Editor: Claudia Otis & Pete Clark
Dedicated to the preservation and Improvement of a beautiful lake for future generations
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE - Larry Nokes
It's in the air. It may not be here yet but Spring appears to be just around the corner instead of around the corner and down the block! I can tell you that I am really looking forward to the warmer days and the associated new life that occurs with the coming of Spring. We have lots of fun and interesting things planned for DLPOA and we hope you will want to participate From the spring clean-up to helping with the pancake feed to the big Fourth of July we have planned.
I would like to take time and acknowledge the people that make all the things possible on and around the lake, they are the DLPOA board members. Being a board member is a lot of work and just about all of the members head up at least one committee. The clean water we enjoy the tidy environment, our fireworks display and parades, the availability of firewood and safety things like guardrails and the possible addition of fire protection. These are only a few of the things that the board works on. The preparation of combating the potential of Eurasian Milfoil in the lake is an ongoing project and we are constantly trying to improve the roads around the lake and are in contact with the County regarding that and other issues of concern.
I would like to take this time to say THANK YOU to the board for its hard work and diligence I would also like to extend an invitation to all DLPOA members to participate in the activities associated with the lake. The board meetings are open to members and are a format in which to bring up concerns or suggest new things we should possibly be considering. These meetings are held the second Thursday of each month at Loon Lake School at 7:00 PM, except the months of June, July, August and December. If you can't make it to the meeting but have a concern or suggestion, feel free to call any of the board members and it will be brought up at the next meeting. Be sure to allow time for our annual meeting which will be held on June 15th this year at the Deer Lake Resort Lodge at 10:30 AM.
I am proud to be on the Board and to represent such a concerned group of individuals as their President. It is inspiring to attend the meetings and to see all that is going on to preserve this beautiful place called Deer Lake. I hope you, as a member of DLPOA, feel this and are as excited as I am to help keep our little "piece of heaven" just that, and to insure that it will be that for generations to come.
WOOD CUTTING -- ByVirgil Standerfer
Wood cutters, the time is coming to start planning to get ready to cut firewood for next winter. I have spoken with the Boise Cascade representative and have been assured that we will have wood to cut this year.
I will give you the particulars of how this works and what you need in the next newsletter. As for now, you can call me to get your name on the list for cutting which will probably start in the month of June. My number is 233-9178.
MEMBERSHIP - by Dean Crump
We are now well into 2002 and we hope all of you are planning on enjoying a lot of time at one of the most beautiful places in the world, Deer Lake. To make our year even more special, DLPOA is planning to expand our 4th of July celebration with a new parade. Last year's fireworks display and boat parade received great support and participation.
This year we are planning to add another parade where everyone can participate with costumes, floats, etc. The route will start at Deer Lake Resort and end at Pinelow Park. Contact John Gregerson at 233-2110 for entry information.
The boat parade will start at Deer Lake Resort at 7 PM and goes around the lake. The fireworks show will start at 9:30 PM. For information contact Jim Santora at 233-2751.
Donations for the fireworks were GREATLY appreciated last year and are requested for this years show. We are enclosing an envelope for your 2002 dues (if you have already paid them, thank you!) and for fireworks donations.
Thanks for your support!
DEER LAKE SIGNAGE -- By Larry Twitchell
Not much activity in the sign world this winter; getting brushes, paint, and stain ready, to refurbish the wooden signs come spring.
It has been noted that the areas where the signs are installed have a cluttered look. Accordingly, we plan to move the metal signboard so it can be read above the snow plowed along side the road. We would also like to incorporate some of the individual signs into a standard grouping arrangement like we have for Deer Lake Resort and Sunset Point.
Of particular concern is the proliferation of Real Estate signs along the roadsides and intersections of our community. These signs merely advertise the company rather than a specific unit of sale and tend to remain long after the particular piece of property has been sold/bought. This "commercial graffiti" deteriorates quickly into a jumble of ugly advertisements and detracts significantly from our natural beauty. We recognize the legitimate need of the Real Estate Company to identify a specific property and have no problem With that as long as their sign is placed at/on their site and promptly removed when the transaction is completed. We will begin this campaign by asking the Real Estate companies to kindly remove their signs and respect our natural beauty.
LOST AND FOUND
A paddle boat drifted onto our beach just after Labor Day last year. If you are missing one, call 233-9178 and give a description, maybe we have it!
EMERGENCY SERVICES - By Gerry Block
Is it springtime yet? Spring always brings a refreshing renewal of life, color and sunshine. It is a time to clean up the yards and look forward to the new beginnings that we have previously planted. You may ask, "what does this have to do with an EMS article?" Let me tell you the results of the fire district's accomplishments over the long winter.
For those that travel Hwy. 395 and pass through Clayton, there is a new fire station near the district office. The members of Station #1 are so proud of their new home away from home. This new building will be utilized as a station and as a training center for the district. SCFPD#1 now trains recruits within our own district. For those contemplating a decision to join the fire district, it means less travel time and the expense of going into Spokane. The next fire training session will begin sometime in June/Applications may be obtained from the district office from 8:30 - 5:00 Monday through Friday. |
By the time this newsletter is printed, the new fire station for Springdale should be ready for action. They have worked out of a very old building in the center of downtown that had a long narrow parking space and the trucks had to be lined up. Station #7, Springdale is a great addition to the district's realization that safety for the volunteers is a top priority.
What about Station #5 at Deer Lake? Believe me, Station #5 is in great shape compared to the old buildings other volunteers had to tolerate. However, #5 is scheduled for a cosmetic update. The district plans to have the exterior painted and the inside painting has already begun. Anyone interested in helping with the interior work? We could use painters, carpenters to cut moldings and do finishing work, etc. Please call 233-8245 and leave a message. We would tike to have the project completed before the pancake feed on July 7th.
