Catawba Island Garden Club president Terry Zeman presented a donation for West Harbor Landing to Aimme Arent, executive director of Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge.  Also pictured are CIGC members Sharon Sanger and Jodi Hawk, and Bill Baker and Nancy Dunlap with Friends of ONWR.

“We were thrilled with our fund raising results this year,” said Terry Zeman, beaming with enthusiasm. “This was another record breaking year for us,” she explained.

President of the Catawba Island Garden Club, Zeman has been a member for many years. Combining the profits from the club’s annual May plant sale with the funds they raised from the CIC raffle prizes generously donated by owner Jim Stouffer, the garden club raised enough money to make several donations to organizations in the community.

Club members like their donations to go to projects in line with their club objectives to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening, to encourage conservation, and to foster beauty in the community. Money donated to Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge will go toward further development and maintenance of the new West Harbor Landing park. Plantings, mulching, mowing, watering and weeding along with additional benches will be supported by the club this year.

Funds donated to the Catawba Historical Society Museum at Union Chapel will go toward establishing a butterfly way station, additional plantings and maintenance of landscaping at the museum. Both John Braun Park and Friends of Port Clinton Parks will use the club’s donations to enhance their park areas. Lake Erie Foundation and the Port Clinton Lighthouse Conservancy also have plans to beautify and protect vital lake and shore areas.

“I love writing checks for such worthy projects. Catawba Island is such a beautiful place to live and vacation,” said Linda Higgins, treasurer of the club. “It is this team effort that helps keep our island a welcoming and charming area people can enjoy.”