Viewing the west shore of Hemlock from the north boat launch.

After the history program at the Jack Evans Community Center, Springwater Trails will lead a shortened hike along the west side of Hemlock Lake. We will take some time to view the old cottage foundations along the trail.

This will be an abbreviated hike, lasting about one hour.  The trail is intended to be level, but creeks that have washed out parts of the trail will require some careful climbing.  We may also venture out on the shoreline, to take advantage of the lower water level of the lake.

A chicken BBQ will be available before the history program at 12:30. We will not have a social following the hike.

Directions:  

From The Jack Evans Community Center: Head south on NY-15A for 0.9 miles.  Take the first right turn onto Rix Hill Road.  Park near the Kiosk on the left on the far side of Hemlock Lake.

From Springwater: Go north on NY-15A for 10.1 miles from the light in Springwater. Turn left at the north end of Bald Hill onto Rix Hill Road. Continue on Rix Hill Rd past the Hemlock Lake Park to the Kiosk on the west side of Hemlock Lake.

This month’s Bicentennial Hike is celebrating the one room school houses in Springwater. Our hike will start at the Punky Hollow School #17, located on Pardee Hollow, just down the hill from the Springwater Music Fair which is running both Saturday and Sunday. This hike will be approximately one hour and is open to everyone – admission to the fair is not required.

Hikers are invited to come to the Music Fair and enjoy the bands, check out the crafts and enjoy some good food. In addition, the East Springwater Historical Museum will be open Sunday afternoon, so you can view some of the history of School #17.

We will all meet at 2:00 in front of the school house. We will start the hike by exploring the property around the school itself, and then will travel on the Springwater Trail around the edge of the Punky Hollow Farm and return to the school house at about 3:00.  For hikers attending the Fair, we will continue the hike up to the Fair grounds and explore the trails “up top” if time permits.

In 1872, there were 17 school houses in Springwater. There are two other school houses in East Springwater, one at Tabors Corners and Wetmore roads, and another on Schribner Rd.  Both are now private residences.

Directions:

Parking for the hike and for the fair is available at the Pardee Hollow and Dutch Hollow intersection.  There will be a bus to the fair – ask the driver to let you off at the school house. Or if you don’t mind a short walk, it is less than a quarter mile from the parking entrance to the school house.

These directions avoid the Tabors Corners/Pardee Hollow corner where foot traffic from the fair may make driving difficult.

From Rochester: Follow Rt 15A south through Lima and Hemlock. From the intersection with Rt20A south of Hemlock, continue on Rt 15A for 9.9 miles and take a sharp left turn on Wheaton Hill Rd (CR 16). At the tee, at the top of the hill, turn left onto Wetmore Rd and take the first right onto Tabors Corner Rd. After 0.4 miles, take a slight left onto Dutch Hollow Rd. After 3.6 miles, the parking area is on the left at the intersection with Pardee Hollow Rd.

From Springwater: go North on 15A for .8mi from the light. Turn right on Wheaton Hill Rd. At the tee, at the top of the hill, turn left onto Wetmore Rd and take the first right onto Tabors Corner Rd. After 0.4 miles, take a slight left onto Dutch Hollow Rd. After 3.6 miles, the parking area is on the left at the intersection with Pardee Hollow Rd.

From Wayland: take Rt 21N for 5.6 miles. Turn left on Co Rd 38 (Garling House Rd AKA Rowe Rd). Take the first left onto Pardee Hollow Rd and continue for 3.8 miles. The parking area is on the right at the intersection with Dutch Hollow Rd.

From Honeoye: take W Lake Rd south. Turn right onto French Hill Rd. At the tee (at Dug Rd) turn right to stay on French Hill Rd. Take the first left on Garlinghouse/Atlanta Rd. Go Right on Pardee Hollow Rd and continue for 3.8 miles. The parking area is on the right at the intersection with Dutch Hollow Rd.

Please join us for the historic opening of Rob’s Trail—Hemlock Lake

Rob’s Trail links Hemlock and Canadice Lakes, the last two undeveloped Finger Lakes

9:30 AM Refreshments available
10:00 AM—Dedication & Ribbon Cutting
10:30 AM—Inaugural Hikes

Parking available at intersection of South Old Bald Hill Road and Rt-15A

Please RSVP or call 585-546-8030 ext. 7927

PLEASE DONATE! Your donation will support trail development work! Visit nature.org/cwny

Decorate your vehicle; let’s have some fun!

Hot dogs, snacks, beverages – $1.00 each.

Hay rides! Campfire!

Contact Tom Canute Sr., (585)669-2429, for information on parade.

Welcome to the Third Annual Mushroom Foray at the All Western Evergreen Farm.  Three hiking groups are planned, all starting and ending at the farm house.  We will explore much of the farm, enjoying views of the valley and close-ups of the floral and mycological specimens.

Friendly dogs are welcome on the hike; however, a leash will be needed near the farm house and you can expect a few other dogs will be hiking with you.

Paper bags and paper plates for collecting and displaying mushrooms will be provided.  Those who want to learn how to collect mushrooms will be instructed by Gene and Georgia, and any other Rochester Area Mycological Association members who will be our guests.

The plan is to hike between 2 and 4 p.m., RAMA members to identify the mushrooms collected between 4 and 4:30 p.m., followed by a social (4:30 – 6:30 p.m.) hosted by Katherine at her house (AWEN & CTF Soups are the Specialty).

Bring a dish-to-pass or make a small contribution to support the socials.  Bring your own beverage.  Dogs will want to stay in your car during the social.

