American Tobacco Trail Workday Saturday March 6 at 9 a.m. Massey Chapel Road

[Bill Bussey]

Hi Volunteers for the American Tobacco Trail,

This very late message is to remind you of our 
American Tobacco Trail workday, *Saturday, March 6* at 9:00 a.m. at the 
ATT crossing of Massey Chapel Road 
<http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&source=hp&q=8190+Massey+Chapel+Road,+Durham,+NC+27713&oq=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=8190+Massey+Chapel+Rd,+Durham,+NC+27713&gl=us&ei=LiORS8TmOIbf8QaNkv32BA&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CAoQ8gEwAA>.
 
Check the link or use your vehicle GPS to find 8190 Massey Chapel Road, 
Durham, NC 27713 from where you live.
 
You'll note that Google maps has now labeled this the American Tobacco 
Trail. Sweet!

We'll be continuing our efforts to clear and clean trash and junk from 
this intersection and east on Massey Chapel Road where the final phase 
of the ATT is to be constructed starting (we hope!) later this year. The 
Psi Upsilon Fraternity from Duke has made this their pet project, so 
they will be joingin us for this workday. Thanks Guys! This will be 
about the last time we can get in here this year with Spring fast (again 
we hope!) approaching.

Last week Taylor Bogart, Majbrit Reedstrom, Katie Dechsin, John 
Kinsella, T.J. Elkanick, Hannele Feiring, Jeff Pinnow, Dilys Bowman, 
Curt Devereux, Frank Bennett and Bill B. cleaned and cleared the trail 
north of Scott King Road, planned for a future Herndon Road Park 
Connector, worked on an Information kiosk, spoke with neighbors living 
in the area of O'Kelly Chapel Road about trail parking concerns, and met 
with the Tobacco Road Marathon Race Director about the upcoming race. 
Wheeew! It was was a busy and productive workday!

*At this Saturdays' workday, as always, you should bring work gloves, 
full shoes or boots, long pants, *and other 
clothing appropriate for the weather. It is supposed to be a bit warmer 
than it has been, but still in the 40's, on Saturday morning. Please 
dress accordingly and be prepared to work until about noon.

Work gloves are a MUST at this workday due to trash and junk removal.
 
Use your own judgment to make the call whether you want to attend the 
workday in sketchy or uncomfortable conditions. We generally do not work 
in heavy or constant rain.

We'll be digging in mud and clay so you'll probably get dirty. The 
ground may be frozen. If too frozen too hard to break up and work, we'll 
do something else.

You will need to sign a waiver and participation list.

While you don't have to bring any tools because we do have some tools, 
we can use the following if you choose to bring them.

We could really use trash bags at this workday. Bring one, bring many. 
But we could use as many as we can get!

If you have a garden rake (the kind with the short tines - not the leaf 
raking style with a broad fan shape) or round end shovels, please bring 
them.

If you have a cutter (flat blade vs. pick) style mattock, please bring it.

We can also use shovels of any type.

Loppers for cutting vines and briars are welcome as well.

And if you can bring a wheelbarrow, please bring it.

We can always use a pickup truck which you don't mind hauling materials 
and tools. Please contact Bill Bussey <mailto:billbus at gte.net> 
919 545-9104 or Frank Bennett <mailto:FJB675 at hotmail.com> 919-851-3992 
so we can make plans.

Please let Frank Bennett <mailto:FJB675 at hotmail.com> 919-851-3992 or 
Bill Bussey <mailto:billbus at gte.net> 919 545-9104 
know anytime if you have any questions.

For more information on ATT workdays, please see our Volunteering page
at: http://triangletrails.org/VOLUNTEERS.HTM

Remember, you *can always *help the ATT and other trails, greenways and 
paths in the Triangle - or anywhere on the planet - by *picking up and 
hauling out at least one piece of trash*, or picking up and throwing as 
far off the trail, at least one stick, limb or fallen tree, on *every 
*visit or use. If everyone who used our greenways, trails or paths 
picked up and removed at least one piece of trash, stick or limb, we'd 
have the cleanest trails and open space around!

