President`s Corner Al Potter

Transcription

April/May 2015
YOUR PRIMARY VOICE ON LAKE ISSUES
With a mission to identify issues affecting our members and pursue
resolution with the responsible organizations.
www.lakegastonassoc.com [email protected]
(252) 586-6577 or 1-888-586-6577
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
BRUNSWICK
COUNTY, VA
Al Hartley, Safety
Wally Sayko
Carol Warfel
HALIFAX
COUNTY, NC
Jeff Dowhan
Mozine Lowe
MECKLENBURG
COUNTY, VA
Bill Lindenmuth,
Environment
Al Potter, President
NORTHAMPTON
COUNTY, NC
Clarence Drumgoole,
Nomination,
Lake Clean-Up
Linda Hedgepeth
Jack Saunders,
Treasurer
WARREN
COUNTY, NC
Don Carson
Bill Heflin,
Vice President
Marketing & Membership
Tony Moran,
Secretary
Ron Skow,
Government Relations
President’s Corner
The LGA tries to be aware of and responsive to member's priorities. We strive
for guest speakers at our monthly meetings which will interest you, the member.
Sometimes we do well, other times it appears not so well. Recently we had the
property assessors from Halifax and Northampton Counties, we had a good
turnout.
Our committees work on issues and problems identified as member priorities
and we coordinate with other organizations and elected officials to voice your
concerns and insure your concerns receive the correct weighted consideration.
With over 1,800 members, we are a substantial proportion of the community.
It is time once again to help us by telling us, your board of directors, what your
interests and concerns are. Every three years since 2003 we have presented a
survey for you to identify those areas of interest and concern. The top three items
each year have been weeds, water quality and taxes, not always in the same ranked
order. This year you once again need to tell us your thoughts and ideas for the
direction of the association. And possibly identify emerging issues.
The mission of this organization is to identify lake issues affecting our
members and pursue resolution with the responsible organizations. The board of
directors are your neighbors and have most of the same concerns as you, but, we
need your confirmation. The 2015 survey will be posted on our website by the end
of April and a notification emailed to you with the link to the survey. For our
members without email, you will receive a copy of the survey via US mail.
The 2012 survey listed lake water quality as the number one ranked issue, followed by taxes. Our 2009 survey indicated taxes as first and weed control second.
An issue recently receiving attention is a new ranking for primary education
facilities in NC. The local NC counties in our lake area are not rated well in the
state, bottom ten percent in quality and student achievement. Perhaps the education issue should move up our priority list, what do you think? In May, our
monthly meeting will welcome the Presidents from three of our local community
colleges as guest speakers.
Our board of directors are a great group of people committed to and willing to
work for the betterment of our local community. Our executive director works
tirelessly for the Lake Gaston Association. We need your help in setting the
agenda and if you can commit time and effort , to come and join us as a director.
Complete and submit your survey today, volunteer and become involved with us
tomorrow.
Al Potter
Page 2
LAKE GASTON ASSOCIATION BULLETIN
April/May 2015
Volunteers needed for two Environment Committee projects
There are two events coming up in the next few months that we must be prepared to handle. The LGA has been the
lead organization for these in the past, and this year will be a major effort from all of our valuable volunteers. We will
need your support during the summer months …
1. Lake Gaston ReVegetation:
We will be coordinating with NC Wildlife with this project. The focus will be to move the native vegetation process
from one that is research based to an operational one. This will include expanding the exclosures at the Flats,
Poplar Creek and other locations. We will most likely have to farm the plants from existing locations and
complement those with purchased ones. We expect this to take place over several days in June and July. We will be
building wire exclosures, harvesting plants and planting them. You would plan on spending a number of hours in
the water about waste deep. Please contact Wally Sayko ([email protected]) if you wish to participate and what
physically you would be able to do.
2. Fall Lake Gaston Survey:
This year Bruce Johnson will coordinate this event beginning in Sept and through Oct. He will work with the NC
State Extension person assigned to Lake Gaston. We would like to have about 50 volunteers to complete this
assignment, and the area we are always short on people is the segment above Poplar Creek. So if you live anywhere
from buoy 14 to the Kerr Dam then we need you. But any place you live I am sure Bruce can work out an area to be
surveyed. Please respond to a communication to be published at a later date for volunteer support. The good news
is that Jack Saunders is working to get us updated equipment to utilize to capture our data. Thanks to the LGA for
funding this upgrade.
We look forward to your participation.
Monthly Environment meetings are held the third Wednesday of the month at 8:30 a.m. at the Eaton’s Ferry Grocery
and Grill on Hwy 903 south of the lake. Everyone is invited to participate.
Contact them at [email protected]
Lake Gaston Annual Fireworks Display Saturday, July 4, 2015
The Lake Gaston Annual Fireworks display is Saturday, July 4 (rain date July 5) at dark, at Eaton Ferry Bridge. It’s an
event that draws boats from east and west of the bridge by the hundreds. And depending on your preference for the best
spot, you may leave home early enough to be up by the bridge. It’s definitely an experience – watching the fireworks from
a boat, and to see the amount of boats that turn out for the event.
