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Let's get out and play in the snow! < Back Join us on the trail with snowshoes or skis Nicole Avitahl-Curtis Feb 21, 2026 Let's get out and play in the snow! Hello ECRT Friends! Welcome to 2026! The year has begun with a lot of snow, so we thought it would be fun to embrace the weather and explore the trail in winter fashion with this special FREE event! We invite you to join us with snowshoes or cross-country skis for a winter hike on the trail! If you've been interested in trying snowshoeing, now is your chance. Snowshoes can be borrowed for free from the Buffalo & Erie County Library system. You can also rent equipment from shops like Mud Sweat n' Gears in East Aurora and Colden Ski & Board Shop . When: Saturday, February 21, 10 AM - 12 PM Where:        Orchard Park Train Depot , 395 S Lincoln Ave, Orchard Park, NY. (Park at the Depot, on street or in the OP Library Parking lot) We will meet at the Orchard Park Train Depot and hike a loop to Jewett Holmwood and back, for a total distance of 2.4 miles. When we return to the Train Depot, we'll enjoy hot chocolate and bagels! RSVP:          Please pre-register here by February 20th and include the number of people attending. Or simply scan this QR code: If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email, call or text me. I look forward to seeing you and your families for our winter hike! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email, call or text me. I look forward to seeing you and your families for our winter hike! Happy Trails! Nicole Avitahl-Curtis Orchard Park Friends of ECRT 617-877-1103 navitahl-curtis@ecattrail.org Previous Next

We would love to work with you!  < Back ECRT Needs YOU! Mary Brummer, ECRT President Mar 10, 2024 We would love to work with you! Photo by Amer Mughawish on Unsplash ECRT is a vibrant, energetic group of volunteers on a mission to build a Southtowns recreational trail for all to enjoy. Do you see yourself in a leadership role as this project proceeds? We would love to work with you! We're especially interested in people who want to volunteer their skills in these areas: Communications: Photography, especially at events. Social media and newsletter content creation. Community Engagement: Hold m eetings to update the public and to receive feedback. Development Director: Seek funding to build the trail. Event Planner: Plan and prepare fundraising events. Grant Writer: We have a great team in place, but we're happy to have helping hands. Membership/CRM Assistant: A newer initiative for ECRT - help us build and engage our membership and maintain a Membership management program. Construction Project Manager: Segments of the trail are built as funding is acquired. If any one of these roles appeals to you and you have the skills to offer, please contact us at 716-771-2453 or email info@ecattrail.org and let's discuss it in more detail. We'll provide you with excellent mentorship. Come join us on Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail! Previous Next

