For PFA, and for me, 2019 has been fast start out of the gate “off and running“ year.

 

The PFA Outreach Committee, under the leader ship of Matt Sampson, is moving ahead on a variety of 2019 projects. Plans are in place for a much more active PFA role in the 2019 Private Landowner Conference, scheduled for March 22-23 in State College than at past events. PFA has become a “Keystone“ (highest level) sponsor of the 2019 Conference and will be exhibiting as well as speaking at the conference and devoting an issue of Pennsylvania Forests to event coverage. Future plans include an active PFA exhibit presence at the June 7-8 PFPA Timber Expo and at the August Ag Progress Days, both in State College.

 

The PFA Conservation Banquet Committee, chaired by Mark Ott, is also laying the groundwork for some added features in our 34th Annual Conservation Banquet on March 2 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. I hope you will be the lucky $10,000 raffle ticket winner… And I look forward to visiting with you at the Banquet!

 

Julianne Schieffer, Co-chair of the 2019 PFA Annual Symposium Committee (formerly Annual Meeting Committee) has already started work with Committee members to put together a fantastic speaker lineup (including Bryan Burhans, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Game Commission) for our September 28 Annual “Woodlands and Wildlife” themed Symposium at the Toftrees Conference Center in State College, Pennsylvania.

 

Ken Manno, the new Chair of the PFA membership Committee, has already called the first Committee meeting. The Committee is excited to announce that soon all new members of PFA will receive a stunning green on gold PFA “Forest Proud“ lapel pin along with other PFA information in their new members packet. The Committee has also reaffirmed PFA’s policy of allowing PFA Board members, and Committee chairs, to offer a 50% discounted first year (only) membership at any PFA meeting or event or at any meeting or event where PFA is an official sponsor.

 

Nancy Baker and Linda Finley, Co-chairs of PFA’s Education and Communications Committee continue to do an excellent job on all of PFA’s communications including Pennsylvania Forest s magazine, the PFA “Forestry News You Can Use” monthly E–Newsletter, PFA’s topical E blasts, the PFA Facebook page and PFA Website. In the works is a plan for a face-to-face Committee Meeting later this year.

 

Our newly formed Forest Heritage Committee, chaired by Peter Linehan, has also already met in 2019 to guide the merger of the former PA Forest Heritage Association into PFA. The merger is on track and the Committee has scheduled a facilitated strategic planning session on April 6 ^th to develop a vision, mission, and goals for PFA’s new Forest Heritage focus area. 

 

PFA was invited to speak at the Capitol rotunda legislative and press rollout of the “The Legacy of Pennsylvania State Parks and Forests" study that documents the critical need now for significant State Forest and State Park infrastructure repairs and improvements (pictured above). During our remarks (click here) we called on Governor Wolf, and our newly elected legislative leaders, to exhibit the same type of leadership today that was shown by Joseph Rothrock, Gifford Pinchot, and Mira Lloyd Dock, the visionaries who helped with the establishment of Pennsylvania State Forests and Parks many decades ago. 

 

PFA also seized on an “11th hour“ opportunity to support our Pennsylvania Tree farmers by testifying at the January Game Commission Quarterly Meeting. Our testimony (click here) outlined the significant difficulties PFA Tree Farmers are having when trying to grow a new crop of trees after harvest because of the severe browsing of tree seedlings by an over abundant deer herd. We asked the Game Commission to allow Three Farmers to also participate in its “Red Tag” Program that allows farmers to harvest over abundant deer between the normal hunting seasons. Our testimony was favorably received.

 

In all of my past years of PFA involvement I have never seen so much PFA committee enthusiasm, activity and solid upfront planning for upcoming events, activities or issues. My hat is off to PFA members. The world is run by those who show up… and you are showing up. If you are not a PFA committee member you should be! Please let me know where you would like to help.

 

With best wishes,

 

Richard Lewis

PFA President

[email protected]

Activities start at 3:00 p.m.

Refreshments – Silent Auction – Card Games – Raffles— 50-50 Cash Drawing – Chainsaw Drawing – Door Prizes

At 5:00 p.m. Live Auction Starts

Come and bid! Great items for a worthy cause!

