The Village has appointed Dawn Roe as the new village historian. Dawn is a well-known local genealogist and researcher, and it is a pleasure to welcome her to the “club.”

Earlier this year, our section of the Canalway Trail “officially” opened, even though people have been using it since construction was completed last year.

I have heard a number of comments about the canal trail, so I thought I would give everyone some background.

The Canalway Trail is an effort by the state to create a recreational trail that will become the longest in the country. When it is complete, it will stretch from Albany to Buffalo, a distance of about 350 miles.

It also will have trail routes along the Champlain Canal and the Cayuga-Seneca Canal. Other canal trails will also connect into the system, allowing one to follow most of the old historic canals of the state.

The trail was being worked on by section, with the state building small segments each year with the intention of completing the whole trail by 2008. Our section, from Jordan to Port Byron was completed last year and the section from Jordan to Camillus was completed a year earlier.

With both done, about 20 miles of trail was added to the statewide effort. Slightly more than 200 miles of the trail is complete.

However, time and events have conspired to stop work. The huge floods that washed out sections of the canal system in the Mohawk Valley had to be rebuilt and the state simply doesn't have the money to push on, so for now, we need to be happy with what we have. I feel fortunate that they were able to reach Port Byron before work stopped.

By far the largest user groups along the trail are the local people, who will walk their local sections of the trail. For Port Byroners, our section is between Schasel Park and Centerport, while people from Weedsport tend to walk west from Centerport Aqueduct Park. (I do encourage all to travel to other areas and use the trail.)

The other user group is people from outside the area who use the trail to explore the canal and the state. This summer, I have had the occasion to speak with two groups who were using their vacation to bike the trail.

One man I spoke with was from Seattle and another was from California. These people always speak very highly of the canal trail.

I have also seen two other groups pass through the area; one was with the large cross state tour of 500 plus riders and another was with a cross country tour. All these people following the canal! I think that is kind of neat. It just goes to prove that we have something special in our neighborhood.

“No Horses Allowed” signs have gone up in Brutus, and more will be going up along the trail, and this is for good reason.

The horse's hooves simply rip the heck out of the trail. I have adopted the trail from Port Byron the Centerport, and I can tell you that it is no fun hand raking a mile of trail that has been damaged by horses. Plus, the horse poop is no fun for anyone.

So to all you folks reading this from the other parts of the county, come on over and take a walk or ride. You will be glad you did.

Michael Riley is the Mentz historian