Town & Country Garden Club
Newtown, Connecticut
an educational and charitable 501(c)(3)non-profit organization
NINETY-SEVENTH ANNUAL AWARDS MEETING
October 21, 2026
The Town and Country Garden Club was honored with three awards. These awards highlighted the club's dedication to local beautification and environmental stewardship, while also honoring the legacy of one of its most devoted late members.
Federated president Nan Merola presented a Certificate of Achievement in Conservation Award to our club for its hands-on efforts to eradicate a severe infestation of the invasive mine-a-minute vine from the walking trails at Fairfield Hills. Accepting the award were
Joy Kopesky, Jane Vouros and Holly Walczak .
Nan also presented Arline Shanley, who has been an active and beloved pillar of the organization since 1991, with a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of her exceptional leadership, dedication and community spirit.
The Tribute Award in Civic Development was awarded posthumously to Mary Ellen Weiner
for her years of work leading club members in the care and maintainence of the town's traffic island gardens.
Her passionfor civic development left a permanent mark on Newtown's landscape.
The Federated Garden Club of Connecticut held its ninety-sixth awards luncheon on October 22, 2025 where our club received three awards.
Chris Lincoln received a Club Certificate of Appreciation
from the club for her remarkable dedication, leadership
and generosity since joining in 2013. As President, her
organizational skills, commitment, and steady prescence
have strengthened the club in countless ways.
Jane Sharpe received a Good Deed
Citation from the club for her longstanding
generosity in hosting the club's summer
gatherings at her beautiful Lake Zoar home.
Our garden club received a Civics Development citaiton for
creating a dazzling tree display at the Newtown Community
Center inspired by our diamond anniversary theme.