6:30 p.m. – Dinner Served

After Dinner - $10,000 Draw Down Raffle

This is the evening’s high point! Only 350 tickets are available! Your chance of winning is outstanding! Don’t miss this great time! 

Each $100 ticket includes your choice of a Prime Rib, Chicken Cordon Bleu, or Vegetarian dinner and door prizes. In addition, you have a chance at $10,000. A limited number of Guest Tickets are available for $45. Guests are eligible for door prizes and a special raffle drawing.

We again are offering Conservation Banquet Sponsorship with many that include complimentary Banquet Tickets:

Chestnut Sponsorship - $1000 - includes five dinner tickets

Black Cherry Sponsorship - $800 includes four dinner tickets

Sugar Maple sponsorship - $600 - Includes three dinner tickets

Red Oak Sponsorship - $400 - Includes two dinner tickets 

Hickory Sponsorship - $200 - includes one dinner ticket

Friends of PFA Sponsorship - ($25 - $199)

Please contact Caleb Wright (email and phone) to sign up for a Banquet Sponsorship.

The Pennsylvania Forestry Association depends on this event to finance its forest conservation mission and invests these dollars directly back to forestry education in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Your support is important! To facilitate event planning, please purchase tickets and donate auction items early. All donations are GREATLY appreciated. This event is open to everyone, you need not be a PFA member to join the fun and have the possibility of winning $10,000. A ticket would make a great gift for family members or outstanding employees. Join with a few friends on a “pool” ticket. Ticket holders need not be present to win. Tickets go FAST, get yours today! Come and join the fun! 

PFA MEMBERS and SUPPORTERS are asked to scour their garages, attics, basements, offices, bookshelves, walls, storage units, sheds, vacation homes, woodlots and fields for items to donate for the auctions. No items are too small or too large. Great chance to re-gift some of those things that were just not right for you (and what was the gift giver thinking?!). Contact your local businesses and ask if they can support the PFA with a donation to the auction. We are spread across the entire state and there are thousands of opportunities out there. If you are not able to attend the dinner, but have items to donate, please contact the PFA office so that arrangements can be made to get the items to the dinner. If you are going to be at the dinner, bring your items with you, but let us know ahead what we can expect , or at least that you will be donating some items, even if you are not yet sure what they will be. Letting us know ahead helps PFA to list you as a donor in the PA Forests Magazine. All donations are tax deductable within the guidelines of the IRS.

Please give your utmost thought, concentration and action to this very important aspect of the event of the year! Tired of that old Ned Smith Signed print of the wall? Donate it! Fed up with that old shotgun that can’t seem to hit the broadside of a turkey? Donate it! Signed letter from Gifford Pinchot appointing your ancestor to the PA State Forest Service taking up valuable space in your home office? Donate it! Too much wild blueberry jam from a bumper crop in your woodlands? Donate it! Old band saw lumber mill you really don’t use? Donate it! You get the idea, now, please, get out there and find things to fill the auction tables! Call the PFA at 800-835-8065 and let us know what to expect from you and if you need the item picked up.

Overnight accommodations are available at the Genetti Hotel. For room reservations, call the hotel directly at 1-800-321-1388 Ask for the PFA Conservation Banquet room rate!

PA Tree Farm Offers Free Webinar for Area Chairs and Inspectors

Title:  Tree Farm Inspector - Inspection Training: A Paperwork Perspective

Date and Times:

February 26, 2019, Noon

Description:

Since the Pennsylvania Tree Farm Program has moved to a fee based program and is now providing incentive payments to inspectors who complete inspections there have been a lot of questions concerning proper procedures to be followed. This 30 minute training is being offered to clarify the process and procedures inspectors are to follow, particularly from a paperwork processing perspective. A live sessions will be hosted at Noon. If you are unable to attend a live session, the training will be recorded and shared with all PA Tree Farm Inspectors. This training webinar is being offered by the Pennsylvania Forestry Association: Tree Farm Committee. Connect to the webinar a few minutes before noon on Feb. 26, 2019 at this link:

https://psu.zoom.us/j/486763910

Since 2014, the Pennsylvania Forestry Association has guided and administered the Lloyd Casey Memorial Fund, honoring Casey, a PFA Past President who was a dedicated forestry educator. The fund has supported project funding for forestry education workshops and projects that reflect Casey’s commitment to educating forest landowners. The Casey Fund received many donations from within the PFA organization, from Casey colleagues and friends, and from two partners: the Allegheny Society of American Foresters (SAF) and the National Woodland Owners Association (NWOA).

