Gary Doster, local historian, wrote this piece for Athens Historian on the Georgia Rail Road's depot on Carr's Hill in Athens.  We think it's great.

OnlineAthens/The Athens Banner-Herald has published an article on a proposed service station along the route of the Firefly Trail in Athens.  What are your thoughts?

The City of Maxeys in Oglethorpe County has been selected to receive a $100,000 grant from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to build a segment of the Firefly Trail in Maxeys, which will become part of the planned 39-mile long Firefly Trail from Athens to Union Point.  

We are gearing up to help Maxeys raise matching funds.  Do you have expertise in this area? 

We need several knowledgeable individuals to participate in the planning and execution of various elements of fundraising for our “Pave the Firefly Trail” campaign. 

Contact: Gary Hedrick, Fundraising Committee Chair
Firefly Trail, Inc.
garyh@fireflytrail.com 

Become a Sponsor
Whether you are a business owner, or are employed by a business, take a look at our sponsor benefits.  Complimentary ride registrations make great gifts for customers and employees while your business gets recognized as a supporter of safe and healthy lifestyles.  

The 2015 Ticket to Ride attracted 216 registered participants. Expected turnout for 2016 is 200-250. 

Friend - $100
Benefits: One event registration; recognition in Firefly Trail digital newsletter (over 700 subscribers), social media and website; small logo on flyer and event banner. One item welcome for rider bags.

Supporter - $200
Benefits: Two event registrations; tent/exhibit space at Jittery Joe’s Roaster; medium logo on event flyer and banner; your banner at Jittery Joe’s Roaster; recognition in Firefly Trail digital newsletter, social media and website; recognition in event press releases. One item welcome for rider bags.

Advocate - $500
Benefits: Five event registrations; prominent tent/exhibit space at Jittery Joe’s Roaster; large logo on event flyer and banner; your banner at Jittery Joe’s Roaster and one rest stop of your choice; recognition from stage before the ride starts; recognition in Firefly Trail digital newsletter, social media, website, and Ticket to Ride press releases. Up to two items welcome for rider bags.

Promoter - $1,000
Benefits: Up to 10 registrations. Category exclusivity. Major sponsor recognition on event banner and flyer; premium tent/exhibit space at Jittery Joe’s Roaster; your banner at prominent location near start line, plus other rest stops of your choosing; dedicated press release announcing your sponsorship, if desired; featured recognition in Firefly Trail digital newsletter, social media, website and press releases. Up to three items welcome for rider bags.
 
Champion - $5,000
​Benefits: Same as Promoter, and your name appears at the top of the event banner and is listed in all publicity as part of the event name, for example, “Firefly Trail Ticket to Ride, presented by ACME, Inc.” Category exclusivity.  Opportunity for you to be involved in event planning.  Right of first refusal for presenting sponsor of 2017 event.

...Keep in mind that the value of your raffle items will raise you to a higher sponsorship level.  Contact maryc@fireflytrail.com ASAP for details.

Time to Register
Saturday, March 19th, 5th Ticket to Ride details:

• Start/end – 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Jittery Joe’s Roasting Co., 425 Barber St., Athens.
• Cost ­– $30. Includes one raffle ticket, one Terrapin Beer (21 and older; photo ID required), 2nd Edition Firefly Trail cycling socks, and items from our sponsors in your rider's bag.
• Rider support – Four fully stocked rest stops, plus vehicle support along the route.
• Distance options – Winterville (16 miles round-trip), Crawford (40 miles), Maxeys (60 miles), Union Point (85 miles) Click to view the route on MapMyRide.
• Registration – now live at Active.com or by completing the waiver and mailing your check.  Pre-registration/packet pick-up March 18, 5-7 p.m. at GA Cycle Sport Concepts. Day-of registration, 8-9 a.m. March 19 at the event.
• Post-party – starts at 12 noon at the finish line at Jittery Joe’s with Your Pie Pizza available for purchase.

Rain or shine, your $30 registration fee benefits the creation of the trail.  Please register today!

Want to help?  Click the VolunteerSpot link to see our variety of sign-up spots sure to fit your schedule.  Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like.  It's Easy - you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password.

​

Richelle C. Brown, a trail advocate with experience in trail-creation in her home state of Virginia, has become the newest member of the Board of Directors of Firefly Trail, Inc.
Brown’s special interest lies in communicating the benefits of the trail through electronic media and preserving recollections and memorabilia of the railroad, which ceased operations in 1984.

“I am naturally drawn to the Firefly Trail,” Brown said. “I love trails and the recreational, environmental and economic benefits they provide. Plus, I love the historic aspect of rail-trails. They are a great way to uncover and share an important part of our history. I’ve got some railroad heritage of my own: my great-grandfather supervised gandy dancers on the Southern Railroad.”

Among her extensive volunteer experience, Brown lists serving as community outreach committee chair for the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, visitor services and collections volunteer with Loudoun Museum, and oral history volunteer at the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, all in Virginia.
​
Firefly Trail Inc. is seeking additional volunteers and potential board members. For more information, please contact Mary Cook, treasurer and volunteer coordinator, at maryc@fireflytrail.com.

Mary Quinn, Firefly Trail, Inc. Secretary and newly-elected Winterville City Council member, has received the Georgia Historical Records Advisory Council's Award for Local History Advocacy.
 
Mary was honored for her tireless dedication to promoting the history of Winterville, including her work with the Firefly Trail, Friends of the Winterville Library, Carter-Coile Country Doctor's Museum, and collaboration with photographer Emma Foley on the book "Winterville, Georgia – A Classic Railroad Town."

Click here for the full press release.

Our new board was featured recently in AthensCEO!

