PaBIA's eBlast May 27, 2020

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Volume 12 No. 11

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Sunrise off Echo Island A 129 - picture shared by Marc Krofchick

Greetings!

For our American cottagers, it was announced last week that the US/Can border will remain closed until at least June 21st when the situation will again be reassessed. The decision is largely based on the whether the number of COVID cases in each country is rising, leveling or declining and what pressures there are to reopen, at least for summer property owners from another country. (more on this below)

There's a great deal of news in this eBlast...just a warning it isn't a short one...but I hope everyone will find something to inform them!

One cottager wrote "The weather is unbelievable. It’s sunny and clear with a gentle southwest breeze. The stars at night are so close you feel you could touch them. There are so many birds this year. We have kingfishers, warblers, woodpeckers and songbirds of every type. Sandhill Cranes are dropping in on their flight to their arctic summer nesting season. Stunning.

"Black Flies are here but not an issue. Thank goodness for the breezes to keep them at bay!"

Please stay safe out there everyone!

In this eBlast:

Caution in the Waterways
PaBIA Markers All But a Few in Place
PaBIA Bulletin Board Revamped
PaBIA Environmental Committee with new Initiative
New Beginnings
TOA - Not Business as Usual for our International Friends
WPS Health Centre - Guidelines
TOA Association Messaging Kits
Florence Church Unable to Collect Donations This Year
GBLT Properties Are Off Limits as Non-essential Services
WPSHC VIRTUAL Walk, Run & Pole Fundraiser May 31
GBLT Georgian Bay Disappearing Lighthouses - May 30
GBF Microfibre Webinar June 4
TOA Transfer Station and Large Item Pickup Day
Lake Michigan-Huron Water Levels May 22, 2020
Calendar Updates
Photos by Marc Krofchick and Mark Phippen
Yearbook Ad Correction - Rock Solid Services
Yearbook Update May

CAUTION in the WATERWAYS

Please be aware, should you be in your boat in PaB waters, there is much debris - such as broken dock parts, large wooden pieces and even logs - floating in the PaB channels that is as a result of the breakup of the ice and the early May storms that blew through the area. Beware! As the winds blows, this debris moves about freely, sometimes in the middle of a boating channel!

It behooves each of us as we get in our boats and head out to our cottages, to look for these obstacles, both large and small. They have the potential to not only damage your boat, but, if run into, the force could throw people around in the boat or even force people overboard, causing possible injury! Be safe everyone!

PaBIA Marker Buoys

On behalf of Maps & Markers Chair, Jim Rogers, we are pleased to report that the majority of our marker buoys have been placed for the 2020 boating season. Accordingly, PaBIA has requested and the the Canadian Coast Guard has removed Navigational Warning C-0376-20 relative to the delayed recommissioning of the PaBIA buoys.

At time of writing, only the buoys in Sturgeon Bay are not installed. We will provide a final communication to the membership when all buoys are finally in place.

Installation was delayed for weeks due to Government closures (Covid-19), followed by inclement weather: high winds, rain, and snow (yes, snow in May).

Despite these unforeseen delays, Desmasdon's Construction managed to have a good number of buoys placed in time for the Victoria Day weekend, just days after Premier Ford announced Marinas could open up for Seasonal Resident customers.

Many thanks to Andy Blenkarn and his team at Desmasdon's for their extraordinary effort. Tom Lundy – Director, Member Safety

New Initiative To Keep PaB Waters Clean

PaBIA’s Environment Committee has been working on an important initiative surrounding the protection of our fresh, clean water. Up and down our Georgian Bay coastline, cottager associations, (like ours), municipal governments, individual summer & full time residents are expressing growing concern with respect to our water quality and regarding the use of septic systems as our principal way of disposing of “human waste” in our cottage community.