During 2017, the PFA received a very generous unrestricted donation from the estate of PFA Past President Bob Rumpf. With the review of the Casey family heirs, the Rumpf family heirs, The Allegheny SAF and the NWOA, the Pennsylvania Forestry Association agreed to merge the Casey Fund, the Rumpf donation and a small PFA Project Learning Tree earmark into a new PFA Memorial Forestry Education Fund. 

We are excited about the expanded possibilities that this merged fund has presented. During 2017, the fund provided significant project funding to two entities, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay (which conducted three regional workshops for landowners on the Woods in Your Backyard), and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (which has completed Conservation Easement workshops with additional education in 2018). The 2018 funding round supported the innovative Walk in Penn’s Woods Partnership.

The overall aim of the new fund reflects that of the original, but the new memorial fund significantly expands opportunities for forest education workshops and projects in Pennsylvania. We especially invite our members and friends to donate to the new fund; please help us help the owners of Penn’s Woods take care of our future forest! We also invite allied organizations to apply for funds to carry out your forestry education projects and workshops. Contact PFA Memorial Forestry Education Fund Committee Chair. Mike Powell, ( [email protected]) for application details.

The Lower Delaware Wild & Scenic Partnership River has mini-grants ($1000 - $2000 but larger amounts will be considered) available to entities in LDWS communities (primarily in Northampton County and Bucks County) or their community appointed committees, schools, and community or non-profit (501c3) organizations operating within the watershed. Partnerships are encouraged. The closing date is quickly approaching: February 22, 2019.

 

A link to a list of eligible projects and the grant application can be found at: https://lowerdelawarewildandscenic.org/resources/documents/lower-delaware-wild-scenic-river-mini-grant-program. Natural resources, open space preservation, and conservation projects are some of the eligible projects. Questions can be directed to [email protected].

Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences has created an online permitting course for businesses and organizations moving within or from the quarantine zone of the Spotted Lanternfly (SLF). You can find information on the course at https://extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly.  

 

Companies should designate specific employees to take the course. Once a designated employee passes this course, his or her company will receive spotted lanternfly permits for company vehicles. The designated employee must train fellow employees to work in the quarantine zone without inadvertently spreading these insects and endangering agriculture and commerce. This course includes fact sheets to use with training.

 

If you have questions on the permitting process, email the PA Department of Agriculture at [email protected] .   

 

In addition, homeowner fact sheets and information, along with the process to report any sightings of SLF across the state are on the PSU website at extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly (or you can just search PSU SLF). Penn State also have a SLF hotline set up to answer questions from the public and to report sightings outside of the quarantine zone - 888-4-BADFLY (888-422-3359) toll-free.

By Don Hopey, originally printed in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pennsylvania’s state parks and state forests contain 3,000 miles of roadways, 4,800 buildings, 860 vehicular bridges, 1,470 miles of hiking trails, 131 dams, 70 sewage treatment plants, 180 boat ramps, 56 swimming beaches and more than 30,000 picnic tables.

But finding the money to maintain, fix and improve park and forest infrastructure and operations has not been a walk in the park and certainly no picnic.

A new report released Monday afternoon by the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation finds that the state’s failure to provide adequate funding for both built and environmental infrastructure needs in state parks and forests has created a $1 billion maintenance backlog.

And that backlog has put at risk outdoor recreation and natural amenities in the state’s parks and forests enjoyed by more than 40 million visitors a year, said Marci Mowery, president of the non-profit foundation that supports 41 volunteer organizations working in and with the state’s parks and forests.

Richard Lewis, president of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association, an advocacy organization for sustainable forests, said Monday that the once high quality of the state’s parks and forests has reached a critical low point. He called on the governor and state legislature to invest in the restoration and maintenance of the state’s “crown jewel” environmental resources.

