(contributed photo)
The Annual July 4th Sheepscot Lake Association boat parade was a great success, with 42 boats and a jet ski participating. The Grand Marshall this year was Eileen Kirby, longtime resident and founding member of the lake association.
PALERMO SUNRISE: Ashley Wills, of Palermo, photographed this sunrise over Sheepscot Lake, in Palermo.
Happy Summer 2024! Sheepscot Lake is shimmering and calling out for many adventures ahead, and the Lake Association looks forward to enjoying the season to its fullest with you all, with the health of the lake in mind. This newsletter will update you on our programs and events planned for 2024!
Again this year, two Courtesy Boat Inspectors will be stationed at the Fish and Game boat launch each weekend throughout the summer. They will be inspecting boats and trailers for invasive species and plants. Inspectors are eager to show boaters how to conduct their own inspections for when inspectors are not on duty. Please remove all plants from boats, motors, fishing gear, and trailers to avoid invasives from entering the lake. Let’s keep our healthy lake free from these devastating species that have affected surrounding lakes in the area!
Our Annual 4th of July Boat Parade will be held on July 4, leaving the Fish and Game at 11 a.m. The rain date will be the same time on July 5. This year the Grand Marshall will be Eileen Kirby, of Bald Head Island, the former treasurer of SLA. Last year, despite the intermittent raindrops, 26 boats participated. Let’s aim for more this year, and better weather as well! If you’re enjoying the parade from the shore, please cheer us on and wave to us from your docks and decks!
This year we are happy to co-sponsor some live music on the lake on July 6 from 2 – 5 p.m. Stealing Sunday will be performing on shore for boaters to enjoy from the lake at Bald Head Island East across from Bear Island. Last year the band played in the cove of Iron Ore Point on Labor Day Weekend, and it was so well received that we wanted to help sponsor a repeat performance! So, mark your calendars and anchor your boats off Bald Head Island East for some music and fun on the lake! Thank you to the BHI sponsors (Gary & Tanya Parshley, Kristin and Jack Forbush, Anna and Eric Miller, and Carolyn and Erik Viens) for coordinating, and co-sponsoring the concert!
The annual Loon Count, sponsored by the Maine Audubon Society, will be held on July 20. It is conducted on the same day throughout the state and helps keep track of the health of the population. A healthy loon population is an indication of a healthy lake! Please safely discard any old lead-based fishing gear, keep used fishing line from falling into the lake, and remain a safe distance from both loons and their nests when boating. If you are interested in helping us count loons on July 20, please email us at sheepscotlakeassoc@gmail.com
Please mark your calendars for the annual general membership meeting on Thursday, July 25, at 6:30 p.m., location to be determined. Since it was such a success last year, the meeting will be a “dessert potluck” again, so please bring something sweet to share. Last year the speaker gave information about Palermo’s new mooring ordinance, which went into effect this spring, as well as background on the Harbormaster program. This year we will have yet another informative speaker, as well as information on our programs, samples of our merchandise to view, a chance to meet your neighbors and sample some yummy treats! Please join us and look to your email and our Facebook page for specifics closer to the date.
The Sheepscot Lake Association LakeSmart Team is looking for anyone interested in joining us. LakeSmart is an educational outreach program run by the Maine Lakes Society. The program helps waterfront property owners create “lake-friendly” spaces that are free from erosion. LakeSmart gives homeowners advice on how to avoid erosion, which over time does damage to the lake by increasing phosphorous levels. Learn how to combat erosion by scheduling an evaluation with us or join our team of evaluators. For more information, please email us at sheepscotlakeassoc@gmail.com
The online merchandise store has been doing brisk business, even during the off season! Please visit the site and view the various styles of short and long sleeved tees, sweatshirts, a tote bag and more. It’s never too late to order for the season, shipping is quite speedy! Wear your Sheepscot Lake garb with pride out there in the world.
