 |  |  |  |
 |  |
President's Message All things in life are cyclical; seasons change, we all grow older, and the PLPA Board leadership has some new faces. New to the Board this year are Linda DelSavio who is filling a one year unexpired term, Chuck LeMaitre filling a two year vacancy, and Dick Carlson for a three year term. Others back on the Board for three-year terms are Sue Peck and Carol Regan. Paul Nestork is Vice President, Russ Hogue is starting a second year as Treasurer and Maryanne Abad is Secretary. Please welcome and congratulate our newest members for their willingness to volunteer their time and expertise to the programs and activities so many of us enjoy.
After an incredibly short summer, which causes me to ponder whether the summer was actually the shortest in my memory or my perception of time is foreshortened with each passing year, our thoughts are looking toward the holidays and winter activities. To help put you in the spirit, we encourage you to join with your neighbors and friends in singing carols to others around the lake. Afterward, warm your toes by the hearthside of Dave and Liz Pratt. Please refer to the article found in this newsletter for details.
Each year the size and enjoyment of the annual Winter Festival seems to grow. The date is set for February 14th at the Marina. Come join the fun, eat hot dogs, cookies, go tubing, cross country skiing, snow shoeing, ice skating or simply warm yourself by the bonfire and enjoy a ride on the horse drawn wagon. DonÕt forget to mark your calendars and check the bulletin board for additional details.
In the planning stages are both a downhill ski at Royal Mountain on January 17th and cross-country skiing at Lapland Lake on March 6th. There are numerous activities for all to assist in nudging the calendar towards spring.
The PLPA is an organization run entirely by volunteers who work tirelessly on programs behind the scenes. Two such volunteers are Jeanne Brenno and Katie Santomartino for the Welcoming Committee. This has been a particularly active year for new residents with the sale of numerous properties. They attempt to visit each new property owner and provide a wealth of valuable information about the lake, its activities, and rules and regulations. They are ambassadors for the PLPA who are adding to their responsibilities by extending warmth, concern and a helping hand to our neighbors who are experiencing a time of difficulty, whether it be ill health, injury or a loss of some kind. I would ask for your particular assistance in bringing the names of individuals in these circumstances to our attention by calling Jeanne at 725-9041. If you would be willing to volunteer your time to help our neighbors out with small tasks that they might not be able to handle, we would welcome your assistance in this regard as well.
As my cycle of service as President begins, I have great enthusiasm for an excellent year for all of us at the lake.
Bob and I wish you and yours a joyous holiday season,
Nancy J. Allen
CHRISTMAS CAROLING / POTLUCK DINNER Join us Saturday, December 13, 2003 at 6 p.m., at the PeckÕs Lake Marina to start out for homes on the North and South Shores. From there we will entertain our neighbors with Christmas Carols. For more information, or if you would like the carolers to visit your house or a house of a neighbor, please contact Linda DelSavio at 725-5326.
Immediately following, Dave and Liz Pratt will host a Pot Luck Dinner at their home located at 442 North Shore Road. Please notify them at 725-6460 if you plan to attend and sign up for a dish to pass. Hope to see you all there to celebrate this joyous season.
Remember!! Mark your calendars for previously mentioned and other upcoming events listed on the back of this newsletter. Watch for details in newsletters and on the bulletin boards, or call the activity chairperson for more information or to volunteer.
This month's issue, as always, included our Calendar of Events and a listing of our Officers, Board Members & Committee Chairpeople.
Welcome new Peck's Lake property owners:
PLPA DIRECTORY As the PLPA prepares to update its directory, please provide changes in address, phone numbers, etc. to PLPA treasurer, Russ Hogue at 371-6915. To place ads in the directory, contact Evelyn Kirschenfeld
Maps, Guidebooks and Directories for sale for $3 each. Contact Jeanne Brenno, 725-9041
Newsletter Dates
FISH STOCKING It was a tremendous year for the stocking of Peck's Lake - with close to $10,000 raised and used to purchase 900 pounds of Fathead Minnows, 500 Rainbow Trout, 670 Brown Trout and 250 Largemouth Bass. The trout were 13-14 inches, and the bass were 10-12 inches.
