The sounds of silence! That is obviously what you have had in your inbox not just for the one week I expected to miss but two weeks. And for that I apologize. Things post-Labor Day got a little busy in the office, what with three legislative tour visits coming right on the heels of the holiday. It was one of those "you wonder why you even take a day off" kinds of weeks which I think we all understand. An August 28 article in the Washington Post seems to bear out the experience - even those lucky enough to have paid vacation left 768 million (yes, you read that right) 768 MILLION days of paid time off unused last year.

That's a whole lot of time we could be spending in state parks and forests!

Voting for the 2019 Parks & Forests Through the Seasons photo contest is now open. Be PATIENT, especially if you are trying to access the contest on your phone. It is more than a little wonky - it was better for us from the administrative end than the Facebook process we've used to this point but it certainly is not going to be better for you to vote and for that I am sorry. I advocated for the new app and was wrong, wrong, wrong. Directions are on the website and the photos are worth it - as evidenced by this week's masthead. The Critics' Choice Best in Show winner by Lisa Shoap was taken in Michaux State Forest. Check out the other selections for Critics' Choice with a click to "Gallery" at the top of any page of our website.

Pam Metzger
Membership Coordinator

News of Note

As noted above, three legislative and media tours took place last week (and Governor Wolf's Budget Secretary joined in a tour at Little Buffalo State Park this week) to discuss maintenance and infrastructure needs in our parks and forests. Included in the tour last week were Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center, French Creek State Park, Nockamixon State Park and the William Penn Forest District. The picture below, taken at French Creek, demonstrates the risk of deferring maintenance. PPFF had been working with the park to secure funds to put a new roof on this rare CCC structure, but before we reached our fundraising goal, the roof collapsed. Now the project will cost more.

There was some good press and insightful questions from the legislators or legislative aides who took part. The next round will occur during the first week of October (details still being finalized and will be posted to our calendar of events).

Amanda and I had our own taste of the legislative tour process while at Cook Forest State Park for our board retreat at the end of August, including a very sad look at one of several steel bridges over Tom's Run at the Forest Cathedral which have had to be closed even to pedestrians as the undergirders are rotten through with rust.

One of the report's astonishing graphics that Marci has been carrying around with her shows the rise of visitor numbers to the state parks over the last 50 years matched with a pretty depressing decrease in the number of park staff to assist them.

And our volunteers work very hard to help them pick up the slack. Join us in welcoming the new Friends of Trough Creek & Warriors Path to the PPFF fold, Get acquainted with them at their meetings on the first Thursday each month alternating between their two parks.

Remember the Little Buffalo ADA dock project from the end of 2018? The money was raised to purchase the dock and site preparation is underway. THANK YOU all. However, there is an $8,000 shortfall to pay for the site work. Please consider an additional gift to the project and give your support at http://bit.ly/LittleBuffDock.

At Work and Play in the State Parks and Forests

The forecast looks great this weekend for a late summer excursion. 

NORTH	SOUTH
The Friends of Mount Pisgah invite all active duty military personnel, veterans, and their families to enjoy Patriots in the Park tomorrow from 10 until 2. Food, fishing, fun.	Consider a Harvest Moon Hike at COWANS GAP STATE PARK for an evening's enjoyment.
EAST	WEST
Monarchs are in the air and a tagging will take place at both RIDLEY CREEK STATE PARK and JACOBSURG ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER tomorrow afternoon.	The 8th annual Outdoor Heritage Festival hosted tomorrow by the Friends of Ryerson Station is a perfect way to learn a new skill AND find your place in a revitalized RYERSON.

UPCOMING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

Events are an important way all our Friends groups both showcase their great places and recruit new members who keep those places great. Among the BIG events is the Friends of Pine Grove Furnace's Fall Furnace Fest in October. If you want to contribute a little time and energy to this great group and event, get in touch with a click to the box!

These and other fun events and fulfilling volunteer opportunities can be found on the PPFF events calendar and DCNR Calendar of Events. Bookmark them and you'll never miss the boat (or hike or festival).

Picture of the Week

Fun is just around the corner at our all-you-care-to-eat-and-drink fundraiser at the Burning Bridge Tavern in Wrightsville on Sunday, October 6. The project supports the effort to turn the park's unused concession stand (which doesn't look like much right now, does it?) into an environmental education center. We only need $1,500 more to make this project happen and your enjoying a few pulled pork or pit barbecue sandwiches seems like a pretty decent way to help!

Take Five for Trivia

A long time ago (in a galaxy far, far away) I sent you off to read the "infrastructure study" we talk about so frequently. I asked what the report said would be the total cost to remedy the issue of sediment removal across the system and you are right. It will cost a rather depressing $35 million to take the steps necessary to return some of our lakes to their healthy best.

Trivia this week is a hair off-beat, but when it comes to impact on our daily modern existence it's hard to argue with its significance. Who or what was RAMAC 305?

Send in your answer and we'll enter your correct response into our monthly prize drawing. All correct answers each week will go into the hat and at the end of the month we'll draw one lucky winner. The more correct answers you submit in a month (up to four or the occasional five depending on the month), the more chances you'll have to win.

In Closing

Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation (PPFF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization - contributions to which are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. The official registration and financial information of PPFF may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling, toll-free within Pennsylvania, to 800.732.0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.

Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation (PPFF) is a proud member of Earth Share and 1% for the Planet and is a Gold GuideStar participant.