Musselman's Lake Residents Association (MLRA) official website.
M.L.R.A. is dedicated to making sure that the Community of Musselman’s Lake continues to be a vibrant community where all can enjoy the lake and all the recreation associated with an enjoyable lake environment.
LIVE HEALTHY * WORK HARD * PLAY RIGHT
Walking On Water
Christmas creeps up on me like a lake freezing over.
By Catherine Sword
Co-ordinator of Public Services
Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library
A Christmas Message
Canada Geese walking on water on Musselman’s Lake. Dan Wigmore Photo
Christmas creeps up on me like a lake freezing over. There’s that moment when I notice razor thin black ice at the edge of the lake reminding me of winter and that the holidays are only a breath away. Then that thaws and I relax, believing that there’s lots of time to prepare.
You’d think that working with library due dates three weeks in the future I’d be a lot more prepared. We’re working well into the new year here and still I have fooled myself in thinking there’s plenty of time. Before I know it, I’ll wake up one morning, the lake will be solid (already I’ve seen geese walking on water) and either all the gifts will be bought, wrapped and sent out, or not. It’s a good thing there are no overdue charges on packages mailed out at the last moment.
So before the lake totally freezes over, let me send you all Christmas well wishes and hopes for a Happy New Year from all of us here at the Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library.
Now…just two more gifts.
DEC
2011
19
Merry Christmas
and Happy Holidays
Please try to think of those less fortunate at this time of year and give to a local food bank.
Thank you for supporting the MLRA in 2011 and we look forward to seeing you at the Winter Carnival on Sat. Feb. 11th 2012!
DEC
2011
08
Seniors’ Christmas Party
All are welcome to this event that will offer
music, readings, and refreshments.
By Catherine Sword
Co-ordinator of Public Services
Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library
I can’t believe I’m reading Christmas stories already, but it’s almost the time for the library’s annual Senior’s Christmas Party. This is one of our most successful programs involving some social time, coffee, tea, or juice and a variety of treats. As part of this tradition the Spartan Sound choir joins us from the high school and they give a short performance, a teaser so to speak of their own upcoming show. For the library party we have the added bonus of the choir leading the group in a good old fashioned Christmas sing-along.
As well, this year I’ve been asked to read a short story and I love this particular duty, even though it has me reading about Christmas in November! It’s tough. I may repeat one of my favourites or try something new. I don’t know, but here’s the list I’m considering. Maybe you’ll enjoy these, or drop in Wednesday, December 7, 10:00 am for the Seniors Christmas party and find out what I’ve chosen. Stay for the morning and enjoy the party.
The Ballantrae – Musselman Lake and
Environs Secondary Plan / Highway 48
Corridor Review
DRAFT Background Report
You are invited to attend a public workshop / open house hosted by the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, being conducted as part of the Ballantrae – Musselman Lake and Environs Secondary Plan / Highway 48 Corridor Review.
Date: December 7, 2011
Time: 6:30 – 9:00 PM
Location: Ballantrae Community Centre, 5592 Aurora Road
Councillor Bannon Provides
The MLRA With The Most Recent Update On The Park Plan.
The Good news, everything is proceeding… just not as quickly as we would like. Unfortunately, whenever you have 3 parties involved with 3 lawyers, extensions are going to be a common occurrence. We are just going to have to be patient as we are very, very close to a community park.
The Official Update below is from Andrew McNeely
through Councillor Phil Bannon.
Discussions continue with the Executors of the James Coultice Estate for the Town to acquire +/- 4 to 5 acres for a neighbourhood park, and, +/- 135 acres of environmentally sensitive lands for their long term protection. The general configuration of the parcels and the Terms and Conditions for the acquisition of the referenced lands remains consistent with the August 2010 Conditional Offer of Purchase & Sale Agreement that was authorized by Council. The Town has granted the Coultice Estate an extension on the clearing of Conditions associated with the Purchase & Sale Agreement which now expires in mid-February 2012 . The Coultice Estate requires the additional time to resolve their on-going discussions with Revenue Canada about land valuations in support of a charitable receipt issued under the Federal Government’s Eco-Gift program.
Andrew McNeely , MCIP, RPP | Director of Planning and Building Services | Planning and Building Department
Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
NOV
2011
22
Congratulations… Well done.
The MLRA volunteers have done an excellent job on keeping Musselman’s Lake healthy and beautiful.
Dear Rick,
Please pass along my congratulations to your association for being named Water Conservation Hero by the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority.
The MLRA volunteers have done an excellent job on keeping Musselman’s Lake healthy and beautiful.
Well done,
Paul Calandra, M.P.
Oak Ridges - Markham
NOV
2011
22
You Should Be Proud!
The community of Musselman’s Lake serves as an excellent example of what great achievements can be accomplished when people work together.
Dear Mr. Wigmore,
On behalf of the Government of Ontario, I am pleased to offer my sincere congratulations to the Musselman’s Lake Residents Association for receiving the Water Conservation Award from the Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority.
This award recognizes the hard work and dedication of your community members and the Musselman’s Lake Residents Association’s commitment to the environment and to a sustainable future we can all enjoy. The community of Musselman’s Lake serves as an excellent example of what great achievements can be accomplished when people work together. You should be proud!
Your continued efforts are valued and appreciated.
Sincerely,
Dr. Helena Jaczek
Member of Provincial Parliament
Oak Ridges-Markham
NOV
2011
22
They Came From Far and Near
Halloween Dance a Big Success again this year.
By Charlene Jones
Scary, Scary Boo!
Where do men dress as women, women as men, the living dress as the dead and the dead are afraid to show up, for being shown up by the lively costumes and full Hallowe’en spirit of the liveliest of Hallowe’en Dances? Well, the yearly bash at Cedar Beach, sponsored by Cedarvale Community Association and Musselman’s Lake Residents Association. This festival has gained a reputation locally and from away as the best in Hallowe’en haunts.
Mike Feld of Most Excellent Productions is key to the events continued success
This year Mike Feld, ever ready to up the ante in entertainment, provided a 60 inch HD TV screen to flash snapped photos from around the floor. With the addition also of a smoke machine and laser lights, imaginations soared, sustaining the visuals of vampires, Medieval Knights, Damsels in and out of Dis-dress, a Court Jester, Pirates just ashore from salty adventures on the high seas, inmates newly sprung from prison and an entire family of bloodied and be-toga’d bodies. That’s Papa, Mama and little Baby Ghoul to you!
Girls Just Want To Have Fun at the Musselman’s Lake Halloween Dance.
Cedar Beach as always provided the perfect venue with Bar Maids dressed as, well, Bar Maids, pouring from the substantial liquor supply shots and drinks for witches, a Cowardly Lion, and even Santa who refused the milk and cookies offered him. A brilliant robot flowed about as the ever graceful Lady Guinevere gave her scarf to a couple of Robin Hoodlums and a fair Friar Tuck.
As always many thanks go to Mike Feld and Most Excellent Productions who kept the leopards prowling, the bandits banding, the vampires vamping, Damsels...well, dancing. Everyone, dancing through the night to the wide variety of Mike’s music.
LISA is President of the CCA and on the MLRA executive. Without her dedication to this event, there would not be an event. Thanks Lisa.
Also kudos to Cedar Beach for hosting the event and to Lisa White, without whom the rest of us would still be wallowing in last year’s costumes. Thanks for the leadership, Lisa!
The annual ghoulish gala provides support to Cedarvale Community Association and to the Musselman’s Lake Residents Association.
NOV
2011
14
Emerald Ash Borer survey confirms spread of infestation in York Region
New infestation sites found in Towns of Aurora and Whitchurch-Stouffville
The Regional Municipality of York has confirmed the presence of the Emerald Ash Borer in the Town of Aurora and the southern part of the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville. The invasive insect, which kills all healthy ash trees, was discovered in these communities following an extensive three-month survey conducted by the Region earlier this summer.
This is the second time in three years that Musselman’s Lake Residents have been recognized by the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSCRA) for their fine work. In 2008 the Town received an award for initiating the Musselman’s Lake Stewardship plan which some residents of the Lake actively participated in drafting as members of the Technical Working Group. This is quite an achievement for our area as these recognition awards are not easy to come by.
Prestigious LSRCA Water Conservation Award presented to the MLRA
This year the LSRCA has awarded the MLRA a Water Conservation Award for the environmental work that has been done in our community. Rick Wigmore who is the President of the MLRA says “The MLRA received this award on behalf of the many residents of the Lake who not only support but also participate in our Annual Earth Day Community Spring Clean Event which has become a template for other communities to follow.”
Many thanks have to go out to not only the residents who participate but also to Cedar Beach (Kyle Jenkin and Janet Davies) who donate not only the site for us to use but also equipment and staff. Everyone please make sure you thank Councillor Phil Bannon for his tireless support of our Earth Day event. He is already working with the MLRA on how to make the 2012 event even better.
Nature is truly amazing. If you give her a helping hand it she will never stop repaying you for your effort.
NOV
2011
01
LSRCA Water Conservation Award Presentation 2011
Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA) official presentation to the MLRA
at the Awards Banquet.
Transcript of presentation made by banquet emcee Megan Cote to
the MLRA
“The Musselman’s Lake Residents Association is dedicated to making sure that the community of Musselman’s Lake continues to be a vibrant place where all can enjoy the lake. The Association has implemented a cutting edge community website to communicate with the residents and anyone having an interest in Musselman’s Lake. They have a complete environmental section that lists tips for shoreline improvements, how homeowners can be environmentally-friendly, and information on their enviro-smart street lights program to reduce energy consumption. They also hosted their annual Earth Day this spring. This is a full day event to clean up the Lake and the surrounding community. This involves not only removal of garbage and debris from the shoreline, but an in-lake clean up as well! Around 100 residents attend to help clean up and learn about local environmental concerns. Overall, the association is a dedicated group of people who are passionate about keeping their community a special place within the Lake Simcoe watershed.”
NOV
2011
01
Watershed Heroes
“The LSRCA on October 27th included
the MLRA in its list of winners for
the ecologically prestigious
WaterShed Heroes Awards.”
By Charlene Jones
Participating in our annual Earth Day Clean-Up, many people shuffle onto Cedar Beach and our greater Musselman’s Lake shoreline, early on a designated spring morning, poking, shifting, moving, lifting and waking up the waters and roads from winter’s snooze. These folks have no idea they are heroes.
Charlene Jones, Councillor Ken Fernandez. Rick Wigmore, Vice-Chair LSRCA Board of Directors-Bobbie Drew, Jane Grinnell, Councillor Phil Bannon
The LSRCA on October 27th included the MLRA in its list of winners for the ecologically prestigious WaterShed Heroes Awards. The environmental equivalent to the Oscar’s, this year’s ceremony marked the 30th year of awards to community groups and individuals who, like our annual migrators to Cedar Beach, get up, get out and give back.
