VICTOR HIKING TRAILS

VICTOR TOWN HALL

January 21, 2021

PARTICIPANTS: Chauncy Young, Ruth Rugaber, Dave Wright, Lisa Roberts (via phone conference), Scott Reinhart (via phone conference), Jeff Miller (via phone conference), Jeff Hennick (via phone conference), Nancy Holley, Paul Moszak (via phone conference), Maryellen Meleca (via phone conference), Chris Graziano (via phone conference).

Meeting was called to order at 7:01 p.m. by Dave.

TREASURER’S REPORT: Ruth Rugaber

Assets as of December 31, 2020:

Checking $8,422.37

Savings $1,003.75

Wepay $20.00

PayPal $62.00

Total $9,508.12

• Paid monthly bills, including Saxby Equipment $385 for leaf blower, Mobile Graphics $961 for muddy trail signs, calendars, newsletters and plaques for completed projects..

• Donations included $84 from Travelers and $62 from Front Stream.

• Renewed the Chamber of Commerce membership and trailer registration.

• Created preliminary 2021 budget.

• Budgeted $3000 in membership; received $5500 in 2020.

Chauncy made a motion to accept the budget and financials, Jeff Hennick seconded, approved.

MEMBERSHIP: Denni Harbaugh, absent

• Membership is at 188 with 50 due to renew.

• Meetup is at 1131, 38 joined over the last month. Only 278 of Meetup members have attended an event. 81 photos were posted after the Big Loop hike, over 50 were posted after both the Monthly and Educational Hikes. Any participant posting an outstanding photo to Meetup after an event that is chosen for Chauncy’s calendar will receive a VHT calendar next year.

PUBLICITY & NEWSLETTER: Dave Wright

• Dave will update the phone message and send out a press release with details of the February monthly hike: meet at Powder Mills Park at 9 a.m. Dave will describe the monthly hike on the phone message, and note that additional VHT hikes are being scheduled and will be posted on Meetup.

• The number of Facebook page likes as of January 21^st was 1332, up from 1310; followers are at 1420 up from 1383. There were 118 page views and 18 page likes in the past 28 days. Posts in the last month reached 713 people.

• Most popular recent posts were photos of the Big Loop Hike (476), new maps in the kiosks at Boughton Park (471), the New Year’s Hike (391), the Educational Hike at Lollypop Farm (374), and the January Monthly Hike (390).

• Instagram account has 95 followers and 15 posts.

• Winter newsletter was printed and distributed. Next issue will be the spring issue on March 21^st. The newsletter may need to increase to 10 pages due to additional sponsors and ads; more photos and articles will also be included.

EDUCATION: Jeff Miller

• Educational hike at Lollypop Farm on January 17^th had 21 attend. It was held outdoors because of COVID concerns. There were many questions and interest. The group toured the farm area and hiked on the trails west of there and along the trolley trail adjacent to Lollypop and across County Road 9. Total was nearly five miles.

• Next event is an animal track identification hike on Sunday February 28^th at 2:00 p.m. at Cumming Nature Center. Cost is $7 for entry to the park and a naturalists guided hike. People can access to the building after the event and bring food and drinks.

VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR: Jeff Miller

Nothing to report

TRAILMASTERS: Paul Knerr, Scott Reinhart

• Filed Paul Bishop’s revocable permit with the town clerk and gave a copy to him. Paul’s son is interested in volunteering to do some trail work. Both Paul and his son will be members. Need their email addresses.

• Paul Bishop has requested the trail on his property be named Helen’s Way after his mother. Scott requested VHT have the trail ready to open on May 9^th, which is Mother’s Day. Scott will write a short piece which can be read at the opening and listed on the VHT website.

• Brian Emelson received an email from a resident of the Village on the Park neighborhood, Doreen Beck, asking about the location of the new trail. Scott will follow up with her.

• Betsey Kubiak would like to have VHT do a walk around her property in February if it works with her schedule and the weather.

• Chauncy will meet with Scott and Paul to look at potential locations for a trail west of County Road 9 near Aldridge Road. Scott & Paul will contact land owners when appropriate.

TRAIL BOSS: Chauncy Young

• The six “please stay off muddy trail” signs are ready to be installed. Will wait for softer ground.

• Chauncy has made a list of potential trail improvements for 2021.
  
  

LAST MONTHLY HIKE:

• 20 people attended the Monthly hike at Dryer Road Park on January 9^th

• January 1^st Opening Day hike had 22 attend.