Deb Fenn Robin Frey Robin Frey grew up in Alden, NY, next to the old Delaware, Lackawanna & Western (DL&W) rail line, built in 1883 and abandoned in 1963. “We lived in the old hotel across the street from the North Alden Station,” she noted. “We were all homeschooled and television wasn’t allowed, so we had time to get creative (or get into trouble) outdoors, mostly along that old rail line.” Hours on end spent exploring the tracks led to her love of “all things outdoors and all things railroad.” Robin credits her grandmother for her creativity and her father for her entrepreneurial spirit. Her dad “bought an old station wagon, painted Ken’s Handyman Wagon along its side panel, and Voila! He was in business!” She helped him make flyers and spread them all over the community, even door-to-door. Robin’s eccentric grandmother exhibited her own creative flair. Like Robin, she loved the outdoors and loved to paint, using “crazy, bright colors to interpret the natural world around her.” Self-sufficiency was a rule of thumb in Robin’s family, and Robin would hold a series of odd jobs starting at age 14. By 17, she was out on her own. “I attended GCC and took a course in advertising and design. But I was already earning a living at that time, and I just wanted to work with my hands – like my dad.” She soon landed a job with Ingersoll Painting & Construction, painting and doing intricate plaster work on some of Buffalo’s most historic homes and businesses. “I really enjoyed doing my small part to preserve and restore some of these magnificent buildings.” ‘Tired hands’ led her to retire the paint brush for less physical marketing and advertising, first with Joe Basil Chevrolet and later as the Marketing Manager for the entire Basil Automotive Group. “I became adept using a variety of Internet marketing platforms. I produced advertising materials and managed the advertising budget for the Group.” Some years later, moving to Ashford, NY, Robin again found herself living near a rail line. “I started walking the corridor regularly. It was so beautiful! I got involved with the Pop Warner section of the trail and started taking lots of pictures in the area – mostly of the trail. I showed them to the owner of Vanover Fine Arts, one of Springville’s local galleries at the time”, and they were so impressed that they “invited me to do a show of my own there, featuring many photos of the trail. I called it Beauty In Our Backyard.” During a brief move to Las Vegas, Robin secured a marketing management role with Goodnature, a commercial juicing equipment manufacturer which, oddly enough, was based in Buffalo. Her work focused on increasing brand awareness through industry trade shows and required frequent travel to promote the company. Goodnature moved her back to their Buffalo headquarters to expand their social media presence and produce the company’s annual JuiceCon convention. Robin’s recent corporate projects include developing a new company website, overseeing a rebranding effort and producing the firm’s popular hardcover publication, The Juicing Companion. “It’s a growing company with lots of opportunities. I’m really happy there.” Both a cyclist and hiker, Robin rode in the 2021 EA2EVL Fondo, the fundraising bike ride from East Aurora to Ellicottville benefitting Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail. There she reconnected with ECRT, and since then she’s become a key player on the Communications Team, leading its Social Media focus group and developing branding guidelines. “I look forward to helping with the website and building greater brand awareness for the trail. Personally, rail corridors have played an important part in my development as a child. They were, and still are, places to explore, enjoy nature and spark creativity. I really want to see a safe, accessible trail for everyone to use and enjoy. This trail can make a huge difference in the quality of life for so many. The possibilities are endless!” March 1, 2023 Written by: Deb Fenn Previous Next < Back

A small but keen group got together last week to spruce things up! < Back Volunteers Beautify Orchard Park Depot Grounds Kathleen McCrone Jul 13, 2025 A small but keen group got together last week to spruce things up! A small but keen group got together last week to refresh the mulch around the evergreen trees at the OP Depot. ECRT thanks the volunteers for their labor and the OP Village Department of Public Works for the mulch. We're told that fun was had by all! Previous Next

Let's celebrate this latest trail opening together! < Back Grand Opening of New Trail Section in Aurora Communications Sep 20, 2025 Let's celebrate this latest trail opening together! ECRT will open the newest Aurora section to the public with a ribbon-cutting and a trail walk or ride. Join us to celebrate the completion of the latest section of the ECRT trail, from Ellicott Road to Old Glenwood Road. Saturday, September 20th, 10:00 a.m. - 12 noon. Our Opening Ceremony will be hosted by The Quarry, a wedding venue located adjacent to Ellicott Road in West Falls (Across the road from Five Star Equipment). Look for the ECRT volunteers wearing yellow vests at the Ellicott Road entrance to direct you to the parking area. There's plenty of parking and restrooms are available at the site. Previous Next

