COLTS NECK– Twenty-eight Monmouth County residents became certified Master Gardeners at a graduation ceremony held Nov. 14 at Hominy Hill Golf Center.

 

“This 10th class of graduates from the Monmouth County Master Gardeners program embodies expertise in all things related to gardening and community service in Monmouth County,” Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry said at the graduation event. “Our public spaces and private places are more beautiful and more prolific as a result of 275 graduates over the past decade.”

 

The 2008 graduates are: Peggy Ann Beck, Millstone; Semmes Brightman, Shrewsbury; Betty Bullivant, Tinton Falls; Larry Canale, Rumson; Nancy Carew, Keyport; Kim Casamassima, Millstone; Ray Chiste, Allentown; Mary Collins, Millstone; Mary Anne Coogan, Lincroft; Barbara D’Augusta, Middletown; Barbara Drescher, Tinton Falls; Susi Eckhardt, Highlands; Bill Haber, Long Branch; Carolyn Heuser, Freehold; Susan Lowe Kayes, Millstone; Dorsey Latza, Belmar; Maria Maldonado, Middletown; Joyce Maraziti, Manasquan; Peter McIntyre, Matawan; Dennis McNamara, Keyport; Pat McTighe, Monmouth Beach; John Moran, Manalapan; Barbara Pieszcynski, Eatontown; Tom Pivinski, Asbury Park; Jay Schaeffer, Keansburg; Brooke Sherman, Freehold; Ellen Simonetti, Marlboro, and Peggy Stricker, Freehold.

 

These Master Gardeners became experts by completing a course of classroom and hands-on training in plant biology, propagation, soil science and disease and pest control. The trainees then began sharing their knowledge with others by conducting garden lectures, demonstrations, school and community gardening projects, and answering calls on the county’s “horticulture helpline.”

 

“This 10th Master Gardener class has been working with the best in the horticultural field – Rutgers University faculty and Cooperative Extension Service professional staff while completing their outreach efforts,” said Diane Zahorsky, the program’s coordinator and a horticulturist for Monmouth County’s Rutgers Cooperative Extension Service Office.

 

Sandy Wolfe was awarded the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Monmouth County Master Gardeners 2008 Individual Award of Excellence. A graduate of the class of 2004, Wolfe is a retired elementary school teacher who has been involved with the Master Gardener program as an officer, committee chair, brochure creator and dedicated gardener.  In 2008, she focused her efforts on the Junior Master Gardener program, where she was able to teach children once again.

 

The 31 Master Gardeners who worked diligently in the creation of a Rain Garden were recognized with a special award for their efforts: John Bauer and Kim Corbo Nuccio, co-chairs, were recognized with committee members Diane Allen, Barbara Bandstra, Cliff Bandstra, Carol Chandler, Wanna Chin, Carol Eggert, Pasha Ellis, Joan Enright, Gail Fritsch, Evelin Gaffney, Eleanor Hallstrom, Marina Kerber, Ronnie Leibowitz, Nancy MacNeill, Jan Mundy, Jeanne Patterson, Linda Pollack, Karin Poorvin, Vivian Quinn, Steve Rappa, Marie Savoia, Helene Schroeder, Nancy Schmaltz, Rosemary Staba, Trish Sullivan, Joe Videtti, Pia Videtti, Irene Wanat and Sandy Wolfe. 

 

Seventeen new graduates won awards for 100 hours of service: Peggy Beck, Semmes Brightman, Larry Canale, Nancy Carew, Ray Chiste, Barbara D’Augusta, Susi Eckhardt, Carolyn Heuser, Dorsey Latza, Joyce Maraziti, Peter McIntyre, Dennis McNamara, John Moran, Barbara Pieszcynski, Tom Pivinski, Ellen Simonetti, and Peggy Stricker. 

 

Peggy Beck, Tom Pivinski and Ellen Simonetti also achieved the 250-hour services award.

In addition, six veteran Master Gardeners also earned 100-hour milestone awards: Maggie Boyce, West Allenhurst; Anne Galli, Sea Girt; Peter James, Wall; Michelle Mancino, Middletown; Caroline Scenna, Middletown, and Leslie Tuthill, Red Bank.

 

For 250 hours of service, 13 veteran Master Gardeners won awards: Michelle Blank, Freehold; Ellen Brahney, Neptune; Liz Card, Little Silver; Janet Dill, Shrewsbury; Pasha Ellis, Marlboro; Bob LaCosta, Colts Neck; Sue Malmi, Red Bank; Carol Migrala, Spring Lake; Kim Corbo Nuccio, Brielle; Clare Skeen, Keyport; Nellie Steltzer, Belmar; Trish Sullivan, Marlboro, and Helen Yorke, Manalapan.

 

For 500 hours of service, 15 veteran Master Gardeners won awards: Howard Bodner, Lincroft; Joan Carroll, Freehold; Elizabeth Cohen, Little Silver; Denise Corrigan Dunne, Marlboro; Betty Hurlbert, Freehold; Rosemarie Kopka, Red Bank; Tom Lang, Ocean; Kim O’Neill, Middletown; Jeanne Patterson, Freehold; Sheryl Powers, Ocean; Barbara Richardson, Freehold; Ron Ryner, Belmar; Helene Schroeder, Manalapan; Audrey Sheehan, Rumson, and Dorothy Zimms, Colts Neck.

 

Lifetime awards for 1,000 hours of service were conferred upon eight veteran Master Gardeners: Barbara Bandstra, Wall; Cliff Bandstra, Wall; John Bauer, Ocean Grove; Carole Eggert, Brielle; Maria Kramer, Marlboro; Ronnie Leibowitz, Manalapan; Tom Matulewicz, Rumson, and Bob Mellert, Marlboro.

 

Another eight Master Gardeners achieved l,500 service hours honors: Bernie Dickman, Middletown; Joanne Enright, Sea Girt; Gail Fritsch, Millstone; Jim Laude, Lincroft; Estelle Lumer, Aberdeen; Pat McCoy, Freehold; Jan Mundy, Freehold, and Joanne O’Leary, Red Bank.

 

Lifetime achievement for 2,000 hours were bestowed on Sandy Wolfe, Howell. Honors for 3,000 hours went to Evelin Gaffney, Rumson; Karin Poorvin, Ocean, and Irene Wanat, Rumson.

 

The Master Gardener program, conducted throughout the United States and Canada, is a two-part educational effort in which avid gardeners are provided many hours of intense home horticulture training. In return, they “pay back” local university extension agents through volunteerism.

 

In New Jersey, the program is a cooperative effort of Rutgers University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the county Boards of Chosen Freeholders. Monmouth County’s program involves the county office of Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Brookdale Community College and the county Park System. 

 

The program is accepting applications for 2009. There is a $250 fee to cover material and program costs. Applications can be downloaded from www.visitmonmouth.com and are also available from the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Service at 4000 Kozloski Rd. in Freehold Township, or by calling (732) 431-7260.  The deadline to apply is Jan. 1, 2009.

#     #     #