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Huron Expositor, 2014-08-27, Page 66 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, August 27, 2014 Letters to the editor Reader says G2G trail should be seen as a positive To the Editor; I have been reading in the local papers and seeing pres- entations at the councils of Huron and Huron East the opposition to the Goderich to Guelph (G2G) trail. I came late in life to enjoy- ing hiking and now hike twice a week In all the times hiking, I have never gone onto a farm- er's field and know of no one else who has. We believe that this is private property and would no more enter a field than we would someone's backyard without permission. When we hike, we are not interested in trespassing, van- dalizing, or any illegal activity. We are there for the pleasure of enjoying scenery, getting exercise and socializing. At one of the meetings I was at regarding the G2G trail, a lady said it would be boring walking for kilome- tres beside growing fields. I must say that it is the joy. We see the fields and often there is a lot of discussion. We need to educate the city folks that farmers do feed cities. Last week, I lead a group of hikers who came from Toronto for five days of hik- ing. The day I led the hike we passed soybean and corn fields, and saw the prairie grass field. I have a small share crop farm and come from a harm background and was able to explain the rotation of crops, when the crops are planted and when it would be harvested. I had been to a presentation and tour of the prairie grass and was able to explain a bit about it. All of this was inter- esting to these hikers and they had not heard any of this information. I explained I only knew a little about the crops, but it was more than they had. I told them next time they have beans or pork or milk to remember it comes from the country. I t - T NIP' You are invited to attend these area churches ST. THOMAS CHURCH 21Jarvis St. Seaforth Rector The Rev. Karine Snowdon Rectory 519-482-9071 Church Office 519-527-1522 Sunday. August 31st ST. JAMES ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH WELCOMES YOU 14 Victoria Street, Seaforth 519-345-2972 Sun. Mass 11 a.m. ST. PATRICK'S, DUBLIN Worship at 9:30 a.m. EVERYONE WELCOME Sat. Mass 5 p.m. Sun. Mass 9 a.m. FR. BRIAN McCOLL BETHEL BIBLE CHURCH An Associated Gospel Church 126 Main St. Seaforth 519-527-0982 Pastor Mark Kennedy SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE 10 a.m. Tuesday Evenings • Youth Groups - Junior & Senior High 6:30 to 9 p.m. 6._ EVERYONE WELCOME EGMONDVILLE UNITED CHURCH Pastor Steve Hildebrand Youth Coordinator - Laura Nakamura NO WORSHIP AUGUST 31ST For more information view our web site www.egmondvilleunitedchurch.com and Like us on Facebook. NORTHSIDE UNITED CHURCH MINISTER MARY FLETCHER Welcomes you Sunday, August 31st No Service at Cavan or Northside Churches 54 Goderich St. W. .!.S. 519-527-1449 www.cavannorthsideunited.ca N FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 59 Goderich St. W. Seaforth 519-527-0170 Student Minister Ian Marnoch Lorrie Mann - Organist Worship Sunday, August 31st, 11:15 a.m. All Welcome lc Nursery Provided as needed. L.... Office hours: Wed. 9 a.m. - Noon think the OFA should be pro- moting this trail as well. We, as hikers, like to walk past fields in the spring, summer and fall, even snowshoe or ski in winter. At all times of the year the fields are inter- esting, never boring. I like to think we can educate the urban folks about rural issues and what an opportu- nity while enjoying the beauty of our countryside. We have a captive audience. There seems to be a con- cern with garbage. The group I led has one person designated to picking up the garbage. All she came out with were three items which tells me there are a lot of hikers taking out their garbage. I would imagine walking for two hours in a town or city, one would see more than three items. When I hike with our other groups, we pick up gar- bage as we go. As far as camping on the trails, I can't see this being a problem. Many of us when we are going long distances either car pool to one end and go back to the beginning, or we have a pickup by the place we are staying. Every year in November, 34 hikers come from Toronto. I join them for the weekend in Goderich for accommodations and meals. We were discussing the G2G trail and they were inter- ested and wanted to know, if it gets going, if there would be accommodations to do it end to end. There is interest from outside the area and these are responsible hikers. This is money in the busi- nesses of the municipality. I would be interested in what concerns the munici- palities that currently have these rail trails have encoun- tered. On the rail trail from Auburn to Goderich, what concerns have there been? There must be stats at the county on this. Another issues that hasn't even been discussed is the high obesity in Huron County. Maybe we could encourage our own rural folks to get out and walk off those pounds and be a statistic in the future for rural weight loss. Come just us as we walk the beautiful trails. Thank you. Anne Melady Dublin AVON MAITLAND DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD Engage,. Inspire, Innawate Len. - School Year Calendar 20'14-2015 Wellcome Badt Septem1er2r H14 -first Day of <lasses School 1-InIidays Octoloer 13_2014 -Thankighting 1:lec 12, 20141- Jan 2, 2015 - Clnirstrnas. Break Februarjr16.. mis -Fara), Day A1agh IS -29,2015-March Break APril 21:115 - OPTICIFTirray April 6, 2015 Etter hawk, May 13, En - Victoria D.av Lt Day of Classes km 25r 201S -Elementary Ant 17D TS, 21115 - 56idndary !Sic 5fietiti) Professional ActJvityr Days IPA! Eridary, Septerribur 24.2014 Riti ay, November 7,201,1 Dursday...laniaary 29. 