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‘On to Bellefontaine Challenge’

Barrie
Barrie Bently

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: NANCY LOKAI-BALDWIN, 605-2434
SEPTEMBER 9, 2010

‘On to Bellefontaine Challenge’
Pledge Makes Donations for Bike Trail Go Further

The Simon Kenton Pathfinders have been issued a challenge.

For every $3 the Pathfinders raise through June 1, 2011, to extend the Simon Kenton Trail bike path, they will be given an extra $1 – up to $20,000. This pledge—or what he calls the “On to Bellefontaine Challenge”—has been made by Barrie Bentley of Dayton.

He’s making the challenge to honor the memory of his parents, Ruth I. and Alvie A. Bentley, who were cycling enthusiasts—and to help bring to reality plans to extend the trail from Urbana to Bellefontaine.

Bentley says, “The ‘On to Bellefontaine Challenge’ arises out of my desire to perpetuate and preserve the ‘can do spirit’ that my parents demonstrated throughout their lives…. They were a very dynamic team.

“I have seen this same ‘can do spirit’ in the collective actions of the Simon Kenton Pathfinders…. I am positive that the trail will be completed in the not too distant future.”

All monies raised by SKP, through June 1, will count, including:

Honorary deeds sold by the Pathfinders at $5 per foot of the planned trail extension. Deeds will be on sale at the Depot and other events in the community.
Tax deductible contributions made to the Simon Kenton Pathfinders, P.O. Box 91, Urbana. SKP is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization.

For more information, contact Nancy Lokai-Baldwin, SKP president, 605-2434.

Sale of Depot Paintings to Support Bike Trail Extension

Mike Simpson

Nancy Lokai-Baldwin, president of Simon Kenton Pathfinders (SKP), talks with local artist Mike Simpson about one of two paintings he is selling to support SKP and its project to extend the Simon Kenton Trail north from the Urbana Depot to Grimes Field, and eventually to West Liberty and Bellefontaine. Simpson will contribute $500 of the purchase price of each of the paintings, which feature the depot and are on display in the depot. For information about purchasing the paintings, please call Lokai-Baldwin at 605-2434.

Fund-Raising Under Way for Bike Trail Expansion

The event was kicked off at Urbana Monument Square Dog Days on Friday, June 5, 2009

Sandy
L-R Martin Shaffer, Dorothy & Dave Case, Nancy Lokai-Baldwin

Urbana schoolchildren are leading the way in a fundraising campaign to extend the Simon Kenton Trail north through Urbana, eventually on to West Liberty and Bellefontaine.

Students in Urbana’s elementary schools collected more than $2,500 in pennies for the Pennies for the Path drive. The money has been donated to the Simon Kenton Pathfinders to be used as part of local matching dollars for a Clean Ohio Trails Fund grant. The Pathfinders have submitted an application for the grant to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. A decision on the application is expected in October.

Following up on the students’ success, the Simon Kenton Pathfinders have launched the next phase of fund-raising, the Help Pave the Path …Every Dollar Counts campaign. The campaign began Friday, June 5 at Urbana’s downtown celebration and will be promoted through the summer at the Champaign County Farmers’ Market and other events.

The first phase of the trail expansion project will extend the trail 1.6 miles north from the Urbana Station Depot to the northern city corporation limits near Grimes Field airport.

For more information about the fund-raising campaign and trail extension project, call Nancy Lokai-Baldwin, president of the Simon Kenton Pathfinders, 605-2434.