“Our members have been watching the steady degradation and crumbling of the parks and forest infrastructure and we need that to change,” Mr. Lewis said. “The governor and the legislature need to display vision to get this turned around.”

“In 2018 we celebrated the 125th anniversary of Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests … yet our parks and forests need care if we are to continue to celebrate the important roles they play in making Pennsylvania a great place to live, work and play,” Ms. Mowery said in a news release marking the foundation’s new infrastructure campaign.

“The legacy of Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests is at risk due to inadequate funding levels to maintain and repair the bridges, roads, buildings, and recreational amenities that make our parks and forests so valuable to residents and visitors alike,” she said.

With overflowing toilets and trash cans and resource destruction in some national parks among the still lingering effects of the recently ended federal government shutdown, the foundation released its report in Harrisburg to highlight the long-term and ongoing funding shortfalls facing the state’s 121 parks and 20 forests covering 2.2 million acres.

The 45-page report, based on a comprehensive, year-long study of park and forest maintenance needs, found that funding for infrastructure, staffing and materials has “fallen increasingly short over the past decade,” creating an “unprecedented tally of needed investments: from bridges to wastewater treatment facilities, from dams to invasive plant removal, and from roads to trails.”

Although the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which manages the state’s parks and forests, has spent approximately $400 million on park infrastructure maintenance and upgrades between 1995 and 2016, and $77 million on forest improvements between 1999 and 2015, the report said, it hasn’t been able to keep up.

One reason for that is that DCNR’s General Fund budget of $105 million is the same as it was 15 years ago and, the study said, the department has had to increasingly rely on money from the Oil and Gas Lease Fund to meet its growing spending needs.

Between 1955, when it was established, and 2017, the Oil and Gas Lease Fund generated royalty payments of more than $1 billion for conservation purposes, including work in state parks and forests. But in 2008 the State Assembly changed the fund requirement that it be spent for conservation purposes, allowing the transfer of $526 million to the General Fund over the next nine years.

In 2017 the state Supreme Court stopped that practice and ruled that lease fund revenues must be used for conservation and not to balance the state’s budget.

“Had the law regarding the lease fund not been changed (in 2008), hundreds of millions of dollars of rent and royalty payments would have flowed into the lease fund and been available for conservation, recreation, dam or flood control projects,” the report said.

While that ruling could significantly increase the funding available for park and forest work, the report cautioned that state courts must still decide a number of legal issues.

“Those lease funds were set aside for the state parks and forests and we in the forest association will fight to see to it that those funds will be used for parks and forests again.”

Terrance Brady, a DCNR spokesman, said the forest and parks foundation is “an invaluable ally” for parks and forests. “With its strong network of park ‘friends’ groups, it serves as the eyes and ears of the public,” he said, “and is able to generate support through avenues and methods not open to DCNR.”

According to the report, visitors to the state’s parks and forests spend more than $1 billion in nearby communities and towns for motel rooms, food equipment and souvenirs.

The state’s parks and forests also provide environmental benefits of considerable value, the report said, including water filtration, air quality improvement and flood control.

Mr. Brady said the cost of routine park and forest maintenance is spiraling, due largely to weather related events.

“You only have to look to your Point State Park where continual flood clean-ups as recent as last week were required.”

The foundation report is not the first to identify mounting maintenance needs in the state’s parks. A review of park operations done in 1990 showed that a 15 year maintenance backlog had produced a $50 million “to do” list for building and paving roads, repairing bridges and dams, restoring and renovating existing buildings, sewer and water facilities and recreational facilities.

February 4, 2019

Washington D.C. -We are pleased to announce that the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and the American Forest Foundation (AFF) have formed a new partnership to grow the amount of certified family and other small holdings in North America.Through this partnership, SFI and AFF are working together on a Small Lands Group Certification Module (Module), an innovative way to grow certified family landsand small holdings by building on the foundation of SFI's Fiber Sourcing Standard, and drawing on the strengths of the American Tree Farm System (ATFS) forest management standard.

Under this Small Lands Module, companies certified to the SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard will be able to form a new type of certification group to certify small lands within their wood and fiber supply area.

