Lake Erie Lifestyle - May 2023

Do you want to join a garden club?

Also inside: Take a tour of Corning, Ithaca and more Experience 2023 decorator colors

From her first step inside Springhill, Mary says she felt at home. “I could not have found a better spot.” A lover of outdoors, Mary has hiked local state parks as far as England, Scotland, and Spain. Now, she stays fit closer to home. Mary is thrilled to be able to log a 2-mile hike without leaving our beautiful 45-acre campus which features a winding path leading to a gazebo and pond, woods, and butterfly garden. She’s also a regular at the pool where she swims and takes water aerobics. “You just go downstairs and there’s the pool!”

Make a splash in 2023 and discover a new kind of well-being!

As Erie’s premier continuing care retirement community, Springhill offers a maintenance-free lifestyle with unparalleled programs, well-being opportunities—spacious apartments, beautiful garden homes, and a continuum of on-site health services.

Mary Stewart, left, and Valvet Uboldi at the Aquatic Center.

May is Better Hearing & Speech Month: Enjoy Your Hearing – And Protect It!

Are you one of the millions of Americans who may be missing the sounds of spring? More than 28 million Americans live with hearing loss, but surprisingly, just 20% seek help.

During May, Better Hearing & Speech Month, Dr. Allison Keenan of Erie Audiology offers practical advice to ensure you’re not among those missing out on the many sounds that color our world.

“If you have difficulty hearing conversation or find yourself constantly turning up the volume on the TV, schedule an appointment for a hearing check-up,” says Dr. Keenan. “Hearing evaluations are quick and painless. If a hearing loss is detected, there are a wide range of small and discreet hearing aids that will allow

you to hear more clearly whether you’re in a noisy restaurant or enjoying a stroll in the park.”

Taking care of your hearing health also means limiting the amount of time you expose your ears to loud noise. Dr. Keenan points out that over time, sounds that are louder than 85 decibels, about the loudness of heavy traffic, can lead to noise-induced hearing loss. At rock concerts, sound levels soar to more than 100 decibels. Even typical spring-cleaning chores like vacuuming or mowing the lawn can reach levels above 90 decibels.

Noise is everywhere. Simple steps can make a difference. Stay as far away from the source of noise as possible and walk away when sounds get too loud. Turn down the volume on TVs, radios, and portable music players. Reduce the number of noisy appliances running at the same time. Buy quieter products, especially children’s toys and personal care appliances like blow dryers.

“My number-one tip is to use ear protection wherever possible,” says Dr. Keenan. “Invest in a set of inexpensive foam earplugs or visit a home or sporting goods store and purchase sound-reducing earmuffs. Be sure to check the Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) on your protection and look for ratings in the high 20’s or low 30’s…the bigger the number the better.”

Visit erieaudiology.com for more information about hearing loss and hearing solutions or call 814.833.9533.

Allison Keenan, Au.D. Doctor of Audiology

Inside This Issue

6 Falling for Corning, Ithaca and Watkins Glen

12 Hooray for Color

17 Schedule time to visit 4 great events this season

18 Should you join a garden club in Erie County?

Contributors

Molly Boniger tells us about some fun events to attend in May and June. Molly is a sales assistant at the Erie Times-News. She writes regularly for Lake Erie LifeStyle.

Heather Cass recounts a weekend getaway experience in Ithaca, Watkins Glen and Corning, New York. She is a former Erie TimesNews reporter and is currently the publications manager at Penn State Behrend.

Marie Feltz tells us all about interior design and which colors are the hot ones for this year. She has owned the Decorating Den Interiors franchise since 1986 and is an award-winning designer who often writes decorating articles for publications and regional newspapers.

Sue Scholz rounds up descriptions of a dozen garden clubs in Erie County. If you want to join one, this is the place to start. Sue is a wellknown Master Gardener, garden club member and officer. She wrote the former Buds & Blooms column that appeared in House to Home at the Erie Times-News for more than a decade.

May 2023 | Volume 16 Issue 2

Regional Advertising Director

Rebecca Flyte

Rflyte@localiq.com

814-444-5906

Contributing Editor Pam Parker

lakeerielifestyle@gannett.com

Creative Team

Linda Skrypzak

David Papesch

Rich Angelotti

Laura Rush-Malencia

Molly Boniger

Advertising

Gretchen Armes

Doreen DeFabio Duska

Dawn Goodwill

Kristin Schuver

On the Cover

Did you know there are a dozen garden clubs in Erie County? Read all about them on page 18.

Also inside: Take a tour of Corning, Ithaca and more Experience 2023 decorator colors

Do you want to join a garden club?

