Volume 31 Issue 2 Yearend Edition April-December 2011

Looking Back at a Busy Year

The officers of the Crescent Trail Association are pleased with the many projects that have been advanced and com-pleted in 2011. We were especially busy sponsoring and guiding trail-related projects by five Boy Scout candidates for Eagle and a local Cub Scout group. A pictorial description of scout accomplishments is provided on Pages 4 and 5. Our monthly guided hikes, including the all-day hike cele-brating National Trails Day© in June, were attended by fewer hikers than has been the average during past years, however we were happy with the enthusiasm of many “first time” par-ticipants. We look forward to attracting our regulars as well as newcomers as we launch a “Bicentennial Challenge” in 2012 to celebrate Perinton’s 200th birthday. Please check the Hike Schedule on Page 2, and join us for exercise, history lessons, new discoveries, and friendly camaraderie while walking the trails in Trail Town-USA ! The February 13th “Valentine’s Treat for the Birds” outing at the Horizon Hill Conservation Area was a huge success.

Our April 10th event was a twilight walk along the trails and boardwalks at the White Brook Nature Area to listen for the calls of Spring Peepers (Hyla crucifer) and other amphibians. The greatest and loudest con-centrations of Peepers were at the edges of woodland ponds near the cattail marshes. We could hear them a half mile away. When we approached to within about 30 feet of the Peepers, they went silent. We searched pa-tiently with our flashlights, but were not able to spot any of the little frogs. Returning in the dark to the parking lot, the eyes of several deer reflected the beams of our flashlights. □

( see Page 7 )( see Page 7 )( see Page 7 )

Prior to the event we had received several dozen pine cone bird feeders made by Lion’s Den teenagers, and suet cakes donated by the Fairport CountryMax store. Negotiating the trails on snowshoes and on foot, the hikers attached the feed-ers and suet to trees, shrubs, and posts along the trails.

On March 13th we were guests of Victor Hiking Trails who led us on a hike from the Apple Farm in Victor to interesting and scenic trails within Boughton Park. Many years ago Boughton Park reservoirs sup-plied fresh water to Fairport and Perinton. The Park is now owned jointly by the Towns of Victor, East Bloomfield and West Bloomfield. Access to the prop-erty is controlled by written permits issued only to residents and guests of the three towns.

CTA and VHT hikers at Boughton Park

Delivering treats for the birds at Horizon Hill

size of Spring Peeper vs. standard paper clip

Hike Schedule The guided hikes listed below are organized and hosted by the Crescent Trail Association.

Adults, teenagers, and youngsters supervised by an adult are welcome to participate.

The listed hikes are scheduled for the second Sunday of each month. The hikes are “free” and do not require advance registration.

Call Voice Mail (585) 234-1621 for more information.

December 11th - Center Park. Meet 1:30 p.m. at the parking lot north of the Community Center. We will walk, snowshoe, or XC ski on trails within Center Park and along the Trolley Trail. In wildlife habitat areas we will place “Holiday Treats” for the birds, including donated suet cakes and pine cone feeders prepared by teens at the Lion’s Den. Family groups are encouraged to participate. Free refreshments will be offered after this event.

January 8th - Howell Road Park. Meet 1:30 p.m. in the parking lot on the east side of Howell Road about half-way between Macedon Center Road and Whitney Road (near the intersection with Princeton Lane). We will hike, XC ski, or snowshoe for approximately 1½ hours covering a distance of about 3 miles on mostly flat trails within Howell Road Park and adjacent open space properties. This is the first scheduled hike in our 2012 Bicentennial Challenge (see insert above). If you can’t join us for the January 8th guided event, you can do a self-guided “make-up” at your own convenience sometime in January or later in the year.

February 12th - White Brook Nature Area. Meet 1:30 p.m. in the Nature Area parking lot on the east side of Aldrich Road, approximately halfway between the Palmyra Road (NY 31) and Ayrault Road. We will hike, XC ski, or snowshoe for approximately 1½ hours covering a distance of about 3 miles on flat trails within the Nature Area property.

March 11th - Erie Canal Loop. Meet 1:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the Parks Operations Center at 50 Cobb’s Lane (on north bank of Canal, east of Turk Hill Road). We will hike, XC ski, or snowshoe for approximately 2 hours covering a distance of about 4 miles, first on the Erie Canalway Trail east to the Lyndon Road bridge, then returning west via the Crescent Trail along the south bank of the Canal to Turk Hill Road and to the starting point.