You may not realize that Longbridge Volunteer Fire Department organizes this event and that they rely on donations to
fund the fireworks display. Donations can be made any time of the year. Checks should be mailed to Longbridge VFD,
1678 Eatons Ferry Road, Littleton NC 27850, Memo: Fireworks. For more information you can contact Robert Haislip
(252) 532-3543 or Bruce Dunlevy (252) 532-5225.
LGA Monthly Committee Meetings:
Committee
Meeting Day
Time
Location
Public Safety
2 Friday
8:30 am
Eaton Ferry Grocery & Grill **
Government Relations
3 Tuesday
8:30 am
Environment
3rd Wednesday
8:30 am
Marketing & Membership
3rd Thursday
8:30 am
Lake Clean-Up
Last Wednesday
10:30 am
nd
rd
** Eaton Ferry Grocery & Grill is located on Rt. 903, 1.5 miles south of Eaton Ferry Bridge, Littleton, NC
April/May 2015
Page 3
Government Relations Committee update
The Government Relations Committee continued to support the membership on issues pertaining to local, state and
federal government activities.
County budget letters have been prepared and delivered to four of the county Boards of Commissioners/ Supervisors
pertaining to their budget planning for FY 2015-2016. The final letter is scheduled for delivery to the Mecklenburg Board
of Supervisors in April. These letters are tailored to the needs of the members of each county and are delivered in person
by a LGA Director.
Annual Five County Forum was held on March 19 at the Lake Gaston Lions Club. Each of the five counties sent
representatives. The agenda included presentations and discussions on Noxious Weed Control, Hazardous Materials Collection, Abandoned Trailers, 2015 Lake Clean-Up Day, Lake Gaston Regional Chamber of Commerce and Property
Taxes. Members and the public attended. Minutes from the meeting were emailed to the participants subsequent to the
meeting.
Monthly Government Relations Committee meetings are held the third Tuesday of the month at 8:30 a.m. at the Eaton
Ferry Grocery & Grill on Route 903 south of the lake. Everyone is invited to participate.
Contact them at [email protected].
Safety Committee’s upcoming Community projects
The Home Fire Safety Awareness event sponsored by the Lake Gaston Association Safety Committee in February in
concert with participating hardware/home improvement stores, to encourage area citizens to check/install smoke and
carbon monoxide detectors was a “qualified success”. Then since the detectors had nothing to do with ice removal, sales
waned quickly. The Committee has decided to sponsor another event in the Fall to coincide with the time change back to
standard time.
The Second Community Paper Shred will be held April 25. The collection will be accomplished in the lower parking
area at the Roanoke-Wildwood Volunteer Fire Department at 790 Lizard Creek Rd. Items to be shredded can include any
old paper records; staples and paper clips need not be removed. No three ring binders. The collection will commence at
9:15 a.m. and end at 11:45 a.m. We can accept any amounts that can be processed in the time period; the truck mounted
shredder consumes about 10 book boxes/cases of paper every 8 minutes. People can stand and watch while the paper is
shredded. The shredding is professional grade and is the same level of shredding contracted by banking institutions.
Last bulletin, the Safety Committee recommended regular chimney inspections and cleaning to avoid chimney fires
which can result in a major house fire. Many households use wood burning stoves as either the primary or supplemental
home heating source in the winter. With the warming weather, use of wood burning stoves will soon diminish and both
wood and electrical costs will decline for several months. It might be of great benefit to take money not used for fuel or
energy and to get the chimney cleaned for the next season in advance.
The Committee is still pursuing sponsorship of drives to collect “hazardous” liquids which should not be placed in
normal garbage including paints, solvents, poisons, fertilizers, flammables including “old” gasoline; fluorescent lights and
lights with mercury; and means to collect expired pharmaceuticals and Over the Counter (OTC) medications. One other
item we had not considered before is safe disposal of unused/old ammunition. Because there was not a consistent
approach to handling these materials between the counties, the Committee decided we would propose the collection of
such materials as a subject for the Five County Forum.
Brunswick County has a very good arrangement with the company Clean Harbors allowing the county to hold periodic
Household Hazardous Waste Collection events at no additional cost to the county. The other counties do not have this
asset. Efforts are being made to identify what companies and costs could be discussed with the officials at the Five
County Forum. Two inquiries have been made to the NC Attorney General’s Office regarding its program for pharmaceutical drops. The only County around the lake with a continuous drop point is Halifax at its Sheriff’s Office in Halifax, NC.
There is data available to recommend alternatives to hazardous chemicals for many purposes around the home. Some
of these will be published on the website and in later bulletins this year.
