Jim Fitzsimmons (holding shovel), Churchville Mayor Nancy Steedman, Jim’s family (on Jim’s right) and Churchville Village Trustees, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts participated in a tree planting ceremony April 27.Arbor Day in New York state was April 27 and, as the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has indicated, it is a day to celebrate the role of trees and promote tree planting and care. Nancy Steedman, mayor of the Village of Churchville, led the village’s observation of Arbor Day for the 11th time and dedicated a scarlett oak tree in the honor of Jim Fitzsimmons who is celebrating 50 years as attorney for the Village of Churchville.
Members of Boy Scout Troop 133 and Girl Scout Troop 508 from the Churchville area finish the planting of the scarlett oak tree in the honor of Jim Fitzsimmons as Jim looks on in the background.
Friends and the family of Jim Fitzsimmons, Boy Scout Troop 133 and Girl Scout Troop 508 from the Churchville area, along with the village trustees and community members joined in the day’s events. Music was provided by the Churchville-Chili High School brass ensemble led by Kevin Mead.
Mayor Nancy Steedman opened the dedication by talking about the devotion Jim Fitzsimmons has given to the Village of Churchville and the work he has done since becoming attorney for the Village of Churchville in 1962. The highlight of the celebration was planting the scarlett oak tree by Jim and his family. The dedication ended with the reading of an Arbor Day poem by the Boy and Girl Scouts and the scouts finishing the planting of the tree.