Page 2 April-December 2011

Bicentennial Challenge on Town Trails ! Join us in a year-long celebration of Perinton’s 200th “birthday” by completing twelve monthly hikes in 2012. Hike with us on the second-Sunday of each month start-ing with the hike schedule printed below. We will take at-tendance at each hike, and challenge you to participate in all remaining hikes in 2012. At the end of 2012 we will honor everyone who completes all twelve hikes. This trail-hiking challenge event will be similar to the “Crescent Trail Trek” we sponsored in millennium year 2000. If you are unable to do a hike on the scheduled day you can pick up a “make-up” form at the Perinton Community Center. The make-up form will include a map and instructions so you can complete the hike route for that month as a self-guided outing on a day that fits your personal schedule. Information about the Bicentennial Challenge and the schedule of monthly hikes will be posted on the Town’s website: www.perinton.org with links to Perinton Bicentennial, Facebook, and the Events Calendar.

April-December 2011 Page 3

Annual all-day long-distance hike

Our National Trails Day© celebration this year was a Saturday June 11th 15-mile hike along a trail loop starting and ending at Perinton Center Park. CTA officers Greg Svenheim and Rich Hartman led us on the RS&E Trolley Trail and Crescent Trail to Casa Larga for our first rest stop. We continued to Vinecrest and The Midlands where we paused for a ribbon-cutting ceremony (see photo below) to offi-cially open a new link in the Crescent Trail. We stopped for a delicious lunch at the Fruit & Salad restaurant in Bushnell’s Basin, then hiked the Erie Canalway Trail to the Village of Fairport and the Trolley Trail back to Center Park. □

Mid-morning rest stop at Casa Larga vineyards

Mid-afternoon rest stop at Perinton Park

August 14th hike at High Acres Nature Area

Accompanied by professional photographer Keith Boas, CTA Trailmaster Dave Schaeffer and Chairperson Jeanne Cole guided a few of our “regulars” on a second-Sunday-in-August exploration of the woodlands, ponds, plant communities, and wildlife habitats at the High Acres Nature Area (HANA). The main orange-blazed route of the Crescent Trail connects with a network of public trails being opened and improved by HANA owner Waste Management, assisted by an advisory committee and work teams of volunteers. Three recent Boy Scout projects (see Page 4) have involved construction of trail amenities at HANA and nearby private and Town-owned properties. □

Photography by Keith Boas

“This is Purple Loosestrife ‒nice flowers,

but highly invasive”

April-December 2011 Page 4

Photo Gallery of Trail-Related Scout Projects Completed in 2011

Thomas Rzatkiewicz, BSA Troop #167, constructed and installed a pergola at High Acres Nature Area

Jeffrey Iadarola, BSA Troop #273, constructed an observation platform on the shore of Lake Edwards near High Acres Nature Area

David Palmer, BSA Troop #207, constructed and installed a sheltered bench at High Acres Nature Area as a memorial to Christine Sevilla

Thomas

Jeffrey

David

April-December 2011 Page 5

Andrew Tobin, BSA Troop #325, constructed and installed benches at Garnsey Road trailhead parking lot and at Center Park

Andrew

Nick

Nick Potter, Tay House Troop #19, spread mulch on trails and constructed a large bench at Horizon Hill Conservation Area

Scouts and families from Cub Scout Pack #469 installed tree guards on saplings at Garnsey Road Arboretum and within the Nancy’s Glen areas of Horizon Hill Conservation Area to help protect against wintertime deer and rabbit damage.

Nick’s 8-ft. bench replaced old diving board

April-December 2011 Page 6

A sample of other trail activities in 2011

On Tuesday morning, October 18th, CTA Board members Jeanne Cole, Janice Larson, and Dave Schaeffer visited Dudley Elementary School where teacher Kathleen Roncinske introduced them to her 2nd grade class—about 22 boys and girls—and several parent chaperones. After a brief explanation of what was planned and what to expect, the entire group walked from the school, heading east, single-file, on the orange-blazed Crescent Trail. There were stops along the way to learn about flood plains, duckboards (“quack quack”) wetland shrubs, poison ivy, ash trees, foxgrapes, and other discoveries. After a picnic lunch at Howell Road Park, the group returned via the blue loop trail and found a common garter snake warming itself in a sunny spot on the trail. It was a fun outing for the students and their adult guides and escorts. □

Significant improvements to the Erie Canal water-front at Bushnell’s Basin were completed and opened to the public in July 2011. Included are new docking and boating services, landscaping, directories, public restrooms., and paved walkways. The section of the Crescent Trail along the south bank of the Canal and through the waterfront area now has upgraded trail-head parking, a well-defined trailway, and new signs. The new amenities were planned and initiated by the Town of Perinton, with financial support from a NYS Waterfront Revitalization Program grant, Mon-roe County, and businesses in Bushnell’s Basin. □

Eagle Scout candidate Alex Noonan and his troop team spread mulch and made boardwalk im-provements on the Crescent Trail east of Crosswinds Circle. A helpful neighbor, Larry Pallo, permitted the scouts to take the mulch and materials across his lot to the work site. Perinton Parks Director Stacey Estrich and her department sponsored and supplied the project. Thank you, Alex, Larry, and Stacey. □