We could not have done this without the generous contributions from our members and affiliates, through monetary donations and/or by saving their bottles and cans for our bottle drives.
IÕd like to thank the committee members, who donated their time to make all of this possible: Emilio Muscolino, Bob Santomartino, Mick Brenno, Maurice Cea, Bob Kossowsky, Jim Regan, Lou DeSorbo, Bill Mason, Alby Peck and "Peanut" Chamberlaine, and those who helped with bottle returns: Nancy Kossowsky and David Bartholomew.
Please join me in thanking
Emilio Muscolino, who recently resigned from the committee, for all of the time and effort he's contributed over the last few years. His presence on the committee will be sorely missed.
This coming year our fish stocking program as outlined on the web site, calls for more forage fish, Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass with their numbers varying as money permits.
Steve Atcheson and John Pednault have joined the committee.
WEB SITE Please note the new PLPA Email Address: plpa@nycap.rr.com Our web site host has finally solved our password woes with improved technical support and hardware upgrades. As of December 1, 2003, the username will be "plpa" and the password will be "holidaypoint". For those who are curious, Holiday Point is the name of the last boat access area on the North Shore. With the access problems solved, updates to the web site will be uploaded shortly, starting with the new officers listing and schedule of events. Any questions or comments can be emailed to Paul Nestork.
PECK'S LAKE DIRECTORY The Peck's Lake Protective Association is looking for business card advertisers for the next Lake Directory to be published in April 2004. Over the two-year life of the directory, it is distributed to about 300 property owners and campers. Interested parties should send 1) a clean, reproducible, standard size business card; and 2) a check in the amount of $20, made out to PLPA, to Evelyn Kirschenfeld, 524 North Shore Peck's Lake Rd., Gloversville, NY 12078-7015. Questions may be directed to Evelyn at 775-1437. The first 40 respondents will be accepted.
911 Numbers Is your 911 street number (not lot #) posted and clearly visible at your property entrance? This number is essential for prompt response by fire and emergency crews, and police.
THANK YOU! by Kathy Henry, Editor
Many of us enjoyed the 2003 PLPA summer and fall events! Please join me in thanking the many volunteers and sponsors that made these events possible:
11th Bernie Sleeper Memorial Golf Tournament at Nick Stoner's by Russ Hogue
First, thanks to all who helped, especially Lorraine Carlson and Priscilla Muscolino for making our "Start" a pleasure. Water pistols ready!! Kathy Henry too! Home baked goodies & fresh hot coffee. Yes, they've been invited back! Thanks to our sponsors who provided prizes. It wouldn't hurt to say thanks for their support the next time youÕre at their place of business.
| The Rail Yard | Lanzi's on The Lake | Dick & Peg's | |
| The Pinnacle | Pine Lake Lodge | Vrooman's | |
| The Coffee Shop | The 19th Hole | Peck Lake Enterprises |
And of course, thanks to all of you who came out and made it a lot of fun! Fifty golfers signed up; 49 played and FYI, 43 of the 49 purchased "Mulligans." The results published in this issue can be view on the Golf Results page.
Bears at Peck's Lake - At 7 a.m. November 7th, a Black Bear was sighted swimming across Beaver Bay from the end of Evergreen Drive. The bear exited the water near the stone bridge. This is just one more of the many sightings of bears here this past year.
PROPANE GAS CO-OP (ENERGY CO-OP?) There are more than 50 homeowners at Peck Lake currently buying their home heating propane through an agreement negotiated in 1996. Any one wishing to join the co-op can contact Dave Pratt, 725-6460, or Larry Doubleday, 725-6680, for information or contact the supplier, Snyder Propane at (800) 721-0313. Note that the co-op price advantage and service guarantee is available for users of 500 or more gallons a year. Two of the original negotiators have since moved from the lake so any one who is interested in serving on the negotiating committee can call either Dave or Larry.
