After half a dozen false alarms in recent years, Mother Nature did not disappoint Friday night. (actually, Saturday morning) Northern Lights were on display in all their colors and shapes for hours on end. A short trip out onto the lake for a better view around 1:30AM paid off with gorgeous photos. It as an eclipse in reverse. The night sky lit up like daytime. At times bands of colored light would stretch across the northern sky from east to west like a nighttime rainbow. Given that I had spent most of my adult life in Los Angeles, this was the first time to experience them since sometime back in the 60s.
Back to the regular, low altitude weather, Friday was not too bad of a day. On the chilly side for much of the day, but the clouds cleared somewhat in the late afternoon, and it warmed up nicely. Saturday is starting out with sunshine and a mirror calm lake. That is forecast to come to an end mid-day with clouds and a 30% chance of rain moving in later in the day. Sunday is forecast to be similar with a 40% chance of rain.
There is a "level 4" (the highest is 5) possibility of Northern Lights in southern Ontario for Friday night.
After not much construction progress all winter long, the Starbucks in Bancroft is moving along. Definitely will not be finished for this tourist season, but hopefully will be open by spring 2025.
Took a boat ride on the 7th and sampled the spring on Mephisto Lake. Dropped the sample off at the health unit in Belleville that afternoon. Check back for the results. (usually takes about a week) Last fall it failed badly. Hopefully is has been cleaned up enough to now pass.
We have a new record asking price for a cottage on the lake. Water access, roughly 100 acres. $2.8 million. We just barely cracked $1 million two years ago.
The black flies are awake. Time for a hiatus on yard work except for very windy days.
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. Folks from OFATV were at Queens Park on Wednesday lobbying for a unified pass and trail system in the province.
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. 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 quickly in the 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)
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.
