Announced candidates for officer are:

Nominations may be made from the floor,

if the nominee has agreed to run.

Scot and Peg just celebrated 47 years of marriage in May. Scot is originally from the Chicago area where he lived, and worked, during the his first 41 years. The next 22 years he lived in Goshen, IN. Shortly after retirement, the Billings moved to Baldwin Lake (Sunset Ave.) in 1998 and quickly became active in the association. He maintains our Baldwin Lake Association website, as well as a couple of area organizations. He is also a member of the Porter Township Community Policing Committee and a member of the Porter Township Board of Trustees.

Peg and Scot breed, raise and show Fawn and Brindle Great Danes. Have you noticed the golden Great Dane on the post by their deck?

Phil and Pat have been married 45 years, and have been enjoying our lake for all that time. Originally from Goshen, they visited the lake in the summers, and finally became year round residents 14 years ago. Phil is a retired machinist from Bayer, putting in 23 years there. He is active in the Plymouth Brethren Church in Goshen. He loves all water sports, from skiing to sailing, and vegetable gardening.

You may have been to his house on the south end of Sunset if you have attended the annual picnic in the past. Phil was appointed to Vice President about one year ago, taking Scot’s position when he moved up to President.

We had a mild winter, with a few exceptions, but it seemed to last an awfully long time. It seems like we never got spring and now appears that we have gone right into summer. It has been wet, with the "April Showers" lasting through May but that has benefited the lake level.

We have been pleased with the return of membership renewals and appear to be getting a good start on our membership numbers. We also received a good number of donations to help offset the cost of the mosquito spraying. We would like to say Thank you, and hope that both the dues and Mosquito spray donations will continue. Spraying needs to be done shortly after a rain where the evening temperatures are high enough and the wind is low enough.

The Fourth Annual Baldwin Lake Flotilla will be on Saturday July 6^th , starting at 3:00 PM Indiana time. This year, 1st prize will be a $100 gift certificate from Tri-Lakes Marina. Hopefully, having it on the weekend will allow more people to be able to enter. If you are interested in joining us, please contact us by e-mail at: baldwin-lake-366@mlswa.org or by phone at 641-5336 or 641-7972. Check out our web page for more information. The web address is- http://www.mlswa.org/BALDWIN-LAKE-366/

The Annual Picnic will be held on July 20th, the same day as our annual meeting, and will be held at the home of Weldon and Mary Lou Park located at 70160 Hartshorn, which is that street just southwest of Treasure Island, off Sunset. We are asked to park on their lot on Treasure Island, which is to the east of their home which was formerly the old "Hotel". The picnic begins at 2:00 (IN time).

Everyone should know that any fishing on Baldwin Lake, or any other public lake, requires a current fishing license even if you are fishing from your own property. Please get one and save yourself the fine.

There will be extra Marine Patrols on Baldwin Lake by the Cass County Sheriff’s Marine Patrol again this year. This should help to keep the "traffic" a little better controlled again this year.

Lake Association meetings are now scheduled for the third Monday of the month at 7:00 P.M. (IN). All are welcome! We want everyone to know that the officers and advisors always welcome your suggestions and comments. Those can be given by E-mail to baldwin-lake-366@mlswa.org or by phone.

H.C. Scot Billings

The Porter Township Board passed the Keyhole/Riparian ordinance at the last board meeting. This ordinance will control lake access for undeveloped back-lot access sites, as well as limiting lots developed from future growth. This will go a long way to regulate boating activities for the future on all lakes and the river in Porter township.

The next 30 to 60 days will see a few of our community residents circulating a petition in our community. This petition is to secure your vote for a wastewater collection system for our lake community (Baldwin, Long/Coverdale & Indiana). This petition is what the Township Board will need to decide if, or how to proceed with this project. In order for the board to consider any action, a majority of the land mass in any proposed collection district must approve. This is the only way they will have accurate information. The circulators should have answers to any question you have, and in the event that they do not, they have resources to get the answer you need. We will try to address some of the most common questions below.
The Cost has not changed from the survey presentation last fall. The consulting firm who developed the survey has a good track record on past projects usually coming in at, or less than, projected costs These figures are estimates and the actual cost will be compiled when the engineering planning is completed and construction bids are taken.

