Thirteen local cemeteries will participate in the state’s third annual “Caring for Your Cemetery Day” April 25 and 26.
The state Department of State announced in a Tuesday, April 7 news release that it and the local cemeteries participating are seeking “volunteers and hoping to increase public participation in local cemeteries as they are important centers of our cities, villages and towns.”
“Our cemeteries are important municipal centers and full of history and culture. Their beautification and upkeep are critical to ensuring that they remain integral parts of our neighborhoods,” said New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley. “Caring for Your Cemetery Day is an excellent volunteer opportunity for New Yorkers to help local cemeteries transition out of winter months, celebrate Earth Day and to gather community support when extra assistance is most needed to contribute to a clean environment.”
This event is designed to engage community residents to participate in the cleanup and beautification of local cemeteries and to raise awareness of the hard work and dedication that goes into their care, maintenance and preservation.
Clean-up day tasks may include:
Cleaning up small debris and trashRemoving downed branches, weeds and overgrowthRemoving old seasonal decorationsPlanting flowersScattering grass seedOther light tasks appropriate for untrained volunteers
According to a news release from the Fly Creek Valley Cemetery, participants will meet from 10 a.m. to noon April 25 to clean up twigs, branches, plastic flowers and containers. See below for contact information.
The mission of the Department’s Division of Cemeteries is to help ensure that regulated cemeteries are kept in good standing with the communities they serve and that they continue to operate on a non-for-profit basis. The division regulates approximately 1,700 not-for-profit cemeteries in New York state. The division also offers training workshops year-round to educate cemetery operators and other interested individuals on how to maintain cemeteries, keep financial records, and try to ensure long-term viability.
This program has grown over the past two years according to Daily Star archives. The first year, only two cemeteries participated. Last year, four cemeteries participated. This year, 13 cemeteries have signed up to participate.
Local cemeteries participating include:
• Laurens Village Cemetery, meet at noon April 25, contact JenkinsP@hartwick.edu.
• Colliersville Cemetery Association, meet at 10 a.m. April 25, contact Kelleydj17@gmail.com.
• The Maryland Cemetery, meet at 10 a.m. April 25 and 26, contact eileenadair@hotmail.com.
• Middlefield Baptist Cemetery, meet at 10 a.m. April 25, contact bdhering@aol.com
• Fly Creek Valley Cemetery, meet at 10 a.m. April 25, contact flycreeksherl@gmail.com
• Cemetery of the Reformed Church of Columbia in Richfield Springs, meet at 9 a.m. April 25, contact Dlurbin8@gmail.com
• Richmondville Rural Cemetery Association Inc., meet at 10 a.m. April 25, contact jradliff2@nycap.rr.com
• Maple Grove Cemetery Association in Worcester, meet at 10 a.m. April 25, contact maplegrovecem12197@gmail.com
• North Afton Cemetery, meet at 9 a.m. April 25, contact mulwanee@tds.net
• Coventry Union Cemetery, meet at 10 a.m. April 25, contact coventryunioncemetery@yahoo.com
• Oakwood Cemetery in Deposit, meet at 9 a.m. April 25, contact walkerlloydj@gmail.com
• Warn Ten Broeck in Oxford, meet at 9 a.m. April 25, contact Dpslps.williams@gmail.com.