Photo courtesy Warren Area High School New members of the Warren Area High School National Honor Society chapter are pictured during a recent City Council meeting. Not all of the newest inductees are pictured, just those who could attend the meeting.

The Warren Garden Club has disbanded after 60 years of helping beautify the city of Warren.

Warren City Council members recently expressed the council’s appreciation for the Garden Club’s contributions to making Warren a beautiful place to live, work and visit with a formal recognition from the council.

Councilwoman Danielle Flasher, council vice president, read aloud from a plaque presented to the Warren Garden Club during the council’s most recent meeting. Kristine Whitaker, a longtime Warren Garden Club member, attended the meeting to accept the city’s appreciation, with certificates being mailed to club members who couldn’t attend.

Over the years, the Warren Garden Club has tended gardens in Celoron Park, Wetmore Park, Municipal Gardens, Crescent Park and the Warren General Hospital gardens.

“It is with great appreciation that the Warren City Council recognizes and thanks members of the Warren Garden Club for decades of service through planting and maintenance of garden beds on city properties,” Flasher said.

Whitaker said the club has given up its place in the Federated Garden Club of Pennsylvania. The club disbanded because of a continuing decline in membership. It’s an issue for many similar garden clubs across the state.

A recent Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania newsletter noted the closure of the Greybrooke Garden Club over the winter as well.

“It’s just very sad, in my opinion, but we do have numbers who want to continue to work in the municipal gardens,” Whitaker said. “I’m one of them, so you will still see our faces in the community. So with this I thank you very much and we’ll share this with the other members of the Warren Garden Club.”

Council members also honored Warren Area High School students who were recently inducted into the school’s National Honor Society chapter. Mayor David Wortman was among those who offered congratulations to the students.

“I just want to congratulate (everyone) on this award tonight and induction to the National Honor Society,” Wortman said. “We’re super proud of you and it’s a great testament to all the hard work that went into this achievement. We absolutely wish you all the very best and whatever your next decisions and wherever the path of life takes you.”