President’s Message
Having almost completed serving the last of my self-imposed (wife’s actually) limit of 5 years as KAPOA president, I would like to share a look back with you and then a look forward.
While helping out with the cleanup for the KAPOA Regatta back in 2010, it was clear that KAPOA was an organization in serious decline. A number of oldsters (and not so old as well) decided that it was time to ‘put up’ or ‘shut up’ (Bob Millar’s words), and then a great resurgence of energy flowed from that decision.This is not to suggest that many good things had not proceeded this resurrection because we all recognize the substantial contributions KAPOA has enjoyed from so many in the decades before.
Serving as your KAPOA president is not a job that some folks would actively campaign for as it does involve time and energy. I’m not sure that previous presidents were conscripted or volunteered for the position but I can assure you that it’s extremely rewarding to see people and projects come together for the benefit of ourselves and our community.
For me, this leadership process involved a lot of learning ‘on the job’ and with the substantial support of a dedicated and capable group of directors, we progressed. The obvious conclusion is that if one person can do it, others can as well, if they have the will.
KAPOA has benefited from the increasingly convenient communications via the Internet and much of what KAPOA is and does relates to communicating with its members. KAPOA still relies heavily on the important face-to-face time, substantially performed by our extremely valuable Area Membership Reps, those intrepid folks that solicit your $20 annual membership fee as they explain to you the benefits of our organization. Or at least, by leaving a page listing all the KAPOA activities, along with our calendar of events.
It takes all kinds of people to make a volunteer organization go and grow, especially if there is no single, compelling issue that unifies the group’s members. And we do have all kinds, including those best performing by themselves like water testing or website admin, while others function best in groups, such as the Regatta or Poker Run.
Positives include the ongoing Regatta, recently managed by the Kerra Wylie family. The Poker Run, jointly produced by KAPOA / Valley Gazette / St Francis Memorial Hospital Foundation, has raised over $25,000 during the last three years, all towards our ‘Think Pink’ digital mammography unit acquisition. This contribution should make anybody and everybody associated with KAPOA extremely proud. Likewise with indirect KAPOA support and endorsement for the annual Lake Appetizer Party and also the annual Labor Day Henson Lighted Boat Parade. Newly resurrected last year was the annual KAPOA corn roast with over 100 guests, a taste treat success, and well worth repeating.
Also new, to my knowledge, within the last five years, KAPOA has started meeting with other cottage association groups on water quality issues as well as starting a new Hastings Highlands Interlake Association along with 5 other nearby cottage associations. Our association is modeled after another similar Interlake group, that includes about 10 nearby associations. The annual meetings are great for learning how our problems mostly coincide with theirs and also for learning about possible solutions.
Also new are political action committees (PACs) for both the municipalities of Madawaska Valley and also Hastings Highlands with somewhat different results after the last municipal election, but let’s not rehash that here or now. So important is the communications function within our cottage association, it pleases me that we now have a dedicated group responsible for that function, headed up by Director Bob Tatarski, who along with his [editorial board] of capable compadres, has committed to prepare two extensive KAPOA newsletters annually, and who is presently pressuring me for this message (nicely of course). The ice on the lake may be gone before you read these words, but please be aware this process starts as soon as the former newsletter is published.
After having secured verbal approval for a substantial financial donation up to $5,000 to acquire an automatic, solar powered weather station, (to be installed on a tower on Parcher Island, intended to provide [information on] air & water temperature & levels, wind speed and direction, etc., along with a webcam for viewing local boat traffic as well as for remote safety searches, all to be available on the Internet), the project was quashed when the MNR revoked their initial support, now requiring a full blown
(expensive) environmental impact study. A major disappointment after all the effort expended.
Negatives that concern me are the provincial downloading of costs that become uncontrollable costs for local municipal governments, including: roads and tendering policies; policing and policies; garbage and policies; health care and policies; water treatment and policies; electricity and policies; and so on. The word ‘policies’ is repeated here so frequently because not only does the province not pay for something, it frequently establishes unrealistic and unsustainable policy standards that lead to exorbitant ongoing costs, regularly increasing at rates greatly exceeding inflation. Examples include police training requirements; closing dumps, with few backup options; and even requiring some municipalities to ship garbage to the USA, which effectively means that rural Ontario costs not only will increase, but at an even faster rate. In my opinion, Municipal councils will be powerless to stop this alarming downloading trend in their attempt to urbanize the entire province.