You can keep up with all that SLA is up to by visiting our web page at sheepscotlakeassociation.com. Here you can find out about our programs, find the links to our merchandise store and our Facebook page, and renew your membership for 2024. If you are not yet a member, please consider joining us. We would not be able to provide what we do without your support! Our dues have not increased since our inception, which can’t be said of much else these days! Individual – $20, Family – $30, Patron – $50. Keep an eye out for a flyer the lake association will be sending out, with lots of great advice for protecting the health of Sheepscot lake.
submitted by Maria O’Rourke,The saying, “time flies when you’re having fun” certainly holds true when it comes to summer on Sheepscot Lake! The 2023 season is now in the books and the Sheepscot Lake Association is reflecting on our activities and projects, as well as looking ahead to 2024.
June had us hiring and training our three Courtesy Boat Inspectors, who check for invasive species on boats and trailers entering and leaving the lake. This program is made possible in part due to a grant from the Maine DEP, as well as your membership dues. The rainy season was tricky to navigate, but 85 inspections were completed this season and zero invasive species were found! Thank you to our CBI team for your efforts – Alex Reichtel, Addison Turner and Olivia Childs.
Our annual 4th of July Boat Parade was successfully held in between the raindrops! Despite the questionable weather, 26 boats participated. Thank you to our 2023 Grand Marshal Tim Paul, a former board member and original CBI Coordinator. We look forward to another fun-filled parade in 2024!
SLA’s annual General Membership meeting was held in July at the Fish and Game on Rte 3. This year was a “dessert potluck,” and there were numerous yummy treats shared! This was a chance for residents to meet with neighbors, learn about our programs, renew memberships and hear our guest speaker. This year we were visited by Shawn Herbert, the Harbormaster of Naples, who discussed the recent Mooring Ordinance passed by the Town of Palermo. This ordinance will go into effect in 2024. For more information about the ordinance and its importance, please visit www.townofpalermo.org and look under Ordinances.
Sheepscot’s water quality has been tested throughout the summer for clarity, dissolved oxygen levels, and phosphorus levels. As has been the case over the years, Sheepscot has healthy levels in all categories, and we have a lot to be grateful for! Thank you to Jeff Levesque, our volunteer water quality tester!
Our online store has been filling merchandise orders all summer. In addition to the shirts and tote bag from last year, we have now added more shirt designs, sweatshirts, and a coffee mug! Your purchase enables us to continue to provide programs that help keep Sheepscot Lake healthy. Please visit www.bonfire.com/store/sheepscot-lake-association to browse our selections!
If you have not renewed your membership, or have yet to become a member, please visit our website at https://sheepscotlakeassociation.com where you can renew or join by paying via paypal. Or, you can send a check to Sheepscot Lake Association, Box 300, Palermo, ME 04354. Our membership dues have not risen since our inception over a dozen years ago! Can you say the same about anything else these days? Individual – $20, Family $30, Patron $50. We would not be able to provide what we do without your support!
We could also use your help by volunteering as well. Our LakeSmart Team needs some evaluators, and if you are interested you would receive training online this off-season and be able to join us in 2024. LakeSmart is a state-wide educational outreach program coordinated by Maine Lakes that helps waterfront property owners keep their spaces “lake friendly” and free from erosion. Interested homeowners reach out and evaluators determine whether the property has any erosion issues and offer advice on how to combat it. Stormwater runoff from roads, driveways, and properties can be detrimental to the health of the lake. LakeSmart gives homeowners tips and tools to keep erosion at bay. The Lake Association completed two evaluations this season and we hope to increase that next year. If you are interested in having your property evaluated, or in being trained as an evaluator, please email us at sheepscotlakeassoc@gmail.com
Another opportunity to become involved will present itself in the late spring/early summer of 2024 when we hope to host an on-site Invasive Plant Patrol Training Workshop. This program is run by the Lake Stewards of Maine, who will come to our lake to train us on determining the difference between invasive and native plants. After the training on land, we will go on a “paddle patrol” in kayaks to inspect the plants in their habitat. Once the training is completed, participants will then feel confident to go on “patrol” whenever they are on a kayak ride. This will enable us to “inspect” the lake much more broadly than just the boats coming in and out of the launch. If you are interested in being put on a list to join the Invasive Plant Patrol training in 2024, please send us an email at sheepscotlakeassoc@gmail.com
To keep up with Sheepscot Lake Association’s activities, please visit our website and “like” and join our Facebook page. Thank you for your continued support in keeping Sheepscot Lake as healthy as it is! Please enjoy a happy winter season and we will see you on the lake in 2024!
