Welcome Back!
The ice left Kamaniskeg about May 1 and the new summer season is upon us for real. We know because the complaints have already started about the heat and the bugs.
Bob Millar, our fearless KAPOA Membership leader, and our infamous walking-wounded, after his near death skiing mishap the previous winter, took time out during his Florida trip to plan upcoming KAPOA membership activities to play about fifteen holes of golf, with the advantage of a golf cart, before succumbing to the ‘too much exercise too soon’ bug. So you can tell, Bob’s almost back to normal and raring to go.
In addition to the news that Tim Hortons and a Shell gas station are confirmed to open in Barry’s Bay this summer, and also another gas station at the Sherwood property. The Bent Anchor is scheduled to reopen under new management.
Here’s hint of what is on the KAPOA radar screen. You may wish to print & post this on your cottage refrigerator door for future reference for KAPOA dates because you know you are all welcomed.
With all these activities on the go, KAPOA is constantly looking for new volunteers with new ideas, enthusiasm and energy so please contact your Area Membership Rep or any other KAPOA member to find out how to lend a hand. It will be definitely appreciated!
2014 Annual Poker Run
In 2013, 30 boats participated in the Poker Run and made a contribution of over $6,000 to St. Francis Memorial Hospital. These funds have been used to support the successful $1.2 million capital equipment campaign for new x-ray and laboratory equipment. For 2013 highlights please visit www.kapoa.ca/poker-run
In 2014, our two new co-chair people, Mark Lyon & Ed Ragan, have raised our target to $8,000 with up to 40 boats participating. When you suggest your neighbours participate in the event each year, please remind them to ‘Think Pink’ and let them know that our funds are specifically directed to paying off the new digital mammography unit (required by code & already installed). So, if you appreciate the ‘ladies’ , please ask everyone for their support? The Poker Run is scheduled for Saturday July 26, 2014 and finishes up with a party at Hinterland Beach.
You are invited to register and participate in the 2014 Annual Charity Poker Run. There are 4 parts to this charity event:
- Registration: You can register by:
- KAPOA web site: www.kapoa.ca/poker-run
- KAPOA email: poker-run@kapoa.ca
- Mark Lyon (519) 278-1417 mlyon210@gmail.com
- Ed Ragan (613) 612-5179 eragan@me.com
The participation cost is $200 per boat all of which will go to the SFMH Foundation. This year the funds will be used to pay off the new digital mammography equipment.
- Participation: Saturday July 26, 2014 Start at the Barry’s Bay dock. With your friends and family on board, visit 7 designated docks on Kamaniskeg Lake, Blackfiah Bay and Negeek Lake where you will collect 7 cards to make your best 5 card poker hand.
- Celebration: All meet at Hinterland Beach at 2:00 PM for the awards ceremony and BBQ.
- Entertainment: As last year there will be entertainment including demonstrations of wake surfing, wake-board freestyle riding and wake-board rail-slide jumping.
Kamaniskeg Fisheries Assessment
The Ministry of Natural Resources will be conducting a fisheries assessment project on Kamaniskeg Lake in the summer of 2014 as part of the provincial broadscale monitoring program.
For more information and links visit the KAPOA Water Quality page.
Kamaniskeg Internet Specialized Service (KISS)
A recent major initiative KISS thanks to TJ Communications, is already successfully providing users with Internet service and ready to take on more subscribers, also available on a seasonal basis. Being a ‘line of site’ phenomena, this service works well for any cottager who can ‘see’ the repeater tower and has demonstrated speeds as good as or better than basic urban services. To improve performance and reliability, the provider has partnered with a cable company where mutually beneficial, and both are working together to provide additional secondary feeds to carry on when a major trunk is out. Other tower site locations are being explored for the same reason. Do yourself and neighbours a favour (if you are in range of this service and cannot get direct connect high speed service) and avoid any multi-year contracts either with Xplornet satellite, or Bell / Rogers Hubs. Consider yourself warned. If interested, please contact Terry Mole directly @ 613-332-4432.
Hinterland Beach Update
The Hinterland Beach park now enjoys porta-potties during the summer season for the third year, and the parking lot & access road are being graded (when the surrounding roads are graded), if required, and snow is being ploughed during the week, (but not weekends when short-handed), during winter for ice fishermen, etc. No improvements were effected on the boat launch ramp because no funds were available for stone or gravel nor was the turnaround for the communal post box (located on the park access road) constructed for the same reason. Both are being reconsidered for 2014 by the parks & recreation committee (when that HH committee ultimately gets operational) , apparently, so well will have to wait and see.