Photo by Getty Images

gettyimages

Dear Readers,

Now that the grass is green and flowers are blooming, it makes me feel rejuvenated. According to Webster, that word means “to make feel or seem young again; bring back to youthful strength, appearance, etc.” The word also reminds me that I am retired. So is my husband. Or at least we were retired. I left the Erie-Times-News in 2020 and started as a project manager at the Hagen History Center a month later. I freelanced for the Times since the day I left. I’ve been a freelance editor for about a year.

My husband retired in November from a construction sales gig and was snapped up a few months later by Kunco Landscaping. As a project manager! Two retirees in the same house are project managers. How about that? Our kids think we’re crazy, but we aren’t working full-time, and we both love what we do. Plus, we’ve met some pretty incredible people as project managers.

This issue has nothing to do with retirement or project managers, but it’s filled with rejuvenating ideas anyone can do. Heather Cass writes about some of the fun trips she takes, and Sue Scholz gives us all the details on what it means to join a garden club. Marie Feltz shares decorator tips on how to incorporate a lot of color into your home. If you want to keep up with what we have going on, follow us on Facebook at Friends of Lake Erie LifeStyle.

Below are reader submissions that express feelings of spring, as requested on our Friends of Lake Erie LifeStyle Facebook page. The photo at left is by Linda Williams of North East, PA. On the right, Cindy Rodgers of North East gave us this caption for her photo: “Amidst the snowdrops of early Spring - there is the promise of hope, new life, and colorful vista.”

Pam Parker

Pam Parker and her husband, Kim, retired from their former jobs and started new jobs after retirement.

Falling for Corning, Ithaca and Watkins Glen

Story

photos by Heather Cass

Mini vacation to nearby New York offers adventure, inspires awe

Last year, my college-age daughter and I had just a few days to fit in a quick vacation before she started her summer job, so I hopped on Google maps and looked for interesting destinations within a few driving hours of Erie. We both love the outdoors and hiking, so we settled on Ithaca, New York, which is known for its abundance of waterfalls. Zooming out on the map, I saw that it would be easy to also swing by Watkins Glen State Park, too. Perfect.

Unfortunately, or fortunately as it would turn out, the forecast called for rain on the first day of our three-day vacation, which makes for miserable hiking. A friend suggested that we stop in Corning, New York, and spend our rainy day at the Corning Museum of Glass. It was much more fun than I would’ve expected and, we even made our own glass creations, which we picked up on our way back to Erie two days later. (More on that below).

If you are looking for a weekend or short mid-week vacation, here is the route we took and some things we saw and learned along the way.

Day 1 – Corning, N.Y.

The Corning Museum of Glass, 1 Museum Way, Corning, New York, is about three hours from Erie. Its website says the facility is, “the world’s largest space dedicated to the display of contemporary art and design in glass.” And it is large: There are three

levels, outdoor demonstration spaces, a café, a large museum shop, and a working hot shop in a separate building.

There are daily demonstrations about the glass making process that are worth your time, including a flameworking demo, a glass- breaking demo, and a hot-shop demo where you can watch an artist turn a blob of liquid glass into something beautiful in 20 minutes while a staff member narrates the process.

The Contemporary Art & Design Galleries are particularly impressive with aweinspiring glass artwork. Parents and kids will enjoy the Innovation Focus Gallery, which allows for some hands-on play. And, the gift shop is not to be missed, particularly the Corelle outlet where you can find some great deals on glassware.

The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is $22 for adults, with a discount available for college students. Kids 17 and under are free! Parking is also free. Admission tickets are timed, so it’s best to buy them online in advance to avoid a wait. Tickets are good for two days, by the way.

Want to try making glass?

If you want to make your own glass (with the help of glass workers, of course), plan ahead. The tickets for these experiences sell out weeks in advance. You can choose from several types of projects from a sandblasted vase for $14 to a glass flower or ornament for $34. My daughter and I made flowers and we seemed to get to do more of the process than others.

See the projects and make your reservations online at https://home. cmog.org. Note that you cannot take your creations home the same day you make them, so plan accordingly.

The Gaffer District in Corning

A gaffer is a master glassblower and it’s the name given to Corning’s nearby historical downtown area, which is just a short walk or drive from the museum. This is an area worth budgeting some of your vacation time to shop, grab a meal or a snack, and take in the historical architecture (visit

www.gafferdistrict.com/tour to access a self-guided tour). There’s plenty of parking available behind the shops for just a few dollars but be aware that most of the shops close by early evening.

Day 2 – Ithaca, N.Y.

