Latest news with #Chernisky
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
CamTran, recreation authority promote bike program on World Bicycle Day
NANTY GLO, Pa. (WTAJ) — Members of the Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority and CamTran promoted the service's bike program on World Bicycle Day. Cambria County Commissioner Tom Chernisky rode a bus to the stop next to the Nanty Glo Fire Hall, where he dismounted to ride his bike down the Ghost Town Trail eastbound toward Ebensburg. All CamTran bike racks on rural and urban routes are free to use. 'If you don't have a vehicle and you bike to different areas, or you do have a vehicle but you don't have a hitch on the back of it, this is the perfect way to put your bike on a CamTran bus and go to some of the award-winning trails we have in Cambria County,' Chernisky said. The Rack and Ride program can take bikes to the Ghost Town Trail and Ghost Town Trail C and I Extension. To look at bus fares, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
Ghost Town Trail announces trail challenge, continuous loop construction to begin
EBENSBURG, Pa. (WTAJ) — The Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority announced two updates for the Ghost Town Trail this year. Friday saw a small crowd gather around the trailhead to hear from Cambria County Commissioner and conservation and recreation board member Tom Chernisky, who made the announcements. The first announcement regarded the Cambria County Trailhead Challenge, where the county wants residents to visit all 23 tracks in the area. Contestants must send photos of themselves at the trailhead or on the trail to the conservation board's Facebook Messenger, along with name, address, email and phone number to participate. The contest runs from May 1 to Nov. 2 at midnight, with the winner being decided in the middle of November. They will receive $500 worth of certificates, both evenly split to $250 each, to Vale Wood Farms and Up-N-Running. 'When you're done hiking, biking or walking, locals and out-of-towners have to go to the bathroom. They go to the bathroom. They use the restaurant. They buy something. It's good stuff for a local region,' Chernisky said. The second announcement was that they awarded a contract to create a loop toward the section of the trail between Nanty Glo and Vintondale. The trail will go around the village of Revloc, past Nanty Glo Park and Pool, before converging back toward the trail. 'We have 200,000 visitors a year just on the Ghost Town trail,' Chernisky added. 'I can see more people coming just to visit. I was here this past Sunday, I saw five people I talked to from Delaware. Four police officers were biking the Ghost Town Trail this past Sunday. There are bikers going to Indiana, and there are bikers coming back. Where did they stay? They stayed in an Airbnb in Hastings.' Once completed, the Ghost Town Trail will be the first single network trail on the east coast to have a continuous loop and second in the country to create that loop. Only the Blue Mountains Trail in Oregon uses a single network of trails to create a continuous loop. Chernisky noted that the project is expected to be done by this year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cambria County Commissioner Thomas Chernisky to read to children for Read Across America
WINDBER, Pa. (WTAJ) — Cambria County Commissioner Thomas Chernisky will visit Windber Elementary on Wednesday, March 26, to read to children as part of Read Across America, a nationwide initiative promoting literacy in honor of Dr. Seuss. Chernisky, who has participated in Read Across America for several years, said he enjoys the experience and hopes to continue his involvement for years to come. The annual event, held on or around March 2, Dr. Seuss' birthday, aims to encourage a love of reading among young students. Chernisky is scheduled to read at 2:30 p.m. at Windber Elementary, located at 421 Sugar Maple Drive. Depending on scheduling, Chopper, the mascot of the Johnstown Tomahawks, may join him for the visit. For more information, Commissioner Chernisky can be reached at 814-241-5685. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cambria County Commissioner encourages reading during school visits
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ) — Cambria County Commissioner Tom Chernisky visited multiple elementary schools to read to students for 'Read Across America Week'. Chernisky visited schools from Feb. 26 until March 4, reading to different classes. He made stops throughout the week at the following schools: Cambria County Library Cambria Elementary School Richland Elementary School Forest Hills Elementary School Cambria Heights Elementary School Barrels of Fun Exploration Center Greater Johnstown Elementary School Non-profit cancer organization expands further into Central PA Chernisky has been doing this with multiple classrooms for 30 years, inspiring kids to read. 'They hear from mom and dad, grandpa, grandma, brothers and sisters,' Chernisky said. 'But when you're hearing it from somebody else, continually, I call it top of mind awareness. It's what we should be doing. We should be mentoring and helping our future.' The celebration has its perks for the teachers as well. They get a break from teaching as the students get engaged with the guest reader. 'It mixes it up, makes it fun in the classroom,' Chernisky added. 'I read the kindergartners, first grade, second grade, third grade and preschool. It's just to break it up. The right thing to do is to bring attention to reading. The more you read, the more you learn, the smarter you get.' The idea behind the weeklong celebration is to promote reading among students as a fun and helpful hobby. The week starts on March 2, which is synonymous with famous children's author Dr. Seuss's birthday, and runs until March 6. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Yahoo
'A win for everybody': Path of the Flood Trail earns state's Trail of the Year award
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Cambria County's historic Path of the Flood Trail has been named Pennsylvania's Trail of the Year for 2025, state officials said Thursday. The recognition "is a testament to the partnership between many individuals and organizations dedicated to preserving this rich, historical trail," Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority Executive Director Cliff Kitner said in a statement. "We are honored and excited to continue sharing this unique journey with all who visit." The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Trails Advisory Committee picks a Trail of the Year annually to boost awareness of the state's 14,000-mile trail network and to highlight the value of those trails to residents and visitors. The 14-mile Path of the Flood Trail, completed in 2023, connects the ruins of the South Fork Dam near St. Michael to downtown Johnstown. It follows and commemorates the path of the 1889 Johnstown Flood that killed more than 2,200 people. The trail receives about 80,000 visitors annually, including international guests, and is the site of the annual Path of the Flood Historic Races that average around 1,000 participants. The crushed-stone and pavement path is accessible for a variety of activities, including hiking, birdwatching, running, cross-country skiing, biking and snowshoeing. The scenic trail features the Staple Bend Tunnel, the first railroad tunnel in the nation, built in the 1830s. It is part of the September 11th National Memorial Trail, which connects the sites in Somerset County, Washington, D.C., and New York City where hijacked jets crashed during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. "Outdoor recreation is part of Cambria County's economy and we all rally behind it," Cambria County Commissioner Thomas Chernisky said. "This is a win for everybody." Chernisky, a longtime trail enthusiast and supporter, thanked DCNR for the honor and Kitner and his staff for their dedication to the local trail system. President Commissioner Scott Hunt also congratulated authority staff. Commissioner Keith Rager credited Chernisky for his support of the county's outdoor recreation opportunities for helping achieve the distinction. "In naming the Path of the Flood Trail as the 2025 Trail of the Year, we honor its unique role in preserving history while providing a vibrant space for recreation and community engagement," DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said in a release. "This trail is a destination, inviting visitors from across the nation and the world to experience the history of the 1889 Johnstown Flood while enjoying outdoor activities in a stunning natural setting. We hope this designation will bring even more visitors to explore the trail, supporting local businesses and fostering economic, environmental and social benefits for the region." This is the county's and authority's second Trail of the Year award. The Ghost Town Trail received the nod from DCNR in 2020. "Following the Ghost Town Trail's designation in 2020, the Path of the Flood Trail being named Trail of the Year marks the second time in five years that a trail in our county has received this designation," CCCRA Assistant Executive Director Caytlin Lusk said in a statement. "We are grateful to the Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Committee and DCNR for recognizing the exceptional trails that we are proud to offer here in Cambria County." For more information about the county's trails system, visit
