Experience what it’s like to be a tourist in your own community!  Join us for a fun Tourism Night Out:

Minnehan’s Restaurant & Fun Center
5601 Big Tree Rd., Lakeville, NY 14480
Thursday, May 5th, 2016
5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

The first 100 guests to arrive and check in at the Livingston County Chamber table will receive a coupon for a free ice cream!  All are welcome!

Click here for the event flyer.

ILMPD 2016 – – – I Love My Park Day, is an initiative of New York State Parks celebrated annually on the first Saturday of May which in 2016 falls on the 7th of May.  It is an effort to improve NYS Parks from a grassroots perspective.  Many NYS Parks hold an ILMPD event and activities may vary greatly from one state park to another.  – – – Checking the NYS Parks website is one way to ascertain where and what some activities will be for this May 7th 2016 event.   two web addresses are:  parks.ny.gov  -and-  www.nysparks.com     Parks and Trails New York ( ptny.org ) also is a website to check for info.

This “event post” speaks specifically to – 2016 ILMPD on the GVGSP with Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway (FOGVG) who will be working on clearing debris at one specific extant former Genesee Valley Canal (GVC) lock situate on the GVG.  This locale is situate in the southeastern reaches of Letchworth State Park, essentially at the hamlet of Oakland.   Any hikers interested in joining in to clear the extant lock of the former GVC which has now become the GVG should feel free to join in this effort. (Of note: lock 60 is a very short walk in from Oakland Rd, so this is mostly a maintenance event and not much of a hike event.)

Plans are to start the day at 9:30am, working and providing for snacks and breaks as apropos, and work until Noon, with lunch provided to volunteers at 12:30pm in nearby Nunda.  All volunteers are welcome, and if you need to leave early you are welcome to do so, easily accomplished since the ILMPD – Oakland Locks site is very near the car parking area.

ILMPD is coincidentally the same day that one of Springwater Trails’ own, Katherine (Secretary of Springwater Trails, and hiker/hostess extraordinaire), will be honored with an award at Livingston County’s 30th Annual Seniorama 2016, in recognition of the many community volunteer activities she has been involved in throughout many years.  So, … if you wish to attend both the ILMPD event at Oakland locks and the Seniorama event honoring Katherine, you’ll need to make  the ILMPD lunch at Nunda Historical Society pavilion at 12:30pm a quick lunch stop and be on your way by ~12:40PM to make it to Seniorama for the 1:30PM start time.

Below (between the triple arrowheads) is the info copied from the FOGVG website relevant to ILMPD – GVGSP at Oakland Locks.

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2016 I Love My Park Day – Saturday, May 7, 2016 

I Love My Park Day (ILMPD) is an exciting statewide event to celebrate and enhance New York’s state parks and historic sites and bring visibility to the entire state park system and its needs. Volunteers from across the state will participate in cleanup, improvement, and beautification events at New York State parks and historic sites.   
This year the Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway (FOGVG) have selected one work site rather than three for the Genesee Valley Greenway State Park.  Volunteers will clear the last lock (#60) in the flight of Genesee Valley Canal locks that begin at Oakland Road in Oakland.  We will gather at the work site at 9:30 am.  Parking is available at the parking lot on Oakland Road and along Rt. 436 or Oakland Road.

Volunteers should bring water, gloves, pruning shears or brush cutters, insect repellant, and wear heavy shoes and protective clothing to guard against heavy brush, poison ivy, and ticks.  Snacks will be available and lunch will be provided at about 12:30 pm at the nearby Nunda Historical Society pavilion.  Volunteers will receive ILMPD T-shirts.  If questions: email fogvg@frontiernet.net or call 585-476-2354.

Volunteers are encouraged to register at the PTNY website at http://www.ptny.org/ilovemypark/ or by calling 585-476-2354.  Registering in advance on the website is strongly recommended since it avoids the need to complete Volunteer Service and Photo Release Forms on May 7th.

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hyperlink –  http://nysparks.com/parks/189/details.aspx

The flight of Oakland Locks where lock # 60 is situate is accessed via Oakland Road just north off NYS Rt 436, in the hamlet of Oakland in the Town of Portageville (just a bit west of the Village of Nunda, NY).

Of note: On the 4/24/2016 Springwater Trails hike on the GVG, hikers learned about the former Genesee Valley Canal (GVC) and also learned some about the GVG too, at the AP&HS program presented by Tom S Cook on the GVC at the Avon Opera Block on April 24th, 2016 and then following the presentation we furthered some knowledge on the S/T hike in the Town of Caledonia on the GVG .  In fact in traveling to start points all hikers paused at and one group of hikers started their hike on the GVG at NYS Rt 5 trailhead, which was the same locale used for the 1840 party celebrating the opening of the first section of the Genesee Valley Canal.

Additionally, the following paragraph is copied from The Genesee Naturalist, a quarterly periodical about Letchworth State Park, the Genesee Region and surrounding area.  This ILMPD info is about the broader Letchworth State Park effort for ILMPD, as delineated from the Oakland locks of the GVGSP at the southeastern reaches of Letchworth SP.

