Photo: MWC members Diane Alcantara, Louise Jones, Civic Engagement Chair, Misono Miller and Joann Schmidt.
Millville Woman’s Club (NJ) Beautifies Neighborhood
While every day is a good day to pick up trash, on March 18th members of the Millville Woman’s Club (MWC) participated in the annual Cumberland County Trash Hunt. It was chilly, but the sun was bright. Members dressed in warm jackets and gloves and proceeded to fill their bags with trash collected around their clubhouse neighborhood. MWC and many other groups participate in this event each year in an effort to keep our county beautiful and our neighborhoods clean and safe.
Photo: Members of the Women’s Club of Farmingdale on April 6, 2023
Women’s Club of Farmingdale Celebrates 110 Years
In 1912, a math teacher from Woodstock, Vermont, who also taught English at Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, moved to the Village of Farmingdale to “retire” and ended up leaving a monumental legacy. At the age of 60, Abigail E. Leonard built a home on Hallock Street and called it “Aftermath.” Ms. Leonard was the guiding force that led to dozens of improvements and innovative accomplishments. To name a few, she encouraged local citizens to join her in the fight for the adoption of home mail delivery, street signs, milk delivery and garbage collection. She sponsored the first school nurse, high school business courses, Youth Council and Adult Education. She was the first woman to serve on the Farmingdale Board of Education and while serving helped form the local PTA. In 1913, together with the wives of some of the prominent men in the village, they formed the Women’s Club of Farmingdale (WCF). In 1915 she became their president and served in that office for ten years. Then in 1923 she co-founded the existing Farmingdale Public Library (together with Jesse Merritt) which this year is celebrating 100 years. In 1920, a scholarship award was established in her name and has been presented to a deserving Farmingdale High School senior every year since.
On April 6, the Women’s Club of Farmingdale celebrated their 110 year anniversary at Palmer’s American Grille, Farmingdale. Club President Barbara Hoerner welcomed Christopher Dalton, Chief of Staff for NYS Sen. Steven Rhoads, TOB Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Leg. Rose Marie Walker, Leg. John R. Ferretti, Jr., Village of Farmingdale Mayor Ralph Ekstrand and Village of Farmingdale Trustee Cheryl Parisi (also a WCF member). Each one presented the club with a beautiful proclamation extolling the club’s numerous accomplishments and contributions both locally and internationally. Past President Maria Ortolani and her committee and advisors, Ann Lomonte, Fran Rotondo, Tina Diamond and Barbara Hoerner, arranged a memorable commemoration which included a lovely lunch, birthday cake and keepsake souvenir which guests and legislators received. Kudos to the wonderful staff at Palmer’s for a delicious lunch and impeccable service.