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Volunteers recognized for contributions to Master Gardener program

University of Illinois Extension of Kane County celebrated its Master Gardeners with an awards and appreciation night Oct. 25 in St. Charles. The volunteer group has already completed more than 2,900 hours of service for 2014.

"University of Illinois Extension appreciates everything our amazing volunteers do to make the Master Gardener program a success for our Kane County communities," said Sarah Fellerer, Master Gardener Program Coordinator. "Master Gardeners share their own time and talents through the Master Gardener Help Desk, the Idea Garden, community gardens, service projects, workshops and more. Together, our group logged thousands of hours of volunteer time already this year."

The awards event recognized both new Master Gardeners, as well as those with several years of service, Fellerer said.

Seven interns were elevated to the official rank of Certified Master Gardener in Kane County, including Holly Barbosa, Mike Farmer, Julie Mitchell, Paula Mytych, and Dan Nolan, all of St. Charles, Merrill Poloian of Sugar Grove, and Sue Styer of Geneva. Each received a certificate, pin and nametag to commemorate the achievement.

"Master Gardener interns are required to complete 60 hours of training and at least 60 hours of volunteer time, half of which is at our Help Desk," Fellerer said. "It makes for a busy year, and our newly-inducted Master Gardeners showed true dedication and enthusiasm for the program and county residents' needs."

In addition, many Master Gardeners received anniversary certificates to mark milestone years with the program, said Fellerer.

Five Master Gardeners reached 15 years of service: Sue Amatangelo of St. Charles, Catherine Harrington of Geneva, Barb Leonard of St. Charles, Sandy Portincaso of Huntley and Charlene Reynolds of Geneva. Five-year certificates went to Ron Asselborn of Campton Hills and Craig Copper of Batavia.

"We have a strong Master Gardener program in Kane County, and that is due in part to the example our seasoned Master Gardeners set," Fellerer said. "They are as dependable, eager and passionate as any new recruit, and they have the extended knowledge and experience to complement their drive."

Both new and experienced volunteers earned recognition for putting in more than 100 hours of service in 2014. Honorees were: Barbosa, Susan Brauhn of Batavia, Margaret-ann Haas of Algonquin, Patsy Hirsch of Elgin, Lorayne Hrejsa of Batavia and Styer.

Barbosa also won the "Cauliflower Ear" Award for most Help Desk time by logging 56 hours this year. Of the nearly 3,000 overall hours the entire volunteer group banked in 2014, more than 800 hours were for the Master Gardener Help Desk.

Throughout the evening, Fellerer also handed out several other honors, including:

• An advanced certificate in ecology to Mytych and Styer.

• The "Awesome Apple" award to Styer for outstanding work in her intern year.

• The "Spuds Potato" award to both Brauhn and Jody Lay of Batavia for their dedicated, steady commitment.

• The Teamwork Award to the 2014 Idea Garden Committee - Barbosa, Brauhn, Diane Broecker of Elburn, Mary Elliott of Batavia, Farmer, Haas, Lay, Leslie LeResche of Batavia, Donna Mack of Elgin, Lorna Marquis of St. Charles, Gail Miller of St. Charles, Mitchell, Mytych, Nolan, Poloian, Styer and Laura True of Elburn.

Fellerer also recognized state award recipients, which were announced over the summer: Nancy Cox of St. Charles for being named an Illinois Outstanding Master Gardener, and the Illinois Teamwork Award-winning committee that serves the Sherman Community Garden in Elgin.

The Master Gardener Help Desk will be open for calls again in March 2015. For information on the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener program in Kane County, visit web.extension.illinois.edu/dkk/.

University of Illinois Extension provides educational programs and research-based information to help Illinois residents improve their quality of life, develop skills and solve problems.

Several Master Gardeners put in more than 100 hours of service already this year, including, from left, Margaret-ann Haas of Algonquin, Susan Brauhn of Batavia, Lorayne Hrejsa of Batavia, Patsy Hirch of Elgin, Sue Styer of Batavia, and Holly Barbosa of St. Charles. Courtesy of University of Illinois Extension
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