Monthly Public Safety Committee meetings are held the second Friday of the month at 8:30 a.m. at the Eaton’s Ferry
Grocery and Grill on Hwy 903 south of the lake. Everyone is invited to participate.
Page 4
April/May 2015
Lake Clean-Up planning continues
The Lake Clean-Up Committee continues to work on plans that will make our Fifth
Annual Take Pride in Lake Gaston Lake Clean-Up event on May 30th the most participated in event ever. We need your help!
There are many ways to join this effort. If you own waterfront property, clean along
your shoreline. Consider cleaning along your subdivision shoreline as an individual or
neighborhood activity. You can cover a lot of ground in a canoe or kayak. Many communities schedule their own clean-up activities in the Spring, join them. Keep a trash
bag in your boat and pick up debris you spot while cruising.
If you are really proud of the Lake and would like to clean up an untended stretch of
shoreline, contact the Clean-Up Committee. We can direct you to areas that could use some support.
Please let us know if you are planning to participate in this year’s Lake Clean-Up – it doesn’t have to be on May 30 –
if it’s more convenient for you to participate at an earlier date, or even at a later date, your efforts will still be counted.
Trash bags are available for individuals and groups at the Lake Gaston Regional Chamber of Commerce office from
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Trash bags will also be available the day of the event at the two staffed
dumpster sites. (We've had them at our May LGA monthly meeting too)
Two staffed dumpster sites for this event will be at Washburn’s Marina and Morningstar Marina. Volunteers will be on
hand at these sites from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to assist you as necessary. (You can also take it to your local convenience center
if it's closer.) Please take pictures and let us know how much trash you collected in support of the Clean-Up Day.
The Lake Clean-Up Day gets great support from many organizations: The Lake Gaston Striper Club collects trash
from several of our islands. The Coast Guard Auxiliary is on the water in case of emergency. We also get support from
Dominion, the Lake Gaston Water Safety Council, the FABS, many subdivisions/ Home Owners Associations and
area Correction Facilities.
Third year of the Continual Clean-up program is underway
Consistent feedback we have received from our previous events is that more needs to be done throughout the year to
keep our area free of litter and debris, especially along our main thoroughfares. Last year, the Committee instituted a new
program to do just that. We are asking businesses along Lizard Creek/Eaton Ferry Road to keep the areas in front of and
alongside their storefronts free of litter.
So far, Food Lion, Lake Gaston Storage, Mary Sherwood Lake Living, Pit Stop, Sunset Realty, Wildwood Nursery,
Lake Gaston Gazette-Observer, and Ace Hardware of Lake Gaston have signed up to participate. Others are expected to
join the effort soon. Look for a Certificate of Participation displayed by each business. If you don’t see one, ask them to
join the effort. We expect to expand this effort along other major lake roads in the upcoming months.
Monthly Lake Cleanup Committee meetings are held the last Wednesday of the month at 10:30 a.m. at the Eaton Ferry
Grocery & Grill on Route 903 south of the lake. The meeting is open to everyone and we encourage you to bring your
ideas on making this the biggest Lake Clean-up event ever.
Contact us at [email protected].
Lake Gaston water level change - Fish Spawning season 1 thru June 15
Effective March 1 Dominion is operating under fish spawning operations. This means that Lake Gaston can be raised
an extra foot (199-201 feet) to provide storage in support of spawning flows as necessary. Dominion has stated that they
don’t expect to raise the water level much more than a couple inches over 200 feet.
Nevertheless, experience has taught us to be prepared. We know that once we get above 200 feet we begin to encroach
on many of our docks. You are reminded to make sure that any items that are on your docks are securely tied down including canoes and paddle boats. Items sitting on the floor of boat house sheds should be moved up to prevent the possibility
of water damage. Boats in docks should be securely tied and boats in lifts should be raised and tied.
Dominion will operate under spawning conditions until June 15. If you have questions, email [email protected] .
Monthly Environment meetings are held the third Wednesday of the month at 8:30 a.m. at the Eaton’s Ferry Grocery
and Grill on Hwy 903 south of the lake. Everyone is invited to participate.
April/May 2015
Page 5
News from the Lake Gaston Water Safety Council
!! ATTENTION !! Lake Gaston Homeowner Associations
Many of you have these signs in your subdivisions at your boat ramps or near your public areas. They are in
need of updating with new/changed information.
Please contact Jack Saunders at (252) 578-5780 or [email protected] to arrange an exchange for
an updated sign
ATTENTION
Are YOUR CHILDREN
SAFE ON THE
WATER?
U. S. Coast Guard Regulations require
persons under 13 years of age wear life jackets
on boats underway.
Life Jackets for Children must
be the Proper Size by weight.
