Town of Pittsford eNews April 22, 2026: Paddle & Pour, Memorial Day, Library Survey, and Five Years of the Erie Canal Nature Preserve

SAVE THE DATE: A MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND TO REMEMBER IN PITTSFORD Mark your calendars for one of Pittsford's most anticipated weekends of the year, when two major community events, our Paddle & Pour Art & Music Festival and the Memorial Day Parade & Ceremony, take place on the same weekend, offering both celebration and remembrance. Our Paddle & Pour Art & Music Festival returns on Saturday, May 23, from noon to 10:00pm along North Main Street. This free, daylong event features live music, regional artists and artisans, and a wide variety of food and drink from local vendors. Visitors can enjoy tastings from upstate breweries and wineries, explore canalside shops and take in the excitement of the annual Pittsford Regatta. Paddle & Pour is a vibrant kickoff to the summer season and a highlight of Memorial Day weekend in Pittsford. On the following Monday, May 25, the community is invited to gather for the Memorial Day Parade & Ceremony, beginning at 10:00am in the Village. The parade features marching bands, local scout troops and our Rayson-Miller American Legion Post 899 veterans. It proceeds from Main Street to Pittsford Cemetery, where a memorial ceremony will be held at the Soldiers Plot to honor those who gave their lives in service to our country. Following the ceremony, a reception hosted by the American Legion provides an opportunity for community members to come together in reflection and gratitude. From festive to reflective, this special weekend showcases the spirit of Pittsford and offers meaningful opportunities to celebrate community and honor service.

TAKE THE LIBRARY COMMUNITY SURVEY A Message from Amanda Kuhnel Madigan, Library Director As Director of the Pittsford Community Library, I'm proud of what we've accomplished together – and I would greatly value your perspective as we look ahead. At PCL in 2025, just over 617,000 items were checked out, over 1,500 programs were offered with over 35,000 community members attending, and an average of 27,000 patrons visited each month – clear evidence of the Library's essential role in Pittsford. As we begin developing our long-range plan, your input is vital. I invite you to take a few minutes to complete our community survey and share your ideas, priorities, and visions. Your feedback will directly inform the services, programs, and spaces we shape for the future. Thank you for helping guide the next chapter of your library. Complete the online community survey: https://bit.ly/4vH40s7

EARTH DAY REFLECTION: FIVE YEARS OF THE ERIE CANAL NATURE PRESERVE This Earth Day, the Town of Pittsford celebrates five years since the dedication of the Erie Canal Nature Preserve — a lasting example of our community's commitment to environmental stewardship and protecting natural spaces for future generations. Officially dedicated on Earth Day in 2021, the 20-acre preserve along the Erie Canalway Towpath Trail features natural wetlands, woodlands, meadows and four thriving frog ponds that provide a healthy breeding habitat for amphibians. Together with the adjoining 10-acre Robert C. Corby Arboretum and Wildlife Sanctuary on Village-owned land, the area now encompasses 30 contiguous acres of permanently protected habitat in the heart of Pittsford. Rather than allowing the land to be developed, the Town chose preservation, creating a park that serves residents and wildlife. Low-impact improvements, including an elevated boardwalk trail, a creekside rest area, scenic overlooks and ADA-accessible pathways, let visitors experience the preserve while protecting its unique ecology. A trail connection between the Erie Canal Towpath and the Auburn Trail also makes the space more accessible to walkers, cyclists, and nature lovers. "This unique open space will serve, for generations to come, as an inspiring respite for people and a thriving, healthy natural habitat," said then-Town Supervisor Bill Smith at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The project was funded in part by a $177,250 New York State Department of State grant, which covered half of the total $354,500 project cost, with the remaining balance provided through Town support and in-kind services. As Pittsford celebrates Earth Day 2026, the Erie Canal Nature Preserve stands as a reminder that conservation is not just about protecting land. It's about creating spaces where people, plants and wildlife can thrive together. Residents can access the preserve via the Erie Canalway Towpath Trail, either east of the Monroe Avenue Bridge or west of the North Main Street Bridge, or via the Auburn Trail behind the Old Pickle Factory building at 1 Grove Street.

STAY INFORMED: EMERGENCY ALERT OPTIONS FOR PITTSFORD RESIDENTS Pittsford residents have access to several free, reliable emergency alert systems that provide timely notifications about severe weather, public safety concerns, evacuations, missing persons, and more. MonroeAlert Emergency Notifications Localized emergency alerts are available through the MonroeAlert system. This platform replaces the County's former Hyper-Reach service. If you were enrolled in Hyper-Reach, you must re-register to continue receiving alerts. MonroeAlert delivers official messages from Monroe County 9-1-1 and the Office of Emergency Management via text message, phone call or mobile app notification. Register for MonroeAlert: www.monroecounty.gov/MonroeAlert New York State NY-Alert System New York State also offers the NY-Alert system. After creating an account, users can customize both the types of alerts they receive and how they receive them, including phone, text or email. Sign up for NY-Alert: www.alert.ny.gov/sign-up Additional options include Wireless Emergency Alerts (built into most smartphones), NOAA Weather Radio, the FEMA App, and local TV and radio. For the most comprehensive coverage, residents are encouraged to enroll in both MonroeAlert and NY-Alert.