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President's Message Early November reminds us that winter is approaching. As in most years here at the lake, weÕre now seeing unmistakable signs of the seasonÕs change each day.
I was raking leaves a couple of days ago when the sky suddenly darkened. The first snow squall of the season raged all around me for about ten minutes, and then departed as quickly as it came. I went back to my raking, but not before trying to make my first snowball of the season (unsuccessfully; itÕs early November, after all!).
The previous evening we were treated to a display of the Northern Lights. If youÕre from the city like me, you know how beautiful the starlit skies are here, even on "ordinary" nights; add the aurora borealis dancing overhead, and you have something very special. Although the aurora may come any time of the year, I associate it most with winter (those Coca-Cola ads with the polar bears, perhaps?).
Just today I heard the first reports of ice forming along the edges of Beaver Bay. Ice first forms there and on other sheltered spots, but then one cold morning youÕll look out to the main part of the lake and discover that what yesterday was open water isnÕt any longer. That day is drawing closer.
WinterÕs on the way and that means that our PLPA winter activities will be in full swing before you know it. Here are two dates to mark on your calendar: December 11, for the annual Holiday Dinner, and February 19, for the Winter Fest. This year both events will differ a little from previous years, but I guarantee theyÕll be every bit as fun. You can find out more about them in this newsletter, or check the bulletin boards at the mailboxes.
There are other winter events planned as well. January 29 will be our downhill ski day at Royal Mountain, and weÕre also planning a cross-country ski day at Lapland Lake later in the winter. Add the possibility of additional events to be scheduled later as weather permits, and this could be a very busy winter!
The success of all these activities depends on the folks who volunteer their time and effort, and as always IÕd like to extend to them my thanks and appreciation. We can always use more volunteers, so if thereÕs some activity you would like to help with contact the chairperson listed in the activities calendar. IÕd also like to welcome and thank the newest members of the PLPA Board of Directors - Mick Brenno, Jim Keller and Don Fleischut - for their participation.
Last but not least, Lorraine and I would like to wish each and all of you a joyous Holiday season and a happy and prosperous New Year.
Dick Carlson
Our deepest sympathies are extended to the families and loved ones of Shim Kirschenfeld and Donald Stephens.
This month's issue, as always, included our Calendar of Events and a listing of our Officers, Board Members & Committee Chairpeople.
Welcome New Property Owners
Maps, Guidebooks and Directories for sale for $3 each. Contact Jeanne Brenno, 725-9041
Newsletter Dates
WANTED WeÕre seeking a new editor (or co-editors) for the PLPA newsletter. Interested? The job consists of preparing four newsletters annually for the PLPA members and associates (note dates above). Basic computer skills, typing, page layout and proof reading are the primary requirements. PLPA board members and others contribute articles, most often via email. The document is usually six to eight pages in length and is printed locally. Please contact Dick Carlson, 773-7571 or Kathy Henry, 725-7922 for more information.
ANNUAL HOLIDAY DINNER Looking forward to an evening with friends and neighbors to celebrate the HOLIDAY SEASON? This yearÕs event will be held at Linda and Jim DelSavioÕs, 110 Hemlock Drive on Saturday, December 11th. Cocktails will begin at 6:00 PM with dinner following around 7PM.
Please bring something to share by choosing from the list below. Call Linda DelSavio (at 725-5326 after 6:00 PM) by December 1st to tell her the specifics. If you are unable to bring something, please come, but let Linda know that you will be joining in the fun!If you wish to drop anything off ahead, just call or leave by the DelSavioÕs door. Hope to see you!
PLPA Directory Information CORRECT ?? Our intention is to produce an addendum to the PLPA Directory in or with our next PLPA Newsletter. Please review your information in this year's PLPA Directory. If information is incorrect, please notify Russ Hogue by e-mailing him at or traditional mail at: 12 Ivy Court, Clifton Park, NY 12065 Feel free to provide information on other errors or omissions.
New Source for PLPA Merchandise A link to another source for PLPA merchandise (tee shirts, etc.) will soon be established on the PLPA website. Sue Whitmore is a PLPA associate member and embroidery professional whose business is located in the Oneonta, NY area. In addition to providing PLPA merchandise and customized orders for our members, Sue also provides customized products for many schools, colleges, universities and for many others. Sue can be reached directly on email at: auntsuzi@yahoo.com or by phone at 607-286-7102.