We rented a cute cabin with electric at Camp Earth Connection, 63 Hammond Hill Road, Freeville, N.Y. It was remote enough to experience truly dark skies (so many stars) at night, but just a short drive to downtown Ithaca.

Our mission, using the Visit Ithaca Visitors Guide, was to find the 10 mustsee waterfalls: Taughannock Falls, Enfield Falls, Lucifer Falls, Buttermilk Falls, Lick Brook Falls, Ithaca Falls, Cascadilla Gorge, Triphammer Falls, Denison Falls, and Businessman’s Lunch Falls.

It was an ambitious undertaking for one day, but we made it to all but two that were further away. A few of the falls were underwhelming – Triphammer Falls and Lick Brook – but others were jaw dropping – Buttermilk Falls, Ithaca Falls, Businessman’s Lunch Falls, Lucifer Falls.

Most of the falls were a short walk from nearby parking, though the ones on Cornell University’s property were more challenging to see as it was hard to find visitor parking on campus.

Travel Tip: If you have time, check out Cornell’s Botanical Gardens and Johnson Museum of Art, both are free and open to the public.

We did do some hiking and especially enjoyed the gorge trails at Buttermilk Falls and Tremon State Park.

One of the coolest – literally and figuratively – experiences we had was swimming in Robert H. Tremon State Park, in a large natural pool at the base of Enfield Falls. This is a guarded swimming area with

and

Heather Cass created this glass flower at the Corning Museum of Glass.

Kelly Cass adds a rock tower to an impromptu rock art exhibit along the upper rim trail at Watkins Glen State Park.

a bathhouse, but be advised that the water is always chilly as it’s stream-fed.

Travel Tip: New York State Parks charge a vehicle fee of $9 a day but it’s good for a full day at all of the parks, so if you go to Tremon and Buttermilk in the same day you need only pay once.

Day 3 – Watkins Glen, N.Y.

We got up early to drive one hour to Watkins Glen State Park, the most famous of the Finger Lakes State Parks. We wanted to arrive there shortly after it opened as a friend warned us that it got very busy by late morning. That turned out to be great advice.

The Watkins Glen Gorge Trail follows the glen’s stream which descends 400 feet past 200-foot cliffs, creating 19 waterfalls along its course. The path winds over and under waterfalls and includes more than 800 stone steps. It is a workout and is not stroller, wheelchair, or pet friendly. Parts of it are narrow and many areas of it are wet, so wear proper footing.

You can access the gorge trail from two entrances: the top, 3310 Route 409, or the main entrance, 1009 N. Franklin Street, at the bottom of the falls. I’d advise you start from the main entrance. This direction of travel offers the most stunning views because the trail unfolds before you, with every new turn and waterfall offering an even more beautiful scene than the one before. I was stunned several times, and I’ve been to some of the great National Parks out west, so I do not say that lightly.

We walked up the trail, taking our time to take lots of photos and enjoy the vistas. When we reached the end, we hiked up to the Rim Trail to return to the parking lot but found it boring, so we went back down to the Gorge Trail and walked it in reverse. It was late morning by then and the crowds had increased substantially, making for a less pleasant experience.

Travel Tip: You can catch a shuttle bus for a few bucks from the top of the gorge trail if you walk up and don’t want to walk back.

When we returned to the entrance, we took time to read the historical information about the park at the start of the trail and visited the gift shop.

Note that the park closes from early November to mid-May and there is a park entrance/parking fee of $10 per vehicle.

When we were done at Watkins Glen, we stopped to have a picnic lunch at a nearby community park and then drove a halfhour back to Corning to pick up our glass creations at the museum and to spend the rest of the afternoon in the Gaffer District shopping and exploring.

My daughter, who has been on many trips to big cities as well as the Grand Canyon, Mexico, and on Caribbean cruises, said this impromptu three-day, low-key, low-cost trip was one of her all-time favorites. LEL

Ithaca Falls in Ithaca, New York, is impressive. Note the people in the lower right of the photo to understand the scale.

Ithaca, New York, and the surrounding area have more than 150 waterfalls within 10 miles.

Websites for more information: Corning Museum of Glass: https://home.cmog.org/

Corning’s Gaffer District: https://www.gafferdistrict.com/ Camp Earth Connection: http://campearthconnection.com/ Ithaca, New York: https://www.visitithaca.com

Ithaca Waterfalls: https://www.visitithaca.com/ things-to-do/outdoor-recreation/waterfalls/ Cornell Botanical Gardens: https://cornellbotanicgardens.org

Buttermilk Falls State Park: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/buttermilkfalls

Treman State Park: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/roberttreman

Watkins Glen State Park: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/watkinsglen

The Business Man’s falls in Ithaca, New York, are among the most impressive waterfalls in the area.

