One of the highlights of the annual meeting of the Boothbay Region Garden Club was the unwrapping of the new club gavel. Outgoing President Judy Burgess presented the gavel to the new President Mimi O’Neill.

Karl Berger tells the history of the gavel, box and its creator.

“I wanted to give back to the BRGC in some way a fraction of what they have given me over the years,” Berger said. “I had been awarded the BRGC’s scholarship while I was in school at Lewis and Clark College. I studied sculpture and environmental sciences and have always had a passion for not only woodworking but the natural world of out of doors. It was truly a huge loss for the community (losing) The Rev. Dr. Mary Jo Z and I was hoping that this would be some way to repay the club in her memory.

“I built the box with the somewhat psychedelic floral marquetry pattern on the lid as a unique representation of the club. The gavel was made with a natural rough edge running through the head that could be interpreted as a symbol for the fragility of nature and life itself.”

Zimmerli was the chairman of the scholarship committee of the garden club for many years. The club is honored to have this memorial of her dedication.