This partnership builds on SFI's previous work to create a Small Lands Group Certification Module, draws on AFF's expertise in family woodland conservation, adding elements to clarify support for long-term landowner engagement, ongoing monitoring, and forest management practices consistent with the ATFS Standards of Sustainability, to enable lands in the U.S. to be certified to ATFS, and in Canada to SFI, through the Module.By adding these and other components, the Module will improve forest conditions over time, support family landowners throughout their tenure and be credible in the marketplace as producing sustainably managed fiber.

With this new partnership, SFI and AFF will work together along with a Task Force of knowledgeable leaders in sustainable forestry, government, conservation, indigenous groups, and the forest products sectors to respond to comments received during a 60-day comment period. Members of the task force will be listed at the Small Lands Module public engagement page when confirmed. The final agreed text of the Module will be submitted to the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) for approval this Spring. Upon approval, fiber produced from lands certified under this program will be certified content for both PEFC and SFI labels and chain of custody systems.

Thank you for your continued support of both SFI and AFF,

Kathy Abusow

President and CEO

Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Inc.

Tom Martin

President and CEO

American Forest Foundation

From the Awarding Organization:

Rachel’s efforts to preserve and allow the pass thru of significant USDA Forest Service funds from the Commonwealth to Penn State Ecosystem Science and Management (ESM) has consistently allowed the Urban & Community Forestry and Pennsylvania Forest Stewards program s to operate over 28 years. She creates program budgets and negotiates yearly operational budgets which support at least 8 staff people. In addition, she logs the Bureau and Penn State match for the USDA funds through the time commitments of DCNR service foresters and other Natural Resource Extension educators.

 

Under her leadership, the TreeVitalize program, Pennsylvania’s premier statewide Urban and Community Forestry program, has experienced growth not just in geographic area covered, but in partners and subject matter. The program, which began with a sole focus on community tree planting grants and citizen training (Tree Tenders), now covers a broad range of Urban and Community Forestry subjects. TreeVitalize is now an accepted brand, recognized as a cutting-edge program within Pennsylvania, both regionally and nationally. There are now at least 7000 trained Tree Tenders throughout the Commonwealth alone! It is a more than successful collaboration, designed to increase tree canopy in our communities.

 

As a testimony to her commitment to natural resources education, her own words state: “I carry with me a passion for this work, which has potential to positively affect the 80% of Pennsylvania’s population now living in our towns and cities. Urban and Community Forestry has at its core the welfare of both people and the environment.”

 

She p artners with other entities on woodland legacy/estate planning and created an innovative and well-received formula for distributing the USDA federal Stewardship funds. In addition, she partners with the Pa Dept. of Agriculture “Clean and Green” open space tax incentive program. In the testimony of current PA Forest Steward, Steve Leventalis: “Rachel is the greatest! She sponsored and nominated me for the PA Forest Stewards training. She started the ball rolling in getting me involved and now I am the Area 6 Chair for the Tree Farm system and on its Steering Committee. I now take a leadership role in hosting and creating events for these organizations! I owe her a lot.”

 

Rachel can think strategically without losing sight of the details. She utilizes current research to achieve program goals. She has advocated for and implemented several DCNR positions in agroforestry, urban wood utilization, riparian buffers, and volunteer and tree canopy coordinators. In addition, she manages other federal grants with key Chesapeake Bay initiatives, including partnering with other states, other PA agencies, and outside organizations.

 

Rachel serves in leadership rol es with the Penn State University Forest Resources Alumni Board of Directors (Spring 2011-present), the Pennsylvania Forestry Association Board of Directors (January 2015-present), and nationally on the Society of American Foresters (SAF) Board of Directors. She provides energy, enthusiasm, warmth and steadfastness in her volunteer efforts. Her other accolades include: Society of American Foresters: Fellow (2016), Society of American Foresters: National Young Forester Leadership Award (2013), PA Parks & Forest Foundation: Joseph Ibberson Government Award, Forest Assessment Team (2011), and the DCNR: Team Excellence Award, TreeVitalize (2010).

 

Summing up, again in Rachel’s words: “I have a firm belief that, working collectively, we will produce outcomes that are more likely to find wider acceptance”. She continues to cheerlead, report, and promote all efforts, accomplishments and successes of all programs she touches.

