Woolwich Trails Group

Wednesday November 21, 2007

Meeting Minutes

Chair person: Gloria Yeung

Those attending: Mark Bauman, Murray Beacom, Joyce Cummings, Eleanor Hrabi, Alf Lemp, Inga Rinne, John Robinson, Ann Roberts, Isobel Ruby, Pete Scheuring, Gloria Yeung (and Emily).

Guidebook Distribution and reprinting: Eleanor has delivered 106 guidebooks to our distributors since April. We are now officially out of guidebooks. Gloria updated the current guidebook with an addendum showing the new GVT at Snyder’s Flats. Jim printed 300 more books and 200 extra addendums. Eleanor will deliver addendums to all distributors. Addendums will also be sent to lifetime members when the renewals are sent out in the new year.

WTG Membership Report: Brenda was not present to report.

Annual report: The report needs to go out with the mailing to the membership in January. Suggestions made for content included:

· new bridge construction at Snyder’s Flats (the Union Gas project);

· “Trail News” from GVTA, Guelph, KW, Avon;

· new pedestrian bridge over the 401; new natural area in KW;

· article re safety on the trail in winter (kleats for your shoes and poles. Webco Sports, Adventure Guide, Shoppers Health Centre and Lakes, Trails and Travel sell shoes, outdoor clothing and poles);

· 2006 School Hike Day.

We are looking for people to write some articles. If you would like to pick one of the above ideas of you have a new idea please let Ann or Gloria know right away.

October and November Hikes: John reported that one person attended the geocache hike at Floradale. It was a good weather day however John noted that since the construction of the new church access to the park is difficult for people to find. He suggests that the fire number be listed in the hike schedule for 2008. Joy led the October hike at Schneiders flats with 8 people attending.

2008 Hike Schedule: The following were suggestions made for 2008 hikes:

Sunday January 20: Last year there was skiing and snowshoeing at Sandy Hills Pinery trail. Jim, Brad and Eleanor, would you folks be interested in leading this again this year? Note: Similar to 2007, this hike will not be included on the final hike schedule due to timing for printing and the early date of the hike. It will be posted in the Observer and Independent papers though.

Sunday March 16: Would anyone be interested in leading this hike? A stone dust trail vs natural path might be best given the time of year. Any suggestions? Please let Ann know if you are interested.

Sunday April 13: Mark offered to lead a birding hike on the HVT.

April Hike on a bus: the group would like to organize one again for 2008. Note that this will be a mid-week event.

Sunday May 25: Inga offered to lead the hike with her friend Judy, the wild flower expert. Inga to confirm a location and advise Ann.

Sunday June 22 hike: Lisa---would you like to lead a hike this day? Would you like it listed as a family hike? Which trail? Please let Ann know.

Sunday June 22 hike: John---would you like to lead a geo-cache hike this day at Floradale? Please let Ann know.

Sunday Sept. 21: Gloria volunteered to lead a hike on the GVT from 3rd line to Middlebrook Rd.

Sunday October 19: Joy has agreed to lead a hike at Schneiders woods.

Sunday November 16: would someone like to lead a hike in November? I would suggest a stone dust trail protected from the wind. Perhaps the Mill Race? Please let Ann know if you are interested.

Water St. Trail, St. Jacobs Update: Mark talked about the planned upgrades to the Water St. trail for this winter. The trail is grassed and is located behind new homes built on Water St. in St. Jacobs. A section of the trail was plowed under this fall. Mark spoke with the developer and agreed on a new temporary location for the trail. A permanent trail will be constructed as part of the development when this phase is built. Mark will arrange for wood chips to be dumped near the trail and he plans to move the wood chips into place this winter.

CW Optimist Report: Pete has no new info to add to the kiosk at Priddle Park. The kiosks (MRT, HVT and Priddle Park) will be updated once the hike schedule is available. He asked about the status of the kiosk on the KBT at Middlebrook Rd. The kiosk has been constructed but there is no backer board or plexi glass yet. This is a Trailway Advisory Board item. Ann will contact Chris Gosselin about the status and get back to Pete.

Grand Valley Trails Update: Joyce attended along with Isobel Ruby and Alf Lemp, Grand Valley Trails members who have volunteered to take the lead on maintenance of the GVT north of Line 86. They will be looking for help with maintenance from WTG members especially in June and August to trim grass. The following are highlights from Joyce’s report:

I.GENERAL:

I gather that our Volunteer Appreciation Day was a real success. (I was off galavanting in the States and was unable to make it.)

