High school students volunteering to plant tomatoes and herbs at the Heritage Park alongside the NYS Thruway is exciting for many reasons: community spirit, ongoing hands-on learning, beautification of the park . . . I could go on.

Erie House is a fully-restored 1895 tavern and hotel resting on its original foundation facing the old canal at lock 52 and drydock.

Planting tomatoes and herbs in these raised beds means planting interest in town and canal history as well as a sense of community spirit.

Many thanks to these students and their teachers and scholls for their interest and effort in their community, and ours.