PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE It's late November now and we've already had a four-inch snowfall - most of which has disappeared with the rain that followed. Those of us who winter over are anticipating a great season of skiing and snowshoeing.

Please make special note that the PLPA has two winter events planned:Christmas Caroling followed by a Potluck Supper, and the Winterfest in February. We have many new residents on the lake and both events are a great way to meet and greet your new neighbors (and old friends.)

Liz and I wish everyone a happy and safe Holiday season.

CHRISTMAS CAROLING Join us Saturday, December 16, 2000 at 6 P.M.for the Annual Peck's Lake Christmas Caroling. Meet at the Peck's Lake Marina and we will begin our trek up and down the North and South Shore Roads entertaining young and old alike! For more information or if you would like us to sing at your house, please contact Dave Pratt (725-6460).

Afterwards, Liz and Dave Pratt will host a party at their house (442 N. Shore Road). Please bring a dish to pass and notify them (725-6460) that you plan to attend.

WINTER FESTIVAL Committee co-chairs, the Nitsches, Carlsons, and Wheelocks, and Alby and Wellington Peck, invite families and friends to join them Saturday, February 10th, from noon - 4p.m., at the Peck's Marina Boathouse for the Winterfest! Events include:

Refreshments will be available at a minimal cost. Bring your own equipment.

For more information, call: Alby Peck 725-3673 OR Bill Nitsche 725-1849

Check out the new PLPA Web Site at www.plpa.org We are still working on content, please comment. Thanks a million to our webmaster Paul Nestork.

FOR SALE - Extra Peck Lake Maps, Directories and Guide Books are for sale by the PLPA for $3 each. Contact Larry Doubleday at 725-6680.

THANKS - Special thanks are due to Grace and Warren Decker for their efforts in recruiting 11 new affiliate members to the PLPA this summer. The family GROWS!

8th Annual Bernie Sleeper Memorial Golf Tournament reported by Russ Hogue

July 29, 2000 - Nick Stoner Golf Course - Dave Bartholomew shoots "best round" of his life and captures Low Net Prize with 71!

This year's tournament was enjoyed by most (the last few foursomes got a little wet!) in spite of the weather. We had 59 golfers with a breakdown as follows:

The winning Best Ball Foursome was Ron Holly, Dave Bartholomew, Dave Seward and Dave Eger. The introduction of selling "mulligans," $5 for 2, proved a success and allowed us to be more generous with prizes. Prizes valued in excess of $750 were given out. This included $500 in gift certificates, golf balls to every golfer and $150 in cash. A special "THANK YOU" to the sponsors for this year's tournament: Dick & Peg's Northward Inn, M & S Liquor, Nick Stoner's Pro Shop, 19th Hole - Nick Stoner's, Outlet Restaurant, Peck's Lake Enterprises, Pinnacle Restaurant, Rail Yard Restaurant, Royal Mountain Inn, Spaulding Golf, and Unger House.

FISH STOCKING SURVEY Laurie Trotta has completed the fish stocking survey and her written report will be available in the spring. Ms. Trotta discussed preliminary findings at the September 2000 PLPA Annual Meeting, including water quality, future stocking, appropriate species for the lake, food for fish and fish habitat. The study, completed during summer and fall this year, included trap netting, seining, electrofishing and water quality testing. Several volunteers also spent a morning fishing, catching nearly 100 fish for the study. Special thanks go to the Fish Stocking Committee members Bill Nitsche, Alby Peck, Emilio Muscolino, and Grace and Warren Decker, and the many volunteers who have made this project successful.

ICE OUT CONTEST is currently in planning. Details to be announced.

PECK'S PARK HISTORICAL SOCIETY reported by Alice Peck The schoolhouse museum has been winterized and will hibernate until spring.

The nature trail is completed, except that the signs designating trees and plants need to be located along the trail. They are finished and ready to install. The final report on the grant will be done and sent to New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

We had a successful summer, with lots of visitors, including many former students, children of former teachers, former area residents and also school children and other groups. We already have reservations for 4 school classes for next May and are hoping for more.

We would appreciate help in publicizing our availability to schools in the area.

We also will need lots of volunteers for showing the school and conducting nature trail walks. Please let us know if you can help, so that we can complete a schedule for next summer. If everyone who belongs to the Society would take one day, we would be able to fill the times easily! (Contact Alice Peck for more information.) We are open Wednesdays and Saturdays, from 1 - 4p.m., from the end of June until September.

Our reception for members was fairly well attended last September. If you didn't make it, you missed some great refreshments! Have a good winter, and hope to see you all next spring

COUNTRY LIVING by Esther P. Neal It is not real winter yet, but one day soon when the snowflakes come whirling down with the wind, you may be lucky to discover a crowd of Snow Buntings. These flashing little Sparrow-like birds show so much white they are unmistakable.

Six to 7 inches long, the males are streaked brown on back and head with white underparts. Females are about the same; both with lighter brown on their heads and a bit on the cheek. They have a sharp whistle and make chittering noises to one another. They are very gregarious birds.

Oddly enough, if disturbed, they do not take to the trees but move off as a group and alight again on the ground. They may be seen flying over snow-covered fields, landing and taking off after cleaning the area of seeds. Usually they live in the far north, on the edge of Alaska and on further north and over to Greenland. In winter, they rarely migrate farther than the mid Atlantic states. Here they fly about the beaches and dunes for whatever they can glean.

They nest in fields, beaches and tundra. The nest is a cup of grass. Three to nine eggs are laid, which are marked with brown or lilac speckles. Nests are often concealed in a crevice of a rock, which is fortunate, as Arctic Fox are constantly patrolling the ground for any available food; bird eggs are succulent treats for them. After incubating for about 2 weeks, the chicks hatch and leave the nest in a few days. Sometimes there are two broods a year.

In summer the male Snow Buntings is most striking. His body is all white with a black back and some black on the wings. With his jet black eyes and bill, he is a most striking bird! During this season, their food includes insects and a greater variety of seeds.

They seem to enjoy snow squalls and are almost part of it as they swirl about in the frosty weather. It is easy to see why they are sometimes called "Snowflakes."

At this time of year our thoughts turn to Christmas trees. Those of us who are not fortunate enough to have any growing on our lots sometimes plant them. These magnificent trees are very slow growing but their beauty is outstanding. The odor of the branches fills a room with delightful fragrance. One eighteen feet tall will cost over $50, if purchased for the living room. I am referring to the Balsam Fir, a conifer that is cone shaped with dense branches--ideal for tucking in gaily wrapped packages. The needles are short, flat and soft, unlike Spruce trees, which can be very prickly. The Balsam Fir needs wet land for good growth so it does very well near lakes and in swamps. It can be a haven for birds when they seek a hiding place. The famous Spotted Owl in the Northwest uses them as well as our Barred and Great Gray Owl here in the Northeast. I wonder if they ever notice the aroma of the needles? No, I think just we humans.

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.

Copyright © 2004 Peck Lake Protective Assoc.   Last Update 03-14-04