Canada Day weekend updates
In this issue
Interest in a Social Committee? First meeting July 6
Time to pay your dues, new bylaws, annual meeting etc.
Water Access Committee update
Reminders
Photo Contest deadline July 5
Explore our Shores paddling event July 21
Loon nesting season
President’s message
Erik Mathiesen
Nico Mathiesen wishes you all a happy Canada Day!
Happy Canada Day! Water levels are receding after June 23-25 downpours produced water safety alerts across cottage country. Our lake level doesn’t fluctuate as much as many others, but the MNR had to pull two logs from Crane dam! A shout out to Andy Metelka who was touring the lake pumping out flooded boats – and to Barb Metelka who conducts our annual water quality testing. As the full summer season starts, we have lots to report. Please mark your calendars for our in person annual meeting on August 11. We will likely supplement this with an online town hall in the fall to give folks more voice. Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend.
Blackstone social committee
Looking for members who would be interested in putting together a book and wine club and planning some other social events such as a poker run or progressive dessert group. It's all about having fun, meeting our cottage neighbours and enjoying beautiful Blackstone lake.
I would like to suggest a first meeting date of Saturday July 6th at 1pm at 115 Blackstone in Lawsons Bay. Please rsvp to Kathy Watts at 519 763 7476 or blackstone.lake115@gmail.com.
Gotta pay your dues!
An updated 2024 dues payment and membership application can be found on our website and this will soon be an online form. Electronic contactless payment of annual dues very much appreciated. E-transfer $100.00 to blackstone.lake115@gmail.com. Your dues must be paid to have a legal vote at the AGM or other member meetings.
Notice of 2024 Annual General Meeting – August 11, 2024
9:30a.m. -11:30 a.m. Location 47 Blackstone Water (Myrtle Island)
Our thanks to Kevin McCarthy for volunteering to host this year. More detail around docking logistics, boat-pooling etc. will be provided in due course.
Those who are interested in joining the board are asked to express their interest by email to blackstonelakeca@gmail.com by July 15. Lot’s going on and different ways to get involved.
Water Access Committee Update
Potential Water Access Points under the Hydro Lines
In early March, members from the Water Access Committee (WAC) met with a real estate coordinator from Hydro One who suggested that a proposal for an alternative boat launch would hold significantly more weight if the Township of the Archipelago (TOA) was involved. Thanks to the work of Councillors Darlene Cade and Earl Manners, the issue was addressed and subsequently, Cale Henderson, Manager of Development and Environmental Services and Maria Pinto, the planner from the TOA were recruited to help with the process. Since then, members from the WAC and TOA have identified three more locations under and/or near the hydro lines which might be suitable.
Roads
The WAC continues to encourage individuals or groups to pursue road access. If you are interested, please contact Cale Henderson at 705 746-4243 to discuss what is involved in the application.
Angler’s Marina
Since the Morwald family has been busy getting the marina ready for the summer, they have not had time to meet with members from the WAC since our sessions earlier this year.
If you have any questions or concerns about the above, please contact Lisa Lucas through the BLCA website.
Septic Tank Pump-Out for Water Access Cottagers 2024
Our annual “stink week” was successfully completed in mid June before the heat wave. We are grateful to Graham Hatherley of Muskoka Septic Services for working with BLCA and Angler’s Inn to coordinate this activity.
One essential step in maintaining an effective, properly functioning waste treatment system is to have your septic tank emptied every few years. The frequency recommended for this action depends upon the design and capacity of your system and the “load” it handles, which depends upon the number of weeks the cottage is used each year and the average number of occupants. The typical recommendation is to have the septic tank pumped out every three to five years. If you are not sure when your septic tank was last emptied, it is usually suggested that you have the system inspected by a specialist, or simply proceed with a pump-out.
4th Annual Crane & Blackstone Lake Photo Contest and Calendar!!
📸 CALENDAR PHOTO CONTEST 2025 📸
A PERFECT WAY TO KEEP OUR CONNECTION WITH OUR BEAUTIFUL LAKES ALL YEAR LONG. WE ARE HAVING OUR FOURTH ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST WITH WINNING PHOTOS TO BE FEATURED IN A CALENDAR FOR 2025.
CONTEST RULES:
1- YOU MUST HAVE TAKEN THE PHOTO YOURSELF (AMATEURS ONLY)
2- PHOTO ENTRIES LIMITED TO 6 PER PERSON
3- YOU MUST SUBMIT A CREATIVE NAME FOR EACH OF YOUR SUBMISSIONS
4- DIGITAL ENTRIES ONLY (MUST BE SUBMITTED AS JPEG FILE AND AT LEAST 2560 x 1950 PIXELS OR HIGH RESOLUTION. MOST MODERN CAMERAS/CELL PHONES SHOULD MEET THIS. LANDSCAPE ORIENTATION PREFERRED (THIS FORMAT IS REQUIRED FOR FULL SIZE CALENDAR PAGES)
5- EACH PHOTO CAN ONLY BE ENTERED IN ONE CATEGORY
6- ENSURE YOU HAVE THE CONSENT OF ANYONE APPEARING IN PHOTOS
7- BY SUBMITTING PHOTOS YOU AGREE THAT THEY CAN BE REPRODUCED AND PUBLICLY DISPLAYED
8- PHOTOS MUST BE TAKEN ON OR AROUND CRANE AND BLACKSTONE LAKES
ADULT CATEGORIES:
1-CELEBRATE SPRING
2-SUN-SATIONAL SUMMER
3-AUTUMN ADVENTURES
4-WINTER WONDERLAND
YOUTH CATEGORY (16 YEARS AND UNDER)
1-LIFE AT THE LAKE
WINNER SELECTION:
PHOTOS WILL BE JUDGED ON THE BASIS OF ORIGINALITY, CREATIVITY AND UNIQUENESS
✴📸 PHOTOS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY JULY 5th, 2024 📸✴
Catch up on the latest from the Federation of Ontario Cottagers
Good information on capital gains tax rate changes, ticks and other irritants.
Your Board of Directors from all parts of the lake:
Kathy Watts, Barbara Metelka, Andy Metelka, Cheryl Ward, Lisa Lucas, Matt Hackett, Erik Mathiesen
