Out-going President Gayle Todd is thanked for her service to the Club by awards chair Beverly Compton.

Holden Beach Beautification Club closed out the year with the annual luncheon and awards.  Members enjoyed excellent food and the view at The Dock House while they celebrated a successful year.

Out-going President Gayle Todd welcomed everyone and gave a wrap up of the year’s highlights.  She thanked the outgoing Board and Committee Chairs and awarded Dolly Mitchell the Trowel Award.   Joyce Lanning was recognized as a Golden Gardener for 15 years of service to the Club.  Beverly Compton was recognized as Club Member of the Year.  Gayle was thanked for her service to the Club as President.

Gayle swore in the officers for the upcoming year:

• President Linda Rast
• First Vice President Julia Anderson
• Second Vice President Marlene Barz
• Third Vice President Dolly Mitchell (not present)
• Secretary Denise Mirandola
• Treasurer Donna Aycock

Incoming President Linda Rast announced her Committee Chairs and discussed her goals for the upcoming year.  Gayle Todd gave closing remarks and thanked Janice Sullivan (chair), Bennie Hall, Carolyn Metrakos, Marlene Barz, Cecelia Weston, Vicki Myers, and Becky Greene for planning the luncheon.

Incoming officers: President Linda Rast, First Vice President Julia Anderson, Second Vice President Marlene Barz, Secretary Denise Mirandola and Treasurer Donna Aycock. Not pictured: Third Vice President Dolly Mitchell.

Beautification Club Members worked on the Spring Planting on Monday and Tuesday getting the gardens ready for summer visitors.  Padgett Garden, Town Hall, and the mainland side of the bridge were planted with over 500 plants.  In addition, shrubs that were damaged in last fall’s storms were replaced in the gardens. They look beautiful thanks to some hardworking men and women. Hats off to our helpers:  Becky Greene (chair), Donna Aycock, JoAnn Burke, Sharon Butler, Bev Compton, Kate Felmly, Susan Gibble, Tim Gibble, Denise Mirandola, Carolyn Metrakos, Linda Rast, Ros Stokes, Gayle Todd, Cecelia Weston, and Becky Willis.

Click here to see HBBC members hard at work!

HBBC lost two longtime members this year, Sandy Miller and Judy Brock.  We have placed memory stones in their honor in Padgett Garden near the waterfall.

Seasonal Decorations Committee Donna Blume, Julia Anderson, Jane Ivey, and Dolly Mitchell

The Seasonal Decorations Committee was out this week welcoming the Easter Bunny to Holden Beach!

You can find these ladies (and the rest of the Beautification Club) next weekend, Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April 27 at the Plant Sale.  Come see us!  The Plant Sale is our largest fundraiser of the year and provides for the blooms you see in the gardens around the island as well as other expenses such as the Seasonal Decorations we put up all year long.

Eve Venters is presented with a bird feeder in appreciation of leading the program by Second Vice President Cecelia Weston and President Gayle Todd.

For the last regular meeting of the year, the Holden Beach Beautification Club enjoyed a presentation by one of our own!  Eve Venters led a hands-on fruit carving demonstration.  Members who wished to, carved beautiful floral designs into watermelons at Eve’s direction.  Eve was also the hostess for the meeting and showcased several carved melons, celery roses and vegetable roses along with a “palm tree” made of pineapples and palm fronds!

During the business portion of the meeting, new officers were elected for next year.  Linda Rast will serve as President, First Vice President will be Julia Anderson, Second Vice President will be Marlene Barz, Third Vice President will be Dolly Mitchell, Denise Mirandola will serve as Secretary and Donna Aycock will serve as Treasurer.  Linda announced her other Board Members and Committee Chairs.  Donna Blume and Carolyn Metrakos will co-chair the Art Committee, Jane Ivey will chair the Devotion and Sunshine Committee, Becky Greene will chair Landscaping,  Kate Felmly and Marge Doyle will co-chair the Plant Sale, Seasonal Decorations will be chaired by Judy Bayless, Susan Gibble will cover Yard of the Month, Vicki Myers will chair Website and Publicity and Becky Willis will serve as the photographer.

The May Social will be May 8th at noon at Dock House.  Contact Janice Sullivan to RSVP at jvschaffer49@gmail.com.