The Gaffer District of Corning, New York, offers numerous unique shops and restaurants where you can grab a meal.

The 2-mile gorge trail at Watkins Glen State Park in New York descends 400 feet past 200-foot cliffs generating 19 waterfalls along its course.

olor is back in a bold way.

showrooms the last three home furnishings markets at High Point, North Carolina. Personally, I think it’s been boring seeing so much use of grays and whites. Fall may be the season of color in our neck of the woods, but spring is the season of newness.

On trend this season is the use of a splash of color to liven up the spirit of a room. Leading the way is Pantone’s 2023 Color of the Year Viva Magenta. Pantone describes it “as a crimson red tone that presents a balance between warm and cool.”

Pantone suggests using Vivid Magenta on a lacquered wall or as a pop of color in lighting fixtures, florals or other details.

“Viva Magenta packs a lot of drama in a small dose,” says the Pantone website. Remember, you are the artist, and your home is the canvas. You have the freedom to paint your walls and add decor in any color you want — so why avoid bright tints? Now,

Hooray for Color

By Marie Feltz

some colors are more popular than others, but any color could work in your favor if you pick the right shade that matches your existing design.

If you’re in the mood for more color in your home, here are a few ideas:

2023 is highlighting earth tones and rosy shades, making burgundy a great choice for your walls or decor. This bold color is inviting and warm without being too “in your face.” Introduce this shade into your bedroom or living room to envelop the space in a lush and comfortable glow. If you’re not painting the walls but still want pops of this hue, then get burgundy throw pillows for your couch or bed, hang burgundy-tinted framed photos on the wall or add a plush rug in the beautiful shade.

Does your space need a bit more personality? Well, look no further than teal. Although there are thousands of shades of blue, this one is particularly versatile, offering a chic feel to any room. It’s neither too warm nor too cold, so it blends well with various other colors. Try painting an accent wall in your kitchen (or paint the cabinets for a particularly funky transformation) or pick beautiful teal vases for your living room coffee and side tables.

Rising in popularity over the year has been olive green, making it a much more appealing color than in the past. This beautiful shade of green is as calming

yet vibrant as they come. Although this color can work on walls in just about any room (a bathroom or kitchen, especially), picking out some amazing furniture in this hue takes the cake. Pick matching olive green chaise lounges to sit in front of your fireplace, make a book nook with a plush armchair or go all out with an olive couch — a focal point that will grab everyone’s attention.

Whether you’re from Georgia or simply love this summery shade, peachy pink accents can take any room from drab to fab. Add an accent wall in your guest bedroom to introduce a feminine touch that will make your friends and family feel right at home, or swap out your plain dining room chairs for peach-colored upholstered ones. You can’t go wrong with this cheery choice. Why Color Is

a Great Addition to Your Space

Color can set a mood and create a conversation. The website colorpsychology. org puts it this way: “It can excite or soothe your mood, raise or lower your blood pressure, even whet your appetite! Whether it’s innate or learned, it’s undeniable that color has a vital impact on how we go about our lives.”

Whatever feeling you’d like to evoke, color can be the design tool to do the trick. Want to make your basement feel less like a crypt? Paint the walls a soothing, cozy shade. Want to make your bedroom appear a bit larger? A dark blue or earthy green will do just the trick.

Although certain colors don’t work well in every person’s home, don’t be afraid to get creative and let your imagination take you to new, bright places. Experiment with color. With some special thought and consideration, you can find the perfect beautiful hue that flawlessly captures your personality and aesthetic. LEL

Photos courtesy of Decorating Den Interiors

Burgundies and other shades of red can offer a Pantone Color of the Year Viva Magenta vibe in chairs or other accents, and the color pairs well with neutrals and jewel tones.

(Right) Teal is a versatile shade of blue that offers a chic feel to your space.

Peach can take any room from drab to fab.

Don’t forget, your ceiling can also be a colorful canvas.

Views Erie Street Art Festival – Erie, PA: June 1-13

Come celebrate the legacy and thriving culture of hip hop and urban art at this year’s first Erie Street Art Festival! Hosted by Erie Arts & Culture, the festival will take place throughout the city, as local and international artists work to complete 37 murals, highlighting various art styles and techniques. The festival will also host a variety of events and art exhibits, including vendors, hip hop showcases and more. Admission is free and the festival takes place outdoors, so please dress accordingly. To stay updated on event schedules, locations, or other general information, visit Erie Arts & Culture’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ErieArtsandCulture or discover their website at https://www.erieartsandculture.org.

