Bauneg Beg Lake Association Newsletter

Bauneg Beg
Lake Association
Newsletter
P.O. Box 538, N. Berwick, ME 03906
Website: www.baunegbeg.net
Fall, 2012 -
Editor: Larry Gaudreau
BBLA Dues and Support Coupon
The financial support from all Bauneg Beg area residents, year round and seasonal, is ever important
in the ongoing costs of lake water testing and maintenance of the dam. Thank you for joining with us.
Mail to: Bauneg Beg Lake Association, P.O. Box 538, N. Berwick, ME 03906
Enclosed: ___ 2013 Dues $25.00
Some extra help: $______________
Name: ___________________________________________________________________
Address: _________________________________________________________________
E-mail: ___________________________________
Phone: ___________________
For planning purposes, the association would appreciate dues to be paid by June 1
Update from the BBLA Board
In addition to the newly elected board members noted at the August 26, 2012 general meeting, we wish to
welcome Arlene Semerjian as a new Trustee replacing Chip Byrne.
The BBLA Board will be reviewing the Bylaws over the winter and will report at the May 2013 general
meeting.
BBLA 2012/13 Board Members:
Anne Whitten, President
[email protected]
(207) 324-3110
Steve Gray, Vice-President
[email protected]
(603) 675-9283
Larry Gaudreau, Secretary
[email protected]
(207) 676-7602
Mary Blood, Treasurer
[email protected]
(207) 324-7239
Arlene Semerjian, Trustee
[email protected]
Ray Neal, Trustee
[email protected]
(239) 338-8585
Dana Peterson, Trustee
[email protected]
(207) 324-2221
BBLA Dam Committee:
Roger Bisson
[email protected]
(207) 604-6593
Steve J. Saltmarsh
[email protected]
(207) 324-5394
Dana Peterson
[email protected]
(207) 324-2221
Wayne Whitten
(207) 324-3110
Tony Lombardi Jr.
[email protected]
(603) 944-0318.
BBLA Webmaster
TBD, It is with regret that we accepted Chip Byrne’s
resignation.
BBLA 2013 Calendar:
2013 General Meetings last Sundays of 3 months May 26th, July 28th and August 25th, Sanford Fish
& Game Club, Rte 4. Doors open at 8:00 AM for
coffee and chat, meeting begins at 9:00, usually
over by 10:00
June 22 & 23 GIANT Annual Yard Sale & Bake
Sale - at Sanford Fish & Game, Rte. 4.
Bob and Claire Creteau resigned from spearheading
the yard sale. If the association is to continue this
we need volunteers to step up and organize this
event. If interested in taking over this endeavor
email Anne Whitten at bbla.president.maine.rr.com
July 6thBoat Parade – Saturday the 6th at 1:00
PM. Our parade will take place on Saturday after
July 4th. Judging, prizes for decorated boats. Pick
your own theme!! Chairman Tony Lombardi #603944-0318.
Labor Day Weekend Dance – TBD, possibly in
August
BBLA Labor Day Dance 2012
After many fun years at the Sanford Country Club, last spring we learned we must make other arrangements
due to Fire Marshall decisions affecting outside group use of SCC facility. We are very grateful to the Sanford
Country Club for the years of very generous access to their hall. However, thanks to inquiries by Steve
Saltmarsh and Bob Creteau, Waban Project's lovely Wormwood Hall was available and plans were made for
our 2012, and the dance took place on Saturday, Sept. 1st. Great music was provided by DJ Keith Fuller, and
was enhanced when Carla Bekeritis added her list of requests to the menu. (Maybe we have our very own BBL
DJ for the future??) While we had a good crowd and lots of folks up dancing, a greater representation from
members would be ideal. Since many folks have Labor Day weekend plans/guests, or are packing up to head
back to school and work, consideration is being given to the possibility of holding this event a week or two
earlier next year. We'll see how members feel about this next season.
Float Plane Rides
Last August 25th, the float plane ride event that took place at the home of Roger and Wendy Bisson raised
$1494.00 for Bauneg Beg Lake Association! Roger and Wendy hosted the event along with a BBQ that not only
raised money for the association, but brought friends and neighbors together for a fun day! Thank you to those
of you who brought side dishes for the BBQ and to John Sousa for the lovely and delicious cheese cakes! Thank
you to the pilots for their time and for giving their passenger
50/50 Winner
Lorraine Boston was the 50/50/ winner at our last meeting of the year. She graciously gave back half of her
winnings to the association! It is greatly appreciated!
Water Clarity submitted by Larry Gaudreau
I got a very low water clarity reading on October 13 and another poor reading on October 18. See the chart
below. I was very concerned and decided to call in reinforcements. On October 24th, Linda Bacon, State
Biologist from the Maine DEP and Scott Williams from the Maine VLMP were here and took additional clarity
readings as well as Chlorophyll and Phosphorus samples. They believe that the murkiness was mainly caused
by algae. They will advise when their testing is complete!
Earthquake News
As you all know, we had a 4.0 magnitude earthquake on the evening October 16th. On October 18, Tony Fletcher State
the Dam Inspector visited our dam accompanied by Roger Bisson and Larry Gaudreau. In general, he was very impressed
with our efforts to maintain and improve our dam. He was not concerned with our decision to lower the water level for the
entire winter season and felt that it should help our weed situation. He did not think that the earthquake posed any
problems with the dam but wants to take another look once the water level is down. He requested, and we have supplied
him with photos of the dam reconstruction.
