Meeting notes from Wooster Emblem, Friends of the Library and Evergreen Garden Club
Wooster Emblem Club No. 374
Wooster Emblem Club’s November meeting began with the annual Memorial Service for departed members including Nancy Seminara, Bev Lehr, Jeanne Yarnell and Nancy Rastetter. Past President Lola Schubert draped the charter in their memory. Following roll call, President Deb Blough-Schmidt initiated and welcomed Charlotte Clampitt into membership.
Correspondence included annual reporting forms from the Supreme Emblem Club, thank you notes from Gulfside Hospice for the donation in memory of Past President Jeanne Yarnell, from the Yarnell family, from the Elks for donations to the Elks Cerebral Palsy Fund and the Battlefield Cross, from Everything Surplus for the flag in observance of Labor Day, from Dr. Donald Demkee for treat bags distributed at Danbury Senior Living and at the Elks breakfast for Veterans.
Pat Gerber presented the Americanism reading on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963 and the impact it had on our country. Chairman Paulette Douglas reported on the activities since the October meeting. In addition to Veterans Day activities, the Club clipped 2400 coupons that were mailed to a Navy/Marine base in Guam and a Thanksgiving dinner was given to a Veterans’ widow in need.
For Christmas a single father Veteran with four sons will be provided with dinner and other needs for the holiday and nine wreaths will be provided on Wreaths Across America Day, Dec. 16 at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery and Wooster, Sherwood, Pioneer and Reedsburg Cemeteries where members loved ones are buried as well as a new flag at St. Genevieve’s Cemetery in Fredericksburg. Wreath and garland will be placed on the Veterans Memorial at Wooster Cemetery on Pearl Harbor Day that will remain in place through Jan. 1.
Community Service Chairman Barb Flickinger reported bell ringing for The Salvation Army at Buehler’s Milltown on Dec. 2 and asked for donations for treat bags to be distributed to Assisted Living Residents at The Avenue when the Club plays euchre there on the second Monday of December. The Club voted to adopt two families from Wayne County Job & Family Services for Christmas providing meals and gifts, and cookies were requested for the party sponsored by the Club following the Ida Sue Christmas program on Dec. 20.
The monthly luncheon in December will be held at the Pine Tree Barn on Thursday, Dec. 14, beginning at 11:15 a.m. Reservations are required by the 12th to Ardenna Hurt 330-465-0752. The drawing for the holiday raffle basket with the proceeds to the 2024 State President’s Charity, The Joyful Cafe, will be drawn at the Elks but no coupon clipping in December.
Literacy reported 122 books had been given to a local day care and we will be providing books and puzzle books to inmates at the Wayne County Jail and to seniors at the WC Care Center prior to Christmas.
Ways & Means reported a successful pork loin dinner in November and the making and sale of candy buckeyes for our December project. Next dinner will be a Swiss steak dinner in February.
The Club’s annual Christmas dinner and party will be held at St. James Episcopal Church on Tuesday, Dec. 12, with social hour at 6 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m. Members are to bring white elephant gifts for a holiday game. Secret Sister gift exchange will also take place.
There will be no Club meeting in December the next meeting will be 7 p.m. Jan. 22 at the Elks.
Wooster Friends of the Library Board
Wooster Friends of the Library Board met Dec. 4 at the Operations Center. Jennifer Schatzer, library director, reported that construction continues at the main library. There have been and will continue to be many moving pieces. Completion is expected in the spring. Staff have been wearing shirts with a construction motif. Book sales continue near the check out counter. There is a pop-up sale of seasonal books.
There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Rittman branch 10 a.m. Dec. 16. Jennifer requested a grant for a staff member to continue her pursuit of a Masters Degree in Library Science at Kent State. This was later approved by the board.
Jennifer thanked the group for the support of the Jan Brett program. It was a success as over 1,000 were in attendance. Jan Brett’s drawing will be on display in the children’s department at the library.
Treasurer’s report by Betty Wilkin was approved. Correspondence reported by Diane Ohlesen noted that two more donations were received. Membership chair, Nancy Martinez, reported there are 167 individual members of the Friends of the Library. Mary Rupp, chairperson of volunteers, reported the bell ringing for the Salvation Army was well attended.
The board designated money for the book endowment fund in Sherry O’Dell’s name. Sherry was a long time supporter of the Friends group.
Evergreen Garden Club
Twelve members met at the home of Ruth Reifsnyder. President Linda McHenry opened the meeting with a reading of a fun Thanksgiving story.
The program “All About Hydrangeas” was given by Gina Marbitzer, a master gardener, author, and owner of Hummingbird Hill Flower Farm. Gina helped undo the confusion of when to prune hydrangeas. If hydrangeas bloom on old wood (buds set in late summer of the previous year) do not prune. If hydrangeas bloom on new wood (buds set after leaves set in the spring), prune in late winter or early spring. Hydrangeas that bloom on both new and old wood should not be pruned but dead or broken branches should be cleaned up in spring/early summer. Gina does not prune any in the fall but waits until the spring when she can see buds. Most hydrangeas need 4-6 hours of shade each day. Fertilize your plants in the spring with a slow release granular product. Then fertilize once a month until August. Stop fertilizing in August. Gina also talked about ways to get blue, pink, or purple blooms. She handed out a most helpful hydrangea guide.
Roll call was taken by members sharing their favorite food dish from the garden.
It was with sadness that we learned of the death of Sheila Bricker’s husband. Evergreen Garden Club will send a single flower with babies breath in a nice vase for the funeral on Nov. 28.
Next months Christmas Dinner was discussed. Names were drawn for the gift exchange and each member signed up for the carry in dinner. Rachel Epling, hostess, and the program committee will set up for the dinner at Trinity United Methodist Church on Dec. 18.
Caroline Markley introduced Nancy Hunter as a new member. Robin Gibbs bio information was read for possible membership when a vacancy opens up.
The OAGC meeting was shared including the presentations on hostas and dahlas. Linda McHenry shared what was in our basket raffle for the OAGC meeting. The Dec. 5 OAGC meeting at the Brethren Church in Smithville will be on how to design hanging Christmas decorations and how to make a Christmas candle ring. OAGC is having a quilt raffle with proceeds going to Wakena Nature Preserve. Tickets are $5 each.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Meeting notes: Wooster Emblem, Friends of the Library, garden club
