Ganzhorn’s book chronicles the development of the MacKay Wildlife Trail and Richard D. Thomas Handicap Overlook located on Spring Street in Caledonia. Three hundred copies of the book have been sold since it went on sale in December 2006. Vonnie Pullyblank, the book’s editor, and Mary C. Hamilton, marketing director, accompanied Ganzhorn at the village board meeting as they presented the $1,000 check.

   Trustee Steve Boscoe, a member of the village board back several years ago when Ganzhorn first approached them with his idea for the trail, said he could never have envisioned that the MacKay Trail would become the asset to the community that it has. The donation will be set aside to fund future upkeep or enhancements to the trail, Boscoe said.

   The MacKay family owned the 26 acres of land on Spring Street and donated it to the Village of Caledonia over 30 years ago with the stipulation that it forever remain untouched. Several years ago, Ganzhorn’s wildlife management program uncovered a health risk with the wild animals living there. Initially, the village board considered logging the 26 acres as a remediation for the sick wildlife populations. Ganzhorn, also a confessed nature lover, proposed a different idea for the untouched land; he thought it would be a perfect spot for a nature trail. The village board gave Ganzhorn permission in 2004 to move ahead with the trail plans.

   With a great deal of support and donated time from a few others in the community, namely Neil Alhart and Stacy Bazzett, then a village trustee, Ganzhorn and the others produced the MacKay Nature Trail and later added the handicap overlook on the south side of the trail.

   He chronicled the development of the trail in a regular column that appeared in a local newspaper and this website. Later, he was encouraged to write a book about his experiences.

   The trail was opened in the fall of 2004 and officially dedicated in August 2005, 480 days from the first meeting where he proposed the MacKay Trail to the village board.

   Since then, the trail has received many enhancements through donations from various individuals and community organizations. Most recently, Ganzhorn accepted a donation of 20 wood bluebird boxes that have been placed throughout the trail.

   Ganzhorn would like to thank the Village of Caledonia for supporting the trail development, the Village DPW for performing the routine maintenance and Floyd and Sandy Manley for planting and maintaining the flowers.