Nick Kuret, head of our Construction Crew, and the GVTA’s Volunteer of the Year, has received a Volunteer of the Year award from Hike Ontario.

We have had some UW students volunteer to help out with landowner information. I am planning to send them to the Land Registry Office to look up a number of properties for which we do not have accurate landowner information.

A very successful series of End to End hikes took place in Brant County (Carolinian Crest section) this September and October. We are trying to increase our membership in this area.

II.BLACK WALNUT:

We have had three trail captains resign, one trail captain (a group of 3 friends) move to take up one of the vacant sections, and one new trail captain join. We have a nibble for one of the vacant areas, but still need a trail captain for our Fairway to Chicopee section in Kitchener.

III.WOOLWICH TOWNSHIP:

After the hike on Sept. 16, that Alf Lemp assisted with, he volunteered to take over the maintenance of the WTG section from Highway 86 to Middlebrook Road. Clint Rohr has been very helpful in organizing spring work parties on this section, but since he is away part of the year, cannot take it on as a full time position. I believe that Alf has sent in his WTG membership. I encourage all of the trail captains in Woolwich Twp. to join the WTG. Unfortunately, due to my bum knee, I have been unable to get out on the trail with Alf, but maybe shortly. He is a very experienced and reliable trail worker and finally, with his recent retirement, has decided to take responsibility for a section.

Our trail captain for the section from Victoria Street to Bridge Street, Melissa Shular has resigned due to expecting her second child. There are a group of friends who are considering taking on this section.

We would still like to find an individual trail captain to take responsibility for the middle section off of Middlebrook Road. It is only about 1 km and passes through grassy fields, cedar woods, and crosses a small stream. It seems to work best if someone is keeping an eye on an individual section.

The GVTA has been lucky enough to receive another grant from the Helping Hands program at Union Gas. The money was used to buy pressure treated lumber to construct much needed boardwalks in the section just north of Bridge Street. About 90 feet of boardwalk was buil with the help of volunteers from Union Gas.. See attached.

The proposed side trail piggybacking on the Kissing Bridge Trailway still has not been approved by the legal department at the Region of Waterloo.

 

Breslau Update: No one was present to report for Breslau. Ann noted that Township staff have met with landowners adjacent to the train tracks and the Township-owned property to discuss unauthorized motorized vehicles in this area. The Township and the Region are working to establish a contract with the City of Kitchener enforcement unit to hire enforcement staff to patrol this area. The enforcement would hopefully begin in the spring.

HC Celebration Dinner: Please mark Thursday February 28th on your calendar. It will be held at St. Jacobs Mennonite Church. The theme is energy reduction and greening of sacred places. Invitations will go out in the beginning of Feb. Please let Inga know if you have suggestions for entertainment.

Healthy Communities Month:

Inga talked about possible ideas for Healthy Communities month:

· Film night: The WHC Coord. Committee is looking for ideas for a film to run during HC month. Please let Inga know of any suggestions.

· Alternative Energy Tours: In 2008 a bus will be used to move people to the various sites. The Coord. Committee is looking for sites in Woolwich. Please let Inga know of any suggestions (e.g. residential green roofs).

· Taste of Woolwich is scheduled for April 19.

· GVT Work Party: Joyce, please advise Inga or Ann of a date to be included on the calendar.

· April School Hike Day: Ann to connect with Nancy Stayzer to see if there might be interest. Could we also include John Mahood or Riverside schools or Winterbourne or Bloomingdale schools? Could we get University students to partner with the grade school students. Perhaps the group could put together generic interpretative info for each school. Pete offered for the Optimist club to sponsor ribbons as done for the ’06 hike.

· Bike hike: perhaps use the KBT and give people the opportunity to choose their distance. Inga will review the 2007 bike/hike/run to get some ideas.

2008 Projects:

· Mark suggested that the group could consider helping fund stone dust for the KBT east of the river towards Ariss.

· Signs to mark destinations in the Township: As discussed and agreed upon 2 years ago. Signs would be posted at key trail access points to give direction and km to key destinations. Mark and Ann to look into this over the winter.

Next Meeting: The group will meet again in the new year, date and time to follow.

 

Upcoming Hikes:

Look for the 2008 hike schedule in the new year.

WTG Christmas Get together: Please mark Sunday December 9th, 5:30 pm on your calendar. Inga has offered to host the Christmas gathering for the group at her home in Bloomingdale. It will be a “random” potluck so get out your favourite recipe and share some Christmas cheer with your fellow trail members.

 

Contact Ann Roberts at 519 669-1647 x 265 or aroberts@woolwich.ca for more information.