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Read MoreTwenty new bat boxes added to Haliburton County! On Saturday, June 9, at the Fish Hatchery, 24 adults and 4 children constructed bat boxes from kits created by the Haliburton Highlands Outdoors Association in partnership with the Land Trust. Paul Heaven, the Land Trust’s bat project biologist, visited the workshop to summarize our research results and answer participants’ questions on bats and bat boxes…
Read MoreSince the spring of 2015, Hospice North Hastings has operated the Village Playhouse. Funds raised at the theatre have been covering the costs of restoring one of Bancroft’s landmarks and we also use the funds we raise to support the programs and services that are offered by Hospice North Hastings in our community. Hospice North Hastings does not receive any health care dollars, so the Playhouse provides us with fun, culturally exciting ways to create a revenue stream…
Read MoreThe FOCA is pleased to announce a new report about the significance of waterfront property owners (WPO), and an elections Toolkit for member Associations interested in getting out the vote in rural Ontario this fall….
Read MoreEveryone has their own opinions about social media. It is an efficient way to communicate with others far away, to find long-lost friends and to show the world what you are up to. But it is also known as an incredible time waster and one person’s idea of a fabulous post, may be drivel to someone else.
For us, last fall, social media actually played an integral part of letting us know about the disaster that we had on the island…
The HHLT is pleased to announce the acquisition, through donation and Conservation Easement Agreement, of a beautiful, ecologically diverse property. Through the Federal Ecological Gifts Program, Leopoldina and Margaret Dobrzensky have donated outright approximately 500 acres to the HHLT, while another 100 acres will be protected through a Conservation Easement Agreement between the Dobrzenskys and the HHLT….
Read MoreIn 2017 The Land Between charity and The Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (home of the Turtle Trauma Centre) declared a state of emergency for Ontario’s turtles. This was because there were unprecedented numbers of turtles killed on roads and brought into the trauma centre for treatment…
Read MoreAlcohol is a factor in nearly 40% of boating incidents and by the middle of summer, boating is in full swing. With warmer water, hotter days and many enjoying fun in the sun on their boats, it is the perfect time to remind Canadian boaters about the risks of drinking and boating….
Read MoreWelcome back to the cottage and Paudash Lake! Your PLCA Board has been busy this season attending meetings, having meetings and planning future meetings. Following is some commentary on a number of issues, items and events past and coming up…
Read MoreThe more things change, well...they change. Those changes can sometimes make navigation on land and water and friendly conversations challenging. I was drawn in to such a conversation recently to choruses of who has the oldest map. It was all in good fun. However, a dear friend who drops in from overseas annually is perplexed often by name changes that others maintain were always thus…
Read MoreNow some added fun for your summer! The Healthy Lakes contest gives you a chance to win some wonderful weekly prizes and a fabulous Grand Prize of $1000. The week one winner will get a super prize of dinner for two courtesy of McKeck’s. A great place to dine in Haliburton. PLUS, you’ll get a $25 gift certificate from Northern Expressions, a $25 gift certificate from Lockside Trading, a year’s supply of Eco Ethic septic treatment, a pajama gift certificate from Country Picken’s and BBQ paddles from Walker’s Home Hardware in Haliburton. Wow, indeed.
The Coalition of Haliburton Property Owners Associations (CHA),working with Julia Sutton and their technology partner (TechnicalitiesPlus) have created a web page that will present you with a selection of "Native" trees, scrubs, grasses, wildflowers and ferns for your property. The tool has options to specify your soil, sunlight, moisture, and location.
Read MoreMark your calendar, because we have another awesome line-up of events at the lake this summer!
Read MoreAgain PLCA will sponsor and organize this celebration of our country’s birthday. Decorated boats will meet at 2 p.m. between the two islands at the entrance to North Bay. The parade will end at the Lakehouse restaurant. All members will have food and beverage waiting for them. This is complementary for members and non-members will pay a nominal fee to help support the expense incurred by your association.
Read MoreWe are currently working on the Summer 2018 edition of the PLCA newsletter and we want to hear from you! Do you have something funny, informative, interesting, nostalgic, historical, conservational or enlightening to say about life on Paudash Lake? If you do, we would love to read your article and consider it for publication in our newsletter and/or blog.
Read Moreby Mike Thomas, PLCA President -- As you may have already seen, your Board decided it was time to change the way we charge (or don’t charge) for the events the PLCA does every year. At the winter board meeting a Financial Task Force presented their report to the Board about the ‘state of financial affairs’ and suggestions on how to maintain a healthy financial situation into the future. The recommendation to charge a nominal fee to non-members who attend our events was passed by your Board. The events include the July 1st barbecue, rock bass derby, regatta (members and non-members have always paid but now non-members will pay a higher fee) and movie night.
Read MoreBy David Reid & David Kells -- When the Alberta forest fires swept through Fort McMurray and nearby communities last summer you may have wondered what fire protection services are available for cottages, homes and businesses on Paudash Lake; what happens if there is a forest fire? Owners of properties that are accessible only by water, or are on roads too small for a fire truck will have a special interest in this subject. Most know that we access these emergency services by calling 911, the emergency response system for fire, medical emergency, and police emergency calls (e.g. motor vehicle collisions with injuries, break and enter in progress, active fight, family dispute with violence). For non-emergency, non-life threatening police calls (e.g. discovery of a cottage break-in or theft) call 1-888-310-1122. All calls are answered immediately, 24/7, by a live dispatcher. This is the Smith Falls Ontario Provincial Police communication centre and they will dispatch a local officer to start the investigation.
Read MoreBy Mike Thomas -- In 2016, the ‘Love your Lake’ program assessed 423 properties totaling about 39km of shoreline on Upper Paudash Lake. The shoreline survey involved an assessment of the entire shoreline of Upper Paudash Lake. The report we received summarized the information on shoreline classifications, development, runoff, invasive species, habitat and recommendations and restoration opportunities. This report can be used as a source of information on the current physical conditions of Upper Paudash Lake and as a baseline to compare future surveys. It can also be used by PLCA and other partners to determine opportunities for restoration, education and stewardship on a lake wide level.
Shoreline lengths for each property were obtained from municipal property information. For properties without this data, lengths were estimated. Results were based upon the number of properties within each shoreline classification. Properties were assigned an overall category corresponding to the classification that made up the largest portion of the shoreline...
Read MoreBy Ashley White, MD, MPH -- Waterfront vacant land on Paudash Lake is now a rarity. Most strips on the busy, popular parts of the lake have buildings – for better or for worse. The remaining slices of land on the quieter parts of the lake come with road or boat access problems. These can be overcome with time, money and love but, it can be annoying. So it was really exciting when my family decided to purchase a sliver of land with easy road access on Paudash Lake this spring. Over the long weekend, we gathered there to ‘move in’. How exactly does one move into land? We didn’t know. I brought some solar lamps, thinking I could landmark a bit of a driveway. Is it called a driveway when there is nothing at the end of the way? My brother brought a trailer to clear brush and some garbage (an unfortunate trade off for good access).
Read MoreFOCA is pleased to be able to announce that, effective June 1st, 2017, Ontario Regulation O.Reg.161/17 came into effect. The important changes now mean that a person can occupy public lands without a permit from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry - subject to some conditions, and only if allowed by municipal bylaw or Federal statute. This applies to: docks, boat lifts, boat ramps, and marine railways; swim rafts; single-storey boathouses; break walls and related backfill; recreational boat caches which includes canoes, kayaks and motor boats; ramps and jumps and slalom courses; bridges, culverts and causeways; recreational camping units (21 days); ice fishing huts...
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