Carlin Lake Association

Judy's Clean Boats/Clean Water program goes state-wide

All county coordinators of invasive species programs, and all local AIS committees, received the following letter. It describes Judy Ruch's successful program with community libraries, educating children about the need to protect local lakes and rivers.  I know you are familiar with this program from the Carlin blog and the Carlin newsletter, but it is fun to read the same information coming officially from the state of Wisconsin AIS coordinator. 

Congratulations, Judy, for having a unique idea, and carrying through with the work to make it a success.  (Her "go-fer" Bob, unfortunately, does not receive state-wide recognition.)

Now we just want them to record that Judy comes from Carlin Lake, as well as from Vilas County!

  Some of you may have heard that we are working on creating a DVD tutorial to demonstrate how to lead a Clean Boats, Clean Water Story hour in your local community. This story hour was developed by Judy Ruch, a former kindergarten teacher and CBCW volunteer in Vilas county.  The story hour uses the book "Up North at the Cabin" to set the stage for why we should care about our lakes, what aquatic invasives are and what we can do to prevent the spread. Judy's led the story hour at various libraries in Vilas county and we're hoping to expand the program statewide with your help. All the information, lesson plan, and materials needed to lead a story hour at your local library will soon be available to download off our web site. We taped Judy leading a story hour in Mercer, WI earlier this summer and are in the process of editing the footage and turning it into a DVD. We hope to have the DVD completed and ready to distribute in late October.

  The reason I'm contacting all of you now before these materials are available is because the Wisconsin Library Association (WLA) is very excited about this new resource and learning how it can fit into the 2010 Summer Reading Program "Make A Splash- Read" which will focus around the theme of water. We have a great opportunity and platform with the 2010 Summer Reading Program to educate our youngsters about aquatic invasive species and what they can do to help prevent the spread. I'll be presenting this CBCW story hour at a WLA Summer Reading Program conference in mid-October as part of a session to give librarians program ideas for teaching kids about water.

Since most librarians are not experts in the field of aquatic invasive species, WLA asked if it would be possible to compile a list of AIS professionals who might be willing to lead, assist or even just connect librarians with someone who might be willing to trailer a boat to the library the day of the story hour.  Of course the second they asked me for local contacts, you all came to mind.  Please just let me know what you are willing to commit to, if anything,  whether it be leading a story hour, assisting as a contact in case they have questions about AIS or need information, or connecting them with a boat.

Christal Campbell

Aquatic Invasives Education Specialist
UW Extension & WI Department of Natural Resources

Pre-Thanksgiving confidence

Jim and Joyce Stocker report seeing 15 turkeys wandering across their drive this morning, quite close to their house.    I guess even the early snow falls haven't made those turkeys realize that Thanksgiving is coming!  Maybe they think there is safely in numbers!

Phone changes

Have you read your recent letter from our local telephone company?   There must be lots of people like us Carlin residents--relative newcomers to the Northwoods.    In fact, so many new people are here that the company has run out of 715 prefix numbers.

They call a new area code an "overlay," which means that starting in August 2010, some of our neighbors will have local phone numbers with a 534 prefix. 

But, we will have to deal with this change sooner than next August.  The phone company is asking that as early as this week, October 17th, we start dialing all 10 digits, including the 715 area code, when we make local phone calls.   Beginning next July 17th, if we forget and do not dial the area code, our local calls will not be completed and we will have to redial. 

I guess they want to give us time to get used to it---and to make changes in business cards, fax machines, and other places we use phone numbers.  It does mean that sometime between now and July 17th  (probably that means July 16th for most of us) we will need to change the local phone numbers stored in our phones and cell phones.  

To me, having to dial three more numbers sounds like an inconvenience, but probably one we will get used to.

First snow--October 10th

 

It's 26 degrees this morning, and snow is on the trees, on the ground, and blowing through the air.   It's a beautiful contrast of fall colors with the preview of our winter ahead.

Our outdoor furniture is still waiting to be put away, as is my kayak.  I assured John last week that I wanted to do some more paddling, so look for me on the water next week in my life jacket and winter coat! 

 

Even though it may not be what you planned for the weekend, it is another gorgeous day at Carlin Lake. 

 

(The TV weatherman last night told us that our first measurable snowfall last year arrived on October 9th, so guess this is not unusual.)

