November 2007 Newsletter

Thanks so much to Clint Farnsworth for serving as Commodore of the Boat Club for eight eventful years. Under his leadership, many projects were completed that greatly enhanced the Cranberry Lake and Wanakena environs and created opportunities for members of the Club and residents of the community to work together. His vision, his planning capabilities, his building skills, and, yes, his ability to cajole others into helping with the projects resulted in the many improvements we have observed on the beaches, along the highway, and on the lake and river. Although he is no longer Commodore, he continues to serve as a Director and plays an active role on a number of the committees, and we look forward to continuing to learn and benefit from his expertise. Thanks again, Clint.

Our summer events were enjoyed by many Boat Club members and their guests. Thanks to Pauline VanEpps, the chair of the Banquet Committee, who reported that 88 people were in attendance and to Janet Rhodes, the chair of the Picnic Committee, who said 167 made reservations for the chicken barbecue. In addition, Sarge Boss and Lindsay Peters organized a very successful poker paddle that enticed 46 people to sign up and enabled them to contribute $154. to the library.

John and Dorothy Adami and Ed Kipp took water samples from the lake in June, July, and August, and Michael DeAngelo from Paul Smith’s also did a deep-water sampling of water quality. In the spring newsletter, the results of the water quality tests will be reported. A copy of the 2006 sampling results is available at the Clifton Community Library.

In an effort to provide Boat Club members with up-to-date information about boating safety, Bill Gleason has obtained copies of the “New York State Boater’s Guide” from the U.S. Coast Guard for all our members. These will be available at our 2008 events. In addition, in early July, Chuck Yartz and Joe Russo will be conducting a Boating Safety Class in our area. We will have more information about location, dates, and times in the spring newsletter.

Those of you who are permanent residents of the town of Clifton or Fine but have left the area for the winter might be interested in the propositions that the school district has presented for a vote on December 5, 2007. The first is for $4,112,000. to “undertake certain capital improvements,” and the second, which is dependent on the passing of the first, is for $2,218,000. to make improvements to the Multipurpose Community Wing, alterations to the exterior canopy, and athletic field improvements. If you are a permanent resident and wish to vote, you may obtain an absentee ballot from Anne Hanley, District Clerk, (315 848-3335, ext. 5).

News from the Centennial Committee

The Centennial Committee had a busy summer and fall. It began a major research project with the hope of publishing an updated history of the Boat Club and perhaps a separate picture book of boats on the lake by June 2009. Serving on the history group with their years of focus are: Allen Splete—1909 to 1950, Bill Gleason---1950-1960, Chuck Lewis—1960-1980, Penny Giraud—1980-1990, and Lucia Ver Steeg—1990-present. If you have special materials to share related to any of the above years, please send them along to the person covering that period. Addresses for these persons are: Allen Splete, 10821 Longmeadow Drive, Damascus, MD 20872; Bill Gleason, 248 Beattie Street, Syracuse, NY 13224; Chuck Lewis, 2032 Main Street, New Woodstock, NY 13122; Penny Giraud, RD 2, PO Box 572, Oneida, NY 13421: and Lucia Ver Steeg, 20 Daisy Lane, North Chili, NY 14514.

To assist with communication, the phone numbers and e.mail of history committee members where applicable are as follows: Splete (301) 253-1274 amsplete@yahoo.com; Gleason (315) 446-4440; Lewis (315) 662-3941 clewis@twcny.rr.com ; Giraud (315) 363-5120 pennygiraud@hotmail.com; Ver Steeg (585) 594-0916 luciaver@hotmail.com .

For your information, the Centennial Committee chairs by major subject area thus far are listed below:

Boat Club History—Allen Splete
Tree Planting—Bob Adams
Hiking and Trails—Sherm Craig
Tours of Old Camps—Becky Van de Water
Golf Tournament—John and Dot Adami
Poker Run—Sarge Boss and Hugh Mitchell
Public Relations and Media Coverage—Bob Raymo
Sailboat Races—Mitch Ballene and Michael Brown

Several persons have offered to work on these committees. If you are interested in volunteering to help a particular committee, please contact the above chair.

Progress has been made regarding a major sailboat race on the lake during 2009. Sherm Craig has been working with the Adirondack Mountain Club to inaugurate the 50 mile trail in 2009 as part of the centennial program. Special exhibits, fishing contests, special stamp cancellation, talks related to post cards and picture collections, presentations by local artists and music groups are all things on the drawing board.

SPECIAL REQUESTS—Our focus on the Boat Club has led the history committee to collect as many boat pictures on the lake as possible. We also want to have representative examples for every year. We have accumulated many post card photos depicting the early heydays of Cranberry Lake but need pictures from the 1930’s on. In this regard, we would like all boat club members to send us the following: a list of current boats they own with year and make and the best possible photo of the boat(s). A printable survey sheet is linked here for your use. There is evidence to suggest that the last boat club survey was done in 1985 but no compilation of results has surfaced thus far. A comprehensive survey should be of general interest and tell us what boats were on the water at Cranberry in 2007. Please take this request to heart and send the completed survey to Allen Splete no later than May 30, 2008. This should give you ample time to review your files and see what you can find. Have some fun opening up those old boxes and files and reliving the past—it’s for a good cause and we need your help.

As some of you are aware, several oral histories were done this summer. We thank those who shared memories with us and will continue the project next year. Also there were a number of artifacts that surfaced such as the 1912 sailboat race map. The Centennial Committee would appreciate hearing from you about any unique artifacts (maps, anchors, buoys, posters, letters, journals, paddles, motors etc.) you might have in your collections. We would like to display these items as part of centennial exhibits. If you wish to share such items, please list them by name with applicable dates if at all possible. Please send this information to Allen Splete no later than May 30, 2008. Our goal is to compile a list of items and their owners by the summer of 2008.
Many thanks.

2007 Projects

New ramp and handrail constructed and installed at the CLBC dock at the Emporium

Spars replaced and/or repositioned on the lake and river by the DEC

Gate replaced and pavilions stained at the Town of Clifton Beach Park

Swim ladder and bumpers installed at the Wanakena dock

French drain installed at the Wanakena beach

$250. donated to the Cranberry Lake Banner and Flower Box Committee

Ongoing Projects

In support of the Waterfront Revitalization Committee’s proposals for improving access to the waterways, the Boat Club committed $1,000. to be held in reserve for each of two projects: 1) the improvement of the back of the Clifton Community Center where many lake residents park their cars and 2) the improvement of the boat launch and parking on the Ranger School Road in Wanakena. After a feasibility study regarding the boat launch was conducted, it was determined that the project would not be recommended for inclusion in the Committee’s grant request. However, the Town of Fine Highway Department added parking signs to improve safety in the area.

The Boat Club also placed in reserve $1,000. to improve the appearance of the Route 3 corridor through Cranberry Lake, specifically for the front of the Community Center. In addition up to $500. has been committed to help landscape the hill in front of the Fire Hall in cooperation with the Cranberry Lake Fire Department.

Merchandise

Here is a link for an order form for Boat Club merchandise. If you are interested in ordering for holiday giving, please call or send the form to Kass Thompson as soon as possible. ( 315 848-2030 or Box 613, Cranberry Lake, NY 12927)

Many Thanks to —

John Farnsworth, our web master, who works in conjunction with Sarge Boss, our web manager. John updates our site as needed and monitors it regularly. We appreciate his giving so willingly of his time and expertise to provide this service for us! When you have a few minutes, check the information and photos that are posted on http://www.cranberrylakeboatclub.org .

In Memory of —

It is with great sadness that we report the death of Barbara Gilmore. We extend our deepest sympathy to Chuck and their family.