An abundance of resources - Riga-Churchville honor the past and look to the future

A Pioneer Garden was planted during the 5th annual Riga/Churchville Arbor Day Celebration on April 28 at the Ray C. Adams Cobblestone Building. Individuals pictured are members of the Ray Adams Family (Ray served as the Riga Historian and is deceased), Larry Nau (far left middle row) and Riga Town Supervisor Pamela Moore, next to Nau, who is the owner of Bergen Water Gardens, located in Riga. He volunteered to design the Pioneer Garden and he is president of the Northeast Region of the American Conifer Society.

An abundance of resources - Riga-Churchville honor the past and look to the future

On April 28, the cobblestone building purchased and restored by the Town of Riga, and dedicated to former Riga Historian Ray C. Adams, was chosen as the main venue for the 2007 Joint Town of Riga/Village of Churchville Arbor Day Celebration. The restoration of this historic building earned it the 2006 Greater Churchville/Riga Chamber of Commerce Beautification Award.

In years gone by it was one of the main gathering places for the community. On Arbor Day, it was abuzz with activity, laughter and dreams for the future. Children planted seedlings in milk cartons and made terrariums. Winners of the cooking contest and the coloring contest were announced. A number of community organizations set up displays. And, in anticipation of Riga's bicentennial celebration in 2009, a Pioneer Garden of conifers was planted. The garden was designed by Larry Nau, owner of the Bergen Water Garden, and president of the Northeast Region of the American Conifer Association. At the tree planting ceremony, Town Supervisor Pamela Moore, assisted by Nau and members of the family of Ray Adams, dedicated the garden to the pioneers who built this building and the town.

Kicking off the event, several weeks before Arbor Day, the 2006 Chamber of Commerce Citizens of the Year Donna Haire and her staff at the Newman Riga Library, began the annual coloring contest. Over 40 children participated. Their work was displayed in the library. On Saturday morning, in a light drizzle, more than 40 Churchville-Chili students began marking storm water drains and leaving educational brochures on the doorknobs of homeowners regarding the impact improper drainoff can have on the quality of the watershed. This program, which is sponsored by the Monroe County Stormwater Coalition for use throughout the county, was introduced in Churchville at this event.

The Town of Riga planted a tree at the highway garage complex in memory of Maynard Adams, former Town of Riga highway superintendent. Another memorial tree was planted in the Churchville Cemetery, by the village, in honor of former Trustee Dean Arlidge. Family members, local officials and members of the public participated in both tree plantings.