Deb Fenn Ellen Januszkiewicz The love of railroads runs deep for Ellen Januszkiewicz, a regular, enthusiastic ECRT volunteer from Orchard Park. Her father, Leon, was a track maintenance mechanic whose career brought Ellen’s family from Scranton, PA to rail yards of Lackawanna, NY. Ellen was born in Scranton, once an active, vital railroad hub. Today it is home to Steamtown , a national industrial heritage site, dedicated to preserving the history of the steam railroad and the role its workforce played during the Industrial Revolution and beyond. Leon began what would be his lifelong career there, learning the skills needed to maintain the machinery that in turn was used to maintain the integrity of the tracks. Recognizing an intelligent, skilled mechanic, the railroad paid for Leon‘s further training in Chicago. He then earned a promotion that moved the family to Lackawanna and a job on the William Street train yard with the Erie Lackawanna Railroad. His work made it possible for the family to travel frequently by train for family visits and for pleasure. Later, Leon would continue to advance his career back in Scranton as the regional maintenance manager for Conrail. “Getting to travel by train was always exciting for my brother, Frank, and I as kids,” Ellen recalls. “The most exciting, thrilling rides always involved being allowed to dine in the Phoebe Snow Club Car.” (‘Phoebe’ was a fictitious, high society character the railroad used to advertise this exclusive dining amenity, along with this catchy motto, ‘A cozy seat, a dainty treat, makes Phoebe’s happiness complete; with linen white and silver bright, upon the road of anthracite .’) “Everyone, including us kids, had to really dress for the occasion. I know we learned our table manners in the Phoebe.” Ellen and Frank were the first in their family to graduate from college. Ellen attended UB and earned a Masters in Nursing. She enjoyed a successful career as a public health nurse, working for the Erie County Health Department and for Roswell Park Memorial Institute. She eventually became a professor of nursing at Erie Community College. She married husband Martin in 1972. The couple lived for a time in Syracuse where Martin attended SU and played for the Syracuse University Orange Men. Drafted by the Baltimore Colts, Martin never got to play professionally, but used his education to achieve is MS in Special Education. Upon returning to Buffalo, he pursued his career at the WNY Children’s Psychiatric Center. Ellen got interested in volunteering for ECRT when she saw the organization’s efforts to maintain and preserve the corridor. She walks the Orchard Park section frequently and happily offers her help at tabling events in Orchard Park and Springville. “I see people on the trail all the time. My son Jason and his wife Amy walk here pretty regularly as well, with their dog, Asoka. My grandsons Jonas and Myles bike here and really enjoy it.” “When I’m on the trail, I think of my dad and how hard he worked. He loved being a ‘railroader’. He would be thrilled to see how the rail beds are being used now as a trail for the community to use and enjoy.” June 1, 2024 Written by: Deb Fenn Previous Next < Back

Here comes Peter Cottontail! < Back West Falls Easter Egg Hunt 2026 ECRT Mar 15, 2026 Here comes Peter Cottontail! Join us for an Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, March 28th at 10:30 am in West Falls. There'll be prizes and candy for the kiddos, and a chance to have your picture taken with the Easter bunny! The hunt takes place o n the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail in West Falls, behind St. George Church. Preregister today at https://www.zeffy.com/en-us/ticketing/easter-egg-hunt--2026-4 or scan the code below. Scan to register for the Easter Egg Hunt Previous Next

Mike Bowen is a retired business and technology leader with more than 30 years of experience guiding complex organizations through transformation, operational improvement, and long-term strategic change. His experience brings a strong perspective on stewardship of resources, risk management, transparency, and aligning investments to mission-critical outcomes. He has a long record of community service and volunteer leadership focused on youth development, education, and public service. His involvement includes leading annual volunteer construction teams supporting Camp Stella Maris; serving for many years as a coach and team leader across multiple youth sports programs; volunteering as a science consultant for middle school students in the city of Rochester; and contributing to public safety and outdoor recreation through service with the National Ski Patrol at Bristol Mountain and the Safety Patrol at Holiday Valley. He is deeply committed to initiatives that promote community well-being, accessibility, and responsible use of shared natural resources. Mike holds an MBA with concentrations in information technology and marketing, and a bachelor’s degree in business and finance from the University at Buffalo School of Management. He is an avid skier, bicyclist, and Adirondack mountain hiker, and he values trail systems that connect communities, expand access to the outdoors, and preserve natural corridors for future generations. When he’s not busy conquering major trails or organizational transformations, he enjoys spending time with his family in Western New York. < Back Michael Bowen Mike Bowen is a retired business and technology leader with more than 30 years of experience guiding complex organizations through transformation, operational improvement, and long-term strategic change. His experience brings a strong perspective on stewardship of resources, risk management, transparency, and aligning investments to mission-critical outcomes. He has a long record of community service and volunteer leadership focused on youth development, education, and public service. His involvement includes leading annual volunteer construction teams supporting Camp Stella Maris; serving for many years as a coach and team leader across multiple youth sports programs; volunteering as a science consultant for middle school students in the city of Rochester; and contributing to public safety and outdoor recreation through service with the National Ski Patrol at Bristol Mountain and the Safety Patrol at Holiday Valley. He is deeply committed to initiatives that promote community well-being, accessibility, and responsible use of shared natural resources. Mike holds an MBA with concentrations in information technology and marketing, and a bachelor’s degree in business and finance from the University at Buffalo School of Management. He is an avid skier, bicyclist, and Adirondack mountain hiker, and he values trail systems that connect communities, expand access to the outdoors, and preserve natural corridors for future generations. When he’s not busy conquering major trails or organizational transformations, he enjoys spending time with his family in Western New York. Previous Next