The cost can be paid in two ways. One is to pay the costs up front and the other is to apply the cost to your annual tax statement, which will be spread out over 20 years at a fixed interest rate. Residents on fixed income who qualify as having an income under the minimum limit may apply for a grant.

A $30 per month maintenance fee for each dwelling on the system;

A one-time $8650 benefit fee for each building with plumbing.
The benefit fee can be spread over 20 years. The benefit fee only applies to lots that have a plumbed building on them.

(A 50ft lot with one dwelling would have a one-time payment, a $500 front footage charge (50ft x $10 = $500) + the $8650 benefit fee.)

If you own a vacant lot you pay only the front foot charge up to a maximum of 250 ft. If you own lots on both sides of a road (Sunset Blvd. for some residents) you will pay the $10 front foot charge for both lots unless it can be determined that one lot is unable to be built on. There will be no change in your real-estate taxes as long as you own your home. When and if you do sell your home the new owner will pay any tax increases due to the increase in valuation due to a wastewater system.

For the past year or so, area residents have listened to reports provided through public meetings and newsletters that "we" need a sewer system. "We"" usually means everyone in the defined area. In this case that includes Baldwin Lake and Porter Township. Without question, sewers can add to , or improve a property value. Unfortunately this added value does not come without expense to those properties involved. In this situation, the cost to each property will be somewhere between $9,500-$12,500. In some rare cases, it could be more. True cost will not be certain until actual cost of project is determined. Regardless of cost, if a sewer is necessary, it needs to be done.

Now, a few lines for those of the "we’s" who also live on Baldwin Lake that do not need to replace their current septic system with a sewer-and there are many of us! Is it fair that "we" be required to spend money to improve a system that is already working in their area? In some cases it is money "we" do not even have. Please understand this article is not telling you that a sewer system in not needed in some areas. But many of us need to consider the cost of bringing in sewers (and a possible waste water treatment plant-how much will that cost in tax increases??), and maintaining a septic field that could last for another 20 years or so with regular maintenance and regular pumping-which only costs between $85 and $125 every 3 or so years. Please think about it before signing any petitions, while we still have a chance for CHOICE.

The annual lake association meeting is in about 2 weeks. If you feel that your voice is not being heard, come to the meeting!

Too many unanswered questions-too many estimates! We need clearer studies and concrete answers before we are ready to vote.

An anonymous BLA member

You are invited to visit the camp for a day of fun activities and lunch. The camp is located just south of US 12 on Sunset. Meet the 5 missionary staff. Find out about the ministry of the camp, who they minister to, and just what the camp offers. Ask questions about getting permission to hunt or collect firewood or mushrooms on the property. The waterfront and slide will be open, basketball, volleyball and walking tours will be going on.

Join us for the day!

Inez Sutton on Hilltop Road talked to the garden club last month about medicinal uses for common herbs. Did you know that many common herbs can be used to help alleviate medical ailments? Herbs can be eaten, made into teas or salves. Suffering from arthritis? Try pineapple, red pepper, stinging nettle or ginger. Bladder infection? Try blueberry, cranberry, yogurt, parsley or dandelion. Emphysema? How about mullein tea, red pepper or licorice. Menopause? Soy foods, alfalfa, licorice and strawberry can help. Herbs help alleviate symptoms but do not cure diseases. Ask Inez about your ailment and possible herbs that might help.

The next meeting will be at Bev Henke’s on July 9th at 12:30 (IN time). Call 641-7972 if you will be coming so she has enough munchies on hand. Topic-Attracting birds to you garden

This is an election year for our county government. The primary is August 6

and the general election will be Nov. 5. In this area, the primary is probably more important than the Nov. election. This year we have redistricting. Those of us on the east side of Hilltop and all those farther east are in District 5, while those on the west side of Hilltop are in the new 6th district. We will all be voting at the Township Administration Building, just north of US-12 and the fire station, but in separate areas. This will determine the make-up of our new 15 member board of commissioners. Please check the background and qualifications of the five candidates who are running in District 6. In 5 there is no contest for Commissioner Malsch. Several new faces, due to the early retirement package coming from the state, will also be aboard by fall. Please take an interest in our community and vote for the best people we can find. With all the new folks we will need experience and cooperation particularly on the Board of Commissioners.

