Club Craft Show Celebrates An Anniversary Year

By Jan Howard

Members of the Newtown Woman’s Club, GFWC, gathered at the Fireside Inn on March 20 to celebrate their 35th anniversary of service to the community with a gala luncheon and their annual crafts show.

Club President Barbara Krausz welcomed the gathering and congratulated club members on “35 years and going strong,” adding they had dedicated their time and talents for the betterment of the community, state, and nation.

Congratulatory messages were received from the Connecticut State Federation of Women’s Clubs, and local and state political leaders, including Lt Governor Jodi Rell, Connecticut Senator Christopher Dodd, Fifth District Congresswoman Nancy Johnson, and Representative Julia Wasserman.

State Senator John McKinney (28th District) presented the club with an official citation from the Connecticut General Assembly in recognition of the club’s 35 years of service that was signed by him, Rep Wasserman (106th District), and Representative Debralee Hovey (112th District), and state officials.

Newtown First Selectman Herb Rosenthal presented the club with a proclamation, noting he knew personally of the club’s commitment to the town because he sees its members participating in civic and other activities throughout the town.

Jean Brown, president of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, presented the club with an anniversary scroll.

A club history was read by founding members Lorraine VanderWende and Coke Cramer.

Following lunch, Craft Show Co-chairmen Mary Ruffles and Evelyn Spera announced the best in show and first place winners.

The judges were Newtown Senior Center Director Marilyn Place, artist Betty Christensen, and Conchetta Cobb of Joanne Fabrics.

Best in show awards were won by Ginny Chiarmonte for Native American clothing and headdress and Marianne Scanlon for scenic photographs of Taunton Lake.

First place awards were as follows:

Heritage Crafts: Decoupage, flower plate, Norma Gray; scherenschnette, pineapple motif, Marianne Scanlon.

Jewelry: Seed beads, bracelet set, Betty Warner.

Decorative Painting: Early American, country painting, chest rural scene, Barbara Dzitko; theorem painting, basket of flowers, Flo Caron.

Creative Material: Recycled, snowman light bulb, Carol Mattegat; other, large decoupage vase, Lynn Buttner.

Christmas Decorations: Ornaments, tree skirt, and wall hanging, Peg Forbell; doll figures, Marianne Scanlon.

Decorations for holidays other than Christmas: Table/centerpiece, Joan Bergquist.

Crocheting: Adult apparel, accessories, Betty Doty; yarn article, dish cloth/variegated yarn, Lorraine VanderWende.

Knitting: Adult apparel, vest, Marilyn Alexander; sweater set, Norma Gray; accessories, Betty Warner; children’s apparel, sweater, Betty Warner; outfit, Marilyn Alexander; outfit and accessories, Marion Thompson.

Needlework: Two counted cross stitch kits, Peg Forbell.

Sewing: Adults, caftan, accessories, Peg Forbell; quilting, wall hanging, Ruth Campbell; patchwork-machine, wearing apparel, quilts/coverlets, wall hanging, Peg Forbell; mixed technique, small article, Betty Doty.

Original Art: Oil, Marianne Scanlon; acrylics, Rita Lapati.

Photography: Black and white, portrait/personality, natural scene, scenic, and feature, Coke Cramer; color, portrait/personality and natural history, Calla Sellner; scenic, Marianne Scanlon; feature, Paulette Jurewicz.

Garden Flag, Rosemary Rau.