We Have Arrived

Many thanks to everyone who attended the night walk as well as those who contributed, donated and volunteered! The cold weather didn’t stop anyone!

Enjoy a slideshow of images from the Night Walk on our website.

Night Walk Contributors
Comcast
Tim Downey Jr–Howard Hanna
Friends of Collier Parks & Recreation
Giant Eagle Market District
Ray & Chrissy
Trax Farms

Night Walk Supporters
Collier Girl Scouts
Collier Twp.
Collier Volunteer Fire Dept.
Kirwan Heights
Presto
Rennerdale
Alex Covi
Dan Downey
Gerry & Kay Downey-Clarke
Daniel Fotovich – Alpine Pools
Gordon & Deb Giffin – Giffin Interiors
Bernadette Kazmarski
Mary Lou Kientz
Gail Neustadt
Rennerdale Youth Group
Barb Riedl
Wal-Mart

Since 2000, the Night Walk on the Panhandle Trail has been a Halloween tradition in Collier Township. This year the festivities begin at 7 pm on Saturday, October 22. The Rennerdale Youth Group will carve more than 100 pumpkins donated by Beccari’s Farm Market, Thoms Run Road. Collier Girl Scouts will set out and light the jack o’ lanterns along a half-mile stretch of the Trail from the bridge near the Walkers Mill trailhead to the Sunnyside entrance. Bonfires light the night and hot chocolate and sweet cider are distributed by Collier Friends of the Panhandle Trail. A costumed volunteer will delight the kids with stories near the Quarry bonfire.  There are Treat Bags for children aged 11 and under at the Quarry

The event is free but donations are welcome! Children, adults and volunteers are encouraged to wear costumes or weird hats. Parking is available in the Public Works Yard at 110 Noblestown Road.

Photo by Bernadette E. Kazmarski, Panhandle Trail Night Walk 2011.

Happy Pumpkin

Since 2000, the Night Walk on the Panhandle Trail has been a Halloween tradition in Collier Township. This year the festivities begin at 7 pm on Saturday, October 22. The Rennerdale Youth Group will carve more than 100 pumpkins donated by Beccari’s Farm Market, Thoms Run Road. Collier Girl Scouts will set out and light the jack o’ lanterns along a half-mile stretch of the Trail from the bridge near the Walkers Mill trailhead to the Sunnyside entrance. Bonfires light the night and hot chocolate and sweet cider are distributed by Collier Friends of the Panhandle Trail. A costumed volunteer will delight the kids with stories near the Quarry bonfire.  There are Treat Bags for children aged 11 and under at the Quarry

The event is free but donations are welcome! Children, adults and volunteers are encouraged to wear costumes or weird hats. Parking is available in the Public Works Yard at 110 Noblestown Road.

For updates or to download a flyer, visit Events on the Panhandle Trail website.

Photo by Bernadette E. Kazmarski, Panhandle Trail Night Walk 2009.

via Rock The Quarry Provides Fun For All – Chartiers Valley, PA Patch#video-7522755#video-7522755.

Rock the Quarry 2010

MUSIC

The natural amphitheater-like setting is the backdrop for performances by a variety of bands including The Justin Fabus Band, Bill Ali Band, Midlife Crisis and the EMJ Band.  (Complete schedule below.)

Two long-time Pittsburgh favorites will headline the Friday and Saturday night performance schedule:

• Friday (8/26) 8pm to 10pm, Bill Ali Band (’60s and ’70s rock favorites)
  www.billali.com
• Saturday (8/27) 8pm to 10pm, Jill West and Blues Attack (Blues favorites)
  www.jillwest-and-bluesattack.com

FRIDAY NIGHT LINE-UP:

SATURDAY NIGHT LINE-UP:

ENTERTAINMENT AND ACTIVITIES

The Family Fun Zone from noon to 5 pm on Saturday will have science demonstrations, games and activities aimed at the kids. Also appearing both Friday and Saturday will be The Science Guy, Steve Reinstadtler. And of course, the famous hand-cut Quarry Fries along with a variety of food from several vendors will satisfy any appetite, and we are also inviting non-food vendors to participate. For vendor information, call 724-693-8635 or email panhandletrail@gmail.com.

