Happy Easter & Happy Trails to Everyone from Bev


GOOD NEWS FROM IDNR:

  • ALL SECTIONS OF TUNNEL HILL STATE TRAIL HAVE REOPENED.

  • $43,700 IN ILLINOIS BIODIVERSITY FIELD TRIP GRANTS WERE AWARDED

  • 7 STATE PARKS WILL REOPEN & 12 FULL TIME JOBS RESTORED

  • MARC MILLER SHARED THE NEWS THAT GOVERNOR QUINN SIGNED SENATE BILL 1132 RETURNING $9.25 MILLION IN FUNDING TO IDNR FISH & WILDLIFE FUNDS. THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE WILL RELEASE NEARLY $16 MILLION TO THE AGENCY FOR FISH & WILDLIFE PROGRAMMING.

  • IDNR ACQUIRED TWO PARCELS OF LAND ADJACENT TO THE VOLO BOG STATE NATURAL AREA IN LAKE COUNTY PROVIDING ADDED PROTECTION FOR THE HIGH QUALITY NATURAL HABITAT AT THE SITE.

  • 191 ILLINOIS COMMUNITIES ARE RECEIVING THE TREE CITY USA DESIGNATION FOR MANAGING THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY FOREST RESOURCES.

  • ECONOMIC RECOVERY PACKAGE SIGNED INTO LAW 2-17-09 INCLUDES $800 MILLION FOR TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENTS


ITC ACTIONS IN MARCH INCLUDE:

  1. March 1 – Created, copied & distributed MARCH TRAIL NEWS to 223 ITC Members & Groups

  2. March 2 - Received e-mail from Diane Banta at National Park Service that she would not be able to meet Bev in Springfield for Lobby Day. She encourage Bev to "GO GIRL".

  3. March 4 - Received information regarding Recreational Trails Program & Transportation Enhancement Activities. Good news is that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was enacted February 16, 2009. The Surface Transportation Program has broad eligibility for many kinds of projects which includes transportation enhancement activities that are funded 100% by Federal share. See www.fhwa.dot.gov/economicrecovery/index.htm for information.

  4. March 5 - Kartik Sribarra from Rails to Trails sent thanks to Bev for information about Lobby Day and sharing RTC Info.

  5. March 5 - Received e-mail from Dick Westfall at IDNR with a list of bicycle trail projects all over the U.S. 32 Pages.

  6. March 6 - Received e-mail from Judy Roby at Rockford Park District re her concern about Recreation Trails Program.

  7. March 6 - Received a request from Ron Ellens in Monee to cancel his membership. ITC hates to lose members.

  8. March 6 - Marla Gursh from IDNR sent Bev Meeting Summary of the Route 66 Executive council. Ed Barsotti from LIB will be riding the entire trail route in 6 days @ 50-60 miles per day starting on August 29. WAY TO GO ED. This will be a media event to encourage cities along the route to hold some type of event in support of the Route 66 Plan.

  9. March 6 - Amy Madigan from IDNR shared e-mail that she had received from MacTrail@aol.com that there is a real possibility that Recreational Trails Program will disappear by the end of this year. The e-mail indicates that the 75 member House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is planning on a draft of the new funding bill by May. ITC will keep track of what is happening and let them know that we are concerned.

  10. March 9 - Bev filed the Annual Report for Secretary of State Jesse Whie for our Not For Profit Credentials.

  11. March 16 - Kendra Meyer from Respiratory Health Assn of Metropolitan Chicago shared an annual ride that starts in Gurnee and winds through Wisconsin. Check out the web site at www.cowalunga.com for more information.

  12. March 16 - Bev received a phone call from Michale Aldas who wanted to work on an Eagle Scout Project on the Illinois Prairie Path. Bev referred him to Deborah Fagan in DuPage County and she pointed him in a direction to complete his project on the Great Western Trail. Michale will be planning 2 work days. One on April 25 & another on May 2 removing woody plants and invasive species. Contact Michale at mancilla05@yahoo.com if you would like to participate.

  13. March 18 - ATTENDED ILLINOIS ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL LOBBY DAY IN SPRINGFIELD.

  14. March 19 - Mailed letters to Senator Brad Burzynski and Representative Ron Wait for speaking with me on March 18.

  15. March 19 - Received an inquiry from Joe Front in Rockford asking about the status of his membership.

  16. March 25 - Bev shared her meeting with Senator Dave Syverson and his concern about fixing potholes on the roads before we spend money on more trails. Bev reminded him that some folks don't have or use autos on roads.

  17. March 26 - Wrote a letter to Representative Elaine Nekritz commending her on her sponsoring numerous bills.

  18. March 30 - Wrote a letter to Senator Michael Frerichs sharing information about the 24.5 mile trail project in Urbana.

  19. March 31 - Wrote a letter for Boone County Conservation District to Friends Group sharing Trail Events for 2009 plus another wonderful Eagle Scout Project by Cory Rogers from Capron to build a dog park facility. EAGLE SCOUTS WORK.


ITC MEMBERS ARE ACTIVE AND TOTALLY SUPPORTIVE:

  • ITC received a NEW $100.00 Trailblazer membership from A. Robert Clay in Bloomington. ITC lost a devoted member Jerry Kinch from Rockford on March 10, 2009. ITC has received several checks for his memorial fund.

  • Deborah Fagan at DuPage County is sharing information on their web site regarding how the economic stimulus program will specifically affect bike/ped projects in DuPage. Deborah says it is very complex and she will try to keep the information as concise and easy to understand as possible. Check out the DuPage County website at www.dupageco.org/bikeways Deborah has entered an ITEP project submittal through the Governor's web site for the ITEP ARRA program that involves an Illinois Prairie Path Bridge over the EJ&E Railroad in Wayne, Illinois. GOOD LUCK DEBORAH.

