Yuma news announcement 4/9/08
OCTA Planning Historic Trails Symposium
Yuma, January ‘09
A midwinter historic trails symposium in Yuma, Arizona, in January 2009, is being planned by the Oregon-California Trails Association (OCTA).
Billed as “All Roads to Lead to Yuma,” the symposium will feature speakers and tours covering several of the pioneer and early routes that converged on the historic crossing point of the Colorado River, from the Juan Bautista de Anza expedition in the 1770s to the Gold Rush era of the 1840s and 1850s to the stage routes of the late 19th Century. The planned dates are January 16 – 18.
While members of the Southwest and California/Nevada chapters of OCTA will be key to the first-ever event, members of several other historic and trails organizations will be invited to participate. The steering committee of John Krizek and Patricia Etter, OCTA board members who live in Arizona; long-time Arizona trails advocate Reba Grandrud; CA/NV chapter veteran Dave Hollecker; and OCTA Association Manager Travis Boley, are at work lining up the details. Registration information through OCTA will be available in the summer at OCTA’s website (www.octa-trails.org), according to Boley. People interested in staying abreast of developing details can have themselves added to the mailing list by calling OCTA toll free at (888) 811-6282 or by dropping Boley an email at tboley@indepmo.org.
Yuma is proud of its recent designation as a National Heritage Area by the U.S. Congress, according to city historian Tina Clark. Ms. Clark is assisting the committee with suggestions for tours and site visit locations.
“For 250 years all roads in the southwestern U.S. have led to Yuma,” reports Krizek. “What better time of year than January to explore this historic corner of the country.”
Contact John Krizek (928) 277-4347 or jkrizek@aol.com.
April 5, 2008 Living History at the Presidio-Spring Fiesta!
Living History at the Presidio! Final event of the season. Hours: 10am-3pm. Location: Tucson Presidio. SW corner, Church & Washington.
Parking is free on nearby streets on the weekends.
● Spinning and textiles
● 18th century soldiering
● The bread baking inside the horno.
● Medicine and Food demos
● Games for kids
● Woodworking
● Try on 18th century clothing
● and much more
March
Are trails important to you? Have you witnessed the development of the modern world erase trails from the past? Would you like to know how to distinguish a historic 19th Century wagon track from a late 20th Century jeep road?
2008 Trails Preservation Workshop Friday & Saturday, March 14 & 15
It will be at the BLM National Training Center in Phoenix--one day of classroom sessions facilitated by OCTA National Preservation Officer, Dave Welch, and one day hands-on training in the field. Contact 602-542-7116 for information.
January 26, 2008
Plein Air Artists "Paints Out"
Tubac Presidio State Historic Park, AZ -- 8:00 a.m. - noon
Artists are welcome to set up thier easels and paint their impression of the Park. This is one of several venues planned for the year throughout the Arizona State Park system.
For more information call (602)542-7119 or visit azstateparks.com
ATCA Celebrates National Trails Day June 2, 2007
Following 4 hours of clean up and maintenance on a section of the
Anza Trail on National Park grounds, work party team members
enjoyed a brunch provided by the ATCA. Pictured from left to
right: Glenn Vierra, Carolyn Ruiz, Leila Pearsall, Richard Calabro,
Bud Eckhart, and Joan VanDenbos. Special thanks to all of you
and those of you not pictured.
National Park Service tells us they were not aware of any
other teams along the trail that scheduled an event to celebrate
National Trails Days...but we did!
We did trail grooming and trash pickup on that portion of the
Anza Trail which is on park grounds from gate to gate.
Everyone had a good time and we accomplished what we set
out to do. 
Bud Eckhart pruning overgrowth.
Leila Pearsall and Glenn Vierra cutting back trees.
Photo's courtesy Glenn Vierra