Tickets for the Rubber Ducky Race, 7 pm Saturday, are $5 with a top prize of $500. Back also are the U-Choose Raffles with plenty of bountiful baskets to take a chance on as well as the moving Sunset Remembrance ceremony Saturday.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

• 5:00 Food booths open; U-Choose Raffles
• 6:00 to 6:45 Mr. Science Demonstration, Steven Reinstadtler, Bayer Scientist, Activity Tent

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2011

• Noon Food booths open; U-Choose Raffles
• Noon to 6 FAMILY FUN ZONE – Kids games and activities (make your own “silly putty”; crafts, etc.) with Collier Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts Cub Pack 860, Trail volunteers
• 2:00 to 2:45 Mr. Science Demonstration, Steven Reinstadtler, Bayer Scientist, Activity Tent
• 7:00(apx.) Grand Rubber Ducky Race, Robinson Run
  • $500 1st prize
  • $200 2nd
  • $100 3rd
  • $25 “1st Stuck Duck.”
  • $5 a duck (You do not have to be present to win but you’ll miss all the fun)
• 7:05 to 7:15 Flag Ceremony, Carla Myers, Main Stage

FOOD VENDORS:First Sergeants BBQ, The Panhandle Trail, Rennerdale Corner Store, Wheel & Wedge

Location and Parking

The event is held in the quarry area along the Panhandle Trail in between the Walkers Mill Entrance at the trailhead and the Sunnyside Entrance entrance. As you approach the intersection with Walkers Mill Road, you will see directional signs for parking areas and entrances to the event. Please visit our Maps page for other maps of the trail.

Extra Parking in Collier Public Works Yard, Noblestown Road, 1 ½ miles west of I-79 Exit 57.

Graceful Fiddleheads © B E Kazmarski

The Panhandle Trail is usually dry enough for a bike ride by mid-April, but sometimes after a rain it’s a little sloppy. A couple of years ago when I arrived with my bike to find a slightly sloppy trail and a light drizzle I decided instead to take a walk along the Nature Trails with my camera.

I’m documenting walks along local trails to capture the flora you’d see along the trails as you walked, and I’m on Panhandle most often. I’m familiar enough to know what blooms when, since photographing wildflowers has been one of my projects from before my digital camera using just natural light and my favorite lens setup so that I can focus on just one petal of a flower if I want, leaving the rest to blur into the background in a swirl of color and shape. I’ve got loads of shots like this on film, but now I’m using that same lens setup on my digital SLR.

One of the differences with this photo shoot is they are in sequence, so if you walked along the trail, among other wildflowers, you’d see these flowers in about this order.

These images are provided for familiarity rather than strict scientific identification; I am not a scientist, and my goal is first to take good photographs, then to give people a general appreciation of the beauty of their local wildflowers. The names are accurate, but I’ll keep to the most common name to make it easier for you to find these in guidebooks and pursue more information. Just enjoy looking at them!

Click this link to get to the page to see the flash slideshow; when the slideshow comes up, hold your mouse over the image to see the name of the flower at the top of the image:Panhandle Nature Walk, Mid-May 2009

You can also see other slideshows of Panhandle and other area trails:

Panhandle Trail, McDonald to Walker’s Mill, Mid-June 2009

These wildflowers are right along the trail—I bicycled out to McDonald to scope out what was blooming, then pretty much walked my bicycle back, taking photos along the way.

May and June Wildflowers of the Lower Chartiers Watershed

Some wildflowers you’ll be sure to see along Panhandle and in other areas.

Wildflowers of a Summer Evening, July 2009

Wildflowers at Kane’s Woods in Scott Township.

These photos were taken and organized into slideshows by Bernadette E. Kazmarski and posted on this blog by the artist. No photos or text may be used without written permission of the artist, but please contact me if you are interested. If you take photos along the Panhandle Trail and would like to write up something and send some photos, please comment on this post and I’ll be in touch.

Jill West headlines Saturday night.

For over ten years, Rock the Quarry (RTQ) has been an annual tradition. RTQ features two days of music, food, and fun. Each year, RTQ showcases up-and-coming local musical talent. Day two of RTQ features lots of activities for the kids as well as the Grand Rubber Duck Race and the traditional Sunset Remembrance Ceremony.