In closing, let me say that over my five-year term serving as your president, I feel that I have learned a lot. Been surprised, both pleasantly and unpleasantly, on a wide variety of issues. Been told how well or poorly we have performed. But the strongest impression I now have relates to the wonderful qualities of the vast majority of folks that one meets in KAPOA country and that these folks will passionately participate when something suitably motivates them. While I expect KAPOA to continue to serve its membership and our community in ever-better ways, I personally look forward to moving on to other projects within KAPOA and Interlake.
Best regards,
Dave Wilson
2016 CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES
Directors Meeting
Tuesday, May 31: 7:00pm @ Bob Millar residence, 33 Lewis Lane off River Rd – Directors only
Hastings Highlands Interlake Meeting
Saturday, June 4 – info TBA
AGM
Saturday, July 16 – Registration @ 9:00 – Start: 9:30 a.m. ‘til 11:00 a.m. @ Combermere Community Centre, 1095 Farmer Rd, Combermere, Everyone welcome!
Poker Run
Saturday, July 23 @ the BB Dock: Registration; 9:00 a.m.’til 10:00 a.m.- Start immediately following individual boat registration; Prizes & Party Hinterland Beach 1:00 p.m. Hamburgers/Entertainment; Prize Ceremony following lunch
Regatta
Registration on Saturday, July 30 @ Noon @ Hinterland Beach; Sailing starts @ 11:00 a.m.
Appetizer Lake Party
Saturday, Aug 6 ~ 2:00 p.m. @ Andy Tatarski – 160 Golfers Lane. Everyone welcome! Bring a chair & potluck appetizer SVP. BYOB!!!
KAPOA Annual Corn Roast
Saturday, Sept 3 – Hinterland Beach Park @ 5:30 p.m. – Everyone welcome!
Henson Lighted Boat Parade
Saturday, Sept 3 assemble @ 8:00 p.m. ETD 8:30 p.m. @ Hinterland Beach – Everyone welcome!
Directors and Membership Reps Meeting:
Thursday, Sept 15 @ 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. @ Bob Tatarski, 158 Golfers Lane – Directors and Area Reps.
Handy Contact Numbers
| Emergency | Hydro One Power Outages | Well Water Test Bottles / Drops |
|---|---|---|
| 911 | 800-434-1235 | BB Lorraine’s Pharmacy |
| Invasive Species Contact | Blue Green Algae Bloom Alert / Spills Action Centre | KAPOA |
| 800-563-7711 | 800-268-6060 | kapoacares@gmail.com |
From The Desk of the VP
Membership Chair Spring 2016
KAPOA had an easy winter, starting with no snow and an 8″ dump in early January and another in February. March came in like a lion with 12″ to 15″ of snow and if we’re lucky that will be it. (Mother’s Day – REALLY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
In 2016 we’re into the early updating of our membership list and getting our new handout ready for our area reps. This will consist of a detailed map (in colour) printed by our area printer Bayberry Lane Designs, with the copyright donated by Backroad
Mapbooks of Vancouver, B.C.
You can go to the KAPOA website for more information and also a separate event schedule and membership form.
Backroad Mapbooks is the most detailed, showing major highways, lakes, roads and lanes. It has a great map of Kamaniskeg Lake, Madawaska River, Blackfish Bay, Combermere to Negeek Lake and Conroy Marsh. This is great to put on your fridge or bulletin board and then mark on it where you live on our extensive water system, if you are familiar with it. If you’re not familiar with it, then it will give you and your guests a lot to explore!
Help Required
Area reps are required in the following locations:
Bleskie Road, Town of Barry’s Bay, Hwy 62 on the west side of Blackfish Bay, Town of Combermere, Hydes Bay, Ohio Road, Hwy 516 on the east side of Negeek Lake and all of the west side of Negeek Lake.