Four points

By Molly Boniger

Riverside Beer Garden Music Series – Cambridge Springs, PA: Saturdays from May 20-Oct. 14

Looking for some quality food and entertainment on the weekends? Well look no further than the Beer Garden Music Series, hosted by Riverside Brewing Company! Grab some friends to find a perfect spot in the beer garden and listen to local music talents while you enjoy crafted beers and delicious dishes. Performances are from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and you can bring your own lawn chairs to the beer garden. Riverside Brewing Company is located at 1 Fountain St. Cambridge Springs, PA 16403. For more information on the series lineup and other updates, visit Riverside’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook. com/RiversideBrewingCompany or their website at https://www.riversidebrewing. co/home.

With summer around the corner, discover what the Erie and the tri-state region has to offer! Please make sure to contact these sites to verify times and dates before you go.

Beach Glass Festival –Ashtabula, OH

June 24-25

Capture a piece of the beach for yourself at the annual Beach Glass Festival! Located in Historic Ashtabula Harbor, witness over 125 local artisans and vendors from across the country display their beach glass art and other beach-themed creations near the waterfront of Lake Erie. Treat yourself with tasty foods and other goodies as you enjoy the scenic sights along the Ashtabula River. The festival is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and takes place at 1147 Bridge St, Ashtabula, OH 44004. Please dress accordingly, as the festival does take place outdoors. For more updates, visit their Facebook page at https://www. facebook.com/beachglassfestival or email beachglassfestival@gmail.com.

Yoga with the Birds at Roger Tory Peterson Institute – Jamestown, NY: Saturdays from June 3-Sep. 2

Start your day off with the rising sun pose as you rise and shine to the melodies of songbirds. Join yoga instructors at Roger Tory Peterson Institute (RTPI) for Yoga with the Birds; for one hour, you can relax your body and mind on The Lodge patio while you’re surrounded by the sights and sounds of the forest. Yoga sessions start at 9 a.m. and The Lodge is located at 311 Curtis Street Jamestown, NY 14701. Registering for classes is highly encouraged since space is limited, but walk-ins are accepted. Admission for RTPI members is $10/ person and for non-members, $12/person. To register for yoga sessions or for other general information, please visit https:// rtpi.org/programs/yoga-with-the-birds or call 716-665-2473. LEL

Participants doing the One Leg Lift Pose on The Lodge Patio, Contributed by Roger Tory Peterson Institute

Beach glass jewelry on display, Contributed by Melody Shiflet

Ms. Yellow and her mural at 11th and Parade St., Contributed by Erie Arts & Culture

Audience enjoying a live performance in the beer garden, Contributed by Riverside Brewing Company

Should you join a garden club in Erie County?

Before I moved to Erie 32 years ago, I didn’t know anything about garden clubs. I thought garden clubs were full of little old ladies in long floral dresses with starched lace collars; drinking tea with their pinkies sticking out. I couldn’t have been more wrong! Garden clubs are full of plant-loving, hard-working, active women and men, who get their hands dirty working in the gardens. Many of the clubs have community gardens that make Erie County more beautiful.

There are at least 12 garden clubs in Erie County. Eight are members of Erie County Council of Garden Clubs, or ECCGC, which has April and October meetings. Bonita Herman of Lawrence Park Garden Club is the president. All eight clubs are invited to attend the two meetings to share ideas and to enjoy garden-related programs. ECCGC is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. They will have a Mad Hatter-Alice in Wonderland Tea Party in the fall, with a magician.

ECCGC gives out a yearly Civic Charity donation of $300 every April to a non-profit that gardens with children. The winner in 2022 was Boy Scout Troop 52 at Grandview Elementary School, for its Monarch Waystation garden. In 2019 it was Asbury Woods’ “Watch Me Grow” program.

The Council also recognizes businesses for outstanding landscaping in Erie County with its Civic Beautification Awards. Small, medium and large businesses are nominated by the garden clubs, and a committee judges the nominees and chooses the winners by the October meeting. The winners of 2022 were Wegmans West, Yaas Mercantile of Edinboro and Book Trader of Edinboro. 2021 winners were Waldameer Park and Water World, McHenry and Company, and Krauza Family Chiropractic.

The eight ECCGC garden clubs are spaced throughout Erie County. Most meet during the day, but three, Elk Valley Garden Club, Gospel Hill Garden Club and Heather Club of Edinboro, meet in the evening. All of them are really active clubs and always welcome new members and visitors. One

does not have to be a garden expert to join a garden club. Novice gardeners are cordially invited to join because that’s how you learn. The meetings usually consist of a business meeting, a meal or snack, and then a garden-related program or speaker. Other times they make a garden craft, a floral design, or tour other gardens. They work with children and senior citizens and offer scholarships.