The Watershed of course covers the water that flows in and out of Lake Simcoe, our largest wet neighbor, and a giant of biological impact.
Janet Davies, Rick Wigmore, Jane Grinnell, Councillor Phil Bannon, Charlene Jones
Marsden Gardens and Greenhouses provided the perfect setting, with decorative lights peeking from vines draped skillfully across wooden ceiling bolsters, indoor trees, and a large fountain whose tinkling splash provided a background of sound as clear and soothing as any four piece orchestra. This internal environment demonstrated the beauty and bounty possible when human awareness integrates with nature’s gifts.
Councillor Phil Bannon put forth the MLRA as a candidate for a Watershed Heroes Award and along with Councillor Ken Fernandez, presented a lovely sculpture to Rick Wigmore, President of MLRA, Jane Grinnel, Vice-President, and Charlene Jones, Co-Chairperson Fisheries Committee. These representatives accepted the award on behalf of the many who offer so generously every year of their time and resources, toward cleaning our lake.
Janet Davies of Cedar Beach was on hand to snap a few photos to preserve the moment. Ms. Davies’ generosity toward the MLRA constantly provides our organization with place and resources for our activities. We continue to be deeply indebted to her and her family for their generosity.
Many organizations, from the spiritual retreat center Loretto Mary Holme, located at the south tip of Lake Simcoe, to Highland Gate Golf Club, received awards for their efforts toward sustainable water use. Categories of Awards extended beyond water to include Soil Conservation Awards, Education Awards, the Ernie Crossland Young Conservationist Award, even Media Recognition Award.
One Tuan Yeap received a Conservation Award of Merit for donating 25 acres of land just outside of Uxbridge, for nature trails and hiking, in perpetuity to the LSRCA. The land will now be husbanded for future generations, providing a healthy portion of nature’s own balance to our fragile Oak Ridges Moraine. Now that’s generosity!
LSRCA 2011 Conservation Awards winners
Among the many people who came forward to accept their awards, the young conservationist Jeff Howard, whose list of volunteer activities on behalf of conservation roused a standing ovation from the audience, deserves special mention.
From an elderly gentleman who confessed to over forty years of active participation as a conservationist, to a group of teenagers called the Newmarket Team: Ontario Stewardship Rangers, the common bond of care about and concern for our natural environment resonated cross generationally, cross gender, cross ethnic divides to unite us as one community.
The spread of that community is impressive: from Six Finger Lakes, to Lake Couchiching, to our own Musselman’s Lake, the single uniting theme resounds:
clean up the mess, help nature restore her balance, and whether we receive awards or not, we are all winners.
Proof of the positive effect we are having lies in front of our eyes. This year the lake waters have retained a crystal clear quality not seen for decades. Crayfish, another signal of a healthy balance is returning, appeared this summer after more than twenty years of no-show, and most convincingly, that sound, between a hand-saw and a bull horn, announced the presence of frogs!
Thanks to all the residents who make the effort every year to volunteer their time, resources and ability to bend and lift! You are truly Watershed Heroes! This LSRCA Award belongs to you in recognition of and appreciation for all your hard work!
We look forward to seeing you again, in April, at our next successful Earth Day Clean-Up.
NOV
2011
01
“A Win-Win Opportunity”
The Latest In Canadian LED Streetlights Has Arrived At Musselman’s Lake
Rick Wigmore (MLRA president), Councillor Phil Bannon and John Johnston (ProTerra LED, CEO) with new ProTerra LED streetlight.
As part of the three-phase streetlight test launched by Councillor Bannon and the MLRA, a brand new LED streetlight has recently been installed on Byron Street. This is an exciting and innovative venture – not only is this light offering tremendous electrical savings to the town but it is totally recyclable as well (all non-LED streetlights contain mercury and lead and we, as taxpayers, must pay to have them safely disposed of).
The old inefficient streetlight that was replaced by the LED streetlight for testing.
Our three phase testing program began back in 2008 with the installation of Enviro-Smart streetlights on Highcrest Road . These were the same lights installed throughout the city of Calgary. The advantages were reduced power consumption (we replaced 175 watt lights with 100 watt lights) and new directional lenses that reduced light pollution dramatically.
Phase two involved the installation of a new High Pressure Sodium (HPS) streetlight on Churchill Drive – along with new directional lens, reduction in power consumption to 100 watts, it also has a reduced mercury content. Now, the third and final testing phase has been launched utilizing brand new LED streetlight technology by ProTerra LED, a Canadian company.
Chris from Fellmore Electric has no problem with this simple bolt on installation.
It’s no secret that there have been problems in the past with poor quality LED technology coming out of China. However, John Johnston of ProTerra LED has resolved all of these quality issues with a Canadian solution. The test light is only 90 watts but still extremely bright. We may be able to reduce the wattage to 75 watts or even as low as 50 watts which would represent an even greater energy savings than initially anticipated. These lights contain absolutely no lead or mercury and are totally safe for the environment which cannot be said for the two previous test lighting types.
Byron Street with the ProTerra LED test light in the foreground
These lights are also longer lasting, instant on and produce better quality light with less glare (details are seen easier with greater clarity). Technicians from Fellmore Electrical Contractors Ltd. (contracted by the Town for all streetlight maintenance) installed the light and were really impressed with the small size and quality of the ProTerra LED light.
So please take the time to compare the three styles of lights and let us know which one you prefer.
We can now light our streets safely without undue light pollution and we can also save energy…a win-win opportunity.
OCT
2011
25
Important Plan Amendments
To Be Made
The Ballantrae – Musselman Lake and Environs
Secondary Plan/Highway 48 Corridor Review will affect us all.
“Town of Whitchurch-Stoufffville Council originally adopted the Ballantrae – Musselman Lake and Environs Secondary Plan in 1994 as a basis for the planning and development of the Ballantrae – Musselman Lake area. The Plan has been amended a number of times to address various development proposals within the community and updates to address compliance with Provincial legislation. The most significant amendment brought the Plan into conformity with the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan. The entire Secondary Plan area is located in the Moraine”
The MLRA and Town & Country Animal Hospital
are pleased to sponsor a
Community
RABIES CLINIC Sat. Oct 15, 2011 - 10am to Noon
Ballantrae Community Centre
What is rabies?
Rabies is a contagious disease. It can be transmitted to both people and animals through a cut or a scratch from an infected animal.
The disease attacks the central nervous system and, if left untreated, is always fatal. The chance of running into a rabid animal in Ontario is very low. But if you see or come into contact with an animal you think has rabies, call your local health unit or your family doctor immediately.
How do I know an animal is infected with rabies?
Most rabid animals show these signs:
1. They are extremely excited
2. They may attack objects or other animals
3. They may froth at the mouth
4. They may bite at anything
For more information about rabies please Click Here
“When you’re enjoying this year’s Halloween dance, you’re dancing on a long time tradition!”
By Catherine Sword
Co-ordinator of Public Services
Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library
Nostalgia – a longing for something far away or long ago.
I’m reminded of a time early in my career. There was a volunteer at our library who told me she was an “Eaton’s girl”. Originally from Toronto she worked at Eaton’s and the company organized staff dances at Musselman’s lake. This is where she met her husband and they made their home in Stouffville.
If you’re interested, the library has a copy of Peter Young’s book, Let’s Dance: a celebration of Ontario’s Dance Halls and Pavilions. Page 30 has a photo and one page description of the history of Cedar Beach Park Pavilion.
Flipping through the book you’ll see a lot of photos providing an interesting snapshot on this era of pavilions and dance halls. It’s easy to understand why people look back on those days with nostalgia. Live bands. Romance. A war that tore at hearts.
When you’re enjoying this year’s Halloween dance, you’re dancing on a long time tradition!
Of course, I expect you’d also like a modern twist, so check out some other books available at the library, although act quickly! They get signed out a lot this time of year.
Fireworks at Musselman’s Lake – Photo by Angela Cleverdon
Everyone gathered in their backyards, on the shore, and in their boats to watch what has become a very popular annual event held by Cedar Beach. On Saturday the residents of Musselman’s Lake and the patrons of Cedar Beach were treated to an amazing fireworks display. Just when you thought the annual show couldn’t get any more spectacular, Cedar Beach has raised the bar and along with the artistry of Pyro- Mario Fireworks based in Stouffville and Most Excellent Productions from Musselman’s Lake, we were able to witness fireworks that were higher, brighter and more complex than previous years set to terrific music.
What a truly amazing show! Thank you Cedar Beach!
The photos are supplied courtesy of Lake resident, Angela Cleverdon.
We received an email from a concerned resident that said they had heard a rumour about the possibility that the Park Deal wasn’t going to happen. We contacted Councillor Phil Bannon for an update on the Park Deal and Councillor Bannon assures us that “Everything is still in order. Their council has just requested an extension to closing as they are still negotiating with Revenue Canada regarding tax relief.” So the good news is that the Park Deal has only been delayed which is to be expected in such complex negotiations. Once the negotiations are completed we will be moving into the planning stage that will include meetings and consultations with the residents.
With the support of Councillor Phil Bannon, Mayor Emmerson and Council, and with the full cooperation and positive input of the residents, we will all have a beautiful community park and lands that we can all be very proud of.
SEP
2011
09
Fireworks Display
Cedar Beach Season Ending Fireworks Display
On Saturday September 3rd, 2011 at dusk, Cedar Beach is once again ending the summer season with a BANG!
(Rain Date is Sunday)
This display is their exciting way of saying THANK-YOU! to their patrons for the business and to the residents for their support.
Patrons are invited to gather on the beach and residents are encouraged to view the outstanding display from the many vantage points on the shore or from their boats. Boaters are encouraged to cruise slowly to reduce the effect of waves and to stay close to the shoreline away from the Fireworks Launching Barge for safety.
Note to Boaters:
The display will be set up on a barge and towed to the middle of the Lake. From late afternoon on, please keep your boating activity to cruising around the perimeter of the Lake and also keep your boat wake to a minimum. There will be boats out BEFORE the display at dusk to help you maintain a safe distance from the barge and the fireworks.
LET’S ALL BE SAFE and HAVE A GREAT TIME!
AUG
2011
31
A-News Visits Musselman's Lake
"Residents are trying to make a difference"
By Rick Wigmore
Itʼs always amazing how the pros make their jobs look easy. On Tuesday August 16th,Mike Walker interviewed Councillor Phil Bannon, Kyle Jenkin, head of the MLRA Boating Safety Committee, and myself, Rick Wigmore, President of the MLRA about the Associationʼs new “Lake Watch: First Responders Program.”
