VICTOR HIKING TRAILS
MEETING AT VICTOR TOWN HALL
April 18, 2019
ATTENDANCE: Dave Wright, Lisa Roberts, Chauncy Young, Jeff Miller, Denni Harbaugh, Carol MacInnes, Larry Fisher, Ruth Rugaber, Tanner Ritz, Tammy Ritz, Jonathan Ritz, Ethan Davis, Ben Davis
Meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Dave
PRESENTATIONS By Eagle Scout Candidates
Tanner Ritz from Troop 61 in Victor discussed his project. He will be installing “You are here” signs in Fisher Park. He described the signs and provided a sample sign. He is buying 10 signs from Mcallister Signs in Webster. The sign design is a color trail map of the park, with a star indicating the location of each sign. He will be installing 20 sign posts, 10 of which will have signs. He hopes to do most of the design himself. Jeff Hennick and Chauncy are assising and will sign off on the final design of the signs. Total project cost is $500. Tanner expects to install the signs in May or June.
Ethan Davis from Troop 60 in Victor discussed his project. He will be building and installing a boardwalk in 100 Acre Woods, and also be putting ramps and railings on the existing bridge. Total project cost is $1000-1200. He will be finalizing his timeline soon, and turns 18 in July.
MINUTES:
Motion to approve the March minutes by Ruth seconded by Chauncy – Approved.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Ruth
Assets as of March 31, 2019:
Checking $ 6165.97
Savings $1003.37
Wepay $20.00
Paypal $84.00
Total $7273.34
Ruth purchased a new version of QuickBooks and gave it as a donation of approximately $160 to VHT.
Carol made a motion to approve the financials, Lisa seconded - Approved.
MEMBERSHIP: Denni Harbaugh
Membership is at 171 with 37 due to renew.
Many old memberships were dropped.
Meetup is at 968, up from 947 members.
PUBLICITY & NEWSLETTER: Dave Wright
Spring newsletter went out.
Dave put out a news release about the May hike on the Domine Trails and in Bentley Woods.
Chauncy and Dave attended the Chamber of Commerce meeting earlier today. The Finger Lakes Tourism Connection representative, David Lee, was at the meeting, Dave & Chauncy spoke with him about the Victor as a Hiking and Biking Destination initiative and requested Victor be promoted in their publications.
EDUCATION: Ralph Weber, absent
Denni has confirmed the visit to the Ionia Observatory on Saturday April 20th. The event has 30 people registered and a few on the wait list. Chauncy will take care of getting dinner supplies, not to exceed $200.
Jeff Miller has confirmed radio personality Michael Thomas will attend and discuss Monarch Butterflies at a hike at Ganondagan on Sunday July 21st at 2:00.
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR: Jeff Miller
National Trails Day will be held on Sunday, June 2nd this year due to conflicts with facility availability on Saturday. The event will be held at the Town of Victor Parks and Recreation Center, 7891 Lehigh Crossing. There will be 2 hikes in the morning, one fast paced and one casual pace. The afternoon hike will be a longer loop hike on the Auburn Trail, the Seneca Trail to Willowbrook Road and back to the Recreation Center.
This year’s Arbor Day event is April 27th on Rothbury Circle at 10:00. Jeff has sent out event information requesting volunteers for the event. Jeff is also picking up the seedlings from Ontario County and has volunteers to bag them.
TRAILMASTER: Carol MacInnes
Carol is researching getting remuneration to the Knapps for granting the land adjacent to the new ramp on the Auburn Trail to VHT. Options include the Knapps donate or sell the Town of Victor the land, or putting a trail easement in place.
Carol will contact developer Mauro Polidori to setup a date to walk the property with potential trail access on Valentown Road near Monkey Run. The access trail would go north onto the Genesee Land Trust property, just west of the Falcon’s Nest development and three proposed new homes. There is an easement on the adjacent Empire gas line.
Dave, David Colman, Chauncy and Carol met with Howard Van Bortel to request the Monkey Run trails on their property (formerly Schrader property) be kept as hiking trails. The Van Bortels will advise VHT of their decision.
TRAIL BOSS: Chauncy Young
Chauncy has met with Eagle Scouts John Van Bortel (troop 60) and Andrew Tavolette (Troop 341 from Pittsford) on the status of their projects. They are both moving forward with planning.
The maintenance schedule was sent out by Chauncy. There is a trail clean-up day this Saturday (April 20th) behind Bed Bath & Beyond.
Lisa Ashe and her daughter Taylor have been picking up and bagging trash on the Seneca Trail, Brian Emelson has arranged pickup of the bags. They have cleared the Seneca Trail from High Street south to behind the Goodwill store and filled numerous large trash bags.
The VHT Brochures need some updating. Chauncy and Dave will work with Bruce Fisher on the changes.
