A Wonderful Surprise: The Garden Club of Wiscasset Named 2026 "Unsung Hero"!

We have some incredibly exciting—and completely unexpected—news to share! On May 5, 2026, representatives from our club attended the Wiscasset Area Chamber of Commerce's 15th Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner at Chewonki’s Chapin Hall. Our own Dr. Genie Everett walked in expecting a lovely community dinner, but was absolutely blown away to hear our name called as the winners of the 2026 Unsung Hero Award!

Genie was there to accept the award on behalf of the club, completely surprised by the honor. Adding to the excitement, we received an official Certificate of Special Recognition from Maine Senator Angus King, who beautifully noted that our "strength of leadership, work ethic, and team mentality have won [us] the enduring respect and appreciation of [our] colleagues and community."

During the presentation, the Chamber read a beautiful tribute to our club's history since organizing in 1984, tracking our work everywhere from the Nickels-Sortwell House, the Sunken Garden, and the library, to our 35 years of plant sales and youth programs. They closed their speech with a poignant reminder of why we do what we do:

"The list of contributions the Garden Club makes to our community goes on and on. Not only do they make our spaces more beautiful, but they build camaraderie and community connection while doing it. They don’t seek recognition. They just show up, dig in, and make things grow."

This wonderful surprise belongs to every single one of our members, from our founding pioneers to the members who have just joined and are waiting to get their hands dirty. Thank you all for your quiet dedication that makes our community blossom! Justin Laurion