A farewell to the area community, wishing it the best of times

After more than a half century of service, the Sparta Rotary Club bows goodbye By Stacey Mason Sparta - To their last day, the Sparta Rotary Club was serving the community. Club is dismantling due to declining membership, but on their last day as an entity, the members of the Sparta Rotary Club donated a 12-foot grand clock to the Lake Mohawk Country Club. The dedications of the electric clock, which was installed at the entrance of the boardwalk in the plaza, took pace Tuesday, Nov. 29, with several members of both clubs present. “Both the placement of clock and the style of the clock itself are very appropriate because 57 years ago the Rotary Club began at the country club and the style of the clock is in keeping with the village,” said Frances Smith, president of the Rotary Club and manager of Lake Mohawk Country Club. Over the years, the Rotary Club raised money to sponsor college scholarships for Sparta students. In addition, the club contributed money to many area charities each year. The decision to disband, came because of dwindling membership. Currently the clubs has only nine members. However, before they hung up their Rotary pins, the members wanted to do something to benefit Sparta Township, as they have been doing since 1948. “We wanted to do something nice for the community, so we voted on what to do with the leftover money,” said Kelly Evans, the club’s secretary. However, the funds from the Rotary Club were not enough to cover the cost of the $3,200 clock and the lettering on the clock, so each member donated an additional $100 to complete the project. The country club agreed to assume responsibility of the clock’s maintenance and care. “We are very excited about the clock, it’s a pleasure to have it,” said Smith. This marks the third old style, traditional clock in the town. The two other clocks are located at the intersection of Main Street and Sparta Avenue and the other is at the corner of Glen Road and Main Street. Rotary Club Members: Frances Smith, Ailish Hambel, Randy Burke, Michael Gallagher, Kelly Evans, Nancy Parker, Tom Feely, Josh Matthews and Laurie Grafeld