Councillor Phil Bannon being interviewed by Mike Walker
Walker, a reporter with A-News has to be camera man, sound man, reporter and editor for each story he does and get the whole thing in for the 6 pm news! Mr. Walker not only covered all those bases but also supplied such skillful questions to each interviewee that the job of telling the story was made much easier.
A-Channel News interviews Rick Wigmore
Inspiration for the First Responders Program, (the Program will be described in greater depth in a later article,) rose from the tragic drowning of Sabrina and Gift on our lake earlier this summer. What surprised everyone, and galvanized action to form the Lake Watch Program, was the speed with which the tragedy occurred.
A-News introduced the segment with “There has been a staggering number of drownings on our waterways this summer and now people who live on one lake in York Region have a new plan to step in and try to prevent that number getting even worse. Mike Wallace spent today on Musselmanʼs Lake to see how residents are trying to make a difference.”
The complete segment is now posted on YouTube. Look for MLRA Lake Watch or click on the video link below. Itʼs astonishing how many hours of video tape condense down into 2 minutes of television!
Kyle Jenkin being interviewed by A-Channel News
To get a broader look at the situation, Mike Walker took a boat tour with me. As we cruised on the Lake, they saw Kyle Jenkin just setting off from shore with his daughter, Alexis and her friend, Skylar Clysdale. Everyone, adult and children alike, had on a well fitted life jacket. Kyle Jenkin walks the walk and talks the talk when it comes to parental supervision of kids around water, making sure all wear lifejackets. It is clear from the A-News Interview on You Tube, Kyle has been profoundly affected by the tragic drowning of Sabrina and Gift.
Alexis with her Dad, Kyle Jenkin enjoying the Lake
Mike Walker and I also spotted young men on paddle boats heading out from Cedar Beach Park, all wearing properly-fitted life jackets as per the new Cedar Beach policy: life jackets must be worn at all times when in any of their water vehicles. No exceptions.
Special thanks to reporter Mike Walker and producer Kirsten Brownell of A-News for their coverage and for showing an interest in Lake Watch and our unique community.
AUG
2011
31
To Ban Or Not To Ban Boats:
The History Behind The Question
“We agreed the only way to achieve progress at the Lake was to turn the page on the boating issue… “.
By Charlene Jones
In the days before the Musselman’s Lake Residents Association was formed, residents here argued ferociously over one question: ought motorboats be banned from Mussleman’s Lake?
The intensity of this question escalated into arguments that spilled over into nasty, angry, confrontational episodes at Town Council Meetings. So frequent and disruptive were these occasions that Town Council members finally shrugged their shoulders, saying, “If you people don’t know what you want, and can only present us with arguments, there is nothing we can do to help you improve the lake in any way.”
Not only did our negative approach ban any discussion about boats on the lake, it effectively banned us from serious consideration at Town. Their view of our community was based entirely on the arguing factions who showed up to yell at each other, at their Councillor, the Mayor, anyone present. Our reputation, collectively, was of “those nasty tempered lake people” who were so difficult to deal with it wasn’t worth the time to try.
Enter Councillor Phil Bannon, the Wigmores, the Laings, the Felds, Jane Grinnell, Lisa Gallagher, and a small group of generous, willing residents. The result was the MLRA whose executive, all successful business persons, gathered to put their heads together about the boat issue.
The Executive consists of a balance of Boaters, Non-Boaters, Shoreline Residents, and Residents near the lake. We examined the issues at the Lake and analyzed why nothing had been accomplished in the previous decade. We agreed the only way to achieve progress at the Lake was to turn the page on the boating issue, respectfully agreeing to disagree with this issue and get on with matters upon which the community could agree. In short, we recognized our desire to see positive improvements at our lake on many fronts trumped our desire to settle the impossible and contentious issue of Boats or no Boats.
This is a vital point: the question about boats on the lake may still live in the hearts of some residents, but a greater number of us realize that focusing on that question results in nothing but divisiveness, bad feelings and an impasse that blocks further positive endeavours.
Witness: since its implementation the MLRA, through the help of Councillor Phil Bannon and Town Council, has accomplished improved road paving, speed limit reductions, illegal dump closures, new gateways announcing our community erected at three points of entry, (two on 9th Line and one on Lakeshore Rd.), eco-friendly street light tests, a community park plan, an annual winter carnival that supports local charities, and an Earth Day Clean-Up which has cleared the lake and surrounds of tons of garbage, to name a few. These activities have improved the quality of life and services here at the Lake.
Through the group activities mentioned above, such as the winter carnival, people have come out to share a positive experience. Neighbours have spoken together, committed to work on projects and generally become more aware of all the ways we share this wonderful jewel called Musselman’s Lake and its surroundings.
A vital benefit resulting from the work of the MLRA needs to be emphasized. As a member of our Lake Community, and hopefully of the MLRA, it is easier than ever to be heard by Town. Residents can be clear: any questions or concerns they have regarding Town Services or lake improvements will be heard with an open ear and an eye to change. A positive attitude has resulted in the possible.
This willingness on the part of Town blossoms from the MLRA’s hard work to present our collective concerns, requests and queries to Town with respect and a professional attitude.
Although no one gets everything they want, the very real improvements we can point to indicate the change in our approach toward Town. Reciprocally, the Town’s attitude toward our community has morphed. They see us as people who, by and large, present information and requests professionally, with dignity and respect.
That change, the opposite from the shoulder shrugging dismissal of days gone by, has been the result of the MLRA’s professional manner in approaching Town under with the unending dedication and leadership of Councillor Phil Bannon who always lends his effort in helping us.
Many of you will have read in the Sun Tribune letters from one resident, who continues to behave in the old ways. This person wants to convince folks the recent tragic death of two young people was the result of motorized boats on the lake. In fact, security cameras at Cedar Beach show that at the time of the terrible accident on July 19th the lake was very calm, with few boats on it.
Make no mistake. We have all come to realize too late, the tragedy was a result of no life jackets and had nothing to do with other boats.
I don’t own a power boat. I watch boats from my dock and have observed an interesting trend: as we become more of a community with a more public profile, more boat operators handle their boats with respect and consideration. Fewer boat owners ram along the edge of the shoreline; more take a middle of the lake approach. When shoreline approach is necessary, boat operators slow their vehicle down, in deference to those on the shore and to the possibility of erosion. These small, but important changes, signal some of the many positive ways we are changing as a collective, toward more consideration and respect for the Town, for our environment and for each other.
We encourage everyone to turn the page, to let the issue of banning or not banning, fade into the past.
The future is very positive and bright for the residents of Musselman’s Lake. We need to work together to make it happen.
AUG
2011
31
Musselman’s Lake Web Site
Hits New Benchmark
Not only is the site getting more traffic
but…it may be going mobile.
Musselman’s Lake web site hit a new benchmark in July. The site had 3,782 visits with many of them being new visitors. We regularly receive between 600 and 1,000 visits a month so we are sure the recent tragedy at the Lake inflated July’s figures quite dramatically. It certainly is the World Wide Web with our community site receiving visitors from countries around the world such as, United States, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Brazil, India, Ukraine, Hong Kong and Algeria. What’s interesting is that the site was accessed by over 350 mobile devices.
Ravenshoe Group, who produces our web site free of charge, is now producing mobile websites for many of their commercial accounts. They have indicated they may be willing, time permitting, to produce a mobile site for the Lake in the near future. These sites are built to better fit the screen of the mobile device and are produced with less memory and faster load times required by smart phones and tablet devices.
In the meantime stay tuned for updates on:
Lake Watch, the developing program of water rescue, safety and education.
The LED streetlight test for Byron has been finally given the green light to proceed. We should see the first test light going up in September.
Negotiations for the Community Park continue and hopefully we will have more good news around the middle of September.
Thank you to the community and members of the MLRA for your continued support of the MLRA and its initiatives.
The MLRA continues to grow with new members joining on a regular basis.
AUG
2011
17
Summer Complaint
It was an official, recognized excuse to avoid the more strenuous of summer sports, such as turning the pages of a book.
By Charlene Jones
Summer Complaint. Used to be, back in the etc, summer complaint referred politely to an ailment of the digestive system too raw to be spoken of directly. Summer complaint allowed one to communicate oneʼs delicate physical state with the hope of a satisfying “ah, poor dear.”
It was an official, recognized excuse to avoid the more strenuous of summer sports, such as turning the pages of a book.
Instead, the discomfort conferred permission to unbounded loitering, lolling around, watching clouds, chasing ants, you know, the kind of summer activity that readies one for the rigors of winter. Now summer complaint issues not from inside, but all around.
I am told by those who know of such things my dock is at “The Long Shore Point.” Images of Pirates, Davey Jones and like conjure from this name, but what it means is that all the winter debris, fishing lines, hooks, old beer cans, plastic bags with interesting if not identifiable objects in partial decay, surround the water at dockʼs edge starting with spring thaw.
Being at “The Long Shore Point” also means for sound. From my dock
acoustics amplify. And from across the water of our small lake the happy sounds of childrenʼs screams, the joyous words of swimmers out encouraging each other, the odd moment of marital or partnership conflict rebound as though I am inside, an anonymous witness to the most private aspects of the lives of those who inhabit and use our lake.
I have learned to turn a deaf ear, but another form of audio enhancement also arrives seasonally. The echoed refrain of diesel trucks, backhoes, extractors yearly erupts like a seasonal gaggle of fowl, sometime close to the end of June. Everywhere streams of noise rise from power tools and hammers, chain saws and front-end loaders, clamor rising through the air, displacing bird calls, wind songs, wave splashes, arriving with regularity around my dock. I am expert now, in identifying the call of this exotic species since all the above plus bobcat, contributing our portion of boom, clash, screech and wham, have graced our portion of paradise this year, We too created the general din and so have had to accept that which rebounds to us from across and around the lake with more than the usual grace.
Neighbors all around, happily taking down seeming only to put back up structures of various kinds, smiled cheerfully, even waved in my general direction as they created thwack and pound, pulse and smack, rattling bangs and banging rattles. Without cease. And dust. Clouds of, puffs of, piles of, whirls and churls and curls of dust ploughing up, up, up with every move, human, animal or vehicular across the path of visible destruction.
I must say I have brought it all on myself. My fault. I wanted the backyard. With grass, somewhat even, instead of bumpy, with retaining wall proud in its noticeable edges, instead of vague promises of a line, peeping out and retreating again through the thickening brush of wilderness which I affectionately termed my “Urban Wilderness.” I wanted change. And I do. I just donʼt want the noise, dust and upset of various kinds that come with it.
My neighbors, who run to call 911 whenever I threaten to get close to a power drill, kindly agreed to “help” me. Fortunately they are of the genus of humans born able to eyeball physical items and leap to the correct length, depth, width, screw and nail type and size required to fix, align, sort, order and construct anything, while I am still deciding what type of work gloves are most appropriate.
