This year’s Riverball, held on Saturday at the White Dog Bistro in Mathews, brought in $22,000 to be used for downtown improvements, said Mathews Main Street chairman Bette Dillehay. 

The event was sponsored by Mathews Main Street and hosted by Mac and J.C. Casale, owners of the White Dog Bistro. Funds were raised through a combination of ticket sales, a raffle, sponsorships and donations.

While expenses have yet to be calculated, she said, they are not expected to exceed $5,500. The balance after expenses will help improve and enhance the newly-established Put-In Creek Park on Brickbat Road, said Dillehay. Grant funding has already paid for a dock and kayak/canoe launch at the site, while a pavilion, landscaping, and pathways remain to be installed.

Riverball IX was planned as an opportunity for guests to relive the golden era of Saturday night in downtown Mathews, harking back to a time when the streets thronged with people celebrating the good life in Mathews, said Dil...