The natural amphitheater-like setting is the backdrop for performances by a variety of bands including The Jamie Bruno Band, The Justin Fabus Band, Hidden Talents, Bill Ali Band, The Primatives, Midlife Crisis and the EMJ Band.  (Complete schedule below.)

Two long-time Pittsburgh favorites will headline the Friday and Saturday night performance schedule:

• Friday (8/26) 8pm to 10pm, Bill Ali Band (’60s and ’70s rock favorites)
  www.billali.com
• Saturday (8/27) 8pm to 10pm, Jill West and Blues Attack (Blues favorites)
  www.jillwest-and-bluesattack.com

Also featuring:

• EMJ Band (’70′s rock favorites)
• Billions and Billions (rock cover songs)
• Tim Vitullo and the PSBlues (Blues)
• Brad Bendis (accoustic set)
• Mitchell McDermot (accoustic set)
• Midlife Crisis (’60′s and ’70′s light rock favorites)

The Family Fun Zone from noon to 5 pm on Saturday will have science demonstrations, games and activities aimed at the kids featuring The Science Guy, Steve Reinstadtler. And of course, the famous hand-cut Quarry Fries along with a variety of food from several vendors will satisfy any appetite, and we are also inviting non-food vendors to participate. For vendor information, call 724-693-8635 or email panhandletrail@gmail.com.

Tickets for the Rubber Ducky Race, 7 pm Saturday, are $5 with a top prize of $500. Back also are the U-Choose Raffles with plenty of bountiful baskets to take a chance on as well as the moving Sunset Remembrance ceremony Saturday.

Location and Parking

The event is held in the quarry area along the Panhandle Trail in between the Walkers Mill Entrance at the trailhead and the Sunnyside Entrance entrance. As you approach the intersection with Walkers Mill Road, you will see directional signs for parking areas and entrances to the event. Please visit our Maps page for other maps of the trail.

2011 Events

The schedule isn’t finalized yet, but you can be sure to enjoy these bands and entertainment! Check back frequently, or sign up to receive notices on our blog, Facebook page or Twitter @PanhandleCollFr!

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

5:00 Food booths open; U-Choose Raffles

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2011

• Noon Food booths open; U-Choose Raffles
• Noon to 6 FAMILY FUN ZONE – Kids games and activities (make your own “silly putty”; crafts, etc.) with Collier Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts Cub Pack 860, Trail volunteers

In Event Tent:
“Making Science Make Sense” Steven Reinstadtler, Bayer Scientist

7:00 (apx.) Grand Rubber Ducky Race

• $500 1st prize
• $200 2nd
• $100 3rd
• $25 “1st Stuck Duck.”
• $5 a duck (You do not have to be present to win but you’ll miss all the fun)

FOOD VENDORS: First Sergeants BBQ, The Panhandle Trail, Rennerdale Corner Store, Wheel & Wedge

Extra Parkingin Collier Public Works Yard, Noblestown Road, 1 ½ miles west of I-79 Exit 57.

VOLUNTEERS!

If you are interested in volunteering at Rock the Quarry or in becoming a vendor, please contact the Collier Friends of the Panhandle Trail at panhandletrail@gmail.com.

The Panhandle Trail is used every day by all ages of people.

Do you enjoy using the Panhandle Trail? Do you appreciate having it available to you at any time in all seasons?

Would you like to take a step farther and help ensure that it’s always clear for safe use, that events are successful, and to invite more people to use it all the time?

JOIN US AND VOLUNTEER!

Organizations like the Collier Friends of the Panhandle Trail are powered by the volunteer efforts of individuals who love their trail, and that includes board members and officers.

You may have a special talent, such as engineering or public relations, which the trail can use at any time, or you may have equipment or materials to help with trail maintenance, such as a backhoe or excess wood chips. Or you may just be happy to spend some time every so often helping the trail committees in whatever needs to be done—a trail clean-up, planning an event like Rock the Quarry, or volunteering to direct visitors at the annual Night Walk. Everything you do helps the trail continue to provide a valuable asset to your community and the people in it.

The Collier Friends of the Panhandle Trail would welcome your enthusiasm and talents on our board. Currently, our President and Secretary have served the required terms according to the by-laws and we’d like to fill those officer positions, but we would also appreciate your voice simply as a board member.

