Hawk Rock vista featured on PennLive.com's Pop Quiz!

Source: PennLive.com

Those of you cruising the Patriot News' web site yesterday may have noticed a "Pop Quiz! Where in Central PA?" link with a photo of.... Hawk Rock!   See article here.  The scenic Duncannon vista along the Appalachian Trail in Perry County was prominently featured and many guessed correctly in the comments.  

You can bet many mid-staters are now thinking about their next trip up to Duncannon for a hike!  Fall foliage just around the corner.

DATC on Youtube: Announcing Duncannon PA Appalachian Trail Festival June 2, 2012

Special thanks to Sean O'Shell for putting together this awesome video narrated by Trailangel Mary announcing Saturday's event!  

Smokey the Bear attending the June 2nd event!

Smokey the Bear - forest fire safety guru, mascot of the U.S. Forest Service, and all around fine individual - has confirmed his attendance at Duncannon's Appalachian Trail Community designation festival on June 2nd!  Come visit him on Cumberland St. between noon and 4pm.

We're sure glad he's coming in light of the recent wildfires in Tuscarora State Forest and up on Peter's Mountain.   Learn more about Smokey and his message at SmokeyBear.com and be sure to visit Smokey's special kids section with lots of games, stories and fun!  

Special thanks to the DCNR Bureau of Forestry regional Fire Warden for helping bring Smokey to our event!

Community, Trail, Conservation & Artisan Vendors signed on for June 2nd

Vendor scenes from Trail Days in Damascus, VA

The *almost* final list is in!  Representatives and displays from the following organizations and businesses will be set-up between 12-4pm on Cumberland St. for the Duncannon A.T. Community designation event.

Retail vendors all donated an item for raffle during the event - be sure to get your raffle tickets!  Duncannon Fire Company will also be selling their famous Chicken BBQ for those that worked up an appetite out on the trails.   

Lead photographer Annie Leiby will also be setting up an Appalachian Trail PhotoBooth display so you can snag that hiking action photo even if you couldn't make a morning hike.

Information Vendors:

• The American Chestnut Foundation
• Appalachian Music Conservancy
• Appalachian Trail Museum
• Appalachian Trail Conservancy
• Blue Mountain Outfitters
• Cornerstone Church
• Cumberland Valley Appalachian Trail Club
• Duncannon Church of God
• Duncannon Girl Scouts
• Family, Career, Community Leaders of America (selling Trail Mix!)
• Keystone Financial Management
• Keystone Trails Association
• Mary Ann Evans, Trail Pictures
• Members 1st Credit Union
• Mountain Club of Maryland, Trail Maintenance Display
• Norfolk Southern Corp.
• Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, North Chapter
• PNC Bank
• Ray Sterner - Duncannon Area 3D map display
• Sherman's Creek Conservation Association
• Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club
• Susquehanna Greenway Partnership
• Susquehanna River Trail Association
• Women and their Woods
• York Hiking Club

Retail Vendors:

• A View of the Soul Photography
• Appalachian Primitives
• Country Wood Bird Houses and Toys
• Crafty Nana
• Mountain Bloom Honey
• Qualtech Resource Group, Inc. - Randy "Windtalker" Motz and Georgia "Mom" Harris
• My Wife's Barn
• Perry County Council of the Arts
• Tastefully Simple

Designation Event web site is live!

Thanks to design efforts by DATC's webmaster, Karen Reckert, and content provided by Mary Parry, the designation event web site is now live!  Check it out at: 

http://www.duncannonappalachiantrailcommunity.com/

A few pages are still under development but beyond event details there's also some great information including links to local hiker, paddler & hospitality services, a page on history of the Appalachian Trail, a Duncannon area A.T. photo gallery - and much more!  

Graphics Committee meeting minutes - Brochures, mural & photography updates

Lots of great brainstorming and planning at the Graphics Committee meeting this past Tuesday.  We were especially excited to see two Susquenita High School art students looking to get involved with awesome ideas!  Also excited to report that Appalachian Trail Conservancy's new Executive Director, Mark Wenger, will very likely be in attendance at June 2nd's designation event.


Minutes Graphics Meeting 2/28/12

1. Attendance: Mary Parry, Paul Smith, Susan Norris, Annie Leiby, Kim McKee, Sean O’Shell, Ariana Troni, Sakara Hancock

           

2. Mary reported on Graphic Tasks Review

1.     Pre-Event Brochure created by Chairperson Susan Norris. Some additions made by Mary. Further changes made to meet Borough Council requirements.  Waiting on approval of changes by Borough Council to go to print.

