EAST PALESTINE — The Town & Country Garden Club of East Palestine recently held its October meeting. There were 19 members present who were welcomed by President Darlene Exposito. Exposito then said a blessing before inviting all to enjoy the snack. The month’s snack committee was Laura Garvin, Michele Telischak and Theresa Rutledge.

The meeting was then called to order and begun with committee reports. Assistant Treasurer Kathy Byard gave the treasurer’s report, which was unanimously approved. Secretary Bonnie Davis read the minutes which were also unanimously approved after two corrections were made. Corresponding Secretary Aubrin Strohecker gave her report, with four members having October birthdays, and the club received a Thank You card.

Civic Committee Chair Darlene Linert gave an update on the planters. The flowers still look good. The plan is to remove them once it frosts, otherwise, they will be removed by Nov. 8, the date the club will be decorating the planters for the 2025 Home Tour. Donna Holzer reported that the wreaths which were purchased at Hobby Lobby will be placed in each planter, along with pine cones and red holly. A motion was made, seconded, and voted unanimously to purchase solar lights for the wreaths.

Ways and Means Committee Lynn Guy thanked all who sold tickets for the Meat Raffle. She then placed all the sold tickets into the raffle ticket spinner cage, which was then turned and turned some more ensuring the tickets were all mixed up. The winning ticket was then drawn, with the winner being Brian Hager. A phone call was made to him and a message left.

The Home Tour Committee then reported that it has four homes and five stops scheduled on the 2025 Home Tour, which is Nov. 14 and 15. Tickets, which are $15, can be purchased at the following locations: 1820 House, Bea’s Insurance, Flowers Straight from the Heart, Fuller’s Hardware, Kat’s Krystals, LiB’s in Salem, Pewter Peddler in Columbiana, The Original Roadhouse, Runnion’s Originals in Unity, and T&M Hardware.

This year’s theme is “Journey to Christmas” with each home on the tour also having its own theme. There were more flyers available for members to take to place in many spots in and around the area. A flyer was emailed to each member so that they can share it with family, friends and online sites. Several members volunteered to take flyers to East Liverpool, Calcutta, Rogers, Columbiana, Salem, etc.

During the Home Tour, Bea’s Insurance will return their popular Christmas Tree Lane, with beautiful trees decorated by local organizations, and will also be hosting a Bake Sale, a Homemade Ornaments sale, and a 50/50 Split by the Garden Club. Members were encouraged to promote the Home Tour wherever they went.

Ornaments made by club members to be sold during the Home Tour were then collected. A reminder was given about the baked goods for the Bake Sale to be at Bea’s by 9:30 a.m. Sign-up sheets were available for volunteers to sign up to work at the homes and Bea’s.

There was discussion on the new signs that were placed around town by members and plans were made for where the six large metal signs would be placed.

EP football players will be asked to help get these signs up. The walk-through for members will be Nov. 13, more details at the next meeting.

Under Old Business, Donna Holzer thanked the members who donated gift cards for the wreath auctioned at the Car Show in Columbiana on Sept. 14. There were enough gift cards to make two wreaths. The proceeds were given to the Caring Hands Food Pantry, which will use that money to buy meat.

Under New Business: The annual Christmas dinner will be at the Eagle’s this year. The menu was discussed and then voted on by a show of hands as to which items we would have for dinner.

The president was contacted and the club was asked to contribute to the fall decorations downtown. After discussion, a motion was made, seconded, voted on unanimously to contribute.

At the November meeting, the club will be filling bags for the residents at the Christian House. Members were reminded to bring snacks to the meeting to fill 30 bags. The club does this for Covington at Easter, and Christian House for Thanksgiving.

The Nomination Committee is preparing the slate of officers for 2026, which will be voted on at the November meeting and installed at the December meeting.

The next meeting will be held just four days before the 2025 Home Tour at 6 p.m. Nov. 10 at The First Church of Christ. As always, anyone (men, women, teens) who would be interested in joining the club is welcome to attend.