Now in August as the eager thrust of earlier summer wanes in a sense of the endlessness of projects, followed by the earliest idea of autumn and the comforting notion of next year, echoes bounce less frequently both from across the lake and from my backyard.
The sensible shush of winds harmonizes again with high pitched gullsʼ cry and the voices of the new family of eagles who have found our lake. Between echoes of big machines, these elegant creatures swooped and called to each other above the water, all summer long.
And I have retreated, happily ensconced on the side deck, a cool drink in hand, gazing up into the leaves of limbs of Manitoba and Sugar Maple, mapping where the leaves cross over and where flow freely in the wind, having begged off the rest of cleanup for what remains of summer, with an old fashioned case of summer complaint.
AUG
2011
17
Lake Watch
The aim of the program is Rescue, Prevention, and Education.
By Rick Wigmore
Firstly I have to thank Councillor Bannon for setting up such an informative Lake Watch meeting. Very much appreciated.
Jane Grinnel VP MLRA, Kyle Jenkin Head of the Boating Safety Committee, and myself Rick Wigmore, President MLRA were invited to participate in an exploratory meeting on developing a program of water rescue, safety and education. Phil brought together key professionals from York Regional Police, EMS, Fire Chief, and also Town officials. I am happy to say that these professionals really know what they're doing and their input was invaluable.
Prior to the meeting Kyle and I had reviewed what had happened with the recent double drowning and using input from several residents in the boating community we developed a procedure for us to follow on any rescue action. We brought our procedures to meeting for the professionals to review. Kyle and I were quite confident that we had everything covered but, as usual the professionals know much more than the amateurs (in this case the residents). We had talked about marking the incident area on the lake with a bumper and an anchor. The York Regional Police pointed out they would prefer we use “drowning markers”, that are available at dive shops as this would avoid any chance of any anchor being tossed into the lake accidentally coming in contact with the drowning victim.
We talked about using flare guns to draw attention to any emergency but the Police would prefer we use Bull Horns with sirens or a large community bell. The police and fire department's concern is that the flares are made of hot magnesium and should they get blown ashore could cause fires.
They stressed the importance of when you see an incident, make sure that you triangulate where it's occurring by lining it up with three reference points on the shore. This can be done from the shore so even if you don't have a boat you can be instrumental in locate where the incident happened.
Also discussed in detail was command and control of the emergency with residents being first responders, handing over to Fire and EMS who then turn it over to Police. We discussed in detail what each level of response requires and the smooth transition required.
We will be looking for resident volunteers for a first responders program to be set up under the banner of “Lake Watch” where these residents will be trained in basic CPR and rescue techniques. There will be education components, community meetings, swimming lessons. Lake Watch will have various levels of commitment so that residents can be involved at whatever level they choose to participate from first responder to simply keeping a watch out on the Lake when you are out walking.
The aim of the program is Rescue, Prevention, and Education.
We will be making future announcements as this program is just in it's infancy but could become a water safety template for water front communities. This article was hastily put together to inform residents immediately as we don't want residents using anchors and bumpers for markers or flare guns as previously suggested.
Once more THANK-YOU to Councillor Bannon for setting up the meeting and THANK-YOU to the professionals of the Police, Fire, EMS and Town for their valuable input. We look forward to working with you to make this Lake Watch program a success. In the meantime we would ask all residents to be extremely observant when at the lake and please encourage all non-swimmers and poor swimmers to...PLEASE WEAR LIFE JACKETS!!!
AUG
2011
12
“… I Admire The Positive Work That’s Being Discussed”
Sometimes the best a librarian can do is to refer you to a book and a professional.
By Catherine Sword
Co-ordinator of Public Services
Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library
Following your website has been very difficult lately, but I admire the positive work that’s being discussed. The fast response time on the night as well as all the discussion of future possibilities to prevent such tragedies. With that in mind, I’d like to offer a few books to consider.
Two that are older, but the information still applies are Harcourt Roy’s, Swimming and Water Confidence, and Michael Bettsworth’s,
Of course, with that in mind, I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that the swimming lessons provided at the Leisure Centre all have a component called “swim to survive”. Sometimes the best a librarian can do is to refer you to a book and a professional.
AUG
2011
08
Stouffville Sun-Tribune Article
on Grieving Father Was
Very Disappointing
If reporter Ms. Bolan was truly interested in this community, she would be looking at ways to help us promote water safety…
By Rick Wigmore
The recent Tribune article on “Grieving Father” was very disappointing. This is a sad case of a reporter and a paper with an agenda - projecting their own views and ideas onto a grieving father. Whatever happened to simply reporting the facts and letting readers draw their own conclusions??
I had a very moving meeting with Sabrina’s father at his July 30th Open House. He expressed his gratitude to all of the residents who had assisted in trying to find his daughter and asked if it was possible for the boaters to form a kind of “public coast guard” to keep track of people on the lake. I posted an article to the MLRA website, summarizing the visit that my wife and I made to this very humble and spiritual man.
Now compare that article on the MLRA website with the latest article written by Sandra Bolan in the Stouffville Sun-Tribune. It’s a complete about face. She now has the father supposedly blaming boats for his daughter’s death. Councillor Bannon is also being dragged into a situation not of his making but by claims that a very general statement made by the Councillor was actually directed at the father. If Ms. Bolan was a lawyer, she would have her knuckles rapped for ”leading the witness”.
Let’s review the facts not conjecture. What we do know is the girls were newcomers to the lake and were out on the lake in an inflatable boat without any life jackets. We do know the girls were out on the water all afternoon paddling with fence posts. This would lead one to believe exhaustion was a contributing factor. If Ms. Bolan was truly interested in preventing further tragedies rather than stirring up controversy in our community, the ban she would be promoting would be to ban visitors to the lake from swimming without life jackets.
There has been no drowning attributable to boat accidents or otherwise. There has been no drowning or accidents of water skiers or wake boarders. There have been no drowning of shoreline residents or their offspring who have the dangers of water taught to them very early in life. The drowning victims all have been newcomers or visitors to the Lake swimming without life jackets.
To outright ban the power boats on Musselman’s Lake would severely jeopardize our ability as residents to help and respond quickly to people in trouble on the lake due to misadventure. For example, the young man who intentionally flipped his kayak and then couldn’t get it righted would have drowned waiting for a canoe. A nearby power boater was able to respond quickly and rescue the man. How about the inebriated fisherman (a visiting non-swimmer) who was fishing without a life jacket on? He toppled out of his canoe when he foolishly stood up. Folks in a nearby power boat saw the man struggling in the water and quickly went over to assist. Yet another tragedy averted.
Musselman’s Lake is bigger than she appears. From the shore where Ms. Bolan views the lake, it appears small. But as anyone who has actually swam in the lake will tell you, looks can be very deceiving. How many people call themselves good swimmers? Probably a majority of those people couldn’t swim 66 lengths of a backyard pool; but, that’s what it takes to swim from the middle of the Lake to the closest shore.
If Ms. Bolan was truly interested in our welfare, she would stop trying to split a grieving community and help us define and promote water safety to newcomers and visitors to the lake rather than actively promoting the banning of the only means the residents have to respond quickly to any emergency on the lake.
AUG
2011
08
The Stouffville Sun-Tribune Seems Bent On Drowning Lake Residents In Negative Press.
We are very pleased with the Stouffville Free Press for its coverage of the tragedy at the Lake.
We are very pleased with the Stouffville Free Press for its coverage of the tragedy at the Lake. Not only did they have a good article and a great column about the tragedy but, they also published an open letter (see below) from the MLRA Executive in response to all the negativity directed at the Lake by The Stouffville Sun Tribune. “High powered boats don’t belong on Lake”, “Drownings spook lake residents”, “Drownings changed little at Stouffville-area lake.”
The Stouffville Sun-Tribune seems bent on drowning Lake residents in negative press. Thank goodness we have a community newspaper such as the Stouffville Free Press with a positive outlook and that actually cares about the community.
AUG
2011
08
Using A Tragedy To Promote A Personal Agenda While A Community Grieves Is Unacceptable.
Copy of MLRA letter published in the Stouffville
Free Press
By MLRA Executive
The community of Musselman’s Lake was brought closer together recently by a drowning tragedy, but now is not the time to try and divide our close knit community between boaters and non-boaters as some have tried to do. Many residents have power boats which have been utilized by emergency services during critical search and rescue operations. During the recent event, our community was able to conduct a search that we can be proud of that included thorough checks on the water, below the water and around the shore. Some people even went door to door in hopes that the two young girls had made it to safety unseen.
What some people don’t appreciate is just how many rescues are carried out by so-called high powered boats, or how many people in paddle boats and canoes get into trouble and have to be rescued due to mishap, exhaustion and/or intoxication. People using inflatable rafts are even more of a concern as they seldom carry life jackets, as was the case in this tragedy.
When we had a massive die-off of Crappie fish that threatened to pollute the lake, it was the shore owners and people with so-called high powered boats who cleaned up the mess. Working with Councillor Phil Bannon and working together, this community is starting to achieve some really positive infrastructure results. We are having many more positive dialogues with the town and police than ever before. The community park is still being negotiated by the lawyers for the government, town and Coultice family and we are hopeful the new deadline of Sept. 15 will be met.
This community is really coming together and achieving positive results. Using a tragedy to promote a personal agenda while a community grieves is unacceptable.
AUG
2011
08
Gracious Father Grieves with Community
Even though I just met him, I’ll be sorry to see him go. He sure is an inspiration.
By Rick Wigmore
On Saturday, my wife Linda and I visited the home of Nash Alibhia, father of Sabrina, 15 who tragically drowned on Musselman’s Lake along with her best friend Gift, 16. Nash had graciously opened his home on Windsor Drive to all friends and neighbours who wished to offer their condolences on the sudden tragic loss of his only daughter, Sabrina.
Nash is a very soft spoken gentleman originally from Tanzania, Africa and one of thirteen children. Nash said “I’ve lived in a lot of communities both in Canada and abroad and by far the “most welcoming” community was Musselman’s Lake.
He was extremely happy the morning of that tragic day because his daughter had decided to live with her Dad at Musselman’s Lake (Mom and Dad don’t live together) and he had just registered her at Stouffville High School. Sabrina had her best friend visiting and Sabrina was getting ready to celebrate her sixteenth birthday.
Each of us had a piece of the story from that tragic day and we exchanged what we each knew and filled in the blanks. On that beautiful Tuesday afternoon, the girls launched their inflatable rubber raft from Glendale Beach. Nash was there and told the girls to have a good time BUT do not go far from the shore and never ever let go of the boat. With those cautionary notes he returned to his house to prepare the evening meal. That was to be the last he was to see of the girls alive.