2.     Hike Scavenger hunt cards created by Susan ready to go to print.

3.     Waiting for completion of river trip scavenger hunt cards by Susan Norris.

4.     Mary has designed Event Program and is punching in information as she receives it.

5.     Target date to paint business windows in Duncannon is May 12.  Brandon Gallagher and Karen Reckert originally interested. New committee members Ariana and Sakara, students at Susquenita High School want to participate and willing to recruit more volunteers. Mary also sent invitations to get involved to many other art teachers and principals of schools in surrounding communities but has heard nothing.

6.     Mary had one initial conversation with Joel Deaven concerning the directional signs.  

3. Mural Discussion

1.     Mural Design - Mary described potential map mural embellished with outdoors’ embellishments.  Carol Boyd is the supervisor for this project. They have met to look at location and have had several discussions concerning this project.  She is to provide cost estimate.  Mary showed map draft design.  The following suggestions were made:

                                        a.         Magnifying glass on Duncannon since it is enlarged compared to rest of map.

                                        b.         Show State Game Lands, etc.

                                        c.         Show compass.

                                        d.         Show “you are here” star. 

                                        e.         Embellish with state bird, state flower, etc.

                                        f.         Borough and/or Perry County Flag. Annie can provide image of Perry County Flag.

2.  Kickstarter - Kim McKee explained fundraiser for mural.  It is an online program set up to solicit donations.  We set goal and timeframe. If we reach goal we get donations, if we don’t reach goal we get nothing. Following the format of the webpage we need script explaining project, video to promote project, and Awards for various increments of donation. All of these tasks need done quickly so enough time is allowed for the mural.

                                         a.         Sean O’Shell has created a page for committee members to upload pics or videos for use in the video promoting the mural.  By March 7 go to http://trailvistas.com/datc-graphics-file-upload/ UserName: datcgraphics
PassWord: graphicsdatc
Please log out as soon as you are finished uploading or downloading your files so other members can use this resource.  Only one person can be logged in at any time.

                                        b.         Sean O’Shell and Sakara Hancock – by March 14 - Submit video to Mary "Trailangelmary" Parry. Schedule a time and date to meet to choose/edit/approve video. Included in the meeting will be Mary, Susan Norris, Sean O’Shell, and Sakara Hancock.

                                         c.         Kim McKee has written script that will be on page. She and/or Sean O’Shell will design page once provided with all the pieces by March 19.

                                        d.         Ideas for video

·      Hawk Rock

·      Location of mural

·      Present mural

·      Doyle Hotel

·      Examples of artwork to be on mural

·      Artist’s sketch of mural

·      Traiangelmary at beginning

·      Trailangelmary voice of audio

·      Earl Shaffer at Clark’s Ferry Bridge

·      Scotty Brown sketch of town square

                                         e.         Awards for Kickstarter donations

·      Up to $10 – Recognition on Event Web Page

·      $11 to $20 – TTEC Postcard

·      $21 to $30 – set of 4 TTEC Postcard

·      $31 to $50 – premiere event t-shirt

·      $51 to $99 – name on mural

·      $100 and up – name on mural and premiere event t-shirt

4. Photo Booth – Annie has developed an idea to raise additional $’s for the Advisory Committee the day of the event. Attendees can get their picture taken with Smokey the Bear in the photo booth which will have a background of trees and an A.T. Trailhead sign at a cost of $5.00. They will also be able to go to Annie’s page to order a print after the event. Annie will proceed with project. She plans on asking Brandon Gallagher to create backdrop. Mary needs description from Annie ASAP for event program.

5. Annie requested a photographers’ meeting in April. Photographers committed to date – Tina Mumma, Annie Leiby, Annie’s son (name?), Steve Fehr, Diane Peresic, Helen Ernest, Zach Druckenmiller

6. Susan Norris asked when she will receive Event Central Panels. Mark Lukens - April 1 - Finish Event Central Panels and provide to Susan Norris, Graphics Chair.

7. Next Graphics Committee Meeting - Early April - Agenda - Photographers, Window decorations crew. Window decorations crew will be asked to bring sketches of things having to do with outdoors that they would like to paint on windows.

