Nancy Steedman, Mayor of the Village of Churchville, recognizes and thanks all those in the community who helped in the construction of the Community Memorial Park. Photograph by David Knox.The Village of Churchville and Town of Riga’s 2012 Concert Series was opened on June 27 with Churchville Mayor Nancy Steedman’s, dedication of the Churchville-Riga Community Memorial Park located alongside the Churchville Gazebo. The dedication was jointly sponsored by the Village of Churchville, Town of Riga, and the Churchville Lions Club.
After the Community Memorial Park dedication the Village of Churchville and Town of Riga’s 2012 Concert Series began with the Don Newcomb Band. Photograph by David Knox.The park features a path paved with memorail bricks as well as rock wall benches where people can sit to view the memorial bricks as well as enjoy music during the Concert Series.
In her dedication, Mayor Nancy Steedman recognized and thanked all those in the community who helped in the construction of the Community Memorial Park. She also spoke of the park’s history that was first thought of in 2008 when John Rabideau of the Churchville Lions Club came up with the idea. In 2009, plans were finalized for two phases of the project and a cost proposal to build Phase 1. In the summer of 2010, the rock wall was completed by volunteers led by Dave Becker of Churchville, Lions Club member Jim Ehrmentraut, Councilman Brad Obrocta and many others. Also in 2010, Boy Scout Tyler Swetman from Churchville Troop 133 completed the bricked area for his Eagle Scout project under the guidance of Scoutmaster Ray Ehrmentraut and Scout Leader Ron Rugelis.
Nancy Steedman (center), Mayor of the Village of Churchville, along with people from the Churchville Lions Club, Churchville’s Boy Scout Troop 133, Village of Churchville, Town of Riga, Churchville Chamber of Commerce, Riga Bicentennial Committee, and Waste Management who helped in the construction of the Community Memorial Park. Photograph by David Knox.The benches along the rock wall were installed in 2011 and donated by the Churchville Chamber of Commerce, Town of Riga, Village of Churchville, the Riga Bicentennial Committee, and Waste Management. Finally, in 2012 phase one was completed with more than 140 memorial bricks installed. The bricks, sold through the Churchville Lions Club, along with a stone sign were engraved by JBR GrafX of Churchville. The dedication ended with comments from John Rabideau who spoke of the significance of the project.
Memorial Bricks are continuing to be sold through the Churchville Lions Club and an order form can be found at www.churchville.net/images/pdf/bricks.pdf or the Town of Riga website.
The heart of the Churchville-Riga Community Memorial Park is a memorial brick walk with names to honor or in the memory of loved ones from the community surrounded by a rock wall and donated benches for people to sit and view the memorial bricks and enjoy music during the Concert Series. Photograph by David Knox. Phase II of the project will be completed in the future and will include a quiet area for reflection along Black Creek.
After the dedication, people from the community attending the dedication were able to walk along the brick walk to find people memorialized using a brick locator handout and listen to the Concert Series music by the Don Newcomb Band.
The 2012 Concert Series continues from July 11 through August 1 and starts at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Gazebo.
