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PLPA PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
In December, approximately 30 carolers visited friends and neighbors to welcome the season by sharing their holiday cheer; afterwards, the Kossowskys hosted a spectacular party...excellent food and company...Thank You, Bob and Nancy!
For those who enjoy winter, this has been a season to remember. Seasonal folks, you're missing one of our more beautiful winters in some time, with deep snow contrasting the branches and bushes...Peck's Lake truly is a winter wonderland this year. Perhaps what you're not missing is the cold weather, in the minus twenties as I write! The skiing, snowshoeing, tubing and other winter activities couldn't be better. However, the roads and snow removal have presented ongoing challenges, and for some, experiences not soon forgotten. Local measurements indicate 116 inches of snow since our first snowfall! Of course, a little freezing rain and minor warm-ups have diminished the total to mere feet now. But there's still enough snow for fun! Remember to join us Saturday, February 8th for Winter Fest and March 1st for Lapland Lake Ski Outing. Watch the bulletin boards and website for details. Arnie and I look forward to seeing you!
Kathy Henry, President
PECK'S LAKE 11th ANNUAL WINTER FUN DAY Plan to join in the fun at the Peck's Lake Winter Fun Day sponsored by the Peck Family and the PLPA on Saturday, February 8th!, from 12 to 4 p.m., at the Peck's Lake Marina.
There will be Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides from 12:00 to 3:00, Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing through the woods of on the lake, Sledding and Tubing down the hill, a Roaring Bonfire to catch up on the latest events next to, and Refreshments - hot dogs with the famous meat sauce, homemade cookies, soda, hot chocolate, hot mulled cider and only 25 cents apiece.
Bring your sleds, snow tubes, showshoes, cross country skis and enjoy an afternoon of winter fun!
While it is unlikely that the event will be postponed due to poor weather conditions, you can call Alby Peck at 725-3673, Bill & Carol Nitsche at 725-1849 or Dick & Lorraine Carlson at 773-7571 on the morning of February 8th if conditions are questionable.
This month's issue, as always, included our Calendar of Events and a listing of our Officers, Board Members & Committee Chairpeople. This issue also included this year's Garbage Schedule.
Welcome new Peck's Lake property owners:
Ski Lapland Saturday, March 1st all Peck's Lakers & their guests are invited to ski Lapland Lake Saturday, March 1, 2003. Call Dave Pratt at 725-6460 or Bob Ireland at 725-4512 by February 28th for details & to register, save $2. Lapland opens at 9am. To receive the reduced price, be certain to register, and say that you are from Peck's Lake when you purchase your tickets. Rental equipment, snack bar at the ski lodge, or bring bag lunch. Join us for fun day!
Maps, Guidebooks and Directories for sale for $3 each. Contact Larry Doubleday, 725-6680
Winter Safety Info The Town Highway Superintendents reported that the roads are sometimes plowed wider than the pavement to make room for future snowfall. If the roads are covered with snow and you can't see the edges of the pavement and unless you are careful you may drive onto the soft shoulder or into the ditch. Drive slowly and carefully and you can avoid most of the "ditch" encounters.
Alert Regarding US Post Office Mail Delivery Lake residents have noted on several days this winter that a notice of non-delivery of mail was placed on boxes as a result of snow obstruction. Due to weather that has produced more than the normal snowfall it has been challenging for those homeowners who have pitched in to keep the boxes clear. Both the North Shore and South Shore mailbox structures were designed to allow the Town plows to remove snow right up to the structures to allow cars easy access, thus relieving the individual's responsibility for plowing. The town crews have been reminded of this and with minor exception have been able to keep the structures open. However, as they usually plow early in the morning, there can be a heavy accumulation of snow by the time of mail delivery and subsequent pickup by residents. the North Shore structure has the added challenge of keeping the interior of the structure cleared for access to the lock-boxes. The bottom line under challenging conditions is an expectation that the occasional "No Delivery" of our mail will be experienced. While the PLPA seeks to facilitate smooth delivery of residents' mail, we implore every able individual to help their neighbors by lifting an occasional shovel to do what the Town plows can't do. The common use structures are a benefit to all with the alternative of individual mailboxes at the head of each driveway requiring much more effort at snow removal. The PLPA Officers and Board members do sincerely thank those who regularly pitch in to remove snow to improve access to the structures. Let us know who you are so that we can thank you personally. A special vote of appreciation is due to the Association mailbox managers, Tom Foster (SS) and Arnie Henry (NS), for their considerable effort with shovels, hammers and telephone calls to the local Post Office.
Editorial Comment: Verbal compliments to the post office have been gratefully accepted while complaints on mail service have historically proven to be unsuccessful. However, written complaints are still accepted when using PS Form 4314-C and have been successful for the short term
WARNING The PLPA has been advised of an attempted break-in at a Lake home. A deadbolt lock may have prevented entry. We ask that all homeowners be watchful for suspicious activity or potential intruders. If you go away, notify your neighbors of the dates you will be away. Report suspicious activity to the police.
NEWS: The Fulton County Chamber of Commerce has named Peck's Lake Enterprises as "Ambassador of the Year".
LOGO CONTEST: The PLPA is looking for a new logo design and is asking the artisans of the lake to submit entries. The propose of the new design is to replace the current vehicle decals used as part of our community watch program. New design entries should be four inches in diameter; a single, high visibility color and contain the words Peck Lake Protective association. The deadline for entries is April 10, 2003. Contact Paul Nestork at 725-9115 with questions or to submit your entry.