In recent years, studies have been done, seminars and webinars have been conducted, and warnings have been issued regarding how these so called “temporary systems” of waste management are functioning. Scientists, biologists, hydrologists, environmental groups and concerned citizens have been working diligently to better understand the environmental impact of septic systems, which were developed decades ago and haven’t been improved on significantly, since. When we combine the aging of this infrastructure with current high water levels and denser populations on our beloved Georgian Bay, it is incumbent on all of us to monitor closely our effect on local water quality to ensure to the best of our ability, that its pristine nature is maintained.

As a step forward, the folks at North Shore Barge , a local Pointe au Baril company, have proposed an assessment program, which the PaBIA Board supports. The program is completely voluntary and confidential to the owner.

The program would work as follows.

Upon receiving permission from the landowner and payment of a nominal fee, North Shore would request/receive, as a baseline from the Township Office; any septic system information pertaining to the size/type of septic system presently installed for the island or mainland property to be assessed.

North Shore will then go onto the property to evaluate the following three areas and prepare a basic analysis for the property owner:

xxxxxxxx o in-house wastewater plumbing to the septic tank,

xxxxxxxx o the septic tank itself, and

xxxxxxxx o the weeping bed.

The North Shore Report will be confidential only to the property owner. It is intended solely as information so that property owner can determine what next steps, if any, to take in order to ensure the septic tank effectiveness for the property. North Shore advises that there will be a minimal charge of $156.00 plus HST and a $75.00 township document retrieval fee for this voluntary and confidential “checkup”.

As good land and water stewards for the generations to come, we are all naturally concerned about local water quality. Accordingly, we wanted to make you aware of this program now available to you. More information about North Shore’s “Septic System Checkup” will be posted on upcoming eBlasts and is available through North Shore directly.

PaBIA Bulletin Board Revamped

Some members have tried to use PaBIA's Online Bulletin Board found on the right-hand side of every eBlast in the longitudinal column, but have had difficulties accessing it to leave their message.

Diane D. sent me a suggestion that since the Ojibway Bulletin Boards in the Snack Bar and Office area won't be accessible to us this summer, she thought it might be helpful if we could fix the issue to make it much more user friendly. Thank you, Diane, for the nudge!

Dave, our Webmaster, and I concluded that to be sure this Bulletin Board is of help to our members, we ask that any written request for boats, motors, rentals, sales, worker needs, etc., from a member be sent directly to Dave Anderson for posting on PaBIA's Bulletin Board. Please, all requests:

Need to be provided to Dave Anderson via email by 5 pm EDT Mondays prior to Wednesday's eBlast
State in 40 words or less what it is you want/need
Provide your name, contact info which will be linked to your name so folks can contact you directly.

PaBIA respects the right to not publish any request that doesn't comply with our Communication Policies as published in May 2017.

New Beginnings

The long May weekend in Pointe au Baril was a subdued start to the cottaging season. We arrived to some of the usual delights - a red squirrel chattering indignantly at having to share his island again, signs of a struggle under our deck with black feathers strewn around, and little piles of deconstructed pinecones on the shelves under the cottage. Two Canada geese paddled down the channel and circled our small bay, surprised to find the dogs delightedly blocking access to the grass on the septic bed.

A visit to Pointe au Baril at the end of a cold and windy spring shows Mother Nature looking somewhat unkempt. Our island was looking a little naked without a hint of deciduous leaves to cover her flaws, and was sporting an untidy necklace of dock foam, drifted lumber, and all manner of plastic flotsam and jetsam. The usually sparkling water was more turbid and tea-stained in colour than we are used to seeing it. All of this was seen through a veil of midges. However, ferns were coyly unfurling, small white violets danced in the breeze, and blueberries were already flowering in some protected spots. Unseen birds twittered away in the trees, and chipmunks could be heard squeaking and rustling in the bushes. I am sure that the luminous Pointe au Baril we all know and love is just around the corner.

