Deb Fenn Liz Birardi I met up with Liz on a Sunday afternoon at Comma Fine Art Gallery in East Aurora where she, a co-curator, is minding the store. The current “Known, Imagined, Experienced ” exhibit includes 38 local artists — among them Liz — and features an eclectic display of mediums and expressions. Liz first studied art at UB and continued later at Empire State College where she pursued a program that included natural sciences and art. Today, her paintings reflect an appreciation for the abstract, science and the natural world. Liz grew up on Long Island where her contact with nature was often limited to a trip to the beach. It wasn’t until she moved to Rochester in the 1980s and met her husband, Rob, that her relationship with the natural world really began to expand. Starting with a trip to Zoar Valley, during the course of their 37-year marriage, the couple explored, camped and canoed. With children Gina and Ian in tow, the family made annual trips to Heart Lake in the Adirondacks. Liz, now a “44 peaker”, is officially an outdoors person. “These experiences opened my eyes to the value of the natural world, which is now intrinsic to my art.” Today, Liz and Rob live in East Aurora. For several years, Liz was affiliated with The Western New York Land Conservancy. “In 2009, I did a hike at Kenneglenn, one of the Conservancy’s first acquisitions and their current headquarters. I liked their mission and subsequently worked to digitize their files. I became familiar with the conservancy’s history, land preservation and conservation from this experience and, from 2012 until 2022, was employed as their office manager.” Through mutual friendships, Liz became aware of Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail. She has volunteered at tabling events, National Trails Day celebrations, donor thank-you hikes and at registration for the EA2EVL Fondo. She is also a current and valued member of the ECRT Development Team. “I really like the idea of the trail; that you can walk from town to town and find yourself surrounded by nature. It’s also great that you rarely have to cross a road. It’s also really great for the communities. This is such a wonderful project!” February 1, 2024 Written by: Deb Fenn Previous Next < Back

Bernie Young Bernie Young is a country guy, through and through. He has lived in East Concord with his wife, Jeanette, for the past 50 years. Apart from his 4 children, 13 grandchildren and 7 great-grands, what Bernie loves most in this world is his abiding connection to nature and ‘the great outdoors'. As Bernie welcomed me into his home, he invited me to have a seat in what is certainly his favorite room; a place that serves as both a dining area and his beloved trophy room. Proudly displayed on the walls above our heads as we chatted were beautifully mounted turkeys and deer. (One buck, he noted, boasted a rack listed in the New York State record books “with a score of 145!”) A carpenter by trade, Bernie was founder and sole owner of Young Construction for most of his working life. Generally working alone, he remodeled numerous interior spaces over the years and, with a hired hand or two, constructed several home additions. Now retired, Bernie spends much of his time outdoors. He continues to cut his own firewood and he built a small cabin on a parcel of wooded property he owns on Springville-Boston Road. There, he hunts and fishes and simply enjoys his time with nature. Bernie also proudly serves on the board of directors of Springville Field and Stream. The organization’s recent fundraiser, a “Golf and Shoot”, involved competing trap-shooting teams followed by a round of golf at Concord Crest , dinner and prizes. Proceeds benefitted the Springville Trout Pond project, an endeavor Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail has been affiliated with this past year, creating an ADA accessible connection from the pond to the trail. In his spare time, Bernie is one of ECRT’s valued, hard-working volunteers .Using an ATV four-wheeler and a tow-behind mower, he does a meticulous job maintaining the trail from Genesee Road to Old Glenwood. He also walks the trail frequently. For Bernie, the trail is a much-loved place he gladly takes care of and truly cares for; a place where he can commune with nature very close to home. More volunteers

