BY HELEN PAPATHANASIOU

Special to The Press

The Parkland Garden Club has announced winners of the 2023 Laurel Awards at the annual Christmas party Dec. 12, 2023, at Madeline’s Restaurant, Fogelsville.

There were 61 members and guests present at the dinner buffet with the Allan Meyerson Jazz Trio providing entertainment.

President Claire Kukielka presented the Laurel Awards.

Barbara Campbell, Joan Balla, Naser Chowdhury, Judy Hoffman, Gail Micca, and Megan Stanley received awards for their dedication to the Parkland Garden Club.

Campbell has served two terms as president of the garden club.

She chairs the club’s annual Garden Tour, the Tournament Committee, Smokey Bear, Woodsy Owl Poster Contest, and is chairwoman of the Northeast Flower Judges Council.

She was the winner of the 2021 Garden Club Federation Club of Pennsylvania’s Perennial Bloom Award.

Balla is chairwoman of the Cheer Committee.

She also helps with the annual Arbor Day celebration, the club’s annual garage sale, Horticultural Therapy and has generously donated to the club’s scholarship fund.

Chowdhury is co-chairman of District II/III Environmental and Recycling Committee and is co-chairman of the “Trash To Treasure” Recycling Competition organized by Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania.

He is always available to lend a helping hand when a little muscle is needed.

Hoffman is a long-term member who is always a tremendous help with the Butterfly Garden maintenance, Ways and Means and the annual yard and plant sale.

Micca is a relatively new member but has implemented a joint partnership with the Green Thumbs Project of the Allentown West Rotary Club.

In 2022, she won a first place award from the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania for her community garden work.

She arranged for member Campbell, chairwoman of the annual Garden Tour to be interviewed on WFMZ, which helped promote the tour.

She designed T-shirts for garden club members, as well as signs for the annual garden tour.

Stanley is a long-term member and the youngest member of the club.

Megan, along with her mother, Mary, always organize the horticultural therapy program at Luther Crest retirement community, South Whitehall.

She always helps with maintenance at the Butterfly Garden and serves as a hostess at the annual garden tour.

She generously supports Ways and Means with the purchase of many raffle tickets each month.