LAST HIKE:
The April hike was at Ganondagan, fourteen people attended. It was a nice day for a hike.
OLD BUSINESS:
Chauncy will be attending the International Trails Symposium April 26th – May 1st and attending a training seminar on rigging.
Larry gave an update on the CAC Master Plan. An update will be given to the Town of Victor Board in June. The priority project areas that the Citizen’s Advisory Committee and Consultant team have selected to focus attention on are a future town-owned recreation center, the need for future athletic fields, bicycle and pedestrian development and connectivity, and improvements to Harlan Fisher Park. The project is currently at 55% completion and on-time and on-budget.
Larry is continuing to scan hard copies of old VHT meeting minutes. He has discovered that some are missing. Larry will put together a complete list of the missing dates and Dave will put an article in the newsletter asking if anyone has copies of the missing minutes.
Chauncy will meet with Mitch Donovan, Brian Emelson, Jodell Raymond, Kathy Rayburn, and Mark Mette to discuss revitalizing the Victor is a Hiking & Biking Destination group on Monday, April 30th.
NEW BUSINESS:
Chauncy & Jeff Miller are attending the Victor Central School Community Leaders Breakfast.
Chauncy has won the Victor LDC’s Financial Business of the Year award, which will be given out at their 15th annual awards luncheon on May 2nd.
Dave shared information on the Erie Canal Canalway Challenge. Participants choose a mileage goal for walking, hiking, paddling, or biking along the Erie Canal. Registration is free and at this web site: www.canalwaychallenge.org
Rochester’s second annual Women’s Bike Fest will be held on June 15th at the Adams Street Recreation Center. The event is free and open to all, with the goal of getting more women biking for recreation and transportation. Lisa will be presenting a workshop at the day long fest.
Wegmans Passport brochures for the Finger Lakes Trail have been published.
Dave passed around a Wildflowers of Western New York document, and suggested VHT monthly hike leaders use it as a resource on hikes.
Lisa will be leading monthly bike rides on Tuesday evenings at 6pm in Victor starting in May. The rides will start at either Lehigh Crossing Park or Victor Municipal Park and explore the rail trails. She will send out an announcement to the VHT email list prior to each ride.
NEXT HIKE
May 11th Bentley Woods and Domine Trails. Meet behind the Fisher’s Fire Department in Fisher’s.
2019 VHT HIKES:
May 11th Bentley Woods & Domine Trail
June 2nd National Trails Day Hikes
June 8th Outdoor Expo at Mendon Ponds Park
July 13th Wesley Hill Nature Preserve
August 10th Grimes Glen and Tanner Falls
Aug 31st Bare Hill Ring of Fire
Sept. 7th Hang Around Victor Day
Sept 14th Fillmore Glen State Park
Sept 29th Challenge Hike
October 12th Finger Lakes Trail
Nov 9th Powder Mills Park
Dec 14th Fishers Park
2019 GVHG HIKES: Apr 27, 8 AM Dryer Road Park, moderate 6 mile hike led by Dave W. or a substitute.
May 25, 8 AM MaryFrances Bluebird Haven, 5 mile moderate hike led by Dave W.
June 22 / Saturday 8:00 am. Strenuous hilly 5-6 mile hike. Boughton Park. Meet behind the Victor Town Hall, 85 East Main Street, Victor. All cars will need a permit and/or passes so we will car pool from here to the park as there will be a limit on number of one day passes issued. Chauncy Y. 455-1932 July 27 / Saturday 2:30 p.m. Strenuous hilly 8 - 9 mile hike. Big loop - Finn’s Tap Room – Ganondagan Fort Hill – Dry Rd Park – Lehigh Crossing Park and back on the Auburn Trail. Meet in the gravel parking lot past Finn’s Tap Room Restaurant, 14 Railroad St., Victor, NY. After the hike we can enjoy food and comradery at Finn’s. Chauncy Y. 455-1932 Aug 31 / Saturday 8:00 a.m. Strenuous/Fast Paced 6-7 mile hike. Fishers Park and more. Meet behind Fishers Fire Station 1, 7853 Main Street Fishers, Fishers, NY 14453. Sept 1 / Sunday 8:00 a.m. Strenuous hilly 5-7 mile hike Ganondagan and Fort Hill. Meet in the main parking lot 7000 County Road 41 (Boughton Hill Road) Victor, NY 14564. After the hike you can tour the museum of this Seneca Nation Art and Cultural Center – there is a $6 admission fee if you are not a member of Friends of Ganondagan. Chauncy Y. 455-1932 You are encouraged to join Genesee Valley Hiking Group and sign up for their Meetup group. Yearly dues start January 1 and are only $8/household. |
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NEXT MEETING:
The next regular meeting will be on Thursday, May 16th 2019, 7:00 p.m. at Victor Town Hall.
Meeting adjourned at 9:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted by Lisa Roberts