There has also been some discussion on the possibility of a broader based energy co-op to include electricity and oil as well as propane. The primary interest here is electricity as everyone uses electricity. To date individuals have probably not been able to negotiate any significant savings due to the relatively small amount used by a single homeowner. As there are now more than 150 homes/camps on Peck Lake, there may be significant purchasing power if there is enough interest in pursuing a broader based energy co-op. Comments may be directed to Larry Doubleday at 725-6680.
Lake Artists: Shim Kirschenfeld, one of our newer Peck's Lake residents, is having several of his paintings exhibited at the Fulton County Chamber of Commerce Art Gallery in its Winter Regional Art Show. Shim is a retired cardiologist who began painting in 1955. The exhibit can be seen in December and January at the Chamber of Commerce on the corner of Fulton and North Main Streets.
Editor's note: The enclosed article "Peck's Lake Building Lot Restrictions and Rationale" by John Peck, is provided to help those residing on and using the lake to understand and abide by the lot restrictions that apply to our properties. In the past, some persons have overlooked or ignored these restrictions. As John points out, others may not be aware of the existence of the restrictions because through the course of property sales, their current property deed may only reference the restrictions.
Although we may not agree with all of them, the restrictions are here for the wellbeing and preservation of our lake community. I think most of us purchased property here because we desired protection from the issues and problems faced by other lakes, such as building violations, pollution, unsafe boating/other aquatic practices, excessive noise, etc.
Review your property restrictions and abide by them. If you question a particular item, please seek clarification by bringing the issue to the attention of the Peck family. Save these pages for future reference, and share relevant restrictions with relatives and guests who visit you.
Please do your part to keep our lake community and environment the paradise it is!
Peck's Lake Building Lot Restrictions and Rationale by John Peck
The PLPA board has asked me to write an article explaining the rationale behind all the various restrictions on Peck's Lake property and waters, including the involvement of the Adirondack Park Agency (APA), the NYS Department of Health (DOH), and local municipalities. This is quite a formidable task, hence the size of my reply.
To begin, a little background is in order. In the 1960s, Albert and Charles Peck, the brothers who owned the lake property at that time, began selling building lots on the lake. This was prompted by the requests of resort guests who loved the lake and wanted more permanent accommodations. Albert and Charles had seen the results of uncontrolled development at other nearby lakes, and were determined to develop the lake that bore their name in a way that would preserve the prevailing clean and quiet atmosphere. The task of development control was complicated by the fact that zoning and town-specific building codes were weak or non-existent forty years ago.
The Pecks did not own the lake itself, but rather the approximately 2500 acres of land surrounding the lake. The lake bottom and water rights had been sold to the power company in 1910 when the lake was raised to provide water for the generation of electricity. As a part of that transaction, the Pecks were granted a 999-year lease for the use of the lake, and were named as the controlling authority for access to the new larger lake.
At the time the first lots were sold, the deed for the building lots contained clauses that granted permission to use the lake for limited purposes. Later, the lake rights were split off into a separate document that accompanied the deed. The deed transfers the property itself, and the lake rights document grants use of the lake, under carefully controlled conditions.
All of the deeds and lake rights documents contain restrictions that reflect the wishes of Albert and Charles Peck, and their successors, for controlling the lake and surroundings. There have been minor variations and additions to these documents over the years, and property owners should check their own documents for the specific language in use at the original time of sale from the Pecks to the first owner. There are also some differences between waterfront and offshore lots. It should be understood that many of the current deeds do not spell out the restrictions in detail, the way the original documents from the Pecks to the first lot owners did. Many attorneys do not make it a practice to include previous language, such as restrictions, in new deeds. They simply include a statement that references earlier deeds, and says that restrictions run with the land. It would be a wise move for all present-day property owners to obtain a copy of the original deeds and lake rights documents for their specific property. These are easily obtained from the Fulton County Clerk's office.