****As I finish writing at 9:00, the sun is now shining through the trees and across the snow, also beautiful.

TIS meeting on Monday

Chuck Hayes passes along this announcement from the local terrestrial invasive species committee, about an open meeting which may be of interest to you.   This will include the locations for garlic mustard infestations, which we will certainly hear more about next spring.

 

NOTICE  OF MEETING: 

PRESQUE ISLE TERRESTRIAL INVASIVE SPECIES COMMITTEE

 

Monday, October 12, 9am-noon

Meet in front of Community Center

 

The Committee will be meeting with Ted Ritter, Vilas County Invasive Species Coordinator to GPS mark locations with terrestrial invasive species in the Town of Presque Isle.

 

The meeting is open to anyone who is interested in becoming familiar with terrestrial invasive species and the infected sites in town.

 

Merrill Horswill

PRESQUE ISLE TERRESTRIAL INVASIVE SPECIES COMMITTEE

 

 

Weather report

 

Our thermometer said about 36 degrees this morning, and the "s" word is in the forecast for the weekend.   But, the fall colors are beautiful, with the sun shining through the leaves this morning.  If you are coming Up North for the weekend, it is still lovely here, with the colors about at their peak.

We've had almost 2 1/2" of rain in the last four days, so the prediction did materialize this time.  As you know, we are thankful for any rain we receive these days.

 

Our thoughts and prayers

Brennan Listle, the oldest son of Steve and Tracey Listle, is serving in the U.S. Marines, and has received confirmation that he will be shipping out for Afghanistan sometime now the third or fourth week of October.  

Brennan is the point man for his company, a position of responsibility as well as a position of some danger.   The Listles say they will keep us updated, and will be grateful for all the good thoughts and prayers we can send their and Brennan's way.

Several of us in the Carlin book club heard Greg Mortensen, author of Three Cups of Tea, speak on Tuesday evening.  Mortensen is a peace-maker and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize this year.  He spoke highly of our military leaders in Afghanistan and their efforts to form relationships with the Afghan citizens, as American soldiers serve in local villages.   Mortensen was very positive about the difference informed and sensitive military personnel are making in the region.

Wolves in our neighborhood?

Although no one has reported to me that they have spotted adult wolves this summer/fall, Jim and Joyce Stocker have noticed wolf scat in their driveway at least twice this summer.

And, as we drove home one evening last month, three people in our car saw a young wolf nibbling on something along the road-side.  (I was talking, and missed it.)   So, keep your eyes and ears open as the leaves fall, and maybe we will see or hear more wolves in our neighborhood.

Next week, the 11th through the 17th, is Wolf Awareness Week, and the Discovery Center is sponsoring several educational programs about wolves.  These are described in last Friday's newspaper, including wolf howling programs on Monday and Wednesday nights, and a film on Thursday the 15th about both wolves and cougars finding their way back into the midwest.   Call the Discovery Center at 543-2085 for more information, or to register for one of the programs.

Rain, glorious rain

I hope I don't jinx the weather by writing about it, but it is pouring rain this morning.  Char calls it "rain, glorious rain" and says she hasn't seen anything like it for months.

If you are not at the lake to see the rain out your window, you can follow the rain amounts on Gail Speer's weather website, as usual.

http://home.centurytel.net/presque-isle-weather 

So far, she reports that we have already had .75" this morning.  Let it pour, let it pour.

Apologies to those of you who were anticipating a fall color weekend--Gail's forecast says 100% today, 90% tonight, and 60% tomorrow.  Yea!

Last Saturday's board meeting

The fall meeting of the Carlin Board of Directors at the Skyview last Saturday morning was attended by 12 Carlin residents (officers and directors were six of those 12).

1) Chuck reported that next month, results of the Presque Isle Town Lakes' committee grant application are expected.  Carlin is at the top of the list in that grant, to study our lake's vegetation, specifically looking for any invasive species.   Then, if any invasives were ever discovered, we could become eligible for state aid to fight those AIS.

2) At next summer's annual meeting, terms of president and secretary will expire (Chuck Hayes and Gayle Strand) and terms of three board members (Ricks Brewer, Clara McCall, Bill Huemann).  Char Glashagel agreed to chair the nominating committee.

3) Date was set for the holiday party:  Thursday, December 31st, New Year's Eve, 5:00-8:00 pm, at Jerry and Char Glashagel's home. 

4) Spring meeting of the board will be at home of Richard and Sue Straus on Saturday, June 5th, at 3:00 pm.