I was able to tell Nash that between 5 and 5:30 p.m. I saw and heard them in the middle of the lake. They were laughing, screaming, shouting, and having a great time. I almost went down to the boat to go out and warn them that their screams could be misinterpreted and no one would really know if they were in trouble. In the end, I remembered being that age and decided they didn’t need an old person ruining a great afternoon. Whether that would have made a difference or not, who knows. They had already, being headstrong teenagers, ignored Nash’s warning to stay close to the shore.
I filled him in on Kyle’s valiant attempt to save the girls and how my son and his friends joined Kyle in trying to locate the girls. The problem wasn’t the fifteen feet of water which was clear but the fifteen feet of weeds that literally swallowed them up and made them invisible by anything except sonar - which is how they were finally discovered. I told him of the many residents who rallied and volunteered their services to help in the attempted rescue and recovery operation. I told him of volunteers with boats and generators for high powered search lights, of divers all coming forward in a concerted effort to find the girls. What hasn’t been mentioned is there were also residents who went door to door to try and find the girls as no one had actually seen them go under. Kyle had just heard the screams, turned around and there was no one there - just the boat.
He told me of over 1,000 people attending the funeral. The difficulty his relatives faced in attending the funeral with Canadian Immigration refusing entry to all but those with British Passports. He told me about a girl so full of life. However, most importantly, this past Saturday afternoon this gentleman from Africa taught me about dealing with stress through faith. There is nothing more stressful than losing a son or daughter. We know because we almost lost our son to a rare form of streptococcus bacteria when he was sixteen but fortunately in our case, Sick Kids were able to intervene and save him.
Nash was very serene and convinced his daughter was in a better place. He even said he had a vision where Sabrina visited and told him not to worry - that she was alright. Nash sure put everything in perspective that afternoon. Through faith we can survive very tragic situations and that most of what we worry about here on earth is pretty unimportant and petty.
Nash is now selling his house and moving back to Africa because as he says that everything here reminds him of Sabrina. Even though I just met him, I’ll be sorry to see him go. He sure is an inspiration.
AUG
2011
02
Father Graciously Opens House To Grieving Community
Nash, the father of Sabrina Alibhai,
is holding an Open House in his home at 16 Windsor Drive, Musselman's Lake on Saturday, July 30th 2011
from Noon until 5p.m.
This gracious invitation has been extended to family, friends, neighbours and also any members of the community who wish to express
their condolences for the tragic loss of his beloved daughter Sabrina.
JUL
2011
29
Emergency Meeting
M.L.R.A. Executive holds emergency meeting to discuss the recent tragic events
By Rick Wigmore
Background
First of all, the members of the MLRA Executive, on behalf of the residents of Musselman’s Lake, would like to express their condolences to the Families of the young drowning victims Sabrina Alibhai, 15 years of age and her very close friend Gift Diji, 16. We are going to try to make sure they didn’t die in vain.
Here is an example of what we are up against. On Sunday afternoon Jane Grinnell and myself along with our significant others Andrew and Linda were cruising around the lake on our boat discussing this upcoming emergency meeting. Jane noticed 4 young people launching a small inflatable boat from Glendale Beach. They were paddling the boat in a very erratic manner so Jane suggested we approach them. There was a young lady sitting on the bow with what appeared to be a beer. Jane asked them if they had any life jackets on board. They replied no. She asked them if they knew 2 drownings had just occurred with a similar boat and no life jackets. They said they knew but they were all good swimmers. So basically don’t bother us we know what we’re doing.
Now let’s put this “good swimmer” term into perspective. Musselman’s Lakes looks small but in terms of a swimmer is larger than everyone thinks. The lake is ¾ of a mile long and ½ of a mile wide at its widest. That means from the middle of the lake to the nearest shore is 66 backyard pool lengths. These” good swimmers” would have to swim this distance having already expended the energy to paddle out to the middle. And how many “good swimmers” have died trying to rescue their not so good swimming friends. But what we’re dealing with is that attitude it happened to them but it can’t happen to me….but it can.
Ian Feld, another member of the executive, saw an adult swimmer out in the middle of the water and went up to the person to say they were hard to spot from a boat and maybe swimming in the middle wasn’t the safest thing to do. For showing his concern he got a 2 word reply F*ck Off!
These two shining examples show that prevention is going to be a challenge.
The Meeting
We held the emergency meeting on a pontoon boat on the lake with a bouquet of flowers to honour the girls.
They could not have had a better first responder than Kyle Jenkin, who before entering the family business was a police officer. He led us very carefully through the event and we were able to discuss thoroughly on ways we might solve the difficulties he encountered.
What happened?
Kyle was returning to his cottage just after 8 P.M., when he heard screams. “You’re pulling me under!” He turned around and the girls were gone leaving only the white inflatable boat marking the spot. Kyle’s training quickly kicked in and he fixed the boat’s position using shoreline references. He then had to lower his boat from the boat lift and go out to where he thought the boat had been because remember it is drifting. He tried to get other boaters attention, phoned 911, then dove in the water to try and find them. Mike Wigmore and his boatload of friends quickly joined the search and all accomplished swimmers quickly dove in where Kyle indicated they might be but couldn’t locate the girls.
Other boaters arrived at the scene along with the police helicopter with a very powerful searchlight which really penetrated the darkness of the water. By that time it was getting dark. The boats were equipped with generators and high powered lights supplied by resident Mike Feld… all to no avail.
The reality of the situation is that you have only 8 minutes to successfully save a drowning person. It takes Police and EMS approximately 10 minutes to get to the lake and another 20 minutes to unload or pump up boats and suit up; so, we really know the shoreline residents have to be observant and be the first responders. All power boats on the lake have licensed drivers, life jackets, bailers and flares. So we looked at cost efficient ways to do things differently based on our knowledge of this tragic accident.
Problem #1- Marking accident site. We know that positions and conditions change quickly on water with wave action, wind and currents. Everything moves unlike on land.
Possible Solution- Most boats carry bumpers and have to carry an anchor and anchor line. The first responder should immediately throw a bumper with line and an anchor attached to mark the site before everything changes.
Problem #2- Alerting other boaters. We need to alert other boaters fast that there is a problem and help is needed.
Possible Solution- Rather than waving arms and yelling, fire off a flare. It will alert more people to an emergency quicker.
Another Possible Solution- Equip boats and certain docks around the lake with bullhorns/sirens again to attract attention to the emergency.
Problem #3- Locating a drowning victim in up to 15 feet of water and 15 feet of weeds.
Possible Solution- Equipping one or several boats with Sonar devices or Fish Finders capable of locating a person on the bottom. Drowning victims sink to the bottom and do not float again for around 16 hours. We need a method to scan the bottom.
Problem #4- Divers and boats should not be operating in the close proximity. This is simply too dangerous for the divers.
Possible Solution - Once the victim is located boats should clear the area for the divers to investigate.
Also discussed was the forming of the MLRA “LAKE WATCH” something like neighbourhood watch only of the lake. This would involve getting resident volunteers to sign up with emergency contact numbers and their abilities, whether it be providing a boat or first aid or just being an observer to alert boats to an impending or potential emergency. An issue was raised as to liability but in Canada unlike the neighbours to the South a rescuer cannot be sued in any way for trying to help in an emergency situation.
Under prevention it was talked about posting warning signs but the “no trespassing” signs at Glendale Beach are routinely ignored.
We talked about issuing extra life jackets to boaters with MLRA logos which could be distributed to inflatable boats found lacking. But it was felt these jackets would rather than be returned simply disappear.
Councillor Bannon is organizing a meeting, hopefully in August, with members of the executive and York Regional Police – Marine Unit, Fire and EMS to formulate an immediate response plan. Once a plan has been developed we will have an open meeting with the residents to discuss plans and any and all positive concerns. Open meeting to probably take place in September.
Another discussion took place about organizing a boating and water safety meeting to be held in the Spring and presented by Marine Unit Police.
In the meantime, any suggestions or ideas should be sent into the Musselman’s Lake Residents Association web site at www.musselmanslake.com
JUL
2011
29
Tragedy Sparks New Initiative
Ongoing discussions are taking place on how to proceed in developing a plan to best handle such emergencies and discuss prevention.
Once the full extent of the tragedy was realized the one big question that residents were asking themselves was…”What can we do to prevent a similar tragedy from happening?” The MLRA Executive is holding an emergency meeting Wednesday to discuss how to proceed in developing a plan to best handle such emergencies and discuss prevention. Several members of the Executive were directly involved in the search and rescue operation and will be bringing valuable information to the table. Councillor Phil Bannon has already graciously offered his services to act as chief liaison between the MLRA, EMS and the York Regional Police. Once a discussion framework has been established there will be a public meeting to gain input and feedback from the whole community. Please check the website often for updates. Also please note the website now has a Water Safety section on the Home Page for easy access.
JUL
2011
22
Tragedy Strikes Musselman’s Lake And Once More Residents Rally To Help
Our close knit community is grief stricken by the misadventure.
By Rick Wigmore
Tuesday July 19th was a hot hazy day. The perfect day for water activities such as swimming, boating, fishing.
Around 7:30pm Kyle Jenkin and Mike Wigmore both experienced boaters headed to their respective boats to go water skiing with their friends. As part of their boating practice they mentally note all of the boats and swimmers to keep track of while water skiing. Both noticed the two teenage girls and white dingy; but, it was Kyle who after putting his boat away heard screams and noticed the girls were missing. He mentally noted where the girls had been and re-launched his boat calling 911. When he failed to locate the girls, he immediately got Mike and his friends to join him in searching the water.
Photo by Daniel Wigmore
Word quickly spread through the close knit community and residents with boats joined the search. Mike Feld equipped my pontoon boat with generator and high powered lights that cut through the water giving us amazing visibility.
We took 3 police officers on board and started a grid search along with Kyle. The police helicopter did its own grid search with its powerful beam, flying just feet off the surface. Morgan, Tyler and Andrew both arrived with their dive gear. It was just amazing at how quickly this community comes together and the resources, both equipment and people, that the residents are able to provide.
Unfortunately this time it was to no avail. The Police Marine Unit arrived around 10 p.m. and asked the residents to clear the Lake so they could commence their search. All the residents immediately complied with their request and at 4:30 a.m. the two bodies were recovered from the Lake.
A tragedy always leaves you wondering… are there any lessons that can be learned? As kids we were always taught if we’re going to swim far from shore make sure you have a boat present in case of cramps and they had a boat. They both appeared to be able to swim because they had been out playing in the water and on the dingy for hours. Perhaps it was just fatigue? It shows the importance of having life jackets present and parents… please, please, keep track of your kids around water.
