

May 18 Community Gardens: Northside Train Station
10:15 am cleanup. (Beth Hanscom, contact)

May 23 Horticulture: Trip to Peony Envy in
Bernardsville. Lunch follows. Meet to carpool
at Inge Bossert home. (Barb Murphy, contact)

36

June

June 5 Board Meeting
Noon at Beth Siano home
(w/ Irene Greenstein, Gayle Lechner)

June 6 Secret Garden Tour
Noon Details to be announced.
(Barb Spellmeyer, contact)

June 14 ANNUAL LUNCHEON
Noon at Echo Lake Country Club

w/ Awards and Photo Exhibit & Contest

Enjoy Your Summer!

37

CLUB PRESIDENTS

1952-53 Agnes Eggimann
1953-54 Gertrude Stuntz
1954-55 Edythe Dugan
1955-56 Ruth Gaven
1956-57 Edith Tonnessen
1957-58 Pat Hachmann
1958-59 Mary Scott
1959-61 Mildred Warnecke
1961-63 Marie Gilson
1963-65 Adele Breitenstein
1965-66 Sally Thompson
Edythe Dugan
1966-67 Martha Mayer
1967-69 Virginia McElroy
1969-71 Dora Tribble
1971-73 Louise Thawley
1973-75 Pauline Hydock
1975-77 Marian Templeton
1977-79 Nancy Wallace
1979-81 Jeanne Monaghan
1981-83 Kay Cross
1983-85 Peggy Cruger
1985-87 Carol Wagner
1987-89 Barbara James
1989-91 Michelle Healy
1991-93 Linda Parker
1993-95 Karyn (Tate) Oros
1995-97 Colleen Schmidt
1997-99 Elizabeth Hanscom
1999-2001 Linda Winter
2001-03 Kris Luka
2003-05 Patty Kreider
2005 Pam Kolb
2005-07 Nancy Smith
2007-09 Maryann Pietruszki
2009-11 Gayle Lechner
2011-13 Karen Jolley-Gates
2013-15 Diana Kazazis
2015-17 Pat Wilson
2017-19 Jeanne Marie Ryan
2019 -21 Beth Siano
2021- 23
38

RAKE & HOE GC
MEMBERSHIP

2022-2023

(A) = Associate Member
(L) = Life Member
(N) = New Member
(S) = Sustainer Member
all others are ACTIVE Members

*************
NO Area Code assumes ‘908’

39

MEMBERS

Alhashim, Tula 2016
194 Mt. Horeb Road (c)732-543-5403
Warren, NJ 07059
732-271-9337
[email protected]

Annese, Maryfran 2019
8 Cowperthwaite Square (c)380-5530
Westfield, NJ 07090
317-2551
[email protected]

Barna, Joan 2007
1861 Wood Road
Scotch Plains, NJ 07076
232-6211
[email protected]

Becker, Cathy 2014
1056 Oak Lane
Plainfield, NJ 07060
377-2237
[email protected]

Bossert, Inge 2001
104 Forest Road
Fanwood, NJ 07023-1305
(c)568-1217
[email protected]

Camilletti, Dorothy 2019
226 Cowperthwaite Place
Westfield, NJ 07090
264-7680
[email protected]

Chance, Elizabeth 2015
371 Greenbriar Court
Mountainside, NJ 07092
232-1662 (c)723-3338
[email protected]

40

Christiani, Jane 2016
2431 Allwood Road (c)358-6496
Scotch Plains, NJ 07076
232-4678 2017
[email protected] (c)803-8399

Ciurczak, Kathryn 2022
2441 Allwood Road
Scotch Plains, NJ 07076
233-9455
[email protected]

Clark, Betty (N)
1431 Lamberts Mill Road
Westfield, NJ 07090
229-0234
[email protected]

Cowell, Alice 1997
1417 Orchard Road
Mountainside, NJ 07092-1717
518-1602 (c)400-4374
[email protected]

Criscitiello, Tracy 2002
465 Bayberry Lane
Mountainside, NJ 07092-1402
317-8012 (c)803-2675
[email protected]

Cross, Kay (L) 1980
401 South Chestnut Street
Westfield, NJ 07090-1311
233-0905 (c)233-3422
[email protected]