8. Ariana and Sakara are willing to volunteer at Event Central day of event (June 2). They will also recruit more volunteers from the high school. If Mary has enough volunteers committed to man already planned stations at event central she will entertain further ideas of Ariana and Sakara. Stations that need manned from 11 am to 3:00 pm are:

1.     Welcome, obtain contact information, distribute event program.

2.     Sell popcorn

3.     Sell t-shirts and hats

4.     Apply ATC temporary tattoos and make and distribute Bubble blowers

5.     Sell raffle tickets

6.     Bandana Decorations – Girl Scouts 

Respectfully submitted by Mary “Trailangelmary” Parry, Lead Volunteer and DATC Advisory Committee Coordinator, 2 Ann St, Duncannon, 717-834-4706, trailangelmary@gmail.com

Duncannon A.T. Ambassador in the News and Feb. Meeting Minutes

Source: PennLive.com

Duncannon A.T. Community Ambassador, Paul Smith, was featured in the Perry County Times and Duncannon Record over the weekend.  Check out the article here: Duncannon man is trail ambassador.  Paul has been a dedicated volunteer with the Duncannon Appalachian Trail Community Committee since July 2011 and in the fall was appointed as A.T. Ambassador and chair of Music & Arts for the upcoming designation event.

“I am excited to have this opportunity to be active in the community,” said Smith. “There are already so many positive ideas and projects coming to the surface since Duncannon was chosen as an Appalachian Trail Community.”

DATC Advisory Committee, February Meeting Minutes

ATTENDEES:

• Mary “trailangelmary” Parry, Event Coordinator, Parks & Rec Board
• Paul Smith, Arts & Music Chair, A.T. Ambassador
• Kim McKee, Publicity Chair and ATC Advisor
• Annie Lieby, Photographer
• Charlie Johnson, Susquehanna Rovers
• Deb Takach, Storyteller, Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club (SATC)
• Luke Johnson, Susquenita High School Student
• Malissa Hoover, Susquenita Elem. School Teacher, TTEC
• Maryann Landis, Penn Township resident
• Matt Smith, Perry County Chamber of Commerce
• Mike O’Connor, Mountain Club of Maryland
• Pat Woods, Susquenita Middle School Principal, TTEC
• Paul Marth, Susquenita Middle School Teacher, TTEC
• Rick Knepp, Susquenita Middle School Teacher, TTEC
• Rob Shaw, SATC/Cumberland Valley Appalachian Trail Club
• Jerry Bell, Borough Council, Parks & Rec Board
• Fred Lauster, Borough Council, Parks & Rec Board

PRE-MEETING NOTES

o    DATC MURAL MEETING – Mary and Kim met with Perry County Council of the Arts Director, Roger Smith, to discuss possible mural funding sources.  Carol Boyd has agreed to head up the mural project.  Mary and Kim will follow up on the PCCA ideas.

o   FINANCES - $1,000 donation has been received from an anonymous foundation

MEETING MINUTES

• DATC BY-LAWS – Mary distributed copies of the draft DATC bylaws and committee members reviewed.  Paul Marth recommended that a change to the bylaws require two meetings instead of one – one for a reading, one for a vote. It was agreed that a vote on the By-laws/Officers should take place at a separate meeting than the review of the document with notice by email at least two weeks prior to vote. 

o    Other Comments:

·    More Officers/Directors – Fred suggests 9 directors, 4 of which can be officers.  
·    Fred Lauster recommended the Mission be as broad as we can make it.  Several members stated mission should be vague and short.  Therefore reduce the number of sentences in the mission to a maximum of two and remove activities and put them into a strategic plan to be developed later (after the event).

Suggested Language:

1.  Our objective is to encourage all to go to the outdoors to enjoy nature and to recognize the connection between the health and abundance of our area’s natural assets and the vitality of our communities. To educate the community concerning our rich history of our area and the AT and to encourage conservation planning.

2.  Suggested language from Paul Marth: To bring the historical, cultural and environmental richness of the AT and surrounding areas to the lives and livelihood of the residents of the area.

• Matt Smith recommended a higher number for a quorum – one person over half the number of regularly attending members. Another suggestion is to define a quorum as three officers and six members.
• Recommendation – Three names on bank account with two signatures required on checks.
• Mike O’Connor suggested “keeping minutes” to be added to the duty of the Secretary to clarify “keeping records”
• Suggestion that financial report be given at every meeting. Quorum vote at meeting to approve spending. Any expenses outside board approved budget should be approved at a meeting.

• Pre-Event Brochure - Members submitted their suggested edits for the brochure.  Mary will review. 