Most of the clubs are members of the National Garden Clubs Inc., NGC, and the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania, GCFP. Erie County is in District VIII, which covers the northwestern part of Pennsylvania. Every April the GCFP has a wonderful and fun convention in a different district. In 2026 Erie County will be the host district.

The following are the eight Erie County garden clubs of ECCGC:

Albion Garden and Civic Club

Established in 1933, currently has 15 members

Albion Garden and Civic Club has Stacey Wolf as its current president. It meets the

third Tuesday of each month from March through November. The meeting locations vary depending on the activity planned. The club hosts an annual flower show at the Albion Area Fair in September.

Wolf said, “We plant and maintain the Veteran’s Memorial, Mini Park and barrel planters throughout the borough of Albion. We have various speakers talk on all subjects and plan field trips and group activities. We welcome new members at any time.”

For meeting locations or interest in entering their flower show, check out their Facebook page at Albion Garden and Civic Club. E-mail her at staceylwolf@aol.com for more information.

Elk Valley Garden Club

Established in 1929, currently has 20 members

The Elk Valley Garden Club is noted to be Girard’s oldest civic organization still in existence. It is the oldest NGC federated garden club in the county. Heather Pier is its president. “We promote horticulture and home gardening, as well as the preservation

Albion Garden and Civic Club has a flower show every year at the Albion Fair.

Story and Photos by Sue Scholz

of native plants and wildflowers. Since our inception as a club, we have been the caretakers of Wells Park in Girard, which is the park in front of the Girard Borough Building on both sides of Route 20 where Dan Rice Days is held. We also maintain the roses and planters around the Civil War monument in the middle of Main Street/ Route 20 and our Blue Star marker and Monarch Waystation, which are in Wells Park,” Pier said.

“We give out an annual scholarship to Girard High School seniors, and award a garden of the month award to a local community member or business. Our garden mart in May is when we sell club member-grown perennials as well as locally grown annuals and shrubs. We also decorate the town in evergreen swags at Christmas, and host guest speakers and field trips monthly from March through December,” Pier added.

Her club’s meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at the Girard Borough Building in the late afternoon or evenings, as many of its members work. Membership is open to anyone with an interest in gardening, and who is willing to help throughout the year in the maintenance of the park. Members can join the same day by paying the annual dues of $20.

“Some new members are friends of current members, while others found us through our Facebook page or through articles about our activities in the West County News Journal. We are always looking for new

members who want to help keep Girard and Lake City beautiful,” Piers stated.

Anyone interested in learning more about Elk Valley’s history should check out the 2018 WQLN Our Town: Girard and Lake City documentary. Contact Pier at pier_idotite@ yahoo.com before attending a meeting, in case they have a field trip that month.

Fair View Garden Club

Established in 1928. Currently has 45 active members and 17 honorary members

Fair View Garden Club’s president is Meghan Mehler. The club meets at Holy Cross Church in Fairview on the first Friday of the month with some exceptions. Fair View is a very active club.

“We gather to share our love of gardening among amateurs. We are a very laid-back group that just loves to talk about and share flowers, plants and gardens. Our largest fundraiser is our Garden Mart which is always held in May. We use this money to offer scholarships to area students. We also support local civic projects such as the Fairview Community Council. We award a “Garden of the Month” to outstanding private gardens within the community,” Mehler said.

“We plant a tree to commemorate Arbor Day every year. We participate in Adopta-Highway by cleaning a two-mile part of Bear Creek Road each spring and fall. We plant flowers with local second graders for their Mothers’ Day gifts. We maintain and plant garden areas at Pleasant Ridge Manor, the Fairview Post Office and the Fairview Cemetery with its Tomb of the Unknown Soldier,” said Mehler.

To join the club, one must attend three meetings and pay the yearly dues of $15. Email Mehler at chefmeghan@roadrunner. com.

Elk Valley Garden Club created a Blue Star Garden in honor of all veterans. From left: Pat Howell, Kathy Welte, Elmer Welte, Heather Pier, Irene Smith, Kerry Patten, Jenny Davis and Clyde Davis.

Fair View Garden Club adopted a two-mile stretch of Bear Creek Road to keep clean from litter. From left: Linda Rohrbach, Terri Aulenbacher and Meghan Mehler.