Contrary to rumors, Station #5 is not closing. Yes we only have three current members but the fire district has the "big picture" planned. Brad Martin, District #1 Fire Chief, informed the audience at a recent DLPOA meting that the district would like to have a parking garage on the west side of Deer Lake. A crew could respond to calls in a quick response vehicle for both Deer and Loon Lakes. Volunteers already reside on the west side and it would be a quicker response time This is a wonderful plan! Does anyone know Of a piece of property that could be donated to the district for this project? If so. contact the district office at 262-9660.
Thanks to everyone that helped clear East Deer Lake Road of fallen trees during that one weekend of heavy snow. It was wonderful to see neighbors assisting Rick Martinsen with the tree removal. This is the community spirit that is truly ours. We may not have a large volunteer crew at Station #5, but we do have community support. Thank you!!
FOR SALE - D.L.P.O.A. PATROL BOAT
At the recommendation of several board members, it has been decided to sell the 19 foot aluminum boat and replace it with another that will better accommodate the needs of Deer Lake.
For information on the boat and motor, Call Chris Forney at 233-8983.
MILFOIL - (an aggressive water weed)
Eurasian Milfoil is an aggressive, non-native water weed which is now flourishing in Washington State. It was first spotted in Washington in the mid-1970's and today has infested many lakes and rivers where It chokes out native plants and spreads rapidly to new areas.
Milfoil reproduces by a process called "fragmentation'. The plants easily break, into small pieces and each piece can form roots. A single wisp can multiply into 250 million new plants in one year. Milfoil is readily spread between lakes and rivers by boaters carrying plant fragments on their boats and trailers.
Because it is not a native species, milfoil has few natural controls. It grows rapidly through the summer and forms a "mat" so dense it restricts swimming, boating and fishing. The plant has a fine, feathery appearance and sometimes spike-shaped flower stalks emerge above the surface. Each milfoil leaf is made up of pairs of leaflets. Eurasian milfoil leaves have 12 to 24 pairs of leaflets where native milfoil has six to nine pairs.
What can we do about it? Prevention is at the top of the list. Spread the word, and pick off every fragment of any week you find on your boat or trailer and put them in the garbage can, not on the ground or in the lake. If you see plant fragments on some else's boat or trailer, help them clean off the pieces.
Keep a look out for anything that resembles the pictures shown in this article. If you find a plant you're not sure about, pull the plant up, place in a plastic bag with water, and contact Mike Phillips to get the plant identified for you (233-2510).
DLPOA will continue to have Deer Lake inspected yearly. The board feels this is money well spent if we can keep Eurasian milfoil from invading our lake.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!! - By Jerry Brinkman \
The Loon Lake Loon Association would like to make a request of the people on Deer Lake.
As you probably already know, the Loon Association picks up the garbage on Highway 395 approximately three times a year in the summertime. Most of the people who are out there bending and Stooping are 60+, yours truly included. We would really like to get some younger people involved in this project, and we will always welcome the 60+ people also. If we don't get more volunteers involved in this project. it will have to go by the wayside.
We really dislike the thought of the garbage accumulating on the Highway. I'm sure that you will agree with me that this is a worthwhile cause. We would keep any volunteers informed of the date and time, also the area we need help with keeping clean. The more people involved, the less time it takes to clean up this Highway area. If you are at all interested please call me at 276-9856. The Loon Association is a member of the Deer Lake Property Owners Association and has been for many years. We think this help between the two lakes is very important. Thanks.
FISHERIES REPORT - By Jim Santora
Bruce Bassett's fish pen has 10,000 Eastern Brook Trout due to be released on or about May 1st. He will be receiving a new batch of fish shortly after that release.
Jim Santora's pen has 15,000 Rainbow Trout and these are scheduled to be released as soon as the ice leaves the lake. They currently are between six to nine inches long now. The winter batch is the easiest to raise and the mortality rate has been very low, only three this winter. I should get the summer batch sometime in late April and I am hoping to get triploids.
The fish pens are a fun project that I enjoy very much.
SPRING CLEANUP & CHILI FEED By Tim Dschaak
Hey there fellow property owners, neighbors, friends and relatives! Here's a chance for you to meet your neighbors, make new friends, get a breath of fresh air, enjoy some camaraderie, and, a "home cooked meal". Just come out and help us for a little while to maintain the beauty of the area around our lake by volunteering to take part in cleaning our roads.
This year's spring cleanup has been scheduled for Saturday, May 18. We'll have the signs set out early so volunteers can start on their selected section whenever they want to. The chili feed will start at 10:30 AM at the East side fire station.
The starting points will again be the fire station on the East side and Deer Lake Resort on the West side. Pick up your bags, safety vests, etc. at those points. Also, there will be a "sign up" map at each location so you can choose a roadway segment you'd like to "adopt" as your part of the project. Or, enclosed you'll find a map and list of roads that are in our "Adopt a Roadway" network from which you may like to select a segment to clean. Call Mike Phillips at 233-2510 for the West side, or Pam & Tim Dschaak at 233-2901 for the East side. As the calls come in, we'll fill the slots and let you know what's not been volunteered for yet.
It seems that the most litter-abused areas are our entrance and exit roadways (Agar, North Deer Lake, Grouse Creek, Gardenspot, and East Deer Lake) and are the last to be volunteered for. Please, when you consider the "to do" list, give some thought to doing a segment of these roads.
To minimize confusion at the County's solid waste transfer station, we already have the "hauling to the dump" organized. Therefore, we are not in need of volunteer haulers. What we really need is as many litter pickers as possible.