By Lucia Suarez
Staff Writer

PITTSFORD — Bob and Jane Welch said they were very surprised when told this year’s town report was going to be partly dedicated to them.

After a short dedication ceremony at the town offices Wednesday, the couple said more people in town also deserve to be honored for their work in the community.

“We were born and raised in a small town like Pittsford,” Bob Welch said, “where this is what you do.”

Jane Welch added, “Take care of others and those less fortunate. We are just glad to do our little bit (for the town).”

The town report’s dedication page describes examples of the Welches helping around the community — including working with the Pittsford Congregational Church, Pittsford Food Shelf, Lions Club, Hubbardton Battlefield and the Pittsford Historical Society.

Town Manager John Haverstock, who presided over the ceremony, called the event one of his favorite days of the year.

“Pittsford makes a great production of the distribution of the town report,” he said. “It’s an event that shows the great people that live in Pittsford.”

Also dedicated in this year’s town report is the late David F. Chapman, who passed away last year.
Select Board Chairman Hank Pelkey, who knew Chapman well, said the dedication “comes way too early.”

“He had a special gift, the ability to relate to and befriend people from all backgrounds,” Pelkey read from the dedication. “Dave had so many beloved friends that his church literally buckled under the weight of them all at his memorial service on that lovely, warm spring day.”

He said after the dedication ceremony that Chapman and the Welches were deserving of the dedication as three people who gave their time to the town. He said he hopes the dedication sets an example for other people to follow.

“This is on the pleasures of being where we can do things like this,” Pelkey said. “It’s what makes small towns special.”

lucia.suarez@rutlandherald.com