• Commitment Forms - Rob Shaw turned in SATC's form.  Details of the SATC hike(s) are still T.B.D.

o   Post card art contest – The TTEC/Art teachers will narrow the pool of submissions before bringing to the Committee in April.  DATC Advisory Committee will vote on 4 winners, one from each grade.   Perry County Chamber of Commerce has agreed to fund the printing.

o    Review of meeting with Fire Company – Mary stated that a preliminary conversation and potential venue walk has taken place with Duncannon Fire Company and Fire Police. They are very receptive to working with us on this event. Their BBQ sales have been down and this event should help those sales.

o    Premier Sponsor – Matt Smith should have an answer by February 15^th.

o    Street Banners – Budweiser has agreed to sponsor street banners.

o    MCM Miles Fund Grant – Mary has submitted an application for a Miles Fund Grant to help with printing costs. Mike O’Connor will check if we will get response in February or March.

o    TTEC Quest – Paul Marth reported that the teacher working on the Quest will not likely have it ready to start in conjunction with our event. 

o    Pre-event fliers – Fliers were passed around to Committee members for posting on Bulletin Boards in public places around greater Duncannon/Harrisburg. The format is a tear off slip with the event web page address and Mary’s contact info.

If any items are missing from these minutes please inform Mary Parry at trailangelmary@gmail.com.

NEXT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING – consideration to change to Tuesday next month.  Members will be notified by email.

Duncannon's Buddy Boy Winery is stop on Susquehanna Heartland Wine Trail

Source: Pennlive.com

The historic transportation hub of Duncannon just became an added stop on a PA Trail that celebrates working the land and producing local wine!  Thus far this year, two new wineries have been added to the Susquehanna Heartland Wine Trail - Armstrong Valley Winery across the river in Halifax and Buddy Boy Winery in Duncannon.  Buddy Boy Winery just opened this past November 2011 and is located just off Rt 11/15 at 111 Barnett Drive.

For more info on an upcoming Wine Trail happenings check out this article from The Patriot News over the weekend:  Susquehanna Heartland Trail readying for March event.  To stay tuned to Buddy Boy Winery & Vineyard updates, check out their facebook page.  Sounds like an awesome place to stop after a nice hike up Cove Mountain!

Entertainers for Trail Celebration Listed / Duncannon Record

By Sarah Kramer, Staff Writer

Randy "Windtalker" Motz

February 9 -- The Duncannon Appalachian Trail Committee has compiled a list of performers who will entertain for a June 2 celebration commemorating Duncannon's becoming a member of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.  

The celebration will begin with several hikes, as well as kayaking and canoeing and an afternoon of food, vendors and live music.

Event coordinator Mary Parry said Mark Lukens and Antonio Andrade, Brian "Nimble" McPherson and Morgan "Folksinger" Evans will be performing.

Randy "Windtalker" Motz, a 2006 Appalachian Trail thru-hiker, will present his unique style of contemporary Native American flute music, which he calls "Native Soundscapes."  Motz has played at festivals, coffee houses, wineries, schools, churches, private parties and other venues.

Newport local David Snyder will bring his band, The Disturbinators, to the celebration to play passionate blues music.  The group calls their music "not for the faint of heart or potatoes of the couch  variety," noting the band's loud, rhythmic sound is sure to get anyone moving.

For more information about the vent or performers, readers may contact Parry at 834-4706 or trailangelmary@gmail.com.

Graphics Committee creates "Scavenger Hunt" Cards for Hikers

The DATC Graphics Committee headed up by Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club member, Susan Norris, has been churning out sharp and professional graphics for the upcoming designation event on June 2nd, 2012 - the latest is a "Scavenger Hunt" card for youths participating in morning hikes so they can spot different flora and fauna along the trail.  Take that, Nature Deficit Disorder!   Stay tuned for an event flier and web site currently being finalized.

In other updates, be sure to attend the upcoming DATC monthly meeting on Thurs., January 12th at 6:30pm at the Borough Office on N. High St. and remember to get those participation commitment forms into Trailangel Mary by January 10th!  Having the schedule and participating organizations firmed up will help greatly with press releases in advance of the event.

And in other, other news - did you know Duncannon's New Years Eve "Sled Drop" was featured in Travel and Leisure magazine??  Check out the article here.

Duncannon A.T. Community Advisory Committee Wraps Up 2011

Photo by Paul Zeph

This past summer, Borough Councilman Fred Lauster organized a small meeting with local trail club reps, ATC staff and a well-known Trail Angel to discuss the Borough of Duncannon applying to become an official Appalachian Trail Community.   

Since that time a group of dedicated volunteers have organized to form the Duncannon A.T. Community Advisory Committee which has logged well over 400 volunteer hours towards projects and planning aimed at raising awareness of the greater Duncannon area's natural and scenic assets and getting residents out-of-doors, enhancing Duncannon as a destination and gateway to the Appalachian Trail and various regional greenways, and positioning the Borough to benefit economically from outdoor recreation and heritage tourism. Special thanks to Fred and Event Coordinator Mary "trailangelmary" Parry for all their enthusiasm, time and hard work put towards this effort.

