BALDWIN LAKE ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

Volume 7 Issue 5 Sept 2000

President's Corner

Well, first off, I would like to extend a huge "Thank-you" to Don Henke, once again, for his past 4 years of service as president. I feel he did an outstanding job for this association. Thanks, Don!

The annual meeting went pretty good. We had 49 people turn out, which is about the same as last year. The new PAL program (Porter Alliance of Lakes) was discussed, along with mosquito spraying, the recent boat count, and our lake campgrounds.

Mosquito spraying was completed the first 2 weeks in August. There will be much discussion on this issue in the future, and lake resident input is a must for us to make a sound decision on future spraying.

The decision at the August 1st Public meeting on the Hollywood Shores Campground special land use permit, was favorable. There were approximately 78 people present, and the permit was voted down. The issue is not over yet, though. Hollywood Shores can still appeal the decision. I would like to thank Coe Strain for filling in for me at the very last minute to speak on the Association's behalf.

Until next issue-be safe and enjoy!

Jeff Schaar

BLA President

Good-bye, Farewell

I would like to thank everyone who helped me personally, in the last 6 years as a member of the Baldwin Lake Association executive board. Without your support, the things we as an association have accomplished would not have taken place. Carol Erby, our first association president, set the standard for future presidents and board members to measure up to, and I am sure that our new board will move that mark a little higher. There are a lot of issues and projects to deal with in the future, and our association needs the help and support of the whole lake community. This being my last president's letter, I want to again thank our board members, committee chairmen, advisors, and the whole lake community for your support.

Don Henke

District Highlights

DISTRICT 4 is located at the south end of our lake, and is divided into two sections.

Terrie Shores is the first part of Dist. 4, and the advisor is past president, Don Henke. This street runs west off Sunset, and there are 16 homes on it. The back-side of the road is owned by Hollywood Shores Campground, and is zoned as lake residential lots. Perhaps it will one day be developed as has the back-side of Hilltop. The lake is very shallow along this stretch of shoreline and folks here need long piers to get to water deep enough to moor their boats. We all need to remember that the 100-foot rule still applies to the end of the piers when we boat in that area. It is good for swimming, especially for little ones, so beware of the swimmers there as well.

Frieda Holdread has lived in that area longer than almost anyone else. She and Warren built their house 41 years ago and paid to have the street paved. At that time the house the Cassidys have now at the corner of Terrie Shores and Sunset, and the house Betty and Robert Jr. Cripe have, were the only houses in the district.

Joe and Debby Peters and Julius and Barbara De Cocq are the newest residents in district. The Helsels, Tufts, Bradfords, Wolkins, Leathermans, and Zipsers have all been there for many years. The Cassidys actually have a Sunset address, but are right on the corner and included in this district. The Canales own and operate a restaurant in Chicago, and enjoy being on this smaller lake when they can.

Don and Bev Henke camped for several years at Willow Shores before buying their home and becoming full-time residents, and both were involved with the efforts to start the BLA. Don became a vice-president when we started, and has served two two-year terms as president. Bev has been a mainstay on first the social, and now the fund raising committee. She also is very helpful to Community Policing, working at the breakfast and helping us gather things for Christmas stockings and Easter baskets for the women and children at the domestic assault shelter.

The second part of the district is to the west of Hollywood Shores, and includes South Baldwin Lake Drive going up the west side of the lake. Sixteen homes are on these two roads, having Hollywood Shores, Wayne Street, or South Baldwin Lake Road addresses. The advisor in this area is our first president Carol Erbe. She tells me that most of the folks own what were one room fishing cabins when Mr. Decio built them for rentals. Having acquired these cottages from their parents, these 2nd generation families have remodeled, and many are occupied year around.

At one time, the campground and all of the land at the south end was owned as investment property by the Dearborn Investment Co., a Ford subsidiary, and Henry himself was on the board of directors. The property was bought by Julius Decio, who built a dance hall, and lots of folks came out from Elkhart to enjoy the dancing. Old timers also tell stories about back-room card games. Decio also built the one room fishing cabins for rent and the home now occupied by James and Virginia Gajdorus for the Catholic Diocese. Mr. Forbes had to keep a row boat tied up at the resort to get to his home on the west side. All this was in the late 40ties. Eventually, when the Forbes wanted to remodel and add on to their house, they built the private road which has since become South Baldwin Lake Drive. Eloyse and her daughter Judy, still live in this house and are here year around.