To all those who helped in the search, THANK-YOU. Special thanks to the York Regional Police and local firemen who responded so quickly. And to the parents of the two girls, we’re very sorry we couldn’t do more.
The rest of this summer whatever you are doing… Please, Please, Be Safe.
On Monday evening, June 27th, around 7:30 pm a loud whack, followed by the screech of metal on metal alerted many neighbors of the Ninth Line/ Rest Nook Lane area another car had gone into the lake.
The York Region barricade, with its broken wooden posts relaying along the north side of the road and the lake embankment, demonstrated the car had hit the railing, dragged along it and then careened nose first to land upright, facing north, on the thin shore of Musselman’s Lake.
Photo by Kevin Wigmore
Two fire trucks were first on the scene followed by an ambulance with paramedics, then police, and a tow truck. It took the emergency crews only about half an hour to extract the driver, the sole occupant, from the vehicle. She lay on a stretcher, to which the crew had secured her head, neck, trunk and limbs, before putting her into the ambulance, which backed into Rest Nook Lane and carried on to hospital.
About two hours later the car itself was finally pulled free and towed away. Police believe Alcohol may have been a factor.
JUN
2011
30
Where Do You Draw The Line?
Last time it was a pick-up truck, one resident remembered, driven by a person who fortunately didnʼt get hurt, because he was so drunk
By Charlene Jones
Where do you draw the line? I understand if someone figures their own life is not worth protecting, if on a bad day he or she makes the decision to play Russian Roulette, or Pills and Booze, or even street drugs like hillbilly heroin. Life can be tough and moral judgements about how worthless someone feels donʼt add up to much. When that person makes the decision for others, that’s murder. We all agree, yet our laws do not reflect the danger to others of drinking and driving. When the ugly and familiar sound of metal on metal, glass crunching, loud thwacking and bumping hit our ears, we knew. Neighbors around here gathered slowly, one small group immediately at the scene, others trailing along to join.
Last time it was a pick-up, one resident remembered, and a dog in the truck, driven by a person who fortunately didn’t get hurt, because he was so drunk. Always, the driver is drunk.
Photo by Kevin Wigmore
Rest Nook Lane leads directly off of Ninth Line precisely where the Ninth veers sharply to the east. Drivers approaching from town must make that turn, and most do. Every few years, someone doesn’t. York Region has placed a metal bumper barrier, with large wooden posts at that exact corner, and like clockwork some drunk driver misses the turn, takes a swipe at the posts, and parks their vehicle in water. We checked the posts: pushed in, swaying, as though they too were drunk. The metal barrier with its middle dented, sand along its length testified to the trail the car took:
around the bend in the Ninth Line, smack into the posts and metal, careening forward, hugging the barrier then a final sharp left hand turn front bumper first, into the lake.
Mothers pushing baby carriages, young children riding bikes, teenagers on noisy scooters, elderly couples taking a turn around the lake, couples walking their dogs any one of these may have been at that corner at that exact moment. This woman driver having decided her own life meant so little she was willing to risk it by driving drunk, was lucky enough to have missed killing someone else.
Our residentsʼ lives mean less in their potential safety than the “rights” of the individuals driving cars drunk. Thatʼs what the laws reflect. This driver will get a sentence, a fine. Because the car was a new Acura, my guess is she will pay the fine with little consequences to her own life. My guess is also she will continue to take the lives of others into her own hands, until our laws change to reflect our collective desire to protect ourselves, our neighbors and our families from those who want to play suicide with their own lives, who believe it is their right to drink and drive.
PLEASE DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE…YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY PERSON YOU ARE HURTING!.
JUN
2011
30
Summer Is In The Air
Sit back, relax and enjoy...
Sit back, relax and enjoy this early morning, summer holiday bike ride around Musselman's Lake. Ride through Spooky Hollow, take your chances on Bear Path and avail of the Glendale shortcut. Real Time ride...no edits. This scenic ride is enhanced with music by Canadian musician/song writer, Danny Michel.
JUN
2011
03
Spring Cleaning Includes Computer
“As I read about your spring cleaning around the Lake it reminds me of the virtual cleanup at the library.”
By Catherine Sword
Co-ordinator of Public Services
Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library
As I read about your spring cleaning around the Lake it reminds me of the virtual cleanup at the library. We’ve recently updated our Polaris system and we’re wading through some changes. You might say once the waters have settled you’ll be amazed how much depth is visible.
A first step into the catalogue and the view is familiar with the quick search box.
A quick tip here: keyword search means you don’t have to enter the full title, and yes, it does combine author and title terms. For example, if you want to find the book by Christine France, The barbecue and grill book: sizzling ideas for delicious outdoor eating, all you really need to enter is sizzling Christine. I wouldn’t advise that as an internet search, but for our catalogue it’s fine.
Take another step into the catalogue and search a favourite author. You might discover that there’s an order record visible and it’s possible to reserve the book. For example, any day now we will receive James Patterson’s 10th Anniversary, and Charlaine Harris’ Dead Reckoning . Jump in and reserve a book before it even arrives at the library!
Take another step and link to your own patron account. Have you ever wondered how to reserve or renew something online? Checked your fines? Suspended your reserves so you can go away and not get dropped off the list? Have you enabled your reading history, saved a search, or, my personal favourite, created book lists? Well, there’s lot that can be done with you library card and I’d love to take you through this and much more.
In fact, I’ll be in your area sometime soon to test out the remote access. I’m sure it will all run smoothly and then my hope is to visit you (live) to give you a tour of some library resources (virtual). I haven’t even skimmed the surface of all the electronic articles, book discussion guides, health animation clips, and yes, e-books.
That’s not all. You should see the waves overlap, pull stuff up from the bottom of one database and merge into the catalogue. Really!
Now you’re likely feeling over your head, but don’t worry. I’ll let you know when my visit to the Lake will be scheduled, or you can sign up for a free training session at the library. Email csword@whitchurch-library.on.ca or phone the library at 905-642-READ (7323), ext 230.
Need a Library Card?
Residents need to present identification with a photo and the current address. The driver’s license provides both.
Seasonal Card – For summer residents of Cedar Beach the above identification is necessary, plus proof of residency at the Park. Seasonal library cards are valid for a six month period and gives access to all physical and virtual collections.
Books on order for 2011
Fiction
C.J. Box. Back of Beyond due August
J.A. Jance. Betrayal of Trust. a J.P. Beaumont novel August
Anne Rivers Siddons. Burnt Mountain. Due July
Jeffery Deaver. Carte Blanche: a James Bond novel. June
Perri O’Shaughnessy. Dreams of the dead: a Nina O’Reilly novel July
Johanna Lindsey. When Passion Rules. Due June
Janet Evanovich. Smokin’ Seventeen. Due June
Nonfiction
Robert Lipsyte. An Accidental Sportswriter: a memoir. Due May
Joe Pantoliano. Asylum: a memoir about Hollywood, Mental Illness, Recovery, and being my mother’s son. Due August
Michael Shermer. The Believeing Brain: from Ghosts and Gods to Politics and Conspiracies – how we construct beliefs and reinforce them as truths. Due June
Sandra Beasley. Don’t Kill the Birthday Girl: tales from an allergic life. Due July.
Brenda Bradsahw & Cheryl Mutch. Good Food to Go: healthy lunches your kids will love. Due August.
Daniel B. Smith. Monkey Mind: a memoir of anxiety. Due July
Stephen “Steve-O” Glover. Professional idiot: my insane quest to become the world’s most famous moron. Due June.
MAY
2011
30
New Faces at the MLRA
Earth Day Spring Clean Event
This Year’s Successful Event Saw
Many
New Faces
Birdhouse building
Lisa, Dylan and John were very busy
Dedicated volunteers
Daryl, Mike, Phil and Rick
There were a lot of familiar faces in attendance from the Connor/Highcrest, Churchill, Restnook/Coultice and Ninth Line Residents Associations that are all represented under the MLRA Residents Association umbrella. Along with those familiar faces though, were many new faces. Folks from the Town’s Leisure Services attended and graciously supplied us with tree saplings to plant and bird houses to build. The saplings were a big hit with the adults and the kids loved building bird houses that they got to take home with them. People who had moved in the area over the winter came out to not only support the event but also to meet their neighbours. What a great way to “meet and greet”!
Lots of good eating
Ian, Sandy and Rick
The morning started off at 9am with coffee and donuts courtesy of Tim Horton’s. Work crews were dispatched by various means of transport, including a Cedar Beach hay wagon, Rick Wigmore’s ATV and the pickup truck and trailer supplied by Ian Feld of AquaVantage Marine. All vehicles did double duty as both shuttles for work crews and haulers for trash.
Tyler Clair with rare board fish
Kevin Wigmore - OK to lift
Kevin Wigmore and Tyler Clair took Kevin’s aluminum boat around the shoreline and removed a good amount of debris from the water. This involved both of them getting into the cold water at times! After all vehicles had returned multiple loads of various debris from around the lake (including an abandoned boat lift that was retrieved from the lake itself), it was time to eat! The crews were treated by the MLRA to a BBQ lunch of delicious hot dogs and assorted cold drinks. With Ian Feld manning the BBQ and joined by his trusty assistants - Rick & Linda Wigmore and Sandy Wigmore, everyone was well fed. If you happened to have just a little more room left after the hot dogs, George Karpouzis who runs the Cedar Beach Variety Store and is a big supporter of the community, offered a FREE ice cream to everyone involved in the clean-up. WOW!
George in front of his store
Mike Feld of Most Excellent Productions supplied the music that added both a festive atmosphere and a beat for the bird house builders to hammer to. Kyle Jenkin and Janet Davies from the Cedar Beach Trailer and RV Resort not only sponsor the Spring Clean Event every year but they also supply the facilities, the heavy equipment and the manpower that are all necessary to make our Earth Day a success. Kyle and Janet are also both personally involved in the actual clean up itself. Kyle & his trusted sidekick Kelly can be seen driving the tractors and Janet is always out with one of the crews picking up litter. Ravenshoe Group supplies the MLRA with its website free of charge and posts the photos for everyone to see.
Kelly with a load
Kyle in control
Everyone please make sure you send Councillor Phil Bannon a thank you as he once again has gone the extra mile for us. He believes in our community and is a big supporter of all of our events. Each year Phil Bannon works with the MLRA on this clean-up initiative to make it bigger and better. This year, Phil arranged for the Town’s Leisure Services to be involved (bird houses and saplings) and also arranged for the Africycle pickup.
Janet Davies pitching
Thank you Phil Bannon
Thank-you to Dan Wigmore of Gibson Printing for supplying the Earth Day flyers.
Make sure you come out to next year’s Earth Day Spring Clean Event - meet the new faces and help put a smile on them.
