While the committee is in overdrive planning this year’s Gardiner Day, complete with dancing Peruvian horses for the finale, it is also active throughout the year, hosting close to a dozen community events. “We’re much more than Gardiner Day, and I think a lot of people don’t realize that,” said Jewell Turner, a committee member. “We do so many free community events, like the annual Easter egg hunt, the holiday tree-lighting where Santa Claus comes and we go caroling throughout the hamlet and serve hot cocoa.”
The committee also conducts two blood drives a year, has a spring plant sale and hosts the Women Helping Women appetizer/dance fundraiser where all of the proceeds go to the Ulster County Battered Women’s Shelter. It organizes a spaghetti dinner each year to raise money for Gardiner Day, as well as a sock hop at the Gold Fox. “Basically, we throw ourselves one heck of a party!” said Gardiner Day Committee chairwoman Susan Hansen. “Yes, it’s to raise money so that we can pay for Gardiner Day and keep it free for the public; but it’s also one heck of a good time! We have a lot of fun on this committee.”
Watching the dynamics of this crew, it’s easy to see why they enjoy volunteering their time together. “We’re so much fun!” said Hansen. “It’s just a wonderful way to give back to our community,” said Cindy Dates.
“If we didn’t do this, there would be much less variety of community events that are free and family oriented. We do this because we love celebrating Gardiner and our residents and all that makes us special and connected,” said Turner.
New to the committee but not new to volunteerism and public service are Stewart and Eileen Glenn, formerly of New Paltz, who recently moved to Gardiner after Glenn served out his term as a trustee on the New Paltz Village Board. “I told him that the second he moved to Gardiner, he and Eileen were going to join our committee!” said Lohrman. “Lucky for them they did, or else!” she said with a laugh.
Glenn and Turner go way back to being kindergarten classmates at what was then the Campus School, an experimental elementary school sponsored by SUNY New Paltz. “You know she’s a dancer,” said Glenn to the New Paltz Times. “Not anymore, but I did do ballet and tap as a child,” said Turner.
“Yes, and instead of being able to go out to recess, we had to watch her perform her dance routine! I’m still scarred for life,” Glenn said with a grin.
“He’ll never let me forget that now, will he?” responded Turner. “Well, that’s okay, ‘cause we’re putting him to work!”
The Gardiner Day Committee meets every second Monday of the month and anyone interested in joining it is encouraged and welcomed, as the more members and volunteers the committee has, the stronger it is and the better its events become for the entire town. The group is always welcoming new members and, at this particular time, volunteers to help out on Gardiner Day, as it takes a village to pull off an event of this magnitude. To join the committee, just show up on any given second Monday of the month at Town Hall at 6 p.m., or call the Town Hall office and leave a message of interest. To volunteer for Gardiner Day itself, call Town Hall at 255-9675, extension 103.
One of Gardiner Day’s most popular events is the pie contest, called “So You Think You Can Bake?” If you love to bake and want to try your secret recipe up against other Gardinerites, then you can enter your favorite fruit pie in the Bake-Off on Sept. 14 at Majestic Park. There will be three judges, and prizes provided by King Arthur Flour, including a $75 gift card as first prize, $50 for second prize and a copy of the Baker’s Companion Cookbook as third prize. Pies will be judged by appearance, taste and overall appeal. The entry form and guidelines can be found on the www.facebook.com page for Gardiner Day, New York.
