Notes about your surroundings

Happy Trails--The new year will bring the opening of a seven-mile trail connecting Anaheim Hills with Peters Canyon Regional Park. The trail heads south through Tustin and links with San Diego Creek before ending at Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve.

The trail is part of the interconnecting hike, bike and equestrian trails being developed by the Environmental Management Agency. The master plan of a countywide system of bikeways was adopted in 1971, and the network continues to expand every year, now including more than 348 miles of existing and proposed trails.

Recent bikeway openings include a trail linking Live Oak Canyon and O’Neill Regional Park to Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park. A new trail also links Irvine Regional Park and Santiago Oaks Regional Park with the extensive system of trails along the Anaheim Hills bikeway.

Although these trails are developed through the Orange County Department of Harbors, Beaches and Parks, much of the building and maintenance of trails is done through volunteer efforts. If you are interested in helping on an upcoming workday or event, please call Park Ranger Ron Slimm at the Harbors, Beaches and Parks volunteer services at (714) 771-6731, Ext. 15.

Docent Opportunity--Sherman Library and Gardens in Corona del Mar is looking for volunteers to give tours of the facility to children and adults.

In-depth training will be provided by a professional horticulturist, so people of with all levels of experience, from novices to experts, are invited to become a docent at the gardens. Trainees will be introduced to plant behavior and characteristics, botanical terms and environmental awareness.

Tours are held daily, and volunteers would be offered many different shifts.

For more information, contact Sherman Library and Gardens, 2647 E. Coast Highway, Corona del Mar, or call (714) 673-2261.