Author:Mary Torrisi

Skaneateles Lake Association Celebrates its 5th Birthday at 2015 Annual Meeting

On Sunday, July 12^th the Skaneateles Lake Association held its 2015 Annual Meeting on the lakefront of the home of Ted and Nancy Norman. Over 130 people were in attendance to visit with old friends while enjoying the beautiful lake view and meeting new folks from the lake community.

SLA President, Paul Torrisi, welcomed everyone to the meeting and shared a bit of history on the growth of the group from a small group of concerned citizens more than 10 years ago to the SLA of today. He emphasized the need for increasing our membership so that funding of our efforts is supported by more and more people via annual membership dues.

Fran Fish introduced our Onondaga County Legislator, Michael Plochocki. She shared with the assembled group that an article in the Neighbors West section of the newspaper indicated that the county legislature had funds available to support efforts that promoted tourism. Believing that there was nothing like the clear, pure water of Skaneateles Lake to promote tourists, the SLA submitted an application for the funds. It turned out the original source of funding that the SLA thought to exist, in fact, did not exist. However, Mr. Plochocki and the County Legislature Chairman, J. Ryan McMahon, III determined there was another source for the funding. Mr. Plochocki, who noted he had spent much of his youth at his family’ camp “just down the road”, presented the SLA Treasure, Robert Werner, with a check for $7,500 for the motor purchase.

Those attending heard reports on all of the efforts of the SLA aimed at keeping the water of Skaneateles Lake clear and pure. Dr. Robert Werner discussed several lake issues of concern recently, particularly the algae that people have been noticing in the near shore area in recent years. He noted that this was not unusual for other lakes and that the algae involved are not usually considered a problem. It is not the toxic blue-green algae that we have been hearing about in neighboring lakes. It may, however, reflect increased nutrient loading to the lake and if so should be watched.

Dr. William Dean summarized the activities of a “foam work group” organized by SLA to look into the causes and impact of foam on the lake. Bill pointed out that some foam was natural, but that we have been having what one would call excessive levels of foam in recent years. The fundamental reason for this is an increased presence of surfactants (organic compounds that facilitate the development of foam). The question yet to be resolved is what surfactants are we dealing with here and what is their source? Preliminary results suggest that the surfactants are not synthetic, man-made material, but instead naturally produced organic compounds.

John Menapace updated those attending on the status of this summer’s milfoil removal and control efforts noting that 5 acres of matting had been put down over large areas of milfoil growth and that hand harvesting of milfoil would not be started by the diving team.

Buzz Roberts introduced our Lake Stewards and explained their role in the prevention of introduction of other invasive species into the lake.

Fran Fish reported on the SLA membership noting that our total number of members at this point is a little behind where we were at this time last year. She asked those in attendance to go to our website, review the current member list and note anyone not on the list who should be. She noted that if each person in attendance was able to get one more person to join, the SLA membership would be well ahead of where it was at this time last year.

The SLA Board of Directors is appreciative to the following community members who made this meeting possible: the Norman’s for the use of their waterfront; Ann Kilian and the Greenfields for providing parking areas; the Mandana Inn and the Village Bottle Shop for generous consideration in pricing and Heather and Tim Carroll for the use of the Mandana Barn in the event of rain.

You can join the SLA easily at SkaneatelesLake.org. You can enhance your annual membership fee by paying it by check thus saving us the fee we would have to pay to PayPal for a credit card or PayPal account payment. If you do not have access to the internet call 315-685-9106 and I will send you a 2015 Registration Form and a return envelope.

Source:  Skaneateles Press

Lake Association celebrates another birthday

Annual Meeting on the waterfront of the home of Ted and Nancy Norman on Sunday, One hundred thirty members of the Skaneateles Lake Association gathered for its 2015 July 15^th. After far too much rain on too many days, the event was held with not even a threat of rain.

Those attending had the opportunity to enjoy the view of the lake, meet old and new lovers of the lake, partake of refreshments and hear updates on the work of the SLA. SLA President, Paul Torrisi, welcomed all of the members noting that over 10 years ago a small group of citizens who were concerned about the lake water started a swell of concerned citizens that has resulted in the SLA of today.