KAPOA not for profit LLC status
As you may know, KAPOA is already registered, but the by-laws are currently under revision. With board members scattered, we anticipate having this task completed by our next AGM. Hopefully, we can ‘set it and forget it’.
Weather Station
We hope to install a tower on Parcher Island in the June – July 2014 time frame that will support a weather station. Everyone would be able to access the weather information for free via Internet on their browser by checking out the KAPOA web site where a link would be established.
Canada Day Boating Hazard Signs
Plans and initial prices for three signs incorporating maps covering Kamaniskeg Lake to Negeek Lake showing known water hazards have been completed. The sign frames would incorporate the new more eco-friendly pressure treated wood, 6″x6″ frames dressed with the same material 2″ x 12″ facing, with routed out letters communicating “Hinterland Beach”, “Barry’s Bay”, and “Combermere” along with sufficient “Canada Day” identification to qualify for federal Canada Day grant monies to help defray costs. In addition to the permanent water hazard maps, the signs to be installed at boat launch ramps, will incorporate revenue generating ads/signs for local vendors/sponsors. An application is in the works for this year with the hope that the signs could be constructed and installed in time for Canada Day 2015.
2014 Municipal Elections
Most folks residing on waterfront properties recognize that municipalities are pleased to cash our municipal tax cheques but never seem to reciprocate with any lake-front tourist specific services. In conjunction with other cottage associations, KAPOA is preparing to be more involved. This involvement will range from participating in all-candidates meeting in both municipalities, Hastings Highlands and Madawaska Valley. At a minimum, we need to be able to communicate to our membership which candidates appear to indicate they are supportive.
KAPOA’s Madawaska Valley (MV) political analyst, Andy Boyd, communicates that Kim Love, someone with common sense and favourable to cottagers, will be running for mayor for MV Council (Barry’sBay, Combermere & Wilno). Equally important is the fact that the Citizens Action Committee head, Ernie Paplinskie, has announced he will be running for MV Council, and is well deserving of our support. Andy adds that the Citizens Action Committee has been very pleased with the past efforts of these two candidates standing up for the rights of rural and lake property owners.
Algonquin Land Claim Update
There have been changes to some of the proposed land selections. The updated draft descriptive plans are on the web site at www.kapoa.ca/algonquin-land-claim/. They include: 60B, 192B and 299. Changes to proposed land selections have been sent to adjacent landowners.
As for an update on the claim, the negotiation parties continue to work toward a proposed Agreement-in-Principle that will be made publicly available after the negotiators initial the agreement. Once the revised AIP is initialled it will be put forward for a ratification vote by the Algonquins of Ontario.
Forestry
Every year KAPOA reviews the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources forestry annual work schedules to determine the impact of clearcutting and other forestry activities in our area. This year there will be cutting around Bark Lake and road construction and harvesting from highway 62 into Gun Lake. For more detailed information refer to the web site forestry page: www.kapoa.ca/forestry
Water Quality & Shoreline Education
A number of well informed cottage associations are promoting water quality education to association members and municipal staff. That trend seems to suggest revisions to provincial regulations regarding septic systems, including occasional system inspections to be scheduled when tanks are to be pumped out. Shoreline protection regulations minimizing contaminants running directly into the lake are another subject for consideration.
ParaSailing July 11 Chippawa
There are also plans for para-sailing day at Dunn’s Chippawa Cottage Resort tentatively July 11, 2014. For a fee, you could be towed aloft by a boat for a great thrilling view. Craig Bowker (705) 457-8754. www.skiwakefootschool.com
More Information:
www.kapoa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/ParaSailing-Sign-Up-Now-poster-Kamaniskeg.pdf
www.kapoa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Parasail-FAQ-Registration.pdf
Hydro One Costs Rebellion
Barry’s Bay ex mayor John Hildebrandt, has focussed the wrath of ratepayers irate from excessive electrical cost increases. Please check out the links to learn how you can add your voice to this campaign.
Here is more information on John’s work:
www.kapoa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/4-EGV-Edition-Mar-05-2014-Section-A-Page-2.pdf
www.kapoa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/3-Ontario-Power-Generation.pdf
www.kapoa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/2-What-Ratepayers-Are-On-the-Hook-For.pdf
www.kapoa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/1-Hydro-one-information-handout-revised.-letttersize-pdf.pdf
