Winter 2007-2008 Newsletter

It’s March, and that means spring cannot be far away. I’m sure you are looking forward as I am to the sinking of the ice and the return to warmer weather. It was a pleasure to welcome in the New Year with the Girauds in the newly renovated and very comfortable apartment at the Cranberry Lake Lodge. The view from the front window shows that there was plenty of snow for winter activities. We visited the Lodge, the Windfall, and the Pinecone and enjoyed visiting with folks who were celebrating the advent of 2008. This will be a busy year for the club as we continue to plan for our Centennial in 2009 and enjoy our annual boat show, banquet, picnic, and other activities. I wish you a happy 2008 and look forward to seeing you at our events.

News from Our Officers and Committees

Jay Edel, treasurer, reported a year end balance of $11, 013.91 in our general fund and $8, 266.12 in the community improvement account. Dues are now payable for the 2008 calendar year. A form, attached to the Member Information form, is enclosed for this purpose. (Click here to download the form.)

The annual boat show and parade are scheduled for Saturday, July 5 at the Town of Clifton Beach. The committee, chaired by Bob Raymo, is hoping to add some activities to the day which will engage children and enhance the parade.

Pauline Van Epps has reserved the Lodge for the annual banquet on Saturday, July 12.   The picnic will be held at the Pinecone on August 9, with Janet Rhodes as Chairperson.

John Adami and Ed Kipp report that the water quality testing results will be available this spring from Paul Smith’s College. A copy of the report will be available at the library.

Rick Kovacs of Packbasket Adventures, our Fish and Game Chair, writes:

“Our beautiful part of the Adirondacks continues to provide great hunting and fishing opportunities. Cranberry Lake still offers up brook trout in the early spring, bass during the summer, and pike through the ice in winter. The Oswegatchie is stocked with brown trout in its lower reaches, and brook trout still occur up river. The back country ponds also contain brook trout and are regularly stocked by the DEC. They also add lime to the ponds to counteract the effects of acid rain. Warm water temperatures pose a threat to the trout, and anglers should refrain from reeling them in when water temperatures go past 70 degrees. Limit fishing time to early morning and late evenings when temps drop off.

“While the number of hunters is not what it used to be, there are still some nice deer being taken each year. The old rule, the farther you go back, the bigger the deer, still applies. Coyotes are taking their toll. The blow-down from the ‘95 storm interferes with the amount of ranging done by both the hunters and deer and   effectively funnels the deer. This can work to a hunter’s advantage by concentrating watches on the lee side of hills where the deer can travel more easily. The warm winters continue to favor the deer as well as turkeys and grouse. The grouse and snowshoe hare populations are cyclic with years of scarcity and abundance.

“Good luck in the woods.”

The Adirondack Outfitters from Saranac Lake brought demo kayaks and canoes to our boat show last year, and we hope they will return for our 2008 event. In addition, they will provide group paddling lessons in Cranberry at another time if people are interested.  Information on signing up for this class will be provided in the next newsletter.

The U.S. Coast Guard Safe Boating Class will be offered in Cranberry this summer. Dates, time, and location will be announced when they are available from Chuck Yartz, one of the instructors.

Centennial Committee Update

Allen Splete, Vice-Commodore and Chair of the Centennial Committee writes:

“Being at Cranberry during February for some cross country skiing and snowshoeing was a real treat. It also allowed me to do some additional book reading and to review the boat pictures we have to date. A visit to the St. Lawrence County Historical Society and Town of Clifton archives produced some interesting information. Bill Gleason has been reviewing materials provided by the College of Forestry Library at Syracuse University. Chuck Lewis has obtained information from key families who have been on the lake for a number of years. Harry Sleicher sent some vintage photos of boats and landmarks on the lake. Suzanne Liberty completed some additional oral histories. The Winter Newsletter of the Ranger School Alumni Association carried an announcement of the Centennial. It requested alumni to contribute any interesting accounts related to their experiences with the Boat Club.

“Initial contacts have been made with the Department of Transportation regarding an historical marker and with the Norwood Band regarding a concert as part of their Village Green Concert Series. Work on a cancellation stamp to commemorate the Centennial is in process. Plans for a sail boat race are moving ahead. Bob Raymo will be checking the summer events calendar for our area during the summer of 2008 so that we can best program our activities for 2009. The above attests to the fact that, unlike the bears, the Centennial Committee has not been in hibernation this winter.

“We have received twenty five boat club survey responses and many include boat pictures with them. Thanks to all who responded to this appeal. I hope that many more Boat Club members will complete them before May.

“Now is the time to unearth those old photos and memorabilia so that we can make them part of our historical record. The Centennial Committee encourages all Boat Club Members to contribute items of interest for the celebration of our 100th anniversary. All suggestions and ideas are appreciated.”

Health Updates

As many of you know, a number of our members have undergone surgery in the past few months. Both Ernie Giraud and Jay Edel had coronary by-pass surgery, Bill Gleason had both knees replaced, and Pat Farnsworth had extensive work done on her neck. All of them report that they are doing well. We send them, and everyone else who is experiencing health problems, our best wishes for a comfortable recovery and a return to renewed wellness.

New Directory Coming in July

Enclosed is a form on which Pat and Fred Guevara ask that you update your information for the Directory which will be available to members in July. At the bottom is the membership renewal form. If you have no corrections for the Directory, please just complete the Name portion, add your e-mail address if you choose, and complete the dues information at the bottom. The deadline for the Directory information is June 1. (Click here to download the form.)

Results of December Vote on CFCS Propositions

Both Clifton-Fine Central School Propositions passed in December. The results: Proposition 1: 199—81; Proposition 2: 142—139