Fran Fish introduced our Onondaga County Legislator, Michael Plochocki. She shared with the assembled group that an article in the Neighbors West section of the newspaper indicated that the county legislature had funds available to support efforts that promoted tourism. Believing that there was nothing like the clear, pure water of Skaneateles Lake to promote tourists, the SLA submitted an application for the funds. It turned out the original source of funding that the SLA thought to exist, in fact, did not exist. However, Mr. Plochocki and the County Legislature Chairman, J. Ryan McMahon, III determined there was another source for the funding. Mr. Plochocki, who noted he had spent much of his youth at his family’ camp “just down the road”, presented the SLA Treasure, Robert Werner, with a check for $7,500 for the motor purchase.

Dr. Robert Werner discussed several lake issues of concern recently, particularly the algae that people have been noticing in the near shore area in recent years. He noted that this was not unusual for other lakes and that the algae involved are not usually considered a problem. It is not the toxic blue-green algae that we have been hearing about in neighboring lakes. It may, however, reflect increased nutrient loading to the lake and if so should be watched. Dr. William Dean summarized the activities of a “foam work group” organized by SLA to look into the causes and impact of foam on the lake. Bill pointed out that some foam was natural, but that we have been having what one would call excessive levels of foam in recent years. The fundamental reason for this is an increased presence of surfactants (organic compounds that facilitate the development of foam). The question yet to be resolved is what surfactants are we dealing with here and what is their source? Preliminary results suggest that the surfactants are not synthetic, man-made material, but instead naturally produced organic compounds.   Following Bill & Bob’s report, John Menapace, Milfoil Project Coordinator, shared with those attending that the Milfoil Team had put down 5 acres of matting over large milfoil patches identified by Bob Werner in the lake survey done last fall. John noted that the team would now start hand harvesting around the matting and in other areas that cannot be matted. SLA Board Vice President, Buzz Roberts, introduced the members of the Invasive Species Monitoring Stewards Team and shared the launches covered by the team and their schedules. Fran Fish gave a report on the current SLA membership and asked all present to please check the current member listing on the website and reach out to someone who was not listed, but who should be a member. Following these reports there were questions from those in attendance about lake issues including the apparent increase in foam and its potential causes, lake level, and erosion.

The SLA Board of Directors is appreciative to the following community members who made this meeting possible: the Norman’s for the use of their waterfront; Ann Kilian and the Greenfields for providing parking areas; the Mandana Inn and the Village Bottle Shop for generous consideration in pricing and Heather and Tim Carroll for the use of the Mandana Barn in the event of rain.

Source:  Skaneateles Journal

All residents must take part in lakes future

This past week I started to prepare another mailing requesting people to join the SLA. I spent some time extracting from our database a list of people who are lakefront owners or owners with lake rights from the Towns of Skaneateles and Spafford who had either never joined the SLA and those who have not been a member of the SLA for several years.  It was discouraging.  The list came out to be over 600 property owners.  Just as I finished determining that number, my telephone rang and I had a call that gave me the words I needed for my letter to those 600 people.

The young woman who called stated that she had recently moved to Skaneateles and had tried to join online but was having some difficulty.  She wanted me to register her over the phone.  After we worked through the process I had to ask…”why is someone who lives in the village and not on the waterfront or on a property with lake rights calling to join the SLA?”  Her response was absolutely emphatic….”I moved here recently from Connecticut near Candlewood Lake.  You have no idea how awful that lake water is.  This community is so lucky to have Skaneateles Lake.  I swim in it every day and it is such a pleasure.  We all have to do everything we can to keep it that way for the future.  Everyone who lives here has to be a part of the future of this lake.”

Our website includes a list of those who are current members which means they joined and paid annual membership dues within the past year.  Please go to that list and if you name is not on it, it means that your annual membership is due to be renewed or you need to join for the first time.  If you have any questions about your membership you can contact us via our website, SkaneatelesLake.org, just click on the “contact us” tab or you can call me at 315-685-9106.  It is always possibly that your membership payment and our membership list update do not coincide so please call if you think you have updated your membership and your name is not on the current membership list.