Celebrating a year of meaningful community gatherings < Back Gatherings During This Season of Gratitude Mary Brummer Dec 1, 2025 Celebrating a year of meaningful community gatherings December 2025 Dear Friend, How fitting as we enter this season of gratitude that we at Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail celebrate a year of meaningful community gatherings. We gathered to walk, to share meals, to explore ideas, and to voice concerns. We gathered to ride bikes through the countryside, raising funds to develop the trail. Sometimes we ventured alone on the trail, gathering only our thoughts as we enjoyed nature. In whatever manner our gathering happens, important connections are forged. Memories are created, friendships deepened, and teamwork results. A happy consequence of all this gathering is this year’s progress on the trail: · ECRT generated a funding plan to resurface the trail in Orchard Park. · ECRT purchased a utility vehicle to enhance maintenance operations, so the trail may remain safe and clear for all to use. · ECRT opened a new section of trail in West Falls, utilizing millings from local road construction to install a smooth new surface. · ECRT was awarded a grant to resurface an additional section of trail in the Town of Aurora. · ECRT began evaluation and design work on the historic Cascade Bridge in the Town of Concord. You may “gather” from these results that Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail development has momentum, and you would be correct. We are advancing projects in each community along the trail, and we are making progress. The key to maintaining this forward movement is your support. Please give to ECRT today , to ensure that development of the only multi-use recreational trail in the Southtowns continues. Together, we are creating a wonderful community asset to benefit our region today and for generations to come! Many thanks for your gift. May your holiday gatherings bring you great joy! Happy trails! Mary Brummer President, Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail, Inc. Click here to Donate Prefer to send a check? Please write “ 2025 Holiday Appeal ” in the memo area and mail it to ECRT, PO Box 584, Orchard Park, NY 14127. Make your gift go further: Does your employer match employees’ charitable donations? You might be able to double your gift to ECRT! To find out if your company matches donations, check with your HR department, use an online matching gift search tool, or look for a "matching gift" or "employee benefits" section on your company's website . Each company has different rules, so the best way to know for sure is to check directly with them. Scan this code to Donate Previous Next

OP Depot Clean-Up 2023 < Back Spring is Here! Kathleen McCrone May 19, 2023 OP Depot Clean-Up 2023 Steve Williams, a wonderful and enthusiastic ECRT volunteer, managed to get several volunteers out on the trail near the OP Depot. Many workers make for lighter work and these worker bees spread several yards of mulch and made the area ready for Train Day on Saturday. We are so lucky to have so many volunteers. Fran Hogenkamp even used his tractor to help spread the mulch. Enjoy some photos from the day! Previous Next

Deb Fenn 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. December 1, 2023 Written by: Deb Fenn Previous Next < Back

ECRT fans enjoyed a beautiful day on the trail! < Back Springville Concord Fall Walk MC Dearing Oct 27, 2025 ECRT fans enjoyed a beautiful day on the trail! Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail fans enjoyed a beautiful day on the trail in the Springville/Concord section recently. The walk was led by Springville-Concord Friends leader, Mary Carol Dearing. Several walkers were proudly sporting their EA2EVL Fondo t-shirts! Thank you all for displaying and sharing your trail enthusiasm. Previous Next