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Nature Walk Draws A Crowd |
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Monday, 19 October 2009 |
By ANGELA WEAVER
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — Dozens of area residents spent their Sunday afternoon getting closer to nature as part of the 40th-annual Walk With Nature sponsored by the St. Marys Kiwanis Club and St. Marys Area Chamber of Commerce.
The event that enables participants to walk along the Miami and Erie Canal kicked off with a ribbon cutting by Eldon Montague.
“He was part of the original Walk With Nature 40 years ago,” Kiwanian Stan Davis said. “The Kiwanis has been doing this for the last 20, 30 years. The Chamber did it for a few years and then the Kiwanis took over in conjunction with the Chamber.”
Walk participants had the opportunity to walk north to Lock 14 or south to 219 from Memorial Park, Davis said.
“This is also in conjunction with the Road to Fitness Challenge with Grand Lake Health Systems,” Davis said, adding the walk participants received free bottled water to take with them.
“There were a whole bunch of people involved with this.”
Participants could walk both ways, or catch a ride back to Memorial Park on buses available from the St. Marys School District. Davis estimated it was 5 miles to Lock 14 and 3.8 miles to Ohio 219.
“So far, so good,” Davis said, adding the city had also added a few last-minute touches. “The city just bent over backward getting water in the canal for us.”
Davis said the planning for the event, which grew from past years, began four or five months ago. In addition to the Walk With Nature, participants could partake in a chili cook-off, sample Dave Wright’s chili, participate in a beer tasting, browse the Fall Farmers’ market, listen to Harmony 4 Fun and Muleskinner Band, participate in a silent auction of art pieces from Arts Place’s current exhibit en plein air, take part in the youth photo contest and paint pumpkins and make miniature scarecrows.
Hayley Felver, 7, came out with her father, Jerry, to the event.
“We came out to support Kidz Drama Klub and taste the chili,” Jerry Felver said. “We usually walk the towpath.”
St. Marys Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kelly Kill said she was pleased with Sunday’s turnout.
“It’s a lot of fun with great food, good music,” she said. “Dave’s chili is delicious — it’s going well. A lot of businesses and organizations came together to make this possible. It’s something to add to the community for people to enjoy.”
In addition to Kiwanis, Chamber and Grand Lake Health Systems, sponsors for the event included Heritage Trails Park District, Arts Place Inc., Auglaize and Mercer Counties Convention and Visitors Bureau the City of St. Marys, College Community Arts Council, Miami-Erie Canal Corridor Association, New Bremen-New Knoxville Rotary, Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Parks, Villa Nova Drive-Thru/Celina Wine Store and Ohio National Guard Company A STB 37th IBCT.
“Everybody just worked their tails off,” Davis said. “I’ve been wanting to increase the size and scope of the event for the past couple years. It turned out to be a good day.” |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 02 November 2009 )
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