Deed and lake rights restrictions vary between waterfront and non-waterfront lots, and also as changes were made from time to time over the years, although the intent of each restriction has remained largely consistent. For the purpose of the following discussion, current non-waterfront deed and lake rights language is used, and is italicized.
Deed Restrictions and Explanations
(1) Said lot shall never be subdivided.
The Pecks wanted to be sure that overcrowding would not occur by people selling part of their lots to someone else, who then might build a second camp or home.
(2) Only three buildings shall be erected thereon, to consist of a single one family cottage or dwelling, a garage and one other building which may be either a bath house or a tool house or a storage building, ...
This is to limit the number of people living on the lot, so that the lake will not be overcrowded, and polluted. Also to control aesthetics.
.... all of which shall be erected in compliance with the rules, regulations, orders and requirements of the Department of Health of the State of New York, ....
The Department of Health has approval authority as to placement of wells, septic systems and the like, of all development in the State. All developers have to get DOH approval of plans, and agree to require owners to abide by them. This is designed to assure safe drinking water and protect the lake from pollution.
.... and all plans therefore and the location and placement thereof on said lot, shall be approved by parties of the first part, their heirs, grantees and assigns; ....
The Pecks must approve all plans for buildings and where they will be placed. This is for the protection of neighbors, as well as the entire lake community, and to assure compliance with DOH and APA requirements. This provision also applies to additions and modifications made to existing structures.
.... said dwelling shall contain not less than 700 square feet of ground floor area exclusive of porches and entrance ways; ....
This prohibits tiny "camps" that devalue the neighborhood.
.... and the exterior of all buildings, or additions thereto, shall be completed within one year from commencement of construction thereof, ....
Construction that drags on, or is never finished, is unsightly and detracts from values.
.... and all such buildings, or additions thereto, shall fully comply with all rules, regulations, requirements and specifications of the Federal Housing Administration relating to the construction of buildings
.Similar to DOH approvals at the State level. This is at the federal level.
(3) No temporary structures, no trailers, no mobile homes, no tents shall be placed in or upon said premises without the written consent of parties of the first part, their heirs, grantees and assigns. Prior to the commencement of any construction of a building on or improvements to the above described lands, and/or any lake front improvement, no trees, brush, bushes, plant life or vegetation shall be removed from the property without the consent of the parties of the first part, their heirs, grantees and assigns.
Other lakes have been devalued by unregulated use of tents and trailers, and unregulated stripping of trees and vegetation. At Peck's Lake the intention is to protect the aesthetics and value of each owner's property by keeping neighborhoods similar in usage and construction. Camping areas are not intermixed with residences.
(4) No more than a single one or two car garage not to exceed one story in height shall be erected thereon.
It is felt that multiple story, or overly large garages detract from the aesthetics of the neighborhood, and that future owners may be inclined to convert extra space to additional living areas.
(5) Any bath house, tool house or storage building erected thereon shall not exceed 64 square feet of floor area, or be less than 36 square feet of floor area.
This statement regulates the size of outbuildings, so as to keep the neighborhood consistent.
(6)No outside toilet shall be erected, placed or used upon the above described premises.
In the 1960's, people were accustomed to building "camps" with outhouses. It was felt that this practice should be limited to preexisting usage when the new developments were started.
(7) All buildings, wells and septic tanks shall be erected upon, and placed upon said premises at such locations, as may be designated by, and shall be in accordance with the rules, regulations, orders and directions of the Department of Public Health of the State of New York.
This clause just reiterates the requirement that the rules of the DOH be followed. These rules have to do with distances between wells and septic systems, between septic systems and the lake, etc. Conformance to these rules minimizes the chance of contamination. For additional information visit the DOH website.
(8) No part of the premises hereby conveyed will be used or dedicated for any public purpose, nor in such a manner as to permit access to the waters of Peck's Lake by the public generally.
This is a very important provision that keeps Peck's Lake a private lake, rather than a public lake. Owners of lots are specifically prohibited from allowing the public at large access to the lake.