Most of the property was then sold to Samuel Wheaton who owned it for 15-18 years and gradually built the camp ground. The dance hall was turned into apartments, and the open pavilion was built as recreation area for the campers. The fishing cabins were sold off.

Van Erbe's parents bought the campground in 1967. When the family moved back to this area they stayed with an aunt and Van's grandmother for awhile in what is now Van and Carol's home. Once the family took over the camp ground, they moved into the big house on the grounds . Van and Butch had full time summer jobs helping with running the business. Later the campground was sold to Sam and Jean Gaspar, and last year to Mark and Mary Harman, the current owners.

Irene Furstenau lives in the house just west of the campground and was very active with the old lake association which faded away by '75. Irene's boys were wrestlers in high school and one became a wrestling coach. Brian and his wife Carol are frequent visitors and help her maintain her home. Dan Yarnell is an ardent golfer and has on several occasions been club and tournament champion. One recent winter, the Nagle's cottage which was closed up for the winter, was almost totally destroyed by raccoons who took up residence there. When Nagles came up the following spring they found torn-off cabinet doors, up ended canisters, broken toilet seats, nests in the stuffing of the sofa and beds. Apparently the coons got into the attic and then chewed their way through the ceiling and dropped down. The following spring, six monster sized coons were trapped one at a time.

Keith and Judy Kankel are the most recent owners in this area and have been remodeling their home at the corner where Hollywood Shores comes up the hill to meet So. Baldwin Lake Drive. Railroad ties are giving them some protection from sliding cars. They have also purchased the wooded area behind the houses there. Carol tells me that for several years the neighbors in this area had "trash can" dinners, with every one contributing something to the big stew pot and gathering around a camp fire to enjoy the food and the company.

Two small areas separated from each other by the campground, each with sixteen homes, combine to form District 4. From this one district, we have had our first 2 presidents!

The Prairie Harvester

In mid-July, a new, weekly paper was introduced to our area. Each Wednesday, the PRAIRIE HARVESTER will cover local happenings from the White Pigeon, Mottville, and Union areas. As much as possible, Mike Beall, editor/publisher, will not be printing negative articles. Though crime and negative things do happen, Mike feels that this type of news is covered by other media sources. Isn't that refreshing! Interviews with older folks will be featured-folks that know 1st-hand about the heritage of our area. Also included will be local events, church and club meetings, sports results, and more. As you know, this type of coverage about our area is sorely lacking in the Elkhart Truth.

If we want to continue to see this type of local coverage continue, we need to support this paper. A one-year subscription is only $25 or for you snow birds, a 6-month subscription is available for $15. Pick up a free sample this week at the bank or Corner Restaurant, then call Mike at 483-8537 to subscribe.

Community Policing Pancake/Sausage Breakfast a Success!

Wow! What a great day. The sun shone all morning. There was a nice breeze moving through the Shrine Club building and under the tents in back. It was warm, but not too hot. And about 1000 people found their way through the 30 plus booths and exhibits, asking questions, picking up information, visiting, exploring, learning, and eating. Some updated their tetanus shots, some got free gun locks, some visited with Scot from the park department, and some with DNR agent Shawn, or checked with the marine officers about changes in the boating laws. Some of the children had rides on mounted division horses, some in Arlen Withers wonderful "Choo-Choo". Some watched the West Michigan AirCare Helicopter come down on the field in front of the building, or held down papers and small children as it took off again. Many watched as the Porter Fire Dept. used the new foam truck in a demonstration of how they can control a blaze in just a few seconds with this new piece of equipment. Many of you made contributions to funds for Shane Britton's family or the two Mason Township families in serious need because of illness and fire.

Thank you all--those who contributed door prizes, cash or services to help with expenses, or came down here to bring us information and/or services, or cooked the sausages, mixed the batter, filled syrup bottles and/or cleaned up the tables. And all of you for the moment of silence and prayer for Shane and his family. Without you---all of you, this could not have happened. We are building a community, one that is truly a part of, and an asset to Cass County. Thank you. Thank you one and all. With sincere appreciation for a job well done

Porter Twn. Community Policing

Coe Strain, Breakfast Chair

BLA History Book

Charlotte Fletcher reports that the History book is almost finished. The last chapter is being compiled, the index is being created. The next step is to format it, and then bring it in to be bound. It should be ready sometime this fall. Keep it in mind for Christmas Gifts this year!

Please give Charlotte a call if you would like to put in an early-bird order. Knowing how many books to order will be a great help. 641-7207

Water/Environmental Issues

The end of September will conclude the Secci disk clarity testing. Results will be turn in to Michigan Lakes and Streams and then compared with other lakes in Michigan. Results will be published in the next newsletter.