Thank you for your support.
submitted by Maria O’Rourke,
Sheepscot Lake Association President
Hello members and friends of the Sheepscot Lake Association. We look forward to another fun-filled season on the lake and wanted to update you on what we have planned for 2023. First, we want to share the sad news that SLA co-founder and former President Gary Miller passed away May 20, 2023. He served valiantly for nearly a decade as the leader of our organization, and he will be sorely missed. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife Margie and his entire family, many of whom have been enjoying summers on Sheepscot for years. We hope that as an Association we can continue to reach the standards that he so highly kept himself.
The Courtesy Boat Inspection Program will begin on the first weekend of July, with inspectors checking boats for invasive species every Saturday and Sunday, one shift in the morning and one in the afternoon. Say hello to our CBI workers and learn how to inspect your own boat, as well as why it is important to the health of the lake to do so.
The fifth Annual 4th of July Boat Parade will be held on Sunday, July 2, at noon, with a rain date of Monday July 3, at noon. Boats will meet up at the boat launch to line up for the procession. We look forward to seeing you out on your boats or waving from your shoreline!
Our Water Testing Committee will continue to check the phosphorus levels of the lake every month from May through September sending off the results to be analyzed, as in years past. We have been so blessed with healthy levels and we hope that trend continues.
Our LakeSmart Team will be conducting on site evaluations of homes to determine their “LakeSmart status.” To become ‘LakeSmart’, a property must meet certain criteria set forth by the Maine Lakes Society. These criteria are important because they combat erosion, which is a main concern for the health of the lake. Evaluators check your driveway, paths, and shoreline to see if there is any erosion and if so, what you can do to help prevent it. This is a free, non-regulatory program. If you are interested, please email us at sheepscotlakeassoc@gmail.com to set up a site visit, or to become a member of our team!
Volunteers will be out on the lake in the early morning of July 15 to participate in the annual Loon Count. This program is run statewide by the Audubon Society and helps to monitor the loon population. As a reminder, please watch your wake when boating close to shore where loons nest and if there is a nest in your area, be aware and stay away from it. We have been blessed with a healthy population of loons and we would like that to continue to be the case. Loons = a healthy lake!
Our annual general membership meeting will be held on Thursday, July 20, at 6 p.m. This year we will host a “dessert potluck” at the Fish and Game Club on Rte. 3 by the boat launch. We will provide coffee and soft drinks. Please bring a dessert to share! It will be a great opportunity to gather as a community, see what the association is working on, renew your membership, purchase lake association attire, and share some yummy treats. There will also be an informative guest speaker. With every family membership renewed at the meeting you will receive a Lake Book, published by the Maine Lakes Society, filled with useful information about how you can keep your property lake friendly. Two board member positions, treasurer and communications secretary, are up for renewal. If you are interested in serving on the board, please submit your name for nomination. The current board members holding these positions will also be on the ballet. There will be a vote at the meeting. We look forward to seeing you at the annual meeting!
Our online SLA merchandise store is up and running. We have tee-shirts in both adult and children’s sizes, a tote bag, and several more selections to come in the near future. Thank you for supporting our programs with your purchases! To learn more about the lake association, become a member, or renew your membership, please visit our website at www.sheepscotlakeassociation.com. See you on the lake!
Image Credit: chinalakeassociation.org
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SHEEPSCOT LAKE
THURSDAY, JULY 20
6 p.m.
