On Monday, August 11th, the BVNEMBA crew gathered at CraftRoots Brewing in Milford for our Summer Chapter Meeting. The room filled with familiar faces, first-time attendees, and plenty of trail talk over pints. We started, as we always do, with introductions — and it was great to hear new members like Joe Jankovsky and Daniel Bendell share their riding backgrounds and connections to local trails. It’s moments like this that remind us how much our community continues to grow and evolve.
Download the Slide Deck & Meeting Minutes!
Leadership Updates
The first order of business was approving the minutes from our spring meeting, quickly moved and passed. From there, the big announcement: Laura Zimmer was officially confirmed as our newest At-Large Representative. Laura’s no stranger to NEMBA, having served in leadership roles before, and we’re thrilled to have her on board. Looking ahead, full chapter elections are slated for our November 17th meeting, where all officer seats will be up for a vote.
Finances & Giving Back
Treasurer Josh Handverger walked us through the numbers, and the chapter is in good shape with about $30,000 in the bank. May was our strongest donation month yet, bringing in $650 on top of membership rebates. As always, we’ll be putting some of that money back into the community: BVNEMBA sets aside up to 10% of annual revenue for donations, typically split between trail organizations and local nonprofits. This year’s process will open in September, so members should start thinking about groups to nominate.
State of the Trails
Trail updates stretched across nearly every corner of our chapter, showing just how much is happening at once:
- Vietnam (Holliston): The Dennis’ Playground parcel has officially transferred to Holliston Conservation. Liability is now in the town’s hands, but we’ve offered to maintain the wooden features so they’re not lost. The Middle Earth Bridge is also queued for long-overdue repairs — with lumber already staged and funding secured.
- Peppercorn Hill (Hopkinton): The Lake Bomb reroute is complete, thanks to a partnership with the Hopkinton Area Land Trust. More projects with HALT are in the works.
- Hodges Village Dam (Oxford): The Pump House Trail continues to be a thorn, with mud and erosion making it nearly unrideable. A fix is in sight, but it will require moving 50 tons of stone — no small task.
- Bolton (Rattlesnake Hill): While we don’t yet have a Ride Rep here, local steward Drew Shalbot and the town Trails Committee have been great contacts. Bolton is piloting the Trailcare app for issue reporting instead of Trailforks.
- Northborough & Pisgah: Progress has been slow on the Whitney Street Parcel (23.7 acres), but approvals are inching along. Over in Pisgah, Ethan Bickford led a successful reroute earlier this year and more improvements are planned.
- West Hill Dam: Plenty happening here: plans to reroute the Hotel Trail for better flow, small updates to the Skills Park, and even a parking expansion. Ranger Ron Woodall praised the chapter’s work but reminded us to log widowmakers and other hazards — West Hill is dry and fire-prone this season.
- Holliston Bike Park: What began as a BVNEMBA project has now shifted to a Parks & Recreation–led effort, with Select Board support. It’s moving toward professional design and construction, with possible funding at October Town Meeting.
One of the biggest agenda items was the Callahan State Park South Side Project. Dan Bendell and Chris Fiala outlined plans to fix chronic problem areas: reroutes on Rocky Road and Chickadee, a new boardwalk, and a full rebuild of the crumbling Pinecone Bridge. The estimated cost is around $4,500, covering lumber, hardware, and permitting. After discussion, members unanimously voted to fund the project — a big win for riders who frequent Callahan.
Looking Ahead: Events & Rides
- Best Dam Ride – October 19, 2025: Vice President Kim Powell is leading planning for our flagship event. Food, entertainment (Tony Garcia), and an ice cream truck are already locked in, but we’ll need plenty of hands for trail work, vendor and raffle coordination, parking, and route support. A Slack channel will be launched for coordination, and now is the time to step up if you want to be part of the action.
- Group Rides: Since spring, we’ve hosted more than 100 rides, from beginners to advanced shredders. Attendance varies, but the vibe is consistent: riders showing up, connecting, and having fun. As fall approaches, members are encouraged to keep the momentum going — and don’t forget your lights for night rides. Our ride leaders deserve a huge thank you for keeping this program thriving.
Other Business
Before wrapping up, members were reminded of the upcoming Greenway Challenge on September 27, where BVNEMBA covers the mountain bike leg. Volunteers are needed to help staff the course at West Hill Dam that morning.
We also touched on Trailforks, where recent interface changes have made reporting a little less intuitive. Still, everyone was encouraged to keep logging hazards and feedback — those reports make a big difference, especially with storm damage and seasonal risks.
Wrapping Up
The meeting adjourned just after 7:30, with members energized about what’s ahead. From bridge projects and reroutes to rides and events, it’s clear that BVNEMBA’s strength lies in its community — people showing up, pitching in, and building something bigger together.
Thanks to everyone who joined us at CraftRoots. We’ll see you out on the trails — and at our next meeting on November 17, 2025.