Riga celebrates Arbor Day with an apple tree theme

The last Friday in April marks the 133rd anniversary of Arbor Day, the national tree-planting holiday and for the third year, the Town of Riga and the Village of Churchville are coming together to celebrate.

Riga Town Board Member Pamela Moore said the idea of the Arbor Day Celebration grew out of input the town received from the community while working on the comprehensive plan.

"I initially proposed it and gained approval from the town board to do an annual Arbor Day celebration then asked the village to join us to make it a joint celebration," Moore said. "This year's theme is the apple tree."

As well as Arbor Day being a day to honor the earth and plant a tree, Moore said the joint event served a threefold purpose: to show that the town and village could successfully work together; to acknowledge what town board officials heard from the community that people lived there because they appreciated the abundant resources in Riga; and to bring the community together toward a common goal.

"When folks live somewhere that fosters a strong sense of community, the quality of life can be maintained and enhanced," she said.

The event grew to involve not only the town and village officials but the school and library as well.

Scott Cullen, village trustee, said that when he became involved he was interested in events that would involve children. "I have two children and when I plan events I like to think of what would interest them and what would be very visual and hands-on," he said. "This year we are focusing events around apples." He joked that sometimes he thinks that children think their apples come from the grocery store rather than a tree.

Also included this year will be the 150th birthday of the Churchville Elementary School bell. Each of the past three years, Marge Murphy, principal at the school, has had the students plant a tree and has hosted a story hour. In addition to those events this year, the bell's birthday party will be added to the festivities.

Moore said students are submitting apple recipes for a cookbook that will be handed out at another event which will feature the bell.

Donna Haire, Newman Riga Library director, who has been on the committee since its inception, has been promoting the event to library patrons. "We have a coloring contest and all of the entries are displayed throughout the library," Haire said. "We also host a story time and offer crafts. This year's crafts include making newspaper trees and other crafts with a tree theme."

Cullen said this year would mark the planting of a heritage tree in the cemetery. "Eventually we are going to have markers for the trees so visitors will know what trees were planted and when," he said.

Events will run on April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Newman Library Park. The rain location will be the Riga Town Hall.

Activities include an apple cook off, farmers market, tree planting, bio-engineering project (tree planting), community displays, refreshments, coloring contests, children's games and activities and an environmental clean up.