Gospel Hill Garden Club

Established in 1956, currently has 33 members

Carolyn Bock is its president. “We would love to have you as a member. We are a friendly group of ladies and gentlemen who love to learn about plants and flowers. We share perennials from our gardens at our annual plant sale in May. We meet on the first Tuesday evening of the month at 7 p.m. at the Wesleyville Borough Hall in Wesleyville. Guests are always welcome at our meetings, and our membership chair will have club information ready to give to the guest. A prospective member may attend four meetings before joining Gospel Hill Garden Club,” said Bock.

Future programs include No-Dirt Hydroponic Farms in Fairview and Harborcreek Historical Society as field trips in 2023, and they will host speakers on topics of mosses and microgreens. They also will have a flower show in August that is open to the public. Contact Carolyn Bock at 814-440-0625 for more information.

Heather Club of Edinboro

Established in 1941, currently has 22 members

Heather Club of Edinboro’s president is Joy Kempf. They meet the first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Edinboro United Methodist Church, 113 High St., Edinboro.

“Each meeting we have a program or a speaker, or a member-led workshop, followed by the meeting. We always have a snack. Our programs vary from beekeeping, to floral designs, to yoga instructors teaching us how to not get hurt gardening. Many of our programs are hands-on for the members to create for their homes. We work with a Girl Scout Troop — we help the

girls create floral designs in mugs to give to their moms for Mother’s Day. We created a Blue Star marker garden at the Washington Township Municipal building. We also have a garden in the downtown area of Edinboro that we plant and maintain each year,” said Kempf.

She added, “Five of our members are certified Flower Show Judges, with several of us judging at the Philadelphia Flower

Show. We have members who completed the NGC consultant classes in Gardening, Landscape Design and Environmental Studies. Some of our members are Master Gardeners. We might be small, but we’re busy!”

Kempf continued, “Each year our major fundraiser is selling fresh greens in time for the holidays. Every other year, we hold a NGC Flower Show, which is always open

Gospel Hill Garden Club has a plant sale every May selling member-grown perennials. From left: Jackie Orelski, Caroline Staab, Terry Danylko, Sue Pence, Debbie Bertges, Sallie Barnes, Linda Rothstein, Linda Nielsen and Carolyn Bock.

Heather Club of Edinboro enjoyed their Christmas party. First row: Carol Klonicki, Secretary Betsy Wood, Lisa Fazio, Pat Ptasick, Treasurer Tricia Ptasick and President Joy Kempf. Second row: Laura Gallant, Karen Mulholland. Back row: Sara Northup, Vicki Estok, Kim Clerkin, Vice President Kim Feighner, Carol Yankovich and Karen Willey.

to the public to enter, or just come and view. This year, it will be held July 8, at the Municipal Building in Edinboro, and will be open to the public Friday from 1 to 3 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. We also do a Garden Therapy program each February with the residents at Edinboro Manor.”

Each meeting includes a horticulture report with the chairman sharing information, answering questions, and often sharing

pieces of the featured plant. The club supports Goodell Gardens, donates to the District VIII scholarship program, and contributes to the Park and Recreation Department of Washington Township. If anyone is interested in joining them for a few meetings, contact Joy Kempf at 814873-0221. Everyone is welcome.

Lawrence Park Garden Club

Established in 1956, currently has 23 members

The Lawrence Park Garden Club is 67 years old and meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m. Linda Gates is its president. “We usually have three or four program meetings, three road trips, a summer picnic, and we carve pumpkins for the Master Gardener Pumpkin Walk,” said member Debbie Bernadini.

“The club maintains and cares for the Veterans War Memorial, which we had professionally landscaped in 2014. In 2019, working alongside of American Legion

Carl Neff Post 571, we dedicated a Blue Star By-Way Marker in honor of all the men and women who have served in the armed forces. In the spring, red, white and blue bulbs bloom, then on Memorial Day, we place war markers with flags and plant two pots with red, white and blue flowers,” Bernadini said.

The LPGC has a working relationship with the Iroquois Elementary School Garden Club. With its yearly donation, they are able to purchase soil, plants, seeds and equipment to be used in their raised garden beds.

In January 2023, they partnered with the Iroquois Library to benefit children and adults to work together and share ideas and plans for future garden growth. Their plan for this year is to focus on bringing the library’s pollinator garden back to life.

The annual Flower Fair is the club’s fundraiser, held the weekend after Mother’s Day at the Lawrence Park Fire Department. Funds raised are used for the various community projects that they provide to Lawrence Park.

“We plant geraniums in pots to decorate Main Street in Lawrence Park. Every November we make fresh evergreen wreaths for the Lawrence Park and Wesleyville churches, the Iroquois Library and the Veterans Memorial,” said Bernadini.

