GLPOA Early Spring Newsletter 2010
February 2010
Hello from Golden Lake
This informal early spring newsletter is sent, as in previous years, to stay in touch with our members, many of whom are enjoying warmer climes. We list information on upcoming events for 2010 that will be of interest to you. See you in the spring!
GLPOA Annual General Meeting: Saturday, June 5
The 2010 GLPOA Annual General Meeting will be held Saturday, June 5th at the Killaloe Public School. The meeting will start at 9:00. More detailed notices will appear on the GLPOA web site and in local newspapers.
CPR Class C (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) course: June 26
Once again, it is expected that GLPOA will conduct a Class C CPR Course. Registration will take place at the AGM.
Pleasure Craft Operator’s Course: Saturday, July 3
Over the past three years we have successfully graduated about 300 students from ages eight to eighty. Even though the deadline of September 15, 2009 has passed, there will continue to be boaters who need to obtain their permit. If numbers warrant, we will once again offer this important service on the first Saturday of July, this year being July 5th. The four-hour course, starting at 8:00 am will be held at Killaloe Public School at a cost of $35.00 per person. We ask that you pre-register with an email to info@goldenlake.info or by mail to GLPOA, P.O. Box 99 Golden Lake ON K0J 1X0.
GLPOA Annual Poker Run: Saturday July 31
Our second annual Poker Run takes place in the Civic Holiday Weekend and promises to be another outstanding event. Organizers will start registration at The Sands on Golden Lake starting at 8:00 am. The $20.00 (per person) entry fee deals you into the game and buys you lunch, with as many players per boatload as you want.
Cell Phone Progress
Over the past four years GLPOA has been actively working to promote the need for improved cell phone service in the region. To date, three Bell Mobility towers, located in Douglas, Rankin and near Wilber Lake, have been installed and activated. As for the remaining two Bell towers, both property owners and GLPOA have been assured by Bell Mobility in Montreal that both towers, one on highway 60, approximately 1 mile east of McMillan Road and the other a few miles west of the flashing light at Simpsons Pit Road intersection, will be built in early spring. The Rogers towers in Douglas, Eganville and Golden Lake have greatly improved overall service. So we are confident that by this summer season, upgrades will result in much improved cellular coverage across Golden Lake and Round Lake.
Lakeside Billboards and our Corporate Sponsors
In 2009 we had our most successful year with corporate sponsor advertising on our billboards. There were 21 participating companies and we have two additional 2 new sponsors scheduled for 2010 for a total of 23! This is a most valuable program for GLOPA, providing funds to underwrite the considerable expense associated with waterway hazard marking on the lake and river stretches. Our corporate sponsors are listed on our web site. You can thank them in person, with your patronage as you conduct your business in the area.
High Water Levels
Everyone is aware of the issue of high water levels of the Bonnechere system in previous years. Both Round Lake and Golden Lake and the Bonnechere River in between had their high-water record broken in 2008. A more aggressive draw down of the water level has taken place over this fall and winter to create added capacity for the spring freshet. GLPOA continues to work with our partners on the waterway, including Round Lake Property Owners Association (RLPOA), Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and Renfrew Power Generation (RPG). GLPOA
hosted two meetings of the stakeholders in late 2009 and early 2010. Read
the minutes and summary here. To
see the current water level on Golden Lake, go here.
Ruby Road Waste Site News
Bonnechere Valley Township Council continues to move forward through its Waste Management Committee to examine the feasibility of an expansion of the Ruby Road Waste Transfer Station site. Many consultations have been held over the past two years and the task at hand now for the Council is to assemble comparative costs of expansion or joining in with the Renfrew County Waste Recovery Centre on Woito Station Road. It is the intent of the GLPOA to continue to closely follow this issue, keeping membership apprised of developments. The Bonnechere Valley Township website can be consulted for any updates at:
http://www.bonnecherevalleytwp.com/
Waterway Hazard Marking
Golden Lake and the Bonnechere River bottoms have irregularities that enhance the beauty and intrigue boaters. However, these features present hazards and must be marked for boaters on the waterway. GLPOA has initiated a comprehensive program of hazard locating with large orange buoys in the main lake and red and green channel markers upstream from the Deacon bridge. It is our plan to have buoys installed by the May long weekend and removed by thanksgiving. The program is being managed by members Jay Foran and Gord McMilllan with a growing list of dedicated volunteers looking after buoys in their respective locations. The known hazards are also located on our official GLPOA maps, available for sale at The Sands on Golden Lake.
Membership is Important
Through a survey of tax rolls of the three townships in the region, we have determined that there are about 500 “inhabited” waterfront properties along the Bonnechere River and on Golden Lake. We are proud that as of 2009, we have just over 400 of these properties are represented as members of our association. Membership is key to our success, as an association, to have a strong collective voice with which to address issues and concerns to all levels of government. Our geographic area is divided into eleven zones, each managed by a Zone Representative and assisted by volunteers, to canvass for your annual $20.00 dues. It will be helpful all around, if you might choose to send in your 2010 dues by mail to our P.O. Box 99 , Golden Lake mailing address now with this start of this calendar year.
New Canadiana and Ottawa Valley History Book
I take the liberty of announcing the new book “Alligators of the North” that chronicles the forestry and river drive workhorse, the Alligator Steam Tug Boat manufactured by West & Peachy in Simcoe Ontario from 1889 through to the 1930s. The Alligator was ubiquitous on most tributaries of the Ottawa River, including the Bonnechere and Golden Lake! The Canadian Forestry Association, through its Pembroke office, offers a pre-publication discount. Visit the special blog
http://alligatorsofthenorth.blogspot.com
Prepared and distributed by Dave Lemkay.
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