2019 Accomplishments

We miss our many trail volunteers and friends. Please stay healthy and be safe. We hope to see you soon.

As is the case with so many things in our lives these days, our workdays since March 2020 and our April annual meeting were cancelled due to COVID-19. Thus, instead of speaking with you at our meeting, I am writing you a note to update you on what work we have done on the trail over 2019.

We have welcomed two new board members, Bet Muth as Vice Chair and Jeff Jones as Treasurer. They are great additions.

Our major physical labor has included the following:

Planted two redwood trees and one flannel bush by the notice board, and added new plants at the top of La Salle Ave.
Watered the new plants every few weeks.
Weeded Scotch broom, thistles, ivy, hemlock and other invasive plants along the trail.
Removed ivy from trees and around a 3-5 foot perimeter (if ivy remains on trees it will eventually kill them).
Deepened drainage ditches along the trail edges.
Cut down dying trees and gathered loose wood and eucalyptus bark and bundled for city pick up.
Spread mulch on the trail behind Montclair Village.
Weed-whacked and bagged foxtails and other weeds for city pick up.

Helping in our efforts were you and other local volunteers as well as the following groups:

Holy Names University Volleyball Team
Holy Names University Impact Team
Boys Team Charity
Earthteam!

Without each volunteer we could not have done what we did.

Our collaborations over the year included:

We coordinated with PG&E's contractor regarding the plantings where the electrical tower project removed oak trees and other native plants which we had planted.
We hired help for necessary weed whacking and loose wood removal as a fire precaution.
Pet Food Express has been generous with donations of dog waste bags, helping to keep the trail neat.

Thank you for your support of FOMRRT. Our community appreciates your contributions and volunteer efforts.

See you on the Trail,
Barbara Brochard, Chair, Friends of Montclair Railroad Trail

Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Financial Report

Total income (memberships and donations) for the fiscal year was $2,625.75, an increase of 10% over the previous year.
Actual expenditures for the year totaled $1,961.67, down 11% from the previous year; the biggest expenditures were for tools -- a full breakdown is below.
There was an additional approved outstanding expenditure of $1,005.86 for an additional storage shed which should be actualized in 2020 -- this will be financed from new memberships/donations and reserves.

PG&E Restoration Project Has Really Taken Hold - July 2020

It's been over a year and a half since restoration planting began in the area of the PG&E tower replacement project and perhaps you've noticed how well the area is flourishing. See more...