In 2022, the garden club celebrated its 50th anniversary of belonging to the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania by having a celebratory picnic at Whitford Park.

“We welcome members who live in Lawrence Park and more. We will be starting a new community project this year at the Beute Park Gazebo and are working with Wesleyville Community Garden to help them get started. We would love to find a site for a little free library for garden books,” continued Bernadini. Contact president Linda Gates at simplechair@yahoo.com.

Lawrence Park Garden Club created a Blue Star Memorial Byway Marker garden to honor all veterans. Front row, from left, are: Julie Michalski, Debbie Bernardini, Bonita Herman, Emily Sanford, Darcie Vargo, and Mary Schwab. Back row, from left, are: Phyllis Blackmer, Debby Russo, Doris Cornman, Linda Gates, Jean Parker and Donna Knight and Mary Bentley.

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Presque Isle Garden Club had fun with their “Marigold Challenge,” in which members cared for a marigold all summer, and then the flowers were judged by the club’s own flower show judges at the October 2022 meeting. Debby Wisener won first place, Dorothy Murphy came in second place and Lynn Jackson came in third place. Front row: Trish Stanisha and Cathy Hahn. Standing, from left: Sue Scholz, Debby Wisener, Dorothy Murphy, Anne Miller, Barbara Eberlein

Presque Isle Garden Club

Established in 1949, currently has 34 members

Presque Isle Garden Club meets the second Wednesday of every month at Asbury United Methodist Church, 4703 West Ridge Road. The meetings are from 10:30 a.m. to noon, with a program at 12:30 p.m. I, Sue Scholz am the president.

We have fun and informative meetings, with reports on birds, bees or butterflies, horticulture, recycling and wildlife. We have garden speakers and we tour gardens, as well as make garden crafts and floral designs. On Sept. 12, we will have our flower show at the church that is open to the public. In May, we have our annual plant and bake sale of member-grown perennials to raise funds for our several community projects.

Our club is very proud of our Blue Star Memorial Garden at Veterans Park on Zimmerly Road. It was planted in honor of all veterans. Our red, white and blue flowers are very beautiful all summer. We are working on growing more butterfly-friendly and native flowers to attract butterflies.

Our club appreciates beautiful landscaping in Millcreek. We award one business and one residence a “Garden of the Month” award for having outstanding landscaping and gardens. The sign is placed in the front

yard for one month. At the end of the year, we give out the “Garden of the Year” award. Getting our youth involved in gardening is very important to us. We sponsor Boy Scout Troop 52’s Monarch Waystation at Grandview Elementary School. Every Arbor Day we give seedling trees to second graders at Tracy Elementary School. We also started working with McDowell Garden Club. In June, we will help the students create floral centerpieces in honor of National Garden Week. The designs will be given to the Millcreek Library, the Millcreek Township building and the supervisors, the Millcreek Education Building, and both high schools.

We don’t forget our senior citizens. Every year, as part of our garden therapy, we go to a nursing home and help the residents create their very own floral arrangement in a mug. The residents really have a great time.

Anyone is welcome to attend our meetings and programs. Like us on our Facebook page. Prospective members need to attend three meetings. Please call before the meeting in case things have changed. Call Sue Scholz at 814-823-1378 or email susan.m.scholz@gmail.com.

Waterford Garden Club

Established in 1932, currently has 24 members

The Waterford Garden Club is very active in the community. Betty Wist is its president. “We maintain a garden in the park near the Blue Star Marker and around the Methodist Church. We also maintain several hanging gardens along the main street of Waterford. Together with the Cambridge Springs Club, we sponsor the flower show at the Waterford Fair. In May, we hold a garden mart and bake sale. Each month we donate a floral arrangement to the senior housing center for all the residents to enjoy,” said Wist.

The club usually meets the first Tuesday of each month and has a speaker discuss different gardening techniques or other interesting topics. “Several times a year we tour gardens or explore new places. The Waterford Garden Club is a very friendly group. Everyone is welcome to join,” Wist continued. Contact her at 814-397-8369.

Erie County garden clubs have been working hard beautifying the county for many decades. They work with children and senior citizens and honor our veterans. Anyone who likes gardening should consider joining one of these amazing garden clubs. I joined Presque Isle Garden Club 29 years ago and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. LEL

Waterford Garden Club toured the fantastic gardens at Waldameer Park and WaterWorld. Front row: Cindy Samick, Betty Wist, Betty Holme, Marge Phillips, Sigma Toth and Lee Stull. Back row: Cynthia Hermann, Barb Rejzer, Rosalee Holzer, Julie Willow, Marilyn Whitmer and Darlene Black.

and Lynn Jackson.

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