Fire Chief Warns at Annual General Meeting

Clinton McKay, chief of the volunteer fire & emergency rescue teams that serve Raven Lake, was a guest speaker at the Aug 22nd AGM of our Raven Lake Cottagers’ Association. Chief McKay brought a message about the dangers of having no smoke alarms in outbuildings such as sleeping cabins and workshops. How many Ravens have sleeping cabins for guests and children, not equipped with one of these essential, and legally-required, devices? More than we would like to admit to, probably. To that end, the chief and fellow volunteer firefighter Barb Towne- you will have seen her at work in Ellen Wiley’s office - brought with them a dozen free smoke alarms, which were quickly claimed by attendees to the meeting.

RLCA members who were unable to attend the AGM (you and your kids/grandkids also missed a wonderful workshop on native reptiles!) may pick up a smoke alarm by calling on Harry Wilson, on the island across from out Sandy Beach, for the rest of the season. Non-members can purchase one for $25 - the same price as a 2009 RLCA membership which, coincidentally, comes with the alarm!

Clinton, Barb Towne and other volunteer fire fighters are no strangers to our lake, as they have been first respondents for years to lake fires and emergencies. RLCA makes a donation every year to the DVFD in appreciation of the fire department’s work here. This year, the donation will be made in memory of Brian Mitchell, an all-year Raven Laker well-known to the volunteers, who passed away this summer.

Creepy Crawlies Captivate Kids

The undoubted highlight of the 2009 RLCA AGM was a hands-on workshop introducing Ravens of all ages to the truth about the snakes and turtles that inhabit Ontario’s lakelands - as well as other parts of Ontario. For example, did you know that:

• the big snapping turtles that live in Raven Lake may be 100, 200 even 300 years old? By the way, snapping turtles do NOT snap at people in the water, and they typically dine on dead and decaying fish.
• snakes are NOT slimy to the touch. In fact, they feel like the finest kid leather to the touch, even as they wiggle over your hands and through your fingers.
• snakes and turtles are NOT “cold-blooded”. In fact, they are EXO-THERMS, which means that within a couple of minutes, their bodies reflect the temperature of the environment they find themselves in or on, as in the case of holding a snake in one’s hands.

Photos from the reptile workshop prove that, with the exception of the Mississauga Rattler, the “creepy crawlies” of our youth are nothing to be afraid of, and should be protected as part of a healthy, diverse natural environment. For additional information, visit the website of our presenters: http://www.reptilesatrisk.org

Bear Wise

Bears go hand in hand with cottage life.  However, they’re more of a nuisance than anything.  Read a great article from the Toronto Star regarding strategies for dealing with our local Black Bears.

Recreational Boating and Sport Fishing

Like many of the lakes in Haliburton County, Raven Lake provides an opportunity for scenic boating and enjoyable sport fishing. Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, and Lake Trout provide for a variety of fishing techniques for both the novice and expert angler. For the novice fisherman, a good place to start is the Ontario sport fishing guidebook which gives the regulations and other fishing information for recreational fishing across the province. These are available where fishing licences are sold. You can also check information available on the MNR’s website at http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/LetsFish

…Remember to practice Catch and Release Fishing; help protect this valuable resource.

Now Everyone Needs a Boating License!!

For the last few years, if you were old enough, or drove a certain type of boat with a certain horsepower, then you could get away without having a PCOC – a Pleasure Craft Operator’s Card – a.k.a. a boat license. If the police were to stop you, they could fine you for not having the right safety equipment on board, but not for not having a PCOC. No longer. Big fines are on the way….PCOC License Update April 2009.

Highspeed Internet at Raven Lake?

Apparently, some Ravens are so hooked on high speed internet they just aren’t happy with the good old dial-up services currently available at the lake.  If you’re interested in learning more read about it with Highspeed Internet At Raven Lake.

Do you own your shoreline allowance? Do you want to and save?!

All waterfront properties on Raven Lake were initially laid out with a 66’ wide Shoreline Road Allowance which was intended to preserve public access to the lake. In recent years however, the provincial government passed legislation permitting municipalities to sell this land to the owners of the adjacent land, and many residents of Raven lake have taken advantage of this and purchased their Shoreline Road Allowances. We are trying to assess if there is sufficient interest to put together a group (or two – one each for LOB and Algonquin Highlands ) – the larger the group, the greater the reduction in survey and legal costs should be.  Find out more by reading Do You Own Your Own Shore Allowance?

When the Phone Goes Dead…

It appears there isn’t much we can do at the cottage when the phone goes dead, except wait for a visit from the next repair man, a schedule that is typically measured in days, not hours. Remember that Bell will charge YOU for repairs required beyond the Bell connection outside of your cottage. Of course, you don’t know what the cause is until you get a repairman there. But wait! There are a couple of suggestions for what can be done while waiting for a repairman by reading Phone Help Website Info.