5:45 Networking and dinner
6:15 Meeting
- Introductions
- Additions to the agenda
- Approve minutes of the June Meeting
- Announcements
- Breakneck Ridge, repairs and traffic- Hank Osborn
6:25 Reports from Headquarters
- Policy Council - Walt Daniels - Trail Management Guide
- Publications - Westchester Map, Walkable Westchester revisions
6:45 Reports from the Region
- Trail Updates and accompllishments
- Trail Crew efforts
- Upcoming workshops - Passing the Torch: Succession Planning Workshop - Hank Osborn
7: 00 Presentations: -
8:45 Adjourn
Mary Ayers, Danielle Begley-Miller, Kurt Beil, Marilyn Blaho, Rose Bonanno, Donna Chapman, Geof Connor, Jane Daniels, Walt Daniels, Mary Dodds, Leigh Draper, Jim Haggett, Tim Harvell, Gary Haugland, Phil Heidelberger, Pete Horree, Laura Kelly, Mr. Kelly, John Magerlein, Erik Michelson, Hank Osborn, Jessica Pisano, Martha Rabson, Joe Rodriguez, Ron Rosen, George Scott, Andrew Seirup, Andre Simonyi, Connie Stern, Fred Stern, Michael Surdej.
5:45 p.m. Networking and dinner
6:15 meeting
Attendees introduced themselves.
No additions to the agenda.
Report from Headquarters
Hank Osborn reported that the program coordinators now have an assistant, Jennifer Ghahari, who will help with questions from callers. He also announced that this year’s Trail Steward program will be from May through October at Breakneck, Bear Mountain, Catskills with 6 members of Americorps. Peter Dolan is developing new trail team volunteer crews who will be available upon request to crews needing additional members, and crew leaders will train them on site.
Jane opened discussion for ideas for TC’s 2020 celebration, which will include the third edition of Walkable Westchester. Many volunteers are working to help update WW’s third edition.
Annual Awards
EH is proud to announce that several of our EH group received recognition for their volunteer efforts at the March 16 Volunteer Appreciation Event. Jane Daniels received the William Hoeferlin Award for exemplary service. Rose Bonanno received the Elizabeth Levers Award for Engagement and Inclusivity, Phil Heidelberger received the Hit the Ground Running Award and Brian Blackburn received a special Sawyer award. .
Regional News
Jane announced that there will be Trail Maintenance Workshops in Monroe NY, on April 14; in Stokes State Forest, NJ, on April 20, at Yorktown Heights, on ay 4 and in Mahwah, NJ on May 11. Ron Rosen announced AT Corridor boundary workshop on April 6 is in Pawling, NY. Jim Haggett would like to institute a TM101 class for maintainers in the east Putnam area.
Jim Haggett announced he will relinquish his AT trail Management title as of now after 15-plus years service in many capacities for the Appalachian Trail. Donna Chapman, longtime AT volunteer and community service volunteer will step up. Paul Robinson will be supervisor for Dover Oak to CT line.
Jane introduced Laura Kelly who will be assisting Jane in the Yorktown area.
Trail updates:
Jim showed changes to the AT on the west side of Nuclear Lake which will bring the trail closer to the lake and afford good viewpoints.
Mary Dodds presented changes and reroutes in Hudson Highlands Gateway to the blue, yellow and red trails, all of which have been approved by the Town of Cortlandt.
Geof Connor showed the new Covered Bridge trail at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation which extends from Fox Hill to the covered bridge and down to an historic mill site, and changes to the blue trail now aligned with the white trail for a section, at Kimberly bridge .
Water Presentation
Thanks to Erick Michaelson, TC Field Manager, who offered explanations for trail flooding and possible solutions with a series of charts and diagrams showing trail construction and renewal. Walt Daniels offered to post these resource charts on TC website. Choices to move or rebuild trails could depend on soils, drainage, water table, types of nearby plants and usage, all factors contributing to best. trail maintenance.
Bears and Beavers
And thanks to Danielle Begley-Miller, Assistant Director of Environmental Stewardship at Teatown, for her presentation first on bears, then beavers. As for bears, there will be another Hudson Highlands Bear Study this spring in which cameras are set up off trails, with various scents to attract, and then photograph bear activity.
As to beavers, their work ethic is as Danielle puts it, a wildlife success story that can be both good and bad. Their skills are astounding but their affects can be more so. The ponds they build provide habitats for waterfowl, mammals and plant life, but the water changes landscape and makes flooding a problem, particularly at Teatown where a boardwalk is now under water thanks to their efforts. According to Danielle, laws prevent breaking dams or harming beavers.
Round Robin
There was discussion of agenda for the June meeting, perhaps a compilation of data collected by the Americorps team at high traffic hiking areas and an update on the Empire State Trail extending though Putnam and Dutchess Counties northward.
Meeting adjourned at 8:45pm.
Our next meeting will be June 10, 2019.