If you are an outgoing person and don’t mind knocking on doors and quickly explaining the advantages of belonging to KAPOA and our great water system, we can really use your help.
Help make our lakes and rivers better and KAPOA stronger!
For more info call: Bob Millar….613-756-1829
The Year 2015 In Hastings Highlands
Well, wasn’t 2015 a good year in general? First of all everyone was rewarded with a beautiful fall with moderate temperatures, that was a blessing for anyone who had unfinished projects. So what was accomplished in 2015?
We still don’t have curbside [garbage] pickup and, after 13 months, Council has yet to make a decision. You can say a lot of things about Council, but you can’t say they rush into things. After 13 months of sitting on their hands, Council voted themselves onto
the Curbside Pickup Committee, and then at the following Council meeting, Councillor Greg Roberts made a motion to stop talking about curbside pickup!!!
The motion was supported by Counsellors Mike Leveque, and Hald Robinson. Counsellors Tracey Hagar, Bert Cannon and Nancy Matheson were opposed. The tie was broken by Mayor Vivian Bloom and so no more discussion!
The Hazardous Waste Days in Faraday will be a thing of the past, as Council favours breaking away from Faraday and going alone. In the works is one day hazardous waste drop-off in the Loggers Field in Maynooth and Hastings Highland has joined Madawaska Valley in a joint venture for a one day Hazardous Waste drop off in Combermere.
There are negotiations regarding extending the hours at the Wolf Creek site and adding an extra day in lieu of curbside pickup. So we are making progress in some areas. However the landfills are in terrible shape especially during the rainy season, and there is confusion over the clear bag policy in regard to what is deemed acceptable. Council admitted that in passing the by-law the intent was for a bag through which one could see the contents for the better control of recyclables.
Some of the roads in HH are in bad shape and there is yet to be a decision made by Council to address these issues that have been on the back burner for so long that I think the pilot light has burned out!!
A real eye opener was the proposed tax increase by staff to a tune of 4.8%! While Madawaska Valley presented a 0% tax increase to their ratepayers and other municipalities are getting serious about unnecessary spending and keeping tax budgets below the rate of inflation, Hastings Highlands plows in with a ridiculous 4.8%. I think there will be a reaction by the rate payers that have had enough of tax increases and nothing to show for it.
ED KOBYLKA: PAC (HH) KAPOA
Budget Time in Madawaska Valley Township
On Monday, April 18 at the Town Council meeting, the 2016 budget was put to a vote. Councillors Ernie Peplinskie and Shelley Maika both put forth strong objections to passing the proposed budget without finding further cost savings for the community. These objections were based on the fact that, under the past Council, the taxes were increased by 32 % during their four year tenure. (Even at an annual increase of 3% taxes should have only risen 12% in those years). Both Peplinskie and Maika identified that they and others now on Council strongly criticized the taxation increases of past Councils and promised fiscal responsibility during their campaigns. Both Councillors argued that further savings could be found to reduce taxation for this year’s budget.
The budget was put to a recorded vote and was voted in by Mayor Love, Councillor Archer, and Councillor Bromwich who had, in discussions, made clear their positions, that holding this year’s budget to last year’s level was adequate.
So the good news is no increase in the budget this year and the bad news is no major reduction to make up for the years we were overtaxed by at least 20%! The impact on the individual tax payer is that, due to MPAC assessments, lakefront properties may still see an increase due to property value assessments and some properties in town may see decreases using the same assessment methods.
ANDY BOYD: PAC (MV) KAPOA
REGATTA 2015
The 2015 regatta at Hinterland Beach included a little rain, a few tipped canoes, and lots of hotdogs, ribbons and laughs! Last year’s event highlights, the trophy winners, and a shout out to the volunteers and sponsors who made the regatta such a big
splash can be read on the KAPOA website (kapoa.ca).
We’re already starting to think about this year’s regatta on July 30, and we need to hear from you – what classic events do you want to see continued, and what new events would you like to see? Ever thought about kayak races, a horse shoe tournament, and 3-legged races? More importantly, would you be interested in helping to organize the event that you have suggested? What should be the prize for your event – should it be included in the tabulation for the existing trophies (female swim, male swim, best overall competitor & sailing trophy) or should it have its own prize? If you have fresh ideas, some energy and just a little time, we can together
make the 2016 regatta the best ever! Please reach out to me at klwylie@sympatico.ca soon – don’t wait too long, summer will be here before you know it!