Mike Hall, Chair, member of Athens-Clarke County Rails-to-Trails Committee
Mark Ralston, Vice Chair and PR Chair
Mary Cook, Treasurer and Volunteer Coordinator, retired Oglethorpe County planner
Mary Quinn, Secretary, former Winterville City Council member
Dave Hagaman, member at-large, retired
Gary Hedrick, member at-large, retired
John Stephens, member at-large, former Mayor of Maxeys
Staff support: John Devine, AICP - Senior Planner, Northeast Georgia Regional Commission

March 11, 2015


Dear Elected Officials,

We would cordially like to invite you to the 4th Annual Firefly Trail Ticket to Ride, a bicycle event and educational fair on Saturday, March 21st, to raise funds and awareness for creation of the Firefly Trail.  We are pleased this year to have Athens-Clarke County Mayor Nancy Denson to send the riders off!  We are sure that 2015 will prove to be our most exciting year to date as Athens-Clarke County plans to begin construction from East Broad Street almost to the Athens Loop.  When complete, this segment of the trail will be 14 feet wide and will include two bridges - the first, spanning Wilkerson Street and the North Oconee River, and the second carrying the trail over Peter Street. The ACC SPLOST team is in negotiations with CSX to purchase even more abandoned right-of-way and get the trail to the other side of the Loop. 

As you know, the Firefly Trail is a proposed 39-mile rail-trail from Athens to Union Point, roughly following the route of the historic Athens Branch of the Georgia Railroad.  Based on participation at our three previous events, we expect up to 250 bicyclists will ride in support of the rail-trail and the opportunities it will provide to enhance economic development, health, recreation, transportation, and historic preservation in our communities.

This non-competitive event includes options for riders of a wide range of abilities, from 16 miles round-trip to the full 84 miles from Athens to Union Point and back.  It will begin and end at the new Jittery Joe’s Roaster at 425 Barber Street, Athens.  Registration will open at 7:30 a.m. with the ride starting at 9 a.m. and the route support closing at 4:30 pm. We will have rest stops along the route that will provide excellent opportunities for you to interact with riders and volunteers.  We would be honored if you would join us at any location and time that is convenient for you.  We expect peak times will be as follows:

• Athens – 8:00-9:00 a.m.
• Winterville Depot – 9:30-11:00 a.m.
• Crawford – Almar Self Storage, 154 S. Broad St.,10:00 -11:30 a.m. (The depot is undergoing renovations)
• Maxeys City Hall – 10:30-11:30 a.m.
• Historic Union Point Theater – 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

We will also host a celebration for returning riders, starting at 12 noon at the Roaster.

Thank you for all you do in support of the Firefly Trail and the great communities it will serve.  Along with the Board of our non-profit organization, Firefly Trail, Inc., I look forward to seeing you at the Ticket to Ride on March 21.


With best wishes,




John Stephens, Maxeys, Ga.
Member and Past President, Firefly Trail, Inc.

Support a great cause and join us for another incredible bicycling trip up and down the proposed route of the Firefly Trail.  We depart at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 21st (rain or shine) from the NEW Jittery Joe's Roaster, 425 Barber Street in Athens where parking is free and plentiful. The $30 registration fee includes a pair of quality Firefly biking socks, a 1 year membership in Firefly Trail, Inc., and 1 Terrapin Beer pour (21 & older). The party starts at noon at the roaster with music from the North Georgia Bluegrass Band, Terrapin beer and Your Pie pizza for sale. 


All registered riders will also receive a GreenScapes goodie bag filled with cool stuff, including a Fitness@Five water bottle and Jittery Joe's coffee,  as well as a chance to win one of these awesome raffle prizes!

• A private dinner for 8 at a Your Pie where owner, Drew French, will personally teach the group how to toss dough and make their own pizzas....along with beer, wine and gelato!
• A chance at one of three 30 day gym memberships at Fitness @ Five, 24 hr. access gym in 5 Points!
• A chance at one of two 30 day membership at SPARC (Sports Performance & Rehabilitation Center) from Athens Orthopedic Clinic!
• A can of Jittery Joe's coffee, "micro-roasted, nationally boasted"!
• A SWAG bag from Terrapin Beer Company!
• A custom filled basket from the Habitat ReStore full of some cool vintage goodies!

Choose your distance to Winterville (15 miles round trip), Crawford* (40 miles round trip), Maxeys (60 miles round trip) or Union Point (the full 85 miles) making this a perfect ride for cyclist of all interests and abilities.  All routes are fully supported with great food and restroom facilities.  Check out the details at FireflyTrail.com, where you can print a waiver and mail it with your check (cue sheets to be posted soon) or sign up at Active.com.

*Due to ongoing construction at the historic Crawford depot our Crawford SAG location has been moved to Almar Self Storage, 154 S Broad Street.  Special thanks to owner, Darryl Johnson, for allowing us to use his wonderful facility!

Volunteer Opportunities are available
Have a great time watching the riders pull in to "your" SAG stop!  Short 2 hour time slots are available in Winterville and Crawford where help is needed keeping the refreshments for the riders flowing.

Here's how it works in 3 easy steps (No registration, password, etc., necessary!):

1) Click this link to see our Sign-Up on VolunteerSpot: http://vols.pt/p5Qxeu
2) Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like.
3) Sign up! It's Easy - you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on VolunteerSpot.

Note: VolunteerSpot does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact me and I can sign you up manually.maryc@fireflytrail.com

Elsewhere in the Southeast...
This great video highlights two examples of rails-to-trails projects.  Hear the people involved with the Swamp Rabbit Trail in Greenville, SC and the Virginia Creeper Trail in Damascus, VA, tell what these trails have done for these communities.