Baldwin Prairie Elementary School, in co-operation with the Michigan State University/SeaGrant program and Binder Park Zoo, will continue their Beetle release program to help eradicate the Purple loosestrife plants that have invaded our lake. The school would like to expand their program, releasing a greater number of beetles next year. The lake association would like to release the beetles at the point, as you enter Little Baldwin, but have not yet received the property owner's permission.

The Hilltop drainage problem continues to be under review by the County Drain Commissioner. Wish there was something new to report about this issue.

Coe's Coo's

About a week after this newsletter comes out, we need to take down and store the hummingbird feeders for the season. The little guys need to be on their way south by about Sept. 15, to make it all the way across the gulf before the really cold weather sets in. Some times they can hitch a ride on a Canadian goose going that way, but it is still a long and difficult journey.

Have you noticed the white spots on one of the batches of baby ducks? They were in our yard today and appear almost full grown. There are eight of them and they do make a strange group with that funny white mark on all of them but in very different places. It will be interesting to see if they are back next spring and if they relate to each other.

Speaking of strange ducks, Charla Niblock told me that the Egyptian goose produced an egg, and one of the neighbors took it to her. It is in the incubator. She said she would let me know what happens--and I will let you know.

And speaking of eggs, Sicko's pup fell asleep on the job one night, and the raccoons got the eggs, in spite of the pup's efforts to protect them. He barks at everyone and everything except the mama duck who laid the eggs next to Sue and Milan's front steps.

The swallows are teaching their babies to get the flying bugs from under the canopy of Jon and Sondra Walker's speedboat lift. The parents were a bit miffed early in the year because Jon was slow to get the canopy up this summer, but we are delighted to see the swallows and watch them swooping along the waterfront, and up our hill consuming mosquitoes day and night.

Once this summer, as I was driving between Cass and home, I had to stop for a pheasant who was walking across the road (Calvin Hill, I think). And another time Jack and I spotted a quail along the edge of the road. It is great to see some of this native wildlife again. There is a group called Pheasants Forever that is sowing prairie grass and wild flower seed to try to reestablish some of the area as the prairie it was once. This will create cover for many of the regional birds and animals which have been forced out by "civilization".

If we do indeed get forty degree nights this weekend, we can all begin to watch for the migrating birds. I'm not sure I'm ready for that early sign of fall, but it has been truly, a strange and wonderful summer. Mother Nature likes to keep us guessing. Any guesses or predictions about what the winter will bring us???? Not me!!

One night last week, two small kittens that looked to be about 10 to 12 weeks old, appeared on our deck. One was black with just a white spot on his chest, and the other was black too, but looked as if he had been spattered with orange paint. That one managed to get into the house through a loose screen, but we got it back out again before our Rocky knew he was there. Both the kittens looked as if they had been eating regularly and were cared for. I hope they found their way home and were not just dumped on our road. Our cat loving daughter Sandy tells me we need to catch them before they become wild and feral, and either find homes or take them to a shelter. We really do not want feral cats roaming the area. Does anyone know if these kittens live here and, if so, where? We have not seen them again, but it won't take long for them to become wild and feral. If you have any information call Coe.

Reiss House Shower

Many of you recall that the Reiss family lost their home last fall due to a fire. Well, their new home on Little Baldwin is almost ready! Of course they lost all their possessions in the fire. A shower will be held later this month to help them. Please call Baldwin Prairie School at 641-5544 for information on date/location/registration.

Recycle

Would you like to be more involved in caring for our environment, but find it too inconvenient to bring your recyclables down to closest recycle center? Were you aware that you have a neighbor that is providing a recycling service in our area? Art Forbes will, for a nominal yearly fee, provide you with a recycle bin and will pick up your leftover glass, paper, aluminum, and plastic. This is a wonderful and important community service, and sure beats hauling the trash in your car.

Call 641-7847 for more information!

Crime Watch

We will no longer be including specifics about area criminal activity on our web page. If you want to be notified by e-mail about crime alerts in our area, please contact Don Henke at DBHENKE@aol.com

7 Rules of Life

1. Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, if he gets away, he'll be a mile away-and barefoot.

2. My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance.

3. A closed mouth gathers no feet.

4. Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks.

5. Middle age is when the broadness of mind and narrowness of waist change places.

6. Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.

7. The only time the world beats a path to your door is when you are in the bathroom.