BOARD MEMBERS

You don’t need to be a resident of Collier Township in order to serve on the board—in fact, you can live anywhere as long as you uphold the by-laws of the organization and regularly attend meetings (last Sunday of every month, 6:30 p.m. at Collier Municipal Building).

Board members conduct the business of the organization, meet with interested parties and contact vendors for service for the trail.

Recently, the board has been planning Rock the Quarry 2011 including contacting local bands and musicians for entertainment, soliciting vendors, planning children’s activities and looking for volunteers to help with setup,  running the event, and cleanup.

Also, a local teenager was looking for a project on the trail to fill 15 hours of volunteer service, so the board discussed areas on the trail that could use a little cleanup after the winter.

And a local Girl Scout troop proposed an idea for a permanent memorial garden which they would design, build and maintain.

OFFICERS

Officers are elected by the board or they can be appointed by other board members if a position needs to be filled between elections.

Requirements for the two positions are as follows:

President: The President is the spokesperson of the organization and presides at all meetings of the Board of Directors and its Executive Committee, and recommends activities and policies that help to run the organization effectively. The President has the assistance of the Vice President.

Secretary: The Secretary acts as secretary at all meetings of the Association and of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Committee, taking notes or seeing that notes are recorded, sending notices of the business of the organization and keeping in touch with board members, and keeping the records of the organization, passing them along to the next Secretary when the term is done.

ARE YOU INTERESTED?

Please join us in any of these three ways:

Send an e-mail to panhandletrail@gmail.com with your interest in joining the board.

Contact our current President, Kay Downey-Clarke, at 724-693-0870.

Join us at one of our monthly meetings, the last Sunday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the Collier Municipal Building. Our next meeting is Sunday, June 5.

We hope to see you soon! And even if you don’t volunteer, we are glad you enjoy using the Panhandle Trail.

Happy Pumpkin

Since 2000, the Night Walk on the Panhandle Trail has been a Halloween tradition in Collier Township. This year the festivities begin at 7 pm on Saturday, October 23. The Rennerdale Youth Group will carve more than 100 pumpkins donated by Beccari’s Farm Market, Thoms Run Road. Collier Girl Scouts will set out and light the jack o’ lanterns along a half-mile stretch of the Trail from the bridge near the Walkers Mill trailhead to the Sunnyside entrance. Bonfires light the night and hot chocolate and sweet cider are distributed by Collier Friends of the Panhandle Trail. A costumed volunteer will delight the kids with stories near the Quarry bonfire.  There’s Treat Bags for children aged 11 and under at Rennerdale.

The event is free but donations are welcome! Costumes are optional for children, but adults and volunteers are encouraged to wear costumes or weird hats. Parking is available in the Public Works Yard at 110 Noblestown Road.

For updates or to download a flyer, visit Events on the Panhandle Trail website.

Photo by Bernadette E. Kazmarski, Panhandle Trail Night Walk 2009.

Rock the Quarry 2010

Download the flyer and program at www.panhandletrail.org (Rock the Quarry tab) and post at work, local stores, everywhere! Toast is the new featured band on Saturday night.

We’re looking for volunteers to help during the two-day event as well as setting up Wednesday and Thursday evenings (Aug. 25-26).  Please reply with availability or call me at 724-693-0870 if you have questions.

Prizes for baskets and raffles would be appreciated. New items (regifting is a virtue!), gift certificates, services, etc. Ask the businesses you patronize. Any amount is fine; we combine items to make great baskets. Drop off items or mail GCs to Mary Lou Kientz, 316 Ewing Road, Carnegie PA 15106 (412-279-9408).  You can also take prizes during business hours to Rennerdale Corner Store on Noblestown Road and Collier Twp. Bldg, 2418 Hilltop Road, Presto PA 15142. Be sure your name is noted so we know whom to thank.

Donations to defray costs are always welcome. Send checks payable to Panhandle Trail Assn. c/o Treasurer, 2520 Hilltop Road, Oakdale PA 15071. Prizes can also be delivered to that address. Or donate via PayPal at www.panhandletrail.org.

Kay Downey-Clarke

Join us for a full schedule on Friday night and all day Saturday. Visit our website for the full line up.