MJ2KB Trail Club
The trail club purchased the high-top shipping container to use for storage of the club’s tractor & mower. We have solar lights installed both inside and outside. It was placed just past the parking lot in Mount Jewett. The hope is for the club to paint it, maybe with a mural. The club also bought four benches, priced at $300 each; however, the club received a profit of $290 for each bench. We have two of them placed along the trail and two more to be put out. They have really nice plaques on them – either for a memorial or contribution. Thank you to the MJ Rotary Club (donation/support), Glenn Powell & family (memorial for their parents), Debbie Geer (memorial for jack), & Pastor Ted Benson (memorial for his wife). Thank you to Jack Forquer & Ken Stroup for getting the benches from M&B Ready Mix (Clarion) and placing them on the trail.
A “committee” has been formed to start work on our four interpretive signs along the trail. If you’d like to be a part of this committee, just let Carolyn Stroup know.
The club’s next event will be to sell tickets/DVDs/walking sticks/memberships & Tshirts at the MJ Swedish Festival (Aug. 10). The club still need volunteers to run the “booth”, so please sign up to help out.
Next, members will be helping the Penn York Oil and Gas Affiliates (PYOGA) of the Association of Desk and Derrick Clubs Scholarship at The University of Pittsburgh, Bradford with the Bob Swanson 5K Run/Walk on Sunday, Aug. 11 at the Kinzua Bridge State Park. There is still time to volunteer to help with this event. To volunteer or sign up to run or walk, contact Judy Howard Saf at 778-5820 or email her at howarddrilling@verizon.net.
Then Sept. 21 & 22 the club will be at the KBSP Fall Festival, selling items and Sunday will be the TREK Marlin 4 Bike Raffle drawing. Club members who haven’t picked up tickets yet to sell (or buy), please get some from Jack Forquer. And again, volunteers are needed to help out at the festival – it is always have a good time mingling with the vendors & consumers!!!
TRAIL UPDATE: We just had nine culverts replaced & two added to the section of trail between Mount Jewett & US Route 219. This was all paid for from a grant award from the county’s ACT 13 funds. The trail was recently “dragged” and will be rolled to make the surface even nicer. Although the trail is very solid, right now it could be a little “messy” because of the grading. However, that is the situation for now until we get our finished surface on it.
There are currently “TRAIL CAUTION” signs out at the ends of the trail (US 219) and (next to Kushequa Ave). Handicap devices should not attempt to travel this section of trail until we have a finished surface like the one between MJ & the KBSP. That will take time and a lot of money. Hopefully, the trail club can apply for a large grant and have this section of rail trail surfaced next year.
Maintaining and building a rail trail takes a lot of hard work and money. We can use all the help we can get – either financial donations, memberships or physical labor. There are so many weeds, trees & branches along the trail that need cut back and removed. If you would like to help out, please contact a trail club member or come to our meetings. The club’s next meeting will be Aug. 22 at the MJ Library.
Club members remind the community that most importantly, it is the community’s trail! People are encouraged to get out and enjoy it, as so many families have been doing already this summer.