• Big Loop hike on the 16^th had 22 people attend.

• Other extra hikes scheduled include:

  • January 23^rd from the Apple Farm to Boughton Park and back

  • January 24^th section of the Seneca Trail from Turk Hill Road north for three miles and back.

OLD BUSINESS:

• VHT is still looking for a volunteer coordinator.

• Ron Lovell brought his completed donation post and box for VHT. Two will be installed, one at Maple Avenue on the Auburn & one near Fisher’s Fire Station on the Auburn Trail. Lisa will talk to Brian to get his ok to install the boxes. Chauncy and Lisa will look at designs for a VHT logo or other information to paint on the boxes.

• Chauncy will be installing the muddy trail signs as weather permits.

• Discussion of mural or murals on the Thruway underpass. Dave suggested putting an advertisement in the newsletter or other local publications to find an artist or several artists.

NEW BUSINESS:

• Chauncy made a motion that VHT support the PRCAC decision to allow Class 1 pedal assist bikes on trails in the Town of Victor, Lisa seconded - Approved. Lisa will draft a letter to the Town Board, and copy in Brian Emelson and the CAC.

• Dave received an email from Joe Hurley, the owner of Kettle Ridge Farms asking if VHT would consider picking up trash on roads in Victor. VHT does pick up trash on all trails in the Town; there was discussion of other community service organizations that Joe may contact with his request.

• Julie Sherwood has written articles titled “Sherwood in the Forest with Rosie”, for the Messenger Post newspaper. The articles have highlighted some VHT parks and trails and include photos of various trails.

• Brian sent out information regarding a proposal before the New York State legislature that would require vehicles allow three feet between a vehicle and a bicyclist when overtaking a cyclist. Support of the proposal may be submitted by visiting the web site.

• A scout with Troop 61 in Victor would like to do an Eagle Project on the Seneca Trail north of Route 96. He is proposing installing a bridge over the small creek, and rerouting the trail to avoid a steep hill. Chauncy will contact the scout.

• Victor PTSA Health and Wellness committee members Sarah and Jessica contacted VHT asking for assistance planning and holding family friendly hikes. Lisa will contact them and setup a meeting to get more details. Dave suggested VHT could supply the PTSA with maps, and give parents some help on how to lead a hike and make it fun.

• Brian is working with Victor Central Schools to schedule some hikes starting in March on Wednesdays, one at 10 am one at 2pm, limited to 10 people. Students are not in the buildings on Wednesdays.

• Newest issue of Backpacker magazine arrived.

• The Victor Farmington Library is putting together an Advisory Board, which will meet quarterly, to get two-way communication going between the library and the public. They asked if a member from VHT would like to participate. Contact Lisa if you are interested.

• The VHT brochures need to be updated with some new photos and 10,000 new copies printed before National Trails Day in June. Chauncy will work with Bruce Fisher and Jeff Hennick on them.

NEXT HIKE:

Jan 29^th Past Full Moon on the Auburn Trail. Meet at 6 a.m. at Fishers Fire Station, 7853 Main St Fishers.

2021 VHT HIKES

Jan 31^st – Fishers Park & more. Meet at 1:30 p.m. at Fishers Fire Station, 7853 Main St Fishers.

Feb 13^th - Powder Mills Park. Meet at 9 a.m. in the large parking lot on Woolston Road.

Feb. 28^th – Educational Hike at Cumming Nature Center. Meet at 1 p.m. at town hall to car caravan, or at the Nature Center at 2 p.m.

March 13^th - Webster Park

April 10^th – Lehigh and Trolley Trail

May 8^th – Fishers Park & Domine

June 5^th – National Trails Day, location TBD

June 12^th – Ontario Pathways Phelps to Stanley Spur

July 10^th – Fillmore Glen

Aug. 14^th – Ganondagan

Sept. 4^th – Ring of Fire, Bare Hill

Sept. 11^th – Hang Around Victor Day

Sept. 18^th – Auburn Trail Bike Ride

Oct. 9^th – Boughton Park

Nov. 13^th – Ontario County Park

Dec. 11^th – Seneca Park along the Genesee River

NEXT MEETING:

The next regular meeting will be on Thursday, February 18, 2021, 7:00 p.m. at Victor Town Hall.

Meeting adjourned at 8:33 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by Lisa Roberts