(9) The above described premises and all buildings erected thereon shall be used for residential purposes only and no business, industrial, institutional or commercial enterprise of any kind, name or nature shall be conducted thereon, or therefrom.
Following on the heels of the previous provision, this statement prohibits the owner of the land from running a business. This is analogous to residential zoning, in a community that has zoning. It should be pointed out that this provision has been waived from time to time, in order to allow use of a "home office", a practice not envisioned before the days of telecommuting.
(10) No airplane, hydroplane or aircraft of any kind, name or nature, shall be landed upon, or used upon the waters of Peck's Lake.
The founders felt that the use of aircraft on the lake would be a detriment to the tranquility of the lake and the safety of boaters, and so this provision was placed in all deeds.
(11) No mechanically or motor propelled vehicle, shall be used, driven or operated upon, over or through the roads, rights of way or streets owned by parties of the first part unless they be effectively muffled
(12) All motor vehicles used, driven or operated upon, over, or through the roads, rights of way or streets owned by parties of the first part must be properly registered and licensed and inspected according to the laws of the State of New York
.(13) No ATV or similar vehicle (mechanically or motor propelled or otherwise) shall be used, driven or operated, at any time, over or on the roads, rights of way, streets or adjacent lands of the parties of the first part.
(14) All persons using, driving or operating any motor vehicle upon, over or through the roads, rights of way or streets owned by the parties of the first part must be at least 16 years of age and have a driver's license.
Provisions 11 through 14 were originally introduced before the towns of Bleecker and Johnstown took over the roads, and were intended to keep the area quiet and prohibit unregistered vehicles and drivers. The ATV provision was added after the invention of these vehicles, and is intended to prevent noise pollution and damage to the land by rutting and erosion. New York State prohibits use of ATV's on State land in the Adirondacks for these same reasons.
(15) No vicious dog, or any dog which chases wild game, or any dog which causes annoyance to any person or persons in, about, near, upon or adjacent to the above described premises, or said Peck's Lake, by barking, howling, or otherwise, shall be kept or harbored upon, the above described premises.
This provision is aimed at maintaining a safe and quiet community. There are also provisions in local and state laws that regulate dogs.
(16) There shall be no use, or discharge of firearms, air rifles or the like, on or about the above described premises or the waters of Peck's Lake.
While the Peck Family is not opposed to legal sport hunting, we do not feel that it is safe to engage in this activity in a populated area, such as the developments surrounding Peck's Lake.
(17) No garbage, sewage, debris, waste, rubbish or discarded material shall be dumped into the waters of Peck's Lake, nor allowed to remain in or upon the above described premises.
Peck's Lake has been known through the years as a clean body of water, with clear and pure water. This provision attempts to protect this resource for the future.
(18) No buildings or other structures shall be erected upon said premises nearer than 30 feet to the highway right of way line, and no hedges or fences shall be erected upon the above described premises without the prior written consent of parties of the first part, their heirs and assigns.
This provision attempts to keep construction back away from the roads, so as to make a more attractive appearance, and so as to be in conformance to codes. High fences can detract from visual attractiveness as well, and must be approved in advance.
(19) There shall be no ice fishing in, or on, Peck's Lake.
Simply stated, the Pecks have felt from the earliest days that ice fishing would remove too many fish, and would detract from the summer fishing season. This is an understandable concern, since the lake has traditionally been known as a fishing resort. Tradition continues in this regard.
(20) Subject to all rules, regulations, orders and directives of the Adirondack Park Agency.
The Adirondack Park Agency came into being in the 1970s, well after the beginning of development. Some earlier subdivisions were "grand fathered" under the APA act, but most fall under the APA jurisdiction, and APA rules must be followed by the Pecks and property owners alike. By personal observation, it seems that many of our neighbors at the lake are not cognizant of APA regulations. Particularly troublesome is the APA rule that no structure of more than 100 square feet (10' X 10') can be built within 100 feet of the high water mark. Many of the elaborate lakeside decks that have been built over the years appear to violate the rules, and risk APA enforcement actions.