Kerra Wylie & Lynne MacLean
Attention All Boaters
Due to the large number of boats at the Henson’s Lighted Boat Parade, in the southern bay of Kaminiskeg Lake, is there anyone interested in starting a lighted boat parade going into the north lake?
This would be on Labour Day after the KAPOA corn roast at Hinterland Beach.
For further information call: Bob Millar @ 613-756-1829
Hastings Highlands Landfill Site Instructions
LOOSE RECYCLING NOW AT ALL LANDFILL SITES www.hastingshighlands.ca
Updated January 2016 as per Staff of Hastings Highlands
We no longer want plastic bags dropped into the RECYCLING bins. Please empty out your bags into the bin, or take your recycling to the landfill site in a cardboard box or a recycle bin available from the Municipal office. *Please dump it loose into the bins * Please include: aluminum foil, pie plates, yogurt containers, empty aerosol cans, glass bottles & jars-clear & coloured, aluminum soft drink cans, tin cans, plastic soft drink bottles, plastic containers e.g. Bleach, juice and shampoo bottles. Empty Steel Paint Cans –lid removed and dried. *Coffee K-cups are only accepted if they are emptied and cleaned.
Paper and cardboard products are to be deposited into a separate bin at the Landfill
Site. *Also LOOSE* *Please do not throw these items into the bin in plastic bags.* Please include: flattened boxes/pizza boxes, paper towel tubes, paper egg cartons, brown paper bags, writing paper, flyers, cereal or shoe boxes, sugar & flour bags, books, phone books, newsprint, magazines, catalogues, paper coffee cups, milk & juice & cream cartons, and drinking boxes without the straw. Not Recyclable in Hastings Highlands: “Any film wrap”, e.g. Saran Wrap. No longer do we take Zip lock bags, milk pouches, frozen vegetable bags, bread bags. No Q-Tips, straws, laminated paper, glass kitchenware, ceramics, dishes, drinking glasses, window glass, lights bulbs, mirrors. No items lined with plastic e.g. dog or cat food bags, wax board, meat or cheese wrappers, cereal box liners, butter wrappers, chip bags, candy wrappers, cigarette wrappers, tissues, paper towels, used paper plates, Hazardous waste propane cylinders, filled paint cans, motor oil containers…we have Household Hazardous waste days for these last few mentioned items…please see website, or call 613-338-2811 ext.-200 Reception for schedule.
HOUSEHOLD WASTE Household waste is placed in CLEAR bags. No tinted or black or green bags allowed. This bag will hold anything you cannot recycle. This includes used paper towels, tissues or toilet paper, table scraps and kitchen waste.
Inside this clear bag you may place 1 non-clear personal privacy bag. This bag will hold items you want not to be seen, or not wanting to leak. Example: personal hygiene items, diapers and bandages, or wet food scraps. This smaller inside bag can be any colour. For the residents that only accumulate one personal waste bag, there is no need to put it in an additional clear bag. Non-compliant garbage bags will be refused unless resident removes recycling from bag.
For further enquiries please contact the Municipal office at 613-338-2811 ext. 288, Operations Manager. For Landfill Site Hours, please see our website. Click under Services & Departments, then Waste Mgmt.
DUMP HOURS
Sand Bay: Tue. 7 – 12 & Sat. 12 – 5
Wolf Creek: Wed. 12 – 5 & Sun. 12 – 5
Winter of 2015 – 2016
The year of 2015 was very kind to many people, especially contractors and people with unfinished projects, by giving everyone a balmy fall and a late winter. So many saved on home heating bills through November and December. It wasn’t the best weather for moose and deer hunters however, as the animals are not as active without snow on the ground.
Ice fishing wasn’t that great either, as the weather warmed and a few days later would freeze up. This provided a very unstable environment for the ice shacks with one that we know of that actually went through the ice. Overall, compared to the winter of 2014
which everyone will remember as bitter cold, this winter was a breeze.
