RAGBRAI

The Des Moines Register is announcing the route for the 2015 RAGBRAI tonight at 8:30 p.m. CST. You can watch it live at www.ragbrai.com.

Riding now?

I wonder if anyone is riding on the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail these days?

Winter on the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail on

I wonder if anyone is riding on the Pumpkinvine in this weather?

Friends of the Pumpkinvine receive grant from community foundation

Earlier this month, we learned that the board of directors of the Elkhart County Community Foundation has awarded the Friends of the Pumpkinvine a two-year, $300,000 challenge­ grant to close the gap in the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail between County Road 33 and County Road 20. The “challenge” part of the grant means that the foundation will match funds that the Friends of the Pumpkinvine raise over the next two years dollar for dollar up to $300,000.

This grant is a wonderful affirmation of the contribution the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail has made to this community and the desire of the foundation to see the trail extended in this area. Closing gaps in the trail is the Friends’ top priority and was the subject of our fall fund appeal.

The Friends of the Pumpkinvine have been in discussion with the landowners in this section for two years and together with them have outlined a tentative route for the trail through this section. The Friends also commissioned an estimate of what building a trail in this section would cost and used that estimate in the grant application to the Elkhart County Community Foundation.

The Friends of the Pumpkinvine board would like to thank you, our loyal supporters, for all you have contributed toward the creation of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail, a level of support that has made the trail into a community asset the foundation want to see finished, too.

We will keep you informed through our newsletter, website and Facebook page about how you can help with the local match. To make an immediate donation, send a check to: Friends of the Pumpkinvine, PO Box 392, Goshen, IN 46527-0392. Or you can donate online at: http://www.pumpkinvine.org/html/donate.html

John Yoder

President, Friends of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail, Inc.

December Pumpkinvine Trail Talk now online

December 2014 Pumpkinvine Trail Talk

Help beautify the Pumpkinvine by removing invasive species

You are invited to join other Friends of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail in removing invasive shrubs, such as Multiflora Rose and Bush Honeysuckle, in the forested region, near mile-marker 4.5, west of where the trail meets CR 33. The removal is schedule from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, December 13.

Meet at Abshire Park at 9 a.m. to car pool. If you prefer to ride your bike, plan to meet the others near County Road 33 at 9:15 a.m. If you have a spade and/or loppers, please bring those and dress warmly.

If you can help, contact Bob Carrico at rjcarrico1@frontier.com or 574-266-1362. Please give your phone number or e-mail so we can contact you if we have to reschedule in the event of inclement weather.

Pumpkinvine is Rails-to-Trail Conservancy trail of the month

Trail of the month