The APA publishes documents that outline land use regulations in easy-to-read format and Shoreline restrictions. Every property owner that contemplates building or changing anything along the lake should obtain a copy of these regulations. Printed copies are available from the APA offices, phone 518-891-4050.
Limited Lake Rights Restrictions and Explanations
Wording of Non-waterfront Lot Document Regarding Use of Boats 1. No more than one boat shall be launched and used upon the waters of Peck's Lake for fishing and boating. Said boat shall be launched upon said lake only from the lands or area designated upon the aforesaid map as "Sunrise Bay Beach Waterfront Area". Said boat shall be owned by and registered in the name of the lot owner. Registration number to be filed with parties of the first part.
Wording of Typical Waterfront Lot Document Regarding Use of Boats 1. No more than two boats shall be launched upon the waters of Peck's Lake for fishing and boating. Not more than one mechanically propelled boat shall be operated upon the waters of Peck's Lake at any one time. All such boats shall be registered in the name of, and owned by, the parties of the second part, their heirs or assigns, registration number to be filed with parties of the first part.
Note the different wording in the two versions. Waterfront lot owners are granted rights for two boats, and non-waterfront lots get only one. Waterfront owners are limited, however, to using one power boat at a time. Non-waterfront lot owners are assigned a specific area from which they are to launch their boats. Note that the document does not afford non-waterfront owners the right to have a boat dock at the assigned areas. Docks are permitted by the Peck Family as a courtesy, and on a space-permitting basis. Note that boats are to be owned by lot owners only. This is to limit access to the lake to bona fide lot owners. NYS registration numbers are supposed to be submitted to the Pecks, so we can keep track of boats on the lake. All of these regulations are intended to maintain control of boat usage on the lake, to keep it private and uncrowded.
Wording of Typical Waterfront Lot Document Regarding Docks No more than one boat landing and one dock shall be constructed and maintained in the waters of Peck's Lake.
The purpose of this restriction is simply to reduce shoreline clutter. Residents are limited to one floating type dock, and one ramp.
Typical Wording Common to Waterfront and Non-Waterfront Lake Rights Documents 2.No airplane, hydroplane or aircraft of any kind, name or nature, shall be landed upon, or used upon the waters of Peck's Lake.
Repeats language in deed restrictions.
3. No boat launched upon or used upon the waters of Peck's Lake shall:(a) Have more than two motors and a combined H.P. of said two motors together shall not exceed 40 H.P.; and no boat shall have any motor which exceeds the manufacturer's rated capacity for the particular boat.
(b) Be of the hydroplane or racing type.
(c) Exceed 20 feet in length, nor be less than 3 feet in width, 13 feet in length, or 14 inches deep.
(d) Be loaded with persons or property in excess of the manufacturer's rated carrying capacity.
(e) Be operated at a greater rate of speed than 15 miles per hour, except as hereinafter provided, nor at a greater rate of speed than 5 miles per hour when within 200 feet of the shoreline or within 200 feet of an anchored or moored boat.
(f) Violate the New York State Navigation Law, nor the rules and regulations of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Division of Motor Boats of the State of New York and when any of the provisions of this instrument be different than such law or rules and regulations, the provisions of this instrument shall apply.
(g) Be used for other than recreational purposes.
(h) No mechanically or motor propelled boat exceeding 3 H.P. shall be operated by a child under 12 years of age, unless there be an adult present in the boat.
(i) No mechanically or motor propelled boat exceeding 6 H.P. shall be operated by a child under 14 years of age, unless there be an adult present in said boat.
(j) No mechanically or motor propelled boat exceeding 6 H.P. shall be operated by a child between 14 and 16 years of age, unless such child be the holder of a New York State Boating Safety Certificate or unless there be an adult present in said boat.
(k) Any mechanically or motor propelled boat, exceeding 10 H.P. shall be equipped with a speedometer.
(l) No sailboat, canoe or like or similar boats or vessels shall be used in or upon the waters of Peck's Lake unless it shall comply in all respects with the safety requirements of parties of the first part.