You can join the SLA easily at SkaneatelesLake.org. You can enhance your annual membership fee by paying it by check thus saving us the fee we would have to pay to PayPal for a credit card or PayPal account payment.  If you do not have access to the internet call 315-685-9106 and I will send you a 2015 Registration Form and a return envelope.

The SLA thanks the following individuals and organizations for their additional donations in support of the Milfoil Boat and the Lake Stewards (names with an asterisk are those whose annual memberships and additional donations or a matching donation were received in the last few months of 2014):

Milfoil Boat Sponsors:  June 29 & 30 The Kaufman Foundation*; July 1 Bill Rosenthal & Jerry Gebo*, July 2 Bill Rosenthal & Jerry Gebo, July 6 Elizabeth and John McKinnell*; July 7 Beth & Bob Filiczkowski*, Karen & Chris Kreidler*, Chris & Wayne Mandel*; Dawn & John Altmeyer*; July 8 Victoria & Richard Meyer*; July 9  Linda & Dan Roche*, Mary Marshall; July 10 Kelly & Gregory Weaver*; July 13 Karen & Paul Black*; July 14 Peg Bisgrove*, Debra Hurley & Ira Goldman*; July 15 Margaret & Angelo Scopelianos*; July 16 Members of the Winding Way Association*. July 16 Robin & Joseph Steencken*.

Steward Sponsors: June 16 Elan & Anne Salzhauer*; June 17 John Szczech*; June 18 Elizabth Killian*; June 19 nancy Peck*; June 20 Patricia & William McAvoy*; June 21 Judy & John Varney; June 22 Contributions to the Hardy Fund; June 23 Lorraine /Rapp & Jeffrey Kirshner; June 24 Helen & Keith Simonelli; June 25 & 26 Contributions to the Hardy Fund; June 27 Robert Sheer*; June 28 – 30 Contributions to the Hardy Fund; July 1 – July 15 Jeannie & Henry Slauson*

Source:  Skaneateles Journal

Who’s Who in the SLA

As we begin our 5^th year under the name of the Skaneateles Lake Association, we continue with our specific efforts to our goal of protecting the water quality of Skaneateles Lake.  Over these 5 years, our board has expanded our actions and upgraded our technologies in order to achieve this goal.  We have acquired a system that enables us to more accurately “map” the areas of the lake that need attention in regard to milfoil removal and control.  We have initiated the use of expansive matting as an efficient milfoil control mechanism,  We have introduced and expanded the use of Invasive Species Monitoring Stewards at busy launch sites to both educate the public who bring watercraft to the lake and actively assist in ensuring that watercraft are clean, drained and dried before entering the lake.

The work we are able to do is organized and supported by the efforts of our volunteer Board of Directors and carried out this year by two great teams.  Our long term milfoil team is made up of Keith Marsden, Jason Hole and Liam Wilson who have each been doing this work for 6 years under the direction of John Menapace.  The Invasive Steward Monitoring Stewards this summer include returning Stewards Tom Halstead who just graduated from Allegheny College; Will Thomas, a student at Cayuga Community College; Ginny Hamlin, a student at the University of Vermont; Mia Mason, a senior at Skaneateles High who will go to RIT in the fall; Robert Frank who just graduated from Paul Smith. Our new stewards are Kim Case, a student at ESF; Sophie Hearn, a student at Cornell; and Elyse Dubois who will be a senior at Skaneateles High School.

Every bit of the work we do is only possible because of our members.  The additional generous donations of many of our members, in effect, cover for many lakefront and lakerights owners who do not join annually or who have never joined.  Our efforts can only continue with the support of all lakefront and lakerights owners, all businesses that thrive because of our beautiful lake and all those who use the lake for recreation or just love the lake. Our 548 current annual members (as of June 5, 2015), including 244 who joined in 2015 and 304 who joined between June and December 2014, are listed on our website at SkaneatelesLake.org (membership/support tab -> current members)  You can also find this article and the list of current members at skaneatelespress.com.