Keeping Black Forest "Cool"

Greetings Black Forest trails users and another Happy New Year to you!  My new year’s resolution is to keep Black Forest cool.  I love that word – cool.  It dates back to my youth and is still used by kids these days.  What cool means to me is a nice place to live with friendly, helpful neighbors, plenty of healthy outdoor activities and no McDonalds or paved sidewalks.  I’m sure we’ve all seen the changing demographic in the Forest but we have a long history of a cool place to live.  So let’s keep it that way.

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​We have another great newsletter for you with several guest articles this time.  Among them, Judy Van Ahlefeldt provides another on BFTA history lesson and Keith Henry updates us on his trail ventures.  I hope you enjoy it and please contact me if you have anything you think our members need to hear.

It’s been a productive year for BFTA completing the Red Tail Ranch connectors and establishing our presence on a trail along Vollmer Road that will connect the developments on south Vollmer to Section 16 and beyond.  Except someone took down the sign shown in my picture and has not returned it.  That’s not cool.

I know we have a lot of connector trails that cut through private property that were established with verbal agreements years, and probably owners, ago.  This year I’d like to revisit these trails to ensure you’re still cool with the agreement and try to establish a formal easement.  So if you’re one of these property owners please contact me to discuss.  Community trails increase property value and security.  
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There’s been some changes in our county parks leadership with Todd Marts moving up as Director of Community Services and Theresa Odello replacing him as Recreation/Cultural Services Manager.  Congratulations to both on your well-deserved promotions and BFTA looks forward to working with you to keep things cool here. 

Another Black Forest stalwart is Terry Stokka who spoke at our July members’ meeting.  Terry leads the Friends of the Black Forest group that you should be aware of.  He’s fighting to keep Black Forest cool too so please join his group on FaceBook – lots of good community information.

We recently met with the Trails and Open Space Coalition (TOSC).  Susan Davies and Aaron Rogers are strong allies that add weight to our positions.  And Susan has agreed to be our guest speaker at our July member’s meeting at the Black Forest Brewery.  Did I say free beer to attendees?!!!

Note we’ll again be participating in the Great America Clean up this Spring.  BFTA will be leading at Section 16. Black Forest Regional Park and the Palmer Divide Trail.  As always, we’ll need your help.

And we also need your help serving your community by taking a leadership position in BFTA.  Several board members will be stepping down and we’ll need someone new to step up.  I’d like to create healthy turnover in BFTA so you’re not stuck in a position for more than two years.  That’s cool.  Our board meetings are open to the public and held at the Black Forest Community Center on the second Wednesday of the month starting at 630 PM.  I strive to finish before closing time.

So let’s all continue to keep Black Forest cool.  Feel free to contact me at [email protected] with your thoughts, issues and ideas.  And look for me and my (not so) little brown puppy on the trails. All the best in 2022!  

Sincerely, Rich Mock
President BFTA