Montour Trail-Letter

by Bruce Barron

Always wanting to devote as much resources as possible to trail building and maintenance rather than administration, the MTC has conducted its operations out of board members' homes for over a decade. But a designated gift of free rent at a well-furnished, centrally located office was too good an offer to refuse.

The new office is located at 304 Hickman Street in Bridgeville, just off Route 50 and immediately behind the Bridgeville Post Office. Contributions by three anonymous supporters have assured the MTC of rent-free occupancy for the next two years. In addition, Automatic Data Processing and PNC Bank donated used furniture and file cabinets. John and Berenice Hooton arranged the lease on behalf of the MTC board.

The MTC held a formal opening ceremony for the office on June 8, featuring the presentation of a $6,000 contribution to the trail from Burgh's Pizza and Wings. This gift represented the proceeds of the highly successful, first annual Burgh's Run, which took place along the trail in Cecil Township in April. Frank & Tom Daily of Burgh's also presented a $1000 check to Cecil Township in appreciation of its superb cooperation with the race.

Among those attending the opening were State Representative John Maher, John Pippy's legislative assistant Briana Din, Mackin Engineers, Bob Genter and Mahendra Bhalakia, biking columnist, Larry Walsh of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, and representatives of the Bridgeville Area News, and the Washington Observer-Reporter.

The opening prompted articles to be written in the Tribune-Review, and a more lengthy article in the Beaver Times on traveling the Montour Trail.

The office will not be staffed on a regular basis but will be used for document storage, meetings, and correspondence. The new contact information is:

Montour Trail Council
304 Hickman Street, Suite 3
Bridgeville, PA 15017
Phone (412) 257-3011