Life jackets in children’s sizes are
available for loan at these locations:
• Americamps
Bracey, VA
• Holly Grove Marina
• Poplar Pointe Marine
• The Club
Gasburg, VA
• Washburn’s Marina Henrico, NC
• Sherwood Forest
• Morningside Marina
Littleton, NC
• Outdoor World
• Stonehouse Timber Lodge
NC & VA BOATER SAFETY TRAINING
LAWS IN EFFECT
ALL BOAT AND PWC OPERATORS
Both States require PWC operators ages 14 to 16 to possess a
Certificate of boater safety training with valid ID
North Carolina – Any person born after January 1, 1988 must
complete a NASBLA approved boating education course before
operating any vessel propelled by a motor of 10 HP or greater.
Virginia - Requires a certificate of boater safety training :
For All Ages to Operate a PWC Effective July 1, 2012
To Operate a Motorized Vessel with greater than 10hp –
Age 50 or younger, effective
– 1 July 2015
All Ages
– 1 July 2016
Approved Life Jackets must be worn at all times
when occupying a PWC
Approved Boating Safety Courses to test for certificates are
available from the NASBLA, US Coast Guard Auxiliary,
U.S. Power Squadrons, NC Wildlife Resources Commission
and Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
For On-Line boater safety training certification courses info
Please visit www.lakegastonwatersafetycouncil.com
Courtesy of the Lake Gaston Water Safety Council
Life Jackets Float
People Don’t
Provided courtesy of the
Lake Gaston
Water Safety Council
Lake Gaston Water Safety Council’s 2015 Safety Trailer Schedule
Date
Event
Location
May 2nd
May 16th
May 17th
May 23th
May 30th
June 6th
June 13th
June 20th
June 27th
July 11th
Aug 1st
Aug 8th
Sept 5th
Children’s Miracle Network
Nat'l Safe Boating Week
Nat'l Safe Boating Week
Battle of the BBQ
Poplar Pointe Marina
NC Boat Brokers
Sherwood Forest
Lake Gaston Resort
AFWake Big Air Fair
Americamps
Outdoor World
The Crossing
Littleton/Lake Gaston Festival
LGRCofC/The Corner Lot
Washburn's Marina
Morningstar Marina
Lake Gaston Lions Club
Poplar Creek bridge/Hwy 903
Henrico
Henrico
Gasburg
South Shore Realty
Bracey
Littleton
Watersview area
Littleton
Page 6
April/May 2015
US Coast Guard Auxiliary 2015 Training Dates
April 11, May 16, June 20, July 18, August 15, & September 19
America's Boating Safety Courseis an eight hour course covering the basics of boating and is appropriate for youth
as well as the adult boater. Successful completion of this course satisfies the education requirement for youth to operate a
PWC in both Virginia and North Carolina.
Remember: Virginia now has a law that all boaters in the waters of Virginia will have proof of taking a Boating
Course. Phase 7 begins 1 July 2015. All PWC Operators regardless of age, and Motor Boat Operators 50 years of age or
younger operating a vessel with a 10 HP engine or greater, must meet these requirements by 1 July 2015.
North Carolina Law New North Carolina law requires that all PWC and Motor Boat Operators who were born after
1 January 1988 have proof of taking a Boating Course, if they are operating a vessel with a 10 HP engine or greater.
The fee for the course is $30. Preregistration and prepayment are required. Courses are taught at the USCG Auxiliary Flotilla 93 Building, located at 252 River Road, 1/4 mile west of Route 46. All classes are on Saturday from 8:30am
to 5:00pm, with the exam given at the end of class. Please bring your lunch - none will be provided. It is a busy day - but
rewarding. Remember – Preregistration and Prepayment are required.
For more information on these classes, or to register, please contact the Lake Gaston Regional Chamber of Commerce,
2475 Eaton Ferry Road, Littleton, NC 27850. Phone (252) 586-5711. Email: [email protected]
On-line courses & Classroom by NC Wildlife & VADGIF:
For North Carolina Boating Safety course options go to
www.ncwildlife.org/Apps/BoatingSafety/CourseSearch.asp
For Virginia Boating Safety course options go to
www.dgif.virginia.gov/boating/education/requirement/steps-to-requirement.asp
Free Vessel Safety Check
Flotilla 93 will perform a free Vessel Safety Check on your boat at your home. The boat can be in the boat lift or on a
trailer and does not need to be running. To receive a free safety check, call Tom Van Petten at (252) 586-5853. Now is
the time to get your boat checked as the boating season begins. Flotilla 93 will also provide a Vessel Examiner at your
Home Owners Association Meeting to inspect boats after your business meeting. Call Tom Van Petten.
In addition Flotilla 93 will conduct vessel safety checks 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Morning Star Marina on the following
dates: April 25, May 24, June 27, July 25, Aug 29, and Sep 29
Need a Children’s Loaner Life Jacket?