PECK LAKE PAC UPDATE As reported at the annual meeting, this past spring the Peck Lake PAC was formed by members of the lake community to ensure reasonable local and county taxes and equitable property assessments for lake property owners. Over the summer, the PAC concentrated on defining its mission, organizing and determining where it will focus its efforts.
This fall, members of the PAC have been regularly attending meetings of the Bleecker and Johnstown town boards, the Fulton County Board of Supervisors, and the Gloversville Enlarged School District. The two towns and the county are currently in their annual budget cycle, and the PAC has been following their deliberations closely with an eye to minimizing our property taxes. This January the school district initiates its budget process, and the PAC will follow that as well.
In addition, the Town of Bleecker has initiated a townwide revaluation of properties for next yearÕs property assessment roll. The PAC is monitoring that effort too, and has offered the town assessor help so that the process runs smoothly and the interests and concerns of lake residents are heard. To that end, a meeting of lake residents with the assessor is planned in December or January to review the status of the revaluation effort as it applies to lake properties.
The Peck Lake PAC is an ongoing effort on an issue of importance to all lake property owners. The next meeting of the PAC will be held on Saturday, Nov. 20th; for more information about this meeting, or about the PAC, call Dick Carlson (773-7571 or (518)355-8942). Please join us!
THANK YOUS from Wellington and Sue
Thank you all for the immediate and overwhelming support you have provided to both Sue and myself during my recent medical problem. I was released from Ellis Hospital Friday, October 15th, and am slowly recuperating at home.
Wellington
I too want to add my thanks to all of you for your prayers and good thoughts. They truly helped. For those of you who phoned, your calls meant more to me than you can imagine. You and family were my lifelines.
Sue
Thank you all for the very nice fruit basket. Sue and I both enjoy fresh fruit. Given some of the necessary changes I must make regarding diet, it has been enjoyed by both of us already.
Best regards,
Wellington and Sue
2004 PLPA Golf Tournament - Nick StonerÕs By Russ Hogue, Chairman
The 12th ANNUAL BERNIE SLEEPER MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT was held, as usual, the morning of our Annual Dinner. This year the turn out of 44 golfers was a little lower than the previous years. I hope this was due to prior commitments and not waning interest.
Those that played were entertained & given home made goodies by our fabulous starters, Lorraine Carlson, Priscilla Muscolino and Kathy Henry.
This yearÕs golfers of note were reported in the newsletter, but the results can be veiwed on our Results Page.
THANKS to our generous sponsors we were able to provide over $500 worth of prizes. All golfers were given golf balls at the start and winners were awarded trophies and yellow PLPA golf hats. Come join us next year! This yearÕs SPONSORS include DICK & PEGÕS, THE RAIL YARD, PINE LAKE LODGE, PINNACLE RESTAURANT, UNION HALL INN, ROYAL MOUNTAIN INN, THE COUNTRY CAF, VROOMANÕS, THE OUTLET and PECK LAKE ENTERPRISES.
NORTH SHORE TRAIL UPDATE This fall additional work has progressed on the North Shore trail between Maplewood Drive and the bridge at Beaver Bay. Plans are for the trail to be groomed and available this winter to lake residents and their guests only for skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. Our thanks go to Arnie Henry and other volunteers for all the work they have put into improving the trail.
Country Living by Esther P. Neal
The flocks of wild turkeys seen crossing the North and South Shore Roads are descendents from turkeys found centuries ago by Spanish explorers!!! Surprised? Yes, they were first discovered in Mexico and found to be quite tasty when cooked, so the Spanish took them back to Europe and much later, some descendents of these birds were returned to the United States by the early settlers.
In early days people spoke of turkeys gathering in flocks of 100 to migrate through the forests, searching for food as they moved along.
A turkey gobbler usually has a harem of two or three hens about him. He attracts hens by strutting back and forth in a clearing while spreading his tail in a fan. Hens readily come to his call.
When laying time comes, the hens scurry off to a quiet spot and scratch out a nest on the ground, concealing it well from not only foxes and other predators, but also male turkeys. It is believed the latter will crack the eggs if they discover them.
The eggs usually number from nine to twelve, and are yellowish white and spotted with brown. Some nests contain up to eighteen or twenty eggs! It takes close to a month for them to hatch. The young birds, known as "poults," stay with the hen until the next spring, then disperse. The poults are able to run about shortly after hatching, and can make short flights in about two weeks.
I once saw a hen decoy a dog away from her poults, running and flapping her wings. While the dog chased her down the road, the half dozen poults scurried off into the woods and brush in the opposite direction. Turkeys arenÕt so dumb after all!
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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.