Things are moving fast toward the Canadian National Railroad’s self-imposed December 1 deadline to purchase the Macomb County portion of abandoned right-of-way we call the Macomb Orchard Trail. Doing what we can to meet that deadline is a roller coaster ride of roadblocks and solutions that is far from over. Actions at the intergovernmental level to find local funding and approve an agreement to buy the trail are coming together, but this is by no means a "done deal." Continued encouragement to County Commissioners and Township or Village Board Members is needed to ensure that everybody gets on board and nobody backs out.

Another thing that you can do immediately is start or renew your membership. Show that you are a full supporter of the trail and not just an interested by-stander. If the trail purchase is consummated in the next few months as expected, there will be numerous opportunities to help make the trail a usable reality, not just a dream. Once you are a member, plan to attend our monthly meetings to find out what is happening and how you can help complete the purchase and get the trail ready for use.

From June through September, members were busy spreading the good news about the Macomb Orchard Trail. Special thanks go out to those members who staffed our booths at these events:

Millennium Trail Celebration in Lake Orion - Dave and Lee Rumohr, Martha Nitz, Dennis Tipsword

Rails to Trails Michigander - John Tarantino

Armada Fair - Martha Nitz

Romeo Peach Festival - Rich Platz, Dick and Hope Beringer, Norma Askew, Dennis Tipsword, Diane Baker, Judy Baron, Dave and Lee Rumohr

Richmond Good Old Days - Christine and Nathan Hamilton, Bill and Donna Remer, John Tarantino and Neil Kocsis

In addition, we sold over $500 worth of shirts. Richmond was a smaller, but no less valuable, event that was hampered somewhat by rainy weather. Many at these events were hearing about the trail for the first time. Some who had heard a little became better informed. Responses from those who received our literature were overwhelmingly positive.

Prior to the Peach Festival we purchased an Easy-Up — a 10 x 10 foot canopy to house our booth. This gives our display a look of substance, provides shelter for the workers, and is an overnight storage space for our merchandise during multi-day events. At the Peach Festival in particular, we gave out hundreds of brochures to interested passers by. Thanks to Dick Beringer, who donated a tarp of just the right size, the Easy-Up also has a front door.

On October 14 and 15 we have an opportunity to increase support for the trail in Armada. We have secured space for our booth at the annual Armada Applefest. The event is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day. We need staff for this event. The more people we have there, the more visitors we can talk to. Experience is not required, just a desire to support the activity. If you don’t feel that you are knowledgeable enough, experienced volunteers will show you the ropes and help you when you get stuck trying to answer questions. This will help you become a better spokesperson for the trail wherever you go. Please call any of the officers listed elsewhere in this newsletter or call our voice mail line, also listed elsewhere.

We meet each month on the second Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. in the Camp Rotary Activities Building, 20505 29 Mile Road, Ray Township. The following meetings are scheduled for the rest of this year:

As part of the November 7 general election, voters in Armada Township will be asked to vote on the following advisory proposition regarding participation in, and funding of the trail:

Significant points:

Sometime in November, a committee of the County Board of Commissioners will be will be asked to approve a proposal regarding funding the county’s portion of the trail. The proposal may also address the present shortfall in local matching funds because some communities have not committed the amount required before applying for federal and state grants that will pay 95% of the cost of purchasing the trail right-of-way.

The Canadian National Railroad has set a deadline of December 1 to purchase the trail, which can only be accomplished if the local matching funds are in place very soon. The railroad could sell portions of the right-of-way to developers, destroying its continuity, if the funding proposal fails.

Please call and/or write to your commissioner, with a copy to the chairman, John Hertel, expressing your support for the trail and this funding resolution. Also include a copy to us at the address on page 4.

A sample letter is enclosed, but give your own reasons for supporting the trail to make your letter most effective. Wherever you live, please write to the board now. If you do not know who your commissioner is you can find out from the Board's web site: www.macomb.lib.mi.us/Macomb

Representatives from local governments, County government, the Friends group and the Huron Clinton Metropolitan Authority (HCMA — the Metroparks) have been meeting since April to write an agreement that will create a Trail Management Council to purchase, own, develop and manage the Macomb Orchard Trail. Only Richmond Township, among communities along the trail, is not participating. A draft of the agreement has been reviewed by all participants, and all issues are on the table. Resolution of the issues and approval of the agreement is imminent. The representatives will be meeting again on October 11 and October 25 at 3:30 p.m. in the Camp Rotary Activities Building, 20505 29 Mile Road, Ray Township (the same place as the Friends meetings).

If this is your first newsletter , or if you have been on our mailing list for a while but are not a member, now is the time to join. Annual membership dues remain at $10.00 as voted on at the last meeting of the board. If you join now, your membership will remain in effect through 2001. Members can also renew now for 2001. Use the application on page four and sign up now!

A committee will be formed at the October meeting to find nominees for four positions on the board of directors. If you would like to serve on the board, plan to attend the meeting and offer your name. You can also call one of our current directors for this purpose.

(Note: This list of the Board of Directors is accurate at the time of publication of this newsletter (Fall, 2000). For a current list of the Board of Directors, click here.)

We have a fresh supply of shirts with the new logo designed by our friends at Iconix, Inc. and printed by Armadillo Custom Printed Dry Goods. The weather is getting cooler; time for a sweat shirt. Or maybe your tee-shirt is worn out from wear already. We now have medium tee-shirts and sweat shirts for those seeking something a little smaller. We still have large and extra-large in both and extra-extra-large sweat shirts. The price is still the same: $10.00 for tee-shirts, $20.00 for sweatshirts. Pick one up at the next meeting and show your support.

Thanks to the efforts of our Treasurer, Chuck Mabley, Friends of the Macomb Orchard Trail is now exempt from paying state sales tax on purchases. If you make purchases for the organization, see Lee Sorensen or Chuck Mabley to get a copy of the Sales Tax License document. Most businesses require a copy of this document (not just the number) before they will grant release from the tax.

For a membership application, click here.

For a list of contacts, click here.