Summer  is  almost  here;  camps  are  opening,  boats  are  being  launched,  and  high  expectations  for  another  great  summer  are  evident  everywhere!

The  PLPA  Board  has  been  busy  since  last  fall  through  this  spring.    We  have  conducted  association  business  via  conference  calls  and  have  much  to  report  to  you  in  this  newsletter  as  well  as  at  our  annual  meeting  on  July  6th  at  8:30am  at  the  Limington  Town  Hall.  It’s  very  important  to  note  that  since  our  association  was  formed  in  1996,  there  has  never  been  such  an  active  group  of  board  members  from  my  perspective.  They  accept  responsibility  and  ownership  for  the  many  important  projects  that  are  focused  on  our  mission  and  are  in  the  best  interest  of  all  property  owners  who  live  in  the  lake  watershed.

Let  me  provide  you  information  on  what    your  board  has  accomplished  and/or  is  working  on  presently:

•The  Grant  319  funding  of  $58,000  has  of,icially  arrived  and  a  Steering  Committee  that  consists  of  our  PLPA  Board  members,  town  ofSicials,  and  staff  of  the  York  County  Soils  and  Water  Conservation  Commission  are  currently  meeting  to  identify  special  areas  of  erosion  and  pollution  sources  into  our  lake.  We  will  be  providing  you  speciSics  at  our  annual  meeting.

•PLPA  is  on  our  way  to  become  the  Sirst  ever  lake  association  in  the  State  to  be  awarded  “Firewise”  status  by  the  State  of  Maine  Forest  Service  having  met  their  qualiSications.  More  speciSic  information  on  “Firewise”  will  be  available  soon  on  the  PLPA  website.  •We  have  a  new  website,  http://www.thePLPA.org,  that  is  up  and  running  (note  it’s  “.org”).  We  are  also  planning  to  communicate  with  you  using  social  media  including  having  our  own  Facebook  page.  •The  septic  cleaning  program  continues  to  be  offered  to  our  membership  and  terriSic  pricing  is  still  available.•Our  lake  book,  “From  Horne  Pond  to  Pequawket  Lake”  has  been  a  huge  success.  There  are  only  65  copies  left.    •The  Board  is  planning  on  providing  at  least  two  educational  opportunities  for  our  members  this  summer.  We’ll  keep  you  posted  on  the  dates  so  that  you  can  get  them  on  your  calendar.  

This  summer  board  members  will  be  visiting  all  the  camps  to  distribute  a  laminated  sheet  listing  “Suggestions  to  Improve  the  Pequawket  Lake  Community”.    We  are  asking  you  to  post  this  important  reminder  in  your  camp  to  help  family  and  friends  (and  renters)  familiarize  themselves  with  camp  life  on  Pequawket  Lake.  

PLPA  is  alive  and  healthy!

How To Be Lakesmart and Firewise...Tips from the Maine Forest Service

*Within 5 feet of your structure(s) create a non-combustible area using inorganic mulch (gravel, rocks, or erosion control mix).*Trim low branches and prune shurbs; remove dead vegetation within 30ft of residence. Cut tree branches 10 ft from house and chimney, and raise branches off the ground by 10 feet or 1/3 the tree height - whichever comes first.*Keep 100 ft of garden hose attached to your residence during fire season (Mar - Nov)*Pump septic every 3-5 years and keep septic area free of woody growth.*Keep gutters free of leaves, needles and debris. Cover chimney with 1/2” mesh screen. Direct run-off to a rain garden or collect & use for watering vegetation.*Stabilize shorefront areas by leaving rocks, shrubs, and trees. *Make paths stable and winding to reduce erosion and runoff: path serve as a firebreak between vegetated areas.

NEWSLETTERPequawket Lake Preservation AssociationSummer 2013

PLPA Annual GeneralMembership Meeting0830July 6thLimingtonTown Hall

88 Foreside RdCumberland Fside, ME 04110

PLPA President Update…by Tom Gruber

Annual General Membership Meeting...July 6th...8:30am!!!

Brush Chipping & Wood Chipping…. week of July 15th. Be ready. Specific Date TBA!! Check www.theplpa.org for updates.

Check out our new website:www.theplpa.org (note: not “.com”)

The Pequawket LakePreservation Association

Contact: Dana Swanstrom, Administrator@ dswanstrom@yahoo.com

WORKING FOR YOU!PLPA Officers

Pres….Tom Gruber……...tgruber@maine.rr.comVP…....Bill Moore………..mainemoores@roadrunner.comSec…..Dave Goodwin…..dhgs2000@gmail.comTreas...Pete Lockwood….plockwoo@maine.rr.com

Board of DirectorsFrank Conway……..francis_conway@raytheon.comMark Eastman……..spidmeister@gmail.comGary Fullerton……..fullertons@fairpoint.netMargie Gruber……..margerygruber@mac.com Jay Johnson……….leward1@aol.comVince Kane………...vkane1@roadrunner.comJohn Pappanikou….johnpappanikou@comcast.netDana Swanstrom….dswanstrom@yahoo.comCarden Welsh……..cnwelsh@me.com

A big thank-you to Mary Davichick who recently retired from the Board. Mary also served as Secretary for many years. Enjoy the summer, Mary, you deserve it!

PLPA General Membership Meeting 6 July 8:30 am

Moy-Mo-Da-Yo Recreation Site *Open from Memorial Day to Labor Day 9am to 8pm daily.*Summer camp runs 1 July - August 16. Children can be enrolled for one week or the whole summer. *Day use fee is $5 per car; a seasonal pass is available at the Town Office or at MMDY for $25 for residents & $30 for non-Limington residents; $5 fee to use the boat launch.*The RV hosts have not yet been confirmed as this newsletter goes to press. The part-time attendants are Ginny & John (and possibly another attendant yet to be named).*If you paddle, sail, or boat over, you need to pay the $5 day use fee unless you come after 6 pm.