Da Rold, Joseph 2015
1404 Martine Avenue
Plainfield, NJ 07060
370-9549
[email protected]

41

Daurio, Anna (A) 1997
1620 Forest Hill Road (c)380-2635
Plainfield, NJ 07060
232-5411
[email protected]

Dinan, Susan 2008
585 Trinity Place, Unit N (c)400-3918
Westfield, NJ 07090
233-1833
[email protected]

Dwyer, Liz (A) 1999
2355 Seneca Road
Scotch Plains, NJ 07076
(c)347-4469
[email protected]

Eardley, Karen 2020
941 Harding Street
Westfield, NJ 07090
(c)447-8093
[email protected]

Feldman, Sue 2021
224 Cowperthwaite Place
Westfield, NJ 07090
(c) 447-4127
[email protected]

Genco, Diane (A) 2006
225 Edgewood Avenue (c)419-7023
Westfield, NJ 07090
232-7066
[email protected]

Grecco, Roberta (A) 1967
781 Norgate
Westfield, NJ 07090-3467
232-0145
[email protected]

42

Greenstein, Irene 2007
743 St. Marks Avenue
Westfield, NJ 07090
232-9131 (c)337-4505
[email protected]

Griggs, Lois (A) 1976
909 Wyandotte Trail
Westfield, NJ 07090-3732
233-6290
[email protected]

Gulino, Betty 2015
3 Cowperthwaite Square
Westfield, NJ 07090
232-2953 (c)201-264-8248
[email protected]

Hanscom, Elizabeth (L) 1984
740 East Broad Street (c)456-3060
Westfield, NJ 07090-2002
232-5497
[email protected]

Jolley-Gates, Karen (A) 1999
6022 Stovers Mill Road
Doylestown, PA 18902
215-297-5241 (c)418-1558
[email protected]

Kaiser, Sarah 2019
49 Carsam Street
Fanwood, NJ 07023 2001
313-9096 (c)447-0299
[email protected]

Kazazis, Diana
112 Effingham Place
Westfield, NJ 07090-3926
654-8783
[email protected]

43

Klinger-Kueter, Carolyn 2015
424 St. Marks Ave.
Westfield, NJ 07090
531-4471
[email protected]

Kolb, Pamela (A) 1999
8128 Wade Hampton Court
Wilmington, NC 28411
(c)358-3363
[email protected]

Kylish, Joan 2008
1814 Chapel Road (c)868-0008
Scotch Plains, NJ 07076
654-3194
[email protected]

Lechner, Gayle 2001
224 Prospect Street, Apt. 7B (c)400-5867
Westfield, NJ 07090-4041
232-8730
[email protected]

Levin, Adah 2008
1781 Fernwood Lane
Plainfield, NJ 07060-3417
337-6743
[email protected]

Luka, Kris 1995
525 Elm Street (c)463-6487
Westfield, NJ 07090-3107
233-8519
[email protected]

Mahran, Faten 2008
5 Woodbrook Circle (c)403-2661
Westfield, NJ 07090
232-0256
[email protected]

44

Mullen, Joyce 2017
2427 Allwood Road (c)963-1266
Scotch Plains, NJ 07076
789-1508
[email protected]

Mullin, Barbara (L) 1999
227 New Providence Road
Mountainside, NJ 07092-1735
232-5522
[email protected]

Murphy, Barbara 1997
1224 Cedar Avenue
Mountainside, NJ 07092
(c)418-0209
[email protected]

Nolas, MaryLou 2012
300B Clark Street (c)307-8862
Westfield, NJ 07090
654-4707
[email protected]

Parker, Linda (L) 1979
243 Kimball Avenue (c)930-4970
Westfield, NJ 07090-3111
232-6542
[email protected]

Parness, Lesley 2021
140 Pitt Road (c)201-410-7192
Springfield, NJ 07081
973-912-0541
[email protected]

Partridge, Margot 1997
816 Sherbrook Drive (c)403-7670
Westfield, NJ 07090-1334
233-9634
[email protected]

45

Pasterczyk, Helen (A) 1999
126 Stanmore Place
Westfield, NJ 07090-3909
233-1775
[email protected]