On another note, when you are not supposed to be using the not yet 
completed (the Town of Cary has not told us they are done!) Chatham 
County section of the ATT, please *pay particular care and attention 
when crossing  O'Kelly Chapel Road, particularly if you have children, 
dogs or horses.* Due to the speed of traffic and the limited sight 
lines, O'Kelly Chapel is arguably the most dangerous road crossing along 
the trail south of I-40 in Chatham and Wake counties. Though marked with 
bicycle crossing signs and stripes, traffic does not slow down, there is 
a lot of traffic (being a straight line cut through from NC 751 and NC 
55) and the sight lines are minimal at best. Traffic comes fast around a 
short sight line curve in the road and is on ATT users crossing before 
you know it.

This special intersection has recently gotten more attention from NCDOT, 
so we can only hope things will improve. However, please *heed the STOP 
signs* on the trail when crossing O'Kelly Chapel Road. Look as far as 
you can both ways down O'Kelly Chapel Road before you cross - and then 
cross quickly.

If you have children, dogs or are on horseback, please cross O'Kelly 
Chapel Road quickly together.

Also, instead of parking along the busy O'Kelly Chapel Road, please 
consider parking elsewhere  along the ATT, particularly if you have 
children or dogs. The best place to park to use this section is north at 
Hearndon Park on Scott King Road; or south at the White Oak Church Road 
Access. Both of these are off-road trail access facilities, You can park 
along a less heavier traveled, but still of concern, Scott King Road 
next to the park if you like, but Herndon Park is by far the better 
alternative. You can find directions at www.triangletrails.org .

Future workdays are still being planned. Here is the tentative schedule 
for upcoming workdays. *Note that these can change if there is an area 
on the trail that needs immediate attention.*

*Upcoming American Tobacco Trail Workdays  *
*
Sunday, March 6* Durham Workday 8190 Massey Chapel Road, Durham, NC 
27713 9 a.m. ATT crossing of Massey Chapel Road 
<http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&source=hp&q=8190+Massey+Chapel+Road,+Durham,+NC+27713&oq=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=8190+Massey+Chapel+Rd,+Durham,+NC+27713&gl=us&ei=LiORS8TmOIbf8QaNkv32BA&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CAoQ8gEwAA>  
With Psi Upsilon fraternity from Duke. Come clean up the area where the 
future ATT will be constructed. Trash bags are especially welcome.
 
*Saturday, March 13* Durham Workday Scott King Road Access 9 a.m. 610 
Scott King Road, Durham, NC 27713 
<http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=610+Scott+King+Rd,+Durham,+NC+27713&vps=4&jsv=163d&sll=35.875316,-78.934096&sspn=0.00865,0.007392&ie=UTF8&latlng=&ei=TLI7So-cJIfwMsjMiIgE&sig2=S6ASsa95BLZz5xffFuZV6Q&dtab=5> 
Subject to change.

*Saturday, March 20* Durham Workday Scott King Road Access 9 a.m. 610 
Scott King Road, Durham, NC 27713 
<http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=610+Scott+King+Rd,+Durham,+NC+27713&vps=4&jsv=163d&sll=35.875316,-78.934096&sspn=0.00865,0.007392&ie=UTF8&latlng=&ei=TLI7So-cJIfwMsjMiIgE&sig2=S6ASsa95BLZz5xffFuZV6Q&dtab=5> 
Subject to change.

*Sunday, March 21* Volunteering with Tobacco Road Marathon and half 
Marathon <http://www.tobaccoroadmarathon.com/>. 6 a.m. TRTC is a 
beneficiary. *Lots of Volunteers* are needed.  *Sign up here ASAP* to 
Volunteer to help in race 
<http://www.fsseries.com/index.php?action=volunteer&event_id=147>. Keep 
in mind that over 3000 runners will be using the trail from Scott King 
Road south to the end at New Hill-Olive Chapel Road that morning from 7 
until at least 1 p.m., so you may want to plan your walk, run or ride 
for later.

