TrailMail
September 2015 
In This Issue
Restored River View   

 
Trail users can now enjoy this view while cycling north of Fosters at mile marker 36.8, thanks to Rick Forrester and Don Hahn. With Rick working on the sloped bank and Don working near the trail, the pair removed honeysuckle and dead trees to open up the view of the river. Rick's chainsaw trimmed trees to about 10 feet in height. Just north of the Miami Bluffs subdivision entrance to the trail, this part of the river has a riffle section that creates a pleasing rushing sound you can hear from the trail. After the leaves fall, look for a covered bridge that crosses a stream on the other side.

The Tool Sharpener

Article by Janet Slater; Photo by Don Mills

If anyone has ever told you you're not the sharpest tool in the shed, then it's time for you to meet Gil Russ.

About two years ago, Gil and his wife were riding the trail, as they do a couple of times a week, when they stopped to rest near some FLMSP volunteers clearing limbs and brush. The chainsaw attracted Gil, because he loves steel tools, and he asked the volunteers what they were doing. 

Then Gil asked the life-changing question: "How do you guys get your tools sharpened?"

When the crew told him sharpening was a problem for FLMSP, Gil volunteered his services. Later that day the volunteers visited his home near the trail in Loveland to drop off their chainsaws and tour his wood shop. Ever since, Gil has been sharpening 6 to 10 saw chains every week, as well as repairing other tools when needed. . . Read More

 

Crack & Bump Repair Project

Your help is needed to make use of a $13,000 grant we have been given to repair cracks and bumps on our trail. We must have enough volunteers to complete work this year or we LOSE the grant money and will have to spend thousands of dollars to hire a contractor.
 
See related article. Help needed in late Sept. or Oct. to:
  • fill cracks with our hot melt machine
  • grind down bumps using our scarifier
  • loan use of a vehicle with an open bed and a 2" square towing bar 
Training will be provided. If you can help, contact Don Hahn or reply to this newsletter.

Ongoing Volunteer Needs
  • Help with regular maintenance on a trail section near you
  • Tow the FLMSP blower to clear the trail of leaves and debris  
  • Help plant new trees, especially where there has been a high loss of ash trees due to the Emerald Ash Borer
  • Help manage trail counters and their data files
To respond to these needs or learn about other needs, please visit our Volunteer webpage.

A Permanent Solution: We need your help
by George Stockham
Can you help us find this piece of equipment that can improve the surface of our trail?
 
We all enjoy the beautiful and shady green tunnel formed by the trees which border the trail for much of its length. However, this same beauty has an inescapable downside:  the annoying upheavals in the asphalt surface caused by encroaching tree roots which buckle the paving as they grow.  

Lacking any alternative, to date FLMSP has attempted to minimize this problem by using a machine called a "scarifier" to literally grind down the bumps until they are almost flush with the trail's surface. This is a tedious process which, at best, only temporarily alleviates the basic problem; the underlying roots continue to grow, inevitably continuing to buckle the trail surface - which eventually necessitates yet another grinding process - and the cycle repeats itself.
 
Tom Creasman: Off the Fence
Rich Easterly, Ray Jacobsen, Tom Creasman

by Rich Easterly

Tom Creasman is giving up his "FLMSP Volunteer" safety vest, and I'm going to miss him.
 
Tom and Ray Jacobsen introduced me to their brand of fence repair along the trail over two years ago.  To start the "work" day, we would meet at The Branch Hill Coffee Shop around 7:30 for a half hour of good coffee and danish and a lively debate between the Left and the Right. . . .  Read More
 

Friends of the Little Miami State Park is a nonprofit organization devoted to the preservation and enhancement of the Little Miami State Park. We assist the Ohio Department of Natural Resources with development planning, capital improvements, and safety concerns, as well as providing most of the maintenance of the park. 
 
Trail Hotline


 513-212-6958

[email protected]

 

Report downed trees or other non-emergency safety issues. A text message or email with photos is most helpful!

 

 

Trail Closings
Peters Cartridge Factory Soil Remediation
The Little Miami Trail will be closed intermittently on weekdays near Grandin Road (mile marker 35) beginning September 8, 2015. Work activities related to the Peters Cartridge Factory site soil remediation project will necessitate closures on certain days between 7:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. These intermittent closures are expected to continue until October 31, 2015. The trail will be open all evenings and weekends. Please call the 24/7 hotline for Peters trail closures for ongoing daily updated information: 
513-552-7030. 




We Love Volunteers!

Our informational kiosk at Fosters is more beautiful now thanks to Christy and Dean Godden of Maineville. They contacted FLMSP with an offer to stain some of our aging wood because they use and appreciate the trail. The kiosk and benches at Fosters were overdue for treatment, so the couple went to work. Not only did they volunteer their labor and skill, but they even paid for the stain. Thanks, Christy and Dean!
If you'd like to follow their example, the Friends have other one-time projects awaiting. Any help is good help! Contact John Biederman.

cracks   Coding the Crack
Have you noticed the cryptic yellow markings on the trail? Last month we asked for volunteers to mark bumps and cracks, and six volunteers responded and are busy marking each crack. Here's the code: S-shaped marks are on low bumps over a quarter inch high; S marks with a crosshatch are high bumps over 3/8 inch; and parallel lines on each side of a crack mark ones that need to be filled.  Cracks running perpendicular to the edge of the trail in bumps probably will not be filled since the tar would plug up the scarifier machine used to grind bumps.

Quick Links


 
    
  
Events
   
Spring Valley Potato Festival
Oct. 3 & 4

Helpers are needed to make soup and sell food; choose from several shifts Saturday and Sunday.
Just off the trail at Rts. 42 & 725.
 Contact Jon Keck, Chairman, at 934-470-4865. 


Oct. 24, 6:30 p.m. 
Sixth annual Halloween block party from the creators of the Amazing Charity Race. Your 4-person team will enjoy food, beer and a live band while investigating a murder mystery in historic Milford!   Register


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What Is This?
Iron steps lead to the second level of a building formerly used by the railroad for track operations. Volunteers Bill Smith, Pete Carey and Don Hahn replaced a missing panel to enclose the second level and added doors. This upper level will be used to store materials that are not used very often and have low value. The doors are locked to keep out the curious and the area is lighted at night for security. Additional security measures are planned.