Our first real snow fall came two days after Christmas and by the first week of January we had the only snow mobile trails open in all of Ontario, much to the relief of the local businessmen who count on the snowmobilers to boost the winter economy. Barry’s
Bay held their tree of lights ceremony that was well attended by the locals even though there wasn’t a big response by shoppers.
Some of the people enjoyed a ride through town on Santa’s Sleigh that was decorated with Christmas lights and pulled by two horses. The merchants could have done a better job of lighting their businesses and the main street in my opinion. The lighting
appeared sparse, so it didn’t light up the main street to give it that “Christmassy” feel. Some of the businesses had decorated Christmas trees out front and others dressed up the store front windows.
Regardless, Christmas was a big success.
ED KOBYLKA
A LITTLE BIRD TOLD US
1. Hazardous Waste Collection is coming:
Combermere: July 9 from 10:00 – 4:00 : MV Yard #2 on Hwy 62, east side, north of Combermere and south Of Pine Cliff turnoff
Maynooth: October 2 from 10:00 – 3:00 : Loggers Field @ 6 ANAF Rd.
2. A new convenience store is coming to Combermere. See the former MV Satellite building.
3. The owners of The Bent Anchor have applied for a permit to offer marine gas services.
4. Crimes that involve break-ins and personal property theft continue to rise in Canada. To help homeowners fight back, the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (“OACP”) has endorsed an exciting new tool to aid in theft prevention, the recovery of stolen goods and criminal convictions. Using microdot technology the TRACE™ pen facilitates the marking and locating of personal assets. Each TRACE™ pen has a unique identification number allowing homeowners to mark and register their valuables online in a secure centralized database so if lost or stolen police can return them to you. Contact Tom Pate: tpate@traceidentified.com
5. TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AVAILABLE TO HASTINGS HIGHLANDS RESIDENTS
The Municipality of Hastings Highlands, in partnership with Bancroft Community Transit (BCT) is now providing weekly transportation services for municipal residents. Pick up Location: TUESDAYS at Hastings Highlands Centre 33011 Highway 62 in Maynooth. Time: 8:30 a.m. Fare: $5.00 round trip Arrival: in Bancroft at 9:00 a.m. Pick Up: in Bancroft at 12:00 p.m. Return: to Hastings Highlands Centre in Maynooth at 12:30 p.m. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CALL: The Municipality of Hastings Highlands: 613 338-2811 ext. 200 or Bancroft Community Transit: 613 332-2732 or 1-800-338-2818. *Open to all residents of The Municipality of Hastings Highlands, those under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult and must not require the use of a car seat.
PROJECT LIFESAVER
NOW AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS OF HASTINGS HIGHLANDS
Imagine you’ve just returned home from doing a few errands and call out to announce your return. No one answers. You call out again and still no reply. Panic and fear start to creep in as you realize your loved one, who has Alzheimer’s disease, is nowhere to be found. What do you do?
Project Lifesaver is a program designed to assist police in their search and rescue efforts to find those who wander. The specialized tracking equipment used has decreased search times from days to minutes; the average search time for finding a missing person with this equipment being 35 minutes.
At the suggestion of our local OPP detachment, the Alzheimer Society of HPE has partnered with our local OPP detachment to bring Project Lifesaver to North Hastings area. The Program will be made available to those local residents diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or other cognitive impairment who may be at risk of wandering
For more information please contact Sarah Krieger @ 613-332-4614
PLEASE NOTE: following extensive research on this topic the editors have confirmed that no equivalent program is presently available to the citizens of Madawaska Valley.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Dear KAPOA Member:{Editors’ response}
In the fall newsletter we included a question and photo from one of our members, regarding an organism she found on her dock.
(Maureen Kleniewski – Madawaska River),
Hello,
Thank you for your inquiry.