“Saturday, May 7th, 2016 at 8:00am  I LOVE MY PARK DAY.  A variety of volunteer projects are offered throughout the day: tree planting, invasive species removal, landscaping, leaf raking an canal locks beautification.  Lunch and programming with Friends of Letchworth.  Trailside Lodge.  Volunteers may preregister at www.ptny.org  (4-6 hours) (led by park staff and others)”

Below (between the triple arrowheads) is the info copied for Letchworth SP – ILMPD (copied from the NYS Parks website).

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Saturday, May 7, 2016 09:00 AM – 02:00 PM
Letchworth State Park

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hyperlink – http://nysparks.com/events/event-results.aspx?pk=79

If perhaps you are interested in ILMPD efforts for another park location – you can start at www.nysparks.com and select the park and then select upcoming events.

Also of note, here are three upcoming hikes on the GVG.  All three are led by NYS Park staff.

* on Saturday April 30th, 2016

Nature Hike from Fowlerville Road to York Landing
Saturday, April 30, 2016 10:00 AM
Genesee Valley Greenway State Park

** on Saturday May 14th, 2016:

Quaker Road to Lehigh Valley Trail (Wegmans Hike Number 4)
Saturday, May 14, 2016 10:00 AM
Genesee Valley Greenway State Park

This hike is located in Monroe County just south of the Village of Scottsville. Take River Road South from the Village, or north from Route 20. Turn east onto Quaker Road (Rt. 251). The trailhead is approximately ¼ mile ahead. Meet at the trailhead. (3.1 miles)

*** on Saturday June 11th, 2016:

Sunday is Mother’s Day. Please come celebrate with all our Springwater Trails mothers with a hike on Rob’s Trail and with a social at Bob and Joan’s.

This hike will explore the original Rob’s Trail on Nature Conservancy land on the east side of Rt 15A, and the connection down to Canadice Lake and the southern portion of the West side trail. This will complete the April 3rd hike connecting Hemlock Lake and Canadice Lake on the full new Rob’s Trail.

After the hike, we will meet at Bob and Joan’s for honey glazed ham and cauliflower soup, plus your favorite dish to pass.  Please bring a dish to pass, or make a contribution to the social fund.  The social fund is used to keep the bin with plates, bowls, forks and knives, napkins, coffee etc full, and to allow the host to make a special dish. Bring your own beverage. Also, please bring slippers or heavy socks to protect Joan’s floors which are in the midst of renovation.

This week we will offer four different hikes with different levels of difficulty.  All hikers should meet at the Rob’s Trail parking lot at the north end of Old Bald Hill Road South.  Be ready to start promptly at 2:00.  The four hikes will be:

1. Up from Canadice (The climbers).
2. Down to Canadice (The tourists).
3. Along Canadice with no climbing (The flatlanders)
4. At the top, around Rob’s trail (The naturalists)

The Climbers and Flatlanders will carpool from the parking lot to the South end of Canadice Lake.  Directions will be available at the start of the hike.

NOTE: Pets are not permitted on Nature Conservancy land at the top of Bald Hill. (See below for instructions for dog owners).

The Climbers will start at the south end of Canadice Lake and will walk the trail on the west of the lake, then climb Bald Hill to Rob’s Trail and continue around Rob’s trail to the trail head and the waiting cars.  The Tourists will do the reverse hike, starting at the head of Rob’s Trail.  They will hike half way around Rob’s Trail and then descend to Canadice Lake, taking the lake trail out to the south end parking area.  They will use the Climbers cars to return to the Rob’s Trail entrance.

Hikers wishing to complete the full 4 mile hike should consider whether they want to climb up Bald Hill or go down the hill.  It is a 600 foot climb in 0.4 miles (just under 3%).  The Climbers will be going up the hill (requiring more energy), and the Tourists will be going down (harder on the knees). Note: Hikers with dogs should plan to start with the Climbers and then join the Tourists when the two groups meet.

At the top of Bald Hill, Rob’s Trail provides a view of the early forest starting on former fields.

Meanwhile, the Naturalists will stay on Rob’s trail at the top of Bald Hill.  This 1.75-mile Loop Trail with easy walking passes through a variety of early successional plant communities.

And the Flatlanders hike is open to anyone wanting a flat walk next to Canadice Like.  This group will start with the Climbers and will walk for 55 minutes along the lake trail and then will return along the same trail to the cars.

Click here for directions to Rob’s Trail parking lot.  Directions between the parking lot and the south Canadice Lake parking will be available at the hike.  Also, directions to Bob and Joan’s.

John Kerr, Colleen Liggett are playing a square dance at the Jack Evans Community Center tonight from 7-10pm.. Richard Sauvain is calling. Howie Lester and Meg Grinrod are playing fiddle and piano.

It’s free but a donation to help keep the JECC going is encouraged. More dances later in the year and in future years if we are successful saving the center.