Several Ikon Office Solutions employees and helpers did a trash “sweep” along the Crescent Trail from Hamilton Road to Thomas Creek and from Kreag Road to Bushnell’s Basin. Good job, Ikon □

As in past years, United Way of Greater Rochester asked the Crescent Trail Association and Town of Perinton if we would sponsor a May 12th Day of Caring project for corporate volunteers. We said “definitely yes” and were matched with a great team of volunteers from Xerox. CTA Treasurer Greg Svenheim and Vice Chairman Rich Hartman, supported by an experienced cadre of our CTA Silver Foxes, agreed to coordinate, assist, and supervise the Xerox folks in creating a previously planned trail link through woodlands east of Moseley Road north of Neuchatel Lane (check your Crescent Trail map). The Xerox volunteers and Foxes divided into two groups. Each group started from an end point and worked toward the middle of the new section of trail − com-pleting the work in under 4 hours! Thank you, Xerox and the Foxes. □

A few members of the Day of Caring team

Alex Ikon “sweepers”

K.Roncinske and her 2nd grade class

Email: _____________________________

Telephone: _________________________

make check payable to: Crescent Trail Association

April-December 2011 Page 7

ReminderReminder: Year 2012 Membership in the Crescent Trail Association ¾�If you have been a contributing member of the Crescent Trail Association and receive a print copy of the newsletter, please check the mailing label on this issue. If the date on the label is 12-31-11 or earlier, please renew now ! If you receive an E-copy of the newsletter (as a PDF file) we will

provide membership renewal information and instructions in a separate email.

¾ If you receive a “COMPLIMENTARY” copy of the newsletter, you may wish to become a supporting, dues-paying member of the Association.

¾�Please clip and complete the coupon printed below, then mail it with payment of annual dues for year 2012 membership. Call our voice mailbox (585-234-1621) if you have questions.

�����������������������Yes ! Yes ! I want to support the Association and continue as a member. I have enclosed:

� $ 5 for a Trail Walker membership � $10 for a Trail Hiker membership � $25 for a Trail Blazer membership *** � $50 for a Trail Patron membership *** � $_____for other donation/contribution

Your Name(s): __________________________________

Address: ____________________________________ _____________________ _____ _________ street city/town state ZIP

*** Trail Blazer and Trail Patron Members: You may add the name and address of a friend or relative for a free gift subscription to the newsletter.

Name(s): __________________________________ Address: _______________________________________

City/Town: __________________________________ State: ______ ZIP: _____________ Please mail completed coupon, with annual dues, to: Crescent Trail Association

P.O. Box 1354 Fairport, NY 14450

Options for receiving future issues of Crescent Trail newsletters

Our newsletter at the beginning of this year advised readers they can help us reduce paper, printing, and postage expenses by opting to receive newsletters as a PDF file attachment to an email. To date about thirty of you have told us to send your copy by email rather than as a paper copy by U.S. Mail. One advantage of the email arrangement is that the electronic copy can be viewed in color, whereas paper copies are printed in graytone. We thank those of you who have already signed up for email distribution. There is no need for you to do any-thing further, except to tell us if your email address changes or if you want to switch back to a mailed copy. If you received this issue via regular post office mail, we invite and encourage you to switch to email for future issues. Simply send an email addressed to <crescenttrail@gmail.com> and tell us: “I would like to receive the newsletter by email” Although your email request will show your email address, please give your NAME (the name or agency title that appears on the mailing label used for this issue) and confirm your E-MAIL ADDRESS (the email address we should use when sending you future issues). We will then add you to our Newsletter Electronic Mailing List. Please be assured that in sending newsletters to you by email, you will be a “blind” addressee, that is, your email address will not be disclosed to any other persons, organizations, or third parties. □�

The Crescent Trail News News News News Volume 31 Issue 2 April-December 2011

“The Crescent Trail – A Footpath in Perinton”

P.O. Box 1354, Fairport, NY 14450 (585) 234-1621 < crescenttrail@gmail.com >

© 2011 The Crescent Trail Hiking Association, Inc. The Crescent Trail News News News News

is published periodically as a service to members of the Association.

INSIDE Page Looking Back on Busy Year . . . . . . . 1 Time to Renew CTA Membership . . 1 Hike Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Bicentennial Challenge . . . . . . . . . . . 2 June NTD and August Hikes . . . . . . 3 Scout Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Other 2011 Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Email Option for Newsletters . . . . . 7 Membership Renewal Coupon . . . . 7

Crescent Trail Association P.O. Box 1354

Fairport, NY 14450

We are currently without anyone to help us put together and publish our Crescent Trail newsletters ‒ which partly explains why we prepared and distributed only two issues this year. If you have even a smidgeon of talent for computer-assisted composition, please volunteer to assist our CTA officers with publication of future issues. Call us at our voice mailbox, 585-234-1621. Thanks. Nov. 9th Silver Fox work party (at Lyndon Road)