It looks like an organism called a bryozoan, a moss animal that forms gelatinous, cellfilled sacs, usually in large groups. There are many different kinds of bryozoans in Ontario waters and they are harmless. For more information about bryozoans, please visit the following web pages:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryozoa
http://www.magma.ca/~syatabe/water_brains/water_brains.html
http://www.arctic.uoguelph.ca/cpl/organisms/inverts/fresh_inverts/bryozoans.htm
http://www.earthlife.net/inverts/bryozoa.html
We hope you find this information helpful.
Regards,
NRIC web reader – ARS
************************************
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
Natural Resources Information Centre
300 Water Street
Peterborough, ON K9J 8M5
1-800-667-1940
TTY: 1-866-686-6072
From the Outside Looking In …
It’s a beautiful sunny day; wispy clouds float by. I sit by waters gently lapping at the rocky shoreline as I contemplate my destiny – thankful that I have found a place to call home. A number of years have passed since I left the fast-paced life that goes with work, the humdrum of a big city, the shopping malls, and rush-hour traffic. Why? It was time to start on the next chapter of my story – retirement.
The decision to move to the Township of Madawaska Valley was easy. The people are fantastic, the air is clean, and there is so much to keep oneself busy from morning to dusk. Sometimes I spend hours simply looking out over the hills and water. Other times, I am into a good book, gardening, crafts, helping others. The days, the weeks go by – too fast.
My ethnic origins are Polish. I have spent time in this area since 1959. I left my parents’ house when I went to Toronto to study. Then I got a job – in Toronto – with the federal government where transfers were a reality. And it happened – I moved to Ottawa. I never got a chance to really call anywhere HOME. When in Ottawa, I had temporary assignments all over Canada. Always came back to Ottawa, but it was not HOME. Ottawa is a “government town”, people moving in and out constantly. My husband hails from Northern Ontario. He moved around with his parents (his father was with the CPR) and then the federal government too moved him about. So when I retired it was time to find a place to call HOME. Here we are. Paradise!
No matter how long we will live here, we will always be “from away, newcomers, not locals”. Happily we have made friends among those who have lived here all their lives or retired here. We talk about fresh ideas, different perspectives on life, and suggestions on how to move this area forward. We have skills, experience, knowledge and the will to contribute, to work together.
The greatest resource in the Township of Madawaska Valley is the area itself. It has history, lakes and rivers, hills, forests, and most important of all, residents who are proud of their heritage, whatever it may be.
I love reading, learning about anything and everything; the thirst for knowledge is never fully satiated. Reading is a great avenue to learn more about this area. This corner of Ontario has so much to offer. It’s one of the last affordable resort areas in Ontario and would make a fabulous four-season playground. Collingwood has cornered the market north of Toronto. So why not here? Summer brings an influx of tourists; winter, the snow machine aficionados. Skiers were back for a few short seasons! The fall colours are fabulous, yet there is a noticeable lack of tourist trade. The New England states and Quebec are inundated with tour buses. Algonquin Park is just up the road, yet the buses simply roll through Barry’s Bay.
A four-season playground is just one vision and there are others. Small industry for one – sawmills and related businesses are already in place, capitalizing on the forests, but how long will it last. What can be done to bring sustainable development into this corner of our paradise? Actively and imaginatively pursued, properly managed tourism and small business development would surely benefit this unique area, while keeping its charm intact. But then, I am a “from away, a newcomer, not a local” – what do I know?
They (whoever “they may be) say that there have been more inventions since the end of World War II brought on primarily by the necessity to bring back some sense of normalcy to life. The brainpower that came out of that debacle facilitated many of those inventions. There are too many to name – television, advanced air power, nuclear power generations, washer and dryers, etc.
But for me, one of the best inventions goes back in time – the CLOTHESLINE. I was curious if there was any info as to when the clothesline came into use. The internet – that useful tool for general info – provided some tidbits about an Australian inventions in the 1800s – the clothes hoist! And I did come across an interesting item – The Clothesline Project, a name for a project dealing with women who have been abused, raped, etc. Some background info: One of the women, visual artist Rachel Carey- Harper, moved by the power of the AIDS quilt, presents the concept of using shirts – hanging on a clothesline – as the vehicle for raising awareness about this issue. The idea of using a clothesline was a natural. Doing the laundry was always considered women’s work and in the days of close-knit neighbourhoods women often exchanged information over the backyard fences while hanging their clothes out to dry.