The PERFECT solution when guests show up and you don’t have children’s life jackets of the
correct size for all of them. The Lake Gaston Water Safety Council’s FREE loaner program
makes children’s sizes available at the following locations:
Bracey, VA
Holly Grove Marina (434) 636-3455
Poplar Pointe Marine (434) 636-2175
Americamps (434) 636-2668
Gasburg, VA
The Club (434) 577-2935
Henrico, NC
Washburn’s Marina (252) 537-1335
Sherwood Forest (252) 537-2526
Littleton, NC
Morningstar Marina (252) 586-4661
Outdoor World (252) 586-4121
Stonehouse Timber Lodge (252) 586-3012
April/May 2015
Page 7
From the Desk of the Executive Director
Since our last Bulletin our weather has been even more changeable at the lake. We recently had 8 inches of snow and
less than two days later it was 70 o! I still had a backyard of snow at that temperature. Not to forget cars covered in ice –
on another occasion. Brrr!!
For those of our members who like to plan a vacation at the lake around July 4th, you’ll see an article on the Annual
Fireworks Display at Eaton’s Ferry Bridge. Fireworks are set for Saturday, July 4th. It’s been awhile since the display has
been on a Saturday. rain date is the following. See the article on page 2 for details.
You probably noticed that in Al Potter’s President’s Corner he mentioned that our membership stands at over 1,800. If
you saw our February/March 2015 Bulletin, you would have noticed that when we went to press which was before the
end of January our membership total stood at 2,007. The reason for the drop in totals is that on January 31st our renewal
grace period ends which means on February 1st all members paid thru December 31, 2015 and beyond are members in
good standing. As our members renew for 2015 their membership services are restored.
If you haven’t shared your email address with us and you do have an email address, you may want to consider putting
in your membership record. We promise to keep it confidential. In between the Bulletins you are receiving via US mail
every other month, we do send out about three emails a month on information that cannot wait until the next Bulletin,
such as pending high water levels, alerts regarding “hot” issues (tax debates, area insurance rate hikes, safety issues, etc.)
Just email me at [email protected] I’ll add your email address to your membership record and you’ll then
get emails and the interactive online version of the Bulletin.
From time to time a member will ask us to include an additional email address in their membership record. At this time
our database membership record has a field that only takes one email address. You are probably saying, why don’t you
make the field take two email addresses? Well, our total membership email address list is currently at 1,527 and growing
as new members come in which is a large list to distribute an email to at one email per membership record of those members that have an email address.
So, at this time we have to keep to one email address per membership record. Whenever I receive a member request to
add their spouse’s email address as well, my response is to suggest that they forward the email they received from the
LGA to their spouse. Or, I can change the email address to their email address and they do the forwarding.
I recently found out that another alternative can be, and this may vary by internet carrier providing your email service,
is that under rules, you could say that, on the subject line if it says LGA: automatically forward it to the 2nd email address
you want to have receive LGA emails. (With all emails from us the subject line starts with LGA: and then the subject)
As you know we are trying to grow our membership numbers and the more members we have the bigger our email list
will grow with just one email address per household/business. We are looking at alternatives but we definitely want to
avoid having to break up the membership distribution list into smaller sections which would entail sending the same email
multiple times using many email lists to get the email to all of our members.
You’ve probably read in this issue about the upcoming Community Projects that the Safety Committee is organizing
and I can’t wait to get another batch of papers from my home to the shredding machine on April 25th. I was there last year
and it’s amazing how the shredder devours everything you feed it. Tell your family friends, organizations you belong to
that it’s a great free service and their documents will get shredded on the spot. See the full article with the details on page 3.
Moira
A few good men and women needed!
The LGA currently has 14 directors, and we are now in need of eleven more directors to give us five directors for each county
because in June 2014 three directors came off the Board having completed their terms.
To insure that the LGA’s work continues to preserve the quality of life that brought us to beautiful Lake Gaston, we need your
expertise.
How do you know if being an LGA director is for you? First step - try us. Get involved in a couple of our committees. Choose
from Environment, Government Relations, Lake Clean-Up, Public Safety or Marketing & Membership. Check the meeting grid in
the Bulletin for when they meet. All LGA directors are asked to serve on two committees because that’s where all the work is
done.
Directors are currently needed in Brunswick (2 vacancies), Halifax (3), Mecklenburg (3), Northampton (2) and Warren counties (1). Contact Nomination chair Clarence Drumgoole at (252) 533-2929 or email, [email protected] .
Page 8
April/May 2015
Bird Deaths Associated with Hydrilla Lakes
The impacts of hydrilla and other invasive species are many, as many of you with the LGA have become aware over
the past years, but recent research has shed light on the potentially "deadly" impact of such aquatic plants. That’s right
folks, I said deadly. In 1995, researchers noticed the sudden isolated deaths of various birds including the bald eagle
around a small lake in Arkansas. Although unknown at the time, the cause was Avian Vacuolar Myelinopathy (AVM), a
neurological disease that affects mainly birds and their predators. I have discussed AVM on various occasions, but this
article is meant to go into a little more depth for those who are interested.