New Membership ModelIn an effort to keep our dues at the

current rate of $25 per/year, the Board is considering a new membership

model that allows you the option to give more to support our activities and to

increase the “milfoil rainy day fund” (our Treasury). Come to the annual meeting

where John Pappanikou will present the new model. If approved by the general membership, the new fee structure will

go into effect in 2014.

Maine Congress of lake Associations ( COLA)

As the only statewide network of individuals and associations devoted solely to the protection and preservation of our lakes, Maine COLA is your voice for lake protection.

PLPA will be represented at the annual COLA Conference being held at Colby College in Waterville on 22 June. George Bouchard, Gary Fullerton, Dave Goodwin, Pete Lockwood, Bill Moore, and Tom Gruber will be attending.

The agenda includes introduction of the new Executive Director, legislative updates (and there are a lot of them!), how climate change is affecting our lakes, and additional information on how to monitor our lakes beyond the secchi disc reading.

On June 1, COLA will have a new Executive Director, Rebecca Kurtz. She will be the first full time Executive Director COLA has had in its 42 year history. Also at the June meeting, there will be a vote on a new name and new membership categories. The new name being considered is the Maine Lakes Society, and it will include two membership categories: the Council of Lake Associations (COLA) and the Friends of Maine Lakes (Friends).

If you want to know about COLA, you can check out their website… www.mainecola.org. Membership is open to everyone, individuals, lake associations, road associations, and others. An individual membership is only $25. For more info go to www.mainecola.org.

TOWN OF LIMINGTON UPDATE

In May, 2011, the Town of Limington entered into a four year agreement with the York County Sheriff's Office to hire a contract deputy. The deputy provides exclusive patrol service to the town for 40 hours per week. In March, 2013, Deputy Thistlewood was promoted to Sargent and was replaced by Deputy Stan Moore. Dial 911 for an emergency. If it is not an emergency, you can contact the Dispatch office anytime at:

207-324-3644 Option 1.

From then on, none of us ever thought there was any place in the world like that lake in Maine. --E.B. White. From his essay, “Once More to the Lake”, published in One Manʼs Meat by Tilbury Press

Book UpdateFrom Horn Pond to Pequawket Lake

The Book Committee is pleased to report over 300 books have been sold! Inventory is shrinking. There are only 65 books left. If youʼd like to order a book, you can email Sally Moore at mainemoores@roadrunner.com or call 207-637-3894 to make arrangements for payment and delivery. Books are $20 each plus shipping/handling.

COMMUNICATIONIn an effort to save on the mailing expenses for the spring and fall newsletters, the PLPA Board approved transitioning to electronic communications this season. We have email addresses for approximately 60% of our mailing list. This newsletter will be the last hard copy you receive in the mail unless you let us know that you would like a hard copy mailed to your home address. You can do that when you send in your dues. Simply indicate your preference on the form below.

Dues… Dues… Dues...Dues...Dues…Dues...Dues…Dues…Dues...Dues...Dues….

Please complete this form so we can keep our records up-to-date and send with your dues (only $25) to:Pete Lockwood (PLPA Treasurer)139 Mountain RdRaymond, ME 04071

Name:_________________________________________________________________________________Home Address: _______________________________________State: ________________Zip:_________Home Phone Number: ( ) ___________________________

Camp Address:_______________________________________________

Email Address:________________________________________________

Check this block if you would like to continue to receive a hard copy of the newsletters in the mail.

WelcomeChristopher G. Piacentini223 Marcia WayBridgewater, NJ  08807Camp Address: 110 July St

MUGS AND UPDATED MAPS FOR SALE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING… THE ONLY TIME AND PLACE

TO BUY!!!!

Membership Stats

2007…72 members…50%2008...77 members….53%2009...91 members….63%2010...82 members….57%2011...94 members….65%2012...89 members….61%

Note: %ʼs based on 145 camps on lake.

Septic  System  Update

For  the  third  straight  year,  PLPA  will  provide  our  members  with  a  discounted  rate  for    cleaning  out  your  camp’s  septic  system.  

Jerry  Anderson  is  the  contractor  and  can  be  reached  at  (207)  432-­‐2753.    Call  this  number  to    schedule  a  date  and  time  to  complete  the  necessary  cleaning.  

His  rates  are  lower  than  the  current  market  prices  and  you  will  pay  according  to  the  size  of  your  system...500,  750  or  1,000  gallons.  Also,  you  will  beneSit  with  a  free  PLPA  membership  valued  at  $25.00  to  be  applied  to  your  2014  dues.    

Besides  the  expense  reductions  (discount  plus  dues),  you  can  feel  conSident  that  you  are  doing  your  part  to  keep  our  lake  healthy.  

Explore the Abenaki Path!If you paddle, sail, or motor over to hike the Abenaki Path there is no fee! Look for two large Abenaki Path signs to the left (west) and right (east) of the Moy-Mo-Da-Yo Beach as you approach the waterʼs edge. You should “park” away from the beachproper over by the Abenaki Path signs at either opening of the path. You can also drive over and park your car in the MMDY parking lot and hike the trail.

The loop footpath is .9 mile long and has 5 benches installed at scenic sites. It can be walked with ease in less than 30 minutes. A more leisurely walk, with stops at the benches along the way, can take up to an hour. While the path is clearly marked and easy to follow, it is recommended that small children be accompanied by adults. Better to wear shoes, than flip-flops!

You are encouraged to be an Abenaki caretaker while following the path, by picking up trash, throwing aside branches, and replacing guide rails that have been knocked aside.