This is a 57 minute documentary looking at how Pennsylvania's natural resources helped transform the state into an industrial powerhouse. With economic booms and revolutions in natural resource extraction came an environmental price. Pennsylvanian's set about restoring the state's environmental riches and in the process helped shape the national conservation and environmental movements of the 20th century.

 

There are eight(8) documentaries in the series:

You can watch the documentaries online at paconservationheritage.org.

 

Also, Educators' Guides  for the Maurice Goddard, Mira LLoyd Dock, Gifford Pinchot, Ralph Abele, Ned Smith and Rachel Carson documentaries as well as other educational resources to learn about the Commonwealth's rich conservation legacy are online at paconservationheritage.org.

Tree Farm Inspector - Inspection Training: A Paperwork Perspective

Date and Time:

February 26, 2019, Noon

Description:

Since the Pennsylvania Tree Farm Program has moved to a fee-based program and is now providing incentive payments to inspectors who complete inspections there have been a lot of questions concerning proper procedures to be followed. This 30-minute training is being offered to clarify the process and procedures inspectors are to follow, particularly from a paperwork processing perspective. A Live session will be hosted at Noon. If you are unable to attend the live session, the training will be recorded and shared with all PA Tree Farm Inspectors. This training webinar is being offered by the Pennsylvania Forestry Association: Tree Farm Committee.

Please click the link below to join the webinar:  https://psu.zoom.us/j/486763910 

 

Or Telephone:

  Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): 

    US: +1 646 876 9923 or +1 669 900 6833 

  Webinar ID: 486 763 910

Here is another opportunity to take the "Woods in Your Backyard"   course ( March 13 - May 28, 2019)   to help you manage the trees and wildlife on your land.

 

http://extension.umd.edu/woodland/woods-your-backyard/online-course

 

The course promotes the stewardship of small parcels of land for the personal enjoyment of the owners, and improved environmental quality for society. If you own 1 to 10 acres in the Eastern United States that is forested or has unmowed natural areas, this course is for you. It is for you if you have a mowed lawn area that you want to turn into a woodland. It is also for you if you are a land manager or part of a group that manages natural areas, such as a preserve or a community woodland.

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council is seeking volunteers for the annual Weiser Earth Day tree planting on Saturday, April 20 ^th from 9-1 PM. This year, we will be reforesting two acres of legacy mine land. This is ½ the size of last year’s event and will require fewer hands. Register today to hold a spot! This will be the fourth year for this event.

 Please join us in Washington, DC April 29-May 1 for the 2019 ATFS Fly-In and Hill Day. This event is an opportunity for Tree Farmers from across the country to meet with Members of Congress and share the importance of the hard work landowners do to keep their woods healthy. Attendees will get the inside scoop on issues and policies the new 116th Congress will be focusing on and how it will affect America’s forests. Help us build a strong voice in Washington by sharing this information with your state’s Tree Farm program and encourage landowners to register before February 1 to have their registration fee waived. For questions about the event, contact Natalie Alex, AFF Policy and Conservation Coordinator.

02-11-2019 Ruffed Grouse Society talks future of bird preservation

The Susquehanna River Valley Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society held its annual members banquet at The Genetti Hotel Saturday. In addition to dinner, the event featured auctions and raffle prizes, which spanned the walls of most of the banquet hall. Attendees entered for chances to win... - Williamsport Sun-Gazette

02-11-2019 $1 billion needed for infrastructure, maintenance at Pennsylvania state parks, forests

Deferred maintenance on Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests comes with a costly price tag of $1 billion and no clear way to pay for it, according to a new report. “The Legacy of Pennsylvania Parks and Forests: The Future Is in Our Hands,” a 48-page report from the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests... - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

02-08-2019 PGC: Bear Harvest Eleventh-Best All-Time

  (Press Release)

02-04-2019 PFBC: 2019 Adult Trout Stocking Schedules Now Available

  (Press Release)

01-28-2019 Parks and Forests Foundation Releases Report, Urges Funding

  (Around the Capital)

01-28-2019 PA Parks and Forests - State Park Report

  (Testimony)

01-24-2019 DCNR: Pennsylvania Names the Mid State Trail as 2019 Trail of the Year

  (Press Release)