Committee progress and accomplishments thus far include:

Submitted an A.T. Community application having solicited 11 strong letters of support from local, County and regional organizations. 

Saw representatives from 23 organizations and community groups attending and participating in Duncannon A.T. Community Advisory Committee monthly meetings.  See contacts page for more info.

Recruited over 150 people to Duncannon A.T. Community's facebook group and received over 1,500 hits since July on the Duncannon A.T. Community blog. 

Officially established an organization by obtaining a federal EIN. 

Duncannon is one of ten communities trail-wide to have an ATC-appointed A.T. Community Ambassador serving as a liaison between the community and local trail-maintaining clubs in recruiting volunteers for stewardship projects.

Supported the Borough in moving forward with Apple Tree Alleywalk implementation by raising project awareness, highlighting its importance as a pedestrian/bike path connecting businesses and historical attractions to the A.T. and communicating Mountain Club of Maryland's support for a trail re-route through the alley.

Received media coverage:

• Initiative Links Fitness and Science / Perry County Times
• Town Celebrates Conservancy Link / Duncannon Record
• Duncannon marks Trail Heritage / Duncannon Record
• Duncannon, PA Designated an Appalachian Trail Community / Progress PA

Garnered additional event promotion via partnering organizations web sites, facebook pages and community calendars:

• Appalachian Trail Conservancy
  
• Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club
• Mountain Club of Maryland
• Shermans Creek Conservation Association
• WQVL FM Radio
• Trailplace.com
• Whiteblaze.net

Thus far received commitments for the designation event from 5 speakers to help commemorate the designation, 6 authors donating books for door prizes, 5 retail and information vendors, 3 items for raffle, and 4 presenters for Sat. afternoon programming - with many more looking to sign on before the January 10th commitment deadline.

Received enthusiastic commitments from the Susquenita High School and Middle School Bands as well as the High School Chorus to perform at the designation event. 

Susquenita Middle School students involved in the Trail to Every Classroom program have already submitted numerous original post card designs to the Post Card art contest. The winners will be unveiled at the event on June 2nd.

The Graphics Committee has produced a designation event t-shirt design as well as event-flier and hiking game-card designs.

Mountain Club of Maryland, through its Duncannon A.T. Community representative, coordinated and funded an Appalachian Trail interpretive panel to accompany Susquehanna Greenway's Rivertown kiosk.  Installation is expected this coming Spring.


So what is in the pipeline for early 2012?? 

• The DESIGNATION EVENT is a little over FIVE MONTHS away.
• Designation event web site currently under construction and hoping to be launched during the second week in January.
• The Fundraising/Budget Committee plans to secure a premier sponsor for the event in the coming weeks.
• Plans for a community mural on the side of Miller's Newstand building are in the works as well as other volunteer beautification projects in advance of the event.
• Event T-shirts are slated to be ordered at the beginning of February.
• The Committee also hopes to produce a post-event display for an empty storefront on Market St. highlighting the designation event and Duncannon A.T. Community activities. 

Contact event coordinator Mary "trailangelmary" Parry at trailangelmary@aol.com if interested in helping out with any of the above.  
Happy New Year!

Duncannon marks its trail heritage

Source: nuevamineria.com

Another article appeared in the Duncannon Record over the weekend highlighting the A.T. Community Committee's mission and plans for the June 2nd, 2012 event.  Thanks to Sarah Kramer at the Perry County Times for covering the Committee's progress in Duncannon!

Duncannon marks its trail heritage

"Designation event coordinator Mary Parry, or Trailangelmary as known locally, said the event will involve local officials, residents, business owners, representatives of nonprofit organizations and trail clubs, as well as a team of dedicated volunteers who will offer outdoor recreation and environmental education activities for the Duncannon community."

Explore the Middle Susquehanna Greenway via Scenic Driving Tour

Susquehanna Greenway Partnership has just published a Middle Susquehanna Greenway Driving Tour booklet on their web site and Duncannon is Stop #19 as a scenic and historically significant River Town!  This 95-mile driving route explores some of the cultural and natural features of the Greenway and features audio interviews with local researchers and residents. A River Town orientation panel is currently being installed at Old Sledworks on Market St.  Appalachian Trail and Harrisburg-to-Pittsburgh Main Line Canal Greenway panels will be installed as well this coming spring!

Susquehanna Greenway also highlights Duncannon attractions on a dedicated page.

"Along the way, we hope you will sense the pride river communities have with their connection to this critical resource. The cultural and natural history of the Susquehanna River is centuries long and the impact of the river is longer still when you consider geological time. This tour will guide you through both and suggest you linger when you want to explore more at selected stops, viewpoints, and historic river towns."