*Wednesday March 24 *Screening and Launch of /Bridging Rails to Trails:  
Stories of the American Tobacco Trail  /a multimedia documentary project 
by Carol Thomson 
<http://southerndocumentaryfund.org/projects/bridging-rails-to-trails/>/. 
/7 p.m. Durham Arts Council 120 Morris Street, Durham, NC 27701 *Free 
and open to the public* RSVP by 3/17/10 to: cthomson at firestreammedia.com

*Saturday, March 27* Durham Workday Fayetteville Road Access 9 a.m. 7724 
Fayetteville Road, Durham NC 27713 
<http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&source=hp&q=7724+Fayetteville+Road,+Durham,+NC+27713&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=7724+Fayetteville+Rd,+Durham,+NC+27713&gl=us&ei=CVE9S72UE4q8lAfTnfGkBw&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CAkQ8gEwAA> 
Subject to change.

*Saturday, April 3 *Lawson Street Connector Cleanup 9 a.m. South Street 
and Lawson Street just south of Downtown Durham. Check the link or 
Google South Street and W Lawson Street, Durham, NC 27707 for directions 
from where you live. This will be mainly a "hauling and toting" cut up 
trees and trash pickup. Trash bags are especially welcome.

*Monday, April 5 *TRTC Monthly Meeting Woodcroft Professional Center at 
intersection of Fayetteville Road and Woodcroft Parkway in southern 
Durham 7:30 p.m. All are Welcome!

*More News
*
Construction of the Chatham County section of the ATT about 99% 
complete! We are told that the contractor is still working through a 
punch list of things that need to be taken care of before he can 
formally finish the project.  The sustained unseasonably cold weather of 
the past two months, coupled with the rains of the past three months, 
have really slowed down completion work on the trail in Chatham County

Though I sound like a broken record, please consider all of the ATT in 
Chatham County CLOSED because it is a construction zone. *Please stay 
out of this area while construction is going on. If you see construction 
equipment moving, then turn around. *Please read and heed all signs and 
instructions related to construction in this area.

For more information be sure to check out our TRTC/ATT News Link 
<http://triangletrails.org/NEWS.HTM>.

*Do You Live Near the ATT in Chatham County?
*Do you plan on using the ATT in Chatham County on a regular basis once 
it is completed? If so, the trail needs your help to be the "eyes and 
ears" for safety and maintenance concerns, as well as to help keep the 
trail clean. This should be fun and easy to do. It should be just an 
extension of what you normally do on your walk or ride on the trail.

For more details, contact Bill Bussey <mailto:billbus at gte.net> 919 
545-9104.*
*
*Here is an easy way to help TRTC support the American Tobacco Trail 
*while using your computer. Go to http://www.goodsearch.com/ . At the 
"Who do you Goodsearch for?"  button in the middle of the page, enter 
TRTC, or Triangle Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Save it as instructed.
*
Or Better Yet, make it Your Homepage in your browser!* See your 
browser's instructions on how to make this page your homepage.

Instead of using Google or Yahoo as your search engine, use 
http://www.goodsearch.com/ . TRTC will get about a penny a search in 
most situations. You can read all about it at the website. Check it 
out!* It works very well!* It is now my search engine of choice!  Please 
let me know if you have any questions. comments or concerns.

*Please Remember the ATT in your charitable donations! 
<http://www.triangletrails.org/MEMBERS.HTM>*

Thank you for your support of the Triangle Rails to Trails Conservancy!
*
You Lookin' for Maps?!

*You can print out our latest ATT map *right now* at 
http://www.triangletrails.org/ATT.HTM . Click on both links under the 
thumbnail for both sides of the map. Thanks to Wayne Horton for this map 
which is arguably one of the most popular trail maps in the triangle.

And let me take this opportunity to *Thank You* for all of your help
and support in building, cleaning and clearing the American Tobacco
Trail in 2009. Thanks to your hard work, expertise and
diligent efforts, we are making steady progress.

Thousands of trail 
users are *now safely using* the sections of the trail and facilities
you have helped clear, clean and build. We get so many wonderful
comments and thanks on how well the trail looks when folks use these
facilities. These trail users are often *amazed* to find out that these
improvements were done *completely* by volunteers. Thank you for the
great work and for volunteering your valuable time to help with this
project. Know that it wouldn't be possible without the great work of
each and every one of you.

Thanks for your help and support in building the American Tobacco Trail.

Happy Trails,

Bill Bussey
Triangle Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
americantobaccotrail at embarqmail.com
www.triangletrails.org
919 545-9104
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