AVM primarily affects American Coots and Bald Eagles in the Southeastern United States. The disease often causes
birds to display neurological impairment including difficulty swimming, flying and a loss of the ability to "right" themselves. Birds often see rapid progression of the disease from the first symptoms to ultimate death in less than a week.
Other than the obvious strange nature of affected birds, there are no other visible signs to the disease. Only microscopic
investigation of the affected animals will reveal the true culprit (AVM) where lesions in the animals brain are a tell-tale
sign. AVM has since found its way into four other states including Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina
and to date is responsible for the death of over 100 bald eagles and thousands of coots. (Two locations in North Carolina –
1 in Raleigh, 1 in the Southern Pines area.)
So where exactly did this mystery disease come from? Could it be a man-made compound or a natural occurrence?
Well researchers have ruled out any possibility of man-made compounds as the site specific, seasonal occurrence (late
fall-winter) and rapid onset of the disease suggests actual environmental causes. Lab and field studies have determined
that the cause is actually a toxin produced by a previously unknown cyanobacterium. The potentially deadly epiphytic
(attached to plants) cyanobacteria is ingested when waterbirds like coots consume large amounts of vegetation. As coots
begin to show symptoms of the disease, predatory birds like the bald eagle discover the easy meal and thus contract the
disease themselves.
So what does hydrilla have to do with such a horrific disease? Well, researchers have shown that AVM only exists in
water bodies with dense populations of invasive submersed plant species, mainly hydrilla. The toxin actually accumulates
in such plants, which is the direct pathway to affected birds. Large amounts of submersed vegetation common in hydrilla
infested lakes present a real threat to waterfowl and predatory birds in the southeast.
While the disease has only been shown fatal in birds, it also has produced lesions in fish and turtles which feed on the
submersed plants. Herbivorous fish like the grass carp have developed lesions in both lab and field studies. Turtles in lab
trials which fed on hydrilla with the cyanobacteria showed the same neurological impairments seen in birds. So far no
mammals have been affected by the disease but the potential for public health concern is still very real until more tests can
be completed.
Currently, one of the only management strategies to reduce AVM is to control invasive aquatic plant species like
hydrilla on which the toxin producing algae makes it's home. Lakes like Lake Gaston, with such large amounts of
hydrilla, could be at great risk for the disease in the future. While impacts of invasive plant species are not often associated with life and death, the discovery of AVM and its causes proves to be one of which we should pay close attention.
NC State is working with Dr. Susan Wilde at the University of Georgia in collecting samples to look for any sign of
the toxic cyanobacteria. If you see strange behavior exhibited by waterfowl or other birds on the lake, please contact NC
Wildlife Resources or NC State University at [email protected] .
Need to know who are your
Government Elected Officials Lake Gaston NC & Lake Gaston VA
US, State and County
http://www.lakegastonassoc.com/GovRel/ElecOfficials.htm
LGA Government Relations Committee keeps this page on our website updated for you.
(It’s the best kept secret under Committees, Government Relations. Check out who represents you at the lake and email
them direct from our website. Telephone #s are listed as well. Use the link above to check out this information. You can
also get to the County websites from the same page.)
April/May 2015
Page 9
April 1, 2015 - LGA monthly meeting
9:30 a.m. at the Lake Gaston Baptist Church (1 mile north of Eaton Ferry Bridge on Hwy 903)
Guest Speakers: Jim Thornton, Technical Consultant & Will Miller Reservoir Supervisor
both from Dominion Generation.
Topic: Overview of the results of the 2014 Gaston-Roanoke Rapids 6-year recreation survey project; the 5-year review
of the Lake Gaston Shoreline Management Plan is underway and what that entails; fishery management; and hear questions or concerns from the LGA board and members/guests. Q&A will follow.
Also: Got a lake-related issue or concern that the LGA should be working on? There will be time allotted on the agenda to
present those concerns to the LGA Board. And, catch up with what the Committees are working on.
The meeting is open to the public, members and non-members alike so gather up your neighbors and come join the
LGA for an informative meeting. For more information contact [email protected] or
call (252) 586-6577 or toll free 1-888-586-6577.
Make a date to join us on April 1
A Message From the Nominating Committee
The Nominating committee will be nominating the following individuals for terms as Directors of the Lake Gaston
Association at the annual meeting in June:
Brunswick: John Cataldo as a 1st term director
Halifax: Mozine Lowe & Jeff Dowhan as 1st term directors
Northampton: Jack Saunders as a 1st term director
Warren: Don Carson as a 1st term director
Additional names of candidates may be nominated by petition bearing the genuine signatures of a least 15 members in
good standing. Petitions must reach the chairman of the Nominating Committee by June 4. Contact Nomination chair
Clarence Drumgoole at (252) 533-2929 or email, [email protected] . There are also other Director
vacancies in Brunswick, Halifax, Mecklenburg, Northampton, and Warren counties.