  • June Ground from Mattoon e-mailed Bev a thanks for a very informative TRAIL NEWS in March.

  • Sylvia Kellogg from BRATS in Wheaton sent Bev minutes of the March 10 Meeting. BRATS ARE THE BEST

  • Joe Pakovits from Western Springs sent Bev his new address in Lincoln University, Pennsylvania.

  • Mike Rucker from Peoria shared information about the Recreational Trail Advocates Meeting on April 6.

  • Gabby Greg Valent from Chicago is anxious for warmer weather so he can get his butt out pedaling. He shared a web site for keeping in touch with Lake County transportation projects that include some bike trails at www.lakecountyil.gov/transportation/Default.htm also an article Recreation dream inches closer to reality. Group confident it can raise $10 million to develop Calumet-Sag Trail by 2012.

  • Eberhard Veit from Crystal Lake has organized the McHenry County Bicycle Advocates. They will be monitoring cycling concerns in McHenry County. Their web site is www.McBicycleAdvocates.org WOW..Eberhard is FANTASTIC.

ITC BOARD MEMBERS ARE BUSY WORKING FOR YOU

  • Tim Bartlett from Urbana Park District sent Bev a list of facts about a 24.5 mile trail project between Urbana and Danville that she could share with Senator Frerichs in Champaign.

  • Our FANTASTIC Bob Hargis from Charleston has moved to Ohio. We will miss him so much.

  • Patrick Hartman from Freeport our Snowmobile expert sent Bev a new e-mail address.

  • Greg Luttrell from Edwardsville sent Bev an updated mailing address and asked Bev for more information about Enhancements. He also sent his approval for Bev to attend the Mid-America Greenways & Trails Conference in October.

  • Keith Mistrik from Palatine also approved Bev's trip to Kalamazoo, Michigan in October.

  • Bruce Perry from Port Byron was not able to attend the GIT meeting at Starved Rock. He is helping with putting a budget together for Friends of the Hennepin Canal so they can get their 501c3 credentials. He asked for guidance from Bev.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU IN 2009

  • April 4 - Pecatonica Ridge Prairie Mortgage Burning at Westlake Village Clubhouse in Winnebago, Illinois at 9:00 a.m.

  • April 6 - Recreational Trail Advocates meeting at 7:00 p.m. at Paparazzi in Peoria.

  • April 14 - BRATS Meeting at 7:30 p.m. at the Wheaton Park District Community Center.

  • April 18 - Long Prairie Trail Cleanup - Meeting in Poplar Grove at 9:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast & Bags provided

  • April 19 - Go Green! DuPage County Forest Preserve Dist. event at Fullerburg Woods from Noon - 4:00 p.m.

  • April 21 – EARTH DAY FEST - 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Galena. Call Lisa Schoenrockat @ 815-275-4881

  • April 23 - Earth Day Benefit Dinner sponsored by The Conservation Foundation

  • April 25 - Eagle Scout Project Work Day along Great Western Trail - Contact Michale @ mancilla05@yahoo.com

  • April 25 – The Illinois Prairie Path Annual Cleanup Day Rain or Shine Starting at 9:00 a.m. E-mail Ron Bartels at Rbartel399@comcast.net or call him at 630-606-8851 if you can help out.

  • April 27 & 28 – CCDI Expo in Springfield. Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities in Illinois.

  • May 2 - Eagle Scout Project Work Day along Great Western Trail. Contact Michale @ mancilla05@yahoo.com

  • May 3 – Green Earth Fair @ 10S404 Knoch Knolls Rd. in Naperville. 1-5:00 p.m. See www.GreenEarthInstitute.org

  • May 12 - BRATS Meeting at 7:30 p.m. at the Wheaton Park District Community Center

  • May 16 - DuPage River Sweep sponsored by The Conservation Foundation

  • June 6 - NATIONAL TRAILS DAY - celebrated by DuPage County Forst Preserve Dist. at Waterfall Glen from 9:00 a.m. - Noon. Remove litter and cut brush along sections of this trail

  • June 14-20 - GITAP Grand Illinois Trail & Parks Ride - Contact Chuck Oestreich at 309-788-1845 or oestreich@qconline.com

  • July 18 – McHenry County Farm Bureau 7th Annual Tractor Trek from Harvard to Candlewick.

  • July 25-26 - Chase the Moon Bike Ride sponsored by Conservation Foundation. www.theconservationfoundation.org

  • August 8 - POKER RUN ON THE LONG PRAIRIE TRAIL

  • August 11-16 - Boone County Fair in Belvidere

  • August 29 – ROUTE 66 MEDIA RIDE FROM ST. LOUIS TO CHICAGO.

  • October 25-28 – MID AMERICA TRAILS & GREENWAYS CONFERENCE IN KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.


ITC HAS NEWSLETTERS TO SHARE FROM: Illinois Prairie Path Newsletter, Trailnet, Illinois Environmental Bulletin, Friends of the Parks in Chicago, Natural Land Institute in Rockford & OUTDOOR ILLINOIS. Subscribe at 1-800-726-3249.

CONTACT ILLINOIS TRAILS CONSERVANCY at www.ILLTrails.com Contact Bev about anything mentioned in TRAIL NEWS. E-Mail her at ITC bebomoore@aol.com for info. Illinois Trails Conservancy is P.O. Box 10, Capron, IL. 61012. Cell phone is 815-289-1024.