Fish and Game Club on Route 3
CHINA LAKE
Saturday, July 29
China Primary School
8-10:30 a.m.
Office notice and agenda will be published in The Town Line later in June and July.
WEBBER POND
SATURDAY, June 24
9 a.m.
Vassalboro Community School
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To be included in this list, contact The Town Line at townline@townline.org.
Leighann Mazoki took this photo of her dad, Gary Mazoki, netting a bass on Sheepscot Lake, in Palermo. Leighann’s son, Manny, stayed with his grandparents for two weeks last summer. (photo courtesy of Leighann Mazoki)
The Sheepscot Lake Association annual meeting, held on July 21, was well attended, and successful, according to association officials. (contributed photo)
The Sheepscot Lake Association held its annual meeting on Thursday, July 21. The meeting was very successful and well attended, with Matt Scott, retired Maine fisheries biologist as keynote speaker. Matt devoted many years in working to protect our lakes and ponds through organizations such as the Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program (VLMP).
The lake association also honored retiring board member, co-founder and past vice president Lynda Pound, for her more than 10 years of service to Sheepscot Lake.
If you were unable to attend and would like additional information about the Sheepscot Lake Association, or would like to renew your membership, or become a member, please visit their website: www.sheepscotlakeassociation.org. You can also reach them via email: sheepscotlakeassoc@gmail.com.
Image Credit: chinalakeassociation.org
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SHEEPSCOT LAKE ASSN.
THURSDAY, JULY 21
7 p.m.
Palermo Consolidated School
Route 3
CHINA LAKE
SATURDAY, JULY 30
9 – 10:30 a.m.
China Middle School
Lakeview Drive
WEBBER POND
SATURDAY, AUGUST 13
10 a.m.
Vassalboro Community School
Webber Pond Road
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To be included in this list, contact The Town Line at townline@fairpoint.net.
Ashley Wills, of Palermo, photographed this unusual sunset over Sheepscot Lake.
Hello fellow Lake-lovers! It doesn’t seem possible, but Summer 2022 is now upon us! The Sheepscot Lake Association looks forward to another summer full of fun-filled lake activities. We welcome both new members and returning to the lake association and thank you all for your continued support.
We will be hosting our Annual General Membership meeting on Thursday, July 21, at 7 p.m., at the Palermo Consolidated School, on Rte 3. Please join us that evening to renew your membership, meet your neighbors, and discuss the programs that help keep our Lake healthy. The Courtesy Boast Inspection Program, LakeSmart, Water Quality Testing, and the Annual Loon Count are all important programs that need membership involvement to continue functioning. If you are not able to attend the meeting and would like to renew your membership, join SLA, or get involved in one of these programs please email us at sheepscotlakeassoc@gmail.com.
Three board member positions are available starting July 2022 as we have some members retiring from their posts. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Lynda Pound and Sharon Nichols for their time and dedication during their years of service. If you or someone you know may be interested in serving on the board please put your name into nomination and attend the meeting on July 21.
Another exciting announcement is that SLA now has an online merchandise store. For a full selection of merchandise, you can purchase at any time via this website link: https://www.bonfire.com/store/sheepscot-lake-association/. We will have a limited selection for purchase as well at our meeting.
These are great ways to get involved and help be a part of preserving something special, Sheepscot Lake.
For more information you may also reach out to us either by email, or on our Sheepscot Lake Association Facebook page or the website (sheepscotlakeassociation.org). Thank you for your support, and we look forward to seeing you on July 21st!
Submitted by Maria O’Rourke
President, Sheepscot Lake Association
Image Credit: chinalakeassociation.org
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THREE MILE POND
???
CHINA LAKE
Saturday, July 31 • 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
China Middle School
WASHINGTON LAKES
???
WEBBER POND
SAT., AUGUST 14, 9 a.m.
Vassalboro Community School
ANNABESSACOOK LAKE ASSN.
???
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To be included in this list, contact The Town Line at townline@fairpoint.net.