Also, circle Aug. 10 on your calendar for Community Policing annual pancake and sausage breakfast to be held at the Shrine Club on Union Road. There will be some differences this year. We will focus on children, with bike safety inspections, car seat belt inspections, and gun safety information, along with activities for the kids. We will not be having community agency booths, unless they have material related to children. The sheriff's department segments will be here. In addition, we will be starting a bit later than we have been doing. We will have some door prizes but we will not have as many, and most of them will be aimed at our children. Watch for posters and flyers as we get closer for more information. If you would like to volunteer to help, please call Coe at 641-5931.

To say that this has been an unusual spring is to say the obvious. I suspect that summer will be the same way. While things have been colder and damper than most of us would like, there are some things that have been very nice, as well as unexpected. Spring bulbs lasted longer, but the iris went very quickly, and our peonies lasted just about three days. The nicest thing about it has been our inundation of orioles. We have had as many as five at one time on the feeders, and some of them are real characters. One we dubbed Rerun. She lands on the humming bird feeder that hangs on a chain right outside our dining table window. It has four large "flower" bells. Once she has landed, she goes to the top of one bell, and then circles all four across the top , almost standing on her head to get at the juice in the bells. Then she flies about five feet to the railing on the steps to the deck, pauses for about 10 seconds, and flies back to the same feeder, hitting it hard enough to spin it. Our theory is that she manages to run some of the juice out of the flower where it is easier for her to get. One morning I counted 16 such flights before she took off. She frequently shows up five or six times during the day. The bright orange and black color of these birds can really brighten our day. We've put oranges on top of their feeder and were surprised to see that the house finches are also fruit eaters. We also placed the other half of the orange on the rail, and lo and behold, one of our friendly squirrels came along, knocked it to the deck and proceeded to devour it completely. Nature can always come up with a surprise or two.

Our wrens are back and are feeding the young at this point. It's always surprising to realize how much noise that tiny bird can generate. But the song is a delightful greeting to the day. The hummers are here too and for awhile they have been intimidated by the orioles. Now as the oriole traffic is slowing, the hummers are coming in greater numbers and the territorial battles are on. You'd think that with three feeding stations there is room for all of them and yet they waste more energy chasing each other than they can get from the feeders in twice the time.

We have not seen any baby ducks this year, until today when we spotted one very small baby swimming all by himself out toward the middle of the lake. There was no sign of a parent or any brothers and sisters. I hope he manages to hook up with his family before something happens to him (or her).

And another unexpected pleasure this year is the blue bird who shows up almost daily for a bath in our bird bath. It is such a bright blue and is another thing that makes living here so special. Carla Babcock tells me they have blue birds at their place on the north end. It is wonderful to have these once diminishing birds returning to the area.

Now that summer has really arrived with 90 + degrees, we need to be aware that our feeders for the hummers can become fermented much more quickly and will need to be cleaned and refilled more often. You might want to not fill them so full these times. The heat is hard on the birds too. And please, don't forget that our pets need water and shade.

Boating traffic is increasing and we need all to be aware of the rules of the "road" that apply to the lake. Please stay alert, both on the lake and on the roads around here. Let's keep it a safe and happy lake season. Enjoy and be safe.

Just in case you have missed it, we have had a rash of home break-ins. There have been at least three on Hilltop, and others on Wayne. Until last week deputies had no vehicle clues. Then a lady who lives just north of Wayne St. on Union Road, came home at noon to find her house had been broken into and heard that a forest green small station wagon that no one in the area knew had been parked in her driveway. It had a temporary plate in the rear window, but no identification of the make of the car. Please stay alert, and if you spot a car that matches this, please call the sheriff's office at 663-5225, and see if you can spot the make, and a real license plate. When we take care of our neighbors, we take care of ourselves. Good things happen when good folks care.

It is understood that some areas of Cass County have a high level of Radon. In co-operation with the state of Michigan, the Cass County Health Department is offering Radon Test Kits-FREE for Cass County property owners. These kits are available at the Cass County Health Department located in Cassopolis, north of the village, just before the library.

As boaters, we cannot ignore the effect we have on the environment. Keep these guidelines in mind as you enjoy our lake.

Avoid stirring up shallow waters, which can limit light penetration and deplete oxygen, affecting fish and bird feedings.

Noise and movement can disturb bird populations. Do not harass wildlife by chasing or interrupting feeding, nesting or resting.

Excessive boat or PWC wakes cause erosion.

Prevent the spread of unwanted pests from other lakes and rivers.