Peitsinovski, Lena 2015
416 Locust St.
Roselle, NJ 07203
803-5272
[email protected]

Peitsinovski, Natalie 2015
416 Locust St.
Roselle, NJ 07203
803-5272
[email protected]

Pelikan, Jeanette 2010
213 Lynn Lane
Westfield, NJ 07090
(c)612-8692
[email protected]

Pelikan, Richard 2010
213 Lynn Lane
Westfield, NJ 07090
(c)612-8692
[email protected]

Perry, Lee 2009
627 Arlington Ave (c)578-5684
Westfield, NJ 07090
232-7232
[email protected]

Pietruszki, Maryann (A) 1997
314 Washington Street
Westfield, NJ 07090
789-9254
[email protected]

46

Pulliam, Carolynn (S) 2005
648 Arlington Avenue
Westfield, NJ 07090-2104
654-4037
[email protected]

Puskar, Ginny (N) 2022
602 D Clark Street
Westfield, NJ 07090
(c) 973-229-1148
[email protected]

Round, Betty 2017
240 West Dudley Avenue (c)403-9589
Westfield, NJ 07090
789-9707
[email protected]

Ryan, Jeanne Marie 2011
142 Vernon Terrace
Westfield, NJ 07090
654-0271
[email protected]

Savage, Martha 2017
711 Rahway Avenue
Westfield, NJ 07090
789-2341
[email protected]

Schlobohm, Holly (A) 2013
41A Sandra Circle, Apt. A1 1992
Westfield, NJ 07090
654-1648
[email protected]

Schmidt, Colleen (A)
669 Boulevard
Westfield, NJ 07090-3209
654-4590
[email protected]

47

Seracka, Carolyn 2019
1208 Sunnyfield Lane (c)451-2220
Scotch Plains, NJ 07076
668-0187
[email protected]

Sevchuk, Donna 2020
657 Maye Street
Westfield, NJ 07090
295-0051
[email protected]

Shea, Mary (A) 1986
1551 Martine Avenue
Scotch Plains, NJ 07076-2952
889-2165
[email protected]

Shiraga, Sharon 2015
18 Westbrook Road (c)447-2460
Westfield, NJ 07090
228-2865
[email protected]

Siano, Beth 2009
624 Clark Street (c)410-4630
Westfield, NJ 07090
233-4150
[email protected]

Smith, Margaret (Peggy) 1999
295 Chattin Court
Mountainside, NJ 07092-1706
232-3375
[email protected]

Smith, Nancy (L) 1988
141 Greenwood Road (c)578-4741
Mountainside, NJ 07092
654-9477
[email protected]

48

Spellmeyer, Barbara 2012
1322 Martine Avenue (c)787-2700
Plainfield, NJ 07060
668-4413
[email protected]

Sylvester, Nina 2015
219 Oak Tree Road
Mountainside, NJ 07092
301-1758
[email protected]

Tittle, Sharon (A) 1986
9 Hawthorne Drive
Westfield, NJ 07090-1947
232-0596
[email protected]

Wilson, Pat (S) 2012
36 Yeardley’s Grant
Williamsburg, VA 23185
757-808-5366 (c)377-5713
[email protected]

Womelsdorf, Joanne 2015
30 Ocean Parkway, Suite 4C
Ocean City, NJ 07756
(c) 230-8283
[email protected]

49

FRIENDS of RAKE & HOE

Atwell, Rosemary 1990
7513 Newport Bay Drive
Indianapolis, IN 46240
702-335-0732

Wagner, Carol 1979
811 Cranford Avenue
Westfield, NJ 07090-1308
233-7829

THANK YOU!

Sincerest thanks to the following, who contributed their
time and talents to produce this yearbook/directory:

Barb Murphy for her expertise and invaluable technical
help with publication.

Beth Siano, our club president, who was instrumental in
gathering information from many sources.

Jeannie & Richard Pelikan, who contributed their photos
for lasting memories.

Joe Da Rold, who quickly found answers to our questions
in the club archives.

And last, but certainly not least - each and every mem-
ber of the Yearbook Committee (not all pictured), who
helped gather material and proof this year’s production
- we hope you enjoy!

- Inge Bossert, Yearbook Chair

50