Admin, Socializing, and Trailwork

Good Morning Fellow NCTr's:

First to the news I should've had out a couple of weeks ago: The biennial Wampum Chapter officer elections were held at Hito's on June 7th and these people were asked to and agreed to serve as our officers: Lee Fairbanks is continuing on as our Chapter President, Dennis Garrett is Vice President, JoEllen Sokoloski will continue to manage the funds as Treasurer, and Eleanor Fairbanks will be serving as the Chapter Secretary. Additionally, Dorothy Buquo will continue on as Corresponding Secretary. Thanks goes out to them for giving their time to represent the Wampum Chapter as we pursue our goal of building, maintaining, and promoting the North Country Trail in Lawrence and Beaver Counties. Also, thanks to everyone who participated in the election process - I think we did a good job with it.

Secondly, since Lee (and Eleanor) are in Maine for the summer, and since "the (trail) mice will play while the (trail) cat is away", we'll be having our July chapter meeting not indoors, but at the shelter at Watt's Mill. It will be on Monday, July 19th at 6:00 PM and a potluck picnic and wienie roast will be the dinner menu. I'll be sending out reminders over the next couple of weeks but please plan on coming out to this beautiful site along the North Fork of Little Beaver Creek that evening to transact Wampum Chapter business and share some North Country Trail comaradarie around the campfire. By the way, I've learned that we've had our first overnight camper at the shelter - a gentleman hiking from the state line to Foxburg spent his first night on the trail there. Pretty cool!

Lastly, we had a productive week out on the trail. The multifloral rose, poison ivy, and plain old thorn bushes have been given a good thrashing, both out at Cemex from Snake Run Rd. past the lime kiln and up through the old apple orchard towards Fletcher Hill Rd., and also out at the clearcut vista at PA Gamelands 285. Both of these sections are in excellent hiking shape at this point. And Dennis Garrett and Doug Turner joined me last evening in clearing and flagging out the short reroute near the state line at the gamelands for the group from Mt. Olive church to work on the first week of August. It should be a beaut when finished! Along the way we did some pruning and blaze repainting - another section of trail in good shape for hikers.

Trailwork for Lawerence County will probably be on Friday morning next week, and Sunday evening for Beaver - I'll send out notice when I nail down the schedule. Thanks for all you do for the trail!

Dave Brewer

P.S. - If you can assist Julie Watson in manning the info table at the Big Butler Fair anytime this week it would be greatly appreciated. Shoot her an email to let her know when you can be there PACC@northcountrytrail.org

** Photo is of the lime kiln at Cemex courtesy of Bob Cody.