Town Updates: West Newton The West Newton Walking tour has been completed. The tour will take visitors on a self-guided 1-mile walk through West Newton, and include stops at historical and significant downtown structures. ~Cara Madden Connellsville This month in Connellsville we cleaned up the armory plot, preparing it for next year’s community gardens. We removed withered produce and their roots, weeds, and turned the soil over. Then we spread wheat cover crop over the garden beds to keep the soil nutrients from being blown away or depleted with weather extremes. In addition, we participated in the first Stakeholder meeting for the Connellsville Bicycle and Pedestrian plan which is being donated to the city by Aspect Design. This exciting project will potentially make Connellsville one of the most bicycle and pedestrian friendly town in Pennsylvania by connecting the neighborhoods with the downtown and other amenities, and giving trail users and community members alike a safe way to travel via bicycle or by foot. ~ Joe Crumbley Ohiopyle The Adopt-A-Bioswale project is coming along, with a total of twelve signs already made. With the assertive business mindset that the town has where they’re being implemented, when others business owners see what they’re not already partaking in they’re bound to gain interest. The project has had a lot of setbacks, but it’s been progressing exponentially in the past two months when the physical signs have gained popularity within the town. On Friday 11/2 we hosted a bioswale cleanup. This was one last chance to maintain the bioswales before the cold winter sets in. The Ohiopyle Trail Town Reassessment took place on Tuesday 11/13. This reassessment had the highest number of participants so far. This assessment generated some very productive discussion following the town walk-through. ~ Joe Crumbley and Cara Madden Confluence In November, Confluence had the Most Awesome Bake Sale and Trail Town Quilt Show on Saturday, the 17th at the Creative Arts Center. The following weekend was Light Up Night at the gazebo in the central square. Upcoming events include Bah Humbug: Inside a Dicken’s Classic on December 8 and the New Year’s Sock Hop on December 29 – both events take place at the Confluence Creative Arts Center. ~ Michelle Rapp Rockwood Rockwood’s bike loop is about ½ way complete! I have designed the map of the loop, road signs, and rack cards. I still have to contact a sign company to order the signs, as well as deliver the signs for installation. Once this project done it will be a great achievement for the town, as well as for SCA Trail Town! Meyersdale Meyersdale had its annual Light Up Night celebration 11/24, to help kick off the holiday season! The Meyersdale Trail Town reassessment was held 11/28 at the Levi Deal Mansion B&B. The turnout was great, allowing for detailed discussion about potential improvements that can be made in and around town. After months of planning, attending meetings, and planning some more, the sugar maple tree planting will finally be complete! The trees were planted 11/29, a little later than we had initially planned, but nevertheless, the trees are finally in the ground; a great success! TTOC, along with project partners Jan and Michael, owners of the Levi Deal B&B, came out to help spread mulch and put the final touches on the landscape. ~Rachael Christie