MAY
2011
10
2011 MLRA Spring Clean Event
Was A Success
Watch For Photos And Story To Be Posted Soon
MAY
2011
03
Earth Day Event Rescheduled To Sat. April 30th 2011
Due To Unfavourable Weather Forecast, Event Has Been Rescheduled To Sat. April 30th
It has been decided that due to the unfavourable weather forecast, it would be best to reschedule this year’s expanded Earth Day Spring Clean Event to
SATURDAY APRIL 30TH, 2011. It will still be held at Cedar Beach from 9am until Noon. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may have created.
APR
2011
21
Councillor Bannon Ramps Up Earth Day Event
MLRA “Spring Clean Event” Just Got Bigger
Councillor Phil Bannon has always been an enthusiastic supporter of Earth Day and of the MLRA’s very successful Earth Day Event. Earth Day is very important to the community. Not only does the community benefit as a whole from a “spring cleaning” but it also is a great event to bring the community closer together. This year Councillor Phil Bannon, working with the MLRA have ramped up Earth Day to include a “Neighbour Hood Clean-Up Challenge” and several other new activities to the Big Event.
Please read the Community Update below for more information.
APR
2011
19
Community Update
"Neighbourhood Clean-up Challenge"
By Phil Bannon
EARTH DAY Ward #2-COMMUNITY CLEAN UP
Saturday April 23rd, 2011
9:00 am- noon
'Neighbourhood Clean-up Challenge'
Enter a Team from your neighbourhood into the 'Neighbourhood Clean-up Challenge'. All registered groups will be entered into a random draw for a Free Pool Party for their group. Gloves, garbage bags and garbage pick-up supplied.
You are invited to join the Musselman's Lake Residents Association in their celebration of post Earth Day activities. They are hosting a Community BBQ with entertainment at the conclusion of the day’s activities in the Cedar Beach Park parking lot, at Musselman's Lake.
We will be offering the following activities:
Bird House Building
Build your own Bird House with our Parks Staff. Take it home, hang it up outside and watch for new occupants.
Tree Planting
The Town has saplings waiting to be planted; all we need is your help. Join our Parks Staff and help to plant new life in Stouffville.
Bicycle Collection for Africycle
Africycle collects bicycles in any state to repair and to ship to communities in Africa.
For more details or to enter your team now, contact:
Councillor Phil Bannon at philbannon@townofws.ca
APR
2011
19
Here’s Your Chance To Make A Difference
Don’t miss The MLRA Earth Day “Spring Clean” Event on Sat April 23rd, 2011 from 9am to noon
at Cedar Beach Park, Musselman’s Lake
Yes, it’s that time again. Time to come out and “Spring Clean the Community”. Join the fun...meet your neighbours. Most Excellent Productions will once again be supplying music and entertainment to energize and enlighten you. There will be coffee, donuts and a BBQ lunch provided to those who help “Spring Clean The Community”. To help get you motivated for this year’s BIG Earth Day Event please make sure you take a look at the music video and photos from last year’s very successful event that can be found below.
Catherine Sword will now be contributing articles to our website along with our regular article contributor, Charlene Jones.
Catherine Sword is the Co-ordinator of Public Services, Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library has graciously offered to contribute articles to the MLRA website. These articles may not always be directly about our Lake Community but will be related or linked to events that affect us in our Community. She will also be making us aware of what a valuable resource the Library is.
We are all looking forward to reading Catherine’s articles.
MAR
2011
29
“If you don’t know how to fix it, please stop breaking it!”
Words spoken by Severn Cullis-Suzuki when,
as a 12 year old, she addressed a 1992 world environmental conference.
By Catherine Sword
Co-ordinator of Public Services
Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library
As you can imagine the WS Public Library has many things about Earth Day, the environment, sustainability and even kettle lakes. There are books, dvds, and electronic resources. I’d even suggest a Next Reads electronic newsletter. So let me start with words spoken by Severn Cullis-Suzuki when, as a 12 year old, she addressed a 1992 world environmental conference.
“You don’t know how to fix the holes in our ozone layer. You don’t know how to bring salmon back up a dead stream. You don’t know how to bring back an animal now extinct, and you can’t bring back forests that once grew where there is now desert. If you don’t know how to fix it, please stop breaking it!”
You can hear her eight minute speech at youtube, but the book where I discovered this quote is worth checking out. It’s a juvenile book, Our Earth: how Kids are Saving the Planet, written and illustrated by Ontarian, Janet Wilson. Each two page spread is a different child who is making a difference somewhere in our world. Interestingly, the first Earth Day, April 22, 1970, involved a lot of children asking world leaders to take action to save the environment. So it’s no surprise that we now have multi-generations working away, like the residents of Musselman’s Lake on this year’s Earth Day, April 23rd.
If you need ideas, inspiration or just to see what else is being done, visit your local library, that institution of “reuse”. Actually, don’t forget that before you hop in the car you can visit the library remotely at www.whitchurch-library.on.ca and you might even get what you need right there!
Use the drop down box on the blue bar, Resources, and link to the Online databases. At this point you’ll need your library card, but once inside there’s a whole slew of databases. You should see what comes up in Canadian Points of View, and the Canadian Reference Centre when you search ‘earth day’, or ‘kettle lakes’. Back under the Resources drop down box, in the Downloadables, the Overdrive collection has Dave Dempsey’s book, Great Lakes for Sale. Yes, by downloadable, I mean you can borrow it on your kobo, or sony reader.
Don’t forget the catalogue, at the top of the main library page. Plug the term ‘sustainability’ into the catalogue and you’ll see not only a list of physical books, but also electronic books. There is so much to choose from. How is a person to keep up? While, may I suggest you sign up for an electronic newsletter to be delivered to your email? For this topic I’d recommend you select both “Nature & Science” and “History & Current Events”, but note all the newsletters that are available at this link.
If you need any help with this, phone us at 905-642-7323, ext 230 for the Info desk.
Short list for Earth Day reading and viewing.
All available at the Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library:
Adult Books
Green volunteers: the world guide to voluntary work in nature conservation
Ed Begley, Jr. Living Like Ed: a guide to the eco-friendly life
Doug Fine. Farewell, My Subaru: an epic adventure in local living
Vanessa Farquharson. Sleeping Naked is Green
Paul Hawken. Blessed Unrest: how the largest movement in the world came into being and Why no one saw it coming
Wake Up and Smell the Planet: the non-pompous, non-preachy grist guide to greening your day, edited by Brangien Davis with Katharine Wroth
Juvenile Books, but adults can enjoy them too!
Janet Wilson. Our Earth: how kids are saving the Planet
Try this At Home: planet-friendly projects for kids. From the editors of OWL Magazine
Anne Jankeliowitch. 50 ways to Save the Earth
Trudi Strain Trueit. Earth Day
Jenn Savedge. The Eco-friendly
Teen’s Guide to Saving the Planet
Documentaries
Earth Days, a Robert Stone film
The Nature of things:Vol. 1: visions of the future collapse
Blue Gold: World Water Wars Waterlife
Taking Root: vision of Wangari Maathai
A convenient Truth: urban solutions from Curitiba, Brazil
MAR
2011
29
Mark It On Your Calendar!
Cedar Beach Is The Place To Be On Sat April 23rd, 2011
The MLRA Earth Day “Spring Clean” Event
is on Sat April 23rd, 2011 from 9am to noon
at Cedar Beach Park, Musselman’s Lake
Yes, it’s that time again. Time to come out and “Spring Clean the Community”. Join the fun...meet your neighbours. Most Excellent Productions will once again be supplying music and entertainment to energize and enlighten you. There will be coffee, donuts and a BBQ lunch provided to those who help “Spring Clean The Community”. To help get you motivated for this year’s BIG Earth Day Event please make sure you take a look at the music video and photos from last year’s very successful event that can be found below.
That first year, as soon as he stepped from the car, looked at the blossoms and blooms around my house
he said quietly, with joy, “Oh, I see. You live in paradise.”
By Charlene Jones
I like to look around our lake at all the houses recently covered in the snow and ice for which Canada is famous. I like to
view the ring of houses, especially after dark when the lights are on and imagine what you might be doing, my friends and
neighbours. Brewing a hot drink? Sitting in front of a fire? Reading?
Sounds delightfully ordinary, and is probably wrong. You may be snoozing through the dark of winter but more probably
you are planning, organizing, preparing, for something wonderful to happen, when the snow melts, when the sun shine is
warm enough, when the earth again turns her green yield to us, lucky beggars that we are.
Well, I am planning also. A visit from a Tibetan doctor! Match that for unusual. This will be his third year to visit
us on the lake. That first year, as soon as he stepped from the car, looked at the blossoms and blooms around my house
he said quietly, with joy, “Oh, I see. You live in paradise.”
It so happened that just then the Raven, (maven of Musslemanʼs Lake boaters, the elegant and luxurious living room on
pontoons,) arrived at my dock. Rick and Linda Wigmore wheeled up, took us aboard. Late day warmth, a delightful
breeze, the ease of the motor below us we rocked our way around the haven we call home.
Paradise indeed!
Dr. Yonten lives in Bangalore, with his wife and two small sons (see his website www.tibetanhealingcenter.com for more
news about his work and travels) He works long hours in a tiny clinic, offering the traditional Tibetan medicine to
whomever shows up at his door. His smile is infectious, his warmth contagious and his even disposition an inspiration. Oh
yes and he knows a great deal about the practice of compassion, an essential ingredient for healing.
Dr. Yonten will be visiting Musselmanʼs Lake in April this year, at our home. Heʼll be seeing clients from previous years and
is open to talking with anyone about their physical health, emotional well-being or the vast subject of meditation.
He speaks at the Stouffville Moksha Yoga Studio on Main St. Sunday April 10, starting at 7 pm and at the Stouffville
Library on Thursday April 14th. His talk there starts at 7:30.
He leads a retreat at Loretto Maryholme (www.lorettomaryholme.ca for pictures of this pristine retreat centre) April 22,
23, and 24th. Yes, it’s the Easter weekend, so those who would like to attend for one day are welcome, as are those who
want to come for two days of calm peace in beautiful nature. What a way to begin your spring renewal! For more
information or to register for the retreat contact Charlene Jones at
905-642-5055.
MAR
2011
10
One Last Blast Of Winter
One last blast of Winter Carnival that is...
We have one more 8th Annual Stouffville Winter Carnival video to share with you for your... Last Blast of Winter Carnival. “Doo Doo Visits the Stouffville Winter Carnival” highlights the fun the children had with Doo Doo.
MAR
2011
10
The Music Video Is Here!
You’ve seen the photos...now the 8th Annual Stouffville Winter Carnival Music Video is here.
