Summer has finally arrived and we hope every one has a fun and safe boating season. The boating laws have changed in Michigan so please read the article about what is new for 2000.

We want to thank everyone who took the time out of their busy schedules to clean the roads around our lake. It’s amazing how much trash is picked up every 6 months and we can only imagine how dirty it would look if we didn’t clean them. Thanks to all.

An important date for all to remember is Wed., June 14th, 2000. On that day the Porter Township Planning/Zoning Board is holding a public meeting at the Baldwin Prairie School to unveil the Porter Township Master Plan. This is a very important public forum and the Baldwin Lake Association is asking all resident and property owners to attend. This meeting is not restricted to only residents, all property owners (weekend, and summer residents, too) are invited to provide input on this plan. The meeting was planned with a summer date to allow as many people to attend. Future plans regarding development and zoning will be discussed. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend. The meeting will be held:

Let me bring you up to date on what has been happening at the P.A.L. (Porter Alliance of Lakes) meetings. Discussions have been going on about Purple Loosestrife beetles and the county master plan on wastewater. Our last meeting was held with representatives of Wightman/Petrie, an engineering firm, and invited township members to discuss the how’s and when’s of conducting a feasibility study in Porter Township for the need of a sewer system. We will keep you informed of all progress on this matter.

Just a reminder that the township clean-up day at American Waste in Union is on the same day as our community garage sale, June 10th. This may work out just great! If you don’t sell all your "stuff", you can still take it to the collection center and have a clean garage!

Michigan Lakes & Streams, an organization we are members of, has long advocated that lake associations become involved in local city or township governments. We are fortunate that our lake communities have many people who are involved with many different township boards. I would like to wish Scot Billings, a resident of Baldwin Lake, luck in his decision to run for trustee on the Porter Township Board

See you on the lake! Don Henke

There is a suicidal robin who has a nest in our honeysuckle bush. He seems to think his reflection in our windows and doors is an invading male, and he will have none of it. He flies full steam into the glass with feet and beak aimed at this "invader", who, since it is his own reflection, is flying at him with feet and beak. This has been going on for at least 3 weeks and we don't know how to stop it except by opening the door and chasing him. It isn't long until he's back. I first saw him when he woke me up very early one morning. I thought our cat had been shut up in one of the closets by accident, jumped out of bed to open the doors but he wasn't in either closet. Just about then, the robin hit the door behind me again, and the source of the noise was obvious. Yesterday Jack was out with the hose and a broom trying to wash away the evidence of his attacks all over the doors, the deck and railings. They stayed clean about 30 minutes. If anyone has suggestions to stop this, I'd like to hear from you. I'm afraid he will really hurt himself. He is, if nothing else, a protective, persistent parent.

The loons are gone now as more and more boats are going into action. They have left for more northern and secluded areas. It looks as if the mallards are nesting and we should have an early crop of babies unless we have more hard frost nights. It also depends on their being able to find secure nesting areas, safe from the dogs and cats we all have, as well as the coons, muskrats and ground hogs. With almost all the lots developed here, safe nesting grounds are getting scarce, and we have fewer and fewer baby ducks on the lake.

It is obvious that we are all ready for spring. Every day that is sunny and bright, we can see the smoke from trash fires as folks cleanup their lots and begin to dig into their flower and vegetable gardens. The frost free date in this area is May 15. Most of us don't wait quite that long. Jack plants the flowers for me for on Mother's Day, but we all need to remember that we do take chances with the frost possibilities around here.

Blooming things were early this year and the weather has been cool enough so that the crocuses lasted longer than ever, as well as the daffodils, squills, snowdrops and hyacinths. Many of us still have tulips blooming, and right now the dogwoods, red buds, flowering crabs, and even the apple trees are in bloom. Our lilacs opened fully, making the whole yard smell wonderful, and I have a small bouquet of lily of the valley on the table. Mushroom hunters have been out in full force for the past couple of weeks and the wonderful rains we have had lately helped. (There is nothing better than morels in egg and cracker crumbs, sautéed in butter.)

We are now classified as a slight drought area, down from what we were- severe drought. That doesn't mean we don't need more rain. Our ground water is still below normal--just not quite so far below.

Spring always reminds me of the many people around here who seem to have very green thumbs. I don't know how Dottie Cahill manages to have all the seasonal flowers blooming one right after the other, especially since she winters in Florida. The next time you drive around the curves on north Hilltop, watch for her flower beds on the north side of their house. Jess and June Monroe always have gorgeous tulips each spring. It's worth a drive along Pleasant just to see them. Alice Ann Troy, Lou and Arlene Dewey, Marion and Debby Miller, Dave and Marylou Paritz are others who make the summer brighter because of their gardening. The peonies and the iris look as if they will be blooming by or before Memorial Day--if the winds don't get them.

When Pat Raab told me she had seen an oriole, and our daughter saw the first hummingbird, I hurried to get the feeders up. A half an orange on the top of the oriole feeder and we have had great fun watching several different pairs, both Orchard and Baltimore, coming in to feed. They are so bright and pretty. The best humming bird (and oriole) food is what you make yourself: Just one part sugar to 4 parts water, simmered for three minutes to break down the sugars. Please do not add red coloring. They don't digest it well at all. It should be changed often, especially in hot weather so that it doesn't spoil.

Another sign of spring is the increase in traffic on our roads. We need to be more careful especially at intersections. There have already been several very serious accidents in the county. Let's all have a wonderful summer, safe and happy with no accidents either on the roads, or on the lake.