The snow has been receding quickly. There is still some in the forest around the lake, but everywhere that gets sunshine is bare. Speculation at Council Monday afternoon was for boating the weekend of April 12th, but that is just a SWAG this far out.
Had a neighboring cottager send me two video clips from his game cam of a huge bull elk browsing in his yard over the past couple of days. I have still not seen one in person at 255 North Shore.
Snowmobiling season is over. ALL trails south of the Park are closed. I will keep an eye out for announcements from EOTA about ATV riding.
Interesting statistics from the last municipal election. 72.6% of seasonal residents voted. When combined with the 32% of permanent residents who voted results in 55.4% aggregate turnout. That was by far the highest voter turnout in the 14 municipalities in Hastings County. Two big thumbs up to all of those seasonal residents who voted.
The spring Cottage Life show is March 20 - 23 at the International Center near the airport. It takes up halls 1, 2, and 5. This is the same location as the fall snowmobile show. I just got a new $3 pass discount:
https://unitytickets.com/se/COTTAGES2025/TICKET/en-CA/start/Process.aspx?ut_SGU=BD8690EC-0233-4518-802F-1E10D999B343&ut_CPG=3ED47787-AFC2-4BAE-94C2-87CD200F03B3&ut_CST=DBC96021-B393-4AC8-A713-9BA93B65F5C6&utm_discount=SUMMER3
The municipality will have a public information session on Invasive Species at the April 23rd council meeting. (12:30 at the Community Center on Hwy 620)
Attended the March municipal council meeting today. (just for the fun of it I went back and counted how many times I have attended, and this was my 188th meeting) This was a quick one. Less than an hour, and 20 minutes of that was taken up with two delegations. Delegation #1 was asking to get East Bay Road on Steenburg Lake plowed in the winter, the 2nd was asking about containing litter at the dump better. Council took both requests under submission and will act on both. Council asked staff to do preliminary research into rural "Accessory Dwelling Units," and to find out what other municipalities are doing. The goal is to amend the Official Plan to reflect changes in provincial policy. Finally, voting in the fall 2026 election will again be by phone and internet, but this time there will also be at least one "in person" voting booth somewhere in the municipality on election day.
Finally got confirmation that the new Rogers 5G tower on Sutton Rd. is on. The Rogers / FOCA special pricing plan is $60 per month this year. (unless you have a Rogers phone in which case it remains $50 per month) Even at the $60 price it is the best internet service for us on the lake. Once you are an LWRA member, we can provide you with a link to the "Rogers Preferred Program" webpage.
The St. Ola Station general store now has fuel sales. They have all grades and pay at the pump. We were without a local gas station for just over two years after Trudys closed. Two thumbs up to the owners for managing their way through a mountain of red tape. Please support them and buy your fuel locally. The store is located on the south-east corner of St. Ola Road and Hwy. 62. For trail users, they are just a few feet off the Hastings Heritage Trail at MM 102.
The municipality is on winter burning rules. Daytime burning is allowed with fires up to 6 feet by 6 feet. This continues through March 31.
Half load restrictions on the dirt roads are in effect from now until roughly May 15th. The exact end date will be determined as spring progresses. Be sure to verify load restrictions before ordering any materials or deliveries by truck to the lake in the spring. (RONA, Home Depot, Leons Furniture, etc.)
The dump is on winter hours. It is open Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday and holiday Mondays from 11AM to 4:30PM.
The 2025 fishing regulations are available on the Ontario.ca website. The Limerick chain of lakes remains at the very south end of fisheries zone 15. Pages 104 to 114 of the regulations book. Bass season opens June 28, 2025, and closes November 30. Lake trout season opened January 1 and closes September 30. The Limerick chain of lakes has a "slot size" for lake trout that MUST be returned to the lake if caught. It is roughly 16 to 22 inches. It is also a "one line" lake when ice fishing.