The above is all related to boating safety. From the earliest days, the Pecks have been concerned about the safety of guests and residents at the lake. Due to the enforcement of these regulations, and the vigilance of the lake community, Peck's Lake has an exemplary safety record. Boating regulations have changed over the years to keep pace with the development of new types of watercraft, and to honor resident's requests when deemed consisted with safety and lake use. The current regulations for non-motorized craft are included at the end of this document.
4. There shall be no use or discharge of firearms, air rifles or the like on or about the waters of Peck's Lake.
Repeats language in deed restrictions.
5. No garbage, sewage, debris, waste, rubbish or discarded material shall be dumped into the waters of Peck's Lake, nor allowed to remain in or upon the above described premises.
Repeats language in deed restrictions.
6. Water skiing and/or associated, like, or similar water sports will be engaged in or on Peck's Lake only in an area set aside, at periods of time and at increased rates of speed for boats as specified and posted by parties of the first part, their heirs, grantees, and assigns and all water skiing and/or associated, like, or similar water sports shall, at all times, be under the exclusive jurisdiction, management and control of parties of the first part, their heirs, grantees and assigns.
Peck's Lake has always been known as a quiet lake. It was felt from the earliest days of development that this should remain so. In addition, many accidents have happened close to shore on lakes that allow water skiing directly from resident's docks. The establishment of the water ski zone, and time restrictions, allowed the enjoyment of water ski type sports in a part of the lake that presents minimum noise and wake problems. Current water ski regulations are included at the end of this document.
7. There shall be no ice fishing in or on Peck's Lake.
Repeats language in deed restrictions.
In addition to the regulations and restrictions detailed above, there are specific local and statewide building codes that must be followed.
State of New York Building Codes are not available on the web, but can be purchased. See http://www.gorr.state.ny.us/gorr/buildingcode-howtoget.htm for instructions on obtaining a copy of the official codes document.
The Town of Bleecker Code Enforcement Officer is Randy Manchester, phone 725-8940.
The Town of Johnstown Code Enforcement Officer is Bill Weaver, phone 762-7341.
Webmaster's Note: John also included copies of the Watercraft Regulations and Waterskiing Regulations which I elected to omit from the online version of the newsletter. I would like to encourage all boaters to familiarize yourself with these regulations.
Country Living by Esther P. Neal
It's almost time to see Tree Sparrows flying in to taste the seeds in our feeders. As winter approaches, these bright, rusty capped little Sparrows become our native winter residents. Most notable is the pale gray breast with a central breast spot. There is a gray band over the eyes to the back of the head and the wings carry two white bars. The bird is five and a half to six inches long. Usually there are three or four around the feeder - they never seem to congregate in large flocks.
Nests are usually located in low bushes and are made of dried grass and moss and lined with feathers. Three to five pale greenish-blue eggs, finely sprinkled with brown, can be found. They nest far to the north of us in Canada.
During the long, cold period, we will hopefully find Pine Siskins. They appear some years unexpectedly and are absent other years. No one can predict where they will arrive or when. Somewhat smaller than the Tree Sparrow, the Siskin only stretches to four and a half inches. They are very heavily streaked with just a touch of yellow on the wings and base of the tail. Siskins like to congregate with their own kind as well as Goldfinch, who seem like cousins as they perform alike in flight and sounds.
There are still some weeds standing stiffly upright through the patches of leaf litter which all these small birds light upon and eagerly pick seeds from. Even though fall and early winter are drab with faded colors there is much of interest to be seen if you watch closely.
Turkeys and Ruffed Grouse are about the woods, feasting on beechnuts and acorns. Grouse, also know as Partridge, also eat these and every kind of berry. Nothing on earth is more surprising than flight out of nowhere by a grouse! The noise of the wings in flight will wake you up wide-eyed and startled! It's as though the bird came up between your feet. It is quickly gone from sight but I have seen my Labrador dog bound away trying to trace it to no avail. Enjoy this fast moving season!
 |  | |  |  |
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.