The Farmington Valley Trails Council (FVTC) Board of Directors will host our annual Benefit evening on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, from 5:00-9:00 pm at American Flatbread in the Shops at Farmington Valley, 110 Albany Turnpike, Canton, CT 06019. American Flatbread will donate a portion from each flatbread sold during the benefit hours. All proceeds will benefit the FVTC, its members and all trail users.

The FVTC mission is to build, maintain, beautify and connect off-road multi-use trails throughout central Connecticut communities. We offer annual rides and events throughout the year to highlight the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail and the Farmington River Trail and to educate the public on safety while being a pedestrian, bicyclist, or motorist. We also assist towns in maintenance of their portion of the trail. Raffle prizes and other giveaways will be available. The FVTC is an all volunteer organization.

We are taking this opportunity to introduce the Board of Directors of the FVTC, many of which will be present at this benefit evening:

President Barbara Collins: A soon to be retired attorney has been involved with the trails for over 20 years and has been president since 2017. She is a golfer and a skier who taught at Ski Sundown for over 20 years. Her love of biking started as a kid with a one speed then, a five speed and then a 10 speed to her now present non-e-bike. She learned the value of safety off road trails working and riding in DC when there were no trails and lots of cars that were blind to cyclists. For her, wearing a helmet is a must especially since she lives and rides mostly in West Hartford near her house.

Vice President Laura Russotto: Laura has been a long time trail user and joined the board in 2016 after attending a number of FVTC events. She joined the Safety Committee and took over as Events Coordinator and has been Vice President in 2019. As an elementary school teacher, she has advocated for bike safety education within the schools and implemented Bike Walk to School Day. As a League Cycling Instructor she advocates for safe cycling education for people of all ages.

Treasurer Tony Russotto: Tony started his volunteer efforts by reading a help wanted advertisement for Simsbury Free Bike. The ad read, bike mechanic wanted, bring your metric wrenches. He replied and brought a tool box full of tools for everyone to use. Tony spent 7+ years working on the fleet of Free Bikes before the program was retired.

Tony began volunteering with the FVTC over 10 years ago. Working as the SAG for all the rides and recently creating a Repair Station Maintenance Program. In 2020, Tony saw an opportunity to contribute further when he learned about a vacancy for the Treasurer position. Armed with previous experience as a Treasurer on a condo board, Tony approached the FVTC Board with his interest and qualifications. Tony’s been serving as Treasurer since September of that year.

Secretary Norm Berg: I began my involvement with the FVTC in 2018, volunteering to collect trail data. My strong interest in improving our network of trails led to my joining the board in 2019, where I serve as board secretary and currently manage a project to revise our trail maps. My overall goal on the board is to assist the FVTC in making our trails and greenways an enjoyable experience for all users.

Director Alan Blasenstein: I have been a longtime bike tourist, commuter, and recreational cyclist. I love how our multi-use trails have become valuable community assets enjoyed by a wide variety of ages, interests, and abilities. I joined the FVTC Board because I want to improve the quality of the experience on our trails for everyone.

Director Tim Bowman: I moved to Connecticut 20 years ago. Prior to that, I started the Blennerhassett Bicycle Club in 1990 (in WV.). Maybe I should state that I re-established it since the original club was founded in 1889 and had become dormant. I was also a key member of A.T.A.C. – the Alternate Transportation Advocacy Committee where we worked on connecting the western terminus of the North Bend Rail Trail to Parkersburg WV.. By the time I moved to Connecticut, I was suffering from advocacy burnout. After a lengthy sabbatical, I figured my predecessor, whom I greatly admired, may have wanted a break himself, so I figured the best way to show that person my appreciation was to continue his efforts. In addition to being a FVTC board member, I also head up Bike Walk Canton CT.

Director Sherry Dwyer: I joined the FVTC Board when I retired from the Information Services Department at Hartford Healthcare so that I could spend time volunteering with groups that pique my interest of which bicycling and walking the trails are keen. I am on the FVTC Membership committee for which I am responsible to maintain the information on our members so that we can keep you informed regarding happenings along the Farmington Valley River Trail as well as other trail information important to you. I am also responsible for sending out Thank-you letters and Memberships cards.

Director Ron Goralski: I joined the FVTC Board in January of 2022 because it felt like a natural extension of my work as Chair of Bike Walk Farmington CT and a member of the Farmington Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee. With my ongoing commitment to improving safety and access for all trail users, serving on the Council was the perfect fit to help advance those efforts on a broader regional scale.

Director Fran Gurtman: Fran and her husband are fortunate to live adjacent to the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail in Avon which has given us countless opportunities for joy, relaxation and exercise. I have been on the board of FVTC since January of 2023 but my family and I have been trail advocates since the 1990s when discussions began to convert the abandoned rail bed of the Canal Line into a multi-use recreational trail. Steve Mitchell and I formed an advocacy group called Bike Walk Avon CT in 2019. Our group sponsors several town events each year and meets regularly with town officials.

Director Amy Watkins, MPH: is the program manager for Watch for Me CT, a pedestrian and bicyclist safety campaign funded by the Connecticut Department of Transportation in partnership with Connecticut Children’s Injury Prevention Center. Amy earned her Masters of Public Health at the University of Connecticut and has worked for nearly 25 years in community health education. Amy joined the board to help highlight safety and promote walking and bicycling in the state. She is also a board member for Bike Walk CT.

Director Diana Moody: After volunteering for five years, I became a board member in 2017. It has been a pleasure to serve as a trustee since then and actively contribute to our mission of building healthier and safer communities along the trail.

Director Joy Himmelfarb: I was invited to join the board in 2001 after volunteering for our Trails-in-Motion event. I was very pleased to become part of FVTC. It gave me an opportunity to combine my love of biking with a genuine public good.

Director Dwight Weed: I’m Dwight Weed and live with my wife Nancy in West Hartford. I’ve been an FVTC director for more than 20 years and served as president for several years in the early 2000’s. Working on the conversion of an abandoned rail bed to a multi-use trail seemed like a no brainer. Who knew that 20 years later, we’d still be at it.