If you unfortunately missed the Winter Carnival, make sure you don’t miss seeing this music video. Music from Canadian artist Michael Tompkins and also the vocals from Sarah’s performance at the Winter Carnival are used as the background for video clips and photos that will take you back to that fun filled day in February.
...and for your comic relief we have a special video of Doo Doo The Clown and Mikey from Most Excellent Productions performing " I'm So Hungry" at the 8th Annual Whitchurch Stouffville Winter Carnival as part of the Doo Doo Show. I'm So Hungry was a big hit with the many kids the come out to The Winter Carnival each year.
We hope you enjoy.
MAR
2011
04
Thank You!
The 8th Annual Stouffville Winter Carnival owes its success to the support it receives from sponsors and the community.
Thank you everyone!
FEB
2011
28
Winter Carnival Photos
Relive the fun! The 8th Annual Stouffville Winter Carnival Photo Gallery is just a click away.
To see a complete gallery of Winter Carnival photos please click here
FEB
2011
28
Face Paint Photos
Face Paint Photos at the 8th Annual Stouffville Winter Carnival
Please click on the link below to view the Face Paint photos. This link will take you directly to the Kodak website where prints and photo gifts such as mugs can be ordered with your picture on them. Purchasing a print or gift will require registration on the Kodak website and there will be charges applied for any Kodak products you purchase. Purchases can either be mailed to you or they can be picked up at the nearest Future Shop/Best Buy store.
If you wish to obtain the jpeg image of your Face Paint photo and cannot download it from the Kodak site, please click on this link and find your photo. Note the JPG number (example – IMG_9999.jpg) and email the request for your Face Paint photo with the JPG number to mlra@musselmanslake.ca. We will email it to you at no charge.
FEB
2011
28
Wow... Winter Carnival was Best Ever!
“A heartfelt thanks goes out to Phil Bannon whose inspiration turns us all out, every year, for the best winter fest ever.”
By Charlene Jones
The Ice Rink at the Stouffville Winter Carnival, Cedar Beach Park, Musselman's Lake was
very busy
Mid February, the excited huzzah of Christmas behind you, the stirring potential of the
New Year frozen under shovels of snow, piles of mitts and hats, layers of extra clothes,
until cheerfulness feels about as likely as a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat.
Well, at our eighth Winter Festival Doo-Doo the Clown did just that: pulled a rabbit, so
wiggly and soft looking it took a few beats before you knew it as one of his many magic
tricks.
This non-stop MC with his warm bellow of “UnbeLIEV-able” through renditions of Itsy
Bitsy Spider, had everyone singing and the leaders winning free fries from McDonaldʼs.
Parents bedecked in balloon hats on stage behind their kids shouted the lyrics to
YMCA, jumped up, turned around, put their hands up and down. Now thatʼs a memory
worth having.
As childrenʼs faces appeared with tiger stripes, dots and stars, whiskers in all colors,
the brightness meter began to rise. Free photos of their skin masks sealed this day for
posterity.
Free photos? In fact, most of it was free: the ice rink, face painting, displays by York
Region Police encouraging friendly exchange, Whitchurch Stouffville Museum
demonstrating some history of our area, Stouffville Steppers revealing tomorrowʼs
dance stars today, Whitchurch Stouffville Leisure Services information display, York
Academy Dancers, songstress Sara, and oh yes, the Treasure Hunt gifts.
Just walk around with your little ones and write down the word in red below the word in
black on clearly marked signs, come back, enter the draw for a Grand Prize and
walk away with your choice of stuffed toys, felt bug bags, hand held etch-a-sketch,
whirly tops, dolls, the list goes on.
The free Hay Ride from Musselman's Lake to Shadow Lake was very popular
Outside the Ballantrae Scouts Beaver Tails sold out before the afternoon was over. And
when the Beaver Tails were gone, Scouts gave out TimBits to those still waiting in line.
Where can you get a hot-dog and cocoa for a dollar? Here, where the girl with fingerless
mitts and cold-reddened fingers smiled broadly as she slid the cup toward you. Here
where you turn, your warm cup in hand, and watch young skaters, all ankles and
wobble mix with confident young ice whizzes on the specially prepared ice rink.
Before turning back to the pavilion your eyes catch sight of kids lining up for ATV rides.
For $5.00 kids and/or adults could ride an ATV, supplied by ATC Corral, around a
course out on our lake. Lined up, and loving it!
To your left going back, patient ponies waited steadily while parents and grandparents
piled their snow suit clad tiny tots safely on top for their first ever pony ride. Donate a
buck to the Scouts for the opportunity? No problem.
Volunteers steered everyone safely through the driving tractors, gathering crowds for
the next hay ride around Shadow Lake, and provided direction for cars coming and
going.
Mayor Wayne Emmerson strode through in mid afternoon, engaging what might be a
rare sight for him, happy citizens helping themselves to an afternoon of fun.
Snaps arrived and Phil Bannon, event founder and co-ordinator, Rick Wigmore aka
Captain Canada, Dan Heron, MP Paul Calandra, Jane Grinnell, and more organizers
and volunteers jumped on the tractor of hay for a photo op which included the erstwhile
ever elusive Dan Wigmore, most often attached to the other side of the camera, as
purveyor of powerful pictures.
Childrenʼs Choir sang “Donʼt Stop Believing” by Journey while the two young women
across the aisle mimed dancing as they stood behind their counter demonstrating CPR
These memories shape our lives and incidentally the future. All the painted faces,
helpful Scouts, dancers, singers on stage with or without parents, the little ones on the
ponies and those dashing through the crowds inside, these are our future. On Saturday
February 12th the future looked a lot brighter.
Doo Doo and Friends
Councillor Bannon, Janet Davies, Kyle Jenkin and Mayor Emmerson
A heartfelt thanks goes out to Doo Doo the Clown, Ballantrae Public School Choir,
Most Excellent Productions, York Dance Academy, Stouffville Steppers, Whistle Radio,
Crime Stoppers, Sarah/Brittany Unionville High School, Whitchurch Highlands Primary
Choir, York Regional Police, Stouffville Fire and Emergency Services, Boston Pizze,
Ballantrae Lionsʼ Club, Tim Hortonʼs, George of Cedar Park Variety Store, ATC Corral,
and Janet Davies of Cedar Beach Park, as well as to all the volunteers from Captain
Canada to Kyle Jenkin and lastly, Phil Bannon whose inspiration turns us all out, every
year, for the best winter fest ever.
FEB
2011
18
Winter Carnival Photos and Videos
Photos and Videos will be posted in a week or two.
We realize that everyone is anxious to see the Winter Carnival Photos and we are hurrying to post them as fast as we can. Please check back often as we will be posting a link to the Face Painting Photos and a slide show of Carnival Photos. We also will have a few videos to help relive the fun had by all at this year's very successful event.
Lucie from Ravenshoe Group busy taking Face Painting Photos.
FEB
2011
18
There’s Something for Everyone
at the Bigger & Better
Stouffville Winter Carnival...
Don’t Miss It!
Whitchurch-Stouffville 8th Annual Winter Carnival
Sat. Feb. 12, 1 - 4pm
presented by Councillor Phil Bannon
in association with the MLRA
FEB
2011
09
There’s Something for Everyone
at the Bigger & Better
Stouffville Winter Carnival...
Don’t Miss It!
Whitchurch-Stouffville 8th Annual Winter Carnival
Sat. Feb. 12, 1 - 4pm
presented by Councillor Phil Bannon
in association with the MLRA
Cedar Beach Park at Musselman's Lake
Saturday, February 12th, 2011,
Pony Rides- Ice Skating-Face Painting-Hay Rides- ATV Rides
School Choirs-The York Dance Academy-Stouffville Steppers- Hot Dogs
Hot Chocolate-Beaver Tails-Treasure Hunt and much, much, more!
Councillor Phil Bannon, Mike Feld (Most Excellent Productions), Doo Doo The Clown,
and
Kyle Jenkin (Cedar Beach) were out on the Lake checking on the ice conditions
for the
Winter Carnival.
FEB
2011
08
A Global Following
The MLRA website received 446 visits from 14 countries/territories in January
During the last month, our local residents’ web site received visits from various countries around the world - United States, Switzerland, France, Brazil, South Korea, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia and Serbia. It’s always amazing to see the global interests that web sites garner. Musselman’s Lake truly appeals to the international community.
We are always searching for local interest stories so if you have a story about the Lake Area or its residents, please don’t hesitate to submit it to us at mlra@musselmanslake.ca.
Please remember that the annual Winter Carnival is fast approaching! This year we are planning to take pictures of everyone who gets their face painted; the pictures will then be available on the website for downloading. We did something similar last year with the Olympic Torch photographs and they proved to be a resounding success.
So come on out and have a blast at the Winter Carnival. It’s a great way to spend the day with friends, families and neighbours alike. There is something for everyone – young and old. You will be able to enjoy both outdoor events such as ATV rides, Pony rides and ice skating or the many indoor activities including live entertainment.
The Carnival starts at 1:00 pm on Saturday, February 12th and runs until 4:00 pm. So bring your skates and we’ll see you there!
This update is from an enquiry that Jane Grinnell, V.P. of the MLRA made to Andrew McNeely, Town of Whitchurch Stouffville - Director of Planning & Building Services.
In an email to Jane, Andrew McNeely updated her on the status of the acquisition of the land from the James Coultice Estate (This acquisition is key to the Community Park and the protection of this environmentally sensitive area)
Importantly, the Town and the Estate are continuing to move forward to finalize the terms of the acquisition of the land by the Town. There has been however, a need for the Estate to request an extension on the clearance of their conditions concerning valuation of the charitable receipt for the dedication of the land to the Town under the Federal Government’s Eco-Gift Program. Further discussion with Revenue Canada is required so an extension until April 2011 was accepted by Council.
Andrew said that “Town Staff have in the 2011 draft Operating & Capital Budget identified an expenditure of $250,000 to complete the first phase of the Musselman's Lake Park Project. Items covered in this financial allowance address the general clean up of the property to be acquired; building demolition; and, fulfilling the Town's obligations to the Estate arising from the Offer of Purchase & Sale Agreement. Council will commence deliberation on the 2011 Budget on February 22nd.”
Community consultation about the Community Park Plan will continue in the spring of 2011 once the land acquisition has been firmed up. Please ensure you stay informed and attend any meetings, and we will do our best to keep you updated on this site.
Whitchurch Stouffville Food Bank 
By Catherine Sword
When:
I’m reminded of a time early in my career. There was a volunteer at our library who told me she was an “Eaton’s girl”. Originally from Toronto she worked at Eaton’s and the company organized staff dances at Musselman’s lake. This is where she met her husband and they made their home in Stouffville.
In the meantime stay tuned for updates on:
