Ride the Dry Seneca Trail: Saturday, November 12
Experience a part of the wonderful EPIC trail system while you meet new people who share your interest in trail riding.
This approximately two-hour guided ride will take you through the beautiful Dry Seneca stream valley corridor in Poolesville, Maryland. The Dry Seneca Trail is a sanctioned public trail through private and county park lands, which is signed, maintained and monitored by EPIC. Click here to view a map of the trail.
When: Saturday, November 12, 2011, 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Please arrive by 9:30 a.m. to register.) Rain date is Sunday, November 13.
Where: The Ladd Farm, 15300 Sugarland Road, Poolesville (click on address to view location in Mapquest)
Levels: Slow (walk only), Medium (walk/trot) and Fast (walk/trot/canter). Please note when you RSVP which group you would like to join. Groups may be split or combined depending on amount of interest.
Join us after the ride for lunch, generously sponsored by Southern States. We’ll also have several items to be raffled!
RSVP: Advance registration is requested. Please email Stacey Wigmore at epicstacey@gmail.com by Wednesday, November 9, and include your full name, group you would like to ride with, email and phone number.
Weather Cancellation: Call (703) 309-3414 the night before or day of the ride for information.
The Small Print:
• Riders will be required to sign a liability waiver.
• A current negative Coggins must be provided for any horse taking part in this ride. You may send the info with your registration or bring it with you on the day of the ride.
• Due to insurance regulations, participants MUST wear ASTM/SEI-approved safety helmets. NO EXCEPTIONS!
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Dry Seneca Trail Closed Friday, September 30, 2011
Sept. 29, 2011—Please be advised that the Dry Seneca Trail will be closed on Friday, September 30, 2011. It will reopen on Saturday, October 1.
Montgomery County Parks Announces Managed Deer Hunting Dates
© Stacey Nedrow-Wigmore
September 27, 2011—For public safety, the Montgomery County Department of Parks closes select park locations to public access for the duration of deer population management operations. The following is a schedule of park closure dates and specified locations for Managed Deer Hunting for Fiscal Year 2012.
Managed Deer Hunting Program (Shotgun)
Parks Closed from Sunrise to Sunset
October
28 – Hoyles Mill Conservation Park (Boyds)
28 – Woodstock Equestrian Park (Beallsville)
November
2 – North Germantown Greenway (Clarksburg)/Great Seneca Stream Valley Park (Gaithersburg)
4 – Hoyles Mill Conservation Park (Boyds)
4 – Woodstock Equestrian Park (Beallsville)
7 – Rachel Carson Conservation Park (Olney)
8 – Blockhouse Point Conservation Park (Darnestown)
12 – Hoyles Mill Conservation Park (Boyds)
16 – North Germantown Greenway (Clarksburg)/Great Seneca Stream Valley Park (Gaithersburg)
18 – Hoyles Mill Conservation Park (Boyds)
21 – Rachel Carson Conservation Park (Onley)
22 – Blockhouse Point Conservation Park (Darnestown)
December
2 – Bucklodge Forest Conservation Park (Boyds)
2 – Woodstock Equestrian Park (Beallsville)
3 – Hoyles Mill Conservation Park (Boyds)
7 – Little Bennett Regional Park (Clarksburg)
8 – Little Bennett Regional Park (Clarksburg)
9 – Little Bennett Regional Park (Clarksburg)
9 – Hoyles Mill Conservation Park (Boyds)
12 – Rachel Carson Conservation Park (Olney)
13 – Blockhouse Point Conservation Park (Darnestown)
14 – North Germantown Greenway (Clarksburg)/Great Seneca Stream Valley Park (Gaithersburg)
17 – Hoyles Mill Conservation Park (Boyds)
January
4 – Little Bennett Regional Park (Clarksburg)
5 – Little Bennett Regional Park (Clarksburg)
6 – Little Bennett Regional Park (Clarksburg)
6 – Hoyles Mill Conservation Park (Boyds)
13 – Bucklodge Forest Conservation Park (Boyds)
13 – Woodstock Equestrian Park (Beallsville)
14 – Hoyles Mill Conservation Park (Boyds)
21 – Hoyles Mill Conservation Park (Boyds)
Eco Gala, Green Cup of Polo Support EPIC
Click for enlargement of flier.
As world citizens, we have a responsibility to reverse some of today’s trends to preserve the environment for our future generations. The Green Cup promotes the goal of conservation and protection by bringing together committed parties to show support of those prominent organizations that work to solve today’s environmental issues.
The 2011 Green Cup Polo weekend begins with the Eco Gala, Thursday, September 15, at the magnificent L2 Lounge in the heart of Georgetown. As a best-in-class lounge that competes with scenes found in international destinations worldwide, L2 is ideally suited to host the Green Cup Eco Gala with it’s international audience of like-minded diplomats, Washingtonians and polo players. Join us at this world-class location for an exciting evening including a green auction, music and an opportunity to mingle with VIPs, sponsors and polo players. Tickets cost $100 each.
The weekend caps off with the Green Cup Polo on Saturday, September 17. General admission tickets start at $25 per person if purchased before September 14. Prices go up for purchasing tickets at the door. A combo gala/VIP Clubhouse Ticket is available for the special price of $150.
Action Needed: Recreational Trail Funding in Jeopardy
From Equine Land Conservation Resource:
July 28, 2011—There is an urgent issue that needs your attention having to do with federal recreational trail spending. The Recreational Trail Program (RTP)—the primary source of trail funding in this country—is in great jeopardy.
Horsemen should contact their federal legislators immediately to help preserve funding for recreational trails. If we do not act, many trails will be closed and there will be little in the way of new trail construction or federal funds for maintenance (which will lead to more closures).
RTP is a program of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), providing funds to the states to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both motorized and non-motorized recreational trail uses.
On July 7, U.S. Congressman John Mica, Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, released an outline of a “Transportation Reauthorization Proposal.” As reported by Stuart Macdonald, Chair of the National Association of State Trail Administrators, here are the key points for the Congressman Mica’s proposal:
- Consolidation or elimination of most “special” programs, including RTP, Enhancements, Safe Routes, etc.
- States will be permitted to fund such “non-highway activities” but will no longer be required to set aside funds.
- Funding is reduced from the $50 billion authorized in 2010 to something closer to the $35 billion in annual revenue from current fuel taxes.
The Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT), formed in 1992 to ensure that RTP receives adequate funding, is encouraging an amendment to the proposal, should it be introduced as a House bill. “This would require serious commitment from enough members of Congress to challenge Rep. Mica’s austere budget,” said Macdonald.
How do we save the RTP? By speaking up to our Senators and Congressmen and telling them how important recreational trails are to our families. Trail riders and equestrian trail clubs – everyone needs to participate. The voice of many is more effective than the voice of one. We need to think beyond the next ride, sit down at the computer or pick up the phone and take action, otherwise RTP may be eliminated and the future of equestrian trails will be in great jeopardy.
When speaking with your elected official or his/her staff member, you can make your case even stronger if you point out just how much RTP funding is at risk in your state. To find your state’s share, click here.
Please contact your legislator TODAY and let them know how important the RTP program and equestrian trails are to you.
Find your Senator’s contact information.
Find your Congressman’s contact information.
Action Alert: Ask Your Senator To Restore Farm Conservation Funding
Yes, Congress needs to rein in federal expenditures—but conservation and natural resources spending is only 1.2 percent of federal spending and has grown less than 3% over the past 30 years!
Please call both your Senators Tuesday, June 28, and ask them to reject the House’s cuts to farm conservation programs. This is a coordinated action by conservationists across the country to make the maximum impact.
All Senators can be reached through the Senate switchboard at (202) 224-3121.
When you reach your Senator’s office, ask to speak to the aid working on agriculture appropriations. Introduce yourself, and ask them to:
- Please work to restore the cuts the House made to farm conservation programs in their Agriculture Appropriations bill.
- Protect our working farms and ranches—every minute we lose more than one acre of farmland. Unfortunately, this isn’t work we can put off for tomorrow. Once we lose these lands, we can’t get them back.
- Our farm conservation programs are vitally important to water quality and providing habitat for wildlife. What we cut in farm conservation, we will have to make up elsewhere if we want clean water and wildlife.
- Thank them for their time.
EPIC Trail Courtesy Reminder
As the milder spring weather beckons us to hit the trails, we would like to ask your cooperation in permitting key portions of an EPIC trail to remain open for responsible use by all of us.
Due solely to the much-appreciated courtesy of Daphne Ross, the Dry Seneca Creek Trail runs along the border of, and probably is just within, the property of Daphne’s beautiful Tulip Pond Farm on Partnership Road in Poolesville. Unfortunately, some riders on the trail have, inadvertently we suspect, not observed basic courtesies in riding that portion of the trail. That has caused Daphne to be properly concerned about the safety of students and others at her farm.
Specifically, trail riders have been either (a) sufficiently loud as to bother horses and riders at Tulip Pond or (b) sufficiently quiet so as to startle horses there. We ask that riders alert others of their coming when riding along the ledge of the creek that borders Daphne’s property. We also ask that dogs not be included in any ride along that portion of the trail, as there have been instances of the dogs wandering into the farm. And, to state the obvious, we ask that no riders ride on Tulip Pond proper without advance invitation. We understand that there has already been one incident at Tulip Pond involving encroachment by non-resident riders where a young riding student fell, was concussed and had to undergo substantial medical treatment and miss considerable school time. So let’s appreciate that this is far more than a theoretical issue, and one we need to address promptly.
Thank you for your assistance in keeping our EPIC trails and the surrounding properties safe for all. Please do not hesitate to contact us at info@epicmontgomery.org if you have any questions or concerns.