Most of us, or those who have not gone south, are enjoying/surviving a very cold winter, but spring and the lake season is just around the corner and in the meantime we will wish the ice fishermen good luck.
Our annual Holiday Dinner Dance was a success and plans are underway for the next one, December 6, 2008.
Some highlights of the coming year include our road clean-up days, April 26th and October 11th and the annual meeting July 19th. We will have information regarding a boating safety class when we finalize the details. On May 21 at 6:00PM the association will host the second annual Speakers’ Forum. Residents from Baldwin, Long, Coverdale, and Indiana Lakes are invited to share a potluck meal and hear presentations on timely topics specific to lake living. We hope to have a speaker to present information and answer questions about mosquito spraying. More information will be in the April news letter. For a complete schedule of events and meetings go to our web site which is updated on a regular basis.
Several years ago the association purchased and paid to plant an evergreen tree near the parking area of Mills Grocery. Some of our members have decorated it for the holiday season. Now we need someone to step up and take this on as a project. Please let an advisor or officer know if your family would like to take on this community service.
I want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to a valuable member of our community who has moved to Florida. We usually do not sing the praises of individuals, but this person has made such a significant contribution to the association and the community that I must mention it. I first met Don Henke and his family while camping at the site next to them at Willow Shores. We saw them for several years and then learned that they had moved and were making their home on Terrie Shores on the south end of the lake. Anyone who knows Don is amazed by his energy and capacity for work as well as his dedication to the lake and the community. Don has served on and chaired committees and boards for Porter Township and was one of the original founders of the Baldwin Lake Association and served two terms as president and set the leadership bar very high. His wife, Bev was also active and served on committees and helped plan many events. I know all of us think our loss is Florida’s gain. I want to personally and sincerely thank Don for his commitment, his work and especially his friendship. Don and Bev, we wish you the very best. (They have family on the lake and in the area so hopefully we well see them soon)
I wish all of you a Happy, Healthy, and Safe New Year and hope you make a resolution to join us in our efforts to maintain and protect our lake community.
Alice Ann Troy - BLA President
WHO NEEDS TO TAKE A BOATING SAFETY CLASS TO OPERATE A
PERSONAL WATERCRAFT (JET SKI, WAVE RUNNER?)
PWC Under Age Requirements in Michigan are the following:
· A person shall not operate a personal watercraft if a child under 7 years of age is on board or towed unless with a parent or guardian or designee of parent or guardian.
· A person under age 14 shall not operate a personal watercraft in this state.
A person who is 12 or more and less than 14 years of age may use a personal watercraft on the waters of this state if all of the following circumstances exist:
The person is accompanied solely by the person’s parent or legal guardian.
Both the person and the parent or legal guardian have obtained a boating safety certificate.
The personal watercraft is equipped by the manufacturer with a lanyard type engine cutoff switch, and the parent or legal guardian has the lanyard attached to his or her person, clothing, or personal flotation device.
The personal watercraft is designed to carry not less than two persons.
Persons born after December 31, 1978 shall not operate a personal watercraft unless they obtain a boating safety certificate.
The operators of a personal watercraft must carry their boating safety certificate and display it upon the demand of a peace officer.
FOR ALL AGES:
A person shall not operate a personal watercraft on the waters of this state if either of the following conditions exists:
1. The person is under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance, or both.
2. The person has a blood alcohol content of 0.10% or more.
2007 DINNER DANCE
The 2007 Baldwin Lake Association Christmas Party was another success. Held at the Cass County Conservation Club, we had 84 guests for dinner and dancing. It was a great time to enjoy a delicious meal and great company. This traditional party has become a highlight of the holiday season for many Baldwin Lakers. It is held on the first Saturday of December. So, mark your calendars!
Judy's Jottings
Submitted by Judy Kankel
At the Feeder: A bevy of birds has arrived at the feeders since the big snowfall, and we have witnessed several flying into our windows, even though we have decals on the windows to deter this. It was a very touching scene when a junco probably with a serious headache sat still on the ground. A couple of minutes later a large turtle dove sat right next to it as if playing nursemaid. To our surprise, a few minutes later, the turtle dove waddled away and the junco flew away. Birds might have small brains, but have a strong constitution.
INDOOR PLANTS: A very easy plant to grow, even if you don’t have a green thumb, is the Lucky Bamboo. Choose the proper container, insert the bamboo stick, carefully surround the plant with small pebbles, fill with water and watch it grow. I change the water once a week and they seem to thrive with medium light and no fertilizer. Also, did you know you can start a new African Violet or Rex Begonia with a leaf inserted into light potting mix? (1/2 vermiculite and 1/2 potting mix works very well.)
HIBERNATING GROUNDHOGS: Groundhog and woodchuck are two names for the same rodent. They can climb trees and also can swim. In the winter, they go into profound hibernation in deep burrow below the frost line and can lower their body temperature as low as 39 or 40 degrees Fahrenheit. They have an internal clock that notices the change in the amount of daylight and causes them to wake up again in the spring.. You may have one sleeping under your deck. How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck would chuck wood? About 700 pounds…they are not adept at chomping wood . A wildlife biologist once measured the inside volume of a typical woodchuck burrow and estimated that—if wood filled the hole instead of dirt—the industrious animal would have chucked about 700 lbs. worth..
FROM MY KITCHEN: ITALIAN BEEF
5 Pounds Beef (can be arm roast, chuck roast, sirloin tip, etc. or a mixture of these)
1 jar pepperocini, drained
1 pkg. dry Good Seasons Italian Dressing Mix
1 12-oz. can of beer
2 Cups Beef Broth
Put beef in roasting pan and cover with other ingredients. Bake covered at 325 about 5 hours or until it falls apart. You may thicken the juice with a little cornstarch and water mixture if too runny.
Serve on buns. I am sure you could do this in a crock pot too. Yummy!
ICE FISHING TIPS
Ice fishing crappies is the most popular form of ice fishing. They are easy to catch and provide a nice sporting fight. Finding them is another story. Crappie tend to school together and wander all over the lakes they inhabit. Dawn and dusk are peak time. A good bet would be at the 6-20’ depth.
Tackle needed:
Small split shot
Small shiner or fathead minnow
Small bobber
Small hook
Light action fishing rod
Ice fishing for Northern Pike is one of the most exciting species to target. They are aggressive predators. They will take almost anything you offer them, including ice transducers. Most people use "tip-ups" when ice fishing for Northern Pike, although jigging will work also. Northern Pike tend to be loners, and are found anywhere in the water column. Fishing 1-4 feet just below the ice is a good place to start.
Use large, sharp hooks. Northern Pike are toothy-creatures so if you want to actually land (ice) one, you will need a steel leader on the end of your ice fishing line. Watch those teeth if you actually land one. Those teeth can rip your hand up pretty bad and there are germs and bacteria in the saliva that can cause quite an infection.
Sometimes the Northern Pike will just tug at your line...just a little. Play it out. Be careful that you have the right line and make sure that you have your drag set correct.
After a typical fall, a lot of bluegills will be in any
remaining, standing weeds at first ice. As the winter goes on, deeper weeds in inside turns are usually the last ones to die off, because there’s usually less wind impact.
A typical presentation is a jig baited with lively maggots, wax worms or a Techni-Glo plastic tail. For bluegills, start in the middle size range with a #10 hook.
President’s Corner
Judy's Jottings
Oops!!!!