Fifth annual EA2EVL 42-mile ride benefits the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail < Back 2025 EA2EVL CHARITY BIKE RIDE OCTOBER 4 Deborah Stellrecht Jul 20, 2025 Fifth annual EA2EVL 42-mile ride benefits the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail Register now for Western New York’s premier fall bike ride, the EA2EVL Fondo to be held on Saturday, October 4. This 42-mile non-competitive charity bike ride kicks off at 10 a.m. in East Aurora, winds south through rolling hills and fall foliage and ends in Ellicottville with a finish line party at Holiday Valley. All proceeds from EA2EVL support the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail (ECRT), a 27-mile trail that runs along a former rail line from Orchard Park to Ashford, NY. Register to ride or volunteer here . “The popularity of the EA2EVL Fondo has surpassed all expectations in terms of attendance and support for the trail,” said event sponsor John Cimperman, Founder of 42 North Brewery. “In addition to supporting a great cause, this ride delivers beautiful views and camaraderie for riders of any skill level.” The bike event starts in East Aurora at 42 North Brewery and travels south down scenic Route 240, riding on the road parallel to the ECRT trail from West Falls into Concord. The course continues to Route 242 into the town of Ellicottville. The event ends at a finish line party at Holiday Valley which is open to the public, featuring food, drinks and live music. Transportation will be offered to bring riders back to East Aurora, or riders can get special rates for lodging at Holiday Valley. In addition to the registration fee, riders who fundraise an additional $100 for ECRT will receive a commemorative shirt and tickets for food and drinks at the post-event party. Participants who raise $500 or more receive an EA2EVL bike jersey. The top fundraiser is awarded the coveted EA2EVL “yellow jersey” and a $500 gift certificate from Tom’s Pro Bikes. “We celebrate more trail construction activity in 2025 with our fifth EA2EVL charity bike ride”, announced Mary Brummer, ECRT Board President. “The Fondo continues to be hugely helpful in making Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail the Southtowns jewel we envision, and we look forward to riding and partying together on October 4!” National Fuel, 42 North Brewing, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, and The Small Law firm are sponsors of the 2025 event. John V. Ellmore P.C. and Excelsior Orthopedics are the road sign sponsors, and Tom’s Pro Bikes will provide tech support to riders on the course. Register for the ride at www.ea2evlfondo.com . A very special thank you to our Event Sponsors, without whom we could not host this event! Previous Next

The trail is about more than walking or biking. It's about preserving history while creating something future generations can use every day. < Back WKBW News Visits Trail with President Mary Brummer Jiovanni Lieggi Jul 9, 2026 The trail is about more than walking or biking. It's about preserving history while creating something future generations can use every day. https://video.wixstatic.com/video/0373ea_079040702adf4d389a5887be635dc930/720p/mp4/file.mp4 The ride is smooth until it suddenly isn't. For miles, the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail winds through quiet woods, beneath a canopy of trees and past remnants of a railroad that shaped Western New York more than a century ago. Then the smooth ride ends. The Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail stretches 27 miles from Orchard Park to Springville, following the former Buffalo and Erie Railroad corridor. It's an abrupt reminder that one of the region's most ambitious trail projects remains unfinished. More than two decades after work began to transform the rail line into a multiuse trail, only about half of the route has been completed. Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail President Mary Brummer has spent years helping move the project forward, working alongside volunteers who envision a continuous trail connecting communities across the Southtowns. "These trails are meant not only for recreation, but to become an active transportation corridor," Brummer said. "People should eventually be able to use this to get from place to place without a vehicle." Completing this will require millions of dollars in additional funding, something the nonprofit continues to pursue through grants, fundraising and community support. Volunteers say the trail is about more than walking or biking. It's about preserving history while creating something future generations can use every day. Brummer believes the finished trail will do something increasingly rare: bring people together. "Connecting with other people face to face rather than on a screen is so healthy," she said. "Anything we can do to facilitate that is a worthy goal." Supporters will have another chance to help move the project forward this fall. The Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail's annual charity bike ride , held each October, raises money for the trail as volunteers continue working toward their goal of connecting all 27 miles. Thank you to Jiovanni Lieggi of WKBW News for sharing our mission to develop the 27-mile Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail! (C) 2026 Scripps Media Reprinted with Permission. Previous Next

Memorial garden to be dedicated to former troop leaders < Back Junior Scouts Break Ground Deb Fenn May 7, 2023 Memorial garden to be dedicated to former troop leaders Junior Scouts from Troop 34218, working on their Bronze Award, broke ground today on a memorial wild flower garden at ECRT's Jewett Holmwood Road trail entrance. The garden will be dedicated to the memory of 2 former troop leaders who recently passed. Thank you for beautifying our trail! #GirlScoutStrong #eriecattaraugusrailtrail Previous Next

There are many ways you can give to the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail. Here are some of the many ways that you can contribute to building the trail. Give generously to help us build YOUR trail! Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization registered with New York State. Your financial support is greatly appreciated, and every dollar goes into improving the rail trail. Please give if you’re able to. How to Give Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail uses Zeffy to process online donations securely and with no fees. To give, simply fill out the simple donation form below. More Ways to Give Make your gift go further: Does your employer match employees’ charitable donations? You might be able to double your gift to ECRT! Prefer to send a check? Please mail it to ECRT, PO Box 584, Orchard Park, NY 14127. NYS Charitable Donation Disclosures ECRT is an all-volunteer charitable organization. All funds received are dedicated to promotion, design, and construction of Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail. The latest financial report from ECRT may be obtained from the Attorney General's Charities Bureau's Website - www.charitiesnys.com , or by written request to Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail, PO Box 584, Orchard Park, NY 14127. Information about charities may be obtained by calling the NYS Attorney General at (212) 416-8686.

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Thank you for registering for our Full Moon Trail Walk! We look forward to seeing you on April 12th. Here are a few extra reminders for this event: We will walk from the Orchard Park train depot to Jewett Holmwood Rd and back, which is approximately 2.6 miles. On Saturday, April 12th the sun will set at exactly the same time as the full moon rises - 7:54pm. The moon will be at peak illumination at 8:22pm. The April full moon is known as the pink moon, not because it will be pink, but because it corresponds to the early springtime bloom of a certain wildflower native to north America commonly called creeping phlox or moss phlox. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied and supervised by an adult at all times. This is an outdoor event at night, so please dress for the weather. Only red-light headlamps or flashlights should be used; please bring those if you have them. We will have a limited number of red-light flashlights for use if you don’t have those. The walk is subject to cancellation due to inclement weather. If we have to cancel, registered members will be notified by email that day. We cannot control mother nature, so we're unable to guarantee a nice sunset or clear view of the moon that night. We will still proceed with the event even if it is cloudy. See you on the trail, Mary Brummer, President Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail Event Timetable: Location: Orchard Park Train Depot – Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail (ECRT) Check-in Time: 7:30pm - Orchard Park Train Depot Trail Talk: 7:40pm Walk Start Time: 8pm Light refreshments to follow: Approximately 8:45pm Walk distance: 2.6 miles – from Orchard Park train depot to Jewett Holmwood Rd and back Parking: Available on-street parking and in the Orchard Park Library parking lot adjacent to the OP Train Depot

Aerial tour of the future trail via drone! Enjoy this Virtual Tour of the ECRT Trail! The Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail is over 27 miles long and runs from Orchard Park to Ashford, crossing through five municipalities and joining two counties. While the ECRT Board is wo rking with key partners and funders to build the blueprint for the trail, we invite you to enjoy a virtual tour of the trail built from drone footage of the following sections: Springville E. Concord Colden West Falls Orchard Park Springville Section is Open Now is a great time to get outside and reconnect with nature, a constant throughout this COVID-19 crisis. And the perfect place to do that safely is on a trail. That includes the open section of the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail, the Pop Warner trail in Springville. It’s a great resource for the whole family!

Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail is a railbanked 27-mile rail trail in Erie and Cattaraugus counties of New York. Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization of volunteers working to develop and maintain a multiuse recreational trail on the rail corridor. Events ECRT and 42 North Community Night 2026 Bring your friends & family to Community Night at 42 North Brewing Company! Read more News WKBW News Visits Trail with President Mary Brummer The trail is about more than walking or biking. It's about preserving history while creating something future generations can use every day. Read more Become a Member! Love the outdoors? Consider joining us. Your support helps our ongoing efforts to preserve the former rail corridor with the intent to develop it into a multi-use recreational trail. It also demonstrates community support to our local and state officials. All members receive our ECRT newsletter as well as additional benefits, depending on the Membership level you choose. Learn more about Membership... Volunteer Spotlight: Laura Gunderson Since 2021, Laura has been actively involved with the ECRT organization. She is currently the Leader of the West Falls chapter of Friends of the Trail. Read more Become A Trail Expert Read Just the Facts! What sections are open today? What types of activities does the trail accommodate? Who owns the trail? Has it been abandoned? What does railbanking mean? Who has jurisdiction over the trail? What is the best way to build the trail? Who is responsible if someone is injured on the trail? Are adjacent landowners responsible? Has there been recent progress on trail design? What's next for the trail? Explore the Trail: Explore the future Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail. More on exploring Learn More About ECRT: Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and trail manager for the railbanked portion of the Buffalo-Pittsburgh Railway in Western NY. Over twenty-seven miles long, this railroad right-of-way connects the communities of Orchard Park, Aurora, West Falls, Colden, East Concord, Springville and West Valley, New York. More about ECRT Follow Us on Facebook: Sign the Petition to support the ECRT

Jim Slominski ECRT relies on board member Jim Slominski for his deep knowledge and dedication to preserving railroad history. A current trustee of the Western New York Railroad Historical Society and chair of the Orchard Park Depot Committee, Jim became involved with ECRT due to a primary interest in preserving the integrity of the former Buffalo-Pittsburg Railroad right-of-way. He recalls what happened in Hamburg when the Buffalo & Susquehanna line was discontinued: “The right-of-way was completely obliterated. Today, you’d be hard pressed to find any intact sections of original corridor.” A lifelong resident of Orchard Park, from a very early age, Jim grew up near train tracks. “I was fascinated with anything that had to do with trains. When we lived on Liberty Drive off Taylor Road, I could watch trains come and go from our family room.” The Orchard Park Depot Committee was formed by like-minded railroad buffs in 1980 with a common desire to restore the depot and its storied surroundings. Jim joined in 1981 and has been an active member ever since. The hard work of restoration began in the early 1980s when then depot owner, Ed Burke, expressed interest in donating the site to the organization. In the decades following, everything from new wiring and plumbing to exterior restoration projects were undertaken with support from generous individual donations and from the efforts of local legislators. Most recently, Scott Bieler, CEO of West Herr Automotive Group, provided funds enabling significant renovations to both the interior and exterior of the site. The depot is now dedicated to his family. One very large project remains: restoring and retiling the roof, a project that could cost up to $1,000,000. “We also need to find a company with the skills and the will to undertake this hands-on, labor-intensive project.” Jim graduated from Canisius College with a degree in accounting. Prior to graduation, he participated in a work-study cooperative program with the IRS. Upon graduation, he began a 34-year career with the IRS advancing from a revenue agent to that of an appeals officer and finally as a liaison to the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation. During the course of his career, Jim was a member of the IRS instructor cadre, worked closely with the IRS litigation division, served on a number of task forces and authored various training books and procedural manuals. An ECRT board member since 2012, Jim is delighted with the trail’s noticeable, significant progress over the past four years or so. “I can’t wait for the new section to open up connecting the trail to the depot. It will have an enormous, positive effect on the Village. You’ll see people using the trail on a regular basis to come to the Village to visit the library, to shop or to attend events. I predict we’ll see a lot more interest in and activity around depot which, of course, we welcome!” The Orchard Park Depot Committee is always looking for people interested in volunteering. “My wish list would include new members willing to help with events and interact with visitors to the depot. And if you have a background in construction, maintenance or any of the trades, we’d welcome your time, skills and support!” More volunteers