Taste of Tusc confirms Trails Alive and Growing in Tuscarawas County
By Teri Stein
March 16, 2014
421
Summary: Pizza, crab cakes, gourmet grilled cheese, marinated mushrooms wrapped in flank steak, pulled pork sandwiches, cupcakes, homemade caramel corn, and tiramisu. It could only be this annual fundraiser for the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition.
There was a lot of culinary ground to cover at the 5th annual Taste of Tusc fundraiser as guests sampled their way through two floors of exquisite food and beverages provided by 24 of the best restaurants, wineries, and breweries in the area.
The event, held on March 14 at Kent State Tuscarawas Performing Arts Center, was a fundraiser for the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition and their efforts to establish the Towpath Trail and the Ohio and Erie National Heritage Canalway. The event also honored the volunteers who have helped build trails in Tuscarawas County.
After guests voted for their favorites, Shy Cellars took the top honors in the best food category with their offering of Shrimp and Grits topped with a spicy hot sauce. Breitenbach Wine Cellar was named best winery, Millersburg Brewing Co. was named the best brewery, and Sugarfuse won the best dessert category with their delicious cupcakes, chocolate marshmallows, and dipped strawberries.
The good news for everyone in Tuscarawas County is that trails are alive and growing in our county. Its a real benefit for our community, said Al Fearon of Bolivar, who along with his wife, Maryann, are dedicated supporters of building trails in our area. We have biked and hiked on trails while traveling all over the country and we wanted to bring that terrific asset to our community. All the young people complained there was nothing to do here so we wanted to give them one more venue.
The Towpath trail will provide a multitude of recreational opportunities. Brian and Rachel Ice of Dover along with their three children, ages 7, 11, and 13, plan to take advantage of the opportunity the trail provides to travel to Cleveland under your own power this summer. We are starting to train for it, said Rachel. We plan to ride 30 miles a day and complete the trip in three days. Brian is a trail volunteer and the couple has attended the Taste of Tusc every year to show their support.
The Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalitions goal is to have the 101 mile trail from Cleveland to New Philadelphia complete by the year 2020 and Tuscarawas County is the final piece in the project. We are blessed and fortunate to have so many supporters and volunteers, said Dan Rice, President and CEO of the OECC, as he noted that everyone from local citizens to elected officials are gearing up to do what they can to help finish the trail. A lot of good community and economic development occurs around the trail. Work will begin this summer on the development of a trailhead near the aqueduct bridge west of Bolivar and it will be completed this year.
Rice noted a new group, Team Sweetwater-ZTAP, from Tuscarawas County will participate this year in the 5th annual First Merit Towpath Trail Century ride on May 17 and 18. The ride will begin in Cleveland and end in New Philadelphia at Waterworks Park and hopes to raise a total of $75,000.
We wanted to ride because it raises money to get the Towpath completed to New Philadelphia, said Joe Krocker of Tuscarawas. Dr. Bill Schultz is also on the team but other riders are welcome to join Team Sweetwater-ZTAP.
Krocker is nearing $1000 in donations and he hopes to raise additional funds as anything over that mark will be donated to the Zeisberger Trail and Parks (ZTAP) group which is breaking ground for their trail in the village of Tuscarawas on April 5 at 10 a.m. near the boat ramp.
To donate to Team Sweetwater-ZTAP visit www.ohioeriecanal.org and click on the link for the Century ride. For information on ZTAP visit www.ztap.org.
