In Canandaigua, a tree of remembrance






Printed in the Daily Messenger newspaper -  Sunday, April 29, 2012

 Scott Pukos | Messenger Post Media         Canandaigua, N.Y. —
The chilly temperature couldn’t stop an Arbor Day celebration in Canandaigua Friday afternoon.
To celebrate the nature-related holiday, the city’s parks and recreation department planted an English Oak tree at Sonnenberg Park. The tree was planted in memory of Maya Hobday, who lived near the park, on Charlotte Street, for more than 50 years.
Hobday’s family said the cold spring weather wouldn’t have bothered her.
“She used to always say, ‘there’s no such thing as bad weather,’” said Hobday’s daughter Silvia Moore. “‘Just bad clothing.’”
Moore added that her mother was an avid naturalist, who would always walk her dog in the park or meet up with neighbors in the area. Hobday was also a member of the Canandaigua Botanical Society and Ontario Pathways.
Parks and recreation staff — including Park Maintenance Supervisor and certified arborist Chris Dorn — demonstrated the proper way to plant and care for a tree during the celebration. After the demonstration, Mayor Ellen Polimeni read an Arbor Day declaration.



Maya Hobday was an avid naturalist, a member of the Canandaigua Botanical Society and Ontario Pathways.               



City of Canandaigua parks and recreation workers plant a tree Friday at Sonnenberg Park in Maya Hobday's memory.


Family members of Maya Hobday smile at Sonnenberg Park after the longtime resident was honored during the city’s Arbor Day celebration. From left are Hilda Mannato, Peter Hobday, Silvia Moore, John Moore, Josiah Moore and Ruthie Romero.