For years, Hilde Clark has written these observations and information about the creatures and plants of Pointe au Baril, and I am delighted in my capacity as a member of PaBIA's new Education Portfolio Committee, to be given the opportunity to continue Hilde’s wonderful work. Please get in touch with me, Trudy Irvine, if you have observations of your own to share with the community, or if there is anything you would like to see featured. At this time when the arrival of many of our friends and neighbours is delayed, it would be very nice to have some snapshots of Pointe au Baril.

Peace and quiet can be nice, but in my neighbourhood there are more geese than people. Drifting quietly in the Open during a sunset cruise we could hear only a cacophony of honking from the geese on the shore. As lovely as nature sounds are, there really is something to be said for the sound of Jim Wort’s grandchildren dancing and laughing on the rocks at their annual spring party, plus the many other happy sounds of early season PaB echoing over the water. I hope they are back before too long.

Here I could expand here on the ecology of the Canada goose, but I will save that for another column. I think we are all experts at Canada geese, especially at identifying their droppings. I believe they are Canada’s largest export to the USA…

Rest assured that when you do arrive to your cottage, you will likely find the property well fertilized and that someone has already feathered your nest.

PCOC Testing &

Boater Coaching CANCELLED

Randy Johnson, PaBIA Fire and Boat Chair, has had to cancel, until further notice, both the PCOC Testing and the On-Water Boater Coaching until further notice.

T he Power Squadron head office is still closed and it isn't known at what point restrictions on non-essential business places will be lifted to allow the processing of boater card (PCOC) applications.

In the same vain, Randy doesn't know how he can do the on-water coaching without being in the boat with the boater to provide oversight.

Of Interest

BAY NEWS

“Not Business as Usual” –

To Our International Pointe au Baril Family from Scott & Ear l

International Residents & Border Closure

The COVID-19 lockdown of borders to all non-essential international travel into and out of Canada, the United States, Europe, the Caribbean and other countries is unprecedented. The result is that Pointe au Baril residents from around the world have not been able to access their cottages.

No matter where we reside, all of us share the universal desire to get back to Georgian Bay. Perhaps, because of proximity and the fact Canada and the US share a continent, your Councillors have received a number of inquiries from Americans about the possibility of being granted an exemption or categorized as an essential service in order to cross the border, survey their cottages, and/or self-isolate for the summer.

To continue to read the rest of our Councillors' message which includes contact information of those with whom you may wish to communicate, please access it here . But we also encourage you to consider adding your name directly to Scott and Earl' s mailing list so you too may receive these BAY NOTES hot off the press!

Association Messaging Kits

The Township of the Archipelago has sent out a detailed document providing all members of the various associations in the West Parry Sound Area with the latest news and information you will want to know as come to cottage country.

GBLT Properties Deemed Off Limits

GBLT is requesting that all picnickers NOT use any GBLT properties until further notice. Since GBLT provides a non essential 'service' to folks who wish to use the properties, GBLT has been advised to close their properties to the general public.

GBLT requests that, as cottagers, we DO NOT USE their properties until further notice.

West Parry Sound

Health Centre Messaging

The key messages coming from the WPSHC are worth keeping in mind as we travel to our bit of paradise! We want to keep it that way!!!

Health Care services are working at a fragile state
Physical Distancing (6 feet) from people with whom you don’t live is paramount
It’s important to wear a mask when in a public setting and physical distancing is not possible
Continued hand hygiene is a must
An appointment is needed for COVID-19 testing at our Testing Centre call 705-746-4540 extension 5030 between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days per week
Avoiding Risk means you are personally avoiding placing added stress on our already fragile Health Centre
Gatherings up to 5 people are still the legal directive in Ontario …

Florence Church Rummage Sale for 2020 CANNOT Accept Donations

With the cancelation of the Florence Church Rummage Sale set for September 2020, there it will also NOT be possible to store any donated goods of any kind at the church. The Rummage Sale team thanks you again for your past donations - and asks that you hold any items you would like to donate in a safe place in your cottage/home until such time as it is deemed appropriate to again begin to collect your items. Again, everyone thanks you for your thoughtfulness and generosity!