21113 G Friday,. April 24,, 2015 s„ WIG Fail' Jay, Juna 24, 201 G Collaboration, Communication, Creativity., Critical thinking, and Problem solvinE iyojr.thjir V;idthey3lincanad2 imelloolcoriatycHiMalliamiSellool5 ilki1111,711LPIr Junl erIEi1w, yourschools.ca -:1.11•SIfr lk• New trail has too many questions, not enough answers To the Editor; Trails...economic answer? There have been a lot of let- ters to the editor, and articles voicing opinions, about the proposed G2G - Goderich to Guelph trail. Those in favour of the trail claim it will bring a lot of tourism money to Huron County. Trails are a greatwayto enjoy the summer weather and get some exercise. Exercise is great for us all, andwalking can be done by any age and requires no special equipment. A trail might promote our com- munity and could create an awareness of nature. A trail might even educate the urban people about rurallife. It all sounds great. So I am not opposed to trails and I know that many people enjoy wallcing along trails espe- cially in good weather, but I am not sure everyone is really aware of all of the facts about the proposed trail and I feel that it is important that you hear both sides of this issue. As a landowner who hap- pens to have a farm that is dis- sected by the railway line, I have some very big concerns about the proposed G2G trail. First of all, who will pay for this? The supporters of the trail say there is money, but is there really enough money to replace the bridges that were removed when the railway was aban- doned? And over the years, drains and ditches have been cut through the old railway bed leaving gaps that would require further bridges or culverts, tile and fill to make each spot pass- able. And fences to protect crops and livestock? Who pays for the type of fencing required so that everyone is safe? Who will groom the trail in all four seasons? And maintenance costs like removing poison ivy or even litter pick up? Accidents and safety are a major concem. Who is respon- sible for damage or loss of crops or livestock? When accidents occur, howwill emergency per- sonnel get to the scene? Will I, as a landowner, just expect emergency vehicles to cross my fields to get to the injured per- son, destroying my crops in their path? Over the years we have experienced some vandal- ism, litter and even accidents on or near our property. One winter, we had to assist a snow- mobiler who landed in an open drainage ditch on the railway line and walked to our home in an almost frozen state. We have collected litter left behind by those who travelled by foot, dirt bike, 4 -wheeler or snowmobile. We have to bounce over the ruts created by recreational vehicles at the edge of our fields, farm lane way, and at our field entrance, because these recrea- tional vehicles often spin out when they enter or leave our property to illegally access the abandoned railline. Trespassing and theft is much easier when the crimi- nals have a quiet trail to use. Again, we have experience with both, as a piece of our farm equipment was stolen several years ago from inside our farm shed. Apart offof it was located later on the tail by the police, and the rest of it was found months later, and miles away. Do people really understand what normal farm practices are? Will people complain about, and stop, farmers from operating their farm business. For example, if manure is being spread on a nearby field, then it will smell; or when crops are being planted or harvested, it can be loud and dusty; machin- ery is large and operators may not see someone walking on the path; and livestock are not pets, and can be dangerous to people, or can become injured. This is by no means a com- plete list of the concems of the adjacent landowners. Do we really need more trails? There are already trails that exist in our area. Some of these are the Greenway Trail in Blyth, Hullett Wildlife to Clinton trail and the Maitland Trail from Goderich to Auburn. On any given day, you should stop by these trails and count for yourself the number of people using them. Are they worth the current cost and do we really need more? Can tax payers afford it or will it become a bur- den on all Huron County tax- payers? Why are we catering to the vocal minority who want a new place for recreation, at oth- ers' expense? Are Huron County tax payers willing to pay more on their property taxes for a few hikers and bikers? Trails may sound great, but until all of the concerns of the adjacent landowners and oth- ers directly affected by the trail are addressed, I feel that it is not feasible. The landowners will be affected by this decision to have a trail, or not have a trail, twenty four hours a day and seven days a week. Our concerns need to be considered. Larry and Linda Plaetzer Hullett