Caring for La Bella Fontana Park in the middle of Naples has been a focus of our Garden Club for much of our history. Photos from the 70s and 80s show members working with trowels, rakes and brooms "at the fountain". A deteriorating landscape in 2006 prompted our Club to join with NIA to raise funds for landscape maintenance and replacement of dead sections of the boxwood hedge. We began advocating for our iconic park with the City of Long Beach’s Parks, Recreation and Marine Department (PRM) and with then Councilman Gary DeLong. They responded with funding for two new olive trees and improved maintenance. NIGC established a budget category for the park in 2009 and it soon became an
Garden Club representatives met with Naples Bayside Academy new principal Ms. Athena Uribe. Spending an hour together, Ms. Uribe expressed her love of trees and landscape to NIGC President Marianne Huntley.
Dine Out Night at Nico's was a huge success! We made $710.00 and had tons of fun doing it. Many of us went directly over there from our general meeting and many of us stayed right through dinner. The cocktails, food, fun and service were all fantastic and we owe a big thank you to George at Nico's for hosting this great night. We are fortunate to have so much support from our local businesses. As I write this we are looking forward to another Dine Out Night at Naples Rib Co. on October 30. Dave, as usual is happy to have us. Thank you everyone for all the support and enthusiasm for these fundraisers.
Hostess Pam McCredie, Co-Chair Carol Mehler, Wendi Vodhanel, & Co-Chair Becky Jones