Upcoming Events

Sean Tamblyn: Georgian Bay's Disappearing Lighthouses

This Saturday May 30th, 10 am

30 minute Interactive Virtual Presentation

Sean Tamblyn won the GBLT's King Family Bursary in 2018 for his project to document in photographs the historic lighthouses of Georgian Bay as many of them fall into decay and disrepair. Now, he presents the results of his project. Come for Sean's passionate advocacy for these landmarks, stay for his incredible Georgian Bay photography!

Go Everyone on Sunday!

Pointe au Baril Cottager's Team VIRTUAL

Run, Walk, Pole 2K, 5K, 10K on May 31

Pointe au Baril Cottager's Team (PaBC) is gearing up for the 2020 VIRTUAL Georgian Bay Walk, Run, Pole – Do It For Life on May 31 in support of the West Parry Sound Health Centre. This hospital needs our support very much, especially at this most critical time, and this donation will go directly to provide new defibrillators.

Last year PaBC raised over 22K and the hospital was truly thrilled. We again won the top fundraising title and with your support, we can win the fundraising competition in aid of this critical health centre again - please support us! We are looking for more team members so please email Helen if you or someone you know might be interested.

To sponsor a member of the PaBC, click here and type in the name of the person you wish to pledge.

We have a team from PaB worth supporting!!!!

On May 31

For WPSHC

Let's support them – for a very worthy cause!!!

Or sign up as an individual participant here

GBF Webinar on Microfiber Plastic Pollution

There will be a NEW Georgian Bay Forever (GBF) 1 HR. WEBINAR. Water pollution comes from tiny fibers in your clothes.

Discover research and solutions to change that.

What is this about? We think there is something important for everyone. Something for newcomers to this issue, and important info for those more in the know.

If you have heard or read about microfibers and the Parry Sound project from GBF before, join the webinar to learn preliminary results from about a year in on the project from the researchers and the coordinator making it happen. Teaser: Preliminary findings show a reduction of microfiber pollution not getting into the water of Georgian Bay from Parry Sound!…join to find out what that could mean if the solution was scaled up and the preliminary findings hold. Plus, have the opportunity to ask questions of the knowledgeable speakers.

If you’re new to the issue: Every single time we put our clothes in the washing machine, thousands of tiny plastic pieces wash away in the form of small fibers (microfibers). Millions get through wastewater treatment plants and into our water daily. Listen to the state of research on effects and the progress of the Parry Sound study on proving a solution. Find out what you can do to help stop this form of microwaste.

We’re looking forward to virtually connecting with you on this important issue.

Thursday, June 4, at 2:00 pm EDT

How to register: Click on one of these bitly urls of a date and time that works for you, or copy the bitly url and put it in your browser. If you are still having trouble, email [email protected] to help.

About the 3 speakers

Transfer Station Open

Summer Hours of Operation

(commence the Saturday of the Victoria Day weekend and end on Thanksgiving Day)

Daily: 8 am to 8 pm

During this time, cottagers are asked to handle one's own trash by depositing it in the receptacles provided.

Items Accepted

household garbage

blue box fibres and containers

single use batteries and cell phones

Large Item Pick Up Day

Saturday, June 20th, 2020 - 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Lakes Michigan/Huron Water Levels May 22, 2020

To better read the charts, please click on the chart for the

Daily or Six Month Forecast Water level chart and the corresponding websites

Yearbook Ad Correction

The ad for Rock Solid Services in this year's yearbook has an incorrect email address . Please correct your files. We apologize for the misprint.

Yearbook Update

With each eBlast, we will provide you a list of names for those who provided updated information. The details of all the changes since the Yearbook's came out in April is provided in a printable format for you to print out and insert into your own Yearbook copy!

Cammaert, Peter & Rose - postal code correction

Claflin, Tom & Chris - email change

Farrow, Blake & Marina - address correction

Gunn & Ferron, Rob & Katherine - address change