We will begin all the hikes at 6840 Liberty Pole Road where there is ample parking at the Christmas tree loading area between the tall Western redcedar and the bee hives (belonging to George Karadimas from Conesus- 585-346-0528).  The mushrooms will be displayed on paper plates on the tables indoors in the basement.

Directions:

If using GPS, please try 6840 Liberty Pole Road, Dansville, NY 14437 (the mailing address) so as to not have a problem.

From Springwater: Go west from the Springwater light on Rt 15 North.  Just past the top of the hill, turn left on Co Rd 38 (Liberty Pole Road).  The farm is on the left 1.1 miles from Rt 15 at 6840 Liberty Pole Road.

From Geneseo: Go south on NY 63.  About 6.4 miles after passing RT 408, turn left on County Road 1 at Groveland Station.  This road becomes CR 1A at Scottsburg (Route 256) and then Liberty Pole Road (Co Rd 38) after you cross Stage Coach Road.  It is 7.1 miles from Groveland Station to All Western Evergreen Farm.

From Honeoye: Take 20A west to Hemlock and 15A south to Springwater.  Then follow the Springwater directions above.

The Town of Springwater is pleased to announce a Community Open House for the Town’s 2016 Comprehensive Plan entitled SUSTAINABLE|Springwater. This event will be held on Tuesday, September 27, 2016, 6:00 to 8:00 PM, in the Springwater Fire Hall located at 8145 South Main Street. There will be no formal programs or presentations during the Open House, as the intent is to provide all attendees with an opportunity to speak one-on-one with members of the Steering Committee and consultant team. Attendees are free to arrive anytime between 6:00 and 8:00 PM, and will be able to review the Draft Plan and provide their own thoughts and comments on the Plan elements.

SUSTAINABLE|Springwater is the Town’s first Comprehensive Plan. The purpose of the Plan is to guide future decision-making and investment in our community, to preserve our natural environment and small town charm and character, while supporting economic growth. By articulating an overall community vision for the Town, and guidance for achieving that vision, the Comprehensive Plan provides an overall framework for future public and private investment within Springwater over the next decade. The proposed Comprehensive Plan can be viewed online at: https://springwatertrails.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/SW-DRAFT-Comp-PLAN-Sept-2016.pdf.

The planning process is under the guidance of the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee with assistance from the Steinmetz Planning Group and Ingalls Planning & Design, and funding from the NYSERDA Cleaner, Greener Communities Grant and cost share with Livingston County.  Several opportunities for public input have been provided during the planning process, including a community survey conducted in 2013, and a Community Workshop held in May 2015. The upcoming Open House is your opportunity to review the results of our Town’s collective efforts in drafting the proposed Comprehensive Plan and to provide additional input.

All residents, business owners, community leaders, and individuals with an interest in the future of Springwater are welcome and urged to attend this important event,  to  hear about the Plan, and share your thoughts in this effort to help shape the direction of our community for the next decade.

For further information contact:

Carolyn Tinney, Chair
Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee
clerk@townofspringwaterny.org
(585) 669-2545

You can download the Draft Plan and Appendix or view them at the Town Hall.

Here is an opportunity for some Springwater Trails (ST) hikers to hike a section of the Genesee Valley Greenway (GVG) just south of Portageville, at a hike organized by “Southern Tier Greenway Hiking” (yes, a group of hikers who are part of Friends of Genesee Valley Greenway (FOGVG) and hike the southern portion of the GVG, located in. … you guessed it the Southern Tier section of NYS).

Details are as follows:

Southern Tier Greenway Hiking                          Wednesday September 28th at 5:00 PM

This hike is located in Wyoming County just south of the village of Portageville. Going south on Route 19A from Portageville, New York, park at the entrance to River Road which will be on your left. River Road is 1.1 miles south of the intersection of Route 19A and Route 436 in Portageville, New York. There are no yellow gates here, but one can clearly see the Genesee Valley Greenway from Route 19A. Coming from Fillmore, New York, River Road is 8.0 miles north of the intersection of Route 19 and 19A in Fillmore. 

As one walks along, you can see farmer’s crops like corn grown on river bottom land.  Very colorful plants line the Greenway now. The pokeweed has an outstanding purple color against the red stem and green leaves. More purple is added to the environment by the New England Aster. Many yellow and orange touch-me-nots and goldenrod really brighten up the Greenway as well as bur-marigold. Nature decorations at this time of the year. Blue is another color dimension provided by wild grapes, dogwood, and Virginia Creeper. Sumac adds a beautiful red while turtlehead adds a soft pink. This hike sure demonstrates nature at its best!!! A great section of the Greenway to hike!!! Please come and join us for this hike. ( About 3.2 miles) 

You can also check the facebook page of FOGVG, for any further info or in event of some change.

For any ST members who go on this hike, you’ll have opportunity not only to gain new trail knowledge but also to meet hikers of Southern Tier Greenway Hiking.  This may open some doors on – possibility for sharing hike locale knowledge, and maybe consideration of a future joint hike.

Perhaps also of interest to some ST hikers.  There are two hikes remaining in the 2-year (2015 & 2016) Historic Interpretive Hike Series.   Series Hike 14 on Saturday, Oct 8th, 2016 in Allegany County – Towns of Belfast  to  New Hudson (in Wegmans Passport booklet hike #13)   – – AND – – on Saturday, October 22, 2016 the postponed Series Hike 11 (postponed from July 9, 2016) will take place in Livingston County – Cuylerville to Piffard (in Wegmans Passport booklet hike #7).

Both GVG Saturday hikes in the Historic Interpretive Hike Series start at 10:00AM  More details and or changes can be gleaned at the FOGVG website.  Additionally you can glean general info about the GVG from the GVG State Park website, and may also want to look at the links page which contains myriad info and links.