FISH STOCKING in December of 2002, 350 6-8" bullheads were stocked in Beaver Bay. The next stocking will take place in April with 90,000 fathead minnows being purchased. We are still interested in used Christmas trees, which will be sunk in the lake to provide structure and habitat. Call Paul or Emilio, they'll pick them up. We will also be conducting bottle drives again this summer. Dates for the drives will be June 7, July 5, August 2 and September 6 or ad hoc pick ups can be arranged if you call. Questions or comments, please contact Emilio Muscolino at 725-3345 or Paul Nestork at 725-9115.
DOWNHILL SKIING The PLPA will be hosting a downhill ski day at royal Mountain on Saturday, February 22nd. Special group rates for lift tickets and equipment rentals will be available to PLPA members, family and friends. Questions or to make reservations, contact Paul Nestork at 725-9115.
NOTICE To access the "members only" section of the PLPA website, the username remains "plpa", and the password is "hoildaypoint" (both are 'case sensitive' - enter as typed, in lower case). Please don't share the password, it helps protect you as a member of the PLPA from internet abuse. Contact Paul Nestork with any questions.
BLEECKER REEVALUATION INFORMATIONAL MEETING The Town of Bleecker is planning a public "reevaluation/reassessment" informational meeting on the 30th of January. The time and place will be publicized on the PLPA bulletin boards and website as soon as it is available. Note that the town of Bleecker property owners are scheduled to receive their impact statements in February. Go to www.peterj.galarneau.com/bleecker.html for details.
COUNTRY LIVING by Esther P. Neal
I found this article I wrote exactly 10 years ago and with minor changes, am using it again. I don't think it was ever in the newsletter before. It fits the season right now.
I look out the window; the snow dazzling white. It appears soft and the curves to the paths to the maple trees where I hang my bird feeders invite one to walk them. An extra bonus is the brilliant sun which casts the trees' shadows over the backyard. Though it is cold, there is no wind. Yesterday we took a long walk up the road and followed a snowmobile track that crossed it. The track on the packed earth was wonderful to follow as it wound through the woods.
There were scatterings of Chickadees flitting from branch to branch. The seemed to accompany us as we walked along. we heard the raucous call of a Pileated woodpecker and suddenly spied him on a dead maple tree. The sun flashed on his red crest and we also glimpsed the red moustache. The female sports a black one. this bird is spectacular, 19 inches long, with flaming red crest and black body with a long white band across the cheek and down the neck.
The holes drilled by these birds are several inches long, sometimes over a foot and about 2 inches wide. The female lays up to 8 very white eggs. One summer a strong wind blew down a large in the wood lot next to us and an entire nest of eggs was destroyed. I knew the mother bird would have to find a new nest site and lay another clutch of eggs.
Since we are fortunate to live in an area that still has acres of undeveloped woodland, we see Pileated Woodpeckers frequently during the summer and now and then in the winter. The live on wood-boring insects and berries.
Without a snowblower in the mountains, life would be one big shoveling day after another!! This past January, Hal has blown the snow from the driveway five days in a row! Last night it started to snow and snowed all night and all day today. All went well until a chunk of ice caught in the gear of the machine. All work stopped. He was able to pry out the ice but a pin was sheared and had to be replaced. After 10 years living here he has extra pins on hand.
Dressing for winter here is like Alaska. You should wear a long, thermal-lined coat with a hood. Wear a wool baseball cap also with the hood pulled up over it securely. The bill of the cap deflects the snow which blows back at the person. winter may be an invigorating time for the birds, but it is no fun for humans when the winds blow and it snows for 5 or 6 days in a row!
With 13 inches of snow on the ground and 2 or 3 inches sticking to every twig and branch, the birds have a hard time finding seeds to eat. I have had to refill the feeders several times today and cleared the snow for them.
Some years we get tremendous numbers of many kinds of birds. This January (1992), we are fortunate to have Redpolls. They do not come every year. They fly down from Canada when the spirit moves them, in flocks of 15 to 30. they swoop down and light on a tree near the feeders. Somewhat smaller than the common English Sparrow, they can be distinguished by their strawberry cap and black bib. Males have a rosy red breast. Both males and females are heavily striped with brown on sides and breast. They feed and chitter together very companionably but if, for some reason, one flies away, they all take off. they are quite tame if one comes close to them while feeding, and appear to circulate with goldfinches. Their flight pattern is similar.
The plow went through tonight and the giant path it makes is great for walking the dogs. At the moment we have two - our own Tara, a yellow lab and Misty, a black lab. She is our son's, but she is staying with us for several months while her family is teaching in Finland.
I did something this morning I have never done before. I got up at 5am and took the dogs for a walk before the sun came up! The moon is out and it is very cold only 0 degrees. The snow crunches underfoot and the branches are moaning and cracking. i decided to hurry back before a limb falls on us.
Winter here reminds me of Currier and Ives' paintings at the turn of the century. Snow blankets the houses and outbuildings, smoke drifts up from all the chimneys and a quiet falls over the woods that is comforting to hear. Yes, you CAN hear the silence except for a swish of branches or the twittering of a small flock of birds. In this day and age the silence is to be appreciated, as the noisy roar of a snowmobile can cut across the land at any tome. Still, they are fun for some and they are here to stay. just thank heaven for the quiet days.
Epilogue: I do not go back to the past very often, but the weather recently seemed so much like this time I felt it was worth repeating. Next time I will have something current to report on.
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ARTICLES WANTED! Articles are wanted for publication in the upcoming newsletter and later on the Web Site. Submit your article, saved as a simple text file to Kathy Henry, Newsletter Editor.