Despite a deluge of rain, the annual meeting and picnic of the Longboat Key Garden Club went on as scheduled April 14, at the Joan M. Durante Park pavillion. Although the rain discouraged attendance, it did not dampen the enthusiasm of members present.

Chris Wilson, a senior at New College, received the Dr. Jack Sanders and Longboat Key Garden Club scholarship for $7,000. Hillary English, a Manatee Community College student, was awarded the

Landscapes in Paradise and Longboat Key Garden Club scholarship in the amount of $4,000.

Receiving a total of $5,000 in grants were Bayshore Elementary School, Crowley Museum and Nature Center, Mote Marine Laboratory for Aquaculture, Anna Maria Elementary School, ManaSota-88, Just For Girls and Sarasota Bay Watch.

Six Longboat Key residences were recognized with beautification awards. They were 640 Halyard Lane (Jean Orders); 621 Yardarm (Jane Boehme and Lynn Duval); 561 Yardarm (Brian and Lisa McGinn); 580 Neptune (Calvin and Jane Boehme); 740 Russell St. (Bill and Lynne Hayden); and 548 Lyons Lane (Cheryl Stark and Margie Seltzer).

Also during the ceremony, the club donated several books to the Longboat Library and reported on the progress of the butterfly garden in Bicentennial Park and activities at Camp Wekiva.

The election of officers was the final business item of the day. Officers for the 2009-10 season are Jackie Salvino, president; Barbara Gurchiek, first vice president; Cynthia Massey, second vice president; Madelyn Spoll, third vice president; Christine Furgiuele, treasurer; Emmy Lou Gilbert, recording secretary; Jinny Johnson, corresponding secretary; and Claudia Fuller, parlimentarian.

Outgoing Garden Club President Susan Landau, who has served two terms, was presented with a plaque of appreciation.

Contact Dora Walters at dwalters@yourobserver.com.

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