I digress as the reason for this musing is the act of hanging clothes out on a line to dry.
Over the years I have had to resort to using one of those 20th century inventions – the dryer. Being a working girl, I had little time to get up early in the morning to handle a couple of loads of laundry and then hang them out. There was always a chance of inclement weather, not getting home before darkness set in, any range of excuses. It was just not doable – for me.
However, now that I have that time, or so I think, I revel in the act of hanging clothes, linens, towels, and bedding on a clothesline. The fresh air fragrance is scintillating. The very act of hanging an item on the line, reaching up towards the sky, listening to the birds, especially the loons, is mesmerizing. I get up very early – the laundry is usually on the line by 7:30 am. Then I have a cup of coffee and watch it gently swing in the breeze, or sometimes it just hangs like a wet noodle, but it does dry, eventually. As I hang each item, I think, ponder, contemplate the day ahead of me – what will it bring. What will I learn today?
And then there was the CRASH – one of the poles holding up my trusty clothesline came down with a WHUMP. I was mad, all that effort to hang each towel, facecloth, and tea towel straight was all for nothing.
Once my husband stopped laughing, we took stock of my dilemma. Wood rot. It happens. Three weeks later, I finally had my inaugural hanging of the laundry on my newly installed clothesline attached to a fresh cedar post, properly stained with wood preservative. Life was back to normal! And then – about an hour later I am walking through the yard and there is my new clothesline down on the ground, white bedding and linens splayed out on freshly mowed grass. I had to laugh, was it time for the dryer? No, with a minor adjustment I was back in business.
The loon was out in the bay cavorting, putting on a display of his flight prowess. The birds were singing and the breeze was gently rocking the bedding to and fro. Yes, I could now get on with the rest of my day, my life! If only it was that simple!
Iwona Mooney – Blackfish Bay
GUARD THE MAYFLOWER
Last fall the editors of the KAPOA newsletter received a communication from one of our members and wrote to us expressing serious concern regarding the vandalizing of our unique heritage site – the sunken Mayflower. Specifically, the member wrote explaining that he is aware that divers have been diving at the Mayflower site and have been loosening and stripping various aspects of the paddle-wheeler.
Three years ago David Kelly, a major force behind the maintenance of the Mayflower as a historical tourist attraction, did a scuba dive at the site and filmed the wreckage, creating a 15 minute video record of the condition of the Mayflower as of three years ago. The video is available for viewing at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOlqRIdRvgg&feature=youtu.be
A site of particular interest is run by an organization called S.O.S. (Save Our Shipwrecks) and is at the following address: www.saveontarioshipwrecks.ca
Our request is that members of KAPOA who are out boating on the south end of Kamaniskeg and see any suspicious behaviour report this to the OPP and inform S.O.S.
The Editors
COLLEEN’S KITCHEN CORNER
Oven-Easy Rice
Dish
Serves: 5 – 6
In large baking dish add:
1/4 cup vegetable oil and grease pan the pan with the oil
2 cups Uncle Ben’s long grain converted rice
4 cups water
1/4 cup soya sauce
1 package Lipton’s onion soup mix
1 can sliced mushrooms or 1 cup fresh mushrooms
2 cups frozen peas and carrots
Stir all ingredients until well mixed and then cook in oven at 350F for 1 hour.
Stir & enjoy!
Colleen Kobylka
OUR WEB SITE
For more information regarding KAPOA and our activities remember to go to our website at: www.kapoa.ca
OUR EMAIL ADDRESS
KAPOA can be contacted at: kapoacares@gmail.com
OUR AFFILIATION
Federation of Ontario Cottage Associations (FOCA) foca.on.ca
SOLICITATION FOR NEWSLETTER ARTICLES
Dear KAPOA member,
As the new editorial staff of the KAPOA NEWSLETTER we are turning to you, the membership, for input into the newsletter. If you have an article you would like to write and submit or if you have any ideas regarding either the content or format of the newsletter we encourage you to submit these to the newsletter staff. We can be reached at: newsletter@kapoa.ca
