The year 2001 had a surprise or two for some of us. I had served as a Vice President for 6 months and was looking forward to another year and a half to settle in as a Vice President. At the January 2nd, Officer’s meeting Jeff Schaar alerted us to a continuing work schedule out of the area, and felt that between that and other reasons he wanted to step down. After accepting his resignation as Pres., the officers appointed yours truly to the position for the remaining year and a half. I am glad to accept, but now we need a candidate for Vice President for the remaining year and a half. We would like to see more people come out to the Advisor’s meetings, held the third Wednesday of each month. We’re looking for your input and ideas as we consider future projects.

At this point we are hearing that Wightman/Petrie is close to the finish of the Feasibility study in Porter Township concerning the need for, and cost of a sewer system. We still need some area volunteers for the small committee, to act as a communication link between Wightman/Petrie and the Township. This committee would be able to keep us all up to date and informed during the study process. If you are interested and available give me a call or E-mail at baldwin-lake-366@mlswa.org .

In general things are beginning to settle in after the holidays, although the weather has been a little severe and the snow rather deep. The one benefit from the low temperatures and snow is that the lake should regain some depth and possibly fewer weeds.

We are looking forward to seeing the "snowbirds" return in a few months.

H.C. Scot Billings

BLA President

Freezing drizzle is the worst!!! At twenty mph this morning, I slipped and slid all the way down to North River Road. From there on it was just sloppy with all the stuff Indiana had on the roads. I suspect many of us learned the meaning of "fog ice" again this year. And most of us have forgotten what a typical winter in Michigan is supposed to be like. December was a reminder and a wakeup call. Then January brings us only 3" of "stuff", right up to the last minutes of the month. I guess it really isn't nice to fool Mother Nature. It has been beautiful--as long as I don't have to get out and drive in it. It has been fun to watch Bubba and Rascal (dogs, not neighbors) romping in the snow. The boys next door have cleared a nice skating rink area, but every time I look over there, Jessie is either ice fishing or they are clearing the snow off the ice again.

I have seen some things this winter that I have never seen before. One is the angled icicles on the north side of our house. They look as if they froze right in the middle of a blizzard. It's about a 15-degree angle from west to east on the bottom half of the ice. And the other really different thing was that a section of snow on the lower railing on our deck apparently was blown or knocked off the rail, and it froze in a perfect drape from one post to the next and was there for more than a week.

I hope you all have seen the swans this fall. Sue Sicko came to tell me they had found one dead on the access lot. The DNR agent told them that it is not uncommon, especially with the young ones who get viruses, etc. Anyway, Sue and Milan buried it there. The other two or three stayed here until the lake was solid ice. I hope they will be back in the spring. There is something almost royal about them.

I have written about our heated bird bath before, but this year we had three blue birds coming to it five or six times every day. They never went near the feeders, just drank the water. There were two females and one male. He is so much brighter. Then one night something--squirrel or possum or raccoon got into it and spilled out all the water. We did not realize that for a couple of days, but by then the blue birds had gone, but we really enjoyed them while they were here.

Jack and I have both seen the eagle now, at different times, but he also needs some open water so that he can fish. And one morning I found a hawk standing on the crossbar that holds up our feeders. We think he was probably ayoung Cooper’s hawk. I did get a picture, but the light was behind him so he doesn’t show up very well.

I have spent too much time this year training or being trained by the squirrels. It's not that I mind them, but when they are in the feeders the birds can't get there. As long as they stay on the deck I don't bother them, but when they go up the post and into the feeders, I go after them with my deck broom. Who says I'm a witch? Now most of them will jump down when I open the door which has a terrible squeak to it. But most of them look pretty chubby anyway. And we have had what appears to be a young possum on the deck in the late afternoon and evening, getting his dinner from the seeds that have been knocked out of the feeders.

Did you see the ice-boat (with sail) on the ice the 1st weekend of February?!!

UNLESS you have been in a coma, or out of the country, you have surely heard of the shortages of blood throughout our entire nation. Supplies are critical for cancer patients, accident and/or disaster victims, and frequently surgery patients. Porter's Community Policing group has moved the spring drive up to the 24th of March. The turnout last fall was wonderful with more than 60 people coming up to the fire station to donate. Last spring however, the turnout was very poor. Perhaps in March the weather won't be quite so nice and folks won't be so anxious to clean up their yards, get their boats out, and plant their gardens.

The process has improved and we have not had lines of donors waiting along the way. The entire thing should not take more than about an hour. Please, before you come up, be sure that you have had food, and increase what you drink as much as you can. The extra fluid helps the blood flow more quickly.

Once again we will be operating from 8:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. And if you would like to help--make cookies, be a greeter or a guide, we can always use people. Call Coe Strain at 641-5931. If you need to, leave a message and I will call you back to answer questions or to sign you up for one or the other of the work sessions.

The applications for the township scholarship can be picked up at the township hall just north of the fire station and are to be returned to the hall by May 15. Any Porter township resident may apply for this scholarship. With college costs as they are now, any little help means a great deal.

Don't miss out on these opportunities available to young people in our area.

BY MIKE MILLER

District 6’s south boundary starts at the midpoint of the "straight-away" stretch on Hilltop (i.e. 70219-Strains) and goes north to the last house (Todd Weaver's). Of interest to me was the discovery of "earth mounds" by early pioneers, in the fields along the western shores of Baldwin Lake in the 1800's on the Samuel Rinehart farm. This property was located in the mid-to-south section along Hilltop Rd. These were formed 1,000-2,000 years ago by a group of Indians known as "Mound Builders". The mounds were burial sites and contained jewelry, pottery, and human skeletons.

MONROE, MI.—They’re fun, fast—and dangerous. Just ask Gary Groves, who almost was hit by a snowmobile a few years ago. Groves was driving his snowmobile cautiously up a steep hill when he saw another one racing toward him in the opposite direction.

What a great way to start off the holiday season-spending time with good friends and meeting new people! The Round Oak was decorated beautifully, and everyone looked very festive. The food was good, and the entertainment was great. One of the customers sang a few songs. He had a wonderful voice, and we all enjoyed it.