Dam Safety Railing
Steve Gray is leading the charge on the installation of a safety railing around the dam gate and lift control area.
During wet and freezing weather this is a very dangerous area and the railings will be a great asset to those folks that are
out there adjusting the gate level during those conditions.
Letter from the President
Ray wrote this message for as long as I have lived on this lake, and now here I sit doing as he did for so many years. Ray
is and will be missed for many years by many on this lake. As newly elected president of BBLA, I thank you for your
confidence in me, and to all I will do my best to do the best for the lake we all enjoy.
Throughout the winter months the board and trustees will be working on getting the new website up and running,
gathering information on the cause and effect of the weeds up river, keeping in touch with the dam committee and hoping
soon the IRS will accept our 501 c 3 application.
Wishing you all an enjoyable winter.
Anne Whitten
Fall Removal of Bauneg Beg Lake Buoys
Dana Peterson and helper William Stewart pulling one of the
buoys!
Also helping out were Pam Peterson, Wayne Whitten and
Larry Gaudreau. The buoy locations were verified with
Wayne’s GPS which will help greatly when we put them back
in the Spring.
We still have quite a few folks that ignore the “No Wake”
buoys!
Please watch your speed for safety’s sake!
DOCK REMOVAL 2012
Thank you Noble High Wrestlers , coaches Kip & Dale
(not Chip and Dale ) ;-) Tony & Guy for another great
dock removal day. They took out over 48 docks/boats
and made over $2000.00! A great fund raiser for them
and great service to all of us on Bauneg Beg.
Roger will try to get some of the kids back this spring
to put the docks back in if anyone interested e-mail him
at [email protected] and he will try to put
something together (no promises).
BBLA Application for Exempt Organization 501 C 3 Status Update
Still no news on our application. The IRS 'Status Update' that we received in August stated that our application
(which they received in June, 2012) was to be assigned to an EO specialist. As of Nov. 1st, the IRS website says
they are currently assigning applications they received in FEBRUARY, 2012!!! Can't imagine how long this is
going to take!
Thank you for the coffee, Carpe Diem!
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Happenings at Waban’s TREE Program- Caring About Our Environment
Sanford – Waban’s TREE Program, (Therapeutic Recreation and Environmental Education) has been conducting water quality studies
at Bauneg Beg Lake and will be reporting routinely on the results of their educational investigations. This is the first installment in a
series of updates, sharing environmental information about the watershed. Follow along with us to discover what this fascinating
ecosystem has to offer!
Over the past year in Waban’s year-round TREE Program, 5th and 6th grade students from St. Thomas School, along with participants
from Life Works’ Adventure Program, have been exploring and learning about Bauneg Beg Lake and the Great Works watershed.
They have conducted tests on the water quality of the lake and explored the microfauna it supports. This large watershed encompasses
84 square miles, includes the towns of Sanford, North Berwick, Berwick, South Berwick, Wells, and York.
In a collaborative effort with Bauneg Beg Lake Association (BBLA), participants from Waban’s Adventure Group, led by Cynthia
Peedin, Environmental Educator, collected water quality samples from various points around the 179-acre lake. Patrick Marass,
project scientist from FB Environmental Associates, demonstrated the sampling equipment and took direct recordings of dissolved
oxygen, water clarity, temperature, and depth of the lake. Water samples were brought to a lab in Augusta for further analysis of levels
of phosphorus, chlorophyll A, and alkaline materials in the lake. The process of collection and results of the water quality testing
assists the BBLA in monitoring the health of the lake and represents a continuation of the watershed education in which the Adventure
Club and local schools have been immersed.
submitted by:
Selena Brock, Waban Communications Specialist, 207-324-7955 ext. 600 [email protected]
Bauneg Beg Lake Association
P.O. Box 538
N. Berwick, ME 03906
Goodall Brook Watershed Development Project
submitted by Mary Blood
Goodall Brook, which joins the Great Works River and eventually flows into Bauneg Beg Lake, is listed on the MDEP's 303(d)
impaired waters list. Under the Clean Water Act, municipalities within their jurisdiction are required to protect and restore these
waters. BBLA, already an active advocate for the Brook, has been invited to join in a new effort.
On September 19, 2012 Larry Gaudreau and Mary Blood represented BBLA at the kickoff Steering Committee meeting for Goodall
Brook Watershed Development Project. The meeting, hosted by Joe Anderson, Project Manager for York County Soil & Water
Conservation, included attendees from Maine DEP, various departments of the Town of Sanford, Waban Projects, Sanford High
School, and FB Environmental.
Maine DEP has awarded the Town of Sanford a 2 year grant of $40,000 to be used to develop and implement a Watershed Management Plan for Goodall Brook. The goal is to create a community-based approach in protecting the quality of land, habitat, and water
through local participation. Two sub-committees were formed: an Outreach Committee that will be concerned with informing and
educating the community, and a Technical Advisory Committee that will focus on restoration, retrofit and engineering recommendactions. We'll keep you posted as the project develops. Mary signed up for the Outreach Committee and others interested in
participating can let us know.