The scatter showers and thunderstorms predicted for Friday scattered somewhere else. A few very light sprinkles, but 99% dry all day. It was a bit windy from the south making for a choppy day on this end of the lake. The rest of the holiday weekend now looks to be fairly nice. Clouds are supposed to mostly clear Saturday morning leaving us with sunshine and temps in the mid-70F range right through Monday. The firesmoke.ca map shows no wildfire smoke in eastern Ontario today, but does show a large area of smoke reaching here by early Monday. The lake water is warming up nicely. After being stuck in the 40F range all through April, it broke through 50F just a few days ago, and now has warmed past 60F at 3 feet deep in the shade.
St. Ola Station general store is having a season kick-off social event today (Saturday) from 9AM until 2PM. Looks like it should be a fun event.
I recently learned how to access historical analytics for this website. Around ice-out this year it got 44,900 hits in March and 77,000 in April. 426,000 hits over the past 12 months. By comparison, at its best, the old Limerick Lodge website used to get around 55,000 hits at ice out time and that was with a lot more marketing effort. Thank you to everyone who stops by this website to take a look. It is just a hobby.
A few weeks back I mentioned here that Rogers was offering a special internet access package for cottagers. However, what was promised did not appear on the Rogers website. Last week I received an e-mail from FOCA with the links to the special package for FOCA (in our case LWRA members are automatically FOCA members) only. I have put a link on the LINKS page of this website to download the information and sign up for 5G cellular internet at the special rate and terms for cottage association members only. Not an LWRA member? Go to the LWRA website and join. You will save back the $50 membership fee in just a few months with this special offer.
Took a boat ride on the 7th and sampled the spring on Mephisto Lake. The results came back recently, and it tested 0 - 0 which means it is good to drink. I will repeat the test in July.
Information I hope no one ever needs: I refreshed my Nalxone training (originally trained in June 2019) at the Health Unit on May 15th. They then traded my expired Nalxone kit for a fresh one. So there is an OD kit here at 255 North Shore if ever needed.
The black flies are awake and biting. Time for a hiatus on yard work except for very windy days. Might need a bug hat to cut the grass this weekend.
The multi-use trail system is open for ATV riding. Check OFATV and EOTA websites for more information. Limerick Township maintains two parking and unloading lots. One across from the municipal building at 89 Limerick Lake Road, the other at 643 Limerick Lake Road. Two thumbs up to the Coe Hill ATV club for their litter pickup event last weekend that collected some 50 bags of trash off local trails and roadways.
Transport Canada is seriously looking at making the wearing of PFDs while boating mandatory. The issue was discussed at the FOCA AGM in March. There was a "sort of" public input period back around Christmas that is now closed to comments. There will be another public comment period in the near future. The interesting statistic is that the vast majority of boating fatalities are among men, 65 to 80 yrs. old while in a boat under 18 feet long. It is not kids or teens. (only 11% of fatalities are people under 25) A further breakdown of the fatalities is that the person falls out (or is thrown out) of the boat, not that the boat sinks. That is why just having the PFD in the boat is ineffective. I rescued a person in the water after a swamping years ago on a California lake and in that case the PFDs all floated away and were quickly out of reach in a brisk wind. The person I pulled out of the water was clinging to the somewhat buoyant gas tank.
Summer fire regulations are in effect. No day burning. The municipality will not be issuing any burn permits through the summer. Nighttime fires are to be kept under 2 meters by 2 meters in size. (That is 6 X 6 to me) As one cottager found out the expensive way, there is an eye in the sky (satellite with thermal imaging) watching for illegal fires. Much like a redlight camera in the city, a few weeks later you get a very expensive ticket in the mail.
July 13th is the annual fund-raising dinner for the North Hastings Community Fish Hatchery. I have attended this event many times and it is always a lot of fun and supports "non-government" stocking of fish in our local lakes. (but not Limerick as our lake supports a healthy fish population without needing any help) Attendance is limited to around 280 people, and it always sells out. More information on their website: fishhatchery.ca
Information from FOCA on the Underutilized Housing Tax:
Underused Housing Tax (UHT) Updates
As part of the federal governments Fall Economic Statement released last week, most Canadian corporations, partnerships, and trusts have become “excluded owners” for UHT purposes, and no longer need to file the tax form annually; however, American owners of Canadian seasonal properties are still implicated in the filing requirements. Additionally, on October 31st, the UHT filing deadline for the 2022 calendar year was extended to April 30, 2024. (Note that filing for calendar 2023 will also be due on that date.)
The dump is operating on summer hours through August 31. It is open Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday and holiday Mondays from 11AM to 6PM. Remember, Council shortened the evening hours from 8PM to 6PM last year.
The Limerick chain of lakes is in fisheries zone 15. 2024 regulations start on page 102 of the MNRF regulations book. Bass season will open on June 22. Lake trout season opened on January 1 and will close September 30. Please remember that 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.