The last dance on April 16 was a huge success. We hope this one will be even better.

On Sunday, we are hiking between three cemeteries in Springwater, including the Green Gull Cemetery and the Pleasant Valley East Cemetery.  In between, we will visit a surprise cemetery tucked into the hills of Springwater. All three cemeteries are noted on the 1872 Atlas of Livingston County.  Click on the detailed map below to see the complete map of Springwater. The complete Atlas of Livingston County, New York, published by F. W. Beers & Co in 1872, is available on-line.

We will meet at 8664 Schribner Rd and carpool to the first cemetery.

Following the hike, join us for a pot luck social on Schribner Rd.  Bring a dish to pass and your own beverage, or make a small $5 donation to the social fund.

Three hikes are planned. The Naturalists will carpool about 2 miles west to Green Gull Cemetery on Canadice Rd near Strutt St.  This is a small cemetery above the road with graves of two veterans of the Revolutionary War. After exploring the cemetery, the Naturalists will follow Canadice Rd to Strutt St and climb Fox Rd to the top (about a 400 foot climb.  From there we will follow the old Gilles Rd as laid out on the 1872 map to the second cemetery. From there we will follow trails through the woods and back to the starting point.  This will be a 2 mile hike with both a climb up and down.

The Climbers and Tourists will carpool east to the Pleasant Valley Cemetery (East) on Tabors Corners Rd.  This cemetery is also known as the East Springwater or The Fair View Cemetery and it contains graves of one War of 1812 veteran and 19 Civil War veterans. After exploring the cemetery, we will follow a farmer’s road across the Cohocton Creek, and up a steep climb to the fields above the Schribner Valley. The trail crosses Schribner and continues up along Giles Rd to our second cemetery.  From there the Climbers will continue down Fox Rd to the Green Gull Cemetery.  As they pass the Naturalists going the other direction, they will collect keys to the Naturalists cars to return to the start point.  The Tourists will turn around at the second cemetery and follow the same route as the Naturalists back to the start point and the Social. A driver will be available to take drivers back to the Tabors Corners cemetery to pick up cars.

A note about the weather:  The forecast calls for temperatures in the 40s and showers between 2 and 6 on Sunday. So dress warmly and bring a raincoat or poncho.  Lets hope the forecast is off by a few hours.

Directions to the meeting place are available here.  Directions for the hikes and the carpools will be available the day of the hike.

The Western Finger Lakes chapter of the NY Forest Owners Association is holding their Spring General Meeting on May 18.

A panel of leaders from local business, non-profit and government will talk about the tourism industry in the area and how forest landowners can participate in the economic benefits of attracting people to the area.  

The bald eagle has been chosen as the national symbol of our country.  A pair, of these magnificent birds, has built a nest near the top of a tree south of Bath and, every year, since they built it, they have been returning to raise a brood, usually consisting of 2 chicks.  In Mossy Bank Park, a hill, above this tree, offers a great vantage point to view the nest from above.  Last year, we went there in early May and had a good look at the fuzzy chicks in the nest.  This year, the parents have returned to the nest and, 2 chicks have successfully hatched.  This time, we’re going back, later in the month, the chicks will be more mature and, if we’re lucky, we may see them walking around the nest.

The Mossy Bank Park eagle feeding her chicks
May 2, 2015
– by Brenda Todd

Once again, Dr. Randy Wiedner, has offered to be our guide for this day.  We will meet at 2 PM, at the nature center.  Then, Randy will lead us to the eagle viewing ledge.  Although he’ll set up a spotting scope for us, if you have binoculars, you’ll want to bring them for this one.  After our view of the eagles, Randy will lead a hike through the trails of the park.  For those preferring a slower pace, I will take you on some of the trails along the ridge and point out some of the features we encounter.

After our hikes, I have reserved one of the park’s pavilions, for a pot luck picnic.  Randy, and his wife, Cathy, will join us as our guests.  The rest of us need to bring a dish to pass, and beverage, or make a donation.  After you’re done feeding your face, don’t run away.  Make your way to the nature center, where Randy will show us his great bald eagle powerpoint.  Besides seeing the history of this pair at this tree, you’ll see how our great national symbol was threatened with extinction in the mid 20th Century and the comeback that it made, due to the efforts of the late Rachel Carson, and other such heroes.  You don’t want to miss this one.  And, because it’s late May, it will still be light when you make your way home.

Directions

Go south on I-390 and east on I-86.  Take exit 38 and go left at the end of the exit ramp. Go under 86 and turn right at the first traffic light, onto W. Morris St.  Go past Tops, stay right at the fork, go past the library and make a sharp right onto Cameron St.  Pass 86 again, and the Cohocton River and continue 1.6 miles.  Watch for small Mossy Bank Park signs and fork to the left onto Windfall Rd.  Go .4 miles and turn left onto Mossy Bank Park Rd.  Go 1.3 miles to gate, marked with a small sign.  Continue straight ahead until you pass between 2 large boulders, into the park.  Park in the parking lot and come to the nature center.