LGA Annual Meeting Set for Saturday, June 13
You are invited to attend the LGA’s annual meeting which will be held on Saturday, June 13 at the Lake Gaston Baptist
Church on Hwy 903, 1 mile north of Eaton’s Ferry Bridge. Refreshments and sign in will start at 9:30 a.m. with meeting
commencing at 10 a.m. Meeting will conclude by noon.
Special Presentations at Annual Meeting
We plan to allow time during the meeting for comments from those present at the meeting, i.e. questions, observations
about lake activities, suggestions for LGA involvement or lack of involvement in lake issues, etc. However, if any
member would like to make a special presentation they must notify the LGA by June 2, 2015. This notification must be
submitted in writing, stating the topic of the presentation to Bill Heflin, 117 Hickory Point, Littleton, NC 27850 or
[email protected]. This is required by the LGA By-Laws and helps in developing the meeting agenda and allocating
time for the meeting.
LGA welcomes 3 new businesses
Mike Dotti, Assoc. Broker, Long & Foster at Lake Gaston;
Tom King – Builder; Lake Gastronomy
Membership Goal: 2,500
Current Members: 1,821
(Households: 1,730 / Businesses: 91
Page 10
2014 LGA
Financial
Review
Letter
April/May 2015
January 27,2015
Al Potter President, Lake Gaston Association P.O. Box 656 Littleton, NC 27850
Al:
As requested in Jack Sanders January 8, 2015 e-mail, a review of the Association's financial records for
the fiscal year January 1 through December 31,2014 was accomplished on January 27,2015.
Our review included an examination of accounts maintained by the Association, bank statements, receipts,
expenditures, accounting procedures and associated records and reports.
The Association Treasurer, Jack Saunders, arranged for us to meet at his home to complete the review,
and had all appropriate records available.
All appeared to be in order with zero finding.
During the review, Jack indicated that on a regular basis, he is backing up the records using a thumb drive.
As in the past and again still holds true, Jack is doing an outstanding job in maintaining the Association' s
financial records.
Sincerely, LGA Financial Review Committee
Calendar notes …
Apr 1 – LGA monthly meeting 9:30 – noon, Lake Gaston Baptist Church (252) 586-6577
Apr 1 – Lake Gaston Striper Club, 6:30 p.m. Lake Gaston Lions Den, Henrico 586-7112
Apr 4 – “Natures Invaders,” 2 p.m., Medoc Mountain State Park, Hollister, (252) 586-6588
Apr 9 – Eaton Ferry Road AARP, 6 p.m., Lake Gaston Lions Den, Henrico (252) 586-5228
Apr 11 – Pancake & Sausage Breakfast, 7:30 a.m. – 11 a.m., Littleton Lions Den, Ransom St. (252) 586-5959
Apr 14 - Lake Gaston Computer Club, 1 p.m., Lake Gaston Lions Den, Henrico (252) 537-7091
Apr 17,18,19*,24,25,26* - “Smoke on the Mountain” (Musical) 8 p.m., *2:30 p.m. Lakeland Theater Company, Littleton (252) 586-3124
Apr 24 - American Legion Post 308 Spaghetti Dinner at 5 – 7 p.m. Hwy 903, Littleton (252) 586-3268
Apr 25 – 2nd Community Paper Shred, 9:15 – 11:45 a.m., Roanoke-Wildwood VFD (252) 586-6577
Apr 25 – “Medoc Mtn Star Party,” 2 p.m. Medoc Mountain State Park, Hollister, (252) 586-6588
Apr 29 - Lake Gaston Water Safety Council, 6 p.m. social/6:30 p.m. dinner, Kennon House, Gasburg (252) 586-4705
May 1 – John 3:16 Annual Golf Competition Lake Gaston Golf Club, sign-up/more info (252) 586-1800
May 2 – Ham Dinner Roanoke-Wildwood VFD, 790 Lizard Creek Rd. (252) 586-7811
May 2,3*,8,9,10* - “25th Annual Putnam Co. Spelling Bee” 8 p.m., *2:30 p.m. Colonial Center, South Hill (434) 262-4170
May 6 – LGA monthly meeting 9:30 – noon, Lake Gaston Baptist Church (252) 586-6577
May 6 – Lake Gaston Striper Club, 6:30 p.m. Lake Gaston Lions Den, Henrico 586-7112
May 8,9 – “Renaissance Feaste” 8 p.m. Lakeland Theater Company, Littleton (252) 586-3124
May 9 - Second Saturday Hike, 9 a.m., Roanoke Canal Museum Trail (252) 537-2769
May 12 -Lake Gaston Computer Club, 1 p.m., Lake Gaston Lions Den, Henrico (252) 537-7091
May 14 - Eaton Ferry Road AARP, 6 p.m., Lake Gaston Lions Den, Henrico (252) 586-5228
May 22 - American Legion Post 308 Spaghetti Dinner at 5 – 7 p.m. Hwy 903, Littleton (252) 586-3268
May 22,23,24*,29,30 – “Girls Night Out,” 8 p.m. Lakeland Theater Company, Littleton (252) 586-3124
May 27 - Lake Gaston Water Safety Council, 6 p.m. social/6:30 p.m. dinner, Kennon House, Gasburg (252) 586-4705
May 30 – 5th Annual Lake Clean-up Day, Lake Gaston (252) 586-6577
July 4 – Lake Gaston Annual Fireworks, at dark, Eaton Ferry Bridge (252) 532-3543
www.lakegastonchamber.com www.warren-chamber.org
www.northamptonchamber.org
www.visithalifax.com www.southhillchamber.com www.brunswickchamber.com
Medoc Mountain State Park website
(Put cursor on website & press CTRL + click to follow link)
April/May 2015
Business Members ...
Visit their websites at www.lakegastonassoc.com/Membership/Businesses.htm
Page 11
Page 12
April/May 2015
Business Members Continued...
[email protected]
St. Peter the Apostle
Catholic Church
31 Ebony Road, Ebony, VA 23845
Pastor: Rev. Anthony Mpungu
Rectory:
434.636.7782
Office:
434.636.6277
Masses:
Saturday 5:30pm, Sunday 8:00am
Wednesday & Thursday 9:00am
PEGGY LIGHT, MANAGER
LAKE GASTON CAMPGROUND
561 FLEMING DAIRY ROAD, LITTLETON, NC 27850
PHONE: (252) 586-4121 FAX: (252) 586-5704
www.1000trails.com
April/May 2015
Business Members Continued ...
~ featuring ~
Cabinetry, Countertops, Hardware and Fixtures
252.529.4668
www.AnglewoodDesigns.com
Page 13
Page 14
April/May 2015
Jim Moye
More Than Just
A Pet Cremation
Service
David Boswell
(252) 537-6144 Office
(252) 537-6953 Fax
P.O. Box 698
Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870
April/May 2015
C-Line graphics
Custom Design
anD
Printing
PO Box 7 • 4446 Christanna Highway
Valentines, Virginia 23887
434.577.9289 • 800.833.8430
Email: [email protected]
Page 15
Page 16
April/May 2015
1591 NC HWY 903
LITTLETON, NC 27850
Futrell Pharmacy
of Littleton
250 Smith Church Road • Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870
(252) 535-8011 • www.halifaxregional.org
123 East South Main Street, Littleton, NC 27850
Pharmacist: Mike Jackson
Hours: Mon - Fri 9:30 - 5:30, Sat 9:30 - noon
252-586-3414
“Your Community Pharmacy”
April/May 2015
LINDA HEDGEPETH
ABR,SFR,CSSS,SMMC
REALTOR® / BROKER ASSOCIATE
(757) 635-7388 CELL
(252) 586-2470 BUSINESS
(252) 586-4314 FAX
2457 Eaton Ferry Road, Littleton, NC 27850
[email protected]
www.LindaOnLakeGaston.com
www.LakeGastonCelebrations.com
DAVID WILLIAMS
OWNER & PRESIDENT
Mon-Wed 8 am - 5 pm • Thurs 7 am -3 pm
Page 17
Page 18
April/May 2015
L AkeLAND T heATre C OMPANy
& C uLTurAL C eNTer
252-586-3124
411 Mosby Avenue
252-586-5577
P.O. Drawer 130
1-800-330-0574
Littleton, NC 27850
[email protected]
www.lakelandtheatr enc.org
7:30 am - 5:00 pm M-F • SAT. 7:30 am til noon
Page 19
April/May 2015
LGA APPLICATION
Renewal
E-Mail Change
Full-time
Lot only
Part-time
Business $50
Dues are for Calendar Year (January-December)
PLEASE INDICATE:
New Member
Address Change
PAYMENT FOR (Select one):
$20 Sponsor Membership*
$25 General Membership
$50 Bronze
$100 Silver
$250 Lifetime
*Sponsored by
Lake Resident
House
Name
Lake Property
Multiple properties
Number of adults in household
Subdivision
County
LAKE ADDRESS: (#/Street/City/State/Zip)
MAILING ADDRESS: (If different)
Home:
PHONE @ Lake:
E-Mail:
Circle how you first heard of the LGA i.e., newspaper,
LGA Bulletin, neighbor, brochure, website, radio,
billboard & magazine, other
Mail with payment to:
LGA, P.O. Box 656, Littleton, NC 27850
THANK YOU!
Page 20
April/May 2015
CHECK: If the information on the label below is incorrect, please advise. By Web: www.LakeGastonAssoc.com,
By Email: [email protected] or By Mail: Member Records at the address below. Thanks!
U.S. Postage
PAID
PRSRT STD
Permit No. 2
Henrico, NC
P.O. Box 656